Deadly Game - Chapter 30

Okay, I know I said the next upload was going to be this weekend but... I just felt like writing. So, here it is:

Chapter 30!!! Tadaa! OMG I can't believe it's thirty already... nearly finished. My baby has come soo far...

That's how I imagine Swan's sister, Dove ---->

As always, please COMMENT!!!

<3 Anna

Chapter 30

I look at the scene Adina just fled from.

The small, girl, Andie's sister, took off when Adina did, running into the forest and disappearing. I don't see her, nor Andie.

Swan is running, almost dragging her sister with her, but the girl is young, about four, and she's slow. Swan casts fearful glances over her shoulder, and I see the threat she's noticed.

Marco is slowly backing away from the Cornucopia, his brother behind him, keeping a watching eye on Swan. He has a spear in his hand, and a sword is hanging from his belt. Apparently there are weapons by the Cornucopia, just as a usual feast. I just didn't notice them in my hurry to save Adina.

Swan tries to hurry, but I see the decision in Marco's eyes.

He throws the spear at the small girl. I cover Adina's ears with my hands.

"Dove!" Swan screams, throwing herself in-between the spear and her sister. The spear hits the side of her stomach, and she cries out in pain.

Though she quickly pulls out the spear, places a hand over the bleeding wound, picks up Dove with the other, and staggers into the forest.

Marco apparently has no use for more weapons, or he doesn't want to take the risk of his brother getting hurt from possible tributes coming back after rescuing their siblings. He guides the boy down towards the river, too, then disappears up-streams, towards the rocks. I guess you can cross the river there, too.

I sit there for a while, holding Adina in my arms, grateful that she's alive and well. She hugs me.

"Cassie, I'm afraid." She is teary-eyed and pale.

"It's okay, Adi-bird. No one's going to hurt you now. I'm here."

She stays there, and I wait until I'm sure no one is around. I see a hover-craft appear over the forest, see Dove, Swan's sister, being picked up. Then, when she's halfway up, a cannon goes off.

I hear Dove's scream all the way to here.

"No! Swan, no!"

Another hover-craft appears from nowhere, picking up Swan's body. I glance down to see Adina staring at me, her eyes full of horror.

I take a deep breath.

"We need to go, Adi." She nods, trusting me blindly as I help her down from the tree into the forest. A thought hits me. I hide Adina in a thick bush by the tree, tell her to be completely silent and not move.

Then I go to the Cornucopia. The clearing is empty, and I rush to get what I need. Food. I don't find any knives. Dammit. But I re-fill my quiver, and slip another over my shoulder, too. Who knows how long the games will continue? Better be prepared. Then I run back to Adina, and take her deeper into the woods. I recognize places from the first day we ran, so I know which way to go. The massive rock, the big cluster of bushes in a funny shape...

I have to carry Adina. She's too short – it's way too heavy for her to walk in the snow. But when I lift her into my arms, she starts fingering on the arrows.

"Adina, don't, they're sha-"

Her fingers have already touched the edge of one arrow.

To my surprise, she doesn't make any sort of noise. I cut my finger on one arrow, too, by mistake, and it hurt a lot. I stop and sit down in the snow, examining her fingers, already about to pull out the first aid kit. But then I stop.

The glove is ripped. But there are no traces of blood on her skin.

Suddenly I realize.

Of course. They have put some kind of protection on the children. It's against the law to involve more persons into the games, if they get hurt. But if they're protected from everything? Then it's legal.

Stupid me. I should have realized it earlier.

Swan could be alive still, if she'd known... she wouldn't had had the need to throw herself in front of Dove – because Dove couldn't get hurt in any way.

I let go of that thought. It's too late now, anyway. They were only manipulating us.

I take Adina further and further into the woods. I see a hover-craft pick up Marco's brother, and start feeling uneasy. He can be hunting me now. Me and Adina.

We're now far away from the Cornucopia, and I know the hover-craft will come soon. It's time to say goodbye to Adina, once again.

"You're safe, Adi. I love you. Tell the others that, too."

