8th District: A Refresh Story

Between Here and Home

   The pair had just begun to set up camp when the fallen tributes began. Two more of the boys from the career pack had died as well as one of the girls. That left only 5 in that team. The girl they had killed was from district 3. The two girls from district five were also shown as well as the remainder of district 7. The other girl from district 8 showed. That settled it. Error was still alive.

   "Hey look. Your brother is still alive!" Club smiled lightly, setting the bag against a tree root to lay against.

   Fresh nodded. He supposed that was good for something. Mom and Geno knew neither of them were gone yet.

   In total 12 died on the second day. That left only 10 more. The 5 careers, Club and Fresh, Error, and two more hiding somewhere.

   Fresh sighed. "Get some sleep."

   Club didn't respond.

   Fresh glanced over and noticed his companion was already asleep. He sighed and leaned against a root with his knife clutched close. Soon this nightmare would be over...

   Fresh awoke to voices. He opened his eyes and listened carefully.

   "I think they're down there."

   "Why?"

   "I can see their bag."

   "Is it the boy that escaped us before?"

   "I think so."

   "He cost us three members. Him and his little helper are done."

   "Wait! It could be a trap."

   Fresh went stiff at the voice.

   "Oh yeah? Are you just trying to protect your brother, idiot?"

    "No! All I'm saying is Fresh is clever. He could be planning something to doom us."

   Fresh counted five voices. The careers... plus Error. Error was working with the careers.

   "What do you purpose we do then smart guy?"

   "We should-"

   A girl let out a shriek.

   "Shhhh!"

   "What the hell?"

   "What happened?"

   "Some... Something bit me..."

   There was a splash and then a cannon sound.

   Fresh inhaled sharply when he noticed shapes moving in the water. Snakes... Poisonous snakes.

   "What the fuck??? What is happening?"

   Club snapped his eyes open and looked at Fresh with terror. 'What do we do?' he mouthed.

   Fresh shushed him and watched the snakes in the water. Another one wound around a leg and sank its teeth in.

   "Ow! Fuck... I feel... dizzy..." Another splash as the body hit the water just outside the roots where Fresh was peaking through. A cannon sounded.

   Club lifted his crossbow and loaded it before shooting. The bolt lodged into one of the career's leg.

   "Something in the water is attacking us!"

   "Fuck!!! I was shot! The ones hiding are awake!"

   Fresh lugged the bag over his shoulder and scrambled out the other end of the roots. He watched the snakes turn toward the sloshing. They had to get out of there. Now.

   He grabbed for Club's hand only for Club to yelp.

   Fresh glanced back and noticed a snake wound around his leg.

   Club glanced back and then up at Fresh. "I don't feel so good... Tell Diamond and Spade... m'sorry..." His hand went limp in Fresh's.

   Fresh pulled away.

   The remaining three careers and Error rounded the tree. "There he is!"

   A cannon sounded signifying Club's death. Fresh turned and took off through the water.

   "Catch him!"

   "Shit... I've been bit..."

   Fresh turned and locked eyes with Error. Error's expression was unreadable. Fresh kept running.

   Another cannon sounded. The voices faded into the background.

    Fresh didn't stop until dawn began to set in. These snakes had to be the Capitols doing. Fresh wiped at his face trying to get the swamp water off. When the water kept coming... he realized it was tears. He was crying. He just... Fresh wanted to go home. He wanted to go home. He wanted mom and Geno and... Between him and Error only one of them could go home. It was never going to be the same.

    Fresh was dizzy... He hadn't eaten in about 40 hours. He pulled out some of the dried fruits and chewed through them slowly. He was alone again...The young Queen did a mental tally. There were... three careers dead by the snakes and then Club. That left two careers, Error, and the other two hiding. The one that Club shot wasn't bit. With his injury and the amount of people left, the other career girl and Error probably abandoned him to die. It was down to 5.

    Four people stood between Fresh and getting home.