CAREER PATH

A Hunger Games Story

Part 4

I place my hand over her mouth and clamp it tightly. Lyra's eyes snap open and she starts to struggle. Kicking her legs and twisting her shoulders wildly against my other warm laid across her chest. But between the rope tying her hands and my weight against her, her struggle is in vain.

"Shhh."

Lyra's eyes come into focus, and she see's me. Her body relaxes, and she glares at me defiantly.

I don't have much time, they'll be back soon. This needs to be done, and I have to do it, alone. She's sleeping again, going on two days in our captivity without food. She'll still be able to resist if she wants, but I'm not going to ask the questions she's expecting. I'll have one shot at this, and I have to do it now.

There's dried blood all over her face and red hair. Bruises starting to form on her arms, and no doubt her stomach and legs where I kicked her over and over.

"I'm not gonna kill you," I say calmly. "We need to talk."

Her chest heaves while her eyes remain firmly locked on mine. I gently lift my elbow off her chest, and remove my hand from her mouth. Krillan, Selena, and Porsche are circling the woods again, looking for the remaining five. They could be back at anytime, so I plan to make good use of it.

"I'm not gonna tell you where they are," she says. "So save your breath and…!"

"That's not what I want to talk to you about," I say quickly.

"Ok, well I'm sorry about your brother, but come on I had nothing to do with…"

"I know," I say quickly again. "It's not about him either."

These games have been unusual. Not just because Porsche and I are playing characters, and have specific instructions on who to kill and not to kill. There's something else. I don't know what it is, but I have my suspicions, and I think Lyra, the girl from District 8, has something to do with it. I know she'll never openly admit it, but there are other ways.

I sit down and cross my legs. Placing my swords on the ground at my sides, I relax my head on my palms.

"Why did you volunteer?" I ask.

Lyra cocks and eyebrow and tilts her head.

"Didn't you see my interview?" she asks.

I shake my head. After ours were given, Porsche and I were escorted to our suite and had a normal dinner. It didn't seem unusual at the time, until I heard about Lyra's.

"Well then," Lyra says defiantly. "Since you missed it, I volunteered because a thirteen year old was chosen from my district. Thirteen years old, and can barely lift a sack of flour. It was a death sentence for her, especially against you career's. Sweet innocent little girls don't match up well against psychotic killers. I volunteered because she was innocent, and deserves better than to be hacked to death by the likes of you."

I raise a hand to my face, and watch her closely. Her eyes remain locked on me, but she's blinking rapidly. Her face is very animated, especially her mouth.

"Volunteering doesn't happen to often in the other districts," I say. "Did you know this girl?"

"Yes," she says flatly. "She was someone I used to watch when she was little and her parents were working long hours in the fields."

"You don't like our districts do you?" I ask quickly.

"Of course not," she says narrowing her eyes. "It's not fair how the richer districts can afford to train their tributes. The poorer districts enter the games at a disadvantage. For a young girl from a poor district, its essentially a death sentence."

"You feel pretty strongly about this don't you."

"Strong enough, I've even gotten in trouble a few times for speaking too loudly near a peace keeper." Her eyes drop. "Got my Dad beaten once for it."

"Did you learn your lesson?"

Her head snaps up and she glares at me again.

"I learned something alright," she says. "But anyway, that's why I volunteered. A chance to walk to walk as they say."

"And nobody….encouraged you before hand to volunteer?" I ask.

She stops herself, and jerks back slightly. Licking her lips, her eyes blink rapidly, and she stutters at first before answering.

"What's it like," she begins, trying to change tracks. "Sitting through each reaping feeling safe, knowing you won't be chosen, and even if you are, someone is going to volunteer for you."

I shrug.

"I always knew eventually I'd be here," I say. "But I also knew I'd be prepared."

"Must be nice to have that kind of resources," Lyra says snidely. "Must be nice to be able to afford training centers, special teachers and instructors, and the whole luxury of being able to spend your entire life training for the Hunger Games."

I narrow my own eyes, and clench my jaw.

"It's not as nice as you'd think," I reply.

"No?" Lyra says raising her voice. "Ever year you career band together to hunt the rest of us. You have more winners than all the other districts combined. Each year you win, the richer you get, the better your training gets, the rest of us have too struggle to fulfill our quota's to the Capital."

Her lips curled in disgust as she mentioned the Capital.

"Yes, we're more successful, and richer, but yet we still have to compete, and many of us still die," I say.

She opens her mouth to speak, but pauses and cocks her head again. That was unexpected to her. Good.

"What would you know about it," she sneers. "You've never had to work a hard day in your life."

