Day Three, so close, there was only him, Watt, and Tatiana left. He was going to do this, not for him, he was going to win this for Gwydion, for Gwyd. He had to, he owed him that much since he couldn’t save him from this arena. He’d at least save the memory of him.
Day Three, Lance was so close to winning only him, the brat from six and the boy from four. Neither one stood a chance to the Radiance boy who finally got picked to be District One’s Tribute. Her son was so close Mrs. Radiance was throwing the grand finale party, everyone they knew was there, they had a banquet set up, everyone was smiling, happy, they all knew he was going to win this.
When Lance got his gifts from Glitter, he smiled, admiring the throwing knives and pulling on the pants. At least now his legs were covered up, and when he was extracted he wasn’t going to have to be worried about the tattered remains of the bottom of the uniform.
Lance was waiting for something, anything, anyone. Nothing came though, until night started to settle in, then he saw the moon and he knew that meant trouble. Something that obvious always brought trouble with it. Standing up he pulled out one of the knives ready to fight whatever it was.
Then he saw them, the ghostly remains of the other Tributes, and he didn’t hesitate, whipping the knife into it, jogging over he pulled it out, but then he saw the fact there were more, a lot more. “Great.” Then again it was about time he faced some sort of challenge.
“You can do this honey, you’re so close.” Mrs. Radiance was talking to the television, her husband grinning. “Don’t worry, he’ll win, we’ll get our Victor. This time next year we’ll be in the Capitol.”
Lance was throwing knives and pulling them out, only he began to notice that that didn’t seem to kill them, only slow them down, getting frustrated he wasn’t sure what else to do. They were relentless. Just outlive the others, they’re being terrorized too, just outlive them, keeping fighting.
And that’s what he planned on doing, he planned to keep fighting, and he did. Eventually they were enclosing on him and finally one grabbed his wrist. Trying to stab at it, another grabbed his other wrist. Still he was trying to fight, kick them, biting them, trying to break free but they were stronger then he though. Still his thrashing was proving to be annoying, because another two each grabbed his legs. Still he tried fighting to break free, to escape their grips.
The party had been in a good mood when someone yelled that one of them grabbed him. Then it fell silent, no one knew what to say when they saw what was happening, when Mrs. Radiance finally said something. “Do something, somebody, do something! Help him!” No one knew who she was talking to, the people in the room, the Capitol, other Tributes. “That’s my son! My youngest! Someone help him!” She was screaming, and then she started to cry. “Somebody, help him! HELP HIM!” Mr. Radiance, tried to get her to calm down. “Dear, rela-” being cut off by her. “Relax?! That’s our son, he needs our help! Help him, Help him, this is OUR fault! We have to help him!!” People just stared at her and the screen not sure what to do.
Lance could feel the air, changing he heard the river, trying even harder now to break free, he wasn’t, he wasn’t dying, not like this. Not like this. But he felt them entering the river, still he fought against them, they were trying to hold him under but he kept coming back up for air, he wasn’t going to let them drown him not like this, but he knew he couldn’t break free. Being shoved back under for a few more seconds he forced himself back up for air.
Now that they were focused on his chest and keeping him under, his hands were free, using one he found the dagger he had fought Watt for, feeling the tears run down his face, he was shoved back under, this time longer, but using a burst of energy he forced himself out of the water again, gasping.
And then he thought to himself. “I’m sorry, Gwyd, Mom, Dad, Greg, Maple, Cheryl, Peridot, Fluffers, and Eloise” Using the dagger, he did something he never thought he’d ever have to do, but before he did, he looked on of the things in the eyes. “Fuck you, assholes.” he plunged it into the side of his neck, and then using his free hand, and what was left of his strength, what was left of his life, he dragged it across his neck, bleeding out, he knew he was dead, he was long died before they’d get the chance to drown him, and he smiled. The moon was so beautiful, and it was the last thing he saw before it went black.
Over at the Radiance house, Mrs. Radiance was sobbing in front of the tv, her son, her youngest, her baby that she treated like nothing was gone. He was gone because of her, because of her greed. “GET OUT!! EVERYONE GET OUT!!” People rushed out of the room, Mr. Radiance went to touch her shoulder, “Don’t touch me.” Slowly getting up, she went to Lance’s bedroom, running her hands over everything. “My baby, he’s gone.” Shaking her head, “No, no, he can’t be.”
Laying her head on his pillow, it felt hard, like something was under it, slowly she lifted it, and there it was. His animal anatomy book, the one filled with all his notes, his hopes, his dreams. He had even sketched out plans for how he wanted his veterinarian clinic to look. She was still crying but she smiled. “No, he’s not dead.”
A silver parachute drifts slowly to the ground. A large box is attached with a note from mentor Glitter Caulder. Inside is throwing knives and pants. The note reads: “It's almost over. Win.”
Lance ventured out of the cave, he wasn’t sure he was heading to, he knew that there were very little Tributes left. Him, Watt, the girl from Six, and the girl from Four. Gwyd had to be gone or else he’d have been back by now. Something that really twisted Lance’s stomach, he couldn’t mourn for him yet though, he had to get out of the arena first, he was going to win for Gwyd. Grabbing two more canteens before he exited he made his way up the mountain again, heading towards the Cornucopia. It only made sense in his mind to be in the middle of the arena for the finale. When he thought he heard someone. “Look, I’m not in the mood to fight, so don’t make me.”
