Light in Dark

Turning west was the easy part.

This was Meera's only thought as she trudged through the wilderness.

She had decided to fight, but in order to fight she had to know the terrain. In an arena where every careful step counted, a small slip up could kill you. That was the difficulty. Two days had been spent trailing along the tree line. Much of the shadowy carnivorous forest remained, but thinning was starting to happen. Streams of crystal blue water poured in the direction she was heading. Soon Meera would meet the ocean.

With every step she listened for a cannon, but there was only silence. It wouldn't last long…soon the Gamemakers would get bored.

The night before Meera had dreamt that she was running through the predatory forest again. She had fallen just as she had before, only this time no one was there to help her up. Vines and branches—leaves and slim—covered her until she was consumed whole. As much as the nightmare terrified her she was glad for it. She needed to remember how to be scared. It's the fearless ones that will slip up.

As of that morning nine tributes were still alive and kicking. Eight rivals. Even Anders from 10 was a rival, she had to tell herself. He had saved her life but Meera knew that wouldn't happen again. He had made that clear the moment he picked up his belongings and left. Don't trust anyone, she would tell herself, you can't trust anyone or anything, not even the trees. This became her mantra. She said it before she slept, while she ate, and each time she paused to the sound of a far off noise.

Her plan was simple, all be it a bit unpolished. Once the ocean came into sight she would turn further west until she hit the cornucopia. There was no guarantee that the Careers would be there, but then again there was no guarantee of anything in the arena. All she hoped for was that if they were there she could slip by them and get supplies. She had nothing but a knife, and a knife wasn't protection enough. Food was becoming scarce again. Supplies. That was her only answer, her only hope for survival. After that the rest would fall into place. Each time she went over the plan in her head she felt sick. Something was wrong. The arena was too quiet.

Anders told her that the Careers had herded several of the weaker tributes, but did that mean none had survived? She thought of Rillian's velvet eyes. The way he posed as he churned the spear in his hands. How hard his other spear had pierced the wiry boy she got her pack from. Blood had sprayed. Just the thought of it made her mouth dry.

But he never threw the spear at me. Why didn't he throw the spear at me? A stupid thought, she quickly told her. He probably was aiming for me when he hit the boy.

The sound of waves was a murmur.

Near a stream she splashed water on her face and tightened the straps of her boots. It was getting windy. That was a good sign. That meant she was getting close.

Soon the ocean's music heightened. She licked her lips to taste salt. All that was left was one more hill. Rocks rolled around her footsteps, but her feet kept moving until she reached the small summit. A gust of ocean breath blasted her in the face. Stretching before her for miles was a silvery gray expanse of water. The waves rippled against a rocky beach. The icebergs she had seen during the countdown looked like white ships sailing with the currents. Her gaze moved to her left where the forest rested and then to the right. From where Meera stood it looked like the marshy tundra poked out into a peninsula. The ocean she had spent a two days journey to get to outlined the peninsula in silver water, and dead in the center of the peninsula something winked at Meera. The cornucopia. It wasn't as far as she thought. Only a few miles.

She was just about to start moving again when something farther out caught her eye and attention. She hadn't noticed the building before, but standing at the top of the hills now she could see it clearly. At the tip of the peninsula was a construction of some sort. From where she stood the building looked like a tiny sliver of white.

Despite the chill in the air Meera felt herself break into sweat. She pulled off the jacket and stowed it inside her rucksack. For now her sweater was enough warmth. No doubt that would change.

She rested at the summit for a brief time. Along the woods she had collected blackberries and pieces of bark. Even with a knife hunting proved to be a difficulty. A few miles back she tried to catch a trout with her bare hands but apparently she wasn't as talented as a crane and the fish slipped right through her grasp.

Overhead a squall was gathering. Bruised clouds and choppy winds were heading this way. Already the sunshine of the day was dwindling.

