Sweet Disposition ↠ H. Abernathy | The Hunger Games

Chapter Six

Haymitch barely makes eye contact with me the morning of the games. He's chosen to be stubborn and let our last bit of time end bittersweet. I smile sadly at his back as he walks ahead, knowing that these might be our final moments together.

Tigress is beside me, an odd comfort. Despite the body modifications, she seems sweet for a Capitol citizen.

"I added a pocket to your uniform in case you need to hide anything," she murmurs in my ear. "You never know." I pat the pocket, realizing that it's not an empty compartment, but there seems to be a vial. My fingers grab at it and I glance down, catching a glimpse of what looks like poison.

"Like I said, you never know." She brings her finger to her lips. Haymitch glances over his shoulder at us, his eyebrows raising. I look away. He should be the one looking out for me.

"Don't step off of the platform too early," he tells us. "You'll die. Don't make for the weapons right off of the bat. Once again, you'll die."

"Gee, thanks. Now tell us how not to," Alder says sarcastically.

"Stay together," he tells us. "Trust no one else."

We nod.

"It's time," Tigress says, looking between Haymitch and me. "Time to say goodbye, lovebirds."

"Come back," he says, patting my shoulder.

"That's it?" I ask him.

He sighs before pulling me in for a soft kiss. When he pulls away, he mutters, "I expect to see you after all of this."

"I'll try, but if not, goodbye, Haymitch. Take care of my sister."

He nods, stepping back from me. We go forward down a long hallway, stepping onto platforms like the other tributes are already doing. There's a countdown. It seems to take forever then there's a loud boom.

Alder grabs my hand, pulling me behind him. I guess we will be allies together. Unlike Haymitch's games being forest and mountains, ours are tropical. Already, I'm sweating and my chest feels heavy from the humidity.

"Over there!" Alder says, pointing to a small cave that's almost obscured by leaves. We slip in and recover the opening with the leaves. People pass by but don't seem to see the same entrance thankfully.

Nightfall hits and ten loud booms signifying deaths go over the arena. Already almost half of the competition has been killed. I wonder if it's just from the Cornucopia or if worse horrors are waiting outside.

"I need to get us weapons and supplies," Alder says quietly, heading to the exit. "I'll be back."

"Okay," I say quietly, unsure of what to say. He's right.

The minutes seem to drag on and the careers are active by the sound of the screams of the other tributes. There's one cannon boom and I briefly wonder if it's Alder, or even Wren as I haven't been able to see her at all since training.

I grab a rock, waiting but the entrance just in case when the sound of the careers gets closer. Suddenly, everything goes still. The leaves rustle and I get ready to fight with everything inside me.

"Hey, it's just me," Alder whispers, defending himself with a backpack.

I sigh in relief. "Sorry, I couldn't tell." My hands open the bag to see food. We eat in silence and I find myself falling asleep.

"Go ahead," he says. "I've got first watch."

I didn't need to be told twice.

**

We switch when daylight starts. That's when the chaos begins. I don't think the games like that we are hiding out from everyone else, as a forest fire starts.

"Alder, wake up!" I shake him awake quickly. "We've got to move now!"

We make it out of the cave right before the leaves at the entrance are engulfed. We run back towards the beach where the games started and spot several other tributes doing the same.

"We're sitting ducks," Alder mutters. He pulls out a sword he managed to snag. He got me throwing knives and I prepare those for action.

Drops of water hit my face. I look up and notice a storm brewing. They're putting out the fire that was created. The cave will be exposed now once the fire is put out.

Rain comes down as Alder and I head back towards the jungle. Our hopes are dashed now that our safe shelter is gone. Once the careers find us, we will be toast.

As if thinking of them brought them into existence, the three remaining surround us.

"I guess the lovebird will become a mourning dove. How sad," the one girl says, taunting me. She goes to say something else but an ax lodges into her throat, blood gurgling into her throat. Panic erupts and we take advantage, taking the remaining two out.

"Wren?" I call, looking around.

"I'm up here," she says from up in a tree. "They can't get us here. And we can drop coconuts on them too."

Alder and I climb, settling next to her. I return her ax to her. Maybe we have a chance. Half of the tributes are dead and only nine are out to get us.

"What's that?" Wren asks, pointing to the darkening sky.

"Haymitch." The water bottle drops into my lap and I waste no time drinking it. I'm not alone out here.