aPancake- Thank you, I'm trying my best for the side characters.
idontknow333- I wanted something different and I'm glad it was. I'm trying for once every week but more if the notion hits. These last few weeks have been everywhere because of the holidays though, hopefully now they are almost over it will be more structured.
Guest- I am planning to finish this. I'm glad you are enjoying it.
Haymitch watched Gale make camp. Riff, the boy from 3, had tried to make a fire and Gale had stopped him. No easier way to get killed than make a big signal at where you were. The careers had moved all of the goods and weapons they could into the building that looked like a luxury building in the Capital. They had made it a fortress, no one was getting in there. The only way they were going to get killed is if they went out to kill others or when they start to kill each other.
Gale was in the bit of forest, hiding while his partner Riff was building something from the things he was able to grab from the pile before he ran.
Looking over, Haymitch saw that Peeta had the private watching eyeglasses on. They weren't used a lot, but they could be used early in the game watching lesser tributes while the gamemakers aired the more popular ones. So, as it stood, the only one watching Shay was Peeta, he would be the only one of them besides the gamemakers to know where she was. Haymitch hadn't seen a hair of the girl since the gong sounded. He had to give it to her, she was good at hiding.
"Where's your girl, Peeta?" he heard Chaff ask.
Haymitch turned and looked at the boy. Peeta just shrugged his shoulders without saying anything. Haymitch exchanged a look with Finnick. It wasn't good that Peeta was being this protective of her. When she died it would hurt more. Maybe he should have let Peeta mentor Gale and take the girl. Shay was no bigger than the twelve-year-olds. He just hoped her death was quick for both her and Peeta's sake.
"They're closing in on your boy, Haymitch," Finnick called out to him.
Haymitch went back to looking at his own screen and saw what Finnick meant. Gale was up a tree but with his large body he couldn't get very far up without risking the branches breaking. Gale was helping Riff up the tree, the smaller boy climbed a little bit higher than Gale. Chesney, the boy from 1, tall, dark skin and a nasty scar on his right cheek. The scar looked very old. Chesney was standing at the base of the tree. With him was the girl from 2, Diane, almost as tall as Chesney and just as deadly.
Missing were the girl from 1, the girl and boy from 4 and the boy from 2. The boy from 2 wasn't a volunteer, Haymitch didn't know what happened but there was no boy that wanted to volunteer from 2. So, in that place was a short, chubby boy of about 16 with bad ache and greasy looking hair, that was only still with the Careers because of loyalty. Haymitch hoped he knew he would be the first killed when things went down.
"Come on pretty boy, get down here," mocked Diane from 2.
"Think I'm quite happy up here," Gale called back. He wasn't terribly far up but it didn't look like either of the Career tributes were willing to take their eye off of him to climb up.
"Give us the kid and we'll let you live for the rest of the night," Diane said.
Gale looked up higher into the tree. Haymitch was curious too why they wanted Riff. Sure, he was smart, but half the remaining tributes were smart. He didn't have any real combat skill or survival skills, if it weren't for Gale he would probably already be dead.
"Can't do that. You might as well go on your way," Gale yelled back down to the two.
"We can always wait you out, you'll have to come down some time," Chesney shouted back.
"That's fine with me. It'll be easier for the rest to pick you off if you're just waiting at the bottom of this tree."
Gale was playing them well, using the truth to get them to leave. If they were camped at the bottom of the tree for any amount of time even the weakest tributes could take them out.
"You're going to regret this 12," Diane shouted before the two ran off.
Just as it looked like Gale and Riff were going to descend the tree the ground started to shake. Soon there were crevasses in the ground, spreading. If a tribute fell, they would meet their demise. The sound of a cannon jarred him out of his thoughts. Looking over at Peeta he knew it was the girl. She had hid well, the gamemakers were probably trying to make the ones hiding come out. A casualty to something that probably wasn't even directed at her.
"Hey kid," Haymitch started to say to the boy.
Peeta just stood up and left, not even gracing Haymitch with a glance. Haymitch had noticed that the boy's face was blank when he left. It usually becomes that way, but Haymitch always knew it took about five years for mentors to reach that level of detachment. The Capital and Snow ruin the victors, which has always been the truth. But for once, Haymitch was unsure what to do about it. Usually, the booze helped him cope but now that he had Ivo, he had to stay sober even though all he wanted was to drink, make his own nightmares mute.
"He'll get used to it," Finnick said, giving Haymitch a sympathetic look.
