Eventually I found myself at a dead end not far past the quicksand pit. I was still wiping the sand off my pants as I shoved everything into my backpack except for one dagger for protection and the shield because it couldn't fit. Spending a little time getting the hang of the pocket generator, I reached a point where I felt comfortable in how it worked; I'd used them all the time back in Three and they were usually just the rejects from our factories. Using a high-tech one good enough for the Capitol almost made my heart sing.
Dusk was breaking, and I could feel my stomach rumbling enough to signal hunger, even though after the day I'd had my appetite was nearly gone. I opened the backpack and sorted it through, and my heart sunk as I pulled out a large bag of baby carrots. I'd be happy eating these tonight as they wouldn't upset my stomach, but if this was all I had to survive off of I'd be weak and protein deficient by tomorrow night.
For now a handful of baby carrots made due; it felt good to eat something light because I couldn't help but feel sick after the bloodshed of today. I took out one of the juiceboxes and finished it, knowing that if there was one thing I couldn't squelch on it was hydration. I then cut off the top of the juicebox, keeping it in case I came across water at some point.
The postcard was useless, at least for now. I shoved it back into a pocket in case I could use it for some obscure purpose in the future. Then I pulled out the pillow, which made me feel a little happier with the almost-useless pack I'd gotten. At least I'd be comfortable. And then the bandages. If I ever did win a fight or end up with injuries at least I had ample treatment for the few days I'd be stuck here.
I packed everything back up and used my free dagger to pull occasional vines down all over the place, making the breakage scattered enough so that it wouldn't be obvious there was a tribute in my area. I weaved the vines into a crude blanket/cover up that would keep me warm over the night, then I took out my pocket generator. I hooked the wire into it and spread it around my sleeping area, weaving it through the vines and tightening it, creating an almost-spiderweb to protect me in my corner. If I got the electricity running high enough it could cause some awful burns to bare skin, or set clothing on fire.
I spent a good half-hour cranking the pocket generator so that it would create enough energy to last the night, and as I cranked the handle the Capitol's anthem sounded through the arena. The Fallen.
Several faces I didn't recognize appeared in the night sky, but I took out my notepad and crayon and marked down the dead. I had to pause a second as I wrote Jakub's name down, feeling a pang of sympathy for the poor kid. And then I continued. Rose, the odd girl from District Twelve, had died. I felt bad but also a little relieved. The death of one person I had met was not in my hands, at least.
The last cannon had to have been the girl from Nine, whos face appeared last. I'd heard about her from Marlee, how cruel and awful she was. But in truth I felt nothing. Not relief that she was gone, not sadness in her death.
I continued cranking, and after what felt like hours I let the generator do its job, and I settled down for the night. Both from One, both from Two (I felt relieved in that sentiment, at least), one from Four, both from Six, both from Seven, one from Nine, one from Eleven, and me. That made twelve. I buried myself in the makeshift blanket and huddled into the corner with my pillow.
Leo was waiting for me, and I for him. And my father was waiting for me back home. I couldn't let either of them down by dying too early. And exhaustion would get me down and out faster than anything, so I slept soundly against the concrete walls of the labyrinth, safe if only for a night.
As the World Falls Down || OS Two || Arena Day One
I must've fallen asleep somewhere along the way, tired and worn out from the heat and the dirt and the exertion. I was startled awake after dreaming of a girl in a ball, one who wore a beautiful white dress and silver barrettes in her hair. I had the remnants of an unknown song in my head, the lyrics bits and pieces of something I wasn't aware I knew. This girl was being cornered and chased and stopped at this ball, harassed by people in costume and masks of various animals. She was nervous, afraid, and trapped against this glass wall. I whispered to her just before everything went white. The last thing I remember was her shattering the glass with a white chair.
Once I realized where I was and what I was doing there, I shook the girl from my dreams and made my way to my feet. Dreams are strange, I usually pay no mind to them at all. And yet, this one stuck with me as I walked through the labyrinth further, the song on repeat in my mind. Falling... falling... falling... falling in love as the world falls down. I chuckled at the irony of it all.
I hadn't gone much further before I ran into another dead end. Feeling as though I couldn't are to go on, which was odd for me to feel (apart from my lungs that is), I slumped against the vegetation and settled into the corner for the night. The sky grew darker and the shadows on the maze walls shifted, turning day into night. I prepared myself to be alone in the eerily silent labyrinth for the rest of the night. There was no doubt in my mind that I would be safe for the night. Tributes would be trying to find safety to prepare for the hunt tomorrow while the Game Makers surely would not send mutts in our direction since we'd dwindled down to half within the first day.
