FOUL GAME | the hunger games

18- PUPPET

When I get reminded I have to kill to get out, I need to take the chance and do it quick. Specially with Oliver, he'd be so surprised he wouldn't even try to defend himself... oh, how easy is it to daydream about killing in the arena? 

But Oliver, I can't do it. Not when he came after me, not when I got betrayed first. Too much betrayal in just one game does not sit well with the audience. It won't help me in the long run. I break the hug and pretend to wipe my tears, which are now long gone. Maybe next time we get ambushed, I will pretend to not notice and leave him behind...

"I don't know how many left we are, i just know they got Marie." he says saddened. I pull him for a hug again without saying a word. We both knew that poor girl was lucky to even make it to that stage. 

"Seems like they wanted these games to end fast. They are making us drop like flies." I whisper my observation. Not really a bad thing, as long as I'm alive and as long as they don't let the mutts out. 

I've given the game makers and sponsors enough content to keep my image alive. Now it's time to rest, hence the strategy Oliver and I plan out; we move around the arena while setting traps. Oliver, being from 8, is great at them. We don't chase, we don't look for anyone. We stick around until the feast is called and we part ways. We keep moving, we keep working towards our kills. Fair enough for both of us.

And we were right. The games slowed down; not a single kill in two days. No cannons at all. If we counted right, there should be at least 9 of us left. Another night with the Panem anthem and no screen to show the fallen goes by. 

Since we are only two, nights are the worst. We either fall asleep during guard or can't sleep at all out of fear. I volunteer to make the first guard and brace myself for another sleepless, boring night. The arena is so quiet you can almost hear everything. From the night bugs flying next to you to Oliver's breathing. Maybe I'm going crazy, but I can also hear, and of course feel, how the air is getting crispy cold. I look over at Oliver, who is visibly unable to catch his sleep. I wish I could have met him in other circumstances. It's difficult to try to make friends with someone you know will die. 

"Was it surprising, when you were reaped?" he asks curiously. 

"Yes, I don't think I would have ended up having the guts to be here otherwise." It's no surprise how startled i was 

"That's unfair there. Most of us didn't have the guts either. We had no choice." 

"Oh, come on. I know that. Plus, you do have the guts. Or else you wouldn't be standing here among the best 10." 

"The way you talk unsettles me. So capitol-like. So part of the games." he scoffs, staring at the starry sky. A little fog cloud escaping his nose as he breathes. 

"Because we have to be to survive." I defend myself. Something sends chilly shivers down my spine. 

"Don't you think you took it too far?" 

I say nothing due to the growing discomfort. Since when did it get this cold? Is it possible for it to get so cold in a forest, without snow? Anything is possible here, after all. Oliver stands up and pulls out the only blanket we have left out of the bag he could rescue before fleeing our campsite. My provisions bag long gone, this is the only thing we have. 

He uses the blanket and covers just himself. I scoff and touch his arm with my shoe. "Hey, I'm cold too!" 

"Come lay here. Blankets insulate and trap the heat under them. Specially these." 

"Who's keeping guard?" I ask wishing I had my own blanket for me too. We might survive the night but who is getting the blanket tomorrow morning when we start moving?

"Cover it with leaves and let's hope for the best. If they lowered the temperature in the whole arena, people are either doing the same thing we are doing or starting a fire to keep warm. If they do, let someone else chase them." 

I do as he says and try to camouflage the blanket with leaves and dirt. Oliver is covered from head to toe and he looks like a cocoon. I get inside the blanket and get instantly covered in body heat. 

I have never laid this close to a person before, other than Fred. Never this close, never inside a cocoon, and never out of sheer survival. 

"Just to survive, right?" I ask trying to defuse the tension. 

"To live." he scoffs next to my ear.

And feeling warm, safe and protected, I manage to fall asleep right there. 

༄༄༄

We get awoken at what feels like midday with the Feast announcement. I know it's no good - a second bloodbath incoming. I never liked feasts, they pretend to be of any help for the tributes but in reality are just a way to make entertainment better, and faster. 

"Due to the unexpected drop in temperature suffered tonight, we invite all tributes to the Cornucopia to provide themselves with the appropriate weather gear."

I look at Oliver, still sitting with his back on the tree trunk. He nods his head negatively. Fuck.

"We can't go. We know they are after you. It's pointless, for all we know there is nothing on those bags and the good show is already happening." he adds a mocking tone at the end. 

"I think they will make the arena even colder. We either go or freeze to death." I say in reproach. Realistically speaking, they are after me, which means I can't pop up there on my own. Maybe I do need him, after all. 

"What are we gonna do against big people with weapons? I'm frail and weak, and you have no weapons to use. Let's be realistic." Oliver adds pissed off, standing up and gathering his things. 

I reach for the bag Oliver gave me to carry my belongings and take out the knife the sponsors gave me. I take it out carefully as to not appear aggressive and show it to him. "But we do have weapons."

"No. It's YOU who has weapons. Why didn't you tell me before, fuck." 

He takes a step back in an agitated manner. I put the knife away to show him I'm not trying anything funny and that we are on the same side. I don't know how to reply. I guess I did not want him to know I'm getting sent weapons while he wasn't even sent a piece of bread. 

"See. You took it so far you are even getting gifted weapons. I don't trust a word you say about not wanting to be here." I take a step back unconsciously, he is pissed. His bright blue eyes now ignited with anger. "you got reaped because of your own actions. You are just as bad as the careers, even worst."

"Oliver, I'm just saying we do what's best for the both of us." I say in exasperation, giving another step back.

"No, you are doing what is best for you. You think they wouldn't give you your gear as an sponsor gift? You are a Capitol puppet." he scoffs and looks at the sky with a big smile. "Capitol puppet!" he shouts to the sky. 

I'm left speechless. How did he change his mind so quickly?

"Look, I'm not hearing a word you are saying. I'm going to the cornucopia. You either come with me or we part ways here. I'm not trying to hurt you or get in your way, I just-" a hug coming from him cuts me off and I get startled. I don't even know what's real or not anymore. I feel deeply uncomfortable and want to carry on with this day so desperately. 

"Please, just stop." I whisper in his ear. 

"Wasn't this the show you wanted? Least you can do is let me benefit from it." A real tear falls from my cheek. It could be so easy, to just backstab him right now and get this done with. But i could never. Not to him, or anyone. Am I really a Capitol puppet who became part of the games by her own will? 

He breaks the hug apart and pats my back goodbye. As I watch the blonde back of his head go I wipe the single tear, now frozen on my cheek, and fight back a new one. Which out of the two is the bad guy here? Me, who got herself into this mess, or him, who got pulled into it and is now collateral damage. 

He turns his body to give me one final look. 

"Puppet, you can't trust anyone."