don't look up [echoes + twd + rancor]
Oct 29, 2014 0:15:41 GMT -5
Post by shrimp on Oct 29, 2014 0:15:41 GMT -5
G A L A X Y
Val's face appears first; it hurts just as much as it did a few hours ago.
I figure that since Twelve should appear last, we'll be seeing who else died today in just a second. The faces surprise me; Nine and the Cowboy, both of whom we've met before. I still can't get the Cowboy's district partner out of my mind, slicing at Kendrick's neck like it was paper and she was a master craftsman.
Maybe he fulfilled his wish and died to save her. That'd almost be nice, in a way. I'll probably never find out. She's far too young to be in such a dark place (although clearly she can hold her own against us anyway).
I don't talk to them when we start the nightwatch; I'm sure that Sycamore won't try to lead people to us in the middle of the night: not many people would spare him like we have. Then again, maybe we're just making a terrible decision. Whatever.
It's hard to sleep, and by the time it's my turn to watch I've barely slept a wink. All I know is that I can't be here right now, I need to be alone, no matter what that means for me. I grab my torch and compass and start walking: i should be able to find my way back. Val and Kendrick probably would have told me what an idiot i'm being, but they're not here anymore. I am. The tunnel is eerily quiet, and the chill sets my goosebumps on edge.
My eyes don't notice her until I'm a couple of feet away, and I immediately place my hand on my sword because she's obviously going to attack me, right? But instead she puts her hands up.
"I surrender." So sarcastic. I'm not in the mood.
"Mmhm. Great."
We stand there for what seems like an eternity, and it becomes obvious that neither of us are really planning much; it's too sudden and there's far too much at stake. So I break the ice, because why not.
"Nice night out, isn't it? You can totally see the sky for miles."
"It's up there somewhere," she replies.
"Somewhere, yeah." I hate small talk. But I continue anyway. "I wanted to see it at least one more time before I died, guess that might not be an option for us, huh."
There's a way out," she says suddenly, and I immediately want to just call her out on her blatant bull - Kendrick, Val, Tau and I have walked these caves for days with no light in sight, no opening that leads us to some new place where you can see the stars as they ascend from the horizon. But there's something that keeps me from leaving right now.
I just want to see them one more time. Just once.
"There is?"
The girl smiles. "No one's noticed."
"Except you, I assume?"
"Obviously."
I laugh. I'm not sure why, maybe because what else is there to laugh at than a girl who thinks she knows more than everyone else in an arena that's sure to kill the both of us? But she's smart, and she's powerful. Those goggles on her head didn't pop up from thin air; this girl from Five is dangerous, unlike her counterpart (for now). I have to tread lightly.
"Would you care to give me a hint, at least? From one redhead to another?"
She changes the subject rather quickly: "What's your name?"
Names are meaningless now, especially here. And it's not like I'd remember it anyway - my memory was always a little faulty with meaningless things the day I woke up. A name just means that she'll be that much harder to kill.
"Just call me Six, that's all that matters anyway here, right Five?"
She smirks, and for a second I'm terrified that she'll jump me. But then she speaks instead.
"Okay Six, tell me, if there's no way out of these caves,"
Five raises her hand.
"Then what the fuck is that breeze?"
And there it is, the slight sensation of wind against my arm, the goosebumps that pop up almost as quickly as the fear that winds its way up my stomach and into my brain. She's right: I never even noticed.
But with fear there's curiosity, and I even respect Five for being observant enough to figure it out. I end up laughing instead of cursing (such a big feat now, who knew that I'd be throwing around the f-bomb almost as often as I breathe in this darkness).
"Well, shit." Oh, there it is.
Go see the stars, Six." She sighs.
I can do it, I can do it - maybe if we find it we can all see them and then I'll be able to at least count the constellations one last time, plotting star charts in my mind and thinking of the fragments of moments that create my memory of staying up far past my bedtime, charting and charting and charting.
"You should too then, you found the clue after all. If we both find it, I'll show you some cool stuff - I was an astronomer back home after all."
I don't know why I tell her this; it just seems fitting.
"We don't have the luxury of trust anymore, Six."
Right. Back to reality, Galaxy. The tunnel seems to grow even colder. I smile again, without teeth this time.
"Take care of yourself, okay?"
"That's the idea," she responds.
"Obviously."
It's Five's turn to laugh this time.
"It's Galaxy," I say. I haven't said my name this entire time. Sometimes it's hard to remember who I am in this darkness
"I'm Patricia. Nice to have met you."
With that, I know that we may have nailed our coffins shut. In the arena, names are just as deadly as weapons. But I can't let that stop me - if it comes down to the two of us, I'm not hesitating. I can't.
"I probably won't see you later," I say, with a quick wave as I turn back, hoping that Tau won't be up. When I sleep it's farther away from him than last night.
---
I was wrong.
There's only one direction left to go, so I descend down the steps first, the air growing colder and the noises growing louder and louder and louder and I know we're not alone, me and Tau and Sycamore. Something's here. I hold the torch out and it illuminates the group of three nearby - Patricia's one of them - as well as the most terrifying monster I've seen yet. I don't even know how to describe it: it's huge, so huge, how are any of us going to get out of here alive?
I put out my torch and pick up my sword instead. Val's candle still flickers gently in the breeze. Perhaps some day we can find its source, but not now. Not when this thing's ready to pounce. Tau whatever's going on with you had better allow you to fight this time. Same with you, Sycamore.
Oh my god.
[extinguishes torch]
[#livingthatstealthlesslife]
[#livingthatstealthlesslife]