float [ike o'nyle | day 1]

Freedom doesn't exist.

No one can escape their fate of a bloody fight for life or death. Dead bodies that float freely in the air of the bloodbath had been the last sight he could remember. Blue Smith's broken body floating in the space of the cornucopia, making his body churn with sickness. Dead people don't get to be free. They are physically chained to the destiny of death in their final resting place. Forever floating in a empty place of nothingness. The idea makes Ike's stomach churn in fear before he focuses back on the exit he brings them to.

The girl from Seven is still in his arms, not much of a physical exertion for him, despite the fact he should feel exhausted by now, but the weird gravity makes things easier. She hasn't spoken at all yet, words seem to not be needed in this moment, so he takes it in stride as he takes in more of this place. Emptiness seems to be everywhere in these metallic walls of something. A strange place, not meant for them. Clearly, the weight on his own shoulders was different than home. The clothes he wears, were floating a bit more, but that didn't give him any idea of where the hell they were.

The tight under layer was obnoxiously warm now, but he knew he would need it for the rest of the chill in this arena. The layers of fabric sweaters over him feels better than he expected. The floral design of the second to last coat above his layers of sweaters that loosely cling to him. The trench coat of the bright blue color with flower embroidery going up his shoulders and down his back feels heavier than the rest of his outfit, but he likes the style, despite the bright color, he would never wear in District Eight.

Ike stops outside the air lock to somewhere new. Somewhere just as dangerous. All he can do is think it over in his head. The District Seven girl was with him, but he didn't know whether she was in an alliance or not. He swore he had seen her with others, but right now, it's just the two of them outside of some place. Instead of thinking what to do next, her voice catches him off guard, just slightly.

"Y’know, you can put me down whenever you like." A second passes before she continues. "Thank you though for saving me." His mom would be happy with that. Years spent raising him to be the best man that he could possibly be. Years spent in kindness instead of despair like many of the others who had come before them. Lucky enough to have had some sort of a good life for himself, despite the bad that does exist in this reality. A hum from his throat before he lets her go and speaks into the empty space.

"No problem, just thought you could use the help."

Help. McCarthy could have used help in his bloodbath. The sadness District Eight had felt from his death lingered in the district for months to come. Would Ike's death do that? Would he be remembered as a hero? Or just another dumb boy from Eight? A shiver runs down his spine as he hears her speak once more. "I did. I wouldn't have made it out alive if it wasn't for you." Was that a good thing? These are supposed to be the people he's meant to kill in order to live, but he can't help the good feeling in his chest of helping someone out in a rough spot.

A moment passes.

"I don’t know what I can give you--- er…" Her words makes him feel on edge. A favor for a life. Despite the fact, anyone else would have taken something in order to survive. There's nothing he could ever want. He's got more than enough to survive on his own for awhile. His fists would keep him alive. They had to keep him alive in this arena. Otherwise, he'll just be another name in the cycle of names. Another broken Eight in the cycle of dead boys and dead girls. A cycle that needed to be broken, even if it meant breaking his own heart. "Do you even want to exchange names? Or?"

A moment before he finds out her name.

"Hanaa."

Hanaa was alive because of him. From his own stupidity, he saved a girl from death. Fate had brought them together for a small moment, but he can't help the feeling of a blush rise to his cheeks before vanishing once again. He decides to speak now, letting her comment from before sink in finally. "No need to give me anything. You've got enough to deal with." Hanaa with the broken leg, had enough to deal with in this arena with those wounds. Eyes glance around before he speaks once more, this time giving her a name to remember in this place.

"Ike."

A moment of silence before he clarifies.

"That's my name, Ike."

The silence fills the air around them. Nothing more to say to her, he thinks deeply about what will become of Hanaa. Would she become a heroine in this arena or a devil to many of them? Either way, he had saved her life and whatever she did from now on was on him. Whoever she killed would be on his hand, but he didn't mind. Not anymore when there was no freedom to be gained from this. Instead of saying, he swipes his pink watch against a panel, figuring out the words of his stylist in his head. Useful tech to get around places.

For a moment he stares at her, holding in the sight of a living human before he turns around.

Leaving the only other person around him in the hollow hum of white noise.

The door slides open and closed before he can even speak, but the silence feels more like home than anything before. The empty room of crates and metal boxes linger on the ground below. The lights hum with a sound that sends panic through his chest, but he doesn't dare focus on it. Eyes glance from place to place as if he's already on edge in this very place. A moment of silence is enough to process the lonely feeling he carries in this hollow, cold place. His breath feels louder against the air here.

Fingers start to pulls gently at wooden crates, check contents inside of these boxes. Items of value were here, at least, that's what he would guess those robotic arm looking things were. The matches and an empty thermos would be helpful for the future. Grabbing the items, he shoves them into the bag on his back. Before thinking any better, he grabs some of a broken crate, shoving it into his bag to possibly burn later for warmth or water.

The place feels too loud and too quiet at the same time. A deep breath in order to calm his mind. Blue's body and Blair's body having sunk in deep as he holds himself in a corner for a moment. Tears seem to escape at the memory of seeing two people gone. Despite volunteering, he didn't want to die. He didn't want to lose what little life he might have left. Klein was waiting at home for him. His mom would break down without him. His father would fall back into his old emotionless ways. There would be no love in his home. He didn't want to die.

Ripred, he really didn't want to die like them.

Lifelessly floating in a place where people don't belong.

His sobs echo slightly around him as he slams his fist into a wall that he resides next to, far away from Hanaa and her group of people. Blue was one of the softer people in this games. Their night in the training center, hitting a punching bag and showing better form hadn't helped him. The smile on his lips had made Ike feel safer in this place. Safer than he was supposed to be. Tears float in the space around him as he holds himself steady in a corner, slamming his fist into a wall again before the sound of metal hits his ears.

Ike believed he was an idiot for the first time since entering.

He knew it wouldn't be the last time he felt this way.