Did You Ever Believe [Wallflowers vs Swamp Awakens] (day 2)

i n s a n i s .

{Can't you hear the bells sing in Cologne?
You won't hear it on the radio}

That one fight has already taken it's toll on all of us, at least me, I can't speak for everyone else. Honestly, I don't want to show it but this warhammer is so damn heavy my shoulder is ready to be wrenched out of it's socket. To make it worse, I'm hesitant to use my other hand as extra support. I quickly look down at it, all bandaged and ruined, fucking Colgate. I begin grinding my teeth just at the thought of that man, that false king who got to where he is by slaying my kin. I push him out of my mind, he'll only distract me and anyway he's only a long term goal. Have to walk up the small steps to make it to the top.

After escaping the true bloodbath we had to rest, we all stopped moving and decided to make camp for the day. Good, because honestly I'm too tired, my good arm is screaming at me, begging me for a break. I look to the sky, relieved to be greeted by the sight of darkness hanging above the arena.

I slowly begin to recap the deaths that have happened today. District two, the boy who's leg I broke. I small, ragged grin forms on my lips in relish of the memory. But then it drops when I remember how easy he got it. The angel of mercy struck him down, my worst memory. He didn't truly excite me, he was nothing but a taster. That man from twelve. He towered over everyone, a huge heap of meat who looked like he would crush anything and anyone in his way. I'm relieved he's gone, I didn't want to have to personally deal with him. Then again, with wounds like those he wouldn't have lasted long whether a finishing blow had been struck or not. District eleven mop head. Iain's district partner-

I catch him in the corner of my eye. Curled up and wounded. Although, he's definitely not physically wounded, no one touched him in that little skirmish. So why does he look like someone's driven a dagger through his heart? My curiosity is piqued, I drag my warhammer along and approach him, towering over his shrivelled form. "What are you doing?" I ask bluntly, not beating around the bush. It definitely caught his attention, because he looks up, tried tears clinging to his cheeks like flies. "Nothing. Just sitting here. Thinking." He replies, I catch his voice crack confirming that he'd been sobbing about something.

Why? It's annoying, I don't understand why he's sitting there crying when three people are dead. Hell, if anyone should be crying it's me; they were ripped away from me, mercifully killed before I could pass judgement. I scowl, not willing to drop the subject. "Sounds like your thoughts haven't been good ones." I state, still keeping a faked tone of calmness in my voice, it expertly masks my true mood. Nothing he says makes sense, his broken replies are a puzzle, a stupid and annoying puzzle that will never make sense in my mind. But still, there's one thing that I'm picking up from this. Weakness.

He replies, adding another piece to the puzzle. "Well would yours be the same if you just watched your district partner die? After you swore to protect her?" It's not exactly rocket science to pick up the obvious aggression in his voice. I'm already not liking this puzzle. But it's too late to stop now. I can't help but silently chuckle at his sentiment. What's her name again? Amerika? Yea, that's my District partner's name, the one with the fucked up face. I don't think I even spoke to her, on the train I just kept myself to myself. Honestly, I couldn't be bothered to even attempt to make a connection. So why did he? Also, why would he swear to protect her? That's stupid, she's not even part of this alliance. Besides, if he truly wanted to protect her he wouldn't fought off the people who hacked at her, who demanded her blood.

I've pieced the puzzle together and it disappoints me.

"What's going on? Iain? Insanis? You okay?" I spot the form of Cecilia approaching, her voice alerting us of her presence. Honestly, I hate to admit it but she's dangerous. Colour me impressed. I saw her knife fly through the air like a graceful bird and gorge itself in District Twelve's stomach. My toes begin to tingle at the thought of the agony he went through. Any blow to the gut is going to double someone over, most likely make them want to spew their breakfast all over the place. But a pointed knife to the gut where there's so much more pressure that pierces the belly, going through the muscles and protective layering to make it's home there (such a vulnerable spot) of all places...

My spine shivers.

I slap myself back into present, forgetting the past. Either way his agony didn't last long enough to count. There's no point in violating every inch of someone's being if it ends too quickly, now that's just counter-productive.

My attention is brought back to Iain's pathetic form and it hits me that all of this is over his district partner. Dead and rotting in the ground, that's the end of that. And to think they weren't even family. I disappointed smile finds it's way on my lips as I shake my head. "That's the difference between you and me, I don't make empty promises." I state bluntly, I allow my words to hang over him before adding the final nail in the coffin to drive my point home. "Besides, she never stood a chance, protection or not."

Like a good king I've enlightened the peasantry with the truth.

Before I can walk away Iain retorts with a such vigour I'm surprised but not shocked. "Maybe not, but nobody deserves to die in this godforsaken arena. Not the three people who died today. Not the many tributes who've died before. None of us in this place. It's a shame so many have to." I can taste the venom in my his voice (I lustfully lick my lips) and it's dripping with it. Still, just like the owner it's weak, not fit for the pure line of Keeni.

Cecilia chimes in, adding in her two cents as if it'll diffuse the situation. No, she's just trying to comfort her friend.