Tomorrow would be a different story. So as my eyes adjusted to the dark, I decided to let my flashlight rest, to save the batteries. I would not be moving tonight, not when my stomach was rumbling. I snacked on the blue cheese, swallowing hard at the strong taste, but devouring it nonetheless because I was starving. As I wrapped up half of it so that I had something for breakfast, the loudspeakers began to blare the Fallen.
Adjusting my seating, I watched the night sky to observe all those that had been lost. I cared not for anyone that was left or anyone that had recently departed. Faces were just faces to me, just names, lives that were no longer meant to be lived here, but in the underworld. I imagined that Hades was not happy, nor would the gods who lost both children. And there was Hermes, who still had both. I wondered how Marlee was faring, but I didn't dwell on it. I knew she'd made friends and most would probably pity her. Until the end anyways.
The song ended and the sky faded to black, leaving only constellations in the sky. I wondered then what Hermes was thinking now. I'd grown a little fond of my mentor-god-father in the short time I knew him and hoped that there might be a way that some of our parents could help us. They were, in fact, gods, after all. But more than likely, I was on my own and what that meant was that I had to find my way through the maze... to find someone else to eliminate, and more food to eat. In the morning, of course.
Another hour or so later (because let's not assume I was counting), I found myself back in the ballroom, surrounded by people in animal masks. The same song was playing, the same people were dancing. But the girl was nowhere to be found. I dreamt I searched for her, high and low, under tables and behind doors. I couldn't find her at all. Desperately, I ran to the wall where the mirrored glass should've been shattered, but it hadn't been. Not a single crack could be found as I traced my fingers across the surface. And then everything was white.
I slipped the pack over my shoulders, leaving the boy in a pool of his own blood. I stood for only a brief moment as his soul departed from his human form. The look he gave me saddened me, mostly because this boy already seemed to have forgiven me. He nodded silently before the shimmer of his soul disappeared through the walls. He needed no help, especially not from the boy who'd just ended his life. And even if he did, this wasn't the time or the place. It was only once I finally looked up and began to flee did I see the bouncing curls of the only sibling I'd learned I had fleeing in the opposite direction. She'd seen me do it, I know she had. And now she was more than likely extremely terrified of me. Still, I wasn't going to let that get me down, so I headed into the maze without much hesitation, running in a direction even though I had no idea where it would take me.
The walls were tall, taller than anything I'd ever experienced, taller than the skyscrapers in the Capitol. I felt minuscule, like a spec of dust floating in the air. Except all eyes were on me, no doubt. Small flashes of red signaled the presence of cameras as I ran through the corridors, turning left then right then left again before finding a dead end and back tracking until I found a new path.
It was hot, humid, and rather disgusting. By the time I slowed down to take a breather, I was dripping with sweat. Running my fingers through my hair, I felt the dampness spread. My curls were soaked and I felt no relief as I slumped against a dead end wall. My feet kicked out from underneath me and I settled in the dirt, my chest heaving from the run. Damn lungs and their inability to be good at being lungs.
My weapons were safely tucked into my belt, except for the dagger I kept handy just in case. Letting it go for the first time, the blood of my victims now dried and hard on the blade, I reached for the pack to figure out what I had stolen from the boy. Imagine my confusion when I discovered a slew of blue foods, including cheese, cookies, and some odd gator-drink. As if the uniforms they put us in weren't bad enough, I found an extra-large shirt with the words "Mister D Rocks!" on it. Chuckling, I recalled the one thing I knew about the only daughter of this Mister D. Rowan hated that bastard, so there was very little this shirt could do to convince me that he did, in fact, rock. Still, it was a nice article that I fashioned into a wrap for my head to help keep the sweat out of my eyes and the sun from my face.
Opening the gator-drink, I slammed half the blue liquid down before taking a break to breathe. My lungs ached but that was about it, not a sore muscle on my body. Another thing I had to thank my mentor-god-father for. I flicked on the flashlight to test it's power and smiled when it worked. Noting the final item, a handful of morphling tablets, I packed away everything except for the gator-drink I opened. From where I sat, I couldn't hear or see much. If someone ran into me, we would battle, there was no alternative. And I would be prepared for that.
