Long Live the King {Spider Elephant Stampede; Day 3}

Hatred for the games comes into play. From the moment my foot stepped into that platform and the moment I realized I was no longer with Marcus, it seemed my undaunting task to find him if it was the last thing I ever did. Today, the task was put off by the rough stampede of the weird animals, spooked by something I didn't know of. They came fast, and loud and in the midst of the cry of the elephants swarm, I moved as fast as my body would allow. My lost limb hindered me in ways that I knew it would, but I always though that Marcus would be with me. Damn gamemakers... why was we not kept together? Was you afraid of our power? Were we too strong? Too many sevens? Thoughts flow through my head, but at first my gait was strong and accurate and it seemed that I no longer needed the assitance of anyone. Not like I had it to begin with... I started solo.. and it seems like I'm going to end that way, too.

An elephant stomps pass me, causing my unbalanced - whiskey tainted body to fumble with the current pace. I fall, my eyes turning in different ways with the help of the whiskey I had consumed all morning. There was only a few more sips in my bottle but it seemd like I would never get to sip them again.

*CRACK*

The sound seemed to hit my ears before I could realize what had happened. My face zooms to the ground and it seemed as though I would never get to see Marcus again. Sage would never get to hear my apology. My district would never be able to hear my voice try to reconcile my need to keep Leticia's life alive.

My prostetic leg snaped in two, forgotten somewhere behind me, but I've walked without the leg before. I can do it again. I have to - for Marcus. It's needed.

"DAMNIT MARCUS... you better be having just as bad time as me..." I jump up to dart into a safety area, hoping I can move out of the stampeded impending doom long enough, but it seemed unfair. How is it that I was delt this awful fate? How is it that Marcus couldn't be here to save me this time? He never is around when I need him - this is all his fault.

"MARCUS... I HA..." and a cold chill runs down my back.

c28039- Seth

She let's go of me and simply gives me a look that says, "Keep running or I'll kill you myself." But I've got a million reasons why I can't let her go. I'm running the fastest, out at the front of the crowd of bodies rushing at me. My legs may be shorter than everyone else's, but apparently I'm still not the slowest.

My lungs are aching, my ribs on fire as I try to fix my breathing. I didn't have time to check the bruising before I was woken from sleep, but I know enough about broken bones that all this running isn't going to help at all.

But it's hard to run without looking back over my shoulder. Without working ears I don't have much to guide me besides my eyes. What if Elettra needs help? What if Eszter or Helios fall too far behind? I glance again, this time my feet slowing, stumbling. I trip and suddenly there are feet rushing past me, hands grasping at my clothing.

I cough on dust and my ribs protest. That's when I can see past all the running and frantic bodies. They're monsters, beasts, mutts. They've got legs as long as-- well, in truth, all I can see are legs upon legs, upon legs. At least that's what I assume they are, not just enormous amounts of strings coming at us all at once, ready to slice us into tiny pieces.

I panic and scramble to my feet, only to slow when I see a boy struggling to keep away from the feet threatening to squish us all. I latch onto his arm in a hurry, pulling him forward with me as he struggles to stay upright. I pull him until he finds he stride again, only to watch another body disappear within the swarm of legs.

I push forward, my eyes latched to the blonde hair and slim figure my sister carries. I don't yell her name. I don't want her to look back.