"I got bit earlier by something. I'm sorry you had to be there when it happened. It's my fault for going to the fight. I'm sorry. Andy...the one who fell first...he and I were close in the training center. It wasn't easy watching it happen." I giggle quietly so only I can hear myself. She's dangerous but I just can't relate to her, not in the slightest. Nothing she says is going to bring Iain out of his little hole he's dug himself in. Every word we say sinks him deeper and deeper. Until we finally throw the dirt over him. My face knits into a scowl at his ignorance.

Once again it seems I must enlighten the peasantry. "It doesn't matter what anyone deserves, or what's fair, or what's right, all that matters is that you deal with the cards you got dealt. Willis, Kitty, Pyrian, Gypsy, none of them were bad but they're still dead and that's that."

I don't register what I say until after I say it. Keenis, every single one, every single one simply rotting in the ground. I mean what I said, everything I say is the truth because what's right and fair means nothing. There is no moral line, there is no black and white. Only grey. The line between right and wrong is blurred and not just in the arena. Anywhere.

Willis Keeni. He was a drunk and I don't think many people liked him. I had to help him get dressed the day he was reaped because his hands shook so much he couldn't put his buttons through the damn holes. He wasn't a bad guy, he was just real fucked up. He had to either drink his demons away or hit them with a dart. Most of the time it was both. If the was a black and white he would've been detoxed but instead what happened to him? Six feet under from an axe buried in his face.

Kitty Keeni. He was young, too innocent. I used to antagonise him for his stupid hairy fucking kitten leaving it's fur and scratch marks all over the house. I wanted to dissect that cat in front of him so badly with a blunt, rusty knife. He wasn't a bad kid, he just annoyed me. If there was a black and white he would've grown old alongside that kitten and buried it when it was time but instead what happened to him? That cat outlived him.

Pyrian Keeni. Younger than me when he went down. He didn't have access to all five of his senses. He wasn't bad he just had questionable habits. Constantly burning, constantly watching flames tear creations down. If there was a black and white there would've been something to give him his hearing back and he would've been able to burn everything he wanted with his twin but instead what happened to him? His own twin stabbed him in the back.

Gyspy Keeni. Same age as her twin (obviously) and they went into the arena today. She loved her brother, she clearly did because she went through so much trouble for him in that arena. Even killed her own ally in defence of him. She wasn't bad she just had the same questionable habits as her brother. If there was a black and white she would've grown old with her brother and they would've constantly looked out for each other but instead what happened to her? Bled out a cripple with no one but her dying brother to keep her company.

He has no fucking right to cry over mop head. They weren't family, I'll bet my tongue they weren't even friends before their names got drawn out of that reaping bowl together. I didn't cry, not once. I'm slightly grinding my teeth when Hettie's voice comes to my defence. "The more that die before you, the longer you last." She tells him from a distance, walking over with her warhammer in tow. I stop my teeth grinding, almost relaxing a bit more. She has my back. She's a queen, she's my queen and like a true monarch she has her ruling partner's back in everything. A small smile begins to form as I stare at her approaching form, taking in the sight. The hammer, the sweating and all the fighting has somehow managed to make her ten times more attractive in my eyes.

Her lips move and I hear but I don't listen.

I know that words (hostile words) are being exchanged between her and the two younglings. How dare they... I turn to Iain and Cecilia, my smile dropping but I see the Iain is no longer a shrivelled, wounded hunter. "You deal with what you're dealt, but it doesn't mean you don't have to have a heart in the process. Not everyone is emotionally unattached like you are." He says to me, as if he's enlightening me with the truth. A mere peasant thinks he can tell me the truth... It's hilarious, the way he's talking to me as if he's making a big stand. He has no right to justify himself. I didn't cry, not once and I lost family. But him... He thinks he's going through some sort of evolution, as if he's become king.

"And the longer you last, the harder it gets, and the more hope you get. Just to fall short at the end." Iain tells Hettie, as if he's some kind of great guru who knows all and sees all. I feel my grip around my hammer tighten quicker than lightning and my eyes narrow on the kid in front of me. He's like a terrier at this point, lashing out at everyone. Invisible tension has already coiled itself around our group, so tight it can be cut with a pair of scissors. "We should sleep. Tomorrow will come soon." Cecilia's voice cuts through the air, bringing everyone back to their senses, even me. My grip loosens.

Hettie definitely won't let it go, that's for sure. "If that's what you want to do, then go ahead. But I am not taking advice from a loony like you. Stop trying to be philosophical. Did someone buy you a book back in eleven?" The insult's barbed wire, whipping into the kid. He freezes, time stops around him and I see the perfect opportunity.

Still, I cannot allow the peasant to speak to his monarch's like that and think he can walk away.

"Fair enough, but don't try to tell me for one second that if you had to choose between that girl's head on a spike and seeing your cousin again you would've still kept that promise." I tell him, giving him his healthy dose of the truth. He turns away, hiding his true self behind a mask. I don't need to see his eyes to know my words have opened his eyes. That's what I intended, I've reached into his mouth and pulled out his heart, clearly striking a nerve because he knows I'm right. A true king is always right.