"That's what I'm afraid of. At least he doesn't have to go on worrying about Shay." He didn't either, he could fully concentrate on getting Gale out alive. For the first time in a long time, he thought that was actually going to happen. He hadn't saw Peeta getting out…no one did, but Gale, he was strong and smart. Also, he had something to live for, that was always helpful, but it gave the Capital more control over you.
Peeta knocked on Julius's door, waiting for the man to answer. The door opened and Julius leaned his shoulder on the doorway.
"Took you long enough, get in here."
Peeta shook his head but walked in, the price he was willing to pay.
Gale decided the trees weren't that smart of an idea after the ground tremors started. The cracks big enough to swallow you whole. Since they started a total of six cannons sounded. The first night after they started he saw Shay's face in the sky. He was unable to keep his promise to the old man. He just hoped when she went, she didn't have time to be afraid.
"Where are we going now?" Riff asked loudly.
"Shh! Keep your voice down. I know the Careers are probably around somewhere. Not only that, but there are also still fourteen tributes total besides us. The more noise you make the more chance we'll be ambushed.
"Fine, where are we going?" Riff asked, this time much quieter.
"The houses on the north side, I think they've been emptied when the tremors started."
"We can't stay there; they'll be sucked into the ground."
"We're not staying, we're going to scavenge what we can to use. We're almost out of water and with only one water bottle, we're in trouble. We need at least two days' worth of water to be safe, in case we get trapped. Then we'll circle around to the traps I laid earlier, and we should be good on food. I also think when we're down to seven we should part ways."
"All that make sense but why last seven?"
"Because most likely most will be from 1, 2 and 4. It'll be every tribute for themselves after that. It's getting dark, we should find shelter for the night."
The area they were in was in the desert but there were caves he had seen them earlier. It was a risk sheltering in the desert, the heat was enough to make them dehydrated much sooner than it should. But since water was scarce in the arena, he knew probably no one would be there. The Careers would be trying for the easier kills for a while.
The shelter they found was indeed one of the caves scattered out in the desert. The one they picked was small, but it was easiest to guard. Riff was messing with some scrap he had collected from the places they had been and abandoned by their previous owners or left to tantalize the tributes with the skills to do something with them by Snow. It seemed Riff was one of those tributes. But Riff was from District 3, they were the technology workers.
"What are you making?" he asked.
"It's a surprise," Riff said, causing Gale to be a little afraid of the boy. Riff was much smaller than him and two years younger. "Why in the world did you volunteer? I saw that guy that was picked before, he looked capable."
"He wasn't, he was much too gentle for this place."
"Most of us are until it's time to fight."
"Maybe I just didn't want him to find that part of him. He's my boyfriend." Gale knew that people knew, he even admitted it during his interview, but it still felt like an invasion. Morse was his and his alone, he didn't want to share him, even a little bit of him.
"Oh, that's sucks. When my name was called I thought I'd die on the spot. Do you have any brothers and sisters?"
"Two younger brothers and a little sister. I volunteered before thinking. I think I still would have done it, but I worry about them. I hope they are getting enough to eat."
"It's only me and my dad. Well, it was. My mom died a long time ago. I hope he's alright, I'm all he has."
Gale didn't want to say it, but he knew Riff didn't have it in him to survive the arena. So far Gale had taken care of him but once they split up it was all over for him. Gale just hoped it wouldn't be him that had to kill him.
A noise from outside got his attention. It had been a risk to camp out somewhere without any security measures. He had really just assumed that no one would be looking for them there.
The cave was dark, they couldn't risk a fire or any kind of light. But a little of the fake moon shone on them, making Gale put a finger to his lips to keep Riff quiet.
"We know you're in there," a voice called out.
Gale didn't recognize the voice; he knew it wasn't one of the Careers.
"Don't make this harder than it has to be," another voice said, both female.
"Come on Riff, if you come out it'll be over fast," the first voice said.
Gale thought it may be Kasey, the female tribute from 3. The other one sounded young, maybe the girl from 6. She was young at 14, muscled but dumb, he had noticed that in training.
Riff made a move to leave the cave, but Gale grabbed him, shaking his head.
"She won't hurt me," Riff quietly hissed and broke Gale's hold on him.
Gale knew what was going to happen, the reason he picked the cave was there was another way out. So as Riff headed out to where the girls were waiting, Gale grabbed his things, Riff's bag, and the water bottle of Riff's. He knew he had to hurry but be quiet or the girls would split up. Riff probably thought there was some district loyalty, Gale wasn't about to take that risk. He would do better on his own anyway.