"Come home." The simple words are all she manages to say – she's really paralyzed by fear. I understand that. I mean, I'm fifteen, and I'm scared. A six year old in the Arena? That would not go well. I hope she will forget this in time.

"I'm trying. Promise."

She hugs me tight, starting to sob.

"Shush, Adi-bird. It's going to be alright." I'm stroking her hair until the hover-craft appears to pick her up. Then I let go, step back, with a final kiss to her forehead. It's hard to let go of her, but I want her safe. She is transported into the air, and far away I see another hover-craft picking up Andie's little sister.

If Andie is with his sister, then he's dangerously close to Marco.

I make my way back to the Cornucopia. This needs to end soon. And that is where the final battle will be, I guess.

I go inside the Cornucopia, hide. I eat, and prepare for battle. Soon I hear shouting from the rocks. I hear Marco's voice, then Andie's.

So they're fighting.

I can't help but hope that Marco wins. I can't kill Andie. But I have no problems with the thought of killing Marco. Andie just... he's like me. Thinks and acts the same way. Like when he saved me. I would have done that too – owing people is the worst thing in the world. Especially in the games.

Or, those who have honor, don't want to owe people.

The others just don't care. They kill either way.

I sit there, wait. The night is dark, but my eyes sweep the edges of the clearing over and over again, trying to make out details with the help of the spooky greenish lights from the sky.

A cannon fires.

I swallow.

This is it. I'm in the final two. I have no idea who my opponent is.

I stand, pace back and forth as I wait. I know the Gamemakers will eventually bring us two together. I want to be ready when the time comes.

Darker thoughts play at the edge of my mind, thoughts of having to kill. I shove them away. I can't think like that now. I have one chance to get out of here, and this is it. I need to kill to survive.

Predator and prey.

And I'm not the prey.

I wonder if I can win this. Am I fast enough? Am I strong enough? Am I skilled enough? And, most importantly – can I bring myself to do what I have to do?

Yes.

I promised them all. I don't make promises I don't keep. I'll try my best now.

A branch snaps.

My head jerks up.

Andie steps out of the forest. I gasp. He's bleeding heavily. A long gash along his arm, and one one his cheek. He's limping, too. He comes closer, looks at my face, and stops.

I shake my head.

"No."

He lifts an eye-brown, and doesn't even make a move to fight me.

"I said no."

"No as in what?"

"As in, no, I'm not fighting you." I can almost hear the sharp breaths of the audience in the Capitol all the way here. Two tributes refusing to fight doesn't happen often.

He smiles, as I let my bow – which was aimed at him – sink downwards.

"Great. 'Cause I'm not fighting you either."

"Peace?"

"Peace."

He comes closer, sits down by the mouth of the Cornucopia, grabbing a first aid kit and starting to treat his wounds. He seems to trust me completely, or maybe he is just beyond caring.

"Why do you trust me?"

He glances up. "Well, I just do. And, besides, if we fought, the winner is kind of clear." He points to my bow. "Marco seemed to think you've become quite skilled with that one, so I stand no chance. And I'm injured, too."

Andie's right. I could easily win this fight, if I wanted to. But I don't.

So I go sit with him. We don't say much.

"Was that your little sister?" He asks when his wounds are wrapped up.

"Yeah. Adina. I love her a lot."

"It was my sister Richelle you saw. She's only five, turning six."

"They were protected."

"I know."

We don't even decide – we both just stand up, gather our things, and move to our own sides of the Cornucopia, making own small camps. We know the Gamemakers will soon – when they realize we really won't fight – make a decision to send in something to turn us on each other. Mutts, that can hurt us, for example.

But hopefully they'll wait until day-light, maybe thinking one of us is just planning to kill the other while he or she is sleeping. But no, I don not have such plans. I was sincere when I said I would not kill him. I can't bring myself to do it. He's such a good person – he could be a friend of mine.

So I lay down in my sleeping-bag, hoping he thinks the same way as I do. I hear his even breathing, and sink into a day-dream – not sleeping, but very close.