Samson Sparrow, District Twelve, the Seam, optimist. Oldest of three children and a school drop out. Now working in the mines as a blaster. The only thing I care about more than my family is Wendy.
Pain, that was the first thing I noticed. Not a searing pain but a perpetually dull pain that seemed to reinforce itself with every heartbeat as if the thing that was keeping me alive was also slowly killing me. I suppose that was true in a sense, every pump pushed more blood out of my system through the cut in my thigh.
My body tensed as a sudden noise broke through the morning silence. I'd heard it before but still played cautious as a sponsor gift floated down to me a few feet away. Another gift? Who the hell would be sponsoring me in this condition? My fingers fumbled with the latch opening it up and finding medical supplies in it along with a note from Wendy's parents.
"Morphling, bandages, medical healing cream? This must have cost them a forture." I whispered under my breath as I rooted through the supplies. Ripping off the slashed fabric of my shorts I used it to wipe away any remaining blood before splashing a bit of water onto it. I applied half the tube of healing cream and wrapped it up before taking one of the tablets with my remaining water.
The relief hit me like a wave, intense and instant as a sigh escaped my body. I let my body relax, retreating to the shade of a nearby persimmon tree and picking one of the fruits that I'd become fairly accustomed to. I felt okay for the first time since day one. With the Capitol medicine my leg would be recovering and I knew Wendy's family was behind me. The last thought brought a smile to my face. Now all that was left would be to leave here in one piece.
I let my eyes wander as my body adjusted to the humidity and heat brought on by the arena. It seemed more intense this time and I couldn't help but feel the game makers were cranking it up. My gaze settled on a shape I swear hadn't been there last night. Craning my neck further I made out the shape of another tribute, female by the looks of it, and quite close to. Hesitantly I rose from where I was sitting, unsure now of how to proceed.
Location: Outside the front of the temple by a tree and a zen garden.
Weapons: Electric Drill and Three Throwing Knives
Pack/Items: Canteen of water 1/4 full
Injuries: Gash on right thigh and bruised jaw.
Company: No one
Developments: Woke up and remembered Wendy was gone (that sucked). Laid low for most of the day thanks to the proximity of tributes mixed with inadequate supplies. Was met with Wendy reincarnated as an 8ft tall samurai. After a physically and emotionally draining battle I managed to kill her but had to leave the area.
My sleep (if you can even call it that) was anything but restful. Between the fear of the alliance coming back for me and the gaping hole that seemed to have opened in my chest actually being able to quell the storm in my mind long enough to fit a few winks in seemed more impossible than leaving the arena alive.
A great trembling not unlike that experienced in the bowels of the earth where I worked woke me from what brief time I'd found to sleep. Groggily at first I soon was jolted to my feet as a towering figure crashed into my little clearing. Literally tearing through the growth as it charged at me I barely had enough time to roll out of the way before it brought a massive katana down where I had previously been standing and cleanly cleaved a tree in two.
Stopping to right itself, I reached for my new pack of throwing knives and pulled one out before launching it at the behemoth. The knife ricocheted off of it harmlessly and fell a few feet away from it. No way was I getting that now.
It started a slow walk towards me and I got the chance to actually examine the hulking monstrosity that now stood before me. My eyes started from the ornately made boots up the exquisite metal armor it was wearing. Damn the Game Maker's really didn't spare any expenses making these. The armor was a particular point of interest for me, eyes analyzing as fast as they could looking for any chinks in that seemingly impenetrable metal shell.
There had to be some sort of opening by it's face. Some weakness I could exploit to... No. Was this some kind of sick joke? How was it that she'd died less than twenty-four hours ago and here I was standing face to face with some fucked up muttation of her that was program to hunt me till one of us was dead? This was it, if I hadn't been before the game makers had broken me. There was no way I could bring myself to harm Wendy ever again.
"Wen?" I ventured in a soft tone. Perhaps if it looked like her there was still a small part of her left in there. "It's me, Sam." I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. "Do you remember me?" With an inhuman growl it lunged forward before I had time to react. The katana seemed to bury itself in my leg faster than I could process what was happening.
Blood flowed freely from the wound as I let out a yell and backed away from the samurai yet again. My attempts to put weight on the leg went as well as me trying to reach the humanity left in Wendy. The fog swirled in her dead eyes and I knew then and there this wasn't my Wendy. This wasn't the girl I'd fallen in love with. This was just another hurdle to jump.
