TW: Depictions of Radiation Poisoning. Mentions of child abuse in Romulus's pov.
Day Four of the Arena
July 5th, 2427
Meilin Seacole, 15
This morning, the fortunes of Meilin and her alliance have sharply taken a turn for the worst.
The girl from Three follows her counterpart from Eight to an unsightly scene. Day is lying on the floor, barely conscious and as pale as snow. Meridian is kneeling beside them, his face is flushed red from panic.
"What happened?" Liz exclaims in disbelief as she crouches down beside Day.
"I-I don't know," Meridian answers, raking his fingers through his hair. "S-she was fine just like half an hour ago… oh God." Their face collapses in their hands in despair.
Meilin kneels down beside her ally and places her hand on their forehead, which is harder than it sounds as Day frantically jerks around in pain.
(If there's one thing that Meilin is still good at in this forsaken place then it's helping people… it's solving people's problems with kindness. It has to be.)
"Their… their head it's… it's really warm, I mean really warm, like a really bad fever," Meilin informs the others. She was, in fact, understating it a bit - Day's head is toasting. It's like she's touching the outside of an oven. But she doesn't want to panic anyone further. She knows that it never helps in these situations.
"What… what does that mean?" Meridian demands, his voice stricken with fraught.
Meilin leans in closer to Day to try to understand their near-incoherent mutterings. "It burns. It burns… inside," she catches her saying.
Meilin is a scientist. She has revised the symptoms of acute radiation sickness in class enough times to know that's exactly what she's being faced with.
She swallows and turns to the others to deliver the grim news. "I know what it is," she says meekly.
"What?" Meridian questions hurriedly.
"It might have been yesterday or two days ago, I dunno, but the announcer talked about tributes getting ill with radiation sickness-"
"No! I don't believe you. We all had our suits on!" Meridian shoots back.
"Did you see when she put her suit on?" Liz asks.
Suddenly Meridian appears doubtful. His eyes wander off as they try to recall what happened, then they fall in despair as the realisation dawns on him. "Well… what do we do?"
A flame is suddenly ignited deep inside Meilin, a flame she hasn't felt since she stood at the podium, passionately, but fruitlessly trying to convince everyone not to fight. She couldn't help them, but she can help Day. She can do something right… something good. Kindness is the answer. It always was.
Suddenly, her mind is clearer than the bloodbath she's been lost like a wandering spirit, hopelessly trying to navigate a world she doesn't understand. But now she can finally do what she's good at. She can help someone.
"Medicine!" She exclaims, her voice jumping with excitement.
Liz and Meridian give her a wide-eyed look. It must be strange for them to hear the terminally excited voice of Meilin they got used to hearing before the games.
"The Announcer also said there's medicine." Meilin doesn't hesitate to volunteer herself for the task. "I can go get it."
But when she stands up, she winces in pain from the injury on her leg.
"But your leg," Liz protests, glancing down at her friend's bandaged limb.
"I'll be careful." Meilin's voice suddenly becomes croaky with emotion. "Just please… let me have this," she begs.
"Fine. But I'm going with you," Liz insists.
Meilin would rather another one of her friends' lives is not put at risk, but she knows just from Liz's adamant expression that she won't be talked out of this.
"Okay," Meilin agrees.
"Thank you," Meridian says, looking between the two girls. "Don't forget to wear your suits… the air out there… It's sick."
Meilin nods, offering a smile of reassurance. Then, she and Liz begin packing a bag to take with them. They only take a small bag, it's not like they have a shortage of food in this bunker.
"Do you have any idea where to search first?" Liz asks, tossing a bottle of water into the bag.
Meilin ponders for a second, but then an idea hits her almost immediately. When it comes to helping others, she's full of ideas. She snaps her fingers. "The careers… they always hoard all the supplies. I bet they've got some."
Liz places her hand under her chin. "Ya know, that's not a bad call. Looks like we're heading back to the cornucopia...fun."
A shiver runs through Meilin's spine at the mere mention of that place. No. This time will be different. "It will be different," she repeats out loud.
"You know, the problem with cornucopias is they tend to contain a lot of careers. So what are we gonna do about that?" Liz questions, as she zips up her bag.
"We'll have to wait until they've gone on one of their hunting trips and hope they don't find us," Meilin proposes.
It's not a foolproof plan, but it's the best Meilin can come up with under these circumstances - unfortunately, Day doesn't have time on their side.
While other kids were out partying or asking each other on dates, Meilin would be sitting in her classroom studying the effects of radiation sickness on the human body. Her peers might have called her a "nerd" at the time, but it's paid off now, hasn't it?
The girls stand up with their bags slung on their backs, poised for the mission that has assigned itself to them.
"Make sure to give her water. She can't dehydrate," Meilin tells Meridian. Then she heads off with Liz, back up the stairs that lead out of the underground greenhouse, and to the tunnels.
