hard to find {aitu vs 2 harpies day 2}

The night grows cold. Stars twinkle through the sky hidden beneath the clouds. Even the moon seems real and peaceful. But it's all more than meets the eye.

An eerie chill crawls across my body, and everywhere I turn, everywhere I look, nothing seems safe. Of course it won't be safe, though, this is the hunger games. Loud roars flee from my stomach. Every fiber of my being begs for just a taste of water, or something to soothe my parched tongue. Every living creature needs water.

All I have is this weapon, a pole that I've seen used in past games. The blade seems strong and powerful, yet strength and power isn't going to keep me alive if water and food doesn't come soon - it seems like nobody cares.

Torka has been blessed by the loving people in the Capitol while I'm stuck glaring at the sky wishing someone would hear me. He's someone they want as a victor. Me? I'm just some low life kid from district nine they'll never remember once my face flashes in the sky. The realization slaps me across the face, and my head drops forward as a heavy sigh leaves my chest.

"I think we should stop here." My voice is low, and I just need a place to rest, a place to lie down and maybe sleep for the night. "I'll take first watch." I add with a nod before placing the weapon on the ground beside me.

It's beyond me if he takes my advice, or if he lies away through the night wishing he was asleep, but I understand. Both of us can't survive this.

It's through the night a parachute falls and lands beside me. I'm about to thank someone for helping me, but the lid is off, and my eyes lock on a trash bag - You've got to be kidding me!

A stupid trash bag.

They might as well just throw me in a body bag and ship me home because that's what they're telling me. I'm only a piece of trash. Something they can throw away without putting a price on. All my life, I've told myself that I'm the good child and nothing bad can happen to me. I'm safe from harm because everyone loves me -

It's obvious they all hate me.

Nothing good comes to the good child anymore.

I'm worthless just like my brother. A piece of trash left aside to die by the hands of those in charge. I'm a piece of trash tossed away - I don't matter anymore, and they've just given me the will needed to survive.

They want me dead, but it's just not gonna happen.

Wadding the bag up and pushing it off to the side, something falls into my lap. I'm about to jump up screaming when the canteen falls to the ground. A sigh of relief escapes my lips, and I throw it inside the trash bag before pushing it away once more.

The sky lights up, and the stars disappear. The anthem plays, and I know what's happening. Part of me wants to honor the dead while the other part just wishes this would go away. The idea of putting a face to a name is wrong. But we're all humans, and none of us deserve to die.

Rachel Violette of district two.

Joselle Brookwater of district four.

Two careers are dead, only four remain, and one is here by my side. What a relief.

Kimmie Yov-Maoi of district eight.

Sabrina LaRue of district nine.

Sabrina.

Her face lights up the sky, and it's gone in the blink of an eye.

My heart sinks into the pits of my stomach, but I keep the mask spread across my face trying my best to hide the pain.

On the train she made me laugh. A spark was lit inside me, but now nothing is there, only a pit of darkness and regret. The only peace of home I had left flew away. Only one good thing has come from her death, and now I don't have to worry about killing her - I don't think I could've; however, I'll never know because I'll never face that situation. For that I am grateful. I'll keep her alive for as long as I'm live. Her life will carry on through the few short memories I have of her.

But it's not enough.

She's dead, and I'm alive. It's another spark to keep me going. Another lit flame to keep me alive. She's added to the list of people I'm fighting for.

Sabrina, fly high.

It ends with the face of a man from district eleven. Drake Harvest. I saw him briefly - I hope his death wasn't filled with torture and pain. I wish I could take back the words I said to Katelyn that dreadful day in the dining hall.

I can because one is dead, and I hope to never see the other.

The night fades away as I stay seated in an upright position fighting sleep because I wish to survive.

At the first sighting of the new day, I'm on my feet shoveling everything into the dark bag. Just eighteen more, Rolf. Only eighteen more.

I wait for Torka allowing him to make a move. Waking a sleeping career could end up like waking a sleeping giant - I'm not ready to die. But who's ready to die? The ones who died yesterday? The ones who've died in other games?

When he moves, I follow behind, my ears perked listening for any sound. My grip on the blade tightens. My body aches from the stupid shoes, and I realize I'm still wearing them. Apparently taking them off hasn't been an effort I've wanted to try yet, so they still remain. My calves are aching. My toes are hurting - this isn't a life.

A fog grows thick, thicker than anything I've seen thus far - I wonder.

What is this place?

The stench of rotten eggs makes me want to vomit, yet I have nothing inside my stomach to lose. Looking around, I can't see what's happening. I can't see my own hand in front of my face - we're going to die. Every once and a while I can see the holes, the rocks, the pools bubbling with some sort of liquid I've never seen before;

This is no ordinary lake, but how would I know? I've never seen a lake in my entire life, yet I stare at one now making false accusations.

"Torka, be careful." My voice is quiet so I don't alert anyone, and I wonder if he can hear. The pools bubble away, and the smell is getting worse; I lift the edge of the sweater pressing it against my face in hopes of blocking it out, but my efforts are futile. Turning in every direction, and squinting my eyes, I try to see through the fog. I try to figure out what's going on.

Death stands in front of me, and it's up to me to respond.

Only I can decide if I live or die.