Blaine Abernathy: A Canary Caged
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games.
Chapter 54: The 75th Annual Hunger Games
Blaine's POV
I was running.
I was running down the catacombs that were sterile and never-ending. The lights dimmed while the Peacekeepers stood in position. All stagnant, as if I have become invisible. All the doors opened, showing the Victors standing there in the shoots, on the platform trapped in the cylinder.
I try to enter to stop them from going up, but only the peacekeepers push me away. I try to go in again, yet they continue to push me away. I cried as I saw Mags standing there with sadness as her shoot took her up. I ran, trying to get to the other one, seeing Woof fighting as his shoot went up.
In each room, I failed as they all went up in the shoot.
I screamed, frustrated, as I continued running, trying to save my friends.
Finnick saw me, and his eyes widened. Somehow, the guards let me through, and I ran up to the tube, banging on the glass. Finnick fought as well, smashing his hands on the glass. I cried as he tried to say something to me.
"I'm sorry," I sobbed. "I'm sorry."
"Get out!" Finnick exclaimed, not out of anger. "You need to get out!"
I could barely make out his words.
"Get out!"
Suddenly, Finnick's shoot hissed as it slowly lifted him up. I screamed, banging on the glass, watching him be carried out to his death. I fell to my knees, sobbing. Knowing I had a part in his possible death.
Footsteps could be heard, and I looked over my shoulder to see Haymitch standing there.
"I am disappointed," Haymitch seethed.
"What?" I asked, confused, looking at him to elaborate.
Haymitch turned his gaze, seam eyes glaring at me so I could see everything. He knew everything about me and my actions over the years, probably since the beginning. I opened my mouth to say anything, but he raised his hand to silence me.
"Dad, let me explain," I choked out.
"Explain what?"
"It's complicated, but I did everything to protect you." I sobbed, reaching out to hug him, but he stepped away.
"I just don't see it." He said sternly. "I thought I could….my little girl died in the arena."
And with that said, he left the room. When the door slammed, I doubled over on the ground, heaving. Now I lost everybody I love: My father, my friends, and maybe Cinna. I knew someday either of them would see the betrayal I did in keeping everyone physically safe, which came with a consequence. I just wished it never happened.
.o0o.
I woke up with a jolt of shock to feel something wet slide down my cheek. When I touched my cheek, I realized the wetness was tears. I sighed in anguish at how real the dream was. It would be a nightmare if Haymitch discovered my secret and said he was disappointed in me.
The digital clock read four in the morning, and I refuse to encounter another dream or the cruel curse of a nightmare. So, instead, I got out of bed and decided to shower. It's strange to wake up in a cold bed with no cat curled around my feet or warm arms wrapped around my waist. The absence lately made me feel lonely.
After a long shower, washing the evidence of tears away and changing into something…..I couldn't. I couldn't move or even think about what was to come. Today was the Hunger Games, and all my friends would die in less than seven hours. How can I act like this was another typical Game?
Cashmere, Gloss, Brutus, Enobaria, Beetee, Wiress, Mags, Finnick, Johanna, Blight, Woof, Cecelia, Seeder, Chaff, Peeta, and Katniss will go in, and one will come out. My heart ached for things like that. I wish I could skip the Gamemakers' Headquarters in search of sponsors and hide in some ditch somewhere. But that was impossible. So, picking out an outfit randomly, I left my room and sat down in the sitting room to observe the sunrise through the dark city.
The young red Avox kindly handed me a glass of tea. Before she left, I grabbed her hand, and she flinched, worried that she had done something wrong.
"I order you to tell me your name," I whispered.
She tensed, for she was vocally unable to speak, though she grabbed my arm to trace the letters of her name: L-A-V-I-N-I-A.
"Lavinia?" I asked quietly to confirm.
She nodded and left to do her other chores before the day began. I sighed, taking a sip of tea. What a corrupt society we live in. There was no peace, no order, just oppression under the leadership of a ruthless tyrant. The sound of the main door opening and closing signaling that the stylists are here to escort the tributes to the arena. Before I could greet them, I noticed only one set of footsteps.
