The Bloodbath

[maverick hale 🌧️ d5 [nyte]]

B A R N A B A S S T R O U D

He hadn't felt it. Standing over the girl with whose ear he had just severed, whose stomach he had just mutilated. He hadn't felt the tears rolling down his cheeks, the sobs bursting from his chest in silent heaves as he stumbled away from the victim. Nor did he feel his fingers turn as cold as Asa's. A cold sweat collected upon his cheeks, stumbling backwards with a stunned gasp. Strength, confidence and apathy left him in one gentle cry, letting his body relax against the smooth black Cornucopia. Every part of his body ached, his hands shook with the sheer pain. When the girl's raspy breaths no longer remained in his head, Barnabas knew she was dead. Without a doubt blood having left her by the gallon after the wounds they had so mercilessly inflicted. Two souls rested upon their heads and Barnabas could scarcely remember their names.

His tears were not shed only for himself. In fact, they held the weight of worlds now. Barnabas cried for Asa, and Pearl and Patricia and the faces he would see in the sky tonight. For the faces he had put in the sky tonight. The grief was so potent that it burned, escaping him in heavy sobs. The cornucopia's light was already fainted, he could make out hide nor hair of the others. Not even Asa's strong shoulders or Pearl's golden locks. He couldn't see much of anything now, in fact. It was as though all his eyes wanted was to close, ten thousand pounds pulling them down. Even as he fought the creeping lethargy, black stars flashed in front of his eyes, threatening to overwhelm his consciousness at any second.

He hadn't felt it. Not for a long, long time.

His hands were stained with dried blood, his shirt still wet with the girls. Picking at the wet cloth mindlessly, focusing more on the light of the Cornucopia instead of the black webs now taking residence in the corners of his eyes. He felt it now, the deep throbbing within his abdomen. The slight stinging every time his hand crossed his paling skin. The wet blood on his shirt was not the girl's.

And then she appeared. A shadow within the deep black, a sword pointed at his throat and a cold glint within her eyes. In that moment, Barnabas knew he was going to die. The soldier should have died peacefully, releasing the burden that he was from the shoulders of the others. There was a horrified expression upon the boy's face as he looked up from his blood-soaked shirt to his killer. There were no such things as defining pictures in the pure black they were headed for. His eyes were far to heavy to make anyone out in the dying light.

"Asa!" He called out for his friend, a raspy whisper escaping his blood-stained lips. It disgusted him that the blood was not his own. Barnabas couldn't leave his friends, not yet. His stomach throbbed but his fingers dug through his pack, desperate to find some supplies to help himself, to keep going so as to protect his friends. The pain was like nothing he'd ever experienced, his skin separating as he breathed. He hadn't felt it for so long. 

He hadn't felt it because he was too busy wounding another worse than even this. How old were they? What were their names? Barnabas had memorized them all but in this place it felt like no one had a face save he and Asa and Pearl. And his face was now that of a monster. His killer's sword was much like his own, a yellowing white sharpened to a deadly point. Please, Asa. The boy closed his eyes, praying his friend got there in time.

Words he could not hear over his own breath rung through the Cornucopia, death's rattle sounding as his killer surely advanced. Yet their touch is gentle, that of love and care. "Asa?" he blinked heavily, the fog slowly dissipating as the strong boy came into focus.  His voice reminded him of blue skies and a setting sun, when they'd sat on the balcony and the Career had asked him to ally. What have you done to yourself? Barnabas wished he could give him an answer.

"I think..." Ripred, talking took so much out of him. "I think someone managed to.... in the.... thick of things." The bloodbath was over, two bodies dead by their hands and who knew how many more. It stings when Asa pulls the cloth from his wound. To see an angry red gash upon his stomach was no surprise, the blood bothering him little as Asa's hands moved skillfully across his abdomen. Pride swells within him, despite the situation he was now in, to see healing instead of destruction. 

Barnabas' heart pounded as it worked to replenish the blood he had lost and after a few long moments of silence, he could breathe easy once again. While the pain still burned something awful, he looked in his bag once again, pulling a few of his own supplies from it. A grimace worked its way onto his features as he dressed his own wound, the sheer pain enough to send him into unconsciousness had he not been careful. 

Soon enough, it was over. He had to be strong, they had to find Pearl, and Patricia, wherever they may be.

