Chapter Five: Day Three, Part One

74th Hunger Games Arena

Awkward silence.

Complete and utter awkward silence as Thresh, Rue, Foxface, Prim, and I sat around a camp in a small clearing the next morning. No one said a word after what I had done. It seemed like both groups had gone through something so awkwardly… We walked into the forest leaving behind the bodies of Demetri and Marina.

Foxface… Marissa kept an arm around Prim's shoulders while we sat. The girl had cried during and after what I had done. At first, thinking I would die there and then. And that she would be next. Then when I did what I had done. She hadn't looked at me in my eyes since yesterday afternoon. I was worried. But I was worried about a lot of things. She still listened to what I said so I gave her space for now.

I knew the Career Pack had found the bodies. And if they hadn't, the boom and holographic projection of their photos shown above in the night sky would have clued them in. They likely would have figured out it was me who had done it too. They were not stupid enough to go after Thresh. They probably figured Marissa and Rue would be hiding for most of it.

And they probably knew I was protecting the girl.

I messed up. I should have not said what I had and walked away with Marissa and Rue. But then they would have told the rest of the Career Pack. They would know for sure us three were sticking together. And now that they knew what I was capable of, they would come after us. And then there was Thresh and Rue. I knew Thresh was pragmatic enough to know how much of a threat the Career Pack was. I also knew he'd be sympathetic toward Rue and Prim.

But not Marissa and I.

Not enough to spare either of us either.

But I knew he wouldn't try anything until it was down to us five. And I knew he wouldn't do anything with the serrated sword I now carried. Or the spear I had given to Marissa. But Thresh had a spear too and Rue had a slingshot. We could still take him if it came to it.

And I knew he knew that.

"What?" Thresh narrowed his eyes.

"You tell me." I said firmly. I still held my sickle.

"Stop. Both of you." Marissa said just as firmly.

"You can talk?" Thresh asked. Marissa glared at him. But he turned back to me. "You killed them both."

"I did."

"You did more than kill the boy though."

"I did. Say what you're trying to say or stop talking."

"Are you going to kill me too?"

"No." I lied.

Silence.

"You're lying…" Prim whispered tearfully.

"I knew you were full of-" Thresh began. But I stood angrily.

"You… You didn't see what they were going to do. I saw the signs. The District 4 girl, Marina? She killed two girls. Injured one of them. But she still killed them both. And the District 3 boy, Demetri? He either killed for the Career Pack or aided them. He wasn't innocent. They both had blood on her hands. Like me. Like you. What? Did you think any of us weren't going to get blood on our hands? Did you think there would be fair or clean kills? I did what I did because I made a promise to keep someone safe. And I'm going to do that. But you want the simple truth. Here it is. I don't know if I'm going to get out of here. I want to. I want all of us to. But if I have to kill you too to keep my promise. I will."

I began to walk away.

"Would you kill Rue too?"

I stopped. Before I walked a few feet away to sit alone. I kept my back to a tree facing them and the direction we came from in case the Career Pack followed us. I closed my eyes for a minute before I heard footsteps. I opened my eyes to see Marissa standing a foot away from me. She sat down directly in front of me and I sighed.

"You're not wrong."

"I-"

"Let me finish." Marissa said firmly. "You said everything you had to say. So now it's my turn. You're not wrong. Marina definitely killed Tributes. Demetri probably did or was going to kill us. You killed them so they wouldn't kill us." A pause. "But you did go too far. You scared Prim. You scared me. And I think it's fair that you scared them too. But we know you aren't like the Careers. They don't. No one else knows you because just like me you talked to no one. I was at least quiet and prepared only to hide. Everyone knew that. But you? You were quiet too. Until you pressed a blade against my throat seconds away from killing me. Throwing the same blade into a girl's throat. And…"

Silence.

I already knew the others were listening to me being chewed out. But I didn't care. Because she was right. I had gone too far. I looked away. Until I felt a hand take one of mine. I turned back to see she had looked away too.

"You were reckless. Throwing the sickle. Attacking them. But we don't have time to think about any of that. You made a promise. You have to keep your promise. Even if you can't make it out. Even if I…" I saw the tears fall from her face. Slowly and gently, I placed my hand on her cheek and she turned back to me.

"You will make it out of here too."

"You-"

"I do know that. And too late. I already promised myself you would after you saved me."

Silence until she… giggled?

"You idiot…" Marissa smiled.

I smiled too.

But I knew I still needed to talk to Prim. Before I could say that to Marissa, we all heard several footsteps. We all stood and Marissa went to Prim, with her spear in hand, while I switched my sickle for my serrated sword. Thresh held his spear and Rue stood beside Prim.

I narrowed my eyes.

Because right in front of us all were the remaining Career Pack.

Cato, Clove, Marvel, and Glimmer.

The remaining Tributes were all here.

Next Chapter: A conversation, a threat, and a betrayal.