Chapter 10: Logic
Tactics. What a strange word. The more I thought, the stranger it sounded. Tactics. Tactics. Tactics tactics tacticstacticstactics. Okay, I was letting my mind wander a little. It had been a day since the attack, and I hadn't made a full recovery from the injuries nor the morphling. The painkiller was sending my mind off on tangents of all sorts, and I was just fine with that. I didn't want to think realistically yet. I just wasn't ready, per say.
Per say is strange, too. Perrr-sayyy. Per- oh, great. would this ever end? I needed to get on a solid train of thought. Like a big train, on a metal railroad. One that had many cars hooked together all neatly, with a kitchen inside that made little cakes for the passengers to- UGH!
If I let my mind slip again, I'll die. I'll get killed by one of the three other people left in this ungodly situation with me. One of four left. It was both terrifying and strangely satisfying. I had made it this far. Now, I can either take a risk by waiting it out, or take a bigger risk by going human-hunting. Or, I could take the riskiest route- find a new ally, leaving my entire life to someone who is not only allowed to, but encouraged kill me in my sleep. Still, maybe it can replace the hole Devican left behind. It sounded like the best solution, so I searched.
It didn't take me long. I turned a corner and there she was, huddled up in her sleeping bag and bone-thin from near starvation. Her thin, blond hair was surrounding her tattered clothing, and I remembered seeing a glimpse of a sword fight before I was poisoned. I laid my backpack on the ground, sat down beside her, and reached for her hand. From what I could tell by the muffled cries and her shaking hands, she was sobbing.
She didn't move when I sat next to her. Either she trusted me, or she couldn't move at all. She wiped her eyes, and I caught a glimpse of her sleeve. A. WARFIRE, 6 was emblazoned on the only scrap of her clothing left untouched. Her name was Ardine, and she had scored 9 in training. I knew this because she was after Devican and I, after I recieved my slightly disappointing 7. Her name had flashed for a fraction of a second before Marriline, our escort, switched the screen off. I knew then that I needed to help her live. If she won, she would always remember me. I would remain in the minds of others, and that was all the consolation I needed to take her hand in mine.
After a few minutes, she spoke. "Are you here to kill me? Can you? Please?"
I told her that I would never hurt her. I could see trust building in her eyes. "Are you hungry?" I said tentatively, as if it were possible she would refuse me.
She agreed with a nod so vigorous her head nearly rolled off. We talked between bites of the dried meat in my backpack, about our lives, our families, and our favorite things. We carefully avoided the elephant in the room, until I told her I would stand guard until she fell asleep.
"You're very brave, Rindu," She said, her eyes fluttering shut. "Don't be too brave."
Her breathing slowed, and I watched her fall asleep. It felt good to have an ally again, someone to confide in. I wasn't sure of my bravery yet, though. It felt like she had only seen one side of me, The Games side, the survival side. I knew where to hide, how to get food, and I knew when we were in trouble.
Someone had seen us. I could feel it in the nape of my neck as it slowly traveled down my spine. I sat still for what felt like many years. I was preparing to move the two of us to a safer location when I heard the gunshot. I looked down, expecting to see the black blood rolling down my side.
Not a single drop was spilled.
Sorry this took so long! With writer's block, school work, and Aerial Silks... well, you get the idea. Thanks for reading!