The Taste of Death ~ Hunger Games Fanfiction- Finnick/OC

Chapter 3

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Chapter 3

District 14

Scarlet Wolfe

Scarlet approached the house that she called home, chilled to the bone. The sky was lit with the last sliver of sun left on the horizon, turning the snow covered ground a sparkling, golden red hue. It was beautiful, but the bitter air made it impossible to appreciate. Every breath she took sent needles into her lungs, threatening to choke her if she dared take a full breath.

Her fingers were stiff from the extended time spent in the cold, digging through the discarded crystal scraps. She’d found a few worth saving for herself and had even found a couple ripped up pieces of paper large enough for Crimson to use for drawing and a piece of charcoal to draw with. Everything she had found today, she’d deposited into their secret abandoned basement room, before heading home.

Their house sat heavy under the weight of near constant snowfall and a thick layer of ice that never left the roof top, its bricks dulled by frost and time. The one-story structure, barely large enough for two small bedrooms, a cramped living room, bareboned kitchen and the smallest bathroom possible, looked like it was being held together a single thread, one gust of wind away from a total collapse.

Scarlet sometimes imagined it collapsing on them in the night—a slow and suffocating end that haunted her nightmares when it wasn’t filled with thoughts of the Arena.

She took the first step to the front porch, knowing well where the missing bricks were, hidden underneath an inch of freshly fallen snow.

She didn’t waste time, glancing up at the ice that clung to the edge of the roof like jagged teeth staring down at her. One day, those were going to fall on some unlucky bastard. She pulled the door open with a stretched arm and a hard yank, jumping past the hanging chunks of ice as fast as she could, releasing a breath she’d been holding.

Not today. She thought with an amused smile.

Inside, it’s barely warmer, the fireplace in the living room was barely able to stave off the cold wind that seeped in through the broken windows and failing roof. They received a monthly stipend, one that was deducted from their father’s wages, but it was barely enough to last half the month if the fire burned all day and night. In the coldest months of the year, the fire was only lit at night, and most everyone slept in the living room then, the heat not able to spread to the bedrooms at all.

Scarlet stomped her cloth-clad feet on the rug as she closed the door behind her, knocking off any loose snow and trying to get some feeling back into her feet. Shoes were normally kept by the door—the last thing this house needed was warped floorboards from excess water tracked inside—but seeing as Scarlet wore scrapes around her feet, she kept them on in the house, the cold from the floor nearly matched the cold from the snowy ground outside.

Reliable electricity and working lights were a far-off dream in their home. Flickering lights, broken bulbs, or having the electricity completely shut off due to storms or downed power lines were so frequent that they might as well not have power most of the year. More often than not, she’d come home to a darkened house. That seemed to be the case today, as her eyes adjusted to the dim light remaining in the room.

“You’re late.” Her mother said, with her hand on her hip as she stood by the stove.

Scarlet lied easily, as she moved through the cramped kitchen. “Stayed late at school.”

“Again?” Harmony questioned.

“Yes.” Scarlet answered, pretending she hadn’t seen the doubt that was etched deep in the lines of her mother’s face.

“Don’t worry so much about school, Scarlet. You should be here, helping out with your siblings.”

“Okay.” She agreed passively with the repetitious conversation. It was the same one they had every time she stayed out late even though they both knew it wouldn’t stop her from staying out late again tomorrow. If her mother knew that Scarlet was wandering the streets of District 14, digging through other people’s garbage’s, she would never hear the end of it.

As she passed through the kitchen, she noticed Sienna and Violet sitting at the table in deep discussion. Neither paused nor even glanced up as she passed, but she didn’t mind that. She couldn’t think of anything that she had to say to either of them that wouldn’t get her a backhand from her mother who stood well within reach as she slipped behind Harmony, subtly glancing at the contents of the pot she was stirring on the stove. Another soup. She let out a silent sigh as she moved on toward the living room.

Silver and, to her surprise, Crimson, were in the living room, sprawled out across the floor with the younger kids. Aqua was jumping across Crimson’s back as her twin diligently drew something on a scrap piece of paper. Both Honey and Sapphire sat like guarding gargoyles on either side of Crimson’s face, watching every move his hand made with the piece of chalk across the paper.

She paused in the doorway for a moment, her lips curled upwards as she went unnoticed. It wasn’t like Crimson to hang around with their younger siblings. Mostly he complained that they were dumb or annoying or too loud to be around but today, it didn’t seem to bother him so much. Maybe it was the paper they had found the day before or the piece of chalk they’d stolen from the school, but he seemed…lighter. Almost happy. It was a rare sight on her twins’ face and one that right now eased some of the tension in her spine.