Her chest pounds with adrenaline as she unbolts the bunker door. But her heart is also filled with a rediscovered confidence at the prospect of this venture to save Day. A deep part of Meilin was taken when she was thrown into this place, now she has the chance to get it back.
Meilin and Liz pull their masks over their faces and then step out into the gloomy tunnel.
"Wandering off into dangerous places again. Man, my parents are gonna be pissed when they see this," Liz says with a light tone. "Let's at least try to be back before dinner… and preferably without any radiation sickness."
"Good plan," Meilin agrees, sending Liz a smile that she can't see.
The duo begin their journey through the underground tunnels after shutting the metal bunker door behind them. It may be dark down here, but Meilin knows exactly where she's going. The path ahead has never been clearer.
Ozias Califera, 18
After spending the last few days successfully thinning out their competition, the boys decided to take a rest day today.
But Ozias can get no rest. Not since he saw Emery's face yesterday on their trip to poison the careers. He caught such a brief glimpse of his ex-lover from Rustvale, but now it stirs in his mind relentlessly like a headache.
Last night, it wasn't Emery's face that appeared in the sky. He didn't think it would be - Emery wasn't one of the ones that was sick. But still, he felt relief that he wasn't staring at Emery's face. Why did he feel relief? Emery snitched on him, he sent him to the coldest, most miserable corner of Panem for six months of his life.
Gosh, even saying his name repeatedly in his head is driving Ozias crazy. Why did fate have to be so cruel to reap him the exact same year that Ozias volunteered?
Mr Vandermast is a distraction - that much is clear now. He's a plague on Ozias's mind that needs to be cured before it gets worse.
He has to deal with him now, otherwise he never will. Then, he can turn his attention to his true goal.
Ozias pushes himself up from his bed in the roofless house that they slept in last night. As he does so, he catches Jokull silently observing him with those cold eyes from the corner of the room, while munching on a breakfast bar.
Ozias shakes his head. He'll have no trouble dispatching this alliance of freaks, that much he knows for sure.
He takes a quick swig of his water bottle and then rests it back down on his bedside table. He won't be needing it. He won't be gone long.
"Well, I hope you're enjoying sitting around doing nothing," Ren groans. The dentist is sitting at the dining table in the center of the house, repeatedly stabbing their knife into the table out of boredom. He has managed to stitch up his face from the injuries inflicted by the Ten Girl, although not very well, making his face even more disfigured, and giving them the appearance of a smiling scarecrow.
He's gonna have trouble going to the dentist from now on - Ozias laughs to himself.
"Can't you just be glad we killed two people yesterday?" Jokull says with a sigh. "All thanks to my plan, let me remind you."
"Oh, congratulations. Do you want a gold star or something?" Ren retorts.
"Whatever, Morton. We should be counting our wins, not our losses, that's all I'm sayin'."
"Yeah, why can't you just be happy for once?" Zora unexpectedly chimes in. The small girl is leaning on the wall, fiddling around in her bag. Truth be told, Ozias had almost forgotten she was there.
"You can shut up," Ren snarls. "You're our captive, nothing more. You're only still alive because you're helping us find your ally, remember? How's that going by the way?"
Zora shakes her head and diverts her eyes back to her bag.
"That's what I thought," Ren grins.
Ozias finally grows tired of his ally's constant bickering. So, he picks up his falcata knife and heads for the hole where the door usually would be.
He doesn't bother telling his allies where he's going. He owes nothing to them. He is also gone before they have time to ask.
If he gets back to find that they've all slaughtered each other, he won't be surprised.
As he wanders through the silent, desolate town, he wonders what he's even doing. Is he really going to kill the man who was once the love of his life? Maybe Emery will get him first, he always did underestimate that little ruffian. Only time will tell.
After crossing the arena, he stops in front of the factory around the cornucopia; there is loud chatter coming from inside.
Ozias slips behind the wall of one of the destroyed houses, and peaks around to observe the careers exiting out of the factory. The Four Girl is not with them for obvious reasons, but the goofy boy from One is also missing. They must have left him behind to guard their supplies. But Ozias doesn't care about him.
He tails the arguing careers all the way to the hospital, where he was only yesterday. His memory easily allows him to navigate the corridors while the careers are searching the various rooms.
Ozias stays in the shadows of the dimmer corridors. He only has to wait for the opportune moment - when Emery is separated from the others. Eventually, he'll be back to finish them all off, but right now, his mind is laser-focused on his ex.
At last, he catches sight of Emery slipping away from the others with his new… "friend" - the Boy from Four. Ozias sighs internally at the very notion.
The Four Boy is coughing a lot; clearly, he is still sick from radiation.
(Ozias has no idea how long radiation sickness lasts. He guesses it's like a regular sickness, but he's not sure.)