The glint of the sword gave me warning as the samurai reeled back to deliver another blow. Seeing this one in time I spun away and took out my drill. The katana lodged itself in the ground from the strong downswing and I took the opportunity to close the gap between us before turning on the drill and drilling through the flexible armor covering her hands. An inhuman screech followed as the hilt of the sword clattered to the ground.
Step one, disarming. Accomplished.
It was a small victory as a fist came up to connect with my jaw sending me sprawling to the ground in a heap. Rubbing my sore jaw I noticed the shadow looming over me and rolled out of the way as a giant foot came down where my chest had been. Beautifully metaphoric, Wendy attempting to crush my chest like that. Don't you know you already have?
I pulled my last two knives from the holster as I backed up onto my feet. The scarlet waterfall coming from my leg wasn't slowing and I could feel myself growing weaker from it. This needed to end soon or I'd be joining Wendy. The giant charged me and I ducked under, jamming one of my knives into the knee joint on it's armor. I had to cover my ears as the thing screeched in pain and knelt down to the ground. It turned back to face me and I let my two knives go, one finding it's place through Wendy's eye and the other sinking into her forehead.
With a final shudder it collapsed to the ground in a tangle of metal. Cautiously I approached it still weary of game maker tricks before retrieving my weapons from it's face. Catching myself staring at her face, I shook my head slightly. She's gone Sam, let it go. I turned and limped to retrieve the first knife I'd thrown restoring my set before almost collapsing like the mutt had.
Exertion and blood loss were taking their tolls but I needed to move away from here. I couldn't stay, not with her, never again with her. I tore the pant leg off where it had been severed and wrapped the fabric tightly around the wound. It wasn't too deep but it was long and painful for now. A little medicine wouldn't hurt now Jeb. I thought as I hauled myself southeastwards and made to stop in a zen garden before giving in to my injuries and collapsing to catch my breath among other things.
Just Because It Burns Doesn't Mean You're Gonna Die || Night One
The sound of the cannon firing made me shiver, I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to that sound. Wendy had to be coming back soon, that was the avalanche just like she'd planned and any minute now she'd whisper my name asking for help getting down. Moments passed, there was no whisper, minutes passed, not a sound.
"Wendy?" My voice started as a whisper, more apprehensive about finding the truth instead of being found. "Wendy?" I ventured to raise my voice above the whisper as I called out for her. My body moved of is own accord, leaving the safety of the statue and moving towards where the alliance had just come from. I wasn't sure what I'd find, if anything.
As I rounded the corner I saw the results of the avalanche in the distance but there was no signs of Wendy. I retreated to the safety of the trees near the temple and picked myself a few of the fruits Wendy and had shared earlier that day. Had it really only been earlier that day since we were together?
Already I could feel the lump hardening in my throat. I wanted to believe she was alive and just separated from me with all my heart but something told me that wasn't going to be the case. I sat down among the foliage and forced myself to take of bite of the fruit and flush it down with water. It was sweet but I barely tasted it, my eyes were trained up on the sky listening for the tell-tale anthem.
What seemed like a few agonizing hours later the Panem anthem started playing and immediately my eyes snapped up to the sky. Face after face scrolled by, some I knew some I didn't. All of them didn't matter because I was just waiting for one face in particular. I knew it was coming, I'd prepared myself for it to be coming. Yet, there was no way I could have prepared myself to see Wendy's face in the sky above me.
I tried to choke back a sob as the reality of the situation hit me. She was gone; the girl I loved for as long as I could remember was gone from this world. She was the only reason I was still living, the reason I'd given up my time at home. Not fearing the tributes around I let loose an anguished cry. "Jeb!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "You promised to keep you safe. She was going to come home, she deserved to come home." I wanted to rip our mentor and everyone else in the arena apart. It wasn't fair to him, blaming him when it was really my fault but I couldn't bring myself to deal with that yet. "You promised... you promised." My knees buckled under the weight of it all and I collapsed to the ground wracked with sobs.
It must have been hours I'd stayed curled up unable to move. My muscles were sore and cramped from being in the same position for so long. Slowly, I stretched them out and felt the blood returning to them. It burned, a slow agonizing burn that came from the centre of my being and radiated outwards. I thought about how I must look, tear stained and broken in a bush. Wendy would kill me if she saw me like this.
