Inferno: A Hunger Games Fanfic

Chapter 26

Sorry this chapter very very very very (X10000009978006425688765900000000098657995213467890000000000) late. It was a really hard chapter to write. And due to recent events I have been sad smol bean. :(

Brittle, torrid leaves crackle beneath our debilitated feet as we reach the edge of the forset yet again. The relentless sun creates slashes of golden light in the small gaps between the leaves. Apprehensively, we stand in the relatively cool shade of the tree line, evaluating the picturesque village from afar.

We slow down, transfixed by the beautiful little village that, contray to us, benefits from the intense midday heat and light. The roofs blush a deep purple like the Anconitum flowers I've spotted in the woods back in 12 and coupled with the yellow brickwork it looks like some thing out of a fairytale. Clusters of small flowers embellish the vibrant grass and bushes dotted with berries hem the tastefully unkempt gardens.

"Its beautiful," whispers Emily.
"Let's procced with caution," Meir suggests, "We don't know whether the careers are still there, and we need to be sure before we set up camp," Everyone nods to the sensible suggestion and Lepus declared that we should split in two. He moves closer to me, " I want to be with Hazel,"
Meir steps in front of him, "We're already together," he says, quiet but deadly.
Lepus mutters something incomprehensible but backs away. He sidles up to Emily. We prepare to leave, weapons ready in our belts, hoods up to protect us against the searing heat.

"Ok, so is everyone clear on what we're going to do?"

"No spliting up, No going in houses, No attacking the careers and if they are there, run to the other pair," Lepus summaries, somewhat bitterly.
"Correct," says Meir sternly.
Emily roles he'd eyes " Let's get out into the sun before we freeze death from the coldness between you two," I laugh and even Meir manges a forced smile.

At long last we step through the trees out to the village. The heat hits us like a brick wall, heavy and immediate. Even with our hoods up we only have minimul protection against this natural enemy. Instinctively I reach for my water bottle and am startled to find than quarter of a litre remaining. Hopefully we'll find more in the vacant houses. Looking around, I see my alliea are in a similar or worse position. Lepus, who I imagined would be fairly adept at conserving his resources, had none at all left and was now uncomfortably wedging the bottle back into his over filled pack.

We walked through the town for an hour or so before we even attempted to explore a house. The careers had obviously been there. The previously immaculate tiles are littered with inedible food and wrappers. It is kind of unsettling to think that the careers are so confident that they don't feel the need to cover their tracks.

The thought is soon over-written by a more powerful, insistant, cerebration. Thirst. I need water. I relay this to the group and their brief glances towards the bottles in the bags declare that I am not the only one that needs a refill.

Emily is closest to the kitchen sink so she goes to the tap and turns the water on. Well she would have turned the water on if she could. Instead there is a flash of silver and scream that leads to a large red patch on her jacket and has us wondering why a cannon hasn't gone off. A cannon hasn't gone off because she is not dead. Eventually I begin to realise this. Cautiously, I approach her. Tears and blood stain her face. A knife handle appears I  the side of her chest but I can't see where it went in. She's curled up, biting her lip against the pain. Amidst the blood I find her hand and pull it out from beneath her. I straighten her out on the floor. I can't help but sigh with relief when I see the knife. It's in fairly deep but by some sheer force of luck it came in at a kind of diagonal, away from her chest.

I pull out my own knife and Meir, who had been standing, shell-shocked in a corner, places two well stocked medical packs by my side. He then retreats, leaving me with my patient .

I need water. That's what it all comes down to. The most vital chemical on earth, except oxygen, of course. I need water to clean her wound but there isn't any. The tap she got injured for didn't even work. And no one dares to try any other taps. Antiseptic wipes will have to do. It's a meagre attempt at hygeine but it's the best we've got. I apply bandages with every intention of replacing them once we find water.

Emily is too weak to move. So we take it in turns to protect at while the others check the houses for water. When the boy's first reconnaissance ends with a report of a blood splattered bathroom we decide to give up any attempt on getting water from the houses. Instead me and Lepus take the second trip outside to check for water in the surrounding area. Despite combing every centimetre in a half kilometre radius from the village, we don't find a single drop. We come back to Emily and Meir with our bottles empty of water and out minds empty of hope.

While Meir takes the final search alone, and Lepus cares for Emily in the laughing brotherly way he's shown since he got here, I study the trap. It's a complicated maze of fine yet strong string and hidden springs. It's way too sophisticated for any of the arrogant brawn-over-brain careers. Besides equipment like this isn't found in the arena. This is a gamemaker trap. They hurt Emily. I will hurt them. Or I will at least try.

It takes me around an hour to find a camera. But eventually I find one in the little upstairs bedroom. There were surely plenty of cameras in the kitchen but the were too cleverly hidden. I grab the camera and use some of the string from the trap to keep the camera in place. I don't know what to say. I want to hurt them. I want them to know I hate them. I don't want them to be in any doubt about how much a despise them.

I start. " I know what you did." I don't have to speak loudly. A whisper can be deadly. " And I hate you for it," Come on Hazel you can do better than this. "Your show is atrocious. Who really wants to see a little girl get hurt . Not me. Not anyone. Sure your previous Capitol might like it. But you aren't the only people out there, are you? There are more of us. We will rebel again. It's inevitable. We won last time. We can do it again. And this time we won't leave even ash for you to rise from." I breathe heavily and glare at the camera. " The odds aren't in your favour"

I walk back downstairs to an Emily who is standing. She is barely up before she falls again though luckily Lepus rushes to her aid. Something inside me wonders if that's how my rant to the gamemakers will go. A breif moment of acheivement, of confidence, before it all comes crumbling down. And who would rush to my aid?

Yeah sooo ...long time no read. Sorry. I hope you enjoyed this at least and I think I'll ne back into my usual routine very soon. Thank you for being so patient while I was being a sad bean. Sorry again.

Xxx