"Let's go explore." Shimmer says. It's afternoon now, and boredom has taken over my body.
"You can go." I say.
"Okay, I'll come back later." Shimmer says. Justane's still sleeping, so I put a light leaf over his nose.
"Smell it." I whisper. Justane wakes up.
"Very funny." He says. We both hear a growl and screaming at the same time. Then we both realize it's Shimmer's voice.
"SHIMMER!" I call out. No answer. Then I hear some moaning on my left.
"Shimmer?" I say. I go to the direction of the moan and see Shimmer. Justane follows me and we both look horrified.
Shimmer's body lays on the dirt, moans escaping every once in a while. There's deep scratches in her temple and we know we can't save her. The least I can do is hold her hand.
"I'm.. Dying." Shimmer whispers.
"Tell Glimmer, I tried my best. Glimmer's my cousin, and my best friend." She finishes. The cannon blows and the grip on my hand releases slowly.
"Sh-sh-Shimmer?" I say. No answers come, I'm talking to a lifeless body.
"SHIMMER!" I scream. Justane sits quietly, not letting out a word. Silently breathing.
"Get over it, this is the Hunger Games Caia. Everyone gets killed but one remains." Justane says. I come to sit with him, and he hugs me.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you." He says. I cannot think that was the truth; I could only think of it as a lie. He can't protect me if he's dead. No one could.

I could think of 10 reasons how Justane can't protect me:

1. He would be busy killing
2. I can probably protect myself
3. He'd be too busy mourning Shimmer's death
4. He wants me to die
5. He never keeps his word
6. He lies
7. Tries to comfort me with soothing words that aren't true
8. He's ruthless
9. He doesn't care about anyone but a few people
10. He's very selfish

Ten reasons, done.

Lies, lies. I hate it.

"Twenty dead, four left to go. I wonder who's going to be the Victor this year." Justane says. I keep silent and mourn Shimmer's death. She was a cheerful girl.

I feel the ground shaking. A wall of red comes from behind, and I'm realizing the arena's being shrunk. Justane looks at me, and we both know what to do. Swim, toward the Cornucopia. Maybe my last battle is going to start there. Maybe my death awaits.