A silver parachute drifts slowly to the ground. A medium box is attached with a note from mentor Glitter Caulder. Inside is a full canteen and a small meal. The note reads: “Stay Strong. Keep fighting.”
Lance hadn’t even noticed how hungry he was, but when the food landed there for him, he dug in, and it almost seemed to disappear. Putting the water around his neck, he smiled. “Don’t worry, Glitter. I will. I will.”
Groggy, the shifting of light pouring into the cave awoke the boy whose hands immediately reached for his still aching bite marks. It was then it registered that he was in a cave, unlike where he had blacked out. He peered around the shelter, noticing how bountiful it was in resources, even more so than the cornucopia. Canteens lined the walls, drawing his tongue outwards and onto his lips. He sat up far too quickly, his head recoiling painfully. “Hello?”
Lance had woken up before Gwydion, he had less of the venom running through him, so it wore off faster. He had explored the cave and found it had everything they needed. Medicine, water, whatever they could have needed. Smiling though when he finally heard Gwyd. “Hey, I’m over here.” Grabbing water for him, he brought it over. “Here drink, Gwyd, you need it.”
He could still hear the other boy loud and clear, but had lost complete control of every muscle in his body albeit his eyes. The mutts were still everywhere, but Lance was moving as quick as ever despite being weighed down. The hissing still was the most prominent sound in his ears, even as his vision fluttered before all went black.
It took all his training and skill but somehow, Lance had managed to get him and Gwyd to safety, he had been bitten a few times, not as many as Gwyd though. They’d wound up in some cave not sure what was even in it or how he had even got there, all he remembered was knowing he had to get the two of them out of there. Laying Gwyd down onto the flattest surface he could, he was worried about the venom that was now in both of them. “We’re going to be ok, Gwyd don’t worry.” Lance’s need to help others kicked in and the next thing he knew he was tearing off the bottom of his toga and was wrapping it around Gwyd’s bite wounds, when it was all said and done, he laid on the ground next to him. “We’re going to be ok.”
Whatever was behind the serpent’s fangs was potent, the surge of pain running through his veins like fire spreading through a forest. Panicked and unable to do anything to stop himself, he fell onto his chest and was soon surrounded, though it seemed now the reptiles only sought to trap him. His fingers tensed up and the feeling in his legs was all but entirely gone. “Help..” he somehow pushed out, not knowing if he could even be heard of the symphony of hisses.
Lance saw Gwyd go down and then how the snakes started to gather, double hauling back over to him, he tried his best to avoid getting bitten by stepping on the snake’s heads. It was more challenging then he thought though, when he finally got Gwyd up he, threw his arms around his neck and held onto them so Gwyd was laying on his back. He had felt one of the snakes bite his hand, and another on his ankle, but he managed to start to pull Gywd at a decent speed away. “Come on buddy, stay with me.”
He hadn’t taken long to push off the ground into a run, but the slithering reptiles were already taking aim at his ankles. It seemed they were taking turns leaping forward from the masses of the ground. Gwydion yelped as one finally met its mark, sinking its teeth into his upper thigh, stalling him long enough for another to wrap itself around his foot. Another bite thrusted pain through his calf muscle. He flailed about as he continued to run, but it seemed there was no shaking them.
One thing Lance had prided himself on was being quick, something a lot of Careers really weren’t anymore. So he was doing a pretty decent job at avoiding the lunges of the snakes, lots of close calls but nothing yet. He was pretty sure Gwyd was also managing to stay safe, when he heard him yelp. Seeing one on his thigh, and foot. “Shit. I can help.” All his training and Glitter would have probably wanted him to keep running, but he couldn’t. He had to help Gwyd.
Slumber hadn’t come easy with lightning sending vibrations through the ground every few seconds, but with ears still cupped and body scrunched into fetal position, he eventually found it. His face ached from his worry lines as he awoke, realizing he was alone. “Lance must have gone off hunting or something,” he thought, not caring to truly figure out where he had gone. Only that he returned at some point. A fearful thought struck him, that his not-so-calm, cool, and collected behavior during the storm might not win him many favors with the sponsors Hunter insisted he win over. For whatever time remained, he had to do better. The stretches of lines on his face seemed to dissipate the moment he pumped himself full of faux confidence.
He saw his ally running in his direction, but didn’t see that something was following him until he was directly upon him. A near army of long, rapidly moving snakes charged towards them, and here in the Games, it was clear they weren’t friendly. “Run!” he screamed as Lance reached him.
Seeing Gwydion, he had started to wave his arm signaling for him to start to run, although he didn’t seem to notice. Once he was close to reaching his friend, he saw his facial expression change, and heard him him yell. “What do you think I’m doing? Come on, we gotta go!” Grabbing Gwydion’s arm, he tried leading him in a direction away from the snakes.