Keeping that thought in my mind, how disappointed she would be in me I picked myself up. It wasn't likely I could win this thing but I'd be damned if I wasn't going to try my absolute best for her now. I'd already failed her once and wasn't about to for a second time. Wendy didn't get the chance to have her happy ending so I sure as hell wasn't going to let anyone else have their's either.
I know Samson. I can tell when he’s afraid. “Yes,” I say firmly, going to cup his face between both of my hands. “You’ve been getting treatment from the best doctors in all of Panem. It has to be working.” I offer him a hopeful smile, going to squeeze his shoulders. We hear another beeping nearby, but this time no parachute comes for us.
“We’d better move,” I whisper. We gather up all of our supplies and check that the coast is clear before hurrying in a diagonal line away from the stone statue and out on the porch behind the golden statue. Looking over the balcony I can see a garden path running along the right side of the temple, back towards the mountains where it disappears into the fog.
Both of us are silent as he listen for others nearby. Hearing nothing, we settle down to hide between the banisters and the statue. “It’s so hot,” I sigh, mopping a bit of sweat off my brow and pulling matted hair away from the back of my neck.
Wendy can't be sure but I know she's trying her best to try and comfort me. "Thank you." I whisper before clumsily giving her a kiss as stand up and prepare to move.
The sounds of fighting echo behind us as we sprint as move as quietly as we can out of the temple. Too many tributes and too many possibilities for confrontations for our liking. Wendy was smart to get us to leave.
However it is not long that we are outside that we start to slow down. Never in my life have I experienced a humidity like this. It's as if you combined the heat of the mines underground with being in a swimming pool. "I don't like our positioning still. If someone catches us here we're sitting ducks." My eyes wander around taking in the environment around us. There had to be something here we could use.
There is a subtle quiver about me as I tilt me head back once again. I pinch my nose and part my lips, and soon enough I can feel the medicine dripping into my throat. I wait until Sam pulls the vial away from my lips before swallowing. My face is scrunched up, as if I just bit into a lemon.
Before releasing my nose, I grope around for the water bottle and take a sip, swirling it around between my cheeks before swallowing. Already, I’m starting to feel better. “Thanks, Sam,” I say with a soft smile, clearing my throat a bit. I double check the sponsor package to find a note, and read it over. Kalmin. I never spoke to him, but I do remember glancing up to see him in the booth now and again. I glance around for a camera, unsure where the closest one could be. “Thank you,” I say softly, hoping that he can spare a passing glance to see it.
“How are you feeling?” I ask Sam, packing the vial back into the metallic container.
"How am I feeling?" I echo her question trying to come up with a response. "Well we're both alive and you look a lot better already, so I can't be too bad can I?" I look past her off into the rest of the temple where sounds of tributes can be heard reverberating off the wooden floor.
"I don't feel too strong but I haven't had any symptoms in the past little while. Do you think that means it's working?" I asked turning back to her. Hopefully she can't see the fear in my eyes.
“Thanks,” I said, taking the vial and inspecting the liquid within. I sniffed at it and cringed, my nose wrinkling. I was never good at taking my medicine, even when it was in capsules. After a deep breath I raise the vial to my lips. Barely a drop has passed my lips when I sputter and spit it back into the vial.
I cleared my throat and pinched my nose with my free hand, tilting my head back. I put the vial at my lips. I couldn’t bring myself to part them. With a resigned sigh I slump back again, going to massage my temples. “This brings new meaning to, ‘I couldn’t swallow medicine if my life depended on it’,” I joke half-heartedly.
Gently I take the vial from her hands and scoot around so I'm in front of her. " Just close your eyes and I'll pour it in. It'll help if you don't look at it so you aren't thinking about it." I keep my voice soft as I instruct her, not paying attention to the little joke she made.
With a some reluctance she followed me directions and opened her mouth a little as her eyelids fluttered closed. I brushed a stray hair away from her face before pouring the contents of the vial down her throat.
I tense up as he holds me, pressing my lips firmly to my knees. I’m sure my breath is hella fowl. I could tell he was less than impressed when I returned, even if I brought food with me, and his attitude didn’t change much when I started to get sick.