After finishing the gator-drink and fixing my new head-wrap, I slowly returned to my feet as the cannon's rang out through the arena. Although I wasn't too familiar with all things Hunger Games, I knew that it meant the bloodbath was over. 11 cannons for 11 dead. This was one of the biggest bloodbath's in the recent years of the Games, I knew that, too. We were already down to 13 within the first minutes of the Games. This would be over in no time, I had a feeling.
I walked this time, not wanting to over-exert myself in case I ran into someone... or something. My mind went back to some of the myths I'd read about as I walked. This place was, without a doubt, the labyrinth. I thought of the master tinker Daedalus, of the minotaur that this place was said to hold, of Theseus, and also of Ariadne. I wondered if we were find aid in order to find our way out. Thousands of things crossed my mind. Would I run across another ghost? Would I run into something more deadly? Would I be killing again by the end of the day? Everything was a possibility at this point. The sound of a cannon shattered the heavy silence, causing me to pause, if only for a moment.
As I ran blindly away from the Cornucopia I found myself running through a concrete maze. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going, just preoccupied with putting as much distance between myself and my fellow tributes. I’d heard the cannons, I knew how many people were dead and I knew that my days alive were numbered if I couldn’t get far away from the blood lust of people who I had considered my friends.
Finally I slowed, hunched over in the vine covered walls as I fought for breath. My heart hammered wildly in my chest, panic and adrenaline coursed through my veins and I could tell that it was only a matter of time before someone caught up with me. It was then that I heard the clanking of metal, turning I saw the silhouette of a soldier. The plumage on his hate denoted him as a Roman and from the dead look in his eyes I knew he was a ploy from the Gamemakers.
“Yield demi-god, or fight.” He squares his shoulders and I’m left with very few options. I glance around, looking for any other way of escape but the only way out is the way I came and running into the clutches of another tribute. Shoving my pack more firmly onto my shoulder I clutch the axe in my hand, sweeping out at the Roman as he stands still. He was unafraid of me. Why should he be? I was a waif thin girl and he was some Capitol invention that feared no one and nothing.
I moved into striking distance, the axe striking and glancing off the roman even as he drew his gladius. He struck with deadly accuracy, leaving me scrawling backwards in an attempt to avoid the strong arm of the blade wielder. Yet as I back up, the blade caught my arm. Blood dripped down, loosening my grip on the axe as my back hit the vines. I had nowhere to go and as the Roman bore down on me I had only one more weapon up my sleeve. He lifted the sword, ready to snuff out my life as my hand went up to protect me. I heard the groan of metal, the sound of a gasp as I peaked up to see the Roman now tightly held by the vines that covered the maze. He had no place to run and as the vines squeezed the life out of him, I knew I was safe.
I ripped off a piece of my shirt, wrapping the makeshift bandage around my arm to ebb the bleeding as I walked further north into the maze. It was quiet and as dark fell, I dropped down into the dark corner of the maze. It was then that I pulled the pack to sit in front of me, chewig on the jerky I found and wrapping the sleeping bag around me as the Fallen played. So many were dead, yet so many had survived. No doubt hunting and biding their time until they could slit my throat. Tomorrow was another day. If I survived the night that is.
I'll Be Your Warrior | | Anatolia + Mallory | | Arena: Day One
The battle with the quite formidable Arlene had been very taxing, to say the least. Although she finally did succumb to the wrath of the hunters, she put up quite the fight before doing so. I hate to say that it was a bit admirable, but I am no child of Hermes who lies and deceives very often.
Once we gather up all of our things, Mallory and I hobble to safety, using the map of the labyrinth to our advantage. Blood oozes from my severed leg, and I am quite aware that I must treat it soon.
Mallory and I head back the way from which Arlene came, moving a bit further east before we choose to settle down up against a towering, yet decrepit stone wall.
"Mallory...you must produce a bit of dry wood and brush for a fire. I must cauterize my wound before I bleed out or before it becomes infected," I utter.
Kick back and relax || Zale and Nick || Arena Day 1
By the time Zale and Ruby had returned from their scouting, Gaby and Leo had fallen asleep, and I volunteered to be on watch until the others got back. When they did return however, I wasn't tired at all, so volunteered to carry on guarding until it was time to change shifts again. Both careers scuttled to the back of the corridor, and found a spot to rest, whilst I sat by myself, towards the end of the walkway, head on the wall, feet stretched out in front of me. Forcing images and words out of my head.
