Chapter 25:

-Katlyn: Day 6 of the Hunger Games-

"What the hell did you do with Patrick?" I called out against the pouring rain.

"It was his fault really; that idiot didn't just run to you when he could." The darkness and rain united into a cloak around her, transforming her into less of a girl and more of a talking collection of shadows. Yet, her beaming smile seemed to pierce the darkness. "You're Katlyn, right? We're the only girls left, you know."

"Allie's still out there, duh." Maybe, I can keep this girl talking and give these guys time to run away again. Evan snuggled into the space between Chau and me, hiding himself. I glanced at Chau and tilted my head in the opposite direction of Rachel, hoping that he would take the message to run.

Chau shook his head and clenched his fist. Just let me handle this, you idiot.

The form drew closer – details being revealed with each step. She had two long knives hidden within her drenched shirt. Her mouth broke the smile. "Do you just have to be right all the time?"

"Maybe everybody around me is wrong." I turned to Chau one last time and gave him one last chance to flee with Evan.

Once again Chau shook his head and turned towards Rachel, fists at the ready. When you decide to do something, you're at least persistent.

"A little conceited, don't you think?" She stood less than ten feet from us; her hand groped under her shirt.

Fine then, there's no point in drawing this out any longer then. But, Evan still here's and Rachel's fast approaching.

My fingers crept to my sword hand. Chau glanced at me and then to Evan. Evan's head popped up besides my head like a butterfly on my right shoulder. I smiled as an idea also popped in my head.

My right hand griped the hilt of my sword, and I bent my left foot upwards, placing it against him. "What are you—"

Sorry, but bye bye.

Rachel revealed both of her knives and her hands swept towards them.

"Argh!" I drew my sword, and forced my foot against Evan, launching myself forward, but every force has an equal and opposite reaction. The same kick flung him backwards, out of harm's way. Rachel drew her knives, but I already swung at her. While barely a scratch by my standards, the sword tip drew a red gash across her thigh. The red quickly transformed the gash into a creek of blood.

She cursed and hopped backwards. A streak of yellow flew past me, and Chau pounced upon her. The silver of the blade whizzed behind, beside, and above Chau, but never made contact. Chau sent a few kicks to trip her, every time she hopped to dodge. He did manage to land a few punches around her arm and chest.

I moved forward to stab, but with Chau bouncing around like a kid with way too much candy, there was too much of risk to strike him. I began to circle around her and sent a few jabs, which were met with an equal powered block.

The wide open field provided Rachel with ample space to slowly move herself backward, and mud beneath us made every attack a gamble of staying steady: a gamble which Chau eventually lost.

-Chau: Day 6 of the Hunger Games-

I stretched out my leg for a kick, but made a slight overestimate of the soft ground. The mud gave out under my left foot, stretching each of my legs into a different direction, and I flopped backwards. My fingers splashed through puddle and sank into mud as I tried to catch myself from falling backwards. Slowing to halt, my small sigh of relief reversed into a gasp as I bent my head forwards to look at a two knives pointed into my stretching belly.

As Rachel reared back her two steel fangs to strike, rain dripping from the tips like poison, Katlyn's steel blade glided above my field of vision and rammed into the knives. While still technically a parry, the force of the short-sword sent the tips of the knives to pierce her clothing, barely kissing her flesh. Taking the opportunity of disorientation, I flipped back upright, and swatted one of the blades from her hand. I cast the silver fang into the sticky ground. Rachel tried to repost from her parry forcing both Katlyn to hop backwards.

With some distance between us, we all took a chance to rest; each of us tired and gasping for breath. Katlyn flicked her sopping wet hair, which had stuck itself across her left eye. I clenched and extended my bloody knuckles. Rachel gripped her knife with both hands and once again charged forward to strike.

Less versatility in her swings just left Rachel jabbing at any movement and attempting to dodge any attacks without purpose or strategy. Yet, by this period I was growing sluggish, and my attacks grew equally haphazard. If Katlyn was as tired as us, she didn't show it. She lugged the short sword into Rachel in every opportunity. And eventually, through a confluence of events, she made contact.

Evidently fed up with the duration of the fight, Katlyn pushed herself into one last strike for Rachel's head. Katlyn raised the blade above her head, and sent a vertical strike at Rachel's skull, centered on her temples. Snakelike almost, Rachel's head moved first, with her shoulders following, barely escaping the steel. Her arm and fingers weren't as swift; they lagged behind and lost the seconds they needed to escape. A bloody trail grew on her arm to match her leg.

Weaponless, leaking blood, and exhausted, Rachel's red legs collapsed under her, and she knelt on the ground. Katlyn walked up to her and pointed the sword at the spot where she previously missed. The rain still poured upon them, trying to wash away Rachel's red hair into the mud the same way it washed away the blood. Eyes unblinking, even as the rain plopped into her face, Rachel gazed up at the tip of the sword.