I close my eyes and begin to laugh softly. Lyra has put up a good effort, a very good effort. It helps that she's genuinely brave, and not afraid to speak out. It's probably why she's here.

"You think that's funny huh," she says. "Well maybe you wouldn't if you had too…"

"Relax Lyra," I say interrupting her. "I have nothing against you. Really. There are things neither one of us understands, but don't worry about it. We're just all playing our roles."

She sits perfectly still and blinks several times. I can tell her mind is racing, thinking through what I just said. Maybe she'll understand, but even if she does, what does it matter. This really is just a game to the Capital. It also makes me thing of what Porsche said. Is she right? Are our lives meaningless as we play their games?

Suddenly, my thoughts are interrupted by shouting in the distance.

"Slade!"

It's Krillan, they're returning. Standing up, I see them returning. There wasn't cannon, so I'm guessing they didn't find anyone. No doubt his patience will begin to wane again. I'm wondering if the Game makers will step in and attempt to stir the pot for us. They haven't yet, but they're audience is going to get restless soon.

"Start cooking one of the chickens, I'm starving!" Krillan shouts.

"Chickens huh," Lyra says. "Must be nice."

I ignore her and walk out to meet them. They all looked tired and a little frustrated. Krillan looks anxious, Selena agitated, and Porsche worried.

"She say anything?" Krillan asks?

"No," I reply.

"How long are we planning to keep her around?" Selena asks.

"As long as we have too," I reply plainly.

"It's too long," Krillan says. "We didn't find any sign of them out there. We have to go out farther."

"They'll eventually be driven back to us," Porsche says.

"Ok, then we still don't have a reason to keep her alive?" Krillan asks.

"Because I want her to see us kill them," I say through clenched teeth and narrowed eyes.

Krillan sighs and swings his axe in his fingers.

"Alright, I get that, but we can't wait forever. Let's either kill her now and go find them, or just leave her here to starve."

"I agree," Selena adds. "It's getting to be too long."

"She could still be useful," Porsche says. "They're obviously still working together. Lyra must know where they are."

Selena rolls her eyes, and Krillan twirls his axe in his fingers again.

"Maybe she just needs to be properly motivated," Krillan says.

He flicks his wrist once more and his axe twirls in his hand. His tongue brushes his teeth as a wicked smile falls over his face. I swallow as my heart skips a beat. This guy is getting more and more unhinged, and he looks like a dog whose just tasted red meat.

Before I can even respond, he brushes past me. I turn and watched him, my eyes wide. I quickly relax them though, and replace it with a curious look. But as Krillan strides closer to Lyra, I know what he's thinking. Turning back to Porsche and Selena, Selena rolls her eyes and follows Krillan.

"Keep it simple Krillan," she says. "Don't kill her by accident."

I look to Porsche who shrugs. I turn and run after Krillan. He's about to reach Lyra, his axe in hand, twisting it within his fingers, licking his lips and staring at her with crazed eyes.

Lyra see's him coming, and sits up. She gives Krillan the save bold and defiant look she gave me. The look of a slave who bravely stands up to their master. Does she know what he's planning? If she does she's held onto her courage. It was bold of her to speak out against us, no one has ever done it before. I wish I'd seen it. I wish I could have heard her words, her voice. She must have spoken with urgency, clarity, and above all else, passion. Apart, everyone is weak, but together, you become strong. What did the other tributes feel? Courage? Hope? I don't know, but I wish I could feel as they did. I wish there was someone like Lyra willing stand up against the people I hate the most.

"One chance girl," Krillan says cutting her ropes and tossing her to the ground where she lands on all fours. "Tell us where they are, or you loose something. Finger? Toe? Arm? I'm not in a good mood today."

Lyra holds herself steady, though her shoulders are tense. I reach Krillan, look to him, see the crazed look in his eyes, and slowly turn to her.

"Tell us Lyra," I say. I speak with coldness, but my eyes are begging her. "Tell us where they are, and he doesn't touch you."

Her gaze shifts between Krillan and myself. It remains the same, and my heart sinks.

"GO TO HELL!" she shouts.

WHACK

Her screams echo in my ears, making them shudder. My head drops while my eyes snap shut as she clutches the hand which Krillan struck. He took two fingers, and they're laying on the ground in a bloody mess. Her screaming stops, forcefully, and I see her struggling to keep herself composed, unwilling to look at her bloody hand, or Krillan. I peer over my shoulder and see Porsche's face as pale as a ghost. Meanwhile, Selena watches me with narrow eyes.

"You gonna tell me now?" Krillan asks.