I smile and begin to walk away, back to my supply of items and I plant my back on the ground. I've uninvolved myself from the situation and just now I'll just listen.

The insults and venom fly around them, striking each other with music to my ears. And I observe them fight.

"At least I know where my priorities lie. And unlike you, I hit something earlier." Iain strikes at the queen and my eyes widen.

Now that I think about it.

I take a quick glance at my hammer, caked with red. I look at Hettie's. Cleaner than a whistle. No, no, no! She's a career, that's impossible, she did damage. She must have. She's the queen. But what kind of queen can't... can't...

The silence from her tells it all.

"Don't listen to them Iain. Having emotions isn't bad it makes you human. It makes you compassionate...even in a hate filled place like this. I don't plan on becoming an animal." Cecilia says, ever trying to be the peacemaker. I chuckle at her attempt because she doesn't know the career like I do. She won't back down, especially not after such disrespect.

"Oh all of you shut up and go to sleep." She orders them but they won't take her command. The peasantry don't respect her hierarchy.

"Apparently that's what they all want. The Capitol. Everyone. They want us to become a bloodthirsty animal, and that's not me. But she's right. We should sleep. I'm done with the day." He must have worked himself into some sort of state because he refuses to stop his speeches. I'm half tempted to stand up and pass judgement, tell him the truth how it is for the third time.

"Oh wow the boy finally read the story. It's been happening for fucking 72 years. Of course that's what they want." She looks down on them, condescending. Just like me. Who knows, perhaps I can overlook what Iain said. Slanderous lies of course. I can feel myself drifting off...

"Shut up before I make you shut up. At least with me around you'll live longer." I'm snapped back into awareness, the barbed threat at Hettie cuts me as well as her. I begin to lurch up off my back, watching how she reacts, watching what she'll do. She'll kill him for sure... I prepare to see Iain's brains scattered across the floor.

"Oh fuck wow, finally! That's what I wanted to see...some spirit." She doesn't sink any further, keeping herself afloat in her boat of humour and simply looking down on the riff raff. She's impressive and I feel a wave of approval begin to surge in my chest.

Once again Cecilia tries to keep the peace, as if she can save the frayed relations with the peasantry and monarchy. "Hettie...chill please? Because you don't feel bad don't mean you have to blame him for having a heart. We have been raised differently than you. I wouldn't expect you to understand that." She tells her. I sigh, turning away from the scene and allowing my head to rest on my backpack. She can't use that as an excuse. District Eleven has won for three years in a row and I know that none of them were raised to kill and yet they still beat all the psychopaths and careers to make it to the top. Excuses, excuses, excuses. Excuses won't kill tributes, action will. And that's what Cecilia needs to understand herself.

"Shut up children and go to sleep." The queen commands but she's only met with sharp defiance yet again.

"I'm not a child!" Cecilia snaps. Her words are a whip, even I'm stung by the sharpness and tone of her voice.

I turn my back to them and before long Hettie's footsteps are getting closer and closer to me and she's sitting a few inches away from me. It's comforting, I know, it's strange for me to trust a career so readily.

Still, it seems despite my natural instincts I allow myself to relax, I relax to the point that sleep takes me.

____

"Wake up, Hettie, Insanis. It's morning, and we should move." Iain's voice is a knife, slicing through my dreams like they're nothing but paper. The sound of his trash bag rattling through the air makes me sit up, my eyes blinking at the fresh light piercing my vision to the point where I lift my hand up to shield my eyes. My vision falls to the brown ground. Time flies when you're having fun. I think bitterly to myself, day 1 went by pretty quickly. It's my second day in this hell hole and I bet the GM's would like it to be my last. After Iain walks away I finally allow my wounded hand to drop to my side and I look up.

And then I'm greeted by the sight of Hettie's bare body.

I resist the urge to let my jaw hang at the sight. It barely takes a second for me to fully register that Hettie has no clothing on her. but my response is almost automatic but completely nonsensical. “What are you doing?” I ask, as if that's not already answered for me. "Can you not tell what I'm doing?" She answered my question with a question of her own. I usually fucking hate it when people do that. This time I'm to mesmerised to actually care. The silence lingers for a bit and Hettie takes the opportunity to brush my face with her discarded tank top before slipping into a dress. Where did she get that from? Wait, it was obviously sponsored to her genius.

My lips are pulled into an excited smile. "If you're not careful I'll tear that right off." I say, licking the edge of my lips. She smiles back at me, revealing her perfect set of teeth. "I'd best be a bit careless then. She responds, then she flashes me a wink and begins walking over to her belongings. Instead of reaching for my hammer I'm watching her leave.

Focus!

