Solomon Cavalier, 18, District Two, Capricorn
Solomon was not one to panic. He firmly believed that most things were possible, provided you kept your cool and formed a plan. And he was reasonably certain that was still true. But he didn't like some of the details his plans would have to include.
They were running out of food. None of them had anticipated being away from the cornucopia for this long, and although they tried a few times, no one could figure out how to catch an animal. Water was the more pressing concern. They were down to the last dregs of their supply and were starting to feel the effects of dehydration. Solomon felt fuzzy, distant, his throat perpetually tight. There were no sources of water apparent on the island, something he'd checked himself multiple times.
Everywhere but the black tower.
Careers often had a reputation for being solely large hulks of muscle, but Solomon wasn't dumb enough to enter the building frivolously. There was a good chance there were supplies inside, but just as good of a chance that there was danger as well.
He wasn't panicking. Not yet. But he was far closer to doing so than he'd like.
"We could draw straws." Ally offered.
"No." Nixie said, but didn't elaborate. Still, it was the most sensible thing she'd said in a few days.
"I'm not sure splitting up is a good idea in this circumstance." Solomon said, "We don't know what's in there. I don't feel comfortable sending someone into potential danger alone."
"Ally wants there to be lions." Nixie said.
Ally looked both annoyed and confused, "Why would I want there to be lions?"
"Because then you could feed Nixie to them." Solomon said. He was getting the hang of how Nixie spoke nowadays. It wasn't that she had lost her logic capabilities. It more just felt like she focused less, got caught up in her own metaphors. And only half of her thoughts ever reached her mouth. She hadn't completely lost it yet, and as long as that remained true, he would stand by her.
It was easy to give up on people you didn't understand. He'd seen it in his own life, the way his parents treated his brother. According to David Cavalier, Judas was a failure years before he turned to drugs. Even when they were children, their father considered Solomon the sole hope for the Cavalier name. Judas may have been the eldest, but he was also considered incompetent, willful, a lost cause.
Solomon always seemed to be the only person to truly see Judas. He was an endlessly joyful soul, always ready with a smile and a joke. He had energy, too much for his own good, and a strong sense of self. Nothing seemed to scare Judas, except his father's disapproval. And that was something he felt daily. Their father never understood Judas, didn't see his small rebellions as an outlet for the intense pressure of being the Cavalier scion. When Judas was fifteen, David sent him to a disciplinary school on the other side of District Two. Solomon was ten at the time and was sent the other direction, to the Career academy.
To this day, Solomon wondered what would have happened if his father had been more understanding. If Judas hadn't been sent away. Would he still have gotten into drugs?
While Solomon knew he could never adequately answer that question, he could be as kind as possible to people who were different from him. In that way, perhaps he'd prevent anyone else from losing their way.
"It's nothing personal, Nixie." Ally said. Which in some ways was progress. At least they were talking things out. "But do you really think you're capable of helping us right now?"
Nixie merely shrugged, then started to walk towards the black tower. Solomon followed, causing Ally to sprint a little in an attempt to keep up with him.
"She's going to get us killed." Ally complained.
"If we were so poorly trained that Nixie was the only thing keeping us from death, maybe we'd deserve it." He said.
Ally grumbled a bit more, but she didn't disagree. That was probably the best that Solomon could hope for.
The inside of the tower was a stark contrast to the outside, with inappropriately cheery yellow walls and a large light at the top that mimicked the sun. It was the most light that Solomon had experienced in days. He covered his eyes with his arm and attempted to blink through the dark spots that colored his vision.
When he finally adjusted to the brightness, he couldn't help but feel confused. The tower was huge, with a large spiral staircase leading up to several rooms above them. From his position he counted at least ten floors. The entire first floor was littered with treasure. Gold, brightly colored jewels, and intricately carved objects filled the area, bunching into piles like something from a fairy tale.
"What use is gold in the Hunger Games?" Ally said, "Is this some kind of sick joke?"
Solomon was similarly frustrated, but didn't let it show. "This place is big. Just because we can't see them doesn't mean that there aren't any supplies. Let's take a look around."
"Lions." Nixie said, "Well. Dragons probably."
"Nixie's right, splitting up could be dangerous." Ally said.
The girls had a point, but it was a lot of ground to cover.
