CHAPTER 6 - SUCCESSION
Watching the interaction between the boys tore Bliss' heartstrings. Desperation wormed its way through her, she wished she had sponsor money to buy her tribute a hearty meal. At least Lustre shared his pain cream, an early gift from Afflatus.
Bliss kept her breathing in check so her anxiety wouldn't spike. If she was too anxious, she'd start seeing things that weren't there, despite the extra medication the Capitol put her on for the Games.
When Affy had changed her screen to black and white, Bliss nearly cried with relief. She was glad to have her aloof friend by her side. Lustre's hair was coppery red, the same as Bliss' before the pigment in her follicles was surgically reengineered.
After her games, seeing the red around her face kept triggering hallucinations, until the doctors decided to be done with it, and made her hair grow black. Seeing the colour of Lustre's hair, combined with the red, hellish arena, had been close to making her snap.
Affy didn't even need to ask to know how to help. Small blessings.
Bliss looked over to her friend, shifting uncomfortably in her seat. She stood tall, not that she had a choice. A couple year ago, Affy had confided in Bliss that the surgeons has implanted a mesh steel corset in her abdomen, to preserve the quality of her waistline. She couldn't bend to pick items off the ground because of it. The lack of mobility infuriated Afflatus, but it was just another daily bother she had to deal with.
It might not be something one would usually notice, but Afflatus always wore slip-on shoes.
The day droned on, Lustre and Basal still winding through the tunnel on their way to the next circle of hell. Affy popped a pill and massaged her skull. Her head was probably throbbing.
Bliss stood, and gently stared rubbing the muscles in Affy's neck. She didn't always accept Bliss' attempts at comfort, but today her face relaxed as the muscles in her neck and skull did, under Bliss' touch.
When Bliss sat back down, Afflatus warmly thanked her. Bliss smiled back.
"Bliss?" A baritone voice cut across the room.
She craned her head to look. It was Rhea, and he looked pissed.
"I'll be back." Bliss said to Affy. Affy smirked. Bliss rolled her eyes.
Rhea stalked away, and Bliss followed him to the elevator. They ended up on the roof, a substantially more private space than anywhere else in the training centre.
"Did you rat me out to Violet? I just had to sit through a lecture about Capitol etiquette." Rhea demanded.
Bliss wasn't fazed by his attitude, young and bold. "I was just trying to look out for you. I didn't mean anything else by it."
"You still didn't have to tell on me, man." Rhea said, anger deflating.
"You know what can happen if you step out of line. It's your choice how you act, but I didn't want to sit by if I couldn't stop you- or someone you care about- getting hurt." Bliss said.
Rhea looked conflicted. He started to argue several more times, but kept cutting himself off.
"I know it's hard to get used to." Bliss said.
Rhea's eyes had fallen to the ground.
"But having friends helps. You've got Violet in your corner, who you're very lucky to have by the way. You have Aramid. You have me." Bliss said.
Rhea perked up. "You mean that?"
"Yes, I do. And Harlem's cool too, if you need a last-ditch effort." Bliss replied.
"I'm gonna tell him you said that." Rhea said, teasing.
"Please don't." Bliss rolled her eyes. "Are we good?" She added, after a beat.
"Yeah." Rhea replied. "Thank you."
Bliss clapped him on the shoulder, then walked back to the elevator.
…
Basal and Lustre reached the end of the tunnel. It opened in a storming cavern. The physics made no sense, heavy rainclouds underground, but logic was the last of Basal's concerns.
The rain came down in sheets. They were soaked instantly. It wasn't quite as hard to see as the cavern filled with fog, but it was still difficult. There was almost no light, and it emanated from the walls. Lustre's silhouette plodded along beside Basal.
The water was absolutely freezing, chilling the boys to their core. Basal wrapped a massive arm around Lustre's shoulders, holding the boy close to his body, now that he knew the boy could feel hot and cold. Lustre didn't complain.
"I have an idea." Basal said. He unfurled himself from Lustre and took off his jacket. He prompted the boy to hold two of the four corners.
Rainwater pooled immediately. A smile broke over Lustre's face. Basal stabilized the jacket while Lustre bent down to drink.
A gust of wind tipped the jacket, spilling water over Lustre's red hair. The sudden splash left him looking flustered.
Basal chuckled. The sound felt good coming out of his chest, an expression different from screaming or sobbing.
Lustre shook his head like a dog, but the rain kept beating down. The D1 boy smiled back, and let out a laugh, himself.
Basal wouldn't mind if they made it to the end together.
The exit to this cavern wasn't difficult to find, in relatively the same place as the exit of the fog cavern. Basal noted the location, hoping the next caverns could be traversed and exited quickly. This tunnel was shorter than the last.
The walls began closing in on the boys, forcing them into a sprint to avoid being crushed. The uneven floor threatened to trip Basal, but Lustre offered him an arm to keep him standing.
They burst into the next cavern, surrounded by horror.
'People' gathered around massive feast tables, gorging themselves. There were so many. The boys had no shot at survival if the mutts turned their attention to them.
Food was piled high on every plate. As Basal carefully walked down the rows of tables, he saw sick, twisted expressions marring their faces. The pace they ate at never broke, though, stuffing down food like they'd never seen it in their lives.
The sounds coming from their mouths made Basal's stomach turn. The slurping, chewing, moaning, grunting. It was primal, and disgusting.
Lustre and Basal made it past the tables, and into the next tunnel.
Basal vomited. Luckily, most of the rainwater had seeped into his stomach. Bile dribbled from his mouth as he struggled to regain his breath.