As she stepped further into the cramped living room, Crimson’s eyes flicked up to meet hers for a second before refocusing on his drawing. His usual smirk and calculating eyes were replaced with quiet concentration and a soft smile. Scarlet almost smiled again, but the moment didn’t last long. A tiny tug at her pants brought her back from her thoughts.

Her youngest brother, Ash, stood at her feet, staring up at her, his wide hazel eyes sparkling with the innocence that hadn’t yet been dulled by District 14 or their family. His small hands stretched upward, and for a brief second, the tension in her shoulders melted further away. She lowered herself onto the cold flooring, pulling him onto her lap, the warmth of his little toddler body, a brief comfort against the constant chill that filled their house.

“Hey, Ash,” she sighed, wrapping her arms around his tiny waist as he wiggled, pressing his hands to her cheeks. She covered his cold, small fingers with her own, blowing a raspberry into the air between them. He giggled, mouth open in a soundless laugh, and for a moment, reality faded.

Moments like these were rare, few and far between, but they made her forget—just for a little while—the sharp lines dividing their family and imagine a world where it could be like this all the time with all of her siblings. Without the burdens of responsibility, or the weight of resentment thrust on them, who would they be?

Like always though, reality doesn’t stay away for long and after only a few seconds, the bubble bursts. Someday, Ash would be just like the others, spoiled by the same division that ruined their family.

Wetness suctioned around her big toe, causing her to startle— “What the hell—” she muttered, her gaze landing on her baby sister Ebony who was trying to suck on her feet. Disgusting. She grimaced, pulling her feet away from the tiny culprit. Before she could act further, Ash’s toddler hands yanked her focus back onto him, his small fingers gripping her cheeks with his nails biting into her skin.

He probably was going to act a lot like Violet. Scarlet thought sarcastically. Always needed to be the center of attention. That thought soured the warmth between them. That was all she needed. Two Violet’s set on making her life Hell.

“Silver, get Ebony away from my feet.” She said through pinched facial features as she felt small fingers pulling at her feet wraps, trying to get closer. A weight settled against her other side, pressing into her shoulder. Cadmium, probably.

Ash laughed again, more than likely at her, because there was no way her voice sounded normal when her lips and mouth were contorted the way he made them.

Most of the time, Scarlet was very aware of the words and sounds coming from her mouth. Hyper focused on all the different aspects. Tone, pitch, volume, pronunciation, speed, and even the logic of the words themselves. Scarlet wasn’t dumb or stupid, but most people assumed she was when they learned she was deaf. But at that moment, she couldn’t find it within herself to care.

“Hey, Cad—” she started, turning on autopilot, expecting to see Cadmium next to her. The space was filled with Honey’s brown shoulder length hair instead, her thin figure tucked up against Scarlet’s side. Scarlet felt her smile falter, giving way to a small frown as she scanned the room.

Where is he?

Her gaze drifted across the room even though she knew he wasn’t there. Crimson was still drawing, absorbed in his paper. The others were scattered around, talking or playing. But Cadmium’s familiar face was nowhere in sight. He hadn’t been in the kitchen, and she knew he wouldn’t be in the bedroom by himself.

The ease that she had felt while messing around with Ash began to dissolve, replaced by a low pulse of anxiety. A knot of worry tightened in her stomach. Cadmium always came home after school, either with Crimson or Honey. Always. If he stayed out, it was with her or Crimson, never on his own.

She nudged Honey with her elbow. “Where’s Cadmium?”

Honey looked around the room, as if she, too, hadn’t noticed the lack of their brother’s presence until just now. “He must still be out with Bash.” She said as she turned back to Scarlet, shrugging indifferently.

It took a moment for Scarlet to comprehend the words she’d just read coming from Honey’s mouth.

Out with Bash?

“Just the two of them?” She asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. But her sister’s attention span matched her age, and she had already turned back to the other children unaware that her words had just sent Scarlet’s mind spinning.

Her slowly deepening worry was turning into something sharper, though she couldn’t find a specific reason why. Bash had been known to take one or two of them out a few times a month, when an extra job lined up or when he had found a way to scrounge up some extra money.

Probably just that. She tried to reason with herself. Don’t worry about nothing.

But those jobs were always for something specific, and they had never lasted until dark before. More importantly, he usually took an older kid—one who could work harder or faster.

But Cadmium? He was only nine, thin as a whip with noodle arms. Bash wouldn’t—why would he take Cad and no one else?

The more she thought about it, the more her worry grew, adding to her unrelenting need to know why and where Cadmium was right then until she couldn’t help herself.

