Task eight: Only Partly Yours.

    I gaze to look at her, sleeping soundly at my feet, and check to make certain she's breathing. Rye, positioned against the stump of a dark tree, sharpens his clever, while his eyes stay fixed on Willow, his sister. Her frail body curls against the moist breeze, sprawled over a dry bit of grass. The split second I open my mouth to speak, the shrill echo of a monotonous alarm sounds above our heads. I'm to my feet immediately, swords drawn, stance taken. Rye follows my lead, though he is an alpha himself, he relies on me for most of his guidance. Oddly, he assumes I've done this before, or at least survived similar encounters. Rye Hemsworth wouldn't know the first thing about survival, or at least, that's the way he portrays himself to others. 
  The girls startle awake at the rude blare of an unseen force, only to look to us curiously as the noise stops. 
   "What was that?" Willow questions anxiously, with just a pinch of exhaustion. She is on her knees, rubbing the sleep from her eyes and waiting for one of us to reply. Rye turns to me, I turn to Avery, and thus continues an endless cycle of stares and questioning looks, until finally, an all-too familiar voice breaks the cloud's protective barrier. 
   "Well hello!" She coos, placing extra emphasis on her O's. "Wake-y wake-y darling's! Up, up, up! I have special news for you all today! It marks a wondrous occasion! Up! Up! Up!" Her cheers and giggles do little to rattle this image of her I keep in my head; she is a vulture, and not just a natural beast of the skies, one of those mutated ones which feed on corpses the moment they fall to the ground. She is vile, repulsive, sadistic. 
     "Alright, now that I have everyone's attention....my apologies for the rude awakening." A sense of sarcasm enters her tone before she is finished speaking. I wrap Avery in my arms, subconsciously believing that will keep her safe. 
   "Children, today, this day, this glorious day -- we only have seven of you remaining. Seven. Can you believe it? I hardly can. So many days have gone by..." to sit and think about it, it is a little outlandish to realize the games really are coming to a close. Along the way we've lost so many -- so many we do not know. Along the way, so much time has passed. Soon one or two of us will be going home -- depending if they allow our siblings a free ride -- pretty soon the hell we've endured will come to a close, and we'll not have to enter in again for the rest of our days. Life will be luxury, life will be grand. But, there is always one of those, the road to that life be long and treacherous. If we can make the journey, the journey shall make us. 

  "I hate to think of the end, but alas, the end thinks of us." My crystal eyes roll to a close in order to capture her words more efficiently. After all, her face remains hidden to us, her words disembodied. What good is staring at a blue clouded sky? "Since these are and will be the semi-finals there is a certain twist I must add to these games. Oh, my, this twist shall be the greatest of all the years!" Pain strikes me in the chest -- not another twist! 
   "From the very beginning, you've toughed it out side-by-side with your precious sibling, or at the very least you've tried. You braved being separated from them, you braved being chased down by the Capitol's finest,  even being reunited with your siblings only to have them torn away in a deep, wake-less sleep; and now, through thick and thin you've come, now we throw a new hell your way." For a split second during her speech one might detect the slightest indication that she may not be so heartless. But to actually admit that what she's giving us is hell -- that takes only one kind of person.
   "In just a few moments you'll be feeling the effects of the serum your trackers injected into your bloodstream just a few minutes ago, and you will be paralyzed for, oh, half hour-hour at the most?" A simultaneous gasp of fear ripples from our campsite. "Just the right amount of time we need to take your sibling away from you." Both us boys clutch our partners, anxiously awaiting these effects she so menacingly spoke of. 
   "Oh but don't worry, they'll never be removed from this arena, no they'll only be taken as far as the cornucopia where they'll be imprisoned, waiting for your rescue. Once the effects of the serum completely dissipate, it will be up to you to run as quickly as you can to save them -- for another tribute just might be willing to eliminate your brother or sister. And perhaps, even you. Tick-Tock little brats! Ah hahaha!"  
   Fear and adrenaline pump through my body, fighting off the paralysis for as long as I can. I look to Rye, he's already begun to stiffen, I'm next. Avery clutches at my skin when I start to numb, she holds me upright with tears in her eyes, begging me to stay with her. 
   "Tiberius, please! Help me!" Her screams, unfortunately, aren't enough to keep Akayla's poison from gripping my bones. I'm frozen solid within a matter of seconds, immediately after which armored men drop from the sky -- hovercrafts -- and subdue Avery and Willow. I wish to scream, to throw myself at the men, to strangle the life out of them. But all I can do is watch; Avery is being taken from me once again, and all I can do is watch. To my right a little ways the sound of Rye sobbing slightly catches my ears. I feel a warm liquid beginning to fill up my eyes as well. 

