CHAPTER SIX

DID HE HURT YOU?

Celia jumped awake from her half-lidded sleep at the sound of a crash. Peaking around her hiding spot, she caught sight of the boy once hanging by his wrists, now a lump on the ground.

A female tribute stood on the pile of rubble the boy was once attached to, her axe bloodied as a stray tear fell down her face. Celia recognized the girl. The redhead from earlier, she could remember the sheepish look on her face before the alarm sounded.

The sun was now nearly set. The female tribute from District Seven made herself comfortable on her perch, laying down to get some rest, but keeping her fingers wrapped tight around the handle of her weapon.

Celia figured that she had the right idea. Sleep seemed to be calling her, but the thought of a sneak attack struck her awake every time she started to drift. Celia thought of Lucy Gray. Her face creased painfully as she tried to contain a sob.

By now, her head was throbbing, eyes swollen, clothing soaked in sweat. Her shoulder wound was grimy and still oozing drops of blood. From the angle, she was unable to see the cut on her neck, but she could imagine blood was also leaking from that opening.

Angrily pounding her fists to the ground, Celia bit her lip to keep from screaming in frustration. Her fists turned red and irritated, but the pain only grounded her. This wasn't a dream, she had to remember this was life or death.

Celia missed her father. The only one she had to call family. She missed the cows, chickens, even the squirrels. As much as she hated it, she missed her district. Her home.

As hours passed, the moon eventually became the only source of light within the entire arena. No sound had come from the center of the coliseum, most must either be dead or sleeping. Celia couldn't remember drifting off, but evidently she did. Knocking her head on the concrete slab, Celia cursed as she realized what woke her up.

Whispers.

Celia bit the inside of her palm, trying to silence her breathing and disappear within the cement wall.

"Sejanus, Sejanus!"

Celia immediately perked up at the sound. "Coriolanus." She spoke softly to herself. With a quick expression of hope written on her face, Celia peaked out from around the rubble.

She watched as the blond mentor reached for somebody's shoulder. The man he was with was crouched over a body.

Sejanus was here. Celia nearly cried as she realized he was here to save her. Maybe she slept through the rest of the game, maybe she won.

As Coriolanus grabbed Sejanus' shoulder, her mentor spun around with a gasp. Celia could now see that he was crouching over the boy from District Two, the one unfairly punished.

Her face fell a bit as she realized he wasn't here to get her. He was here to make a statement. He was here to apologize to the fallen tributes.

She watched as the two conversed in hurried whispers, trying not to wake up the redhead above them. Sliding out from behind the rocks, Celia winced at the slight sound the rocks she stepped over made when they skipped down the pile.

The two boys turned at the disruption, fear present on their features as they clearly thought she was a threat. Celia looked at Sejanus from her spot afar, the blood dripping into a pile at her feet.

Sejanus stood, hurriedly making his way to his tribute. "Celia," His voice broke as he embraced her in a hug. Sejanus' hands brushed through her hair as he comfortingly held her head to his chest. "Thank goodness you're alright."

Celia, still dizzy from all of the commotion simply smiled. "Thanks for the water." She shrugged, pulling away. "What's going on? Is it over?"

Sejanus frowned, looking to the ground. Coriolanus came up behind him, furrowed brows and an angry frown decorated his face. "We need to get out of here." He snapped, dropping his voice to a hush. The blond's hand wrapped around Sejanus' bicep, pulling him away from Celia.

"Wait, Coriolanus." Celia hesitated, her mouth grew dry as she debated asking him what was weighing her down. "You have to tell me, is she alive?"

Coriolanus' jaw ticked, opening his mouth to respond before he was cut off by the sound of yelling. Bobbin, the male tribute from District Eight ran at the trio, weapon raised and ready for attack.

Sejanus quickly pushed Celia out of the way as Coriolanus pulled him in the opposite direction. Bobbin's stick hit a rock, missing it's target. As the boy seemed to focus on the two mentors, Celia could just barely make out the sound of Sejanus telling her to run.

Her legs started moving before her mind could catch up. She made her way back to the underground tunnels, hoping to find a room similar to the one Lucy Gray was supposedly holding up in.

The ominous sound of dripping water echoed within the dark, narrow hallways. Celia cringed as her boots squeaked with each step, shoe laces hitting the ground violently.

She recognized the approaching door, watching as it got bigger as she got closer. Lucy Gray was only beyond this door, at least as of yesterday. Celia sobbed as she desperately pounded on the door, "Lucy Gray, it's me!" Her cries were ugly, dirt streamed down her face, mixing with the blood on her neck.

Taking note of the small opening resembling a doggy door, Celia kneeled down. Through blurry vision, she hesitantly opened the slot, figuring she had nothing to lose as she quickly slid herself through.

Landing harshly on the ground, she kicked herself away from the eerie door, not caring who or what might be inhabiting the room. She froze, turning slowly. Celia prepared herself for a sight she may never forget, fortunately, Lucy Gray was living and breathing the same air she seemed to be.

The girl, pale and sweaty, rested against a metal beam. She was holding Jessup up, yet barely conscious as she attempted to keep watch. The sleep seemed to call her all the same. "Celia?" She stuttered, voice dry and gravely.

Celia let out a sob, rushing to Lucy Gray. Her hands made their way to Lucy's face, holding her gently. "Yes, it's me." Celia cried, smile big as she nodded. "You're okay, honey?"

Lucy Gray smiled weakly, "Never better, sweetheart."