Her eyes shifted from the speck of the cornucopia to the slice of white at the edge of the peninsula. For some reason she couldn't keep her eyes off it. The strange construction was calling to her. So when she finally gathered up her belongings and started the trek she wasn't surprised to discover where her feet were moving.

Frogs ribbetted as she dashed through shallow bogs and over mossy slopes. It had been mid-afternoon when she had deserted the tree line, now it was hard to gage the time. The squall was spreading black tendrils over the sky. The winds were becoming more violent. All Meera knew was that it was getting darker very fast. And as it got darker she noticed something new about the strange building a few miles out. Something was glowing on the top of it. She wiped her sweaty hands on her trousers nervously. Every time she lifted her eyes the glowing would brighten.

Lightning flashed but the thunder was absent.

Another scent mixed in with the smell of the salty ocean—rain.

When the first raindrops fell her pace quickened. She clung close to the rocky beach.

Miles passed. Evening fell. That was when the thunder came. Rumbling and grumbling it rolled in thick sound waves across the arena. Still no cannons. Still no sign of other tributes.

Waves crashed against the shore. Ripples in the tundra pools made the low growing vegetation quiver and Meera was quivering right along with it.

"What am I doing?" She said aloud. Her plan was to go to the cornucopia, but the glowing beacon was drawing her in. She couldn't stop now. She had walked so far. A little curiosity isn't bad, she had to tell herself, just a look.

But the closer so got the more she questioned her instincts. After all it was her instinct to wander into the forest. Even still she kept moving.

The light drizzle turned into a downpour. It was so stormy out that Meera couldn't even see those strange whirlpool stars overhead. She was fumbling in the dark. One wrong step and she could plummet into a batch of quicksand. Rain soaked her auburn hair and sweater.

She didn't stop until she reached the edge. Suddenly the slice of white had taken form. Standing before her was a tall tower growing high into the sky. The domed top was all glass—that was where the glow was coming from.

"A lighthouse," she whispered, tasting rain.

Back in District 5 they had one near the lake, but not like this. A flash of lightning filled the black silhouette with details and color for a split second before disappearing. Meera caught sight of a faded red door.

A shiver of respite took hold of her for an instant before the fear crept in again. Crawling towards the lighthouse was necessary. Anyone could be out here, waiting. This was the perfect opportunity for the Gamemakers to hatch one of their traps, or worse…the Careers.

She was swallowing buckets of rain as it poured down but still her mouth was dry. When she finally got to the door she parted her lips. It was cracked open, swaying back and forth in the wind. An eerie creak and pop whistled through the storm.

Had it been open when I first saw it? Meera couldn't recall.

She stepped inside. Water dripped down her hair and clothing, pooling beneath her shoes. It was darker inside than out. The air was musty and stale.

Lightning flashed, followed by swift thunder.

She could see footprints on the ground—tracks of mud and moss—and she could see a spiral staircase, iron by the look of it. Doubt crept into her bones. I shouldn't be here, the cornucopia…I was heading towards the cornucopia.

The staircase creaked as she made the first step. Her hands grasped the iron rail. As she ascended the lacy iron steps her footing became more assured, more confident. Flash of light from the storm outside showed her the way from time to time. White breaths puffed from her lips. She climbed slow and steady. She climbed until she could hear rain pouring on the domed glass, until she saw a glow go in and out. The light. I'm getting close to the top.

She passed by other doors but somehow she knew what she was looking for wouldn't be in any of those rooms. Her eyes stayed on that light which faded in and out.

The door she finally stopped at was left ajar, just as the red one had been. Water rolled from her hairline down her nose and dropped onto the dusty floor. Her eyes widened in shock.

Crates, bags, weapons—they all stared back at her.

The Careers hadn't been camping out near the cornucopia. They had been at this lighthouse all along. Suddenly the queasy feeling in her gut made sense. She pressed her back against the wall and tried to catch her breath.

Supplies, so many supplies.