"Thank you." the words were steady, and with some effort he pushed himself into a sitting position, leaning heavily on the career. His tears and sorrow were behind him, but far from forgotten as he rested a heavy head on Asa's shoulder. "I'm sorry for scaring you, I didn't know what else to do." He tried his hardest to shrug off the injuries, not wanting to make himself any more of a spectacle than he already head. Barnabas hated to be the center of attention, wishing that it were possible to fade into the darkness around him. 

"Have we found them yet?" his eyes were closed, feeling completely safe in Asa's company "The others?"

Oh how tired the little soldier was.

your hands protect the flames
from the wild winds
a r o u n d y o u 

[uses f/a on himself for -3]

[Python]

Pearl Millison

Her eyes were open. Ryin was crawling meekly on all fours, leaving a blood trail in her wake. It was easy to track, but it was not in Pearl’s stomach to follow.

Her eyes closed. Her weapon was merely a strip of wood, yet it felt heavier than anything she had ever wielded before, as if it carried the weight of her future sins. Microscopic vibrations tingled the nerves in her hands as wood connected with bone.

Her eyes opened. Ryin was limp and silent, resembling a mangled doll with red stains left by a child’s finger-paint. A frostbitten hand gripped the air in Pearl’s chest and yanked it back into the depths of her lungs. The horror of what she had just caused was suffocating. ”Did I...?” Her whisper was barely audible, more so spoken to herself than to anybody else. The webs between her knuckles were paler than a skeleton, having squeezed the handle of her wooden staff for too long. It was surprising that the weapon held no such hazards as splinters, but she knew deserved every inconveniencing sting they would cause.

Patricia was still lingering, her bone sword held steady in a confident grip. Pearl found her voice somewhere in the darkness, but it quivered as badly as her hands. ”D-Did I kill her?” She asked with a flavor of hesitation laced into her mousy voice, terrified of the confirmation that she was already a monster when it had been only ten minutes since the countdown ceased. The fire lighting the sleek black Cornucopia was like a clock itself; the longer the fight was drawn-out, the more it faded. It had been a decent bonfire when she stepped from her plate, something she could roast a marshmallow over. Now it was nearly as weak as a candlelight, and did nothing but dampen the mood and dim their treacherous surroundings.

”No. You just stood there, swinging blindly.” Patricia started, ”I thought you said your mom trained you?”

A moment of relieving silence filled her lungs back up with air. The death grip on her chest was released, and she felt her guilt melting away slowly but surely. There was no doubting her involvement in the torment and cornering of this poor girl, but she didn’t deliver the final blow. Her hands didn't stop her heart. I’m okay, for now.

”I’m only good with knives,” she admitted, almost without thought. Her filtration system was malfunctioned, displaced by fear and obstructed by guilt. There was no point in lying anymore; the tears and hesitation had already exposed her as a fraud, not only to Patricia but to the entire country. Surely the cameras were examining them at every angle. Night vision technology most likely guided the audience to avoid blind eyes, so there was absolutely nowhere and nothing to hide. When Asa and Barnabas find out, will they leave? Will Patricia even bother to stay, knowing what I’m not? She would forgive them if they abandoned her. Her status as a “career” was practically a lie. Courage and motivation trumped talent, and she was desperately struggling to find both.

Patricia was the striking image of a career. With a face carved of stone she thrust her blade into Ryin’s neck and ignored the little squelch it made as metal drove through muscle and blood. If she wasn’t from Five, anyone would believe that she was a career. She possessed the mentality. A body in the shadows had fallen at her hand already; in more than one way she surpassed Pearl. She reminds me of my sister, she realized, and struggled to keep her expression level at the sight of a corpse being stabbed through the neck. Her death had obviously been verified.

”Whatever, try not to get lost in this darkness,” she said.

You even sound like my sister.

Pearl circled the Cornucopia in search of its entrance. Judging by the silence, they were the only tributes remaining, meaning they could loot the wealth that was inside. I’ve probably lost my sponsors, so I’ll take anything I can get my hands on. The entrance resembled a gaping, toothless mouth that was as terrifying as the circle of darkness around them. What if somebody is in there waiting for an unsuspecting tribute? That would be a clever way to dispose of a career. Pearl hesitated until a hoard of squeaks sharpened her senses. Soft fur brushed at her ankles; Rats! She cupped a hand over her mouth to stifle the involuntary squeal. One of the bouncy, feistier ones managed to catch her arm in its teeth, and she backed away with a startled gasp. She felt a warm trickle of blood race down her forearm.