I whirl around, hoping she'll say something to stay his hand. But no. Lyra, quivering violently breathing hard, buries her bloody hand inside her armpit, rises to her knees, and glares at Krillan.

"Lyra, tell us," I say forcefully.

Her gaze shifts back to me, strong, silent, still unwavering. Lyra had been captured helping a girl in her alliance escape after Selena had struck her with a throwing star. The girl was down, wounded, yet Lyra had stopped to help, putting her own life in danger. Would I do that?

"This is pointless," Selena said. "Just kill her and lets be done with it."

Maybe she's right. I'll have to kill Lyra anyway, why not just kill her now. Krillian will just keep taking parts, one by one, the more she screams, the more he'll enjoy it. It would be merciful to kill her now. I can live with that, even if the Capital becomes angry with me.

"Last chance," Krillan says raising his axe. He points his axe to her shoulder.

My pulse begins to race. I hate this. She doesn't deserve it. She's just a pawn, like I am. I might be from District one, but we still have some belief in honor and dignity. That's what sets us apart from District two. I see the vile look in Krillan's eye, and I imagine slashing my sword across his jugular. The world would be better without people like Krillan, and I have to kill him soon anyway. Why not now?

Lyra remains still, holding her bloody hand tightly, not hiding her fear, but acting defiant despite it. Krillan smiles, bends his knees, and raises his axe.

"What the hell is that!" Porsche shouts suddenly pointing off into the distance.

We all stop and look out to where she's pointing. I cover my eyes as the sun is high over head, causing a glare against the prairie grass.

"What are you talking about?" Krillan asks.

I squint my eyes, and see it. A soft orange glow, with smoke billowing above.

"A fire," Selena says.

"A fire?" Krillan says.

I scan the horizon, and see two, no three, no four, more fires spring up at the threshold of the woods.

"Look," I say, pointing to each one.

"Huh," Krillan says. "There all around us."

I glace back to Lyra, whose lowered herself slightly, and staring aloofly at the fires.

"Looks like your friends have come back for you," I say.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh," Krillan grunts. He draws his other axe from his back. "Come on, lets go get them."

His eyes are wide and crazy, like a shark in a frenzy. Selena withdraws her throwing stars.

"One per fire," she says. "They're spread out, kill them before they regroup."

"I don't think they're planning to regroup," Porsche says.

I squint again, but my eyes widen in horror as the smoke pillars grow wider, and wider. Below, the soft orange glows begin to spread rapidly, joining each other and forming a giant ring of fire in the tall, brown, dry, prairie grass. Tall, brown, dry, prairie grass.

"They're putting the whole field on fire," I say urgently. "Quick, grab what you can, we gotta get out of here!"

Porsche dashes into the Cornucopia, grabbing several packs. Selena sheaths her throwing stars and grabs a few bags of food which she throws over her shoulder. Krillan glares at Lyra a moment longer, but the air is already filling with smoke and ash as the crackle and pop of the sounds of fire grow near.

"What about her?" he shouts.

"Leave her," Selena shouts. "She'll die anyway."

Krillan shouts in frustration but sheaths his axes and runs to the supplies. He grabs what's left of the weapons while I grab some blankets and canteens. Porsche emerges from the cornucopia as a wave of smoke blows over us. I cough furiously as the smoke fills and burns my lungs.

"Slade!" Porsche shouts.

I run towards the sound of her voice. Keeping my head low, the air becoming dark with smoke.

"Krillan, Selena!" I shout. I hear their footsteps running towards my voice. I reach Porsche and she's ducked below the boulder we sat at the other night. Krillan and Selena arrive a moment later.

"I can't see a break in the flames," she says.

The ring of fire is growing smaller, and each moment we linger makes the wall thicker.

"We're just gonna have to run through," I say pulling my jumpsuit over my mouth.

We hear more footsteps behind us, running rapidly. Turning, we see Lyra, running through the smoke in a direction near ours with her hand still tucked into her armpit. Krillan unsheathes an axe.

"Damn it, we need to kill her!" he shouts.

"NO!" Selena shouts grabbing his arm.

Krillan gives her a look which would make a child wet their pants. He struggles to free his arm, but she gripes it tightly.

"Krillan!" she says forcefully. "We need to stay with them."

Krillan's face becomes calm as Selena glares at him intensely. My heart begins to race as I look to Porsche. I nod slightly, and she does the same. Nothing else needs to be said.

They're turning on us.

We leap to our feet and dash from the boulder towards the fire.

"Just run through," I shout to her. "Don't stop."