She poked Crimson with her foot, drawing his attention away from his drawing. He shot her an annoyed look, not moving from his spot on the floor. She didn’t care.

“Cadmium’s with Bash?” she asked, wanting more details without spilling out loud how worried she was at the prospect.

If possible, Crimson looked even more annoyed, “that’s what Honey said, isn’t it?”

As he went back to drawing, completely unbothered by the situation, her worry turned sharply to anger. How could he be so self-absorbed? Scarlet kicked him again, harder this time, causing his hand to jerk, dragging a long chalk line through the middle of his drawing.

“Damn it, Scar!” he snapped, jumping to his knees as he leveled a glare at her. “What the hell?”

She set Ash down on the floor near Honey without looking away from her twin. Despite trying to convince herself that everything was probably fine, the gnawing feeling inside her had only gotten worse.

“Crimson, I’m serious.” She said slowly, her earlier restraint fraying. “Where did they go?”

“I dunno, Scarlet. Bash doesn’t exactly give me his daily schedule,” he shot back, his face showcasing every ounce of sarcasm she couldn’t hear.

Scarlet’s eyes stayed locked on him, hard and unyielding. She knew Crimson—he always paid more attention to what went on in their household than anyone else. While Scarlet blocked out the existence of their family—in particular their parent’s activities—Crimson soaked it all in, like a sponge that absorbed every detail.

“He was already gone when I got home.” Crimson muttered before dropping back to the floor, chalk in hand. He continued drawing as if their conversation hadn’t happened, as if there was nothing worrying about Cadmium still being out of the house at this hour.

It was a win for her, seeing him give in and answer her despite not wanting to, but it didn’t feel like one. Instead of relief, disappointment washed over her. She’d expected more from him, hoped for a better answer, or perhaps a direction. Instead, she was left with nothing but her growing worry.

If she knew where they had gone, she would have left the house and collected him herself, even if it meant sneaking out their bedroom window so Harmony wouldn’t interfere, but wondering around in the darkness of District 14 was a death wish.

She couldn’t help anyone if she were dead.

So, despite the pit in her stomach and the tension in her body, Scarlet leaned back against the old worn-out couch and rested her head along the cushions, staring up at the cracked and yellow tinged ceiling.

The seconds ticked by in agonizing slowness as they turned to minutes. Movement flickered in the peripherals, but she ignored it all and like a bubble had formed around her, her siblings seemed to know to leave her be.

Slowly, the small amount of heat stemming from the embers in the fireplace warmed Scarlet’s body, her muscles relaxed without her permission and her eyes grew heavy.

***

Scarlet jolted awake, heart racing after the briefest sensation of falling through a dark void. Her breath came in quick, shallow bursts as her eyes darted around the dark room. For a moment, the disorienting mix of exhaustion and confusion left her unsure of where she was, but as the haze cleared, the familiar sight of her twin and the fireplace along the far wall came into focus. The living room.

The once bustling room was now nearly empty, save for Crimson and Honey. Crimson looked unchanged, drawing on a second piece of paper that he must have come across somewhere, the first was laying off to the side, not a single blank space wasted. Honey’s face was no longer light, her features drawn, and her shoulders hunched as she sat cross-legged by Crimson, her chin rested on her fist.

Her body felt heavy, her limbs sluggish from the fleeting slumber she’d fallen into. Scarlet rubbed her eyes with her wrists, feeling the grit of sleep clinging to her lashes, her tongue, thick like sandpaper against the roof of her mouth.

A soft tap on her foot pulled her attention downward. Crimson was watching her, his eyes flat with resignation. “They’re eating now,” he informed her. Ah, that explained it.

Honey’s flat look and Crimson’s apathetic hazel eyes.

Violet, Auburn, Sienna, Silver, Sapphire, Aqua, Ash, and Ebony would be eating now, along with their parents. When they had each eaten, Scarlet, Crimson, Cadmium and Hon—Cadmium—he had been gone.

Was he back yet?

Crimson shook his head, drawing a frown from her. Wha— “He’s not back yet, Scar. Neither is Bash.”

It took a moment to realize that she must have spoken out loud, because Crimson had answered her own question. Cadmium was still not home. Scarlet could see now, a bit of worry reflecting back at her from him, as he could no longer convince himself that this was completely normal.

“Do you know where Bash might have gone? I’ll go look for him.” She said, pushing herself upward, but Crimson grabbed her shoulder and pushed her back to the floor.

“Are you an i***t?” Crimson asked, his lips curled in disgust as he leaned over her.

She shoved away from him, scrambling to her feet as she glared at him. “Are you?”