                                                                             ~o0o~

 God only knows how much time passed since the girls were taken. As we lay here face-up, and the sun begins to climb higher and higher, guilt trips our minds into believing we are fools. If only we'd protected them somehow, if only we'd known, if only we were immune to Akayla's tricks. But nothing, I'm afraid, nothing can get them back, unless we do as we're told. As much as we'd like to be otherwise, we are puppets in this horse and pony show, here only to serve one master, one god; Akayla Silvera. 
    Thoughts swirl my subconscious of Avery and how we'll both make it out alive. I'm proud of her, she's come so far. To ask anyone to do all that she has would be asking too much, for anyone but her. She's strong willed even if she doesn't know it. Her heart can lead her places no one else dare go, her bravery out measures that of the entire universe put together. Every day she goes up against an ocean with two small matches, and every day she pulls them out and says "I can do this." She will never back down, no matter how many large, blunt objects Akayla is determined to hurl at us, she will not break Avery. And I admire her for that. This whole time she thought she looked to me for guidance, when in reality, it was I who looked to her. Our entire lives Avery has been my rock, even when she didn't know it, I leaned on her for inspiration, guidance, and a light through the tunnel of darkness. Avery, if this is goodbye, all I can say is I'm so, so glad to have been only partly yours. 

   "Tiberius -- I-I can feel my arm." The timid voice of Rye comes from my right. I strain to turn my neck and look at him, but the feeling in my neck has not come back yet. 
   "C-can y-you move?" I ask. 
  "Not -- not exactly. Hold on-" He struggles to reply. Twitches come in waves along my extremities, slowly the muscles begin to relax everywhere. 
   "Rye, I think I can-can move." I shout to him. He groans in response. I bring one arm, the other following although I can't feel it, back and push myself up. Once I'm sitting up I flex each finger one by one, then making my way to my wrists, and finally whole arms can be moved every which way. My toes I can wiggle, my ankles rotate, and all I can picture is a reunion with Avery. How long has it been exactly? Hour? Half? Has anyone else regained control of their body, is anyone else on their way to their sibling? The only answer I can cling to is that as long as Rye and I still live, so do Willow and Avery. Once they die, we die. 
     "Rye! I-I'm standing!" I call out as my feet plant firmly on the ground. Rye moves his head painfully up, and watches me take one or two steps without crumbling to a heap on the floor. 
   "That-that's good." He breathes. "G-go find the girls." His breath comes in short, and strained. I fear the worst for him -- his metabolism isn't fast enough to be rid of the drugs, it will take awhile before he's on his feet. Unfortunately, every minute we spend here is another minute Avery spends alone out there, possibly with an angry tribute ready to take his anger out on an innocent victim. Everybody wants to survive, everybody wants to live. That also means everybody must die in order for one to succeed. I cannot let that happen, even if sacrifices must be made.
    "I'm sorry." I whisper to Rye. "I'll be back with both of them, I promise." Scooting our supplies to the feet of my ally, I take only my canteen and my swords. I give Rye his clever for defense, and take off in a sprint through the trails we've made through the woods. The rain forest smells of muddy water and dung, but such is a small compromise for living in safety. Or at least, we thought it was safe. Today serves as a reminder that nothing is safe as long as we're here. 

