Chapter 11

Delv and I took positions at the edge of the woods by the field, we were both supposed to be keeping watch but my eyes were on Delv more often than not.

"So Doc, how has life in the arena been for the last few days?" I could have killed him for that, he knew about Narci's death, he must have been taunting me. So I just gave him a look and figured he would decide what I meant by it. "Sorry, bad question I guess. What happened anyways?"

"Let's see," I began "deep in a pitched black cave the boy from District Twelve killed my sister so I killed him along with Veeris. Does that answer your question?" I was shouting now but I didn't care.

"Doc that's how the game works; I thought you of all people would understand that. Seriously, for all your talk about there being no friends in the arena you seem to be making quite a few." Delv said gesturing to the girl From District Ten. "I'm sorry about your sister though, really I am." I listened to him and tried to find anything in his voice that could tell me he was lying, but as hard as I tried, I didn't find anything. Could he truly be sorry? It was possible, but this was the same boy who was trying to act friendly in his interview. Regardless of his sincerity—or lack of it—I couldn't help but thank him; I didn't think that would give him any advantage. There was a long pause then but it was ended by Delve, "What was she like, your sister I mean."

Whatever his reasons for wanting to know that didn't matter; I just started speaking before I could stop myself. "She wanted to be a teacher like her father and I bet she would have made a good one too. She had all the right skills for it, she was brilliant, she worked well with others and she could make anyone understand any concept. Galmis used to joke about it; our little sister was going to be a teacher just like our father. It was ironic really, he always looked up to our father but he was teasing Narci about actually being just like him." I gripped the dog tags around my neck, now I had to use words like 'was' and 'used to' when talking about her.

"What are those?" Delv asked looking at the dog tags.

"These are my brother's old dog tags," I had to choose my words carefully or risk offending the Capitol "I got them seven years ago when he lost the games." Delv just nodded, he understood. Even if I could tell him would I? For seven years I kept quiet; I had to or else I could scare Narci or Galmis. I was able to keep the memory away for all those years but thanks to Delv and all the recent events it was running through my head again. I felt like a ten year old kid again watching my big brother on that screen curled up trying to stay warm; at first he shivered but then he stopped then the cannon went off. That's when Dad's drinking got really bad and when I started to fear losing another family member, but now that fear had come true. I gripped the dog tags tighter and tried to feel like Habara was there with me, like I still had a big brother telling me to be strong for Narci and Galmis.

"And what about him, what was he like? Was he anything like your sister, or you?"

"It would be better to say that I'm like him. He liked being outside, actually he's probably the reason why I spend so much time outdoors; I just think of him a little when I sit out by the big field in District Five. He was a lot friendlier than me though, to the whole family and to anyone else. On the same note though, he talked a bit too much, once he started talking it would take him hours to stop." I was smiling now, but it was bitter sweet. It was just a reminder of happy times that were gone now. I put it out of my mind, it hurt too much to think about. "What about you Delv, do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No, I'm an only child, but it's not so bad. I'm not that lonely when I'm working at the factory or at school." Delv said this while he just stared off at nothing; he was thinking about something that he didn't want to talk about.

"So what about you? You know, I never actually caught your name." I said to the Girl who had been quiet this whole time.

"I'm Clover," the girl from District Ten said. "I'm the second oldest of five kids."

"How old are you?" I asked.

"Fourteen."

"What's District Ten like?" Delv was curious again about other districts, he seemed happier to have her there than I was.

"Well Doc might like it if he likes being outside for the fresh air and nice weather, but as far as things go, it could be better."

"Ten is responsible for livestock right?" Delv asked.

"Right, my mom and dad used to work with cattle up until they died three years back."

"What happened?" I asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." She whispered. I understood, losing one parent had been bad for me, but losing both must have been horrible.

"So you're an orphan then?"

"My brother is nineteen and took over my dad's job when he died, but it's hard to make ends meet. He can't take out tessery anymore, but I could. That's probably why I'm here actually." Not a lot of kids from District Five took out tessery—my dad used his victor money to see to that—so I never really thought about how risky it could be. "What's your story, why are you here."

"Well you already know that my sister got reaped."

"And you volunteered knowing you would have to fight her?"

"The boy tribute was my brother, he wouldn't last long in the arena." I was getting a little too close to speaking badly about the Capitol. "It's better this way or it would have been if there was still a chance that my sister could get out alive." I didn't care about my image in that regard, I wanted the Capitol to know that I loved my sister and that I wanted to save her. "It's funny, she asked me what I would do if I got out of the arena. I lied because I thought it wouldn't happen. Now I still don't know. What about you two?"

Delv smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not getting out of her Doctore." Clover said. "I like you two, I'd rather see one of you win."

"So it's official, we all hate the pack." Delv chuckled. "I hate Cutter, and I don't say hate a lot. I mean it's one thing to kill in the arena, we're all expected to if we want to live, but he seems to enjoy the killing. Just like you with the kid from Seven."

"Who said I enjoyed that?"

"Oh come on Doc," Delv scolded, "The way you tied him up and watched when Cutter killed him, you enjoyed that."

"I didn't enjoy it, I may have been okay with it but I didn't enjoy it. He was part of the pack, I thought we hated the pack."