He follows the two boys through a corridor on the upper level. Then, his chance finally comes; Emery leaves the coughing career in a room while he heads off to the storage room on his own.
This is it. Ozias might not have another chance to put an end to the man that he once loved, to put an end to his ultimate distraction.
This is the biggest test of his life. But can he pass it?
He grips his sword tight, and heads towards the storage room where the answer lies.
Emery Vandermast, 18
Will the arguing ever stop?
Naturally, everyone is pointing the finger at each other on the matter concerning Aida's death. Disagreements are nothing new in this year's careers pack. In fact, Emery doesn't think they would be able to agree that the grass is green. Although, the poisoning of a career is a little more serious than Romulus's and Brizio's little pissing contest back in training.
It should come as no surprise that the two rival boys are blaming each other. Geneve is sitting on the fence and trying to prevent her alliance from shattering completely. Landon is siding with Romulus as usual, and equally, Emery is sticking by Brizio.
He knows it wasn't Brizio that poisoned his district partner.
(Although if it was, it might make Emery like the audacious mercenary even more.
God, what is it with Emery and these dangerous, mysterious guys?)
But it can't have been Brizio; he was seconds away from drinking the poison himself.
He highly doubts it was Romulus either. However, he's not going to tell the others that; at this point, it would be best for everyone if the hot-headed Two Boy were to be taken out of the picture, and this is the perfect way to do it.
In truth, Emery is almost convinced that the poisoning was the work of a certain barber and his two new rats.
Not long after he and Ozias first met, back when they were mere lowly ruffians in Rustvale, they began satisfying each other's bloodlust by luring the worst kinds of criminals into alleyways, and despatching them; often - the method of death was poison.
(Ozias taught him how to say the right thing to get people to drop their guard.)
Aida's untimely demise was Ozias's work no doubt. The twisted monster - Emery thinks to himself. However, Emery can't help but find the precision and stealthiness with which it was done mightily impressive.
(It's why he liked Ozias in the first place.)
If Emery were to share his theory with the others, he knows they wouldn't hesitate to hunt Ozias down and destroy him once and for all. Why doesn't Emery want that? Even he doesn't know the answer to that. Instead, he continues to press the blame onto Romulus.
(Emery was never a huge fan of dishonesty, but over the years, he has learned that it's a necessary tool for survival, especially amongst a gang of sharks.)
"You were the one that discovered the stupid bottles," Brizio hisses at the Two Boy, his voice still weak from his sickness. "I didn't go anywhere near them."
"Yer know, you're right," Emery interjects. He points at Romulus. "You were the one that found the poison. Me and Geneve weren't even in the room with you… who knows what you were doing in there before we arrived."
"Shut up!" Romulus retaliates, stepping closer to Emery and curling his fists. "I didn't even wanna find the medicine in the first place, that was your idea." He pushes his accusatory finger into Emery's chest, giving him a light shove in the process.
The Ten Boy narrowly manages to maintain his cool. He can defeat this guy with words, he knows he can. Romulus has already dug himself a deep enough hole.
Emery turns to the rest of his allies. "Can anyone actually vouch for this guy?" He asks conceitedly, not expecting a response.
But, he hadn't considered Landon into his equations.
"I can!" The One Boy perks up. He places his hand on his partner in crime's shoulder. "Now I know Rom can be really… Rom at times, but he would never do something like this. Dudes' got principles, trust."
Romulus sends Landon a smile, and the red disappears from his face.
In fact, Landon's jovialness causes the whole group to relax. Though, the distrust still hangs over them like a curse, and Emery knows the peace will be temporary.
The ceasefire of words allows Geneve to step in. "Whatever the case, we still need to get Brizio some real medicine," she says. "I'm betting he won't last much longer."
She's right. Emery's new lover begins coughing violently again, before falling back down to his knees.
"What we need to do is go kill the other tributes," Romulus barks. "All we've been doin' since the bloodbath is arguing with each other."
"Well, while we're finding medicine for Brizio, we can go hunting for tributes at the same time," Geneve replies dismissively, impatience growing in her voice.
At last, the group agrees on something and decides first to head to the hospital-looking building to the north of the cornucopia; it seems like the natural place to find medicine and other tributes. Landon is chosen to stay behind to guard their supplies, which is perfect for Emery and Brizio; Romulus will be without his little sidekick.
Emery makes sure to pack extra knives. He has a feeling he will need them.
He places Brizio's arm around his shoulder to support him, then they head off into the wild.
It takes the best part of fifteen minutes to get to the Hospital, but longer to navigate the endless, plain white corridors.
To save time and so that they can be alone together, Brizio and Emery convince the others to let them split off and search for the medicine alone.
When they reach the top floor of the hospital, Brizio's coughing becomes even more intense. He hasn't got much longer. No! Brizio is the first person who's made Emery feel anything since Ozias. He's the first person that's made him feel like he deserves them.
