Day Twenty-Six: I'll Cover You

"Hyde, with me!" Hyperion's yelling, now, he knows he can't handle this alone. The rocks strewn throughout the Arena have presented an obstacle throughout the Games, now he's sheltering behind them. Hyde is behind a different kind of mound, one he knows is filled with the kind of bugs that have swarmed several tributes. Like the girl from Four, from a once proud Squad District reduced to crying and writhing helplessly under the weight of a thousand bodies so small as to be almost microscopic.

It had taken an hour before they'd found the body. Another hour until they'd decided to end it, Hannibal's hammer swinging onto her head like a mosquito beneath the palm of a hand. It was something Hyde never wanted to see again, that was why the boy from Ten was sheltering behind the mound instead of behind the rock with Hyperion.

Above them, they can hear the giggles of Peridot, excitedly lively, and then the impact of a throwing dart against the rock Hyperion is hiding behind. Hyde thanks everything he can thank that the man managed to get down in time, even when Peridot whines like a kicked puppy. Like there isn't a dart through Holly, lying mere metres away. "Come on, guys. I just want to go home. Home! So come on out, and we can finish this!"

Hyde just wants to stay behind the rock. Even if Peridot's having fun, calling this 'Hyde and Seek', he very much is not. More importantly he's seen the vicious accuracy with which she can toss darts, Holly and the various assorted outliers can attest to that. He still doesn't understand her ability, what the carved piece of plastic and metal in her hand does to aid the throwing, but it's devastatingly effective.

He ventures a hand out, daring to test if there's any time for him to react. Within seconds there's a dart whistling towards the outstretched hand, almost grazing it before sinking into the ground. Four feet long, it's more like a short spear than anything Hyde would refer to as a dart, but given Peridot's intense pouting any time there'd been an attempt to call it anything other than a dart? Well, by now the term is lodged in is brain.

Still, the rocks that litter the ground provide ample cover, and so there's time for Hyde to throw an apple. Just an apple, and he sees the dart fly and oh heavens it's just been split in half. But, by the time that happens he's behind the rock with Hyperion, sharing a fist-bump and a nervous laugh.

For now, at least, there's an uneasy stalemate. Peridot's hauled enough darts out of the cornucopia there's no way she's running out, a glance tells Hyde she's perched on an open crate of them, a dozen more slung over each shoulder. Excessive, yes, but that was Peridot's middle name.

The other side of the deal is that Peridot can't advance, she has her sword as a sidearm, but she's no match for both of them in a direct melee. There's no way she can get two darts off in time, and so the stalemate persists.

"Cover me!" Hyperion is up, running. He's ducked behind a rock when Peridot makes her throw, when the dart whistles past his head and sinks into a nearby rock, and the pout in her voice is audible. "Come on guys. I just want to play, is that too much to ask?" And yes, yes it is too much to ask.

Hyde's up next. He can hear another impact, but is already running to cover, the opposite direction to Hyperion's route. Splitting her focus, forcing Peri to concentrate upon one of us at a time. He can hear the annoyance in her voice, hear the derisive boredom with which she yells. "Come on boys. Game's up. You can't run forever."

The game continues. One distracts, the other darts out from cover and throws themself behind shelter. Peridot backs up a little time, her voice now more mistrustful. "Guys. We can figure this out. Nice even fight?" Hyperion, close enough now, lunges for her. His hammer's sweeping in, Peridot yelps and reaches down and steps back.

A dart slams into Hyperion's shoulder. He gives a roar, rushes Peridot. Peridot giggles, right before a second dart sinks into the soft flesh of Hyperion's throat. He gurgles, sinks to his knees. He can hear Peridot laughing, high and clear. "Well done, Hyperion! Had some balls after all. I'll talk about how well you did, I prommy! As for you, Hyde, come on. Ten's been Squad fifteen years, and no Victors? Lets make this sixteen, give One a piece of the cake, mk?"

Hyde can feel Hyperion's rage that he didn't cover him burning, but Peridot's laughing and for the moment those thoughts are put aside. "Man of few words. I'm sure I can make screams come off that tongue. Come on now, Hyde. You're not winning."

She directs her words towards the rocks in front of her. Doesn't notice me coming up behind until it's too late, even as my sword jabs into her ribs and she gives a whimper of pain, falls. I stab, again and again. Don't need cover any more, it's better this way.