Paint Us {black and blue} - morbidargos

Yesterday, I saw a goddess fall. Last night, I saw a goddess chuckling at a joke I didn't understand.

The night had come with a certain gloom that hadn't ever swept over the argos, not even when Atlas had died. Kiera had proven to be the glue that held our framework together, she was more than a fourth wall to the house, she was more than the final structure before we could sleep soundly, she was what kept us together. It would now only be a matter of time before the walls would slowly come down, deteriorate, fall to pieces. But what was I expecting? We were in such delusions, all of us, sitting alone in our little house made of strength in numbers, faith in each other, and friendship. Delusional is what we were, how did we not piece together the puzzle that soon enough would all come to an end, each and every one of us had already lost an alliance member, had already lost a piece of hearts once we'd stepped one foot into the mucky arena of the Gods. Yet, the idea that one of us would fall was completely and utterly ridiculous.

Not once did I think that Kiera Dempsey would fall before me.

Thinking back on the previous days, the people she'd slain, the things she'd done. The whole idea of her dying before the rest was absolutely - scary. Kiera was the person who kept me together, my diamond in the night, shining and brave, unbreakable. Kiera Dempsey was my piece of home. With her died the last remaining bit of what I felt was safe, and needed, what I felt would always be there for me when the world turned it's back on me (which it soon would) and with the sweep of her sword to her leg, she took that from me, took that from all of us. The framework of our alliance, the friendship, the lover, home. She was selfish, taking herself like that from us, taking away that fire that always lighted up in her eyes when there was a new challenge presented, a new person to kill and defeat, the amber pushing forth through the brown that normally sat around the pupil. The erupting battle cry that was so fierce, and powerful, and added a new sense of ferocity behind the argonauts. And now - now I had none of that, I had Aria, the little girl, my little girl, my sister, my friend, and I had Wes, the god, not my god, my brother, my friend. But no longer did I have Kiera Dempsey, the goddess, my sister, my friend, my home.

I felt at home with Kiera Dempsey.

The blue necklace clung to my bare skin, the cold crystal vial against my chest was near shocking with every movement. It never seemed to be warm, never seemed to gain any sort of heat. The constant reminder of where I came from, the constant reminder of the rain tumbling down the cobblestone streets of the market, with the mud seeping through the stone cracks filled my mind and my body. "Th-that's... rainwater. From One. Not m-much, but it's a piece of home. You hold onto it, Myler. Hold onto it and don't let go." People rushing busily through the streets hoping that the rain didn't soak them all that much, that their clothes would remain dry throughout whatever function it was that they had planned on going to. The rainwater of District One was cold, but in it I never felt so warm.

The anthem blared, and with it came her face. The dark hair cradling her face, and the deep amber in her eyes, threatening and playful. Kiera was an animal, she played with her food. And in those final moments, looking down from the sky for the final time, I swear I saw her smirk look down upon me. ‘Peridot Myler’ she seemed to say, ‘the jokes on you, see you soon you idiot.’ I’ll see you soon too, Kiera, but not soon enough. Her dark face faded, laughing at each of us remaining in the arena, and I swear I heard a sob erupt from where Wes was sitting, but I dared not ask him. He was so strong, so perfect all the time, but his Goddess had fallen and I’m sure that hurt more than anything could.

The face of the District Three girl came to the sky next, I hadn’t seen her since the bloodbath, but it was her who had struck down that final alliance member before the little girl from Six had run away. Perhaps it was something in the water, but it was almost as if District Three was slowly becoming more and more powerful these days, the boy who was unstoppable in the bloodbath, and now this girl, who’d lasted until Day Four – with who knows what by her side. Was she by herself? The girl who’d accompanied her had died days ago – District Three, it seemed as though all the powerful girls in this game were getting knocked out one by one (as the boys had on Day One.)

A girl of whom I’d never seen in this arena, finished off the count. Her face sad and near crying, lost in a world she didn’t belong in said her sorrowful goodbye before the melodies stopped playing. There was a lot to think about tonight – that was for sure. There were only eleven left, eleven, and they all seemed to be falling one after the other. I wonder how the Argos felt, surely they wouldn’t always feel safe, clearly we would have to break up at some point – but I didn’t want to, not anytime soon. But the numbers were starting to dwindle. The thought must be hitting them, they must wonder now that Kiera’s dead if we’ll be as strong.

I watched Wes’ figure in the dark, I wish he’d toss, or turn, or doing something out of line just to be normal. Normalcy was something that I just wanted to grasp so hard and take for a ride, but I guess there was none of that any more. Not these days. “Are you imperfect yet, Wes?” He didn’t answer, I would know soon enough.

The sun rose, but Kiera Dempsey didn’t.

I was so used to her catcalls with the sunrise that it seemed as though we woke up critically later than usual, time lost to go hunting, time lost to kill another tribute, but it didn’t seem to matter today. Within half an hour we were ready to go out on an adventure, see what we could find. Busily leaving the forest behind, there was no room for it now in our hearts, it was not a place of refuge in this arena, but a reminder of pain. The river quickly approaches within an hour, the sounds of the water had almost become comforting at this point, there were many things that constantly changed in this arena, but the water was always there, always rushing, and there was nothing better than that thought.

I sat down next to the river, figuring out where to go next, where had the cavern been three days ago, that had led down to the statues? Through the river? Over to the right? What side of the circle were we even on at this point? Was there more than one entrance? Aria and Wes stood behind me, waiting for instructions on where to go, but I didn’t have all the answers, navigation was usually her job. But she wasn’t here.

Over the water suddenly, I heard it, the sudden boot steps crashing along carelessly. Looking back to Aria and Wes I beckon them over, prepared to fight. With a lift of the eyebrow, inviting and playful, I rush over, it was time to hunt again, and this time we wouldn’t die. The Argos always won.