••

Celia tried not to move as Lucy Gray's head laid on her shoulder. She refused to sleep, insisting Lucy Gray get some rest instead. The damp room didn't provide much fresh air and Celia could already feel it getting to her. She couldn't imagine how Jessup felt, he was ghostly. Whatever he had come down with was really taking a toll on him.

Once again, time seemed to pass Celia by as she eventually fell asleep against her wishes. She could feel the pull back to reality what must've been hours later and as she slowly came to, she recognized Lucy Gray's fingers brushing her hair from her face.

"Oh, darling." A sad sigh came from the girl beside her. "They did this because of me." Lucy Gray tried to blink away her tears as she gently ran her fingers over the wound on Celia's neck.

"They would've came for me eventually." Celia cracked a painful smile. "Besides, it's not that bad. I'd take worse for you."

"Don't say that." Lucy Gray snapped. She bit her lip, looking up and trying to dry her newfound tears. "I promised not to let anything happen to you. I couldn't keep my promise."

Celia shuffled, now facing Lucy Gray completely. Her face was completely serious as she looked directly into Lucy Gray's eyes. "They will heal. I didn't want you to come out and I'm glad you didn't."

Lucy Gray finally allowed the tears to fall. A sob bubbled up her throat as she softly stroked Celia's cheek. The fear was completely gone now, the two girls completely let their guards down with each other.

Celia fought off a frown, her face resembling one of a scared child. She finally broke, her hard exterior failing. "I want to go home."

Lucy Gray watched on with teary eyes, pulling the girl into her chest and holding her. Celia shook with each sob. The sounds echoed around the small, damp room.

Lucy Gray placed a gentle kiss to Celia's hair, holding her tightly and whispering comforting words of encouragement.

••

Celia, now strewn across Lucy Gray's lap, awoke with a headache. The off and on sleep schedule messed with her head, along with the lack of food and water. She sat up stiffly, grunting as she attempted not to wake the others up.

Hearing a painful groan, Celia turned toward Jessup. Lucy Gray jumped awake, taking in her partner's shivering frame. "Here," She spoke softly, cupping her hands to fill with water. "You need to drink."

Jessup's eyes snapped open, surveying the liquid held in front of him. With a yelp, he slapped Lucy Gray's hands away from his face. The water went flying, covering the three as two jumped in shock from the encounter.

"Jessup, what's wrong?" Celia was quiet, afraid to spook him even more.

"What have you done to it?" His voice had an edge to it as he fought to catch his breath. Jessup's eyes stared holes into Lucy Gray.

"I didn't do anything, Jessup. I just- are you okay?" The girls grew more concerned with each passing moment, Celia placing a protective hand on Lucy Gray's shoulder as she spoke. "It's okay. Just, just go back to sleep. Okay?"

Jessup attempted to find sleep again, groaning as he laid his head on Lucy Gray's shoulder. "I know, I know." She comforted him.

Celia quieted her breathing as she grew afraid of what may happen. She waited until his breathing evened out before she spoke again.

"Is he going to be alright?"

Lucy Gray swallowed, shaking her head as she didn't know what to expect. "He's very sick." Was all she said before guiding Celia's head to her other shoulder.

Within a few minutes, Jessup started to groan again, twitching this time. Celia sat up, watching on with worried eyes as Lucy Gray tenderly held a hand to his forehead. Before she could get a read on his temperature, the boy jumped back in fright.

"What did you do to me?" He screamed, standing up and quickly approaching the two girls. Celia and Lucy Gray struggled to get up fast enough, each pushing the other to stay ahead.

"Jessup, we didn't do anything. Please!" Celia begged as she and Lucy Gray crawled out of the hole in the ground.

The two girls were able to put some distance between them and the boy. "Stop running!" He stumbled and fell a few times, never failing to get back up and continue the pursuit. "What did you do to me?"

Lucy Gray jumped onto a pile of rubble, quickly offering her hand to Celia and pulling her up as Jessup nearly grabbed her foot. "I didn't do anything." Lucy Gray cried out.

Both Celia and Lucy Gray realized there was nowhere to go from there, only turning around to face their attacker as he approached. Jessup crawled up the rocks, pulling Celia down to fall on her back.

"No, Jessup!" Celia begged, kicking at him. Lucy Gray panicked, her breathing labored as she looked around for any weapons. The two were utterly in trouble.

A familiar sound graced Celia's ears as she looked over Jessup's shoulder. "What's wrong with me? What did you do to me?" A drone crashed into the boy, knocking him off his balance. A water jug shattered against his chest. He panicked, trying to fling the water off of him. Jessup tumbled off of the concrete pile, landing on a particularly jagged rock a few feet below them.

The room went silent. Celia shakily sat up, her breathing was uneven as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. Lucy Gray, in shock, moved toward the edge of the pile, peering over. The sight of Jessup's unmoving body scared her into silence.

"Are you okay?" Celia whispered, afraid her voice would crack from the strain if she spoke any louder.

Lucy Gray simply nodded, eyes glazed over as she took in the sight of her now deceased partner. "Did," She paused, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. "Did he hurt you?"

Celia shook her head, wincing as her back ached. The two hopped from their spot above his body, coming to his side. Celia stepped aside, letting Lucy Gray mourn as she shut his eyes. She spoke in a hushed whisper to her former friend, making a promise to watch over him.

Celia simply shut her eyes, taking a step away from the brutal scene. This wasn't even close to over.

••

NOTES
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