Expensive Taste? Talk is Cheap. //Curtis Day 3

Stumbling away from his teammates had been easier than he had thought possible, a quickly mumbled excuse about needing to use the bathroom and not wanting people, statue or otherwise to watch him. It was bad enough knowing that the cameras everywhere would relay his doing his business to every screen in the country. In reality, Curtis just wanted somewhere to lie down for a bit because his head was killing him. He only moved a few dozen feet away from Bran and Alaska, not wanting to lose sight of them for fear of Alaska rustling up some more mutts for them to fight. That, and the threat of more statues springing to life to perform various acts of violence. Using his sword as a cane, he leaned heavily upon it before sinking to his knees with a gasp.

The world around him started to fade in and out of view, and one point his vision darkened due to blurriness, before sharply sliding back into focus. The gash on his leg had turned an unpleasant color, mottled blue and purple around the edges where the blood had clotted. His knees were weakened by the liquid fire that felt like it was shooting through his veins. Bloody chickens. Stupid, bloody, poisoned chickens.For poisoned him they had. Curtis's stomach felt much the same as it had when he had eaten some bad eggs on a dare. Food poisoning had had a similar effect on him, only the dizziness was not accompanied by violent vomiting. At least, not yet. Whole...Whole arena's out to get me. Wouldn't be surprised if the rocks starting hurling themselves at me. I wonder..wonder how bad this must be... don't, don't let them see you cry Curt, don't do it. The poison might not be fatal...

Kneeling there, listening to the sounds of nothing weigh down on his ears, he thought about his journey in life thus far, and where it had taken him with his eyes squeezed shut against the pain. It wasn't a very favorable position. Buncha girls trying to kill me. Teammates sneaking around. Chickens trying to eat me. What was it that one boyfriend of my mother said to me? Oh yeah. It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you. And they are. Everybody's out to get me and I know any moment could be my last. And if that wasn't enough, I can't even properly think in peace because of that blasted beeping noise!

....

Beeping noise...?

Surprised, Curtis opened his eyes to see a tiny silver parachute blinking softly a few feet away from him. I... I knew protecting Bud would.. would come in handy. I bet his mother is pretty thankful for all that I'm d-doing.Grasping the box, he opened it to find a simple, small syringe.Time to take the plunge....Nngh! The liquid in the vial was cold, but it did a good job of clearing his head. After a few minutes, the pain in his leg had begun to subside as well. Unsteadily getting back to his feet, he breathed deeply for a moment, glad to have been able to stave off his demise for yet another day. Heartened by this turn events, he began walking back to his pair of allies.You and me kid. All the way to the bitter end. Oh. and the doll can come along too. Screw the rest of the tributes. This is my moment. And I won't run. I'll stand on my own two feet. One day I'll die. No way around it. Hopefully, it'll be as an old man face down in a plate of food or something. But what was it that Cub said to reassure her brother that last night before we entered this pit? Something about what to say to death when he comes a-knocking.


Oh yeah.



Not Today.