She drops the supply packs and I drop the blankets. I hear Krillan shout behind us as they dash from the boulder. The smoke burns my lungs and the heat of the fire blasts my skin. I clench my teeth as my shirt sticks to my chest, pumping my arms and legs as fast as I can. Porsche strides ahead, and bursts through the fire. I follow a second later and wince as my skin starts to burn, my clothing catches on fire, and my hair begins to simmer.

It's over quickly as we burst through the other side into a plain now filled with soot and ash from burned prairie grass. We fall the ground and let our momentum carry us as we roll several times, extinguishing any flames on our jump suits. The next moment we're on our feet, and begin running once more, to the forest.

If we can make it there, we can loose them, hide, and figure out what to do next. It's earlier than we expected, but I think Selena is on to us. She saw the way reacted to Lyra's fingers being cut off, she knows something's amiss, and doesn't want to take a chance.

The forest in within our reach and Krillan and Selena emerge from the fire a moment later. The roll on the ground the same way we did, and chase after us. Something brushes past Porsche and tears her jump suit. It was one of Selena's throwing star. A second later, something whizzes past my ear and sticks to a tree stump ahead.

"Hurry," I shout.

We're within a few feet of the foliage when the tree braches above begin to stir. A moment later several people burst forth from the brush running at us full speed.

"FOR LYRA!" they shout.

I juke to my left as an arrow flies past me. A moment later the boy from seven swings a large broadsword at me. I duck just as the blade passes over my head. Leaping forward, I uppercut him in the jaw, knee him in the stomach and toss him aside. I try to draw my swords, but a knife strikes my leg.

I gasp and fall, clutching my right leg where the knife sticks from it. I tear it out quickly and place it my belt behind my back. My leg is throbbing and bleeding heavily, but I can manage for now. Porsche has her spear out and is sparing with someone with a trident. However, she's hit from behind with a mace and falls to her face. The one with the mace raises it high over his head, and I dash towards him.

My leg screams as I dive towards him, leading with my shoulder. I crash into him and he falls away. Porsche scrambles to her feet, reaching for her spear, but an arrow nearly takes her hand and she recoils quickly. I fall on the tribute who attacked Porsche and begin pounding his face furiously. He goes limp a moment later and I spring to my feet, blood dripping from my fist.

I see Porsche fighting the girl from six, who apparently knows the same ancient fighting style the male from six I fought does. She blocks several wild kicks, but I see another tribute pulling back and arrow aimed at her back.

"Porsche drop!" I shout while unsheathing my swords.

I hurl one at the tribute with the bow. Flying end over end, it sails over Porsche who dropped low doing the splits, and an arrow sails past a instant later. The sword makes a sickening sound as it strikes the tributes hand. He screams wildly as blood flows from his arm. Meanwhile, the arrow which sailed over Porsche lodges itself in the chest of the girl from six. She gasps and falls motionless to the ground a moment later followed by a cannon.

Porsche leaps to her feet and grabs her spear. I dash towards the tribute with the bow as he fumbles to knock another arrow. His bloody hands are slippery as my hand reaches around his throat and raise my blade. Yet I stop as I hear a rustle of footsteps behind me. Turning, I see three other tributes dashing towards me at once.

Weapons raised, shouting loudly, they all charge me, wild looks in their eyes. Porsche dashes towards them, spear raised, while I toss the tribute I'm holding in front of me. I stand ready, my eyes darting over each of them, waiting for the first attack. Then one lurches forward, his eyes wide, and falls on his face, an axe protruding from it.

Porsche throws her spear and hit's the one charging to my left. It pierces her stomach and she falls wailing. That leaves one, whose raised a two handed broadsword high over his head. He swings it down which I parry with my sword. Then I kick him in gut, my right leg screaming. He falls backwards and Krillan leaps on his chest slamming his axe through his neck.

I glance behind him and see Selena watching the fight behind us, her throwing stars armed and ready. Two other tributes attack Porsche, one with a trident, the other with two maces. One swings a mace, which she deflects with her spear. Unleashing a powerful high kick, she sends the one with the trident into a tree trunk where he gasps and collapses. The one I wounded with my sword crawls away from Krillan and retrieves his bow. He knocks an arrow, but quickly drops it as a throwing star strikes his shoulder.

He stands straight, shouting loudly, but stops as his eyes go wide and he points beyond Selena.

"LYRA!" he shouts.

Out beyond Selena, Lyra runs out of the ring of fire. Gasping for breaths, clothing and hair smoking, she spins wildly at the sound of her name.

"FOR LYRA!" they all shout.

Taken off guard, Krillan is kicked hard as they all scramble away from us and run towards her. Selena whirls around, throwing stars in hand.

"Should have killed her already!" she shouts.