”Asa!”

She froze. Who was that calling for Asa? Was Asa here with them?

”WOAH! HEY!” It was Patricia this time, and Pearl followed the sounds. The echoes made it difficult to track. ”Fuck, I’m on your side!”

It was completely disorienting.

"If you touch him, I will kill you.” That was definitely Asa’s voice. He was referring to a “him,” so that probably meant…

”Barnabas?” She called out. She found three silhouettes just then, one inspecting another as the third stood nearby ”Asa?”

Up close they were unmistakable. Fortunately they had managed not to scuffle with one another before she could turn up and bring them together as an alliance. ”Is he okay? Where is he wounded?” She stepped closer without invading Asa’sspace, and searched for the source of the dark stains on his hands. Please don’t let him be mortally wounded. Further inspection revealed a gash across Barnabas’ abdomen, and she winced. Of all places the abdomen was usually the most sensitive. If I can find a med kit in the wealth, we can clean him up nicely.

Asa and Barnabas as a team were certainly capable of repairing his wound. She would just help with finding needles, threads, and bandages as soon as she could.

”This is Patricia, by the way. The ally I told you about.”

[Pearl uses first aid on herself]

[rook]

PATRICIA VALFIERNO

Living in a cruel world, drudging with my feet in the snow
On a day out, and it's a night now
Doctor, I've been walking by the side of the road
For a long time, and I'm going out of my mind.

Asa clutches his chain with such a confidence that fear strikes me in the chest. Now here is a prime example of a Career. He could almost definitely kill me in fifty different ways with that one chain, and he wouldn't think twice about doing so. He's a stark contrast from timid, hesitant Pearl. My eyes lock with his, and I have to take a step back. I don't like backing down, or looking weak. I learned on the streets of Five that showing your fear to others gives them a reason to fear you. If your victim is afraid, they're already yours. Asa almost certainly has the upper hand against me here, and I'm starting to lose my cool. My mask.

"If you touch him, I will kill you." He warns, coldly. The idea of death decides to play in my head. It's so final and permanent. So terrifying. I don't want to die, no one does. Not least because of a stupid mistake. I take another step back, grinding my teeth together. Damn it. He's my ally, and he's threatening to kill me. Talk about first impressions. I've only got myself to blame here. I approached the wounded Tribute thinking he was another easy kill. I was hasty, no, I was rash. I've always been a headstrong girl, I used to think that was a good thing, but now? Now it might just get me killed. What a stupid little girl I am.

This stand off is pointless. It was just a stupid case of mistaken identity. The injured boy on the ground must be Barnabas, and the dark eyed, menacing Career in front of me has to be Asa. My allies. Fantastic. Asa does not take his eyes off of me, not even for the slightest of seconds. His confidence makes me feel like a shy pre-pubesent girl all over again. It's like the day our parents said they were leaving, and the Peacekeepers took our home. It's like being thrown out on the streets and having to face all the nasty men and women who want to prey on innocent, weak little children. Asa makes me feel vulnerable again. Exposed. All those years of surviving, I wore a mask. That mask was so strong that I forgot what it was like to feel so vulnerable. Asa has removed my mask after just five seconds of meeting me. His shoulders flex back, his chest elevated. He looks like a predator, judging his prey. I have stepped into his territory and threatened the one closest to him - Of course he'd love to tear my throat out with his teeth. He's like a jaguar. Guess who's the gazelle?

I don't doubt you will, Asa. Do I dare respond? Is it best to lash out at him now, before he cuts me down with his arsenal of experience? I am afraid, for the first time in these Games. Maybe it was the initial adrenaline that saw me through the first ten minutes. Maybe now that everyone has gone, and only the strong are left, I realize how weak I really am. Yes, I've killed already, but that's not the issue. The issue is being killed, and how that threat feels when pressed against my thin neck. The footsteps fast approaching from behind can only be Pearl's panicked attempts to restore calm between us - And about time too. One more second and Asa would have that chain around my neck and be squeezing until my face turned purple and exploded like a blueberry. Or maybe he'd lash it at my face, breaking all my teeth, and then my nose, again and again until my skull split. Perhaps he'd like to wrap it around his fist and beat me to a bloody pulp. There are a hundred and one ways he could kill me. Just like chess, there are so many moves one could make, but in the end there's only one way to win. There's only one way to leave this world.