"Whatever you say Cutter." I planted my fist in his cheek causing his lip to bleed. "All I'm saying Doc is that you're starting to act like Cutter, be careful." Delv said this in a soft tone as if I hadn't hit him.

Silence stretched on long after the sun set and was only broken by the sound of the anthem. When it was finished though a familiar voice spoke, it belonged to the head game maker. "Good evening tributes and congratulations on surviving this long, it is my pleasure to announce that the day after tomorrow at sunrise there will be a feast at the cornucopia. At this feast you will find the one thing that you all need and perhaps a bit more. Thank you, that is all and may the odds…,"

"Be ever in your favor." Delv said sarcastically. So that was the plan then, we all needed this to end and this feast would give us the perfect place to fight. Delv, Clover and I would be there and Cutter would certainly come with his allies.

I had first watch tonight which was fine with me; I still had my doubts about Delv. After a few hours though I was struggling to keep my eyes open so I had to trust him to keep watch if I wanted to get some sleep for tomorrow. That was another advantage that we had over Cutter, he would have to walk farther than us to get to the feast so he would get less sleep. When I woke up an orange light just started to touch the horizon, the feast would begin tomorrow. For now though we had time to prepare. Clover thought it would be a good idea to cut the rope bridges in certain places so that they would collapse if someone stepped on them, it was simple due to their already weak state. Once we were done with that Delv, Clover and I stood at the mouth of the cornucopia waiting for anyone who came. We took turns keeping watch that night but sleep was brief because of the anticipation.

When I woke up the sun began to rise and out of the ground emerged a small table with six backpacks marked for Districts Five, Six, Ten and One.

Delv opened his pack first; it contained a set of throwing knives, then Clover opened up hers to find a small black berry. "It's night-lock," Clover said as she tossed it to the ground. "I wanted a quick way to die, but I'm still too afraid to kill myself."

"Good, Delv and I could use you in this fight," I said tapping her on the shoulder.

I went next, but I didn't know what to expect. I had everything I needed so I thought that nothing inside could be of value to me; once again though I was proven wrong. My hand closed around a small golden lightning bolt connected to a thin gold chain. It was Narci's, I wasn't sure why I got it in the arena but it helped all the same. Like Habara's dog tags this little bolt made me feel like some part of Narci was still here with me. "Doc heads up," Delv said.

Out of the tree line across the field three figures emerged, it was time. Sparks came first but her first step onto the bridge was her last. It collapsed as planned sending her falling to her death. I was lucky that it was Sparks; her spear throwing would likely have killed me from a distance. The other two careers jumped over the gap and moved down the field at a brisk pace that became a run as they got closer, that's when Delv tossed his first knife. It stuck under Cutter's right knee, but that only slowed his pace. Cutter was now leaning on his left leg as he dragged the right one. I was so busy watching him that I didn't see Brako swing his knife at my head. Delv did though; He used a simple hand to hand technique that I had taught him to disarm the kid then knock him over. I turned back to Cutter who was practically on top of me now, but I blocked his first few strokes. Even with his leg injured he was still deadly, he even gave me a long cut across the chest, but then Clover joined me with a knife in hand. I tried to attack him from the left and Clover came at him from the right. Cutter managed to nock my sword out of my hand and he kicked it over the cliff which we were only a few feet from now, then he went in for the killing blow. I moved back in anticipation, I expected to die at that moment, but I was saved. Clover moved in front as she tried to block Cutter's sword, but that only served to redirect the blade into her own chest. As she fell to the ground dying I took the knife that the knife she had dropped and drove it into Cutter's neck.

Four cannons sounded, out of the corner of my eye I saw Delv retrieve cutters sword which had been driven through Clover's heart. "The pack didn't win Clover." I whispered though it was no use. It's over Clover. I thought as Delv took a fighting stance and tossed me the knife that he had pulled out of Cutter's neck.

Delv looked over Clover and just shook his head, he was at least as disgusted as I was that it had come to that. "Like I said Doc, we're meeting in the arena so either you're a good teacher or I'm a good student." We both stood frozen there for a moment, I realized then just how much I didn't want to kill him. Somehow no matter how hard I tried to keep him away he had gotten inside my head. One of us had to make the first move so I decided I would. I came at him full force but he blocked my first strike with great effort, he was badly wounded from his fight with Brako, and it was slowing him down. I kept coming at him, trying to end this quickly but he would not give in; it was just the price I had to pay for helping him train. Each time Delv blocked me I felt worse, here was a boy who wouldn't give up no matter what I threw at him. As the fight went on though his strength finally gave out and I managed to disarm him, then I drove my knife into his gut but he still struggled for air and tried to stay alive. I leaned in closer as he tried to speak, but only a faint whispers came. "Doc promise me something; promise me you won't forget us." I nodded, how could I forget Delv, or Clover? Two allies I didn't want but two allies I needed none the less.

That was the last thing he said, but before he stopped breathing I whispered in his ear, "You are a good student Delv and I'm glad I met you. You and Clover will be remembered." He managed to smile before his eyes closed and the cannon boomed. So I moved away from the body and tried to think, but all my thoughts were just reminders that I was the only one left.

Trumpets sounded as the hover craft approached and a latter dropped from it. As soon as I was inside I began to really come to my senses, the game is over, I won, Narci is dead, and so is everyone else. Someone caught me as I began to sink to the ground, there was shouting for medical staff, assurance that I would be okay and then nothing.