ODDS

unexpected

𝓢𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓮 inflicted outburst, I hadn't said a word, only nodding and shaking my head at any question Sander threw my way. Occasionally, I'd shrug my shoulders, but that was the extent of my communication skills at the moment. Sander respected my silence, but I could tell that I was worrying him. It didn't matter. He would be dead any day now.

And I would still be alive, a slave to Snow and his minions.

We had decided to move from our little cave and find a new shelter, preferably by some form of water. Opal was bound to know where we were at this point, so it was smart to find somewhere new. Sander explained that he had rather not have dealt with the Careers for awhile. I couldn't disagree.

The heat had somehow grown more unbearable. It was probably because of the effort I was making climbing up the damn sand dunes that Sander so kindly led me up.

"Come on, Alana. We've got to make it past these sand dunes before the snow storm rolls in." Sander called from his place a few feet ahead of me. I only rolled my eyes, grumbling under my breath.

A large, echoing noise erupted across the sandy landscape of the arena.

My entire body shriveled, falling to the ground and seizing. I hear my name being called, then a shout laced with anger and fear. A booming pain, slick and thin, swam throughout my head. The sound occupied every thought, cancelling them out. I was in an abyss, cold, irritating, and foreign.

It stopped just as quickly as it began.

When I opened my eyes, I found that the sand had been replaced by a rocky terrain, which radiated a heat stronger than the desert had. The air smelt of something like sulfur and charcoal, mixed to create a nauseating scent. Smoke filled the previously blue sky, and stung my tired eyes.

"Alana!" I blinked slowly, not quite registering the words spoken to me. I felt as if I was in a dream, and the ringing in my ear became a dull throb. My head felt as if it was under water, which I found welcoming, considering the circumstances. It reminded me of the lazy afternoons I spent in District Four. It reminded me of home, and family, and safety.

"Alana, look at me!"

I felt a sharp feeling in my nose, which led to me letting out a sneeze. I tried breathing in, but the thick air made it a chore. I began wheezing and my lungs felt heavy and unused.

I couldn't remember a time when I was more miserable.

"Alana, please!" the voice sounded frantic now, as if it were about to cry. I couldn't imagine why anyone would be crying. Then again, my mind was sort of useless. I couldn't focus on a single thought that entered my mind. But the severity, the pure torture of the voice awakened my senses.

My eyes tore open, finding Sander thrown a few feet away from where he had originally been. A confused look overcame my features. What on earth were they putting us through now?

I looked to my right. The large mountain that had had occupied the arena thus far had erupted, revealing its true nature as a volcano. A bright, steady stream, mixed with dark rocks, quickly edged its way down the mountain. Bits of debris fell from the sky and I sneezed once more.

"Alana, are you alright?" Sander called. I held my head, wincing. Pulling back, I noticed the deep crimson staining my hand. The deep slice in my back felt warm and tickly, and I knew that I had broken the healing skin yet again. I shrugged, meeting Sander's eyes.

"Peachy. You?"

"I've been better." he deadpanned, looking to his botched up leg. This made me laugh, despite the circumstances, earning a wincing smile from Sander. Our smiles were wiped from our face in an instant as twelve loud canons sounded, echoing over the valley below the volcano.

Twelve tributes were taken by the volcano.

So much for a long Hunger Games.

"We need to get somewhere safe. There are only seven of us left." Sander noted, standing slowly and making his way over towards me. I sat up, ridding my hands of the gravel stuck to them. Sander crouched beside me with much difficulty, checking my blood-soaked forehead.

"Will I live?" I asked sarcastically. Sander smirked, wiping the blood away carefully with his shirt.

"For now."

Suddenly another canon went off, making me flinch. I met Sander's eyes before we both peered over to the mountain.

"What on earth is going on up there?" I murmured. Sander sighed, my head gaining his attention again.

"Nothing good. Can you walk alright?"

I nodded and Sander helped pull me up, stumbling a bit himself. I held him up as best as I could, considering my own ailments pulled me down. My breathing, I noticed was heavier and the heat was unbearable.

"You'd think the desert would be hotter." I complained sarcastically as we limped along. Sander stopped down to grab his backpack again, slinging it over his shoulder. I heard a hiss escape his lips as he did so.

"To be honest, I'm not thinking anything anymore."

***

Despite so much supposedly going on up on the mountain, we slowly made our way towards the tree line, desperate for any kind of relief from the heat. Unfortunately, the shade had no effect on our state.

I sat against a tree, trying to get my lungs to work properly. Sander had fallen hours earlier, passed out from the heat exhaustion. I was hoping he would wake up soon, despite my lousy attempt at cleaning his leg. We had no water, so gravel and rocks were still stuck to his flayed skin, but I had done what I could. In an arena, that's all you could do; it's all you could ask for.

I sighed after a long while, tired of all of this. At the silence, my mind began to wander. I dreamed of the pure water that the Capitol had supplied us before we were forced into the arena. I imagined the way my throat would relish the cool liquid, and my swollen tongue would finally be relieved. I would be able to swallow without the pain following. I thought about the food back home; Morgan's shrimp and grits, the seaweed chips that my mom had taught me and Caspian to make, and Calypso's fried tilapia with noodles.

My mind wandered to my family, and despite my dehydrated state, tears formed in my eyes. I thought of Calypso getting upset about me using her brush and her ever-changing hair dyes. I thought of Caspian and his art easel, which seemed to only inspire more sketches with every use. I thought of cooking with Morgan, trying new recipes for his small booth in the market place. I let out a shaky breath, sniffing and wiping the tears from my pale face.

All I wanted was home.

And suddenly, I thought about Zane. And Mags. And Finnick. I realized that when I got out of here, when I became a victor, I would have them, too. A small smile crept its way to my face when I realized this.

A noise made my body tense. I stood, fighting against every screaming ache in my body. I looked to the sky, my head frantically searching for the source. All of a sudden, a metallic parachute caught my eye. My heart fluttered in my chest and I gave a small strangled laugh. I reached up, catching the small contraption in my hands.

Opening the small parachute, I noticed a small note on top of the gift.

Dab on affected area. You've got this. -F, M, Z

I smiled, looking up, hoping that my mentors knew how grateful I was.

I bent over Sander, applying the cream carefully. My nose scrunched at the sickly sweet smell, and I noticed the swelling condense immediately. I let out a breath, thankful that Sander's leg was at least getting better. It was the only good thing to come out of the day.