  My feet break through roots, hands ripping open the last barrier of leaves separating myself from the place where my Avery lies. What horror greets my eyes causes me to fall to my knees, grip my head, and stare in shock. The remaining siblings -- some kid from Eight, the small girl from Six, Chelsea's little brother, her ally's sister Opal or something - Onyx? The boy from One, and finally Willow huddling next to Avery -- each of these sat at the very top of the cornucopia, which had seemingly risen from the ground, coming to a good three stories or so. As far as I could tell, Avery remained emotionless, holding Willow by her side and stroking her hair. For some reason none of them were attacking each other; whether it be a temporary truce, or one of Akayla's tricks that kept them from slicing each other's throats, I had to get my sister-in-law back. Quickly I formulated a plan; Hoverly seemed to be the only tribute who had shown up to collect her sibling, I'd quickly take her out -- there wasn't much to take out, with her being a meager thirteen years old -- and race for the girls. We'd be riding off into the sunset long before anyone else arrived. 
    Clearing my mind of everything but my plan, readying my bloody swords for action, and finally eyeing my target, I prep myself for a run when out of the trees several yards to my left emerge the big alliance, here to take back their siblings. It is at this precise moment the siblings, atop their tower of doom, begin snapping out of whatever trance they were in and realizing they have the ability to fight. First the boys from Eight and One stand up, paired together, and start eliminating the other competitors. The older boy breaks the neck of Hoverly Train's sister, after handing the younger a dagger he kept in his jacket to help with the process. Since the remaining are allied, they set their eyes on Avery and Willow next. I have to do something -- my heart races with every second. 
    Now is my only chance. Avery shuffles as far as she dares, coming close to the edge of the silver streamlined structure, to get away from the boys hunting them. Cobalt and his band of merry men had gathered at the bottom, cheering their teammates on. The angriest scowl I might've ever worn upon my face, I dash from my hiding place to take out those who pose a threat to my family and my victory. 
    The moment I reach that team Calico Sasaki drops dead, and two cannons sound way off. I don't dare take my eyes off the band of killing machines, but my ears pick up the sound of a body making contact with the earth. The girls must have thrown Eight off before he could hurt them -- good for them. Letting a warrior's call escape my lips, I drive my sword between my enemies. They scatter, but quickly attempt to retaliate. My instincts to protect and preserve kick into overdrive, and I manage to separate Chelsea from the rest of the alliance. She screams horrifically as her bow is tossed out of her reach, and I drag her away with me. 
   "I'm sorry." I whisper before I slice her neck. Two cannons sound, and she falls. The feeling that, because she was my district partner and therefore part of my past home life, she has just caused me to question my motives, floods my mind. Quickly as it had come, the feeling is gone, and I'm back to killer-protector. Cobalt leads his girlfriend straight for me, his present threat, anger clearly plaguing his mind. I know from what I've observed that Calico meant something to him. Although he too wants victory, her death has taken a toll on him. For now, my goal can't be him, the one I so want to rip the life from, because currently his girlfriend's brother threatens my girls with a knife. Seeing young Reese atop the cornucopia, ready to kill, I aim for his sister trailing close behind her partner and slide under her spear which points at me. We run past each other, missing a kill completely. I turn around faster than the duo, lucky for me, and stab the brunette girl in the gut. 
    She screams and falls, the fear for her brother's life clearly present in her bold eyes. Her partner yells her name and glares at me, but we both know in order to secure our own victory, her life would need to be taken. Next, it is him I must eliminate. I bring two fingers up, twitching them as some sort of challenge, and wait for him to come to me. Instead, he gains a smirk on his lips, and darts off in another direction. My eyes follow him until he disappears behind a bend in the cornucopia wall. I want to follow him, to see what he's up to, but my heart remains tied to the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl sitting on top of a three story steel structure. 
    Finally letting go of my deep boiling hatred for that boy, I jog to the edge where Avery has positioned herself.