Lance had eventually fallen asleep listening to the lightning, terrified, worried the whole time that the Cornucopia was going to give out and the it would hit them. However, he eventually found himself waking up to a much better picture of the clear skies. Looking over to Gwydion he saw that he was still asleep, smiling at him he was cute when we was sleeping, Deciding to go out and try to find something to eat, he wondered out of the Cornucopia, It was quiet which left a bad feeling with Lance. No birds or leaves rustling, he didn’t like it, and then he heard hissing. Looking at his feet he saw the source, backing up from the creature, he knew he wasn’t going to be able to kill, Lance couldn’t bring himself to hurt the animal, and then he saw more of them following. “Shit. Shit. Shit.” Turning back he started sprinting back towards Gwydion, to get him and make sure he was safe while also trying to dodge all the animals that seemed to popping out from nowhere.
A bolt struck close, right outside the walls protecting them, shaking Gwydion to his core. His hands stayed plastered, cupped around his ears like skin armor. “No,” he whispered. Inch by inch he scooted closer to the middle of their shelter, not risking being anywhere near the edge when another strike hit nearby.
Lance was too busy staring at the opening of the cornucopia to hear his answer, instead deciding to wrap his arms around his legs in a fetal position. He was staring at the lightning from over his knees. This wasn’t the first time he saw lightning, but it was the first time it was this close, and it scared Lance shitless. Slowly he moved further into the structure. “Gwyd, we’re going to be ok, don’t worry.” He was saying it more for himself than for Gwydion at this point though.
The boy could focus on nothing past scrunching himself into a tighter ball and the now constant rumbling that echoed through the shell. When a silhouette popped into his vision from the darkness, it was unclear just who it was. He would have ran, jumped to his feet, defended himself, but there was no room for him to do any of that. Placing the voice with the career boy, he calmed ever so slightly, but not nearly enough. “If you have a better idea, I’m all ears. I’ve been chanting to the gods to keep me safe, but in here, they’re the ones doing this.”
His breathing was still heavy and he was trying to calm himself down. Shaking his head, “I don’t, I don’t have a better idea.” Trying to pull himself up a little off the ground. “I wasn’t told anything about lightning at the academy.” Looking at Gwydion, he swallowed. “Can I hold your hand?” Trying to puff out his chest, and look confident. “To make you feel safe of course.”
Gwydion had arrived at the cornucopia with Lance in a matter of hours. Most of what had been laid out must have been taken by the remaining tributes or lifted with the dead who weren’t able to escape with it, but packets of crackers and granola bars held his stomach over as night set in. He had used a sharp rock to carve his sigil of protection in the ground surrounding their camp. Knowing he would be useless in the event that they would be attacked, he meditated wrapped in the safety of the metal shell while Lance patrolled the area. His breathing had reached a peak of perfection, each inhale filling him to the brim, when he noticed hardly a speck of moonlight was able to penetrate the darkening clouds. Even with no light to guide him, he deemed himself spiritually charged enough for anything. Or at least he hoped.
Moments later, he jumped to his feet when a outrageously loud bang surrounded him. Peering out of his resting place, the sight of seemingly hundreds of lightning flares greeted him, one having struck the horn of the cornucopia. Pressing his back against the metal wall, he covered his ears, realizing he was trapped. Trapped and alone, with no sanctuary guaranteed to him.
@lance-radiance
Lance had left Gwydion to his magic things, while he scooped the area for any possible threats. Lance didn’t mark any of the Tributes as exact threats, he was more worried about what was in the arena, having no idea what creatures the Gamemakers had come up with, in the past there were hounds, monkeys, robots, birds, and truth be told with this arena layout Lance didn’t wanna find out.
Feeling a change in the air, it felt as though it was going to rain, deciding to start heading back, when out of nowhere, a lighting bolt hit the ground. “Oh shit.” Sprinting off, Lance wasn’t sure where he read it, but he remembered that lighting hit the tallest things, and didn’t strike the same spot twice. Although he wasn’t taking chances, the Gamemakers were probably betting on that, and he had to make it back to Gwyd in the Cornucopia.
Sprinting as fast as he could towards, all he could get out was “Shit, shit, shit, shit.” He was running in a zig zig just in case the Gamemakers were trying to hit them. All around him, he saw them slamming into the ground, and he could feel their power. “Shit, shit.” Finally when he saw the Cornucopia, he smiled a little, and once he was close enough, he threw himself into the doorway, watching, as a bolt hit right where he had been standing. Trying to catch his breath, he looked up at Gwyd, trying to hide the fact he was scared, albeit poorly. “Gwyd, i was worried about you. Do you think this thing will keep us safe, though?”
“I never thought living in a freezing basement with only one meal a day would ever be something I could consider a strength.” I’m no warrior, but I can survive, he thought to himself. It was the only advantage he might have over the career boy and it was one he would be sure to remind himself of as they progressed.
“Well look at that, it turns out it was a skill booster. I know I’ve always been turned off by meat after caring for animals, so worse comes to worse I can eat the grass.” Shaking his head. “I don’t know if I’m as strong as you in that department though.” Grinning. “Though I know I’m physically stronger, so if those scrawny legs get tired I can give you a piggy back ride.”
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