A day goes by without a death. An entire day. That can't be good for ratings, and if someone doesn't die soon, the Gamemakers will kill one of us off. I sit in my sleeping bag beside Chase and Talon, watching the dots on the tablet. Talon is fast asleep, leaning against my leg, but Chase is watching the tablet while sitting beside me. Either he doesn't trust me, or he believes he'll be able to see something I couldn't. I assume it's the latter, since he has much better training and combat intelligence compared to me. It's weird; I feel a sense of camaraderie that I hadn't expected, especially not in the Games with the Career Pack. I try to keep myself from getting too attached; when (or if) he dies, I don't want to get too emotional. I fear that Sean may be right. Perhaps my mind wouldn't be able to take it.
When Talon wakes up, Chase gets us all a bowl of dried fruit and a few protein bars to share. We tease each other and talk, like I would to any other person I was friends with back home. I feel as if I've known these people for ages. Chase looks as though he could easily be in my class, and Talon could be one of Jazz's friends. I imagine the three of us sitting on my roof back in District 9, maybe with Casey and Jasper with us, or maybe Nathan, if I could manage to talk to him without making a fool of myself.
Nathan. What does he think of everything that's happening? Is he watching? Or is he working in the fields back home, still feeling hopeful about District 9's chances of having a victor this year? What about Casey? Does she think I have a chance? I hope I'm showing Ross up; god damned Ross Woods, the boy who said I wouldn't last eight seconds. He was wrong. Look at me now. I'm a Career, and I'm in good shape. I think I have a great chance of winning.
I sigh, and look at my friends. I can't be thinking of what life would be like if we all survived, because it won't happen. I can't even get my hopes up. The Capitol and the Gamemakers are ruthless, and only one of us can win. It's comforting to have them with me, but I hope they die before I have to kill them. And if they don't, I hope I have enough strength and courage to kill myself, so Talon can live.
Killing myself to save Talon. I wonder if it's a smart choice. Of course I want to live and go home, to Delila and Jazz and Casey and Sean, but at what cost? Talon is three years younger than I and he has no chance of winning. Well, he has a slim one if he plays his cards right and kills us all in our sleep, but I doubt he'll do that. He's too good-natured and kind. The only chance he has is if Chase and I protect him and then kill ourselves for his safety. I bet Chase would do it too; I think he loves Talon, but like in a brotherly way. I think I do too; he just has that effect on people. Nakita no doubt loves him. I ponder that, thinking about how we could help her keep him alive once we take out the Careers. I don't think that would end well; I think she's to righteous and self-reliant to join forces with us.
After our legs fall asleep and our butts go numb, Talon and I decide to take a walk in the small forest in front of the Cornucopia. Chase decides not to come with us, but promises us that he will come warn us if any other tributes come too close. Once in the wooded area, I feel a little calmer. I can still feel rock under my feet, but there's dirt too, and the trees are so thick so I can't see the stone ceiling. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was outside somewhere, maybe even somewhere nice, away from danger. Some part of my subconscious knows that there's danger, though, and I feel a nagging feeling in my stomach, warning me to be on my guard.
In the middle of the forest, we find a thick, large tree and decide to climb it. The limbs of the tree are large too, so we can comfortable sit on them without worrying about falling off. He's quiet, and I can tell that he's thinking hard. I curl one of my knees up to my chest, and watch him.
"Talon, I need to tell you something. It's important, and I regret not telling you sooner," I say suddenly, after watching him for a while.
"What? What's wrong?"
I take a deep breath. "You're not in the Careers because Titanium showed mercy on you. You're with us to keep Nakita away until the end of the Games. He thinks that while you're with us, that she won't attack, in fear that she'll accidentally kill you, or one of us will. As soon as Nakita dies, or if Titanium gets bored of you, he'll kill you."
"I figured as much," Talon said, and I raise my eyebrow in surprise. He explains, "It only makes sense. I'm holding you guys back; without me, you'd be much stronger. I could tell something was up when Titanium spared me so easily. He didn't seem like he was the type of person who'd do that, and I'd noticed the Pack following me around in the Training Center. It clicked, though, when you and Chase started being nice to me, and he pulled you away to talk to you. After that, everyone started being nice. I knew something was up."
"A-and you're okay with all this? You just went along with it?"
"I thought it would be my best chance of surviving. If I tried to run, I'd be hunted down, and even ifI made my way back to Nakita, you would find me, assuming I didn't get lost. This is my best shot."
"But you know-"
"-That he'll kill me when he has no use for me," He finishes. "Yes, I do. I just hope that we can find a way to stop him before he does."
"So you trust me, then?" I say thankfully. "You know I've been trying to protect you this whole time?"
"You and Chase both, yes."
I reach around the tree trunk, and grab his hand. "We're going to try to get you out of here."
"I know. And I know that Titanium can't win, and that I won't either."
"Talon-"
"No, it's okay. I've accepted it. Kids my age never win, and I know it. I just want to make it farther than any other twelve-year-old ever has." He squeezes my hand, and my heart falls. It's depressing that he's accepted his death so easily.
When we get bored and cold, we go back to the warmth of the Cornucopia. The heat of the fire has spread around the nearly-enclosed space, making it toasty and inviting, and giving a false sense of security. When we walk through the door, Melany tosses me a bag of beef jerky. I steal the tablet away from Cass with a wink and scan it, trying to figure out who's still left. There's me, and the Careers (both from 1, 2 and 4). Talon and Nakita, the crazy boy from 11, both from 7, both from 5, and the girls from 9 and 10. And Ricky. I had to admit, that one surprised me. I hadn't expected him to last this long.
The Panem anthem plays, and I turn my head to the screen. No faces appear, and it makes me uneasy. Something will have to happen soon, and if it doesn't, the Gamemakers will make something happen. Someone will die, or get really injured, or whatever, and since we're the most powerful alliance, there is a good chance that it will be us who they'll target. One of us might be going home, but not with laurels.