A/N: This is the first chapter I ever wrote for this story. I didn't know the character's names, or how they'd gotten where they were, but I knew there was a woman, and I knew she was saying good bye to the thing she loved most in the world. The story has changed a lot since then, but the tone and message are still the same. I wrote it while listening to The Fray's "Be Still".

Chapter 36: Be Still

We sprint into the trees. I risk a quick glance over my shoulder. Miller and the man from Colorado are collecting their preferred weapons from the wall. For the moment, they ignore us.

Despite Miller's indifference, we keep a quick pace as we flee the clearing. We don't run very far before Logan slows to a halt. He turns to me with a teasing grin.

"Well, partner, what do we do now?" He asks, taking my hand.

I'm thrilled that Logan and I are officially on the same team, but I can't bring myself to joke around.

"I guess we wait," I say. "Miller will come for us eventually."

Logan's smile falters. "Yeah…and we'll take him down."

He doesn't sound very convincing.

We continue walking, though there's no real agenda. I know we should look for water and food, but I can't really focus on that. The likelihood that Logan and I will be killed by Miller is pretty high. I can't imagine, after the many times I've escaped, that he'll make my death quick. There will be pain, and quite a bit of it.

A rumble of thunder growls in the distance.

"Awesome," says Logan.

In a few minutes, the rain begins. It's only a light sprinkle, but it soaks us through after a while. The rain continues into the afternoon. I suppose I should be thankful. We haven't come across a water source, and there is plenty of rainwater pooled on leaves and in puddles.

I am tipping a large leaf, letting the water run down my throat, when I hear the sound of a speaker.

"Here we go," I say.

"Attention representatives," says Verilius Alanton. "As you know, there are only four of you left to compete. Tomorrow at dawn, I will require your presence once again at the launch site. One final challenge awaits you. I urge you to be prepared. Your life will depend on it."

The speaker clicks off.

I lean against a tree, my thirst forgotten.

"We're ready, Corenn," Logan says.

I look at him, soaking wet beside me. His hair is stuck to his face, and there's a large cut down his cheek. His eyes are sad, but calm. I know he doesn't mean that we're ready to win these Games.

He means we're ready to die.

We're ready for this to be over.

I nod in agreement. I've done more than most people will ever be forced to do. Logan and I have been through enough. We don't have much farther to go, and we'll be free of this place.

We walk in silence for the remainder of the afternoon. The rain slows to an invisible drizzle. Before dark, I spot a tree with a thick canopy.

"Maybe we can sleep there." I say. "It won't be as wet."

We plop down under the tree. The ground is damp, but not spongy with moisture. It'll have to do.

Thaddeus announces the deaths of the two men Logan and I killed this morning. It might be my imagination, but Thaddeus sounds much more somber than usual.

"So what do you want to do with our last night?" Logan asks.

I curl up next to him, trying to get warm. "I want to pretend we're somewhere else," I say.

Logan pulls me into his lap, cradling me against his chest. My muscles tense at his closeness. I know this isn't proper. I'm a married woman. I shouldn't be this close to a man that isn't my husband.

But I don't pull away.

I'll never see Thomas again. I will die beside Logan. He's the only person I have left to be loyal to.

"Have you ever been to London?" Logan asks.

I shake my head. I've never been anywhere.

"Close your eyes," he says.

I look at him suspiciously, but I oblige.

"Picture yourself on a street full of lights and people," Logan says. "You can smell at least a dozen different foods. There are street performers singing, and you can see Big Ben in the distance, with its lights reflecting in the water. It isn't cold, and it isn't hot. It's perfect."

I shiver against Logan's chest, but I picture his words. I see myself there with Logan. He continues to tell me about different places he's been, and I form them in my mind. We go to Paris, Rome, Tokyo, and New York. The closer I get to sleep, the more real our travel becomes. I feel like we're away from the arena. And together. And happy.

I wake with a jerk when Logan touches my shoulder. The moon is waning. It's time to head to our final challenge. We stand, still soaked, and brush away the leaves and grime that stick to our bodies. I take a few deep breaths, steeling myself for what's to come. Logan scans the trees, searching for something. His eyes land on a small hole in the tree we slept under.

A camera.

Logan backs away from the tree so the camera can see him clearly.

"Mom…I love you" he says softly. "You don't have to worry anymore. I'll be watching over you."

He puts his face in his hands and I rush to his side. He holds me close and I try not to cry. When he pulls away, I look at the camera. I feel like I should say something, leave my last message to the world before I'm gone.

But I don't want to talk to the world.

"Kade?" I say, my voice choked with emotion, "I need you to remember something for Mommy, okay? Remember that…I'm always with you." Logan puts his arm around me. "If you're ever scared," My voice breaks, "Or if you're lonely," I clutch Logan for support. "Just remember, Mommy's there, okay? Mommy's still there."

I blow a kiss at the camera and Logan hugs me. The sky starts to lighten. We pull away from each other, Logan giving me a tortured glance. Then he starts walking.

"Wait," I say, pulling him to a stop.

I have one more good bye to say.

"I have to do this...in case we die," I tell him, repeating the words he said to me such a short time ago.

I wrap my arms around Logan's neck, pressing my lips to his. He embraces me, his arms folding me into his sheltering warmth. My eyes flutter shut, savoring this last moment of intimacy. Between us, there is passion, there is affection, there is understanding. And there is sorrow.

Good-byes are never easy, but this one tears my soul. This is our finale. Whatever Logan and I had, or might have had— it's over now. Whoever we were, whatever we cared about.

It's over.

I am the one who pulls away first. As soon as I do, I look down and start walking. I can't bear to hear anything Logan might say. I can't bear the sadness in his eyes.

If you forget the way to go

and lose where you came from,

if no one is standing beside you

be still and know I am

Be still and know that I'm with you

Be still and know

I am.

-"Be Still", The Fray