going {under} // natalie's end
Jul 29, 2016 23:59:32 GMT -5
Post by lance on Jul 29, 2016 23:59:32 GMT -5
part one
Natalie Brandt
I'm dying again,
I'm going under.
I'm going under.
They were fighting a losing battle.
They had been ever since Justice Fray had emerged from the shadows and drawn his axe across Minos's throat. They had been ever since the Career had buried the weapon into his chest, extinguishing the fire of yet another one of her friends.
They had been ever since they had stepped off their respective plates and into the hellscape that was the arena.
It was three against two now, and among the three were a Career and her own district partner.
Needless to say, she didn't particularly like their odds.
Daniel was fighting valiantly alongside her, dodging attacks from Machaon and Atlas alike, while dealing out sizable damage of his own.
But even he could only last for so long before the sheer odds against them would take their toll.
Her last attack on Fray left little damage, and she watched in horror as the Career detached himself from her to deal another heart-stopping blow towards Daniel's neck. Again, a fountain of blood emerged from a wound, and again, it seemed like pure luck that Fray hadn't severed something critical.
He's just toying with us, she realized with a start.
They were never going to win the fight.
It was just a question of who escaped with their life.
Mach had changed weapons since she had last checked, wielding a sword of some sort, and was now advancing on her remaining ally alongside Atlas.
Oh no you don't.
She'd lost Hypatia because she'd underestimated Bailey Truus. She'd lost Minos because she couldn't distract Justice Fray.
She wasn't going to lose Daniel as well.
She gives her ring one final twist and takes a deep breath.
No. I am not letting another person I care about die on my watch.
Her face set in stone and mind made up, she clunk-steps her way towards where Daniel is somehow holding off the entire opposing alliance on his own. Despite his bravado, she can see that her friend is quickly failing.
Not yet, Tate. Don't you die on me just yet.
Mach swings, slicing his sword along Daniel's leg just as Natalie gets within striking distance.
But this time, she isn't aiming for the kill.
Instead, she turns on Daniel, reaching out with both arms and delivering a mighty push, pouring every last ounce of her strength into the action in an attempt to get the larger boy even a few inches away from the carnage.
"Daniel, run!"
Her voice is loud, high-pitched, and full of desperation, as if she could command him to flee by the tone of her voice along. An unspoken message - Please - flashes in her eyes, silently urging the boy to abandon her and save himself.
She doesn't bother to see the act through, trusting that he'll have the sense to realize the futility of prolonging the fight any longer and save himself.
Instead, she turns to face the trio of boys in front of her, extending her arms out to her sides as if she was going to wrap all three of them up in a crushing grip.
One unknown, one ruthless Career, one district partner.
Deep down, she knew she should feel afraid.
Yet all she felt was calm.
"If you sons of bitches want to lay another hand on him," she began, sweeping her gaze over first Justice, then Atlas.
"Then you're going to have to get past me first."
Her gaze rests on Machaon, matching his eye for eye and will for will. For exactly three seconds, they rest, unbreaking.
Then, she smiles.
It's all on you now, Mach.
Atlas from District Nine steps forward, raising his war hammer above his head in preparation to strike.
She makes no move to block the inevitable strike. Instead, she breaks eye contact with Mach and focuses it on a shadowy piece of cavern in between Atlas's arms.
This isn't such a bad way to go.
She allows the smile to grow, covering her entire face, knowing that by wasting precious seconds to kill her, the boys would have that much more to make up if they were going to catch Daniel.
She closes her eyes, and for the first time since she stepped foot on the train seemingly so long ago, Natalie Brandt was at peace.
See you soon, Minos. Hypatia.
There was a crack, a flash of blinding white, and then...
Darkness.
