I stay up late into the night watching, unable to tear my eyes away from my screen. Most of the end-of-day coverage just shows the tributes preparing to get some rest, either by themselves or allies splitting up in shifts to ensure somebody is always on patrol. Gradually, things begin to wind down.
Talk becomes mostly about betting odds, which I don't care about. But there's also reactions to the Bloodbath too. Such a large number of deaths? A big favourite to win like Midas suddenly dropping dead right out of the gate? Ooh, Aquilo was so mad about that.
In a way, the deaths suddenly feel more real and somber to me, because I just spoke with these tributes only a few days ago. It was a small fraction of time, but you can learn a lot about someone in fifteen minutes if you make sure to ask the right questions. The tributes don't feel like characters participating in a story anymore. They feel like the real people they are.
It makes my stomach turn and my chest heave with guilt. I've never really given the Games much thought before. They've always been there, a part of my life as long as my mom has been Head Gamemaker. It's been one hundred and fifty years. If nothing has changed before, it's not gonna change now.
So…why is something off, then?
I muse these thoughts as I lie in bed, the Sun shining through my bedroom window. The TV is still playing; I must've forgotten to turn it off last night. I prop myself up, unable to rip my eyes away from the screen. The tributes seem to be waking up. I have to see if anything happens to them.
Cyrus weaves between the sleeping bags of Careers, slowly rousing each one from slumber. Beatrix makes a beeline for the supplies and starts pulling out food. By the time Cyrus has managed to wake up Coral and Gaius, Beatrix has makeshift sandwiches waiting for everyone. They're really just slices of bread with dried fruit packed between them, but I suppose that's not a bad meal for the arena.
Cyrus takes a big bite of their sandwich and nods. "Not too shabby. Thanks for the breakfast, Beatrix."
The rest of the Careers echo their appreciation and I see a small smile finally form on Beatrix's face. God, I spent fifteen minutes trying to get her to crack. Nice to know she's not as stony as I thought.
"Guys, hurry up!" Coral scowls. "I wanna go hunting!"
"Relax," Chanel mutters. "We have time today."
"Yeah, and we're losing it by you lazy lot just sitting there and taking your sweet-ass time eating breakfast," Coral hisses. "How the hell are we supposed to win at this rate?"
"I'll go with you," Gaius says quickly. Carol mutters "about fucking time" under her breath as she and her district partner pack up their bags and walk off. The remaining three Careers watch them go.
"Kids," Chanel mutters under her breath. "Well, they might have a point. I'll stay back and watch the Cornucopia."
Beatrix nods, signalling for Cyrus to follow her in the opposite direction. But the arena is big and it doesn't seem like the District 2 pair will find much today. Ari is the only one I can see them coming across, but he's already woken up the moment the Sun appeared and is on the move. That's probably best for him, I suppose. Makes it less likely to get caught.
Ari's actions remind me a lot of an animal stalking his prey. Every step of his is careful and deliberate and he's insanely fast too, as if he doesn't want to risk making too much noise. Now I wonder if what he's said to me and during his interview is really true or not. I don't think he's just a garbage collector.
On the other side of the arena, the alliance of Cordin, Kaydyn, Kai, and Shadow is preparing to eat some breakfast. Kaydyn's eyes are red and I can see the tear stains on his cheeks even from here. While Cordin doles food out, Kaydyn just stares off into the vastness of the tall grass around him.
"Kaydyn?" Cordin asks. "You want something to eat?"
Kaydyn shakes his head and looks away.
"You should eat. I know yesterday was rough, but…" Cordin trails off when he catches Shadow shaking his head at him. The trio finishes their food in silence before Kai stands up. "Alright. Everybody get moving. It's time we go hunting for other tributes. We need to show the Careers we aren't to be messed with."
"Seriously?" Kaydyn asks.
"What?" Kai glares at him.
"That's all you can think about? I just lost my sister and all you can think about is killing more innocent kids."