Reaching her arm across her body, the throwing stars glinting off the flames, she takes aim at Lyra. I retrieve my other sword and race after them, Porsche already ahead of me. Krillan shouts at the top of his lungs and overcomes the tribute who kicked him. The small boy is already wounded from Krillan's axe, and struggling to keep up with the others. I see the panic in his face as Krillan takes him, delivering a final blow to his head.

Another cannon fires.

Ahead the girl from four raises her trident, aimed at Selena, who just about unleashes her throwing stars. I clench my teeth as Lyra stumbles aloofly around the ash and soot, her hand still bleeding. Just as Selena is about to release them, she shrieks and lurches forward as the trident strikes her from behind. The rest of them are on her a moment later.

Two run past Selena to Lyra, take her and lead her off into the woods. The remaining two take Selena. Fallen on all fours, Selena struggles to remove the trident protruding from her leg. A moment later the boy from eleven begins beating her severally with a mace. Striking her legs, Selena shrieks and wails at each blow. The girl from four reaches Selena and yanks the trident free. Raising it over her head in both her hands, she shouts loudly and aims for Selena's pelvis.

But she gasps as a spear lurches out of her chest. She gasps and falls onto Selena, the trident falling harmlessly to the side. I reach the boy from eleven and deflect his mace blow. He leaves Selena and swings his maces wildly at me. I deflect each one, though my balance is wavering due to my leg.

A cannon fires of in the distance as the girl from four passes and Porsche retrieves her spear. Krillan shouts loudly as he dashes towards the boy from eleven. Seeing he's alone, he drops his maces and dashes off into the woods. I stand firm, but place my hands on my knees, coughing furiously. I'd never catch him, not with my leg like this, and all the smoke in my lungs. None of us could run very far right now. Krillan shouts profanities, but places his hands on his knees too. Meanwhile, Porsche kneels next to Selena.

"Krillan, Slade," she says. We look to her, and Porsche's face tell us how bad the wounds are. Krillan walks carefully towards us as we circle Selena.

Selena's eyes are winced shut, her teeth clenched as she gasps and squirms.

"Stupid bitch," Selena says. "Told you we should have killed her."

I tear a sleeve off my jump suit and wrap it around my leg. The wound isn't bad, but it will take a while to heal fully. The bleeding will stop, and hopefully the sleeve will keep my leg sturdy enough so I don't injure it further. However, if its not treated soon it will become infected.

"She's wounded," Krillan says. "Several of them are. If we hurry, we can follow them, get them when they stop."

"Can you sit up Selena?" Porsche asks.

"Gahh, damn it," Selena says gasping for breaths. "My legs!"

I see blood flowing from the wounds in her leg. The trident left several punctures, and her left knee must be shattered. She tries standing, but collapses.

"Stupid knee," Selena says.

Krillan walks silently behind her, his axe twirling in his fingers. Porsches places her hands on Selena's knee and softly examines her leg. She gives me a wary look.

"What's that… look mean?" Selena gasps, her face turning flush.

"Your leg is broken in several places," Porsche says. "Plus the wounds from the trident need to be wrapped. We'll need to make you a crutch and splint if we're going anywhere."

"And we need to move soon," I say. "We need to find another shelter, more food, and figure out what to do next."

"We need to follow them," Krillan says angrily. "We got them on the run. We can end this now."

"First, the splint," Porsche says standing up. She walks around to one of the trees, looking at their branches. "Cut down a tree branch, thicker the better, we'll tie it up as best we can to her leg…."

"KRILLAN….!"

WHACK

A cannon fires.

We both whirl around and stare in horror as Selena's head spins on the ground her eyes and mouth open wide, her body laying lifelessly at Krillan's feet.

Neither of us can say anything. My stomach is swirling, and I feel several beads of sweat run down my cheek. He lifts his axe, and wipes the blood off it, then turns to us, smirking.

"She would only slow us down," he says. "Besides, you have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

I swallow and try to relax my shoulders. Porsche lifts her chin high, but clutches her spear tightly.

"Here's what we do now," Krillan says. "They're not too far ahead, so the three of us can catch them. Any problem with that?"

We shake our heads slowly.

"Good," he says. He turns to the direction the boy from eleven was heading, takes one step, and turns back to us.

"Oh, one thing," he says. "She wanted to turn on you two right there. I didn't think it was a good idea, so here's how its gonna go down. We take them out, then its every one for themselves. You got it?"

"Sure," I mutter.

"Good," he says. Then he points the axe towards Porsche ambiguously. "If I sense you're going to try to take me out earlier, I'll chop you both up so fine you'll be seasoning in Capital stew."