I grab for my hammer with my good hand and sling my dirty backpack on my bag. Before long we've set off, Hettie leading the way and I make sure I'm trailing closer behind her. Cecilia is directly behind me and Iain is checking our rear. It's a perfect formation. If anyone or anything sneak attacks us he would be the first to notice. Since he has a spear he can keep them a distance while we turn on the opponent. Hettie's a career and has been trained to fight all her life, if anyone's foolish enough to try a head on attack she'd destroy them with her hammer. Provided she can hit them... Of course I'm well protected, being the king and all. My lips curl into a wry grin at the thought of that. King Keeni.

I wave of relief surges through me when I notice that we've left the swamp to paradise.

It looks like a clean sheet of glass, undisturbed, completely clear and totally dangerous. Of course, it's only water but the difference is that it's completely clear. Not a single bit of dirt has made it's home in the water yet. That means there could be no bacteria. I don't know, I could be wrong. The huge crater is full of water and I'm half tempted to get my canteen out and begin scooping water into it. No, not yet. I don't trust it. It's too good to be true.

We stick to the grass, we keep walking along the grass. "Careful." I whisper to my three allies. The ground isn't as stable as it looks at first glance and even I can tell that without having fallen over anything yet.

Huh?

I hear it, a wrinkle, a crumple, as if someone's stepped on a twig or something. Crunch! My eyes narrow, someone, or something is with us... It's very close. I raise my hammer. "We're not alone!" I exclaim, but no doubt they can tell something else is here to. Fuck it.

Without any hesitation or regard for who it might be my hammer sails through the air, slicing through anything in its path towards the fool who dared enter The King's personal space.

[ Attacks Basil with Warhammer ]

ldGP9NOQspiked blunt

[14180 -- BROKEN STERNUM -- 7.5 damage]

spiked blunt

h e n r i e t t a .

Scenes from earlier today swarm my mind; a bloodless bloodbath followed by an alliance massacre…such a masterpiece. Caesar Flickerman with his elaborate appearance will likely be recapping today’s events. Talk of the attacks will be flooding across the Capitol and the Districts, three fallen tributes soon to me accompanied by twenty others. Their killers names will be cemented onto the fallen’s foreheads and unfortunately my list of victims is yet to be engraved…it’s the first day…I have plenty more hours to come. After all I may grow fed up of the three I decided to ally with…they would be an easy kill however they’ve yet to become irritable for me to commit such an act.

Leaning against the tree, I’d twiddle with the yet to be blood stained war hammer that I had obtained in the dry bath. A nifty weapon to say the least however my good friend a knife would have been much appreciated but there’s always time for new things. Cecilia has knives, when her cannon sounds; I can always pluck them from her lifeless carcass. I am yet to hit anything with the weapon and having seen Insanis break the District Two boy’s leg with it, I know for a fact it is a deadly…although it may not be a perfect match for me. It seems to be a masculine weapon as I’ve only seen a male hit anything with it…I am all for equality but this does suit a man more appearance wise…Hopefully nobody saw my ridiculous attempts to hit the District Two boy and if they did…I hope for their own sake they keep their mouth shut about it or they may well be returning home in bits and pieces…

Examining my alliance, I know too well that the District Eleven boy has not taken the tribute hunting all too well. The boy has too much heart, he is too soft, he needs to adapt to what is to come. There will be much more bloodshed and death and he needs to get over it. His brother...or cousin…or whatever they are to him, saw all of this themselves, surely he would have been warned of such a thing? And to sit sobbing in front of a career, an insane and his girlfriend…the boy is a fool for sure.

Petting my weapon, I’d organise the small acquired amount of items in my backpack. It seems somebody is watching out for me as I have been randomly obtaining sponsorship items throughout the day, especially after receiving the lightning bolt. Fair play to the gamemakers for sending such fury onto the arena however it didn’t exactly work out well for them…we did have to kill three ourselves to make up for the lack of death. We’ve only acquired small burns and well some fool out there has sent me something to fix it…damn being a gamemaker would be too much of a stressful job…although if I were to have the position…game days would not last much longer under my power…

Gritting my teeth, I’d watch the two of them try to comfort Iain. The boy is so wet; he is enlarging the target that already sits on his head. Does he not know that the tributes as well as the Capitol want the District Elevens dead? He is helping them achieve that with the pathetic worries that are crawling off his face. We’re already one half of the way of knocking the luck out of Eleven and he seems to be helping us with the second half himself. Sorry sorry sorryToo many apologies, we shouldn’t have to be saying sorry to each other…the Capitol put us here, it’s them who should be saying sorry.

"Maybe not, but nobody deserves to die in this godforsaken arena. Not the three who died today. Not the many tributes who've died before. None of us in this place. It's a shame so many have to." Does he not realise that this is a blood sport, solely for the entertainment of the Capitol? Does he not realise that this has been happening for years and is more or less a norm now? Does he not realise that if he wants to not miraculously die, twenty-three have to die before him? "The more that die before you, the longer you last." Pushing myself off of the ground, I’d rise to my feet, picking up the war hammer as I spoke. Swinging the hammer in the air, I’d join the small mother’s meeting that surrounds the weak boy.