Emery sets Brizio down on a hospital bed, then decides to go alone to find the anti-rads; it will be faster that way.
He heads straight to the storage room and begins going from cupboard to cupboard, turbulently knocking and tossing various bottles to the floor.
Hope begins to fade, but then, when he swings what must be the twentieth cupboard open, he is met with a collection of tiny bottles. But the words written on it seem gigantic to his eyes - "Anti-Rads."
Emery grabs the first bottle on the shelf like he's grabbing the elixir of life, and then bolts back towards the room that he left Brizio in.
But as he turns a corner, a dark figure stands in front of him, holding a falcata sword.
Despite the broken, flickering lights in the hospital corridor, Emery instantly knows who it is.
"I was wondering when you would show up," Emery mutters casually, slipping a knife into his hand.
Ozias steps forward into the path of one of the lights. His dark eyes are reflected by the light and they are poised with unwavering purpose, as always.
"That little poison plot of yours caused quite the ruckus," Emery continues, attempting to stall his ex. "Now what? I guess you're here to kill me?"
"Something like that," Ozias responds, monotone.
The Fourteen Boy leaps at Emery, and the blade of Ozias's sword cuts through the air just in front of his neck. Then, the two killers get into a tussle. Just like old times.
But this time, Ozias is the one to gain the upper hand; he overpowers the other boy and slams him hard into the wall.
Ozias holds the blade of his sword up against Emery's throat, gritting his teeth with venom.
But simultaneously, the crafty Ten Boy presses his knife against his former lover's torso.
Yet, the seconds tick by and neither boy makes the finishing blow on the other.
"You can't do it, can you?" Emery taunts with a grin.
"Neither can you," Ozias replies, glancing down at Emery's knife.
As if their minds are in sync, the boys from Rustvale lower their weapons simultaneously.
"You do realise we're supposed to be killing each other," Emery comments.
"Nobody tells me who and when I kill," Ozias shrugs.
As they stare into each other's eyes, Emery wishes for a brief second that they would just run away together like they did when they first met in that saloon all that time ago.
(Ozias saved him. He showed him how to survive in that rat pit against all the other rats that would have eaten him alive.
He could save him again.)
No. Emery saves himself now. Back in Rustvale, Ozias made him into who he was, but that doesn't mean he defines who he is now.
He looks down at the bottle of medicine in his hand. He's got a job to do.
Emery takes a deep breath. "So then why are you really here?" He asks.
"Don't make me answer that," Ozias shoots back. He slowly backs away down the corridor before turning his back on Emery.
It suddenly dawns on Emery that he may never see Ozias again. Despite everything, he was once the most important person in Emery's life; there was a time when he couldn't imagine his life without that scruffy, murdering street urchin. They only had each other.
Ozias deserves the truth that Emery has buried deep down since the day he told him about how his family died.
He finds himself calling his ex's name as he disappears down the corridor "Ozias!"
Ozias turns his head back to listen, but no words exit Emery's mouth. He can't do it. The moment passes, and Ozias is soon gone.
Brizio's gravelly voice snaps the Ten Boy out of his trance "Emery."
The Four Boy is clutching his chest in agony, and leaning against the wall. "No hurry. It's not like I'm dying or anything," Brizio says sarcastically while coughing.
"Oh yeah, right."
Emery explains how many tablets of medicine Brizio needs to take before handing the bottle to the sick career, who proceeds to rapidly swallow three pills consecutively. He doesn't question Emery's instructions, he trusts him fully. But then, he doesn't have much of a choice.
They head back to the room with the hospital beds with Emery insisting that Brizio needs to rest.
"Why would you help me?" The mercenary asks as he takes a seat on one of the hospital beds. "I mean you know the things I've done… back in Four."
"I could have said the same to you when you saved me from those faces."
Brizio smirks, ironically. "I guess we deserve each other, then."
"I guess so."
The Career looks off into the distance. Emery can already notice the complexion returning to his face, and the conviction to his voice.
Then, Brizio asks a question that Emery isn't prepared for - "Why didn't you follow him?"
"Huh?"
"That crazy guy from Fourteen… the one from your past."
Emery raises an eyebrow. "You knew?"
"You think anything gets past me?"
Emery ponders for a moment. He decides to answer a different question, one that Brizio didn't ask, and one that no one would be able to ask, but it's the one that needs to be answered.
"There's something you need to know… about Ozias… about me," he begins.
"What is it?"
"The fire that killed his family… the reason he volunteered in the first place… it's not at all what he thinks." Emery swallows. "It wasn't some random wildfire… it was my father. The day he started that fire that destroyed half of Tulrango was the same fire that killed Ozias's family… it was the same fire that destroyed his entire world."
"And you never told him this!?"
Emery shakes his head bitterly. "He was angry at the world, we both were. I just wanted someone else to be angry with me. That single truth would have re-directed that anger at me."