Krillan keeps both his axes in his hands, and jogs into the woods. Porsche and I exchange worried looks, grip our weapons, and follow.

We ran, and ran. Like a pack of hungry wolves, through the rest of the afternoon, and into Twilight. Krillan leading the whole way, only stopping to check for drops of blood, broken branches, or any other sign showing where they went. My leg throbs with each stride I take, but I don't show it, not even a wince. Porsche runs between Krillan and I, constantly checking over her shoulder to make sure I haven't fallen behind.

There's four left, including Lyra, and Krillan has a wild look in his eye. He thinks we can take them out all at once, and then its just the three of us. Together, I think Porsche and I could kill Krillan, but it wouldn't be easy. He won't hold back, and now we've seen just how vicious he can be. I remember what my father told me about the careers from District two; at seven years old the candidates are placed in a sealed room, and it only opens when one is left. It makes me shudder.

We run until Krillan holds his fist up and stops. We catch up and stand one to each side of him.

"You hear that?" he whispers.

I listen closely and hear the soft sound of water rushing over rock.

"A river?" Porsche asks.

"Yeah," says Krillan. "Come here."

He carefully creeps through the foliage, and pauses when we reach some tall grass. Lowering himself, he motions for us to follow. Joining him, we follow his outstretched arm. In the distance we see the river lead into a small lake, with a small island not far off its shore. On the island we can see the soft orange glow of a fire, and four shadows sitting around it.

"So this is where they've been hiding," I say.

"Smart," Porsche says.

"And way far out from our perimeter," Krillan adds. "But we got them now. Let's go."

"Wait," Porsche says.

Krillan turns and glares at her, I instinctively put a hand on my sword hilt.

"What?" he asks.

"We can just go after them," she says. "We'll have to wait till they come off the island."

"Why?"

"Because," I say calmly. "They'll hear or see us swimming a mile away. And if they catch us in the water, it'll be tough to escape."

Krillan takes a deep breath, and presses his lips together.

"Screw it, I'm going," he says.

"WHAT!" Porsche and I say together.

"I'm going in, you two meet me farther down shore," he says. "I'll get their attention, and lead them out, then you jump like they jumped us at the field."

Before we can protest, he slides into the water, and begins swimming towards the island. Porsche moves closer to me.

"Maybe we'll get lucky," she says. "He could get himself killed."

I hope she's right, but I don't think so. Krillan is very brash, ruthless, and aggressive, but he's not stupid, and he knows how to defend himself. He swims silently across the lake keeping his arms under the water so only his head shows. Moving at a slow and silent pace, they never notice him.

Meanwhile Porsche and I move down stream and watch the figures by the campfire closely. Lyra's red hair shines brightly against the flames. Her hand is wrapped, and she's keeping a two handed sword next to her. The other three figures I can't make out. I try to remember whose left, but its hard, and we didn't take the time to look to the sky when the Capital launched its nightly update.

"Here he goes," Porsche whispers.

Our breathing slows, almost stops, as Krillan reaches the shallows of the islands shore. He quietly pulls himself on shore, crawling on his stomach until her reaches the high rise. Staying low, he takes his axes in hand, and creeps towards the fire. They don't see it coming as Krillan leaps up behind one of the tributes sitting on a log, thrust his arm around his neck, and drives his axe into his gut. The others stare momentarily before they start shouting and grabbing weapons.

Krillan shouts several profanities before dropping the bleeding tribute and dashing towards the water. The males chase after him, shouting wildly while Lyra stays behind and cradles the wounded one in her arms.

Some time later a cannon went off.

Meanwhile, Krillan dove into the water swam towards us as fast as he could, splashing wildly as he did.

"Ready?" I ask Porsche. She withdraws her spear, twisting it over her head before snapping it to her side.

"Ready," she says.

"Take them out, then we take Krillan together," I say. "Don't give him a chance to think about it. Just go for it."

Porsche nods. Four left, the two males, Lyra, and Krillan. The two males keep following Krillan, one holding two short swords like me, the other has the bow slung over his shoulders, and two throwing knifes in his hand. I check the knife in my belt behind me, making sure its safe and secure. We'll take these two out now, then it shouldn't be hard to get Lyra on the island. Then we'll have to move to Krillan right away before he even knows what's happening. If we catch him by surprise, we may be able to kill him before he can even mount a defense. After that, it'll be just Porsche and myself.

That makes my heart skips a beat. Just Porsche and me.

"They reach the shore, we charge them," Porsche says. Krillan is shallow enough where he stands and breaks into a run, the others just behind him. I nod and raise my swords. "Ready?" she asks.

