#acpday3

After ridding myself of the boy from Eight, I limp onwards with the newly found keys in my hands. Even though I sustained some minor injuries, I came out okay. Tossing him through the window proved to be worth it to be honest. I just hoped everyone else could have seen it. 

Passing back through the cornucopia, I make my way south west-ish and head for the high school I was at the day earlier. From what I can remember, I think I saw some lockers in the hallway with our named inscribed on them. The thought of what laid inside never left, I just didn’t have a key yet. If only there were some way to unlock whatever goodies lay inside now... Oh, wait, I have keys... If Bush did 9/11 and Dick Cheney profited off the Iraq war and four plus four equals eight... Do the math, I’m gonna do a little thing.

Colborn was in pain. Not the usual kind of pain. Actual pain. Everything in his body was on fire. All he could think about was how much he underestimated that little twerp from Nine. He slowly pushed the tip of the syringe into his bicep, stopping himself halfway. He put the other half inside of the medical kit he received from his sponsor. He cleaned his wounds, never getting used to the constant stinging with every touch. He wrapped his arm and side with gauze, securing it with medical tape. 

Time to deal with the eye. Colborn barely touched his fingers to the socket, and he screamed, partially with anger, mostly with pain. Morphling only helped so much, and he knew he would want some more later. He put on the eyepatch, which was annoying and kept coming off, but he eventually figured it out. 

“Wait… I’m going back to the cave,” Seraph stated firmly, stopping before they get any further away.

The blonde was shocked to hear this. “I thought you wanted to go East?” 

She shook her head. “You can go… sorry, but this alliance won’t work as good as I thought it would. A rebel and a loyalist? I don’t think so, Mayor Luminel.” Her eyes glared daggers at the the royal, assuring him that she means business. 

“Fine with me~ You’re right. The Capitol wouldn’t want a devoted servant of President Brandt with someone who fought against him.” Jared confirmed nonchalantly and turned around. “I’m guessing I won’t be seeing you soon…” As they walked their separate ways, he couldn’t help but smirk. Seraph was no longer anywhere near him as she made her way back to the cave. “Good luck surviving… And I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you real soon. As a face in the sky!”

Notable events

After immediately waking up, I delved further into the cave I was residing in to help my frostbite. I was cured, yet I became a glow stick. As a result, another tribute, Everest, found me. I think we have formed an alliance for the moment.

Current location

Small igloo in the northwestern part of the arena.

Injuries

Fractured rib, broken right shoulder, and cuts across his chest. All of which have been minimally treated.

Weapons

1 bullwhip, 1 long sword, 1 tomahawk, and 1 dagger.

Items

Sleeping bag, gloves, two containers, extra rope, and rose quartz.

Sustenance

Everest was gone and the cave was silent once more. Tension still lingered in the air, weaker but still present. One person leaving wasn’t going to clear it. It wasn’t the cave, though. Seraph got the feeling it would follow them wherever they went.

“Can’t grow attached to him, you know,” Seraph said, eyes remaining on the cave’s entrance that Everest had left through. “Letting him go this once, but will kill him if an opportunity arises. Same goes for you when we go separate ways. You are a means to an end.” Her eyes flicked to meet Jared’s, face stoney and cast by shadows. “Nothing more.”

I stood in solidarity, looking into the darkness that my light could not touch. There seemed to be no other life in the cave at the time. It seemed safe to continue exploring. Clenching the ropes that wrapped around my shoulders, I was torn between leaving the cave or delving in it further. The hot springs were beneficial (at least to a degree), and the possibility of finding other wonders was exciting. But I certainly couldn’t leave the cave in my state. I was too vulnerable, a glowing firefly.

I soaked in the hot springs for a good while, letting the warmth literally wash over me as I sat on its floor, my closed eyes barely peeking above the water’s surface.

When I finally got out, my frostbite was gone. But when I wiped the water from my eyes, I saw another unimaginable event.

I glowed. It was no longer just my fingers that did, but every inch of my body glowed a bright purple-pink. This is BS, I thought to myself, trying to scrub at my arms. Though no matter how hard I scrubbed, my newly formed bioluminescence did not dim. I sighed, agitated, as I dried myself off. My tactics for hiding were now useless. At least I didn’t have the possibility of losing my arms and legs now, and maybe the glowing would stop after a while. Then again, after all the things that have happened so far, maybe it would just intensify.

With their stomach’s full and wounds still healing, there wasn’t much for the alliance to do, except consider whether or not there should even be an alliance.  

Everest, being given the task of collecting more snow to melt, crept outside and waited until he was out of sight from his allies, then eagerly took his shoes and socks off, walking barefoot in the snow.  It was brisk, but familiar as he scooped some into the empty bottles.  

His head still throbbed, right where the dragon had slammed him up against the wall.  The swelling of the broken eye socket still hadn’t begun, but once he put some packed snow on it, he felt a slight soothing sensation and decided to face plant in the soft frost for a bit.