"And the longer you last, the harder it gets, and the more hope you get. Just to fall short at the end." What is he talking about, is the boy trying to make sense? Where has this sudden ruling brain of his come from? Just because he has a victor relation, doesn’t mean he can dictate the rules in this alliance. If we were to elect a leader…it’s obvious who that winner would be… "If that's what you want to do, then go ahead. But I am not taking advice from a loony like you. Stop trying to be philosophical. Did someone buy you a book back in eleven?" I am sure that any District lower than Seven lacks the facilities of books. Having being forced to read myself in schooling, I know that knowledge is just as good as being ruthless and strong. Nobody can get anywhere with just muscle and a hollow head, they need to know to where they’re aiming at and how they’re going to commit to the attack…strategy is all that is going to save me in this arena but that strategy must come as a surprise. I want to survive but I want to have fun while surviving.

Rubbing my chin, the blood that I had painted on my cheeks from the District Two boy’s wounds hopefully still remains on my face. In due time, his DNA will be met by more and hopefully by those who were slain by my hand…

"At least I know where my priorities lie. And unlike you, I hit something earlier. Biting my lip, I’d raise the war hammer slightly, disgusted by the fact that he dared speak up by such a thing. Glancing towards Insanis, I swear to ripred that he doesn’t understand what Iain just admitted. I am going to rip his tongue out, once I get the chance. His girlfriend begins to back him up; hopefully she doesn’t start mouthing at me too. "Oh all of you shut up and go to sleep"

Despite demanding the little children to sleep, they continue with their waffling and many of the words that crawl from their mouths amuse me. "Apparently that's what they all want. The Capitol. Everyone. They want us to become a bloodthirsty animal, and that's not me. But she's right. We should sleep. I'm done with the day." Has the boy only just realised? Has he finally made sense of what I saw talking about earlier? Damn…he is such a slow learner… "Oh wow the boy finally read the story. It's been happening for fucking 72 years. Of course that's what they want." Lowering the weapon, a chuckle would follow my words as I can’t comprehend the words that are vomiting from the ridiculous boy’s lips.

"Shut up before I make you shut up. At least with me around you'll live longer." The boy is gutsy for saying such a thing…but a fool at the same time. Does he not realise that he is in the company of a trained killer that could easily send him tumbling down with just one tap? His girlfriend commences to try and calm me down but I brush off the nonsense. "Shut up children and go to sleep." Shaking my head, I’d walk away, heading towards the tree that I was sat beside earlier. Resting my back against its trunk, I’d slide down it, sitting on the ground while cradling the hammer.

Closing my eyes, I’d trust that the three of them dare not try and take me during my sleep…

Beep
Beep
Beep

Opening my eyes, the morning’s light would flood into my vision as I glance around. Trying to identify the sound, a small parachute lands besides me a bizarre object attached to the bottom of it. A brown paper bag hides whatever it contains and a number 4 indicates that it is indeed for me. Looking to my other side, Insanis seemed to have kept me company during my sleep…I’m not complaining. Standing up, I’d walk to the landing point of the parachute, picking up the bag. Tearing at the paper, it’d reveal black material before I unfold it…a dress…do I have a secret admirer out there?

Whoever designed the costume for the tributes needs to find another job…we all look ridiculous and well the shoes do top off how foolish we all look. A piece of ivory paper falls from the dress as I unfold it. Picking it up, text is imprinted on it:

To make sure you look good while killing the tributes. - Magus Argyris

Whoever this Magus is certainly deserves a kiss once I return home. Stripping off the shorts and tank top, I’d begin to swap into the more suitable attire. “What are you doing?” Looking over to Insanis, it seems I have awoken him and sight of me naked, I bet is a damn sight to wake up too. "Can you not tell what I'm doing?" A silence fills Insanis so I brush the tank top across his face followed by a flash of a wink. Teasing him will be a fun activity…maybe we could make the obvious fantasies in his mind right now a reality… “If you're not careful I'll tear that right off” Revealing the white ivories between my lips, I’d run my tongue along them as I pull the dress over my head. "I'd best be a bit careless then." Another wink follows my words as I dump the old clothes on the ground. Walking away from Insanis, I’d begin to gather up my belongings.

I never thought about having a relationship in the arena but we’re all allowed a bit of fun in our maybe last hours…

Leading the way towards our next area, the blood cravings begin to swarm my mind. Having being granted with the melodic tone of the three cannons yesterday, I am begging ripred for more of those sounds…I need to add to the pattern that lies on my face and one day without any action will drive me more insane that my District Six male friend.

Following behind me is Insanis, I’d rather nobody else be watching my back than him. Behind Insanis is Cecilia, the throwing knives will be viable if anything attacks us from side. Last and sadly least, is Iain…after all he is the meat shield and if anything was to creep up on us…it’ll latch onto him first.

Approaching a new area, the location looks much more pleasant that the one that we had left behind. Despite having the thirst for blood, I do need to quench my water needs…the pristine flat surface of water which looks virgin to the touch, looks like a viable source. It looks pure, perfect for consumption however totally unsafe at the same time. This is a trap, the gamemakers would not have left gold lying around without having a slight twist to it.