"Barnabas?" She calls, standing between us, "Asa?"
There will be no checkmate today. The Career from Two relaxes somewhat, his shoulders bend inwards and he seems somewhat taller. I don't like him. He scares me so much. I try my best not to show it, but the fear is inside me. Fear is always inside of me, despite all the masks I wear to prove otherwise. I've had encounters at knife point in the alleyways of Five, I've been threatened to lose all my money from corrupt businessmen - But I've never seen a Career, not first hand. I've never seen the skill upfront, in action. It's terrifying. An actual, living weapon. He's everything you see on the television as a kid, and I am so very afraid of what he could do to me. His aura sets me on edge again - Eyes twitching and teeth grinding.

Pearl tends to the little weeping orc by the Cornucopia, inspecting his wounds. She definitely cares when it comes to others in need. Maybe that's her forte. Compassion. Hardly what she advertised, but it's not like I have any other options right now.
"Is he okay? Where is he wounded?" She looks to Asa briefly. She'll need a first aid kit to patch up whatever gash or cut he's picked up, else it will get infected, right? I don't know. I didn't really pay attention in the training center. I was too busy figuring out a way to fuck over the Gamemakers. Guess that will be my downfall.
"This is Patricia, by the way. The ally I told you about." She introduces me suddenly. I feel all six eyes on me, and the attention burns. I stand as I am, gripping my blade tight, my body tense and rigid. My face is a pout, my eyes dark and concentrated. My lower lip twitches, my frown is consistent as I move my sights from ally to ally.

"Yeah, great to meet you," I edge, "Looks like we scared everyone off, so let's stop the formalities and grab supplies whilst we still can."

[Patricia uses First Aid on herself for -3]

Sitting on a rooftop, crazy days are coming again
I'll be running, but I'll be hidden in the masquerade
So far from me now, but oh I can hear the sound
Can't you hear the bells singing alone? You will hear it on the radio

graphics: rook, words: 1019
theme: hear the bells by porter robinson

[Lulu]

The items left behind are as follows, please distribute amongst your alliance:

3 Iodine tablets
3 Iodine tablets
3 Iodine tablets
3 Iodine tablets
3 Matches
3 Matches
3 Matches
Antivenom (1 use)
Antivenom (1 use)
Antivenom (1 use)
Antivenom (1 use)
Antivenom (1 use)
Armored Vest (+10 torso)
Armored Vest (+10 torso)
Backpack
Backpack
Backpack
Backpack
Bag
Binoculars
Blanket
Blanket
Blanket
Blanket
Bolt of Cloth
Bolt of Cloth
Candle
Candle
Combat boots (+3 feet)
Combat boots (+3 feet)
Cooking pot
Cord
Duct tape
Duct tape
Duct tape
Duct Tape
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Empty Water Jug
Fishing line
Fishing line
Flashlight
Flashlight
Flashlight
Flashlight
Flint
Gloves (+3 hands)
Gloves (+3 hands)
Gloves (+3 hands)
Gloves (+3 hands)
Hat
Hat
Hat
Helmet (+5 head)
Jacket
Jacket
Jacket
Lantern
Lantern
Lantern
Length of wire
Medical Kit
Needle and Thread
Needle and Thread
Nightvision goggles
Nightvision goggles
Notepad
Notepad
Notepad
Permanent Marker
Permanent Marker
Pliers
Pliers
Poetry Book
Poncho
Roll of bandages (15ft)
Roll of bandages (15ft)
Roll of bandages (15ft)
Roll of bandages (15ft)
Roll of bandages (15ft)
Roll of bandages (15ft)
Rope
Rucksack
Satchel
Shin Guards (+5 legs)
Shin Guards (+5 legs)
Shin Guards (+5 legs)
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
T-shirt
T-shirt
Tent
Trowel
Trowel
Trowel
Tweezers
Tweezers
Tweezers