"Ally, do you think you could scout ahead?" He asked, "We can come up behind you, close enough that we can catch up if you find trouble. And you can call out floors you believe might have something of value in them. If you mark a floor, Nixie can explore it, and I'll stay on the stairs keeping an eye on the both of you. That way we can keep moving. It might save us time. Sound good?"
The two of them nodded and they started to make their way up the tower. There were still piles of treasure on the upper floors, though they were less numerous than the base. Eventually, Solomon got used to their presence and practically ignored them.
While there was still clearly bad blood between Ally and Nixie, the three of them managed to work together well enough. Ally darted up the steps quickly and efficiently, telling them whether a floor was empty or had resources. One floor had weapons, which they largely ignored, while another thankfully had a small well and some empty containers. Solomon had some purifying tablets in his pack, so that was all they needed. Their gamble to enter the tower was worth it.
"I guess I forgot that you're good at this." Ally said as Nixie went to refill their water bottles, "Why did you let Hades run the pack? You were the number one candidate, weren't you?"
Solomon shrugged, "There are some people who lead because they need to be leaders. And others who lead because they want what's best for the group. I guess I just felt like Hades needed it more."
"This floor's food." She said, then stopped and turned to Solomon, "I…owe you an apology. Not just for how I've been behaving in the arena, but for years. We were friends and I threw you away. Because I felt like I had something to prove."
He had been fairly hurt about the way his friendship had ended with Ally. Even more so, he disliked watching her become crueler and crueler. Solomon often felt like he had failed her. Like he'd tried everything he wished he'd tried with Judas and it wasn't enough. But he couldn't truly say he blamed her for it, either. Career training was hard on everyone, and Ally was doing it among rumors of a rebel brother. Of course she'd closed herself off.
Solomon was about to voice those thoughts when he saw one of the treasure piles nearby shimmer. No, not shimmer. Move. There was something on top of the pile. Something with golden scales and bright green eyes shaped like emeralds. The creature shifted, then suddenly lunged at Ally.
He leapt without thinking, tackling Ally to the ground as the monster overshot them both.
Nixie Slate, 18, District Two, Capricorn
Fetching water was simple. Throw the bucket down, pull it up, fill the bottles. Solomon had the tablets, so it wasn't drinkable yet. But they weren't in danger of dying of thirst anymore. And it meant that she had actually managed something useful since the bloodbath.
It wasn't personal.
Nixie could still hear Ally's words in her head. It hadn't been personal on her end either, though she imagined it felt like it. For years, she'd bullied Ally. Harassed her, rubbed her success in the other girl's face for no other reason than that she could.
Well, there was another reason.
Nixie was a monster, after all. It was best that everyone knew that lest they get hurt.
But was she a monster? Really?
"No." she muttered as she screwed the cap onto a water bottle, "Maybe I never was."
Why did she put so much stock in being a monster anyway? She didn't think anyone actively encouraged the thought. Her parents had tried to dissuade her from Career training. Her teachers had thought it was an act (turns out they were right).
So why?
It was about her sister, she decided (Not that Nixie truly remembered her that well). She was five when Undyne died. Memories that far back weren't fully developed. Scents, flashes of vision, brief bursts of sensation.
Water. Baby powder. The sound of laughter.
Nixie remembered loving her. Loving her more than anything.
A scream. The sight of a crib, once full now vacant. Words left unspoken.
So how could she have killed her?
It wasn't her fault. Adults in Nixie's life had been trying to tell her this for years. Actually killing someone was the catalyst for her to actually believe them. She knew what killing intent was, felt the difference as a child's heart stopped breathing in front of her.
But to a five year old, perhaps that didn't matter. Nixie was a smart child, knowledgeable enough to know that Undyne was gone and it was her fault. But she was still a child. Unable to prevent a baby from drowning in the tub. Unable to process her own grief.
Is that what her monstrousness was this whole time? Guilt?
People found worth in all sorts of ways, she supposed. Solomon as a champion of the underdog. Ally as an image of perfection. Nixie had embraced the darkness within her, rejecting everything else and deciding that she was nothing more than a murderer based on one mistake.
Perhaps if Nixie was a worse person, it would have worked.
Then there was a crash nearby. Nixie only hesitated long enough to make sure the water bottles were secure before rushing out to the stairwell. She found Solomon and Ally in a defensive position together, Solomon a few steps higher than Ally, holding his spear in a stance that could easily defend either of them. They were both staring down the stairs with a look of fear and determination.
