#niyf!sam

“Dude, uh... sorta think that tracker jacker venom’s getting to your head. Marley’s not here, man. You’re just talking to think air.”

“Dude... Are you sure? Because District 12′s kinda like...a pile of dirt and stuff now that the Capitol blew it up. I mean, I know the war’s over, so it’s not like they’re going to blow it up again, but -- you sure you and Marley wouldn’t eather come stay in 4 with me and Rach instead? The offer’s always there if you change your mind.”

The night was chilly inside of the arena, and Sam hugged his knees to his chest as he sat on watch, making sure that nothing could sneak up on him and Mike as they rested for the night. They had no fire; it would only draw attention to them, and that was the last thing they needed when there was a rescue team on its way to help them.

Sam's torture had been painful; he'd been taking a frustratingly long time to recuperate, which meant that the option to go searching for Rachel and the others wasn't really a feasible one. Instead, he just had to sit inside of this cavern, sheltering himself from blood rain and hoping he'd feel strong enough to move soon.

Being weak in the arena got you killed, and Sam had promised to make it home to his family. By a stroke of luck, Mike had found him and spared his life, but Sam couldn't count on that luck for long. It was already hoping for too much to think that all of his allies would make it here, to the twelfth section of this clock, without one of their number falling.

He just prayed that the one who fell wasn't Rachel.

Sam had grown attached to his district partner; there was no other way to describe it. If it had been another time, even another place, he might have found himself falling in love with her, but that wasn't an option when his every thought had to be focused on survival. But every canon today had made his stomach lurch at the thought that he might never get to see her again. All he wanted was a life where they could make it out of the arena, just like Finnick had promised, and maybe actually get a chance to explore whatever it was he thought he might feel for her.

That was part of why he had asked Mike to let him go on watch, though. He had to know. Sam had to make sure that the canons he'd heard all day, signifying a tribute had died, hadn't been her. He gritted his teeth together, watching as faces appeared overheard and praying that it would go straight to District 5 or higher. Praying that it would skip over her, and let her live at least one more day.

Sebastian Smythe's face, and Sam felt a pang of guilt. Sebastian had let him live on the very first day.

Hunter Clarington's. Sam hadn't known him, not really, but he'd been district partners with Quinn, who for some strange reason, Sam actually trusted.

Artie Abrams. How had he even lived this long, with his obvious physical handicap? Sam hoped Tina would be okay without her best friend, but he knew that hope was in vain.

Dark hair, dark eyes, a prominent nose, that smile that was made for the camera. Sam's stomach twisted into knots at the sight, and he blinked, praying he'd imagined it.

The four next to her face, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that one of the fallen tributes was Rachel Berry.

He thought of the last time he'd seen her, their reunion in the ocean. He had to focus on that, because the images threatening to creep up were too gruesome for him to handle.

Mangled face, twisted limbs, blood oozing out onto the ground... Sam leaned over and wretched onto the ground before him. He didn't have time to mourn the chances he'd never get; he didn't have time to dwell on the feelings he'd had for the girl from his home.

All Sam could do was keep moving, and hope that he could win this. For himself. For his family. For her.

[MSG] Okay, first of all, Rachel was totally sitting right next to me when I opened these messages, so I hope wherever you are, it's farrrr away from the zone with the man-eating locusts. She's totally convinced you sent me naked pictures to try and steal me from her.

[MSG] Second of all, I'm kind of confused. I mean, I don't see any major injuries or anything on you. Are you hurt? Or are you just, you know, horny?

[MSG] Because I totally wouldn't mind losing my virginity before I die, but I think Rach has dibs on that if I decide to have sex in the arena.