"Ready."

We burst from the foliage as they reach the shore. Passing Krillan, we run towards the two males who are frantically raising their weapons. Porsche bats away a knife which flies end over end towards her and I take on the male with the swords. Thrashing violently at him, he narrowly parries my blow and tries to strike with his other. I jump backwards and the blade swings by me harmlessly. I try a reverse slash to his neck, but he ducks out of the way at the last moment.

A moment later Krillan is next to me and throws an axe at the tributes head. He ducks, but gasps as my knee connects with his stomach. Behind us, I can hear Porsche sparring with the other tributes. He's keeping his distance from her, trying to use his throwing knifes. They circle each other, making a few fake faints and a quick lunge, but Porsche falls for none of it.

We hear shouting from the water, and I see Lyra swimming as fast as she can towards the battle. The boy Krillan and I are fighting here's her cry, and straightens himself. His eyes narrow and he bounces his knees a few times.

Krillan charges him again, swinging his remaining axe wildly. The male holds up both his blades and catches Krillan's axe above his head. His knees buckle and Krillan keeps pressing. Then I leap forward and thrust my blade into his stomach. He barely had time to realized he was defenseless. Collapsing to the ground, a large pool of blood forms beneath him. His face becomes white, his eyes glassy, and a cannon fires a moment later.

Two left, then Krillan.

"Porsche!" I shout turning my back to Krillan.

She's still dancing with the last male tribute. Lyra is near the shore, not realizing she's rushing to her own death. I can dash over quickly and kill Porsche's target the same I killed Krillan's. Then we can get Lyra and Krillan.

"Come on, lets go," I say over my shoulder.

But instead of seeing Krillan's face, I only see his axe blade.

I leap backwards just as the blade is about to strike my face. Had I not turned, it would have struck me in the neck. Surprised, I don't even have time to raise my swords before Krillan rushes me. Throwing both arms around my waist, he lifts me up, and drives me to the ground.

"Gasp,"

He keeps his legs around my waist and punches me several times in the face. The first blow I taste blood, the second I hear my nose crack. The third he raises his axe high over his head, it gives me an opening where I'm able to throw a fist into his face. His head tosses back, and I buckle my waist. Krillan falls backwards, but recovers quickly enough to slam his heel into the wound on my leg.

"AHHHHHH!" I shout as the would throbs and my leg goes numb.

He raises his axe again, as I struggle to get to my feet.

"I'm sorry it has to be like this," he says. "I really am. I do respect you, and I wish you could have killed her for your brother."

Krillan slams his shoulder into my stomach and we fall to the ground again, the wind knocked out of me. Slamming a boot on my right arm, he drives his knee into my chest while his right arm holds my left wrist to the ground..

"But you should have killed her when I told you too," he snarls.

I struggle against him, but between the pain in my leg and the wind being knocked out of me, it's in vain. I see him lift his axe and aim for my neck. I also hear a cannon fire in the distance, and a pair of feet racing towards us.

"GET OFF OF HIM!" Porsche shouts.

I see a flash of silver hit Krillan under his jaw and he's knocked back. I sit up, coughing violently, and Porsche is diving towards him her spear aimed at his chest. Krillan leaps to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth where a few of his teeth are missing.

"YOU STUPID WHORE!" he shouts.

Wincing, I try to stand, but hear a splashing behind me. A moment later, Lyra comes into view. She looks to Krillan and Porsche who are trading blows axe and spear, to the two dead males who were her allies, then to me. I stand up, though say hunched over, my swords in hand. In one ear I hear Porsche battling Krillan, and he's attacking her with a fury I've never seen.

"GO!," I growl as I run towards Porsche.

Lyra takes a few steps backwards, watching me run towards Porsche, and disappears into the woods.

I run as best I can, but my leg feels like dead weight. Porsche swings her spear at Krillan's knees, but he jumps over them and backhands her across the face. Steadying herself, she raises her spear and blocks his axe, and kicks him in the front of the knee. He screams wildly and stumbles backwards, she raises her spear, aiming for his neck. I'm almost there, a few more feet, I raise my sword, aiming for his neck as well. But Krillan dives forward as Porsche thrust her spear, it hits air, and I hear the most sickening sound it the world.

Flesh ripping as its run through.

"NO!" I shout wildly as I slam him with my shoulder.

End over end, we roll over each other. I manage to land on top and begin pounding him furiously. My swords and his axe are laying about, dropped and lost while we wrestled. Over and over my fists strike him with rage, until his hands reach for my neck and squeeze. I gasp and instinctively try to tear his hands off my neck. He slams his head into my gut and I sprawl backwards. A moment later I see him diving towards me, his fist raised.

