Chapter Seven: Alexita

We were at the Cornucopia when we heard the cannons. We knew it instantly that either Sianer or Peeta were dead, or both, but we couldn't take the chance of being wrong. I sat watching the fire spread around the forest. The fire we had just set was nearly ten times the size as before! Katia stood up and said quietly, 'I owe round the back. Just to see if there are any loose weapons. I'll not be a sec.' I nodded and she disappeared round the side of the Golden Horn. I took out my small, golden dagger and twiddled it around in my hands, examining it. I could see my eyes reflected in its gleam. All of a sudden, a deafening scream emanated from behind the Cornucopia, where Katia had just gone. Katia! I jumped up, dagger at hand and ran to see Five holding Katia high in the air, suspended from her chest on a long sword. Rage built up and I screeched, 'NO!' Five dropped the sword and Katia with it, as the cannon fired, and looked straight towards me. I ran at her and jumped, knocked her back, but she stood quickly, growling, and running at me. Knuckledusters pierced my arms, as a dagger just missed my throat. I pushed her with all power I had, and she fell back to the floor. I began to run. I was away from her, but something stopped me.

Fire was blazing now. All the surrounding forest engulfed in flames. As I turned, I saw her stand before me. Bethen. Her hand taken up by the knuckle dusters, tips jagged and dripping with my blood. With the addition of a dagger in her left hand, my chances of life were slim. Her hair lank and matted, her eyes reflecting the red flames, my blood oozing from her mouth. She advanced towards me slowly.
'Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound.'
I sang the lyrics under my breath. I closed my eyes and saw Sara telling her ridiculous jokes, Katia laughing, Holosity drawing and singing, Sianer and Peeta dancing together, and kissing... They were all together, woundless and happy. Laughing in a meadow. I felt an urge of power, anger and vengeance run through my veins. I gripped my dagger and opened my eyes. Five was closer now. About two meters away. I raised my arm and through the small golden dagger, screaming as I did. Five cried out as I hit my target, square in the chest. My opponent crumpled to the floor, and breathed no more. I stood over her, and just stared. How had she mutilated from the kind, generous girl in the yellow dress laughing with Ceaser Flickerman, to the corpse of a murderer, drenched in not just her own blood, but mine, Katia's and a handful of others, she had taken the lives of. I heard the trumpets and a hovercraft above me lowered a ladder. I took hold, and I was frozen by an electric current. I saw the arena shrink away from me. But was I truly Safe and Sound?