“Careful." warns Insanis as I begin to scope the area, my fingers wrapped around the handle of the war hammer. Brushing at my ankles the grass tickles my skin, causing the microscopic hairs to stand on edge. My stability on the ground is uneasy…there is definitely something hidden in here.

All the noises that someone would lie about to scare someone…crunching leaves…cracking twigs all become real as alarm signals begin to surround me and my alliance. Halting, I’d scan the area, fishing out any loose tributes or manufactured mutts that the gamemakers have sent to tracks us down. "We're not alone!"

After hearing Insanis state the obvious, I’d detached from the line formation that we had created to travel. Gritting my teeth, a growl would drop from my mouth as I send the war hammer soaring through the air towards the thing, hoping to actually cut blood this time…

Sleep averted me for the longest time. The damp air made my injuries ache even more and the swamp floor wasn't nearly as comfortable as it seemed. So I laid there, awake, eyes shut so tight that it hurt, trying to forget where I was. It seemed like sleep would never come, but eventually the gentle sounds of the bugs and light drizzle of the rain got to me.

And I fell into as deep of a sleep as possible while stuck in hell.

Dreams (or maybe nightmares, who knows) of home fill the few hours of rest I managed to get. They seemed so real, like I had never left. It felt like only minutes before someone was grabbing my arm, trying to wake me. It was probably Sigma. I open my eyes slightly, trying to adjust to the morning light. That's when I see the figure standing over me, and I realize it's Danny, not Sigma, and reality comes crashing back over me like a wave. I turn myself over. "Just five more minutes," I mutter, closing my eyes and hoping that sleep takes me before anyone else has a chance to. But I know it's not possible, and I grumble as I stand up and attempt to brush myself off. I don't even want to see what my hair looks like. My eyes finally adjust to the light and I quietly count my alliance members, making sure we're all here, that we're all alive. And we all seem to be ready.

Ready for another day in hell.

And we see them, only a few feet away. I take my dagger from my belt and prepare to fight. I feel the triangular gem in my pocket and remove it, taking out its contents. I smile and spread the tar all over my knife. And then I lunge.


[delta uses her awesome triforce of courage and lights her dagger on fire]

table inspired by rook
rave owns my soul for this

i n s a n i s .

{I got sunshine in a bag
I'm useless but not for long}

Who truly passes judgement?

I'm thirteen years old and sitting in the Headteacher's office. His desk is a assembly point for useless junk, all of it cluttered around like they're just there so he can dickwave. I notice about two letters from the Capitol and one from some Research Department of District six. I don't even bother to read them, not that it's any of my business but honestly who the fuck cares? I know that isn't there because he's lazy, Mr. Thorn was never a lazy man, in fact he did everything with a slow deliberateness that I actually admired to a point.

What really catches my eye is the drawing. I can't help but smirk slightly at my handy work, in my opinion it was really good but it seems my teacher didn't agree. After school ended I was told to 'stay behind' while they went to fetch my mother from home. I don't pick it up, simply admire it. There's so much red from the red colouring pencil I used. The people aren't exactly realistic, only stick people with simple faces. One is standing, a simple smile decorates his blank circle of a head. Two others aren't up right, they're laid on the blank floor on their sides with their smiles upside down. In one there's a hatchet buried in his face with two knives sticking out of his stomach with red crayon decorating his front. The second figure is clearly female, as evidenced by the brown lines I drew for long hair on the top of her head. Her smile is also upside down. The main difference between the two of them is that the boy has a foot while the girl doesn't. She also has two knives buried in her front, two for each soul.

When you look closer they're labelled, the three of them. The boy who's smiling is labelled 'me'. The other two? Only labelled with Soap and Cricket.

CRACK!

Shock expresses itself on my face to see I've nailed an actual living breathing tribute. Why did he invade my personal space? Does he not know what a king does? However, before I can bring my hammer down yet again all hell breaks loose. I spot two flashes of silver sail through the air and my eyes widen to see them violate the flesh of my queen. A scowl begins to knit itself across my features.

I'm ready to erupt

It's not long before my rage boils over and takes over my allies because they attack with a vigour that leaves me even impressed. Death in the form of orange flames have engulfed Cecilia's knives and before I know it one of them becomes a vulture. It flies through the air, almost curving and dipping to find it's target before making it's home in the flesh of the weak. It bites into the flesh of the stupid boy who thought himself big enough to to invade my personal space.

Is this judgement?

I take a glance at Hettie, the fabric of her black and crimson (which I assume is from being cut) dress seems to dance across her lithe figure as she passes her own form of judgement on some girl who must have been with this boy. Her face is untouched, almost pristine and flawless, it seems out of place in this arena.

I blink.

A huge chunk of her face is missing, marring the features of a once feminine face with a scar, marking where she truly belongs. In the fucking ground so the rest of her can rot away.

Even the pissboy Iain puts in work, his the point of his spear gorging into her flesh and further violating her. My lips are brought into a wry smile, revealing my teeth. I raise the hammer, ready to pass judgement. I take a step...

