I take off running. I see a shape running towards the table. I take out an arrow and send it whizzing at him. It snags him in the neck, and he falls to his knees, clutching his throat. I pull the arrow out, and position it for my next shot. My hands are red with blood. My first kill.
I turn around in time to not get skewered by Marina's sword. Instead, it slashes my thigh. Stabbing pain makes me crumple to my knees. Marina is closing in on Amandla. Gathering my last bit of strength, I sink my knife deep into her neck. She falls to the ground, dead. Wren is battling Crystal, and I'm about to go help him when I whirl around to find Ludwig.
"Hello, Twelve." He growls.
I try and stab him, but I he dodges and I only scrape his chest. He tries to aim his spear at my stomach, but I dodge in anticipation. In that moment of my being unbalanced, he knocks me on the ground. I try to keep him off, but I can't move my hands and the tip of his spear is getting dangerously close to my neck. It's almost touching me when he starts coughing blood. Wren pulls his knife out from Ludwig's back. He falls to the ground, already dead. Crystal is lying on the ground, motionless.
The four Careers are dead. I look around for Amandla, alarmed. She's a few feet away from me, holding the basket, and looking at me with an expression I can't place. Her big blue eyes are almost brimming with tears.
"It's only us now," I say, barely believing it.
I suddenly understand Amandla's fear.
"I didn't know you could kill," she says, her voice shaking.
"I didn't either."
She starts to turn and run.
"No! Wait! I would never hurt you!" I shout after her.
I start to follow her, but Wren's arm stops me. I know better than to try to resist. He can be very strong when he wants.
"I would never hurt her." I say quietly.