The White Rose

Chapter 22: They're Gonna Eat You Alive

I feel like such an idiot, we are at ninety-five reviews, not ninety-nine.

Inspiration:

Help I'm Alive by Metric (The Remix/Dupstep by STYTEDUBZIFY)

Here is the list again (I'm going to post/update it every chapter from now on)

Azura (Status: Feeling Bitter and Revengy)

Cassia (Status: Feeling Bitter and Revengy)

Pierce (Status: Feeling Bitter and Revengy)

Sabarinath (Status: Well-fed)

Lorcan (Status: Well-fed)

Kyra (Status: Feeling Revengy)

Drago (Status: Okay)

Teff (Status: Okay)

Flint (Status: Alive)

Lorcan's POV

Running. Thinking. Running. Thinking.

Those are the two things I'm doing. How did they find us? How did they get so close? We weren't that obvious, right?

Sabarinath stumbled over some branches and I have to help steady her. We race once again, the remaining three Careers panting behind us.

They were injured. I noticed when we were at the Beach. Azura had a bandage around her head and one on her foot. Cassia had tons of scratches. Pierce had bandages all over his arms.

"Eugh!" One of the girl Careers grunted.

Sabarinath and I kept up our pace, never looking back. My mind was conflicted though.

Sabarinath explaining how I'm different...

No, I'm being chased by Careers.

Sabarinath and I kissing…

The Careers are catching up.

Sabarinath cried out in distress and I'm brought back to the real world. She's fine, I figure out. She just bumped into a long branch. I let out a cry of surprise when I'm pulled behind a thick patch of trees.

Sabarinath puts a finger to her lips and points at the Careers running past us. When they reach a distance, she stares at me. I know something is up, because her eyes shine determined.

"I want to go home Lorcan."

"What?" It takes me a second. "No! You can't!"

"Yes, I can." She didn't even yell, just kept talking like a everyday conversation.

"But-"

"No buts. Stay here. If I scream, don't come. Okay?" It wasn't a question, it was a demand.

"Listen-" I began.

"No, you listen! My sister already won the Hunger Games. My family already has fame and fortune. You have trained all your life. Just think, what would your father say?" I flinched "'Your letting some District 11 girl live, when you should be winning!' Only one of us can win Lorcan, not two. And I rather it be you." And with those words, she leaned in and kissed me before running away towards the Careers.

I don't know how long I stood looking into space. It wasn't until the cannon, that I finally looked up. There was no screaming before. There was no sound of anger. Who died?

I already knew the answer, but it's better to question yourself, if it saves you from the depths of numbness.

I can't tell you how long I stood there and just waited. The anthem finally started. I looked up at the sky. The only face was the smiling girl of District 11. That was the last smile I would ever get from her.

From now on, I'm actually in the Hunger Games. I'm actually in the Games. No more escaping, just playing.