Bodybags - Day 3 Fight (Guardians, TWD, Wolfgang)

PATRICIA VALFIERNO

Living in a cruel world, drudging with my feet in the snow
On a day out, and it's a night now
Doctor, I've been walking by the side of the road
For a long time, and I'm going out of my mind.

I avoid Asa Reau like he has the plague. I pass manifest glares and cold glances over him, like he is a ghost. Visible, but not something I want to look at or focus on. That's the truth of it. The Career from Two scares me stupid, because he is unpredictable, like all Careers. I think a lot about trust, particularly now that it holds more value than ever before. If you place your trust in the wrong person in here, you're as good as dead. Asa knows I want him dead, but that's only because I see him as a danger. None of this would be an issue if I hadn't been so rash yesterday, but here we are in a pointless stalemate. I just pray I come up trumps.
I take first watch, staring down a dark, dark tunnel, hoping to see a flash of movement with my nightvision goggles. We haven't seen anyone since the Cornucopia, and that was over twenty four hours ago. Geez, has it been that long already? We've all heard them though. We've heard the screams cascading down the tunnels, finding us in the dark, making us turn around in shock, like they are right there behind us. At points it felt like their ghosts were travelling through me at speed, taking the wind from my chest. There is something haunting about these tunnels. Maybe they aren't tunnels at all.

Maybe these tunnels are our tombs.

Asa's grunt is a welcome sound that reminds me that there are people still alive in here. I glance in his general direction, making out his slumped form in the poor contrast of black-green. He shifts uncomfortably, a hand resting on his abdomen. He is a wounded lion. No, a lion doesn't accurately represent Asa. Lions are loyal and proud - Asa is neither. He is more subtle and dangerous, more of a panther. I squint, observing his pain. The rats must have cut him earlier today. He starts to fiddle with the makeshift bandaging around his waist. I watch him struggle, and do nothing.

I'm almost happy that Asa is not at his best. It makes it all that much easier to take him down if push comes to shove. Maybe I should finish him now, whilst he is down. Eh, but then that might not go down to well with Barnabas and Pearl. Besides, I tried that last night and I bailed out, not having the guts to do the dirty deed. I'm a survivor, baptised in the fires of Five, but even I wasn't ready to kill someone who was looking me dead in the eye.

I walk over to him, arms relaxed at my side. He looks up at me, but for all my higher ground, it still feels like the Career is looking down at me. I sigh, kneeling down to his level.
"Let me see." I don't ask, so much as demand. Now, barking a command at arguably the most dangerous Tribute in these Hunger Games isn't advisable, but sometimes the only way to gain respect is to show courage in the face of authority. Look where that got you in your Personal Training Session, Trix. Yes, but the alternative is being weak, and in here the weak die first.

There is a pause, a hesitation on his part. He is taken aback by my offer to take a look at his wound.
"Why?" He isn't defensive, so much as he is curious to know my intentions. I don't lie to him, I see no reason to. There are no tricks or underhand tactics here. I need Asa Reau healthy, not because I like him, but because I need him. I might not trust him, but when people are dependant on you, there is no option. Asa will keep Pearl safe, regardless of what happens to me, and that's important, to me at least. I need to know that someone good in this world can keep on surviving.
"Because you're in pain." I give my answer straight - Does there need to be any other reason? I'm still scared stupid of the Career, but I do my best not to show it. Confidence is every bit as important as skill and luck in here. He is still withdrawn, unsure of if I will pull my sword out and stab him to death at close range. I don't blame his speculation given my actions last night, but rather I commend his tolerance and faith as he lifts his shirt.
"Okay."