It was finally done.

-Katlyn: Day 6 of the Hunger Games-

I smiled. "Well, you thought you could beat us. Wrong again I suppose."

"I would have killed you if—"

"No no no. No talking. And, what happened to those little boy-toys of yours. Finally figured out you're a clinger and ditched you?"

"Shut up, you—!" I inched the tip closer to her nose, and she immediately quieted.

"Yeah, I'd be a little more polite if I were you, princess, with this thing pointed at you and all. You're in desperate need of an attitude adjustment, and what better time to give it to you than after you tried to kill us." Chau rose from the ground and began to wash as much dirt from his clothes as possible. I wasn't even sure whose blood dripped off his hand. I tapped Rachel's cheek in the direction of Chau. "See what you did? Tell him you're sorry."

Chau looked at me and glared. "Katlyn, I'm fine. Stop it."

I twirled the point in his direction. "Come on. He's waiting."

Rachel shook her head and spat into the growing bloody puddle. I rested the blade on her nose. "Do. It."

She gritted her teeth and mumbled intelligibly.

"Hmmm? I didn't quite hear that."

She looked like she tasted slugs in her mouth. "I…I…I'm sorry, Chau."

Chau looked at her and smiled. "Thanks. It's fine. Just some cuts. Evan can patch us both up."

I took the blade from her face. "Haha, as if. Anyways, we have things to do. So, off with your head and all that stuff."

"Wait!" Oddly enough, both Chau and Rachel screamed in unison.

Rachel followed first. She sputtered out her words. "P-p-please. Don't. I'll do anything."

"Yeah, I'm sure you would. Now, let's get this over with."

I raised the sword above me.

-Evan: Day 7 of the Hunger Games-

I opened my eyes to a view of the cloudy sky and moon with tiny vessels descending from the sky in order to splash on my face.

Sky: assuming the time zone is correct, and they follow accurate moon patterns, it must be tomorrow. Weather condition: heavy rain still, thunder and lightning confirmed. Mind condition: a little foggy. Body condition?

"Why does everything hurt?"

Oh yeah, Katlyn.

I looked around me and saw nothing but a stray lightning strike.

"Katlyn, Chau? Come on, guys. Where are you?" Behind me, someone screamed. "Chau!" Ignoring the dirt, I raced towards the sound. Eventually, I could make out two silhouettes struggling. "Chau, is that you?" Are you okay?"

Katlyn voice screamed. "Chau, let go! Get off me."

What?

The scene came into focus. Chau held a blade high above his head, staring unblinkingly at Katlyn, who hopping in attempt to grasp the blade. At their feet, knelt Rachel, sobbing.

"Chau, was that you? What the hell is going on?"

Her endeavor fruitless, Katlyn crossed her arms and glared at Chau. Keeping the blade well out of reach, Chau turned to me. "Dude, that was Rachel screaming. Do you really think I sound like a girl?"

"Um, well…When I heard a scream, I just…"

Chau smiled and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. You were worried. I know."

I stared at the ground. "It's not like I care about you or anything…it's just…well, why are you holding that sword? And, why is Rachel sitting there crying?"

"Well, she—"

Katlyn turned to me. "He thinks we shouldn't kill her. Chau, what's wrong with you?"

Chau finally lowered the weapon, but kept it a safe distance from Katlyn. "It's wrong."

Katlyn turned to him. "Chau, this whole thing is wrong, but we have to do things that are hard in order to get by."

"We don't have to." Chau turned to me. "Evan, patch her up."

"Okay."

Katlyn gave me a disgusted look. "Don't waste your supplies on her. Chau, just give me the sword, and we can be done here."

Chau nodded for me to continue, so I pulled the gauze from my pocket and knelt down next to Rachel. In between incoherent sobbing, she seemed to be muttering something.

"I'm sorry. I'm s-s-so sorry."

Rolling her eyes, Katlyn looked down at Rachel. "Oh yeah, put on the water works for them." She sighed. "Look Chau, there are people in this arena that I'm going to protect: you and Evan, not her. We have to get rid of her. Not only does every second we keep her here increase the chances Matt and Zach are going to show up—"

Rachel broke from my shoulder and looked up Katlyn. "Th-they don't know w-w-where I am. I p-p-p-promise."

"SHUT UP! She killed Patrick, Chau. She said so herself. It's only fair: an eye for eye."

"Leaves the whole world blind!" I had never seen Chau raise his voice, much less scream with this kind of anger. "Katlyn, listen to me. I don't know how yet, but there's a way to solve this whole thing without violence. I know it's hard, but you need to have some mercy. Everybody deserves a second chance. Everybody deserves a chance to go somewhere new, meet new people, and figure themselves out. If a person makes a choice to change, then they should have a chance; a chance for a new beginning. Even if it hurts…even if it hurts a lot."

Chau handed the sword back to Katlyn. She stared at the blade, at Rachel, then finally sheathed it.

