Bow and Arrow Girl (Clover's Story)

Chapter 17

*Clover's POV*

A strange sight met my blinded eyes. The suns rays were penetrating my darkness-adjusted eyes. I found myself teleported to the edge of the Cornucopia. A sharp pain in my side alerted me of my position on the ground, and I found my spear had cut my ribs slightly. I pressed my incredibly non-sterile shirt into the cut, and the bleeding stopped. I coughed once, and then winced as a splitting pain ran up my side. Ow. I looked up then, and across the way I saw a glowing figure, covered in mud, sweat, and leaves, holding a long golden sword. I watched as she walked towards the Cornucopia itself, each footprint leaving an indent that practically glowed itself. I watched in amazement as this beauty, however bedraggled, still was practically goddess-like.

But as my eyes adjusted, mental recognition kicked in through the muddy haze that was my mind. The goddess/angel/beauty was none other than Allia. Her clothes were ripped in long, jagged lines, her hair a poor excuse of a ponytail, but her face was radiant, glowing with not pride, but determination. This girl must win.

My mother's words floated back to me. I was going to leave this arena, whether it be by Tara, Allia, or my own hands, but either way I wouldn't win.

Realization struck me down like a bullet. I was going to die. I was going to see Kenny, Hailey, Nugget, my parents, even former tributes. Kenny... my mind whirled to a halt, lingering on one scene.

Little droplets of tears had hit his chest like rain. My hands had held his head up, and I had cradled him in my lap. "Shh..." I had said.

Hailey... I had seen her in action, planning, fighting, laughing. I had seen her die, twice, and even though one wasn't real, I had felt the pain both times. I had seen her, head in Allia's lap, humming softly to Allia's songs.

Nugget... I had found him, cuddled him, made him my own pet. He had fought for me, and died for me. I would like to see him again.

A sob escaped my mouth, and Allia's head turned towards my side of the field. This battleground, stained with blood of courageous fighters, cowards, and innocent tributes, was a reminder that I needed to avenge them all. Tara would not be the winner of this Demigod Games, and she would not be the one who killed me or Allia, for that matter. My fingers had been subliminally knotting together a daisy chain crown. I put it on my head, and picked up my throwing knife out of my boot.

My dagger felt heavy in my hand, but I shook off the feeling of doubt that was creeping its way into my consciousness. Allia had turned away from me, and I watched as another figure emerged. Tara's hair was wild, her clothes ripped just like Allia's. But the weird part was the rope on her ankle. It had been perfectly cut by a single swipe. Almost like a swipe from a....panther? Nugget? No Clover, there are much worse creatures in this arena that could cut things like that. And you saw Nugget die, didn't you?

Before I could begin to argue with myself, I watched Tara pull out a knife, and advance towards Allia, saying something. Allia was trapped, and I needed to do something. Now.

My feet took off running before I had even realized I had a plan. The shout of, "YOU KILLED NUGGET!" escaped me as I threw my dagger at the back of Tara's shirt. I gagged as the putrid, salty smell of blood erupted into the air. Allia skittered backwards, and then stared at me as Tara's body slumped to the ground, no longer a threat to us.

A giggle left my lips, along with the word "ALLIA!" as Tara's body shimmers and disappears. Her eyes flicker up to my crown and then back to my eyes.

"Y-yes?" she says, her body rigid with shock and uncertainty.

Another giggle leaves me, and I know what I have to do. A memory from training about plants, especially the Oleander flower, comes flooding back to me. The Oleander flower has petals, leaves, and a stem filled to the brim with deadly toxins. All you have to do is take one bite of a petal and you are out cold.

My wrist bends upwards as a sprout of a white-pink flower emerges from the ground. It grows, buds, blossoms, then blooms out into its full radiance.

My fingers brush the petals of this flower until they find the one they were looking for. The crisp, dewy stem snaps pleasantly, and I grasp it firmly. My other hand reaches up to my throat and loops my fingers around a chain. I pull out my tree locket, and I feel a runaway tear slide down my cheek.

"Nico...Miles...Elsie...Louis...Hailey...Kenny...I'll see you soon," I whisper, more and more tears running down my cheeks. "Oh, and Nugget too," I say, loud enough only for my ears alone. I realize that a smile is firmly planted on my face, even though its a sad one.

"Clover...?" asks Allia as she gingerly takes a step towards me. It strikes me that she hasn't figured out what I plan to do with the Oleander petal yet.

"Yeah?" I reply, and I pluck off the petal I had held in my palm this whole time.

I watch as tears well up in Allia's eyes. She figured out my plan. I tuck the Oleander flower behind my ear, and look into Allia's eyes.

"I- Um- I-" chokes Allia, clearly ready to burst into tears. I hadn't realized how much I was going to miss her, and her of me.

"It's okay," I say, smiling still, my eyes misty. This goodbye wasn't like others. My brothers were going to watch me go. All of Panem was going to watch Clover, the crazy demigod, die on their screens. I brought the silky petal to my lips, and thought of home.

"I'll be in a better place. You'll be okay, Allia," I tell her.

"Clover, you don't have to-" Allia says, clearly trying to stall me. But theres no time like the present, I thought.

The sickly sweet taste of the petal fills my mouth as I put the whole thing in my mouth. Allia's jaw drops, she clearly thought I would've taken just a bite, not the whole thing.

"I- I- Hehehehehe- Bye-bye!" I say, my eyes unfocused. My vision begins to collapse in on itself, and I saw, through the small tunnel of light, Allia's face over mine, tears hitting my face, and then as the tunnel closed, a cannon, my cannon, rang in my ears.

Goodbye, I thought. Goodbye....