The Marvel Games {An Avengers/Hunger Games Crossover}

Chapter 12: Day 5: Alliances

Chapter 12: Day 5: Alliances:

I couldn't sleep. Flashes of the horrific images I'd seen only a day ago were burned into the back of my eyelids, every time I closed my eyes I saw her.

Nora, her face unrecognisable, the bottom half of her body completely missing. The edges of her jumpsuit singed, the burning smell of cotton and flesh hanging in the air. The only way I know it is her is the soft waves of blonde hair that flow off a charred face, and a single eyeball with a brown iris that hangs from its socket.

For the umpteenth time that night, I sat bolt upright, wishing the night would just end.

But that's not all that is keeping me awake tonight; a sheering pain throbs in my right arm. I hadn't noticed, but during the ordeal with the Hydra soldiers, when Steve and Johnny had been protecting me, I had been hit. It had either been a fire from one of the soldier’s guns, or Johnny could have hit me. All I knew was that there was a massive, stinging burn along my entire arm.

I needed help. This wouldn't just heal on its own.

"You alright?"

During my feeble attempt to fall asleep, Johnny and Steve had switched places while on watch. Steve now slept in the corner, his shield still hanging off his arm. He looked exhausted, like he had just run a marathon. His blonde hair was damp with sweat, his face grimy and dirty. It was safe to say, the Games were officially taking hold of everyone.

"I'm alright." I told Johnny, "Just having trouble sleeping."

Johnny didn't by it. "You're thinking about her, aren't you? Lora?"

"Nora." My voice broke on the two syllables. I hadn't known her at all, yet she was going to stay with me, Ryan too. I couldn't remember her real face anymore, only the charred version.

"Hey," Johnny crept over to me and sat down with me, putting a comforting arm over my frail, shaking shoulders. "It's going to be okay. I won't let that happen to you."

I flinched slightly, as his body pressed up against my burn. He didn't seem to notice, and I was glad. I didn't want him to have to deal with the guilt that he might have hit me.

I nodded slowly and pressed the side of my face against his shoulder, slowing falling into the black abyss of exhaustion.

When I woke, it was finally light outside. Steve and Johnny were packing up, getting ready to move to a different hiding place.

When they were ready to go, I stayed put.

“What are you doing?” Steve asked doubling back and grabbing my burned arm. “Come on.”

I flinched, pain shooting up my arm.

“I’m staying here. I’m better off by myself.” I told them.

Neither of them argued. I think they knew that too. I was a liability to them if I tagged along. Two heroes and a civilian wouldn’t work if the civilian had nothing to offer and was pretty much bait for Thor or the Hulk –or even Iron Man or Jackson.

Johnny nodded. “If you need us yell. Odds are we’ll be able to hear you.”

I nodded and watched them leave, making my way to the rafters I’d found two days before.

* * *

I wore my backpack slung over my left shoulder, having it over both was just too painful. Every now and then I had to stop and pause, hold my arm close to my chest and try to squeeze the pain out. It was burning, throbbing, like a pulse under a fresh bruise –only a million times as intense.