His hip is cut. It's not too deep, but it can't be ignored all the same. It looks like he rushed treating himself and failed to attend to it once we reached safety. The blood is scabbed at the edges of the wound, crusty blood turning yellow, and will soon verge on green unless attended to. It desperately needs cleaning, but we have no water. Asa in himself is very reserved, watching me with a quiet caution.
"I'm going to have to cut away some of the puss, else the wound will get infected," I tell him, pulling out my sword. His eyes fixate on the blade - Is that a flash of worry in his eyes? He flinches as I bring the metal closer to his wound. Seems like he is human after all.
"I know I'm the last person in the world you trust right now, but I'm also the only one available to help you." I lay down the ultimatum, and knowing he doesn't have a choice, he accepts it. I cut away at the scab.

"Don't take it personally. I don't trust anyone," He responds sharply, almost making me laugh. I take everything personally. I'm a judgemental person on the whole, but I try my best to shrug it off as best I can. I carefully cut at the puss with the point of my blade, working with incredible precision in this darkness.
"Except him." I glance to Barnabas, speculating what Asa could possibly see in the little gremlin boy. He's done nothing but get hurt since the gong sounded yesterday morning.

"What makes you trust him?" I ask, not really knowing where the question has come from, or why I'm bothering with conversation. Maybe I just want a reason to trust him too. Maybe I want a reason to keep him alive, even though I know only one person gets to live after this, and it won't be Barnabas. Asa thinks about that, his face actually showing some emotion for once - On this occasion an expression of inward concentration.
"The same reason you trust her, I suppose." He says, and I lose my mask a little, intaking a sharp breath. I flush red because he's caught me out, found a weakness in me. My trust in Pearl is not blind - She's one of the few genuine people I've met since this nightmare started. Now fear sets in, because he knows what I value in a world where we have very little.

"He's better than me."

I think about that last bit for a while, considering what he meant exactly. Better physically? That can't be the case. Asa is a Career in his prime, whilst Barnabas is a scrawny kid from a middle District. Barnabas hasn't exactly offered much, but I suppose I know next to nothing about the guy. He means a better person. My chest feels heavy and my eyes drop. Pearl is a better person than me too. All I've done since this started is think about myself, and how I am dealing with it. My goal was to escape the Arena, and potentially help others to get out too, but it seems like we're stuck in a cave with no way out, so then it became about my lone survival. It didn't occur to me that there are still other ways to win.

I frown at Asa's judgements.
"Don't pretend you know the first thing about me." I snarl, trying to remain strong and brash, even though I want to cry.
"I'm sorry." He says suddenly, taking me by surprise. When it comes to confrontation, he doesn't tackle it head-on like I do. I thought he would, being a Career and all.

I finish removing the last of the sticky puss, and the wound looks somewhat cleaner, although some water would have finished the job. I take some bandage and wipe away the excess.
"It's cleaner now, just put some pressure on it and I'll change your bandage." I say, rummaging through my supplies. He seems to relax, and does what I tell him. First Aid was probably the only thing I tried to learn, and it has proved more than valuable so far.

Silence, for a long time.

I wonder if he's thinking about killing me now. I wouldn't put it past him - Wait for the girl to heal his injuries, then dispose of her. Gain her trust, then stab her in the back. I always put myself first. I learned in my first week on the streets that you have to, else people will shit on everything you love.
The quiet is unsettling. Asa avoids my gaze still. Untrusting, unforgiving.

Black silence.

"If it had been me, standing with a blade over the body of Pearl, what would you have done?" He breaks it, posing me the scenario of role-reversal. It's like a punch in the chest. I'm surprised he would put me in the same position, with me being normal and him being a snooty Career. I don't want to admit it to him, but I would have killed him if he was standing over Pearl, ready to strike. I really would have. I think maybe he knows that already.

"Nothing." I don't give him the satisfaction.
"I see."