I grab his shoulders and tumble backwards. He flips over me and is tossed on the ground. Leaping to my feet, I dash towards him, my hand reaching behind my back, grasping the hilt of the knife I placed there. Withdrawing it, I land on his waist, place my empty hand on his chest, and slam the knife into his throat.

His struggle immediately ceases as he gasps and gurgles. Blood flies from his mouth, splashing on my face. His mouth and eyes grow wide, his body begins quivering and twitching. With one final gasp, his body becomes still. I hold the knife firmly, watching closely as his eyes go dull, and I hear the cannon fire.

I fall over, gasping for breaths. My grip slowly loosens on the knife handle, and then I remember.

"Porsche!" I shout.

Leaping to my feet, my eyes darting all over the darken landscape. But I don't see her anywhere.

"Porsche!" I call again.

Then, scattered on the ground, I see several drops of blood which glisten in the light of the moon. They form a path leading towards the river. I follow it, running as fast as I can. I don't have to go far until I clear the trees and find myself on the rocky shore.

"Porsche!" I call out again.

All I hear is the current running over the rocks.

"PORSCHE!" I shout with my hands over my mouth.

Still nothing. I look up and down the shore line, searching for her.

"PORSCHE!" I shout again.

Then, with a weak voice, I hear her.

"Slade."

Whirling in the direction of her call, I see her leaning against a large rock, nearly hidden in the darkness. I dash towards her and fall at her side. I lift her in my arms, cradling her so her head can rest on my shoulder. Meanwhile, she stares silently towards the lake.

"Hang on Porsche," I whisper to her. "Stay with me."

I turn us to go back towards the shore.

"No," she says weakly.

Wrapping her arms around my neck, she burrows into my chest. I look at her closely, and my heart stops. A pool of blood has formed where she was sitting against the rock, flowing from a wound running from her navel to just below her breasts. A wound from Krillan's axe. The cut is deep. There's nothing I can do.

"Don't look at it," Porsche says, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's ok," I say. "I can stop …."

"Don't," she says. "It's ok."

"No!" I say, a knot forming in my throat.

"Please," she gasps turning her face into my chest. "I only wanted….to hear the sound….of a river once more," she said weakly.

My eyes grow moist, and when my lips part, no sound comes out of my mouth. So I just hold her, and listen to the evening sounds. The crickets in the grass, the birds in the trees, the water of the river, and the breeze through the leaves. It's calm and quiet, despite the violence and chaos which just occurred. It makes me feel so small, so helpless, because there's nothing I can do to save the only person I care about anymore.

"Slade," she says.

"Porsche," I whisper.

"I'm not….afraid anymore."

I lean my forehead lightly against hers. She lifts her head, and looks at me with her big, deep, dark eyes. Swallowing, I still the trembling of my chin, and gently brush a stand of hair which has fallen across her eyes.

"I was… never afraid… with you," she says.

I swallow, and the knot loosens in my throat, and my eyes clear. My hand gently caresses her cheek of the oldest, and only friend I've ever had. She lifts her own hand and softly places it against mine.

I close my eyes, holding back the tears. I imagine opening them again to find us back in District one, racing through the woods, taunting, encouraging, and laughing at each other. To be back in our place with the boulder where we'd sit in the shade of the trees and listen to the river flowing beneath us. To wake up everyday and prepare for the long day of training with all its scrapes, bruises, and possibly scars, but also knowing I'll endure it with her. To have the life we always imagined, together, brought together by misfortune and torment, but stayed together with unbreakable bond we never fully understood, but cherished. I want so much back that I never realized would be gone one day. Taken by the Hunger Games

"Don't…waist it," she says in a whisper.

Her arms are loosening around my neck, her skin going cold, her chest slowing.

"I won't," I whisper back.

"Make sure…it means…something," she says.

"I will," I say softly in her ear.

I begin sway slowly, holding her tighter, the songs of the night serenading her, never taking my eyes away from hers.

"Promise?" she asks.

The knot returns, and as I part my lips, I can't bring myself to speak. As I struggle, my eyes grow moist again, and tear escapes my eye.

"I promise," I finally manage.

She closes her eyes, and her body relaxes in my arms. I cradle her tightly, and rock her gently. Her breathing becomes soft and shallow, and her arms go cold and limp. I close my eyes and bow my head, several more tears falling from my eyes, and into her dark hair. Time slips by, and I still hold her. The songs of the night playing ever so softly. I hold her despite the throbbing in my leg, and the soreness in my arms. I hold her until her breathing ceases, and the cannon fires in the distance.