Chapter 26

Blake wakes up with Wintell snuggled against her. His warm body heat burned her skin, but didn't mind it. She hadn't felt affection since she said goodbye to her family. Blake hesitates, but then plays with Wintell's hair. It felt greasy due to the lack of showering options. Blake loved running her hands through it; strangely, it comforted her.

Wintell shifts positions, slowly coming to consciousness. Blake snatches her hand out of his hair swiftly.

He opens his eyes, "Morning, Blake."

"M-morning.." she stutters. Wintell just smiles and sits up from his lying position.

"Did you watch the entire night?" She asks.

"I think so, I must have fallen asleep though. How long have you been up?" he asks.

"Uh, not long. Should we get some food?" Blake nervously stands up, brushing off her legs. Wintell stands up as well, he walks out of the cave into the bright sunlight. Blake follows him outside as well. The air is sharp and dry, making it hard to breathe.

They were approaching the forest of the dead trees, "Let's split up, it'll make it easier and quieter to hunt" Wintell suggests.

"Are you saying I'm loud?" gasps offendedly.

Wintell rolls his eyes, "whatever, lets just find food quick; this place scares me."

They split up, the sun's power was extreme today. Blake wondered if it was possible to get sunburned in a fake desert generated arena. Blake reaches a patch of trees; suddenly, a groan comes from a tree. She flinches and runs swiftly behind a tree. The groan sounded desperate, like the organism was in danger or in pain. Blake slowly approaches the tree, she could see a pair of small delicate legs. She fully came into view with a small innocent girl, Xyla. She was paler than the sand surrounding her.

"Oh my gosh! Xyla, are you okay?" Blake sets her supplies down and feels Xyla's forehead; felt like ice.

"Blake..." she mumbles, Xyla's eyes were droopy and cold.

"Hey! Stay awake! Don't give up now, don't die on me!" Blake grabs a blanket from her bag and wraps it around the freezing brunette. Blake could feel Xyla slowly slipping away. She throws Xyla on her back and carries her to find Wintell, but he is nowhere in sight. Suddenly, a cannon goes off. Blake's eyes begin to water, knowing who's cannon it was. She looks at the lifeless girl on her back, dead. Blake sets down Xyla's body, she could have saved her, but it's too late. Xyla's body was now laying up against a tree, Blake didn't stop the stream of tears escaping her eyes. Blake put her bag back on her back, and set off to find Wintell.

She reaches the edge of the forest near the mountains, when she hears someone yell, "Blake! Blake!" Wintell rushes over to her, embarrassing her in a hug. He kisses the top of her head.

"I thought the cannon was for you. I was so worried, do you know who died?" he asks.

"Xyla, hypothermia. I could have saved her, I could have-" Blake was embraced in a hug again.

"You did all that you could, we wouldn't have the supplies to save her. We have to let nature take its course." Wintell says. Blake nuzzles her head into his neck for comfort. Their hug doesn't last for much longer. They hear a rustle in the forest, and it didn't sound like an animal. Wintell shielded Blake, protecting her from whatever it was. They could see a girl leap out a myriad of dead bushes, Serpen. Blake and Wintell glowered their eyes, they both knew what she had done.

"Well, look at this reunion, what's been up with you guys? Any kills?" Serpen jokes.

"You think it's funny? That people are being killed?" Wintell hisses.

Serpen just scoffs, "I don't find it funny." There was a pause,

"I find it hilarious," she smirks. Wintell pulls out his sword and lunges at Serpen, she blocks his every move.

"Wintell, stop-" Blake says as her face is almost met with Serpen's knife. This triggers Blake, she pulls out her kunai's, ready to attack. Wintell and Blake were blocking and shielding Serpen's attacks left and right. Blake's kunai cuts Serpen on the face, causing Serpen to turn away.

"Goodbye, Serpen" Wintell says as he aims his sword for her back. Little did he know, Serpen had a knife, she swiftly turns around and stabs Wintell in the abdomen. Blake is petrified, she stands there as Wintell falls to the ground.

"Never stab someone in the back, poor sportsmanship." Serpen smirks while she leans over Wintell. She then runs away into the dead forest. Blake falls to her knees, over Wintell.

"You can't leave me too, please you can't" Blake begs.

Wintell smiles at her and holds Blake's cheek in his hand, "Listen to me, you go and win this thing. I don't care what it takes, you win for everyone that we've met that has died. Do it for them, do it for me." Blake was at a loss for words, she places a hard kiss on Wintell's forehead. Suddenly, a cannon went off, he was gone, Wintell was gone. Blake breaks down in sobs uncontrollably, she couldn't take it anymore. She was done, she wanted out. She grabs her and Wintell's things and heads back to their cave, alone.