The smart part of Meera was screaming at her to run but the daring part…the daring part saw the supplies and felt hungry. Without thinking she dashed forward and started to rummage through the crates and packs.

She found a tin of crackers, a pack of matches, and rope. There was so much and she had so little time. Scrambling and breathless she shoved as much as she could into her backpack. Time seemed to be on her side. Just a few more things. But just as she started zipping up a scream rang out. The first scream in three days. No cannon followed but secondary whimpers echoed.

Her eyes widely lifted. Whoever had just been attacked, had fallen close enough for her to hear them cry out.

"No—" she whispered, struggling to find her footing.

Then came another noise, murmuring under the storm. Voices.

In that moment her heart stopped and her breathing ceased. She clawed her way to the door and slung her pack over one shoulder. The voices echoed through the lighthouse.

"What's all this water?" One said, a male's voice.

Dammit, she thought. Of course she had left tracks, she had been sopping wet.

Her head tilted back as she peered out of the door and down the spiral staircase. She couldn't see a thing, but she could tell that the other tributes were still at the bottom.

"Please don't kill me!" Someone pleaded. Meera closed her eyes in horror.

"Shut up! Livia lock him up."

Her blood pressure was rising by the second. She tried to concentrate but it felt like her head was detaching from the rest of her body. Run, her fingers rubbed together, but where?

If they hadn't already realized that someone was in the lighthouse they would any second. Her blue eyes peered to the level below. A door was waiting down there. She couldn't get out but maybe…

Meera pursed her lips and stepped onto the iron grating. Not a sound echoed. The Careers were still squabbling. Just a few steps down. Water was still dripping from her clothing. Through cuts in the metal she could see silhouette of people moving far below.

Stay calm.

The door was a foot away.

One more step.

Her hand grasped the dusty doorknob. But just as her foot came down on the grating something unhinged and dropped. The metallic clatter it created made every muscle in her body tense. She felt like throwing up.

"What the hell was that!?"

"I told you someone's in here! The door was opened!"

"Rillian and I will check upstairs, Livia go downstairs with Dawn and that pathetic kid!"

Meera gasped and pushed the door open. She tried to shut it quietly but it felt like every hinged was screaming.

In desperation she spun around and searched for any exit. There were no more doors and only a single window. Her hands shook as she rushed forward and cupped her hand over her mouth. She had walked right into their spider web. It would be easy for them to kill her now.

No. She thought. Don't give up.

Her teeth chattered, suddenly it felt colder. The storm violently raged outside. Her fingers tried the latch of the window but it wouldn't budge.

The footsteps echoed up the spiral staircase. They were getting closer.

Again her fingers clawed at the latch but it remained unmoved. Water ran down her cheeks. It took her a heartbeat to realize it was tears. Blood started to coat the latch, her fingertips were being sliced to ribbons, but she couldn't feel the pain.

"You go to top, I'll check the rooms."

The voice was so close. She could hear the metal grating creak. She peered over her shoulder and saw the shadow feet below the door.

This is it. She thought in terror, blood dripping from her nails. This is how I'm going to die.

Whether it was from panic or fatigue Meera felt her knees give out from under her. She collapsed onto the ground with a thud and winced.

They're coming for you! They're going to find you! Someone in her head shouted.

Get up and fight you stupid girl. Another voice said.

The doorknob turned and her world went spinning once again.

All she could think to do was grab the knife from her belt. The silver blade gleamed in the darkness.

Milliseconds felt like an eternity. Time slowed into nothing.

The door opened inch by inch.

Meera pressed her back against the wall and covered her mouth with her hand. If she was about to be slaughter she didn't want to give her murderer the satisfaction of hearing her scream. She had traveled to the lighthouse like a moth to a flame and now she was about to pay the price for that.

Meera forced herself to keep her eyes open. Don't die a coward, don't die a coward.

The door opened wider. It was hard to see anything, but then the sky lit up and with it the room. She saw his face and he saw hers. All the breath went out of her lungs, her bloody hand dropped from her mouth.

