Sharp Objects

chapter eighteen

I'm going insane.

The thought turns over and over in my mind until I'm panicking, almost hyperventilating.

"Clove?" I stop breathing heavily almost immediately, squinting through the darkness,trying to find the owner of the voice. A flashlight goes on and, illuminated by the bright white light, is Marvel. I can't help back think of in my dream, awkwardly stood at the back, never trying to take part in the ceremony surrounding my death.

I give him the best smile I can manage, and stammer "I-I-Im fine Marvel"

He doesn't look too convinced, but he doesn't prey "it's early still, so we've got to wait till the others wake up first, we can go and see the mines,I think maverick has nearly finished them now?"

"Ok." I say to Marvel,standing up quickly, happy for the diversion away from my frankly disturbing dream.

We go outside, the 'sun' is just rising into the sky,the light is dawn seeping through the canopy of trees around us. I smile to myself: this is nothing like my dream, and I'm glad of it. Maverick is setting up the mines a few meters away from us "maverick!" I shout "how are the mines going?"

He bridles slightly at my call,but visibly swallows and replies "they're fine clove. Nearly done now. They should work, if I've got my calculations right." The look on his face shows that he isn't completely sure of his 'calculations' I resist the urge to laugh at the weak tribute cowering in his face of the dangerous and almighty career. Marvel notices my stifled chuckles, and hits me with his spear.

"Ouch that really hurts." I say dramatically, rubbing my arm for effect. He takes no notice, already knowing of my extremely sarcastic personality.

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,clove." Says Marvel, almost in a drawl.

I screw up my eyebrows in confusion " how the hell did you work that out?"

"It's an old saying,I'm not sure where it's from" he replies.  I shrug my shoulders, walking over to the cornucopia.

We wait around an hour for the others to wake up. Glimmer is the last to emerge from the shelter.she shakes her blonde hair in a dramatic way, obviously trying to attract attention. I scoff, trying not to laugh at her failure when the boys do nothing to acknowledge her appearance.

"Hey everyone!" Says glimmer in a sweet, almost flirtatious way, flipping her hair again " what a lovely day!"

"Glimmer." Says cato,looking up from sorting through his large collection of sword like weapons " we're in a fight to the death. You can hardly call it lovely." Glimmer shows visibly, and this time, I can't help but let out a loud chuckle.the pair of green eyes shoot towards me straight away.

"And what are you laughing at?" She sneers at me. Hand on her hips like a little girl throwing a tantrum. That send me into another bout of giggles." What is wrong with you? Your such a bitch. What is wrong with you,clove?" She rants, waving her arms around. I look at Marvel and cato,and they both seem to be trying to hide the laughter. I shrug at glimmer, not even trying to reply verbally.she tries to stand to her fall hight, trying to intimidate me.i do the same, even though I would have to grow another 3 inches to be taller then her.

Now she's laughing " God clove,what are you doing? She giggles " you can't try and imitate me by trying to be bigger then me because your tiny. Nobody would be able to find you in a crowd. Not that they'd want to anyways."she smirks, and zafira instantly arrives at her side,joining her. I give them a death glare, then I head to the shelter.

I'm leaving, leaving this stupid alliance because nobody likes me and I can't stay here because I'm guessing that tonight,if I stay,I'll die. Glimmer and zafira will kill me in my sleep.

So instead, I roll up my sleeping bag and put it into a pack with my other supplies, take a few other things from the large pile at the back of the shelter, throw my jacket on,and walk out.

Hoisting my pack on to my shoulders,I make my way out across the plain. "Clove,were the hell do you think you are going?" Shouts cato, running up to me.

"I'm leaving." I say, walking faster " I'm not staying with this lot. They're try and kill me if I don't go."

" I'll talk to them!" Says cato,stepping in front of me to block my path of exit.

"No." I say firmly "I'm going, end of." I walk on,but, maybe I can trust cato, if anybody, and I'll like to think that somebody knows were I am. He wouldn't betray me,would he?no, I don't think he would...

" I'll be somewhere in the forest, I wont stray from there." I mutter, hoping that he hears me. When I turn back,the flint in his eyes,and his small nod,is indicative of my assumption.

With that,I leave the career camp,twirling one of my knives around my hand as I go