Brizio diverts the subject from Emery's ex to his family instead. "And you're father he's-"
"Dead."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Don't be. He was fucked up."
Brizio nods understanding. "Mine too."
Just then footsteps echo from down the corridor. Emery knows that the chaos will continue once the careers are all back together.
Emery hastily brings the conversation back to the subject of Ozias. "If I can't do it, you have to tell him." He stares at the Four Boy more intently than he ever has. "Brizio, he has to know."
The rest of their alliance burst into the room.
It's time to face his fate.
Landon Singa, 17
Nothing about this seems right.
Landon has left Romulus alone in a pack of wolves who all want him dead. He agreed to stay behind to help keep the peace, but now he realises it was a mistake.
One thought keeps playing on his mind like a broken record - They're going to kill him, aren't they? Then, once Romulus is dead, they will come for Landon; he'll be the last loose end.
Besides, he's not ready to lose Romulus just yet. He was only just starting to unravel the guy. He was only just starting to bring him out of his shell. What fun is a present if you can't unwrap it?
The career stands up and begins pacing up and down whilst running his fingers through his thick, long, brown hair. Maybe I'm just being paranoid - he tries to tell himself. He usually makes a point in his life not to overthink things, and to take each moment as it comes. Life is a mystery that none of us can truly uncover. So why worry?
But this is different. This is the Hunger Games, and is Brizio, Emery, and Geneve have the opportunity to take out one of the strongest competitors, then they are going to take it.
When Landon is with Romulus it brings him back to the best moments of his life - climbing up the tallest towers in One with his buddies, then perching on the top to do some much-needed soul-searching together.
He never thought he'd feel that in the Hunger Games, but he has, thanks to Romulus. He's not going to let anyone take that away from him this soon.
Besides, no one tells Landon what to do.
Landon springs into action, having made the decision in the blink of an eye. He quickly works to pack his bag with water and more importantly a dagger. Then, he slings it around his shoulder and takes off in the direction of the hospital.
Anyway, it's their own fault for leaving the most restless career alone to guard the cornucopia - Landon figures. There's no worse feeling than the feeling of boredom.
The sun tilts over the top of the sky, marking the shift to afternoon. The rays of orange become hazy as they enter the crumbling town like there is something inside that's distorting them.
Landon shakes his head to remove the strange distortion from his vision. Then, before he knows it, he has already arrived at the hospital. The journey seemed to go by in a flash. He barely even remembers it. He hates the lack of control that this place instills in him.
He pushes his way into the main entrance and begins scouring the multitude of corridors and rooms for Romulus. He needs to get his buddy out of the den of wolves.
"Hey Rom," he whispers sharply. "Where you at?"
Just then, the squabbling voices of the careers fill the corridor. They are heading right his way.
Landon takes cover in one of the stationary rooms. He'd rather they all didn't see him. He's supposed to be back at the cornucopia, guarding their supplies, after all.
Romulus's voice is the first one he hears clearly as they pass by him in the corridor. The Two Boy continues to deflect the blame for Aida's death. "Why would I poison Aida? I have nothing against her."
"You weren't going for her, you were going for Brizio, which is why he almost drank it himself. And we all sure as hell know you got a problem with Brizio," Emery counters.
Landon rolls his eyes to himself. They are still arguing about that? It was so yesterday.
"Yeah that "I almost got poisoned" ploy was really convenient for you so you could easily pass the buck onto me," Romulus retorts, his voice becoming fainter as the group reaches the other end of the corridor.
Landon creaks the door open and pokes his head out. When the arguing bunch of hot-heads have disappeared around the corridor, he tip-toes out and begins trailing them.
They descend several flights of stairs before entering into a half-collapsed multi-story parking garage.
Landon pauses behind the entrance to the parking garage and peers around to get a view of his allies' continuing argument.
"You wanna know what I think?" Romulus smirks, turning to Brizio. "I think you invited your little outsider friend here into our alliance to take us out one by one. You start by poisoning Aida so it's not too obvious, then you blame me and get the others to take me outta the picture. How convenient it is for you now that you managed to find the cure. It's a shame you couldn't find it for Aida-"
"You don't know what you're talking about," Brizio interrupts only for himself to get interrupted immediately after.
"-I'm guessing you thought this… outsider would be easy to manipulate." Romulus points to Emery.
"Be careful," Brizio warns him sternly.
Landon has never seen Brizio break his composure, but he has a feeling he's about to. The snarky boy from Two has successfully gotten under his skin.
Please stop talking Romulus - Landon pleads in his head.
"Or is it something more? Is it love, Brizio? Hm?" Romulus teases.
Brizio's cheeks have now flushed red. He turns away from Romulus to attempt to calm himself, but the Two Boy doesn't stop his relentless assault of words.