…
Afflatus Lux watched as Lustre "helped" Basal in small ways. Her anxiety was building and compounding. Lustre would strike when Basal as at his most calm, his most trusting. Afflatus was sure of that. Bliss was taking a break, so she sat at the monitors alone. She ducked her head in her hands as another memory of her Games overtook her.
Walan led the careers well since the bloodbath. They'd all emerged unscathed, each racking up at least one kill. Afflatus had gotten three, as did Walan. She thought Muse would be proud of her.
Walan was sitting with the D4 tributes now, showing them how to finely whittle a stick. He shot Afflatus glances of distrust. She'd been patient, but his personality was growing more grating as each day progressed. He barely looked at her, barely talked to her, but was chummy with the rest.
She'd considered leaving the alliance multiple times, but it was too early. She didn't need to put a target on her back. Her strategy was to let the alliance fizzle out once her counterparts figured out how much of a turd Walan was.
It wasn't happening, though. Walan took care of the members of his alliance, aside from her. As he paid her less attention, everyone else did as well.
Afflatus slept with one eye open.
When Walan had drawn out the death of an out-district tribute, the others egged him on. He bled the boy dry from his legs and arms, under the penetrating sun of their jungle-forest arena.
Afflatus left mid-way through the torture. The others didn't seem to notice.
Damn them all.
…
Bliss returned to the mentoring room after a coffee break with Harlem. He was always friendly, but his personality seemed to completely flatten every time the came to the Capitol. He'd been fidgety, reserved. Bliss tried to pick his brain, but Harlem brushed her off. She didn't take any offence, but wished she could ease the cyclone in his brain.
Afflatus was waiting for her in Harlem's seat. The girl looked ragged. Well, as ragged as a perfect human specimen could look.
"Hey, Affy. Want to trade off? I'll watch them if you want to get some coffee." Bliss tried.
Afflatus gave her a small smile, but declined. She seemed unable to tear her eyes away from Lustre and Basal's activities. Bliss took a normal amount of breaks, but Afflatus was locked in.
"Are you sure?" Bliss asked.
"What, you're saying I look like I could use a break?" Affy snarked.
"Honestly, yeah." Bliss replied.
Afflatus heavily exhaled. "That's fair enough."
Affy's mobile phone chimed, the one assigned to all victors by the Capitol. She exhaled heavily again as she checked the screen. Her expression turned to stone as she read the message.
"I think I will take that break, actually." Affy said, shaky.
Bliss didn't bother asking if she was okay, the answer was clearly 'no'.
"I'll come get you if anything happens." Bliss promised.
Affy nodded, then left.
It wasn't Bliss' business, but she wondered what the message said.
…
Basal and Lustre emerged into the next circle of hell. Luckily, there was no fog, rain, or gluttonous freaks. Instead, a seemingly endless ascent greeted them. There was barely enough light to see.
Lustre shrugged, and started walking up the steep, rocky hill. Basal followed.
After a couple hours, they ran out of water.
The end was nowhere in sight. The bottom was nowhere in sight, either. The sides of the hill rounded off and descended into an abyss. The ceiling was too high to glimpse. Basal felt like he was on the moon.
More hours passed, the top was still swallowed by the blackness above them.
Lustre started complaining. It was the least Basal could do to listen.
Basal began to feel weary. It was eerie to go so long without seeing other tributes.
He caught Lustre as the boy collapsed from exhaustion. Basal lay down beside him and took a nap.
After a day and half of walking, the boys reached the top. The soles on their shoes ground down to nothingness.
There was a well of water, so they didn't die. Both boys drank up before collapsing.
…
Basal reminded Bliss of Dawn, the D10 female tribute from her Games. Dawn had been encased in concrete at the end of the first day. She held onto her life for far too long, her screams haunting the arena.
At the time, Bliss prayed for Dawn's death. Her existence was reduced to suffering, and it was impossible to witness.
Now, Bliss felt this way about Basal. They boy's numerous wounds opened from the stress of the climb. His gashes and arrow wounds wept. When he walked, it looked like he carried a thousand pounds with each step. He deliriously looked around him, searching for something- escape? Hope?
Bliss tore her eyes from the monitoring screen and returned to the D7 apartment, not bothering to say goodbye to Afflatus.
Heart heart audibly punted against the cage of her chest. The rate was so quick, her breathing hastened to match. She was trying to quell the panic, but it flashed through her body.
Bliss didn't notice Harlem sitting in the dining room as she blew past him on her way to the kitchen.
Harlem appeared at her side.
"Did he die?" He asked.
Bliss shook her head.
"What's wrong?" Harlem prompted.
Gold stars danced across Bliss' vision. She forced herself to breathe.
"I don't want to talk about it." She just wanted to forget.
"It doesn't help to keep it bottled up." Harlem said gently.
"You're one to talk." Bliss said, rudely.
Harlem exhaled sharply. "I know." After a beat, "So, what's wrong?"
Bliss rolled her eyes and turned towards him. "I don't know… everything."
"What's one thing?" He asked.
"Affy's getting texts that are making her sad." She said, evasively.
"And?"
"I'm scared for Basal." Bliss tried to choose her words carefully. "He.. umm.. reminds me of Dawn."
Harlem opened his arms, Bliss accepted the hug.
The warmth and pressure helped calm her down. The panic began to retreat.
"Harlem?" Bliss asked, pulling away.
"Yes?" He said.
"What's going on with you?" Bliss asked, bluntly.
Harlem took another step back and folded him arms over his chest. He didn't say anything.
"I don't want to push you, but you can say anything to me. You know that, right?" Bliss asked.
Harlem managed a brief smile. "I know. Thank you. Maybe we could talk another time."
He sounded exactly like Bliss did when she had no intention of talking another time.
She pursed her lips, and nodded.
"I appreciate it, though." Harlem said.
"Gotta stick together." Bliss replied.