Tangled in the Net

by Light Brown Shoes

Rue's killer's last thoughts before the arrow pierced his neck, and before the guilt consumed him.

She was tangled in my net.

The small one.

Only twelve.

But it was kill or be killed.

I step toward her; she huddles away and screams for someone. I have to make this quick.

I walk up to her, and out of the corner of my eye I see another girl break through the trees. The little girl shifts and reaches a hand through the net.

I raise my spear and thrust it down.

When it enters her small body, something inside me breaks.

As I go to pull out the spear, another thing breaks.

A vein.

The arrow was well-aimed, and I try to rip it out. I succeed, but I only live for a few seconds before I choke on my own blood.

The last thing I think is that I deserved this.