"You should be asleep," Cinna said quietly as he sat. "Another nightmare?"
"Yeah," I breathed.
"About what?" he asked.
"Disappointment."
Nothing was said after that. Instead, Cinna wrapped his arm around me while I curled into his form. Our future seemed to fade as time passed, unsure if there would be an us in the future….if Cinna is still alive... The voice in my head whispered continuously, 'Enjoy this moment, for tomorrow he'll be gone.' I ignored it and breathed in his cologne, trying not to think of the inevitable.
I was imagining the life we could have. However, I could not see it. As we are from separate Districts. He was in the Capitol, and I was in the District. Even if we could make it work, there is a chance Snow can ruin it. Yet I wanted more with him. Not just a friend and lover. More.
"Blaine," Cinna whispered. "No matter what happens, I want you to know… I love you."
My body tensed when he said that. The words I wanted to hear are true. Not from obsession or delusions. If only Cinna knew the truth about me. He shouldn't love a coward, a liar, and…a monster. Even when the monster is dormant, I don't deserve his love. My heart clenched while my eyes watered. Once more, I'm unsure how to respond, knowing I don't deserve love.
Cinna smiled, placing a finger over my lips. "I know you care about me more than friends, and that is all I need."
Before I could protest in his martyr speech, he kissed me.
Please don't! I mentally cried. Please don't let this be the end.
When he pulled back, he kissed the tears away, whispering sweet nothing. "There is still hope for you. I don't know if I'll be a part of it, but the snow shall melt, and you can bloom your desired future. Just promise me to be brave?"
"I can't," I sobbed.
"Yes, you can." He assured, cradling my face. "If not for me, then do it for your friends. Help Haymitch, follow your music…. just don't bow and give up."
Little did he know my life had fallen a long time ago.
With one last kiss, he got up to wake Katniss and Peeta in preparation for the Hunger Games.
No matter where I go, death is always there.
As I watched him disappear down the hall.
It wasn't long before Portia arrived to take care of Peeta. This time, the stylists will be taking the tributes to the arena. I waited for Katniss and Peeta to give them a final goodbye. No words were given since none could share. Only to exchange a hug.
Yet Katniss whispered into my ear, "Take care of my family."
I inhaled sharply and nodded, "I'll do my best."
The moment Katniss dies in the arena, her mother and sister will be evicted from Victors' Village. I'll make sure Prim and Mrs. Everdeen are cared for and that they do not take extreme measures in order to survive. It meant my list was getting longer.
Once Katniss was taken up, I went to my room to prepare for the Games. So I do my makeup and hair before putting on clothes. I did not feel like wearing a dress. So I wore a pair of black sacks and a black lace couture blouse that fit the standards.
I put on my jewelry but stopped, realizing the ring was missing. The ring that Effie gave me. I cursed and swore I placed the ring back in the case. However, it was nowhere to be found on the vanity. I got up and checked the nightstand, bed, and the bathroom afterward.
I began to panic, for I couldn't find it.
Running out of time, I had no choice but to leave without the ring.
.o0o.
Haymitch has yet to speak on the drive toward the Gamemaker Headquarters. How could he when his best friend was going to the Games? In fact, none of the mentors said a single word this morning, knowing our brethren were going to the one place we all fear: the arena—a place of fear and blood. When you play the Hunger Games, you win, or you die. There is no middle ground. That is the golden rule of the Hunger Games. Nobody from the District would socialize with sponsors who wanted to help their favorite tribute kill other tributes.
All the victors were isolated from the sponsors at the beginning of the ceremony. They only speak when spoken to, shake hands when offered, and return to sitting on the couch waiting for eleven O'clock. I sat down on a sofa with Miya and Annie, trying to settle their nerves, assuring them everything would be okay.