It hadn't been long since the others got back when I heard footsteps approaching my position. I jumped to my feet, grabbed my axe and raised it above. "Back the fuck up." I then realised the footsteps had come from the career pack, and not the empty maze. It was Zale. I slowly lowered the axe, but there was something in my head telling me not to..
Kill him, Nick. Kill him like you killed me!
I dropped the axe to the floor with a clatter, and punched a nearby wall, almost headbutting it in an attempt to remove the voice, but it had stopped. Good.
"Sorry 'bout that man.." I slid back towards my guarding position and made sure my hood was still atop of my head.
Once the vines and twigs were collected, I leaned forward and placed my index finger on the pile, letting it ignite into blue flames which slowly tamed down into a flickering fire. Ruby and Zale wanted to search the maze further, and it concerned me that they wanted to separate from us so quickly. There was strength in numbers, and we basically split up into halves, decreasing our abilities to fight as a huge group. "A-alright," I said, biting my lip. I still wasn't sure it was such a good idea, but I smiled faintly and returned Zale's kiss on his cheek. "Signal an arrow if you need our help, okay?"
Then the two left, leaving me with Leo and Nick. I set up my portable hammock near the fire and placed my survival pack down. As I was prepared to lie down, I noticed Nick all alone, separating himself from Leo and I. So, I made my way over to him. "You okay?" I asked him
And so I was alone. It had appeared to me that no other tributes had run in my direction, but I needed to be sure. And now that I was alone, I felt comfortable allowing myself to use my powers once more, to allow the people of the world to see what I could do.
I set down most of my belongings in a corner, hiding them behind several vines to keep them camouflaged, then picked up the notepad and a crayon from my survival pack. It was clear I was in a maze, that much was certain. And I could only ascertain that what had been written on that paper I'd wanted was something to help navigate it. But it didn't matter, I could begin to figure it out by myself.
Taking a deep breath, I felt myself grow smaller and smaller until I was back to my second most familiar form, the black feathers on my neck ruffling as I clutched the paper and crayon in my talons. Flying up to the very top of the maze, I was first stunned into shock of how big it was, and though I couldn't see down into what the maze held, it was now easy to see the various paths and dead ends. I took another deep breath, and sat on top of the wall for a while, drawing out the paths of the maze around me as accurately as I could. I couldn't see past perhaps 400 yards in front of me, so the map I did manage to draw was small and local. That was all I would need for now, I decided.
Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I transformed and flew back down, picking up my belongings and beginning the trek out to find somewhere safe to spend the night.
And then my foot landed in something moist and squishy and completely unpleasant. I withdrew it quickly, before it had time to sink into whatever it had stepped in, and looked down. Before me was a length of sand that stretched for maybe fifty feet until it ended in a path again.
My first reaction was simply to turn around, to find somewhere else to camp and deal with obstacles in the morning, but if I knew the Hunger Games, there would be something worse around the corner if I turned back now. I could fly across it, but that would mean multiple trips to take all of my supplies, because no bird of any size would be able to carry the weight of everything I had with me.
I tested out the quicksand again, trying to get a gauge of how dense it was. Obviously Capitol fabricated, the sand was much more watery than it most likely would have been in the real world. I could probably swim in it if it weren't for my belongings; those were quickly becoming my biggest problem for the moment. But then again, I did only have my daggers, shield, and pack.
I tested the shield on the sand, happy to see it floated, then placed the daggers and pack on top of it, careful to make sure they balanced. Now I would just need to become something that could carry these towards the other end.
Coming up with the strongest being that would be able to float, I took a deep breath and felt my neck elongating, my body growing feathers, my feet widening and flattening. Using my strong neck, I pushed the shield out a bit, careful to avoid tipping, then waddled into the sand, floating carefully on top. It was dense enough that I was able to easily float, and so I paddled out, towards the other end of the sand. Every few feet I had to stop to push the shield ahead of me, but eventually I got to the other side with no problem.
I quickly shook the sand out of my feathers and transformed back, patting the rest of the sand off of my legs. I then packed up my belongings, took a look at my rough map, and began making my way to where I would spend the night.
Before I could get going, however, a parachute came floating down, landing at my feet. Had I really appealed to the Capitol? I'd thought there was no way...
But someone out there had understood me and how I worked. For inside the package was a pocket generator and some wire with a note from Elda Cambridge, one of the most powerful women in the Capitol. I smiled and said a quick thank you, hoping she could see and hear me from the hidden cameras of the Capitol, and made my way towards an inner alcove, only hoping I'd be able to sleep tonight.