Nixie turned, and saw a real monster.
It was difficult to see at first, blending into the various golden treasures littered around the tower. But its massive tail arched upward slowly, and Nixie was able to spot the silhouette of a giant gold-plated scorpion.
"Nixie, don't move." Solomon whispered.
"It's not a dinosaur." She replied.
"Right, but It will probably attack the first thing that moves." Ally said, "Which we probably want, but only when we're ready for it."
"Do you really think you can beat it?"
"We don't have a choice. It's blocking the exit."
Nixie realized that Ally was right. The beast was firmly between them and the ground floor. They were several floors up, which meant that they could theoretically jump. But not without injury, and there was a very real chance that the scorpion could attack them on the way down. Nixie eyed the scorpion's glistening golden tail. She guessed that it was ten, maybe twelve feet long. With a range like that, running seemed ill-advised.
But just waiting until it attacked them didn't seem much better. Nixie felt if she could focus her mind again, she might be able to form a plan. But her thoughts still spilled away like water in her hands.
Water.
In her messenger bag were six bottles, freshly filled with water from the well. Using as little movement as possible, she grabbed one of them and gave it just enough of a throw that it landed away from her and started to roll down the stairs.
The mutt reacted instantly, bringing its tail down on the bottle. It crumpled under the immense pressure and Nixie thought she could see cracks in the concrete where the tail hit. Her allies responded immediately in unison, attacking the scorpion ferociously. Solomon aimed his spear towards the beast's eyes while Ally focused on the tail. Nixie stepped forwards and landed a heavy blow against the claw closest to her.
The scorpion lashed out with its other claw at Solomon, flinging him against the railing. Nixie thought she heard bones crack. Possibly more than just bones. She looked at the banister as Solomon fell and sure enough, saw more spider web-like cracks in the foundation of the stairs.
With its powerful legs, the scorpion jumped and landed on the wall above them. It skittered across the yellow walls until it was about thirty feet above them, then turned. The mutt's once-emerald eyes were now as red as rubies.
Ally ran towards Solomon and Nixie followed.
"The way is clear." Solomon said, "I'll fight it off. You two get out of here."
"Are you an idiot?" Ally yelled, "You're in no condition to fight."
"That's why I should be the one to do it. The two of you are more likely to survive."
"If you attempt combat in this state, all three of us die. Is that the hero moment you want?"
Nixie listened to them, but her focus was on the scorpion. It wouldn't remain on the wall for much longer, and when it attacked they would need a plan to survive.
She thought about her sister. About Ally, who she'd tormented for years until the girl became just as hard as her. About the two tributes she killed in the bloodbath.
Nixie wasn't a monster. She never was. But she could fight monsters.
"I have a plan." She said, handing her messenger bag to Ally, "Get Solomon to at least the second floor as fast as possible."
"So you can have all the glory for yourself?" Ally sneered.
"Jealous?" Nixie said, a bit of her old vitriol returning to her voice, "Be practical. We both know I'm no use to you guys out there. And I'm certainly not qualified to win. So let me help. Let me save you."
Ally stared at her, clearly torn. Nixie would have let her process everything but they were short on time. Brandishing her sword, she brought it down with a crash against the banister, creating an unholy clanging noise. Ally's eyes grew wider with realization and she finally complied, helping Solomon down the steps.
The scorpion leapt. But Nixie was expecting it. She held up her sword, slicing the creature's belly as it soared above her. The beast crashed to the ground, denting one of the stairs. Then it turned on Nixie, as she knew it would. Animals could have complicated thoughts, but they all shared the same base instincts. The injured were tempting, but the imminent threat was always the first priority.
And Nixie was more than happy to provide that threat.
"Come on then." She said, smacking the banister again, "Show me what you've got."
Ally Thimblewhitte, 16, District Two, Aries
Ally hated being powerless.
All her life, she'd felt like she had absolutely no control over anything. She was smaller and weaker than most children. Her parents weren't as wealthy as other people that she knew, and her brother… well, Gregory disappeared without a trace. When she thought back on her past, it was always accompanied by a sick, primal feeling of being stuck in a room with no way out.
So she'd become stronger, harder. She became what other people feared and she learned to become a killer. A champion. At least that was the plan. These entire games seemed engineered to tell her that no matter what she did, no matter how strong she became, it wouldn't be enough. She was just a district kid, thrown into the Hunger Games against a monster.