She shook her head, falling into an episode where she'd close her eyes, cover her ears, and rock around. This will be hard on her since her lover is Finnick Odair. Along with the second mother in Mags. So instead of telling her to stop crying...I consoled her by holding her in my arms and letting her cry. Miya supported her by placing a hand on Annie's knee and humming a tuneless melody.
I felt nauseated, close to vomiting, as the Capitol seal came on along with Caesar Flickerman, reviewing last night's interviews and Scores. Annie then became hysterical, yet she didn't scream or cry but shook even more. Acre joined the lounge area and sat next to me. Lyme, Hacker, and Haymitch came over, sitting across from us. We said nothing other than wait to see this year's arena to be surprisingly new. The arena was a tropical island. The Cornucopia was on an island in a large, round saltwater pool. Encircling the water was a jungle. This was a completely unfair advantage, for half the tributes couldn't swim.
The twenty-four platforms waited, and waited, as time seemed to move on and had the audience apprehensive. Caesar touched his ear, announcing that there was some technical difficulty and the game would start momentarily. I bit my lip, feeling bad that it wasn't technical but ethical. A few minutes later, the platforms activated, lifting the tributes who squinted in discontent at the bright sun reflecting over the water. The countdown down begins, the camera angles shifting on each tribute.
Their uniform consisted of a jumpsuit with black with dark gray sections over the outer thighs and chest and light gray sections over the shoulders. Elbow pads, knee pads, e-pads, and black nylon boots were also provided. Katniss stood between Woof and Mags. I tried to read her expression for answers as she expressed utter horror that I hoped didn't involve Cinna but the arena itself. There were hardly any lakes or rivers to swim in District Twelve, so neither could swim.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fifth Hunger Games begin!" Claudius Templesmith's voice boomed out.
As the countdown went down rapidly, Miya grabbed Annie's hand while her other hand held mine. Hacker clenched his hands together, not looking at the monitor. Lyme glanced at him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Acre tapped my shoulder, wondering if we should do the same; I eyed my hand towards Annie, who was still clutched to me, so he rested his hand on my shoulder, reassuringly squeezing it. I smiled sadly in gratitude, then looked at my father, who nodded.
This is it.
When the gong sounded, hardly anybody jumped off their platform and swam to the Cornucopia. Finnick was the first to dive, disappearing in the water, followed by Katniss.
Wait what! I thought in shock. The girl can actually swim?
It appears so, as she kept her body straight, paddling one arm over her head, then switched to the other in a rowing motion. The other tributes seemed dismayed, unsure what to do, before the Careers cautiously jumped off the platforms.
Finnick reached the Cornucopia first, instantly grabbing a trident and netting. Katniss reached land and dashed to the horn; however, she stopped. The camera zoomed in to show that the supplies in the Cornucopia were nothing but weapons. What the hell, this would be a first. She caught sight of a bow and grabbed it along with a set of arrows. She also grabbed a machete. Finnick walked up to her, and she instantly swung the blade at him; however, he intervened with his trident.
"You can swim, too," he said with a smirk. "Where did you learn that in District Twelve?"
The camera shifted back to everyone on the platforms or swimming slowly to the Cornucopia. So far, Mags, Cashmere, Gloss, Enobaria, Brutus, and Peeta were close to shore. In contrast, the others hesitated, slowly jumping into the water. Watt made it to shore when suddenly, a trident made contact with his chest. I cringed as blood spurted out when Finnick yanked the trident out, spotting something golden on his wrist…it was Haymitch's bracelet.
"Don't trust One and Two," Finnick ordered.
Katniss nodded, knocking an arrow to her bow, aiming at the water where Enobaria and Gloss were just meters away from shore.
"Anything useful?" he asked.
"All weapons," Katniss said, charging back to grab what else I could use.
"Same," Finnick said. "Grab what you want, and let's go!"
Katniss shot an arrow at Enobaria, who was too close but dived back into the water. Another arrow was shot, puncturing Gloss in the calf as he plunged back into the water.