"You know, I wouldn't have expected that from a slimy, backstabbing mercenary from the pits of Four, but I would have expected you to kill your district partner-"
Finally, Brizio snaps. He curls his fist and spins back around, landing a nasty right-cross on Romulus's jaw.
The smug grin is knocked off of the muscular career's face as he stumbles back holding a new red mark on his cheek.
It's at this moment that Landon knows their alliance is over for good. There's no going back now.
Romulus Immediately returns the favour and hits Brizio with his own right cross. Then, he charges into the Four Boy and uses his strength to slam him onto the hard concrete.
Brizio is still not fully recovered from his sickness, but he is able to put up an impressive fight against the bigger boy. He plants his heel into Romulus's knee, causing his entire frame to buckle down. Then, Brizio deploys his jiu-jitsu, a fighting style that all careers are taught, and wraps his legs around the Two Boy's neck to choke him.
"Stop it! Both of you!" Geneve pointlessly protests.
But of course, the two rivals ignore her.
Romulus has now turned purple from the pressure around his neck, but he manages to break free of Brizio's hold. By this point, Romulus is exhausted and gasping for air, but he is also clouded by rage. He continues to rain down his fists on his opponent's face.
He's winning. Landon can stay put for now. He'd rather this didn't turn into an all-out civil war between their alliance.
But nothing is stopping Romulus's attack, except for Emery's intervention…
The broad-chested Ten Boy wraps his arms around Romulus's waist and lifts him off of Brizio, allowing the slender career to scramble back to his feet.
Romulus thrashes around like a wild animal, managing to hit Emery with a reverse elbow and forcing him to release him.
But the distraction gives Brizio enough time to sneak up behind Romulus and lock his arms around his to hold him in place.
Landon watches as his climbing buddy jerks around desperately to escape but to no avail; Brizio's hold on him is as tight as a vice.
"Emery! What are you waiting for?" Brizio groans.
What is he talking about?
Emery pulls a knife out of his bag and steps towards Romulus.
Oh.
Landon has to act now. He was hoping Romulus would be able to get out of this on his own, but he was wrong. He can't let him die. He's not about that life.
Landon pounces out of his cover like a panther and tackles Emery into one of the pillars of the parking garage.
The Piemaker's face turns a dark shade of furious red.
Then, in a split second, everything changes.
Landon doesn't want to believe it.
He gasps.
A cool, metal blade pierces into his torso. His eyes drop down in shock. Emery has put his knife into him instead.
Emery yanks the blade out and then continues to stab him - twice, thrice, four times…
Landon pushes himself away from the sturdy Ten Boy, holding his bleeding body, and tripping backward towards a gigantic hole in the collapsed multi-story parking garage. Some faint groans escape his mouth, but he can't form any fall sentences. The knife has punctured his lungs.
The next thing he knows he loses his footing, and suddenly he is falling - falling through the hole in the parking garage.
His own favorite quote circles around in his head as he free-falls through the air. "You don't know you've hit the ground until you're tumbling towards it, so why worry?"
In a cruel, ironic kind of way, he was right, he supposes. His fall through the parking garage seems to be going on for an eternity. Until suddenly, it doesn't.
CRACK
He hits the solid concrete hard, and everything goes dark…
Romulus Ryker, 17
One of Romulus's most vivid memories that he has took place at the age of nine.
It was a hot summer's day, and he was sitting on his own at the front of his class. He remembers staring out of the window, wishing that he was out exploring the fields, rather than confined in a stuffy classroom being ordered about like some kind of cadet peacekeeper.
Suddenly, a pen hit the back of his head.
He glanced behind him with his fist curled to face the culprit - Blaze, the kid who had refused to get off his back for the last few weeks. He had a smirk plastered on his pompous face. "Hey Ryker, what's 2 plus 2?"
Romulus had been the laughingstock of the class ever since he got a simple addition question on a test wrong. Math was never his strong suit; he can't deny it.
Blaze continued to mock him. He never knew when to stop, even if it was best for him. "What's wrong? Can't your grandaddy bale you out like he usually does?"
Romulus's father only taught him one response to situations like these. So, the young boy stood up and walked to the back of his class towards Blaze. The bully continued to smile, completely unaware of what was about to hit him.
Something possessed Romulus at the moment. He doesn't recall exactly what happened but all he knows is he set himself upon the other boy like a wild animal. He slammed Blaze on the floor, twisted his arm until it was broken, and then knocked a good few of his teeth out. He's pretty sure that had his teacher not intervened, then Blaze would have ended up in a body bag.
Romulus was sent home early that day, and the retribution he got from his father for embarrassing the family name was the worst he'd ever received.
He will get no retribution for what he does next. His father isn't here to hold him back anymore. He is free.
BOOM
A cannon shatters the air. No, that can't be for Landon!
Romulus elbows Brzio in the gut sharply, forcing him to release him. He then sprints down the three levels of the multistorey parking garage to where Landon fell.