"Well now I know that sucks but-"
"My. Sister. Is. Dead!" Kaydyn yells. "I was supposed to protect her and I couldn't even do that! Does that get through none of your skulls? I lost the only person in life who mattered to me and nobody cares?"
"I care," Cordin says quietly.
Kai sucks in a breath. "Do you want some time to mourn?"
"No, I want out. I'm leaving this stupid alliance."
"Kaydyn-"
"Let him go," Shadow says quickly. Kai looks like he's about to protest, then gives up and watches as Kaydyn storms off into the grass. Nobody makes an effort to stop him.
Meanwhile, another alliance has an argument brewing. "...are dead meat walking if you think you can just get up and leave!" Belinda is saying, pointing her mace threateningly at Roxy. "You're too scared to admit it, but you need me."
"I don't need shit," Roxy hisses. "What makes you think I'm not capable of surviving on my own?"
Belinda scoffs loudly. "Said the lady who wimped out at the sight of blood."
"You killed your own ally!"
"He was weak!" Belinda thunders back. "He was basically a dead man walking and I didn't have time to drag his body around. And you'll be dead too if you go off without me, we both know it."
Roxy looks like she's about to argue back, but something seems to change her mind and she just shakes her head. "I…you…you know what, fine. I'm done arguing with you. Do what you want, I don't care."
"Took you long enough to come to your senses," Belinda sneers, and walks off. Roxy follows, but I can see her muttering stuff too low for the camera to pick up. From the shapes her lips make, it sounds like it's just a bunch of profanity. Honestly, I don't think I'd blame her at this point.
In comparison to the previous two alliances, the duo of Indigo and Hyacinth are much more quiet as they traverse a patch of soil from which giant cherry blossom trees sprout. It looks very pretty, making the tributes appear like ants.
"Wow," Hyacinth gasps. "This is beautiful. I could stay here forever."
Indigo chuckles. "Well, we could stay here, but it's best we get moving."
Hyacinth pouts. "Aw. I like the murdery pink tree forest."
Indigo is about to respond when a loud chittering noise cuts her off. The two glance behind them and their jaws fall open in shock and horror. "What the hell is THAT!?" Hyacinth shrieks.
A giant squirrel is sniffing the fallen petals on the ground. It would be cute if it weren't for how huge it is. I wonder what was going through my mom's head when she designed this mutt was a good idea.
Indigo freezes up and grabs onto Hyacinth's arm. "Don't move. Maybe if we don't move, it might not see us…"
The squirrel stands up on its hind legs.
"Run!" Indigo shouts.
They take off through the forest, the squirrel chasing them. It's fast, but Indigo is shockingly quick as well and she's practically pulling Hyacinth along with her in a zigzag pattern. It seems to confuse the squirrel a bit, giving the alliance enough time until they reach a pond full of giant lilypads. Indigo hops on one without a second thought.
The squirrel falters, makes a squeaking sound to voice its disapproval, then runs back off into the forest.
"Are we safe?" Hyacinth pants, doubling over as she catches her breath.
"I think so," Indigo assures her. "But how are we gonna get out of here?"
The lilypad shakes. There's a large shadow in the water. Indigo's eyes widen. "Oh no…"
Suddenly, the lilypad tips over, sending Indigo and Hyacinth into the water. Indigo gasps as she tries to resurface, but the shadow looms over her. Before she can swim away, the giant koi fish scoops her up and swallows her whole.
"Indigo!" Hyacinth screams. "No!"
She manages to climb out of the water and back onto the overturned lilypad as the koi fish swims off, leaving Hyacinth all by herself. Hyacinth tucks her legs in and curls up into a little ball, sobbing.
14th: Indigo Riordan, District 9. Eaten by giant koi fish mutt.
And another one bites the dust. Thanks to D9T for Indigo!
What will happen to Kaydyn now that he's on his own? Will the alliances of Roxy + Belinda and the Careers work out or will friction drive them apart? What's Hyacinth to do now?
See you all next chapter,
-Vr