Natalie felt herself growing bored with every passing moment. She was waiting for the Careers to take some action, but it seemed like they were simply waiting her out. She didn't feel like a rabbit, waiting to be killed. Instead, she felt more like a teasing mouse.
The cackling laugh had Natalie looking down at the group of five. They were sitting around a lit fire, not caring about any of the consequences. Why would they? They were the most fearsome people fighting in the Arena. Whilst the Gamemakers had all the power, the Careers had the advantage that the others didn't.
Within seconds, Glimmer's demeanor had changed. She was no longer a bloodthirsty female, instead she was flirting with Cato. She was clinging onto his arm and batting her eyelashes. Natalie couldn't help but laugh at how uncomfortable Cato looked.
Natalie turned away from the four killers and her brother to look up at the sky. It was the coldest night she had experienced so far in the Arena. She had nothing apart from the coat on her back. She would do anything to be by the fire, even if it might being with the Careers.
Self consciously, Natalie reached in her coat pocket. She held onto the necklace as tight as she could, hoping that Peeta would survive the night. She didn't care whether she died from the decrease in temperature, by the hands of the Careers or the mutations the Gamemakers sent. As long as Peeta won, then that was the only thing that mattered to her.
Natalie could feel herself dossing off but a light chiming noise had distributed her. The chatter below her had vanished and the fire was no longer lit. It was safe to say, it wasn't the Careers. The foreign object flew towards her direction. She had seen many parachutes given to tributes in previous games. They often contained small gifts to help tributes in need, very rarely were tributes given such expensive gifts.
Based on Natalie's performance since she arrived, she had thought that no one would even sponsor her. So when the container landed on her lap, she was shocked to say the least. Of course, Natalie was hesitant to open the container. She had no idea whether it was going to be something that would help her in current dilemma or whether it was just a trick up the Gamemaker's sleeves. Either way, she had to know.
Before she could talk herself out of it, Natalie popped the latch open. However, all she could see were blueberries. She was confused at first, but that was until she realized they weren't blueberries; they were nightlock.
She tipped the deadly berries onto to her hand, hoping there was enough to kill the Careers with. She didn't like the thought of killing anyone but she knew she had to. Everyone was a monster in the Hunger Games. In order for Peeta's survival, she had to become one as well.
As the berries fell into her had, a small piece of parchment fell afterwards. She immediately recognized the expensive texture from the paper, knowing it had to come from the Capitol.
Natalie unfolded the paper and began to read the neat black handwriting to the best of her abilities against the blue strain.
'WHAT THE HELL WAS YOU THINKING, YOU IDIOT? I shouldn't really be surprised; you never did listen to me anyway. Anyway, I remembered you hated blueberries as you never let them go past your lips. So I thought I would treat your lovely guests instead. Enjoy. - H.'
A small smirk appeared on Natalie's lips. Drunk he may be, but Haymitch Abernathy was one sly bastard.
➳
The cold night had turned into a humid morning by the time Natalie woke up. Luckily, her companions were still asleep beneath her. She needed to move while she had the chance.
Making sure her backpack was secure, she swung her leg over and began working her way down the oak tree. The heat had drops of sweat running down her face but Natalie wasn't given up. The Mellark twins were not quitters.
She tentatively reached out and pressed her boot onto the ground, trying to keep her movements as quiet as possible. She took a couple of steps towards Glimmer and gently placed the sponsored containment beside her sleeping body.
Natalie could feel the guilt rising within her, afterall Glimmer was just a kid. Someone who had no choice but to suffer the path chosen for her. The female already wanted to back out. But she volunteered. She chosen her fate to save someone dear to her, someone who had many years ahead of her. Then her brother was chosen and changed her course once again. In the end, Natalie was always saving someone but there was no one to save her from herself.
"I'm sorry." She mumbled to herself before shaking the poor teen awake.
As fast as she could, Natalie ran behind the bushes, sliding onto the ground just as Glimmer woke up. The girl immediately spotted the parachute and was quick to wake the others. However, in the time it took for the four other Careers to wake, Glimmer's canon had already sounded throughout the Arena, causing them to spring into action.
"That stupid bitch." Marvel growled, staring at the empty branch. "She did this."
Natalie knew she needed to escape. It wouldn't take them long to find her and skin her alive. She had killed one of their own afterall. The female couldn't move unless she wanted to be found. She had no where to go.
That was until her savior was grinning at her not to far away. Sitting on a branch nearby was Rue, the quiet twelve year old girl from District 11. The pair hadn't spoken to each other but Natalie often caught Rue watching her in training.
The young girl put her finger to her lips and pointed towards the beehive just a fraction near Rue. Natalie had no idea what the bees were but she didn't care. As long as they caused a long enough distraction for her to escape.
The four surviving Careers began two separate groups. Cato and Peeta had already walked off to find Natalie, whilst the other two were discussing which direction to go in. But their conversation was caught short as a loud thump interrupted them.
Black dots stemmed from a broken nest, flying towards the Marvel and Clove. The two barely had time to move before the bees were upon them, eliciting strangled screams. Their stings were lethal; one was enough to cause hallucinations, but in extreme cases, in caused death. These bees weren't ordinary, they were tracker jackers.
Marvel's body was covered in boils, his muscles violently jerking as the venom flowed through his body. He had such terror in his eyes that Natalie knew she had to end it. The pain was unbearable for him. He couldn't shouted for help as his cheeks swelled, the tracker jackers attacking him from inside.
Stepping out from behind the bushes, Natalie held a tight grip on her knife. The tortured male looked at her, almost pleading with her. Natalie couldn't stand it any longer. She launched the knife through the air, making a straight line towards him.
Blood leaked from his neck as the knife plowed through. Marvel stumbled back, trying to lift his arms to clutch the knife but it was no use. He was dead within a second.
Both of the District 1 tributes were dead... and it was all because of her. They died because of her own selfish reasons. They were no longer the monster; Natalie was.
Natalie tore the knife from Marvel's dead body, blood spraying onto her hand. She saw lumps on her arm but she didn't appear phased. She was almost certain they were a reaction from the bushes. She hadn't noticed herself getting stung due to the guilt and fear she felt.
But as her arm grew numb and her vision became blurry, she knew that wasn't the case. Natalie stumbled against the tree, clutching it for support. Her clothes were stained with sweat, hugging the slight curves on her fragile body. Her hair was definitely not in any better condition.
"Peeta." Natalie called out, wanting to see her twin brother for the last time. They came into this world together, that was the way it should end.
A shadow appeared out from the corner of her eye, almost taunting the hallucinating girl. Natalie knew deep down that the sight wasn't going to pretty. "Look at you." It spoke.
"Nothing but a disappointment. Where was your promise? Look at what you done to me." It hissed. With all the willpower Natalie left, she opened her eyes. There stood Peeta right in front of her with his face completely mutilated and his neck brutally slashed open.
"You ripped me apart to save your own selfish self. I'm ashamed to call you my sister."
The shadow lifted his arm and went to stab Natalie in the heart, but it soon disappeared and was replaced with a pair of blue eyes that she knew too well.
Natalie tried to warn him, to push him away from the monster she had become but no words were coming out. She could feel the darkness coming to claim her and she found herself happy to submit. But not before hearing her arch nemesis speak.
"Stay with me, Natalie."
XXX
so this chapter sucked, sorry guys.