I’m starting to regret going for weapons instead of a pack. I try to keep my hopes up as I lean against Sam’s side.
A soft beeping noise makes me jump. I look over to see a silver parachute drifting towards me, hurriedly snatching it up to shut off the sound. No need to alert everyone where we are. As I hold the little silvery package, my hands start to shake. I’d gotten a sponsor. Sweet wounded Jesus, I got a sponsor!
A weak smile comes to my lips, and I pry open the metallic container to find cold water and a little vial. I pull it out and examine it with a quirked brow.
I tense at the beeping of the sponsor floating down to us. Almost in disbelief I stare at the metallic package as Wendy scoots over to retrieve it. District Twelve was being sponsored? We weren't exactly the most promising duo but I wasn't going to question it and rested my head on her should to watch her open it.
She handed me the bottle to which I thankfully took a small mouthful. The cool liquid helped to soothe the dull ache in my throat and I wanted to keep drinking but forced myself to lower the bottle. Safe water was hard to come by and we'd need to save this.
The small vial in her hand was what really interested me. "I think it's medicine." I said taking it from her hands to examine it. I rolled the vial in my fingers looking closer at the clear liquid. "Here, let me get it for you." I uncorked the vial and handed it to her.
With one final heave the remainder of the persimmon I ate is splayed out on the floor of the temple. I should have known better than to drink water that wasn’t purified. I drink out of the stream at home, so I just figured it would be safe. Stupid of me.
I still feel the nausea but there’s nothing left for me to choke out. I crawl back over to Samson’s side and slump against the wall, curling up in an effort to ease the pain in my stomach. “I’m sorry,” I breathe, my face burning with embarrassment as I hide it from him. Day one of the arena and I’m already puking all over the place.
With each bite of the fruit I could feel my conscious returning to me. Somewhere between running from the bloodbath and here I'd lost myself but now Wendy was back and she needed me. I turned away from the sound of retching not wanting to be sick myself and waited for it to be over.
I'm mad at her, I can't deny that. She'd gone off on her own and drank water she had no idea whether it was clean or not. Despite that I couldn't bring myself to yell at her, it wouldn't help anyone and might attract unwanted attention. "It's okay it's not your fault. We just need to be more careful from now on." I soothed wrapping my arms protectively around her.
As Jeb sits up, I pull myself away from him and rise to my feet. While they talk, I meander closer and closer to Sam. “Don’t worry. The ball wasn’t all that much fun. Lots of drunk folks. Lots of awkward,” I chuckle. “You haven’t missed much, I promise.”
Of course he has a lot to think about - what would happen with his Private Training? I don’t mention it though, not wanting to scare or worry him so soon after he’s come to. “Scared me half to death though, you ass.”
I smile as I see the two of them together. I think of the way Wendy was clutching on to Sam’s hand when I found her earlier. And I realize as much as I don’t want to be alone right now, it’s not fair of me to drag them along for the ride. They deserve some time alone. For once, I aught to be a halfway decent Mentor.
“Why don’t you show Samson here some of those dance moves you used on me.” I tease, before allowing my face to become a bit more serious. “If you don’t mind. I think I need to be alone for a bit.” I say, glancing back down at Theo. “I’m sure you two have some catching up to do anyhow.”
"Don't you worry Jeb." I take his hand before as he goes to leave. "I'll be here watching over Theo and I'll make sure to contact you as soon as something happens." I smile up at him. Jeb and I had had limited contact in the past and I thought he favoured Wendy over me but I still wanted to show him no matter what he was a part of my family now and I'd look after him as much as he looked after me.
"Now Wendy, what's that about you showing me a few dance moves?" I let go of Jeb and turn to her raising an eyebrow. "You never told me you danced."
My hands begin to quiver as I read the note. I’ve just finished when I hear Samson speak. This was a moment I’d been hoping for more that 24 hours now, but any good that could have come from it is eclipsed with one look at Jeb.
How could I have ever been cross with him? “I’m sorry,” I whimper weakly, pressing my lips together to quell their quivering. I can’t turn into a sobbing mess now. I look over at Samson once before sinking to my knees before my sobbing mentor. He’s experienced too much pain. He doesn’t deserve any more. “I’m so sorry, Jeb,” I repeat, sliding my arms around his torso and squeezing him tight.