Just as he exited the other exit to the cave he heard a cannon sound. He didn't know if it was Riff, but he wouldn't go check, Riff had made his decision.
Now there were fifteen of them left, since it was the third day the gamemakers were sure to start some plan again, tributes would have learned how to stay away from the ground openings now.
Katniss had known that Gale wouldn't fall for such a trap. She watched as the girls from 6 and 3 kill the boy from 3. As soon as he exited the cave he was stabbed in the chest by the long dagger that the girl from 3 had. They had looked through the stuff in the cave like they were looking for something specific. To be killed by your own district mate was horrible. It always happens but usually not this soon.
"I'm glad Gale didn't go out that way," Prim said.
"He wouldn't trust anyone else with his life, he's too smart for them," Katniss said.
When the girl from 12 died, Prim had cried. She had met the girl a few times. The girl's grandfather would show the little kids how to make paint. Fun things weren't something you get to do in the districts, especially outlying ones. The poorer the district the less likely for anything, they barely got food let alone anything else. So, the old man would try to bring a little joy to the kids' lives.
One minute the girl was hiding, the next the ground opened up and she fell in. Five others went the same way, it was terrifying. At least she wasn't scared anymore, the interview with her was sad. Katniss watched as Peeta had led her off the stage while she was crying. It was a sign of weakness, but Katniss didn't think she knew what was going on. The only reason she was crying was because Flickerman was asking her all these questions about home, and she said she missed her grandfather. After that it was all over for her.
Peeta stopped at the hovercraft bay. He knew he would be missed soon so he needed to hurry and not be seen by very many.
"Mr. Mellark, it's good to see you. I assume you are here to see the cargo before it leaves," a man in his early forties said to Peeta. It was weird being called Mr. by someone so much older.
"Yes, Julius Snow made a call, right?"
"That he did. Go on but remember, the hovercraft is leaving very soon. It needs to get out before questions can be asked."
"Thank you," he said to the Peacekeeper.
Making his way to the bay that held the hovercraft he needed, he made sure no one saw him. When he had gone to Julius to ask for a quick death for Shay, he had no idea what was about to happen.
The pilot led him into the area that was holding his target. He heard her before he saw her.
"It'll be scary," Shay said to someone he couldn't see yet.
"It'll be alright, you'll be there in no time."
Peeta smiled when he heard Julius, he should have known he wouldn't be able to stay away. Not when he had put his neck so much on the line for this.
"You saying goodbye too?" Peeta asked, coming into view of the two.
"PEETA!" Shay squealed, running to him, and giving him a hug.
He hugged her back, after releasing her he turned to Julius.
"I can't thank you enough for this."
"I wish you would go too. I can't protect you for much longer."
"I know, I know. But I can't leave my brother. There would be too many questions if I disappear."
"People think I'm a serial killer, they wouldn't question your disappearance. 13 will take you in, they took in everyone else I got to them."
The first night Peeta was called to Julius's room he had been terrified. That was until the man just played a game of dice with him. For the first several times he thought at some time Julius would hurt him. It never happened, just what was needed. When the older man decided he could trust Peeta he told him what was going on. Julius was staging a coup and was slowly getting his backing. He had to be careful because his father would kill him if he found out.
It was then that Peeta started his notebooks, he had names, rendezvous spots and copious amounts of ideas and plans. Julius knew that he would probably get caught eventually before the main plan could go into action. Peeta was alright being the keeper of the secrets and battle plan. For once in his life, he felt like he was doing good. He hated watching people die but he couldn't risk anyone knowing about him. Shay had broke him though, he had begged Julius to help her.
Luckily, Julius had a gamemaker in his secret group. The gamemaker was the one that put the ground openings into action. While the other kids were killed in the fall, Shay fell into a safe area where she was swiftly taken away with the Head Gamemaker none the wiser.
"I just need you to know this was a one-time thing, I cannot do it again," Julius told him seriously.
When Julius explained to him that he had to act differently, he didn't know how to do it. So, to make it more believable, Julius had cut him, no one would believe he was being hurt if there were no scars to hide. He made sure that Haymitch noticed them. He didn't like lying but it had to be that way. The secrets were taking a toll on him anyway. All the deaths weighed on him deeply. And he thought Finnick was getting suspicious of everything. Julius had acted out of character, and it was showing.
"I know. Tell Plutarch I'll do whatever he wants for this." Being a former Head Gamemaker, Plutarch was an expert at what he was doing. He was also just as high up in the rebellion as Julius. All they were waiting for was some sort of spark to cause the districts to start to turn on the Capital. He hoped it would be soon.