Then I drop, pain exploding through my body that I even yell out in agony.

The door swings open, removing my attention from my drawing. I don't even stand up, I already know who it is. "Son..." My mother's soft voice rings through my ears and yet I don't stir, I simply stare in front of me, not even acknowledging her or Sir. I hear Thorn's footsteps, each one edging and creeping closer and closer towards me until he's completely past me and facing me. His cold glare staring my down behind his thick glasses. He's dressed for business, every movement he makes is carefully considered, carefully thought out. He removes his glasses, letting his naked stormy grey eyes fully absorb everything about me.

It makes my skin crawl.

He slowly picks up the paper with my artwork on it and hands it to my mother. "Here is the treasonous drawing." He states calmly and my mother gasps, and looks at me with horror. "Insanis, why?" She asks me, her hands shaking so much she drops the paper on the desk. I notice her bite her bottom lip just to stop is from quivering. Her face is plain, her jet black hair tied back in an ugly bun as if having it out will make her seem less serious. "They need to be judged for what they did." I tell her calmly.

I don't crack.

I don't break.

I don't even bend, not in the slightest.

"The Capitol will judge you boy, you're lucky I don't send this to a Peacekeepers right now." He says. His words clearly puppeted and rehearsed, as if this is what he's been told to say to all the kids who say something slanderous about the Capitol.

I shrug my shoulders.

"Judgement will come, one way or another." I reply.

My yell is a mixture of agony and frustration. I quickly look down to see there's a warm, red patch spreading across my side. I gently place a hand on it, instantly recoiling from the pain that lances up my hip. I instantly know it's blood, my blood. I groan, my head is pounding harder than a drum, I place my wounded hand on the back of my head, revealing a small lump that's buried beneath my curls. I'm grinding my teeth in frustration at my stupidity. How did I not see this?

Through my swimming vision I notice the walls, the dirty, mossy green walls of this hole. Shit. I look to the sky, relieved that it's not deep. Else I could find myself buried here for ever. I tried to pass judgement but yet again the Gamemakers seem to be getting in the way. Am I truly fit to pass judgement. Surely I must be, I'm from the line of Insanis, surely I'm fit to pass judgement?! Surely I can lift my warhammer and simply kill, surely I can cause them unimaginable pain and irreparable damage. My thoughts swim to the satisfying crunching sound of that boy's chest caving in.

He entered my personal space and I crushed him.

Butt it hurts, everything fucking hurts and I'm seeing two hammers instead of just one. Maybe I should just stay down here, maybe I should just let them fight it out while I lay down here. What use am I? I can't even pass judgement without falling into a hole, perhaps I should just... just...

"INSANIS!!!"

"Don't say that!" My mother snaps at me.

Her voice is a rubber whip, looks and sounds impressive but does no damage. I don't even bother to respond to her, my gaze is still locked on him. Sir only sarcastically chuckles and claps his hands softly, shaking his head in the process of doing it.

"Insanis Keeni! You need to understand that these are victors, they are very important to the Capitol, any attempt to do what you're talking about means-" She doesn't even finish her sentence, her voice cracks slightly in the middle of it, cutting her off. I don't care about any of that, I don't care if they are kings or fucking queens, I don't care if they're loved for giving the best happy endings in the Capitol, all that matters is that they need to be judged for what they did to the name Keeni. For what they did to my name. For what they did to me.

"Okay, listen kid," The way he says kid makes me internally wince slightly, I even bite my lip slightly at the sharpness of his voice, the length of his pause. "You have no right to pass judgement on anyone or anything, these are victors, they are simply on a whole different level above you or even me," he points his finger at me and then himself, just to drive his point home.

I don't even have the stomach to interrupt him.

"Cricket Antoinete has made more out of her life than you ever will. Colgate O'Leary would simply kill you quicker than he killed you cousin, if anyone is going to pass judgement on anyone it would be them passing judgement on you." He stops speaking, piercing gaze burning through me like I'm nothing but butter. I bite my bottom lip harder, keeping my fists clenched at my sides. My mother notices me, giving me a sharp stare as if to say 'don't you even think about it.'

"The peacekeepers, your parents, even me, we can all 'pass judgement' on you because you simply haven't made anything of yourself, you're at the bottom of the pecking order and that's the harsh reality-" he continues but I grow a spine.

"I'll pass judgement, then after I do I'll reach the dream." I cut him off rudely, expecting it to faze him but he doesn't even get angry, he simply chuckles as if I'm a naive child.

"Hmmm, I'll tell you what. You're a smart kid, I've seen your grades, you could be anything at the rate you're going, a doctor, a head researcher and yet you choose to be a nuisance with all this treasonous talk about judgement," he lets his words hang, as if that will set me on edge but I know what's coming. It's happened too many times already. "I'll show you what judgement is, you're excluded, three days should do it, and while you're at home I expect you to write me an essay on the pecking order and then another one on having having realistic dreams. I expect them to be two sides each of A4 paper."

He finishes me before I can even protest.

"Get out of here Keeni, let the grown ups talk."