Silence. This is a judgemental silence. He knows I am lying, but he doesn't press it further. He lets me revel in my lie. He amuses me in that aspect, letting me believe that my alternative is true. Maybe it gives me comfort or self-acceptance. I know I'm lying to him, and to myself, but I guess my pride is too much. Maybe I don't want him to be right about this. I don't want him to be able to prove his point.
I open my mouth to speak, my mind still tries to find the right words.
"Why haven't you killed me yet?" It comes out, and I instantly want to take it back. Addressing the problem head on is stupid.
"Careers are people too, Patricia. Not cold-blooded killing machines." I try to look at him, but bail out before my eyes can meet his. His tone is upbeat, despite the topic, "Besides, if i wanted you dead, you would be."
I go cold at that. Not from what I've seen. So many Careers over the years, all the same. I decide to say nothing about that, letting his lighthearted threat sail over my head. Kill me already, if that's how you feel. Right?

"Your bandage is done." I trudge back to Pearl and fall next to her, watching her breathe in and out in an inapproprately relaxed manor. In sleep, we forget reality. How nice it would be to forget all of this, if just for an hour or two. The reality is that we are never safe. People could kill us in our sleep. That's why it's so important that someone keeps watch. Over the years I have seen countless cases of Careers slitting their enemies throats in the night. I raise a hand to my neck and rub my jugular. I always feel so exposed, even with my allies.

I take a pee, check over my supplies and then lie back on the sandstone. I watch the anthem as it illuminates the cave in a radioactive green. Kendrick Draper, Jay Krearns, Emery Willton. Hmn. Kendrick surprises me, him being a Career from One and all. I wonder how Pearl feels about him. They shared a brief moment on the Reaping stage, but did she ever speak to him beyond that? I know I refused to see my District Partner - The Sycamore boy. He lost his sister, Laila, two years ago. It seems that in recent years the Reaping of siblings has become more and more frequent. When your luck's out, it's out. I just pray that Rose can survive the next two Reapings. With or without me.

Pearl wakes me again, gently shaking me. Gripping my sword all the while, I almost hack her leg off in shock, but I calm down when I realize it's just her.
"Time to go, Patricia." She ushers. I flinch. She remembered.

We set off at what we assume is daybreak. Our internal clocks are fucked. It could be three in the morning and I would have no idea. I am guessing it's somewhere between late morning and early afternoon, but with no open sky to compare, that may well not be the case. We hang to the left hand wall, hoping that by following one wall, we will find an exit. I pray for light. For a way out.

I put on a mask of courage and press on, leading the way. Pearl and Barnabas are just behind me, not wanting to stray too far behind and get lost. We still haven't caught a glimpse of another Tribute since the Cornucopia, which strikes me as odd. Maybe they've all found a way out. Maybe we're the only ones left. What if we die here, alone and cold in the dark. I shake the thought off, trying to hang onto my courage. The thought of Rose watching my every step gives me a power that I cannot describe. I feel like if I didn't have her, I would have given up already. Each step I take is a step closer to home. I have to think of it like that, else I'll lose face. Losing composure in here means death.

I stop to let Pearl and Barnabas catch up, and start to set off again. Barnabas becomes agitated, like something is wrong. I turn to him, my face is tight and confused. He starts to cry, letting out short wails, like an infant torn from it's mother. I look to Pearl, her face shares a more silent panic. What's going on? Tears stream from Barnabas' face as he looks around desperately in the dark for something he has lost. What the hell is his deal?
"He's gone guys, I can't find him. Asa- I- Asa's gone." His voice is cracking, his body tremors with grief. I let Pearl comfort him as I turn away. Asa being gone is far from good. He's our most experienced and dangerous Career. Without him, I'm going to have to carry us.

Then, movement.
"Shit." I curse, gritting my teeth and drawing my blade, "We got bigger issues. Tributes coming at us."
I turn to Pearl, panic in my voice for the first time.
"GET READY!"


[Patricia Valfierno attacks Kirk Marshall, Bone Sword]
TIaGxdhosword
[Deep Gash on Stomach -- 9.0 damage]
[Blades -- 1.0 damage]

Sitting on a rooftop, crazy days are coming again
I'll be running, but I'll be hidden in the masquerade
So far from me now, but oh I can hear the sound
Can't you hear the bells singing alone? You will hear it on the radio

word count: 2482, graphics: rook
theme: hear the bells by porter robinson