I finished putting the gauze on Rachel, and Chau walked to her left to check on her. Feeling left out, Katlyn put her hand on my shoulder on the opposite of Chau and smiled at both of us. "Fine, you know I'll do anything for you guys, but you have to feed her." Rachel looked up at us and let out a strained laugh.

I rose. There was one interpretation for rain I forgot about: redemption. Chau did it. For once, a happy ending.

"Rachel! Get off of her!" A voice shouted behind us. I turned around to see three things: Matt and Zach, and a javelin heading towards me.

Based on the trajectory, it will arrive right into my chest. I closed my eyes. I'm such a coward. I'll spend my last seconds of life in the dark. I knew it was coming. I thought it was going so good too. Well, at least I get to die quickly. And after this, Rachel can explain to Zach and Matt what's going on. It'll be alright. It'll all be okay.

I felt a force push me, but not kill me. Well, where is it? Hasn't it happened now? Shouldn't I be dead? Maybe if I take a peak. Just a peak.

No.

No. No please. No. No. No. I've told you not to protect me. Why? Don't. Do you just have to show us what you're capable of? Please. No.

"Chau!" The javelin was lodged between his ribs, piercing his chest. I held him as he slumped to the ground. The rain poured on us both.

The universe erupted into chaos, a bright lightning struck a tree beside Zach, sending everyone to the ground and creating an inferno to compete with the water.

The fire grew with every passing second, but I didn't care.

"Chau! Chau, come on." He sent out rasps of breath, but still not responding.

"Rachel! Let's go! We have to get out of here. The fire's going to burn down everything." Behind me, the two pulled up Rachel and began fleeing.

"I can fix this." I pulled out the rest of my gauze. "Chau, it'll be okay." My hands shook with tremors, and the gauze dropped into the ocean of blood.

"Evan, let's go." Someone shook my shoulder. I turned to Katlyn.

"Help him, Katlyn! Do something."

She shook her head. "Evan, you're going to burn. There's nothing to do. We have to go." A flaming tree branch fell from the sky and landed, hissing, into a puddle.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Do something, dammit. Help him." He breathing grew labored.

"Evan, we have to go. I let them all go once. I won't do it again. We have to get them."

I grabbed Chau's dangling hand and held it. "Is that all you care about, murder? Fine, get the hell out of here then. I hate you." She stared at me and shook her head, wiping a tear out of her eye. Then, she left.

I looked up towards the sky and screamed; knowing there had to be cameras somewhere. His heart still beat feebly. "Fine, you're in control, okay? If I admit that, will you fix him? I'll do anything. I'll be nicer. I'll talk about how good you are for the rest of my life. Please, I'm begging you. You could do it. Please. Take me instead then. Please. Please…"

Put my cheek against his head. "Fix him please.

A voice mumbled under me. "Isn't a little silly to be screaming for the sky to help you?"

"Chau? It'll be okay. Everything will be okay."

"No, it won't. Everything's going to be different from now on."

"Shut up!"

Chau smiled up at me. "I'm dying here, so you're not allowed to yell at me, okay?"

"You're not dying, Chau."

"I'm pretty sure this hole in my chest would disagree."

I stifled a laugh.

"There we go. Smiling is a bit better, huh?" He coughed and blood splattered on our hands.

I gripped his hand harder. "Chau, don't go. Please, for me."

His smile was warmer this time, or maybe it was the fire around me. "I have to go."

"Please, don't go. Who am I going to spend all my money on? Who am I going to talk to each day about meaningless things? Who am I going to sit next to and make snide comments about people? Who am I going to hit when they do something stupid? Who can I be with all the time and be totally comfortable with, no matter what?"

Tears dripped from my face onto Chau. "Oh, come on. I'm not that great. You'll find someone better than me. All you got to do is go out there and try."

"I don't want to."

"Well, you don't exactly have a choice in that, do you?"

"I guess not."

"And hey, think of me. I'll be all alone out there in a whole new world. I won't know what to do with myself. I mean I barely know what to do with myself now."

"Sorry. I am always selfish, aren't I?"

"Naw. You're way too nice. You should fix that."

I smiled. "Yeah? I hate you, you know that?"

"Hating. Hating. Loving. What the difference?"

"Beats me." The burning flames around me seemed so distant. For a second, we both listened the sound of the crackling.

"Well, it's time to say goodbye."

I shook my head. "No, I'm not letting you. You have no hands. You won't be able to do anything by yourself."

He laughed. "This is true."

"Chau, if you're ever going to answer any of questions, can you answer this one? Will we still be friends?"

"Come on. We'll always be friends."

I hugged him. "Okay. Okay. Goodbye, Chau."

"Bye, Evan" He smiled one last time and settled down for a nap.

He was having a good dream. In the distance, a cannon fired. Around me, the flames closed in. Despite all the fire, I was still cold. So, I sat there, until I felt warm again.