"We should help her." Solomon said, "I know you don't like her. But we can't just leave her behind."
"This isn't about not liking her." She answered. And it wasn't. Nixie was insufferable, but Ally didn't want her to die. There was nothing she wanted to do more than turn around and slay the beast, saving all three of them. But she had attacked the scorpion before. The armor plating was powerful, her attacks hadn't done anything. Even if she returned, there was no guarantee that she could beat the mutt.
More than no guarantee. Ally was sure the scorpion would kill them all. Years of training, and she was still the powerless girl who watched her family fall apart.
"We have to go back." Solomon said, struggling against her.
It was difficult to see her district partner like this. He was always one of the strongest trainees at the academy, proficient in multiple weapons and capable of advanced tactics. Even though she was the chosen female tribute for District Two, she didn't feel like his equal. Yet here he was, feebly attempting to break her grip.
Perhaps there was something to all of her training. She was strong now, strong enough to carry Solomon despite his protests. Hopefully she was strong enough to save him.
She didn't dare look back until the two of them hit the second floor. The beast was quicker than something that size had any right to be, lashing out with both its tail and claws. Nixie dodged most of the blows, but not all of them. Her form was bloodied and Ally thought that at least one leg was broken. But the girl stood firm, baiting the mutt into attacking over and over again.
Nixie was doing an admirable job, but not quite enough, and not as quickly as they needed. The second floor wasn't going to be sufficient any longer. Ally had to get herself and Solomon out of there entirely.
"You're a coward." Solomon spat.
"And you're a martyr. You're just angry it's not you up there."
"The only reason you chose Nixie is because you don't like her."
Ally shook her head, "She had a better plan than you."
"What plan?" Solomon countered, "Because so far it looks exactly like mine."
Ally wasn't intending on keeping him in the dark, but she figured that she would have time to explain after they made it out alive. So instead of answering, she turned and picked Solomon up in a fireman's carry before running as fast as she could to the exit.
When she reached the ground floor, there was a sudden jolt. As if the tower itself had crashed into something. Ally lost her footing and fell into a heap, tangled up with Solomon. She looked back up towards the stairs. At some point during the ruckus, the scorpion had pinned Nixie. It raised its tail once again, prepared to land the killing blow.
Except Nixie still had her sword, and with her last remaining strength she plunged it into one of the cracks on the stairwell.
With a great thunderous roar, the stone began to crumble. Out of a panicked survival instinct, the scorpion tried to jump again onto the wall, but Nixie held on to the sword with one hand and the beast's claw with the other. By the time the mutt threw her off, it was caught in the cascade and they both fell down along with the rubble. A dust cloud enveloped the entire area and a cannon fired. When the dust cleared, Ally could see the corpse of the scorpion mutt, covered in the collapsed remains of the third to fifth floors.
"That plan." Ally said, brushing herself off.
Solomon looked stunned, but didn't ask any more questions. With Ally's help he rose to his feet and the two of them walked out of the tower. After all, the mutt seemed dead. But neither of them wanted to take any chances.
"Does this island seem bigger than it used to be?" Solomon asked after they left the building.
"I can't tell. It's so dark out here. Let my eyes adjust."
When Ally was finally able to determine individual shapes in the darkness of the main arena, she realized Solomon was right. She couldn't actually see the coast anymore, something that was originally possible from anywhere on the island. And there was more, some sort of structure in front of them. She blinked rapidly, attempting to adjust to the low light quicker until she finally saw-
"The Cornucopia." Solomon said, "We're back to the central island."
AN: Welcome to the beginning of Day Four. Buckle in, it's gonna be a doozy. We finally got to see what was going on in black tower! I don't think the tributes are going to make it to every island (oops I made the arena too big) but I'm glad that I managed to fit in the scorpion mutt, because he's really cool.
And this chapter I have a eulogy:
17th-Nixie Slate. This girl was always fun to write because she's a very thoughtful, deep person who is trying to convince herself she's shallow. Having her guilt finally be too much for her to bear was a difficult thing to balance (and I'm not entirely sure I fully pulled it off), but I did really enjoy having a career break down more or less at the beginning. They may have some extra training, but careers are still just children. And responding to trauma can be unpredictable. But even with all that she was going through, there was something absolutely unbreakable about Nixie. She infused every scene she was in with kinetic energy. I will miss her.