When he arrives, he finds Landon crumpled and motionless on the ground. His neck and head are slumped against a thick slab of rubble from where the building has partially collapsed. The slab is stained red with Landon's blood.
Romulus falls down beside the fallen career and frantically feels for the pulse on his neck. There's nothing. "Landon! Hey, dude. Talk to me, c'mon."
He gets no response.
"Landon. Talk to me," he repeats.
Still nothing.
Romulus releases his hand from Landon's neck. His head drops down. What this his fault? Landon jumped in to help him. Why didn't you just stay at the cornucopia?
Romulus's despair and guilt don't last long. The fury sets in fast. It clouds his vision worse than it did on that day in the classroom. Every muscle in his body tenses up, and his ears start to ring as tunnel vision descends over his eyes.
Landon was the first person he'd met in his life that he could truly relate to and they just took him from him.
He'll kill them both; Brizio and the outlier. But he'll start with the outlier so that Brizio feels the pain that he does. Then, he'll finally put an end to this rivalry, once and for all.
He turns his attention through the hole in the parking garage to Emery, who is still standing several stories above -he is still clasping the bloodied knife that he murdered Landon with.
Romulus gives the boy from Ten the most intense death stare that he can conjure up before swiftly getting to his feet, and scrambling up the rubble toward him as a hunter tracking its prey would.
"Go! Get out of here!" Brizio yells. Emery listens and runs to the edge of the parking garage. He begins descending down the metal ladders along the side of the building.
Romulus finishes hauling himself up to their level. His sight is dead set on Emery like he has a laser pointer on the young man.
Brizio is standing in his way with a black dagger in his hand.
"Get out of my way," Romulus growls.
Brizio leaps through the air, raising his knife. But Romulus is prepared. He turns his hips and delivers a spinning back-kick to Brizio's ribs. The kick, combined with Brizio's own momentum, throws the Four Boy into a nearby pillar.
He's not entirely sure where Geneve has gone, but all he knows is now there is no one in his way.
He pursues Emery down the metal ladder on the side of the building. His feet hit the street below then he peers around at his surroundings, his eyes darting in rapid, acute motions.
He spots the Ten Boy at the end of the street and then instantly takes off in a sprint in his direction. Luckily for Romulus but unluckily for Emery, sprinting was one of the first things he got good at in his life.
As Romulus quickly closes the distance between them, Emery turns to stand his ground. The outlier grits his teeth, preparing to fight.
There isn't even a hint of fear in Emery's eyes which Romulus can't help but respect. Though, it does nothing to relinquish his rage.
Only Emery's death will do that.
Emery hurls one of his knives directly at Romulus's chest with keen precision, but the career manages to sidestep it so that it only grazes his skin.
Emery hastily takes another knife out but by this point, the raging storm that is Romulus is already upon him.
The Two Boy smashes his heel into Emery's chest with a power front kick. The Ten Boy is sturdy but not strong enough to resist a strike like that; he hits the ground hard but his face is still burning with determination.
Emery crawls back to his feet and then thrusts his knife at Romulus's stomach. But Romulus grabs his wrist, squeezing it and twisting it at the same time. Emery yelps in pain, dropping the knife to the ground.
Now that his enemy is disarmed, Romulus is free to go to work. He slams Emery back to the ground and then pins him under his boot.
Romulus frantically looks around for a murder weapon, until his eyes land on a large brick that will just about fit in the palm of his hand.
As Romulus lifts the brick up to strike, Emery shields his face, but it does nothing more than block out his own vision from the impending attack.
Romulus smashes the brick viciously across his enemy's head. Then he does it again and again, and suddenly he has lost count of how many times he does it. All he knows is that he lets out a primal scream with each strike.
His mind goes back to the last night of the arena where he and Landon were soul-searching on the top of the tower in the rain, and his strikes become harder and harder.
BOOM
That was Emery's cannon.
Romulus stops his assault. He looks away from the bloody mess at his feet.
Romulus seems to be frozen in time. The ringing in his ears becomes more deafening.
He tosses the blood-stained brick to the side and then cracks his neck. He looks back down at Emery's body and a smirk forms on his face.
Alizka Ito, 15
Liz and Meilin's venture through the dark tunnel is long and tiring. They pass through the metro station where they had the run-in with the careers and those mutts with the creepy faces.
(She never did get to finish that drawing.)
That all seems like so long ago now but it must have only been two days. Meilin seemed in such a terrible state back then, after the bloodbath, but now, at the prospect of saving Day, it looks like a new life has been awakened in her.
Liz fears it may all be for nothing. Even if they do succeed in saving Day, they will still die at some point. They have to die for Liz to live, and for her to go back to her family. The same goes for Meridian, Meilin, and everybody else here.
That thought is slowly corroding her mind.
