GLORY AND GORE ━━ F. ODAIR

14.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
hide and seek

" for there to be the feeling of betrayal, there had to be trust in the first place "

First was the bright light that filled my vision, everything was peaceful for a moment. I couldn't hear or speak, all my limbs felt numb. The white light above me morphed into an array of greens and blues, and slowly the feeling in the feeling in my limbs returned, the dirt was cool against my skin. I wasn't dead.

The images of the orange butterflies circling me replayed in my head, I turned my head to the side, the arm that they had bit was almost completely healed. Except for two small red dots where they had pierced my skin.

Further ahead lying in the dirt was a small metal case with a gray parachute attached to it's corners, my face lit up in excitement - it was a sponsor gift. I dragged myself towards the case and undid the buckle, inside was a vial of strangely coloured liquid. Nothing was written on the glass. Accompanying it, there was a note; For the wound. Watch the trees. -A

My eyebrows furrowed, watch the trees? I slipped the vial out of its case and dropped some of it over the infected wound. I hissed in pain as the liquid went inside the cut, working its magic.

I placed the vial in my bag and got up, looking around the trees cautiously as I walked with Carter's spear still in my hand. Was the message a warning or a hint, I had no idea.

I had one priority in mind, to find Adon and Piper, a task that was proving to be difficult. It was strange on my own, without anyone with me and I found myself constantly looking behind me.

For hours I walked in circles, lost and hungry - it had been at least a day or so since I'd eaten anything. I had lost track of time and tributes a long time ago. It was a miracle that I hadn't run into any body, through the trees I could see the cornucopia. I stopped walking and crawled to the edge of the treeline, there was nothing left to take - it had been completely stripped of any weapon.

My breath hitched in my throat as my eyes landed on the three careers arguing over on the other side of the cornucopia. Isaac was there too, standing amongst the three careers. For there to be a feeling of betrayal, there had to be trust in the relationship first - I never truly trusted him. But my heart did ache for Piper.

I circled around the edge of the trees, keeping close to the ground and weaving through bushes and grass. Their voices soon became clearer, although I could barely understand what they were talking about over the drumming of my own heart.

I looked up at the hundreds of trees around me, it was the obvious move, I chose a tree with lower branches so I could climb up easier. As silently as I could, I scaled the tree, climbing up and concealing myself between the leaves.

The trees were close together, meaning I was able to hop from one tree to another with a large step. I stopped when I was almost right above the group of four, clinging onto a branch high up in the tree. They had a large pile of unnecessary weapons and supplies beside them - there was food, blankets, rope, and assortments of knives and spears.

As I eavesdropped on their heated argument I realised that Carter was under fire.

"That was an easy fight, why'd you fucking lose?" Carter's district partner, Maeve, jabbed a finger into the blonde's chest.

"I was at a disadvantage, I had no weapon," Carter stuck his hands up in defence. I narrowed my eyes, it was a complete lie.

Maeve looked at the boy like she was about to snap his neck, "That's a lie. Why didn't you kill her? Are you going soft?"

"Maeve just leave it alone," The boy from two said, Tiberius, trying to stop the fight from going to far. Isaac on the other hand, looked like he was enjoying it.

"I'm not going soft, shut up. You go kill her then," Carter yelled at her.

Maeve walked towards him, getting up in his face, "I will. I'll even kill stupid brother-"

"You won't," Carter interrupted her.

Maeve paused before continuing her sentence, "-with a great big smile on my face. Maybe you need to be shown how it's done," she grinned cockily.

I glared down at the girl, tempted to grab the spear and end her right now.

"I've been trained up my whole life for this, I can do it just fine," Carter said.

"Alright," Maeve backed off, "Let's see who can knock 'em out first, it'll be like a fun little game."

The girl stuck her hand out and Carter hesitantly shook it, she was mad. Treating the games as if it were just some fun sport.

"I'm going to look around for kids to kill, Isaac you come with me," Maeve ordered, taking a set of knives from their stash and walking off in the direction I had come from.

"What about us?" Tiberius called out, throwing his arms up in annoyance.

"Fuck yourselves," she said back, waiting for Isaac to catch up to her as they walked off deeper into the forest.

I moved back deeper into the tree, too scared to reveal myself to the boys. They sat down on the grass, scarfing down some dried meat they had in their pile.

"She's crazy but she has a point, the chick from nine was supposed to be an easy kill. What happened?" Tiberius said, a mouth full of food.

"I don't know. It's not like she killed me anyways, she's too scared for that. She just stole my spear and ran off," Carter replied. I zoned out for the rest of their conversation, lying back in the tree as I waited for a chance to get out.

Maeve and Isaac came sprinting back shortly after they had left, smiling excitedly. They stopped at the group, short of breath and unable to talk.

"Got a hit on his district partner," Maeve said through breaths proudly, holding up a blood covered knife to prove it.

"Why didn't you kill her?" Carter asked, mocking her words from earlier.

"It's no fun when it's a slow death, besides, she was probably with the siblings which means I'll be one step closer to killing them," she said. There was a crazed look in her eyes. Isaac smiled, nodding his head in agreeance with Maeve, but his eyes said otherwise.

"Where was the brother?" Carter asked.

"Nowhere to be seen, she didn't even try and call out for anyone."

"We'll get her in the morning. It's getting late anyways we should leave it at that," Tiberius suggested.

"Fine," Maeve rolled her eyes, "You're lucky I didn't cut her too deep, she'll be fine in the morning."

I clamped my palm over my mouth to contain my sobs, bringing my knees up to my chest as I lay back in the branches. She was alone. I couldn't help but feel guilty for not being there for her. They all lay down beside my tree, talking lowly to each other about tomorrow like children.

Adon wouldn't be far, they probably found each other and she just didn't want to give up his position. She'll be okay. He wouldn't leave her.

( a/n )

Two consecutive chapters? This is unlike me. Sorry it's a short one. If you guys have any suggestions on things to add in the story, please let me know! Thanks

- sabrina? out.