I smile down at her, wiping the tears away from my face. “Thanks kid.” I manage, placing my hand on her head. “It’ll be okay. I’ll be okay. Everything’s fine.” I repeat the lies to myself in hopes that they’ll become true, swallowing them down with another swig from my flask. I turn suddenly as I hear Samson’s voice. I manage a smile at him.
I shake away his apologies. “It’s not your fault kid.” I say, shaking my head. I suddenly wonder how it is that everything I touch falls to shit. “You’re up though.” I say, trying to change the subject. “How are you feeling? You look almost as bad as I feel.” I manage to tease, taking another swig. Almost empty again. Shit.
A frown creases my face as I see him raise the bottle to his lips. Then again, with what he has to deal with, a dying tribute and now a dying boyfriend can I really blame him? I manage a small laugh at his comment. "Really? Because I feel like a million bucks." Hopefully my joke would serve to lighten the mood.
Thankfully I've been headache free since entering into the infirmary. "So, I guess I'm missing the ball am I?" I motion towards what they're wearing. "You both look amazing." I try to hide the sadness in my voice that I'm missing the event by being stuck here. "Have I missed anything else exciting since I got here?"
“Shh, shh,” I soothe as he hisses at the nurses. I put my hands on his shoulders as I stand beside him, and gently start to massage them. I can sympathize with him, that’s for sure - at least in my case I had some idea of what was wrong with Sam. For Jeb this was completely unexpected.
“I’m sure they’re doing all they can,” I said softly, going to brush his hair back off his forehead. I’m not sure if it’s helping or not, but I can try. “I know it’s hard, but you just have to be patient. Theo’s strong,” I reminded him.
I nod, trying to believe her. “I’m sorry.” I say, my words slurring together thanks to the alcohol. “I’m no good at this.” I let my head hang down in front of me as I think of how much of a failure I am to everyone around me. “Thank you Wendy.” I nearly whisper, giving her a weary smile, but one that’s grateful all the same.
I can hear the sound of heels clicking against tile and I look up just in time to see the nurse walk in. I stand up eyeing her desperately. “What’s wrong with him?” I ask, but she just shakes her head. “We found this with him when we did the initial analysis of his condition.” She pulls a worn piece of paper out of her pocket, offering it to me. “This should explain everything. I’m sorry.” She quickly adds before exiting, although I know she doesn’t mean it. I glance from the paper to Theo to Wendy before finally gathering the courage to unfold it. The folds are worn as if it’s been read over and over again. I take a deep breath as I begin to read holding the paper with shaky hands.
"What's it say?" My voice sounds hoarse after going almost twenty-four hours without speaking. I'd woken up just as the nurse came in to hand Jeb the letter and was now propped up on my elbows despite the various tubes protruding from my body. The two turned and I gave them a weak smile which represented just how I was feeling at the moment.
"Jeb, I'm so sorry." I had seen first hand what the effects of illness on a person could be like. I lived it every day and it hurt the people around them just as much if not more. "You have to stay strong for Theo though. He needs you to stay strong for him."
Between the drug induced coma and my already barely functioning brain I was afforded little time actually awake and aware of what was going on while in the infirmary. Wendy had been with me earlier in the day but I fell asleep on her. She was here with me now but she was asleep and looked like she'd been here a while so I wasn't too keen on waking her up yet.
Trying so hard not to cry, I realized I was spending my last of training in a fucking hospital bed. I should have been out there training, learning some skill that would help me save her life. Now all that was left was my chance to impress the Game Makers and show them I'm not just the quiet boy with cancer, going to wither away in the shadow of those more outgoing than me.
What could I do in the training room though? What could I show them that they haven't seen a thousand times that I can actually do decently? They certainly wouldn't have explosives in the room or the chemicals necessary to make them. I doubt spouting off knowledge about the properties of coal would serve to impress either; my options seemed to be running pretty thin.
I ran my hands through my hair and notice more seemed to be coming out than usual. Just great, I'm balding on top of everything going on already. Yet, as I turned to look back at Wendy, my dear, my love, I couldn't help but smile. "Wendy, I love. I love you and you deserve to know that before one of us.." I couldn't finish the sentence. The slow creep of drugs was infiltrating my system once again. Tomorrow was private training. Wait, what was tomorrow? Why was I here?
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