Iain's voice cuts through the air as easily as scissors through papers. Funny, I'd think he'd relish the thought of me falling down and breaking my neck in some sick twisted fall. I think I'd laugh at me to. I hear more voices, some of agony and some calmer than others. I hear more fire and more blades being drawn and used, I hear blades cutting through the wind and some meeting flesh followed by fresh screams of agony, and a lot of them are from my allies.

Is this true judgement?

Is this where we're all going to die? Buried in holes and slash and burned to death?

No.

There's just no way, I can't let it happen. Because that would be proving them all right, that I have no right to pass judgement. And if I cannot even pass judgement then I cannot call Colgate a false king and I cannot hurl insults at Cricket. I grit my teeth, grabbing my warhammer and sling my body up so it's upright.

I rise to a changed world.

A changed world without my judgement.

Iain's covered in burns and Hettie's black dress is starting to look redder than it originally should've been. How dare they pass judgement on the queen.

I'll show them, I'll show them what it really means to pass judgement. Like a true king should.

I spring into action, grinding my teeth through the agony and pushing through the swimming vision. I find myself next to the girl with the ruined face. "Hi there."

Me and my hammer will purify these fuckers with true judgement.

For a minute I doubted what true judgement is, for a second I asked the dumbest question.

Who truly passes judgement?

Me.

[ Attacks Delta with Warhammer ]

WrQTv6|Gspiked blunt

[14062 -- BROKEN JAW -- 7.0 damage]

spiked blunt

h e n r i e t t a .

Just twelve hours ago I was fighting side by side with this alliance, to kill the paint brush on legs and her citrusy tag team. Now I am facing them in combat, alongside the alliance that I have very well chosen wisely. Insanis pursued a great blow on the Lime Pie, breaking some sort of bone on his torso, helping with his death. Cecilia, surprisingly hit something with her knives and well Iain is living up to his duty of the meat shield. However with my performance yesterday, my alliance seems to be reaching targets, that I am far from.

The loner boy, who is Cecilia's district partner, dares to send his knife straight through my chest...obviously he caught me off guard. Placing my hand on the wound, I'd shake off the pain that begins to swarm my body, preparing to take revenge on the attack.Before I had the chance to swing my war hammer towards him another blade attack hits my face this time. "Oh fuck you!" Trickling down my cheek, I can feel the sticky substance ruin the war paint that I had created from the District Two's wound. This bitch is gonna pay for that...

Turning away from my attacker, I'd aim my war hammer towards the weaker girl, hoping to take out the easy ones before the real fight begins. Raising my hammer in the air, I'd send it down...abruptly missing as I do.Pain ceases in my shoulder, the wound from the lighting bolt making it harder for me to equipped the weapon properly. "Oh for fuck sake." Not caring whether my alliance has seen my third failed attempt to hit, I swing it again...hitting the girl in the face. "Fuck yeah bitch! How do you like that makeover? You ugly mug." The meat shield follows my attack, abruptly hitting the girl just as hard. "Damn Iain."

Scoring the scene, I hear Iain call out Insanis' name, alarm bells signalling in my head. My Insanis cannot die...not now...ripred can take the other two but not Insanis, he is too valuable...The ground in this area is not fit for purpose and it seems Insanis has found out the hard way...as well as the girl we are attacking. More tricks the gamemakers have up their sleeve, however death by falling down a hole...must be the most dullest way to go.

And especially being stabbed in the back...

Two more blades hit my back, sending me to the ground. One felt as though it got in deeper than the other...but deep enough to send me off my feet. This isn't it, this isn't how I had prepared for it to happen. Two juvenile fighters like Ezero and the other girl are not going to be the ones that send me to my doom.

Blood is what I crave...but not my own. Placing my hand on my chest, crimson begins to flood across my once black dress. My torso is ruined and I am surprised there is not clean hole going straight through it. If this is my end now, I hope to ripred that Insanis tears that loner boy's head off for me.

Pushing myself off the ground, I'd try to ferry my way towards the fight. Watching as Insanis and Cecilia hit the girl. A war hammer sails at her jaw by Insanis' hand. A flaming knife follows suit from Cecilia...finishing the job. Flames fill my eyes, welcoming me with such a beautiful sight...and one to be brought by such an unexpected attack. "Oh my dear ripred fuck wow...yes...Cecilia you little princess!" Cheering on my alliance, the sound of the cannon sends a reassuring melodic tune to my ears.

Vision begins to subside as I stumble around the area, my arms slump by my side as I drag the war hammer across the ground. Walking towards the carcass and the fight, the lust for blood grows stronger however emotions begin to set in.

You need to sit out, get medical care Henrietta. It's only a scratch, just one hit and I can kill the strangler District Seven boy! Blood is pouring from your body, you will die. I just need blood, just one drop...just one drop.

Rubbing my forehead,I'd fight the conscious that wants to ruin my game but my body is also refusing to allow me to carry on. Blurriness blocks out my sight,only being able to see slight figures of those that surround me. "Come help me Insanis!"