"Do something about that, would you?" Finnick shouted, pointing at Brutus, who barreled towards them using a belt as a shield. Katniss fired at Brutus only to puncture the belt, causing some sort of liquid to spill. Unfortunately, the liquid got on his face, causing him to scream and jump back into the water. Three of the four Careers waited deep in the water. Yet, Cashmere seemed to elude Katniss and Finnick by swimming behind the Cornucopia and waiting for the opportunity to get inside if the two tributes had yet to block the mouth.
Peeta struggled to swim as the waves plunged over him. Shit, the prosthetic leg added the additional weight to his body mass, along with it not being waterproof that it'll malfunction. Luckily, Finnick was on Katniss's side, and he jumped back into the water to bring Peeta to shore while Katniss watched the careers and got their back. It was pretty amusing to see the Careers cautious around the Cornucopia, practically calculating the opportunity to approach without being shot by a seventeen-year-old girl. The only person brave enough to come was Mags as she walked toward Katniss, patting her thick belt.
Those belts must be filled with some sort of buoyancy material for the tributes to stay afloat. Well, that resolves the Gamemakers' problem for the tributes who can't swim. Can't have half the victors die by drowning on the first day? Not suitable for podcasting. The cameras were everywhere, and it was impossible to hear a complete conversation, let alone how people got together.
"Bob," Mags said, patting her stomach.
"Look, she's right. Someone figured it out." Finnick pointed at Beetee, who was splashing around, panicking in the water as waves came by but didn't drown. "The belts. They're flotation devices. I mean, you have to propel yourself, but they'll keep you from drowning."
And with that said, the four grabbed their weapons and ran to the forest, letting the bloodbath officially begin. I whispered in Annie's ear to look away, which she did as she went to her episode, trying to block out the horrid scene of friends killing each other. Practically, everyone was either closing their eyes or looking at a different view to avoid the betrayal amongst friends. Watching a career returned to their murderous spree like the others were nothing but animals.
.o0o.
00:03:32:23
Three hours, thirty-two minutes, and whatever seconds the game had started. The total count of kills goes off to represent the bloodbath victims of the fallen, going down to eight booms with the tributes on screen with Claudius and Caesar.
"And, of course, there's the familiar boom of the cannon," Caesar announced. "This marks the end of the fallen Tributes."
The tributes who had fallen on the bloodbath were Watt, Jet, Seeder, Abby, Graham, Sylva, Woof, and Cecelia. Now, three children are left motherless. No one spoke, let alone got up after watching the careers brutally murder our friends like they were nothing. Lyme had to excuse herself so she could fund her district. However, it's possible she did it to protect herself from the angry eyes of other mentors whose friends from their home district suffer. Miya was crying as her previous mentor died while the rest of us remained silent. Seeder was gone.
After a moment of silence, I got up to get everybody some drinks from the bar. Before I could turn around, I collided with a man dressed entirely in white. Quickly, I stepped back to apologize, only to stop to see the green sash and beret. Why is the Capitol Guard doing this here? Aren't they supposed to be at President Snow's Mansion?
"Miss Abernathy," one of them said.
"Yes," I replied calmly, though inside I was afraid.
"President Snow requested an audience with you immediately." He ordered.
"And what does he want?" Haymitch demanded, standing up.
"That is classified information." The same guard answered sternly. "I advise you not to get involved with this. As for you, Miss Abernathy, please cooperate and accompany us."
"And if she refuses?" Haymitch challenged.
"That's enough," I snapped at him.
"Blaine-"
"Enough, Dad. Right now, focus on our tributes." I hissed, getting up to straighten my blouse. "Acre, mind watching Miya and Annie for me….and make sure Haymitch doesn't get drunk?"
Acre nodded, though his face held a cautious expression. Miya grabbed my hand, saying don't go. Still, I assured her everything was all right, and the president needed to discuss arrangements. Though deep down, I knew this wasn't good. President Snow only sends his personal guard out to fetch people for private matters. So, with a curt nod, I followed the guard out of the Sponsor's facilities and into a black car where a gun was pointed at me.
Thanks for reading and please leave a review!