She wishes they could live in a world where they all get to survive, and they would no doubt continue to be friends after the games. But they don't, and Liz has to face that fact.
She's not entirely sure what Meilin's trying to achieve in the long run here, but she'll support her nonetheless. It's what friends do.
Liz and Meilin finish scrambling up the stairs to the surface level. They push open the heavy door into the back of the factory where the cornucopia is waiting for them.
Once inside the factory, the two girls are much lighter on their feet than they were in the tunnels. Tip-toeing isn't the fastest way to get to the career's supplies but it's the safest. They won't be any help to Day if they are caught and killed.
After scaling several ladders and gratings, they finally arrive at the edge of the dome that surrounds the cornucopia. They make their way into the control room where Day removed the arrow from Liz's shoulder on the first day. The Eight Girl instinctively holds her shoulder as the memory resurfaces and the burning pain returns with it. It never went anywhere. Liz had just been too distracted by all the chaos and near-death experiences since.
The window just behind the control panel offers a good view of the cornucopia and who's there. So, the two friends crouch down and peer over the top.
"There's no one there," Meilin whispers assuredly.
She's right. The cornucopia is completely void of careers or anyone else for that matter. All that's there are the career's unguarded supplies.
That's highly unusual - Liz thinks. It's common career practice to leave at least one person behind to guard their supplies when they go off hunting. Something must have rattled them. Or…
"What if it's a trap?" Liz whispers.
Meilin turns to her with resolute eyes. "It could be. But this is our only chance of saving Day. We have to take it. You… don't have to come with me if you don't want. You can wait for me here-"
"No." Liz says sternly "Let's go."
Meilin gives her a warm smile, and the pair head through the main doors into the open stretch around the cornucopia. It's a very strange feeling to Liz, especially when she crosses over the podium that she started the games on. She'd give anything to go back through it, and for this all to be over. But she knows there's only one way she's going back home.
The open space of the area around the cornucopia makes Liz feel extremely vulnerable; they need to get out of here as soon as they can.
"Only look for the anti-rads," Liz mutters. "We have plenty of food."
They begin rummaging through the many bags that the careers have hoarded. Inside them, Liz finds many useful things - weapons, first-aid, water, and more. If their plan was to simply steal the career's supplies then she would be thinking that they've hit a jackpot. But they are only here for one thing, and so far there's no sign of it.
Liz cannot help but think that might not be such a bad thing. She doesn't want to have to be the one to kill Day, and she's sure Day wouldn't want that either. So maybe letting the radiation sickness have its way isn't the worst idea?
But just then, as if fate is slapping her in the face, Meilin gasps in joy.
"No way!" The Three Girl exclaims. She lifts out a small glass bottle from a scruffy little rucksack and holds it up to Liz with a smile on her face. The bottle has the word "Anti-Rads" written on it.
"There's like a whole stash in here!" Meilin announces.
"You did it!" Liz exclaims, struggling to sound excited.
"Let's get out of here," Meilin declares, slinging the bag of anti-rads on her back, and stepping back towards the doors.
"Wait."
Meilin turns back, furrowing her eyebrows. "What?"
"I dunno… I just can't help but think we might be better off as just the two of us, ya know? If we help Day, we'll only have to kill her later. Maybe we should just go our own way."
Meilin just stares at her friend, motionless. The only word that escapes her mouth is "Liz…"
Liz shakes her head. "I'm sorry… I don't know why I said that. Let's go."
"I get it," Meilin smiles. "This arena does things to your head. My mind was completely lost after the first day, but if we get this medicine to Day, it will all be okay."
Liz wishes she could believe that, but she fears things might only get worse.
Just then, a cannon fires in the distance. The career's hunting trip must be going well. That's their cue.
The pair tip-toe brisky back to the entrance to the factory. Their pace picks up as they cross it, and then darkness envelopes them again as they head down into the tunnels and back to Day and Meridian.
Sort of a mean chapter by me, I'll give you that. One more games chapter which will only be 4 povs probs but the chaos will continue! Then we are onto the subplot interlude!
Deaths:
18th: Landon Singa (District One Male): Killed by Emery - stabbed and thrown off a building. I'm so sad to see this dude go. I had so much fun writing his witty, carefree personality. Also sad that the bromance with Romulus is over but Rom's gotta spiral and Landon's death was necessary for that. Thank you for the dd! I really enjoyed writing your son!
17th: Emery Vandermast (District Ten Male): Killed by Romulus - blunt force trauma. The first of the Sweeney todd duo falls. There was so much with Emerys character and his chaotic dynamic with Ozias. I hope I did him justice, thank you for the submission linds! I had a lot of fun writing your son!
Kill counter:
Geneve: 1
Romulus: 2
Aida: 1
Ren: 3
Chaney: 1
Auren: 1
Jokull: 1
Ozias: 1
Emery: 1