Rillian Lewis blankly stepped forward. He had a sword in his hand, a sword that made her knife look like a toothpick. Oddly he said nothing, but the expression on his face was riddled with shock and confusion. Meera let the knife drop from her hand and heard herself crying. Her whole body was shaking.

He didn't say a word. Only glared.

He moved like she used to move, before she had come to the lighthouse, before she had become a useless coward. He was so quiet, even when he lifted his sword she heard nothing, but she could see him. His velvet brown eyes stared down at her and she stared up at him.

What is he doing? He won't move.

"Do it," she whispered, "Just do it."

Her voice shook with her body. Rillian kept the sword above his head. The mop of black hair fell into his eyes. His fair skin looked like it was glowing in the dark.

"What are you waiting for?"

That made him flinch, as if he was going to cut her in two right then. His arm tensed. The blade was sharp, even in the shadows she could tell.

"Nothing up here! Rillian did you find any one!?"

Rillian blinked his eyes and parted his lips. Meera let out a raw breath and shook her head.

"Please just do it, before he comes…before they come…Please, just get it over with!" She hissed.

Rillian leaned back and grated his teeth together. She couldn't decipher the look in his eyes.

"Please…" she repeated.

He blinked and swallowed hard.

"No!" He suddenly shouted back, his sword lowered. He gave her a strange look before turning around and peering out the door, "I—uh—there was nothing in here!"

"There was water all over the supplies! Someone was here—here let me look…"

Meera tensed but Rillian stopped the shadow outside the door. "No—there's nothing in there."

The shadow looked like it was going to fight back but then a chorus of noise sounded. Her heart felt like it would burst.

"Berris!" She heard a female voice scream.

Suddenly the shadow darted down the steps and away from the door. Meera was frozen in place. Rillian didn't move. Maybe he wants to kill me himself, she thought.

The door shut and immediately Rillian spun around.

"Are you brainless?" He rushed towards her and grabbed her shoulders, "I could kill you."

She had nothing to say to that. He could, but he wasn't. Why isn't he?

"You need to leave."

"You—why—"

He pushed her aside and tried the window latch. Instantly it gave way and the shutters flew open. Rain blew in.

"You need to climb…c'mon! Go!"

Her hair whipped around her face, "Why aren't you killing me?"

His face stiffened. "Are you going to climb or not?"

"Climb," She heard herself say.

Rillian helped her through the window, "Good then you're not as stupid as you look. Run as far away from here as you can!"

Why is he doing this? Her lips moved but no sound came out. She grabbed the ledge of the window and wiggled outside. Rain and wind assaulted her from every angle.

"Hurry—they're coming! I have to tell them you were here but I can give you head start."

He spoke but she barely heard him. In disbelief she hugged the outer wall of the lighthouse and stared back through the window.

"Tha—thank you," was all she could manage.

His eyes looked at her grimly, "Don't thank me just yet."

Then he was gone.

Meera gripped the ridges of the painted brick. Her tiny body would have flown away in the storm if it wasn't for that grip.

Rillian Lewis. She had seen him kill. She had seen him train. He was a Career. There was no reason for him to help her, and yet he had. Nothing is as appears, she thought, this arena is maddening.

She started to climb down but it was treacherous. For every foot she descended she felt her grip becoming more strained and slick. She was a few feet from the ground when she decided to let go completely and drop.

Blood rushed to her head. Her feet struggled through water and moss. She didn't dare look back. Had they seen her? How long did she have before Rillian told? Her heart thumped against her ribcage.

She hurled her body into a bog and started to swim. Muddy water filled her mouth. It tasted like decay. Her arms had just reached the other side when she heard the shouts.

She pulled herself up and turned around. Four figures in the distance were heading in her direction. Meera Eastwood gasped for air and struggled to her feet. They were coming for her, she knew that, she had to keep going. If she looked back she would die. The hunt was on.