Crimson’s eyes flickered between her and the kitchen, his eyes tightened slightly, and his mouth sealed shut. The reminder that they weren’t alone cooled her anger some, but not nearly enough. He stormed over to her and gripped her upper arm hard, his fingers digging into her skin as he dragged her across the living room and through the far left door. Their bedroom.

“Let go.” She said forcefully through gritted teeth as she pulled out of his grip with a hard yank, stumbling backwards a few paces, before finding her footing.

“You can’t leave—”

“—So what?” I cut him off, seeing enough of his words to know exactly what he was going to say. You can’t leave passed dark. You’ll get lost and how will that help. “It’s alright for Cadmium to be out there, but not us?”

“Cadmium is with Bash—”

“Oh, come on, Crimson.” She sneered, silently begging for her brother to show even a hint of worry for their eight-year-old brother. “Bash is probably passed out somewhere and Cadmium’s probably—”

“If Bash were passed out somewhere, Cadmium would’ve come back home.”

“What?” She asked, taking a hesitant step closer to see his mouth better, afraid to believe the words he said now.

“If Bash were passed out somewhere, Cadmium would’ve come back home already. He knows to go straight home after dark, Scar. He’s not stupid.”

That’s right. Cadmium would come home if Bash had just left him somewhere or passed out. That was a small comfort, but it didn’t alleviate the knot in her gut.

Her shoulders slumped in defeat. She knew that Crimson was right. Cadmium was with Bash, and she couldn’t go out there. Not now. Not when she didn’t know where to look or even if she could get them both back home in one piece. Right now—she rolled her eyes at the words she was about to think—Cadmium was safest with Bash, until they both got home.

“Why are they still out?” She asked, though she didn’t expect an answer. If Crimson knew that, he would have told her by now, even if he still refused to let her go look for Cadmium herself. Instead, she moved toward the window, staring out into the darkness. Cold seeped in from the cracked window, leaching into her skin, stealing the little warmth she’d gathered from fighting with Crimson and sleeping in the living room.

In the glass, Scarlet saw her reflection, her dark curls, tangled around her head and over her shoulders. Her pale face housed hazel eyes and full lips. Her face was smudged with dirt and dust. She needed a bath, but who knows when she’d next get one. It was fine though. The layers of dirt helped keep the chill away.

She hadn’t changed much since the last time she had looked at her reflection. Maybe she was a little taller, but her head still didn’t reach the top of the bottom widow panel, so it couldn’t’ve been that much.

Looking past her reflection in the window to outside, she could see the other nearby homes. White grounds and dark skies. Smoke trickling up the fireplaces, dancing in the breeze. It looked so peaceful out there, from inside. Gusts of wind sending sprinkles of snow up into the air, glittering in the moonlight. It was beautiful, but unforgiving and deadly, laying claim to those unable to escape the freezing temperatures.

Please don’t let Cadmium be one of them.

***

It was late when she felt the itchy blanket lift—or early, as Scarlet could just make out the sun peaking over the horizon through the window. She bit her lip against the burst of cold air that hit her skin, a moment before a cold body pressed up against her.

She couldn’t help but flinch, not expecting the damp clothing frozen solid from the cold, or the icy skin that wrapped around her waist so suddenly. Her body hit Crimson, whose elbow jabbed into her ribs in return, as he shifted in his sleep. “Ow.” She mouthed, breathing through the stinging pain.

The arms that had wrapped around her loosened, pulling away, but she grabbed him close, trying to warm his small body with hers. His hands shook against her back, and she could feel his teeth chattering against her neck. The tension in her chest dissolved the moment she felt his familiar curls. Her lungs, which had felt like ice all night, finally allowed a full breath to leave her. It was as if the weight of the entire night fell from her chest in one solid push.

“Cadmium.” She whispered softly, barely breathing his name.

She hadn’t slept at all tonight, apart from the short time in the living room. Crimson and Honey had slept on the floor next to her, curled up under the blanket while Scarlet had watched out the window. She had watched every second of the sunrise that morning, her eyes feeling like sandpaper, but that was nothing compared to her nerves. She could barely believe that her brother was now curled up in her arms, safe and sound. But he was.

The relief was overwhelming, giving way to the sudden, intense weight of exhaustion. Now that the worry had faded, nothing could keep her awake. All her questions could wait until morning. She didn’t know about Cad, but right now, she just needed to sleep.

Her eyes drooped shut, with her arms curled around Cad and Crimson and Honey at her back. The four of them curled together on the cold wooden floor with only a thin blanket and each other to keep the cold at bay. They might have been deemed less than by everyone else, but in moments like this, Scarlet knew they were stronger for it. Bonded for life and closer than the rest of their family ever could be to one another. As long as they had each other, they could survive anything.