    "Avery!" I shout up, glancing to my surroundings quickly, should I be under surveillance. Much to my relief, in response to my call Avery pokes her head over the side and quickly smiles. She pulls herself back over the top so she's out of my sight, but, I have confidence she'll be OK. My heart suddenly begins throbbing in its cavity as her shriek comes to life, sending away that confidence I was so invested in.
   "Avery?" I yell. She dips herself over the edge again, nearly falling only to catch herself again. 
   "Ty! There's a hole in the middle here with a ladder leading down, it's how we're supposed to get out but-" she vanishes over the side again, but quickly reappears to settle my beating heart. "-Onyx and her brother are coming up! They won't let us down!" She squeals, clearly fearing for her life. A part of me breaks inside at the idea, the notion, the realization that for now, I can't squash that fear. For the next few minutes, she will have to live in fear as we figure this out.
   "O-okay, Avery, listen to me." I order, dropping my swords and extending my arms up. "Jump! I'll catch you, I swear. Just jump!" She hesitates, staring at me with those eyes, those eyes that completely trust me but contain the slightest amount of doubt and questioning.
   "Promise?" She cries, the alarming sound of the siblings from One pounding their way up. 
   "Promise." I emphasize, motioning for her to hurry up. She nods, again disappearing over the rise to inform Willow of our hasty plans. Willow's brunette head pops up soon followed by Avery's feet dangling precariously to my left. Quickly I position myself, noting that a lot of time has passed since we started talking, so why hasn't Cobalt come to kill them yet?
    Slowly she lets herself slide against the hot steel, heading straight for my arms. Slowly, her hands leave the safety of solid ground, to drop such a long way in such a short time. Almost immediately she lands in my arms, I lose my breath and bend, but don't let go. I straighten my posture and suck as much air into my lungs as they can hold, and place her feet on the ground again. 
    "Thank you." She whispers as I turn my focus to Willow. Willow has even less trust in me; she hesitates as long as she can, staring down at me and Avery. We must be like ants to her; three stories, that's thirty-two to forty feet high, a long way for anyone to jump. 
    I brace myself for impact the moment her palms leave roof, my life in the arena quickly passing before my eyes. The three of us, though not always consistently in alliance, have had so many adventures together. Plop; Willow is in my arms, the excess weight of her rapidly growing unborn child causing me to collapse beneath her. Before going down, however, I manage to use my body as a cushion for her landing. With a loud thud we hit the ground, my vision goes black and I can hear Avery shouting something. In a second, quick as the darkness had come it vanishes and I sit up, rubbing my head. 
    Willow pulls herself off my lap and crawls to the ground beside me. Her worried eyes scan my face for signs of trauma, then she whispers a question. 
  "What?" I ask, just regaining my hearing. 
  "Are you OK?" Avery repeats for her. Willow shares a glance with her, and they both look to me like nurses to a patient. "Fine, fine." I reply hurriedly, hoping I won't have to explain my blackout to them. It was quick enough no one noticed, I hardly did. I know that information will only upset them more, I can't have that at this time.
    "We have to go." I deadpan, gathering my weapons and getting to my feet. Willow remains on the ground, staring at the treeline some fifty feet in front of us.
   "Where's Rye? He was supposed to come get me." She stresses. I lean down and take her by the hands, retracting at the sudden fluttery feeling in my gut at the contact. Nonetheless, to avoid suspicion, I take her hands again and pull her to her feet.
   "He's waiting for us at the spot, let's go." I reply. Avery grips my arm above the elbow, the smallest yet the brightest smile I'd seen forming on her lips. We run, straight for the rain forest, never stopping, never looking back. In just a couple days, one even, the final few will face off against each other. All I want, all I've ever wanted, is to make it that far. To get Avery safe, no matter what. Willow runs by my side, Avery at the other; how can I keep them both safe? The answer is simple: I cannot. Only one makes it out alive in here. Those are the rules, those are the costs. Tomorrow, or the next day, or even the next we'll see just how much the odds really are in my favor.

[i feel like this wasn't good at all, please forigve. p.s I'll probably not make it to the finals (with him anyway) so, just wanna say, it's been great with you guys. whoever's reading, whoever is keeping up, i had a really good time.]