I slowly, and painfully become aware that I am tied up. To a tree by the feel of it.
I wiggle my wrists, which are fastened securely to a thick branch.
I relax, and let myself hang for a minute. Then I slowly straighten up, and open my eyes.
At first I think I have blood in them, then I hear the awful voice in my head.
Escape so you can kill them.
No.
Yes!
I let out a roar, and feel my body strain against the ropes.
It's the most wretched feeling ever, I have no control over my body, but I am completely conscious of what I am doing.
"Bruce?"
Suddenly, I see Jewel in front of me. Concern showing on her beautiful face. She takes a step toward me.
"Are you okay?"
I lunge forward against the ropes, trying to reach her.
I see a young girl run and push Jewel away from me.
"Don't! He's not himself, and he is going to try to kill you any chance he gets!"
Jewel doesn't seem surprised by the girl, so I assume they know each other.
"What are we going to do then?"
Jewel asks hopelessly.
The girl, who looks around thirteen. Has light brown hair that flies around in curls, and grey eyes. She turns to me, and takes a step forward. I immediately try to attack her, and she steps back.
"He's infected worse than I thought. It's going to take a lot to bring him back."
Jewel glances at me nervously, then back at the girl.
"Can you do it though?"
The girl shrugs, and walks over to the fire.
"I can try. Talk to him for a minute, tell him what's been going on."
Jewel, faces me with a scared look in her green eyes. She is so different from the arrogant, haughty, priss I thought her to be. She is just a scared girl, with a pretty face, and a fake attitude.
"Bruce, if the real you can hear me, I would like to tell you some stuff. Don't worry about the baby, Titon and I have taken care of him, when we run low on formula, a sponsor sends some more. The girl who was just here, that is Cleo. She's from district twelve. She showed up right when you were about to attack me, and she was the one who knocked you out. She says that she has seen what you have before, and her mother is a healer, so she knows how to cure it."
Cleo walks up stirring a foul-smelling concoction.
"It's called Hyde syndrome. Which is basically like a fake personality. It's a form of poison that causes the infected person to have a second personality, an evil one that takes over their body movements and thoughts. It's sole purpose is to kill, and its blood lust can't be sated. I think some nasty little tribute got a hold of a blow gun and darts laced with the stuff. They used it on the others, and got you not that long ago. I can cure you, but It's not going to be easy, and will probably hurt a lot."
I manage to get control over my tongue long enough to say.
"Go for it."
I don't remember much after that. I was in and out of conciousness the whole time, and the times when I was conscious, I only remember brief images of blurry faces and curling smoke.
When I finally wake up fully, I am laying on my back by the fire. Jewel is sitting by me, and I see Titon asleep on the other side of the fire.
Jewel notices I am awake, and she looks at me expectantly.
"Well that sucked...majorly."
Jewel smiles, and I hear Cleo laugh. She walks up, and stands next to Jewel.
"You should be thankful you're alive. I wasn't sure if you were going to make it for a while there."
I grin, and try to sit up.
"Oh I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Cleo says quickly. To late. As I struggle to sit up, a sharp pain shoots through my body, and all my muscles become rigid. I fall back with a moan.
"What did you do to me?!"
Cleo pushes Jewel to the side, and kneels in front of me.
"Saved your life, that's what. Now hold still."
She pulls off the thin jacket that was laying across my bare chest. I cry in pain as she pours water over several small incisions in my chest.
"Good gracious woman! Are you sure you're not trying to kill me?"
She throws the jacket back over me.
"Don't be such a baby. You'll be fine now."
With a groan, I force myself to sit up.
"Aw man! I think I would have rather died. How's Titon doing?"
Jewel glances across at him.
"Better. He doesn't say much, just sleeps."
I wince as I slide closer to the fire.
"What about the baby? Is he still doing okay?"
She smiles, and walks over to where the baby is sleeping. Picking him up, she hands him to me.
"Ask him yourself."
As I take him in my arms, he stirs, and opens his eyes.
"Hey tough guy. How are you doing?"
He growls, and reaches for my hand.
"That well huh? Don't you worry about me, I'll be right as rain in no time."
He grabs my finger, and growls again.
"Hey, why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
He squeals and kicks his legs.
I laugh, and Jewel takes him from me.
"Its supper time little guy."
Cleo watches them for a minute, then she hands me a blanket.
"Get some rest. I'll wake you when it's your turn to watch."
I take her advice, and settle down by the fire. Soon I am in a deep sleep.
My slumbers are haunted by nightmares, and I struggle to subdue them, to rid my mind of the despairing visions. My attempts are futile, and my sleep continues to be disturbed by dreams.
I see Felicia appear out of a green mist matching the color of her eyes.
"Bruce."
"Felicia. I'm taking care of him...don't worry."
"Bruce, my son is in danger. You have to save him!"
"I will, I'll make sure he makes it out of the arena alive."
"Bruce!"
The voice isn't Felicia's, and it stirs me from my slumbers. I sit up groggy, my eyes refusing to focus.
"Bruce run!"
There's a loud roar that awakes me completely. I stand up and draw my sword.
I am temporarily stunned by what meets me.
A large animal that can only be a muttation is standing at the edge of the clearing.
It looks like a cross between a bear and a tiger.
Its strong, thick body is a dark reddish brown with darker streaks through it. Long razor-sharp claws line all four feet. Its teeth are large and pointed, and it has two longer fangs near the front of its mouth. Its large yellow eyes are catlike, and its thick tail swished back and forth dangerously.
Jewel has her sword drawn, and is standing next to Titon. Both of them are facing the creature, bleeding from several wounds.
The thing lets out another roar, and attacks them again. I am about to come to the aid, when Cleo runs up with a backpack and the baby.
"Go! Get out of here!"
She pulls the pack over my shoulders, and drapes the sling around my neck. She puts the baby in the sling, and runs to join Titon and Jewel.
I stand for a moment, one arm holding my sword, the other supporting the crying infant in the sling.
Titon turns his head to look back at me.
"What are you still doing here? Run!"
My warning shout comes to late, and the creature slashes its claws across his back. He cries in pain, and falls to his knees. Cleo stands over him, and hacks back at the mutts paw. Jewel shouts at me above the roars.
"Protect the baby Bruce. Leave now!"
The mutt sinks its teeth into her shoulder, and I hear her scream as she sinks her sword deep into its back.
"GO!"
I turn and run as fast as I can into the forest. Leaving behind the screams and roars, leaving behind my allies who are giving their lives to protect the small child in my arms.
As the clearing grows farther in the distance, a cannon-shot echoes around the trees. A minute later there is another, the final one comes after a brief pause, and then everything is silent.
I run through the night, urged on by the adrenaline in my body. I still hold my sword tightly, and my free arm I use to hold the baby secure in the sling.
I run as the anthem plays, and the pictures of Jewel, Titon and Cleo light up the night sky. I run as the sky turns from grey to pink, and I don't stop until I find a small stream. There I lay the baby down, and plunge into the cold water. Letting the current wash away the aches and pains. The cool water rushes past me, and I let it take away any sense of emotion I have. I let it numb me, then I climb back onto the bank, and collapse beside the sleeping baby. My hand still clutching my sword tightly.
The last thought that runs through my mind before I fall asleep is:
There are only seven left. The game is ending fast.
No comments:
Post a Comment