Chapter Seven: Day Four, Part One

74th Hunger Games Arena

Pain…

So much pain…

I opened my eyes to find myself on a beach with the sun rising slowly. My hands were shaking, had many cuts, and several fingernails were broken. I already knew my body was badly bruised as well. But the worst was the pain in my right leg.

I could barely feel anything below the knee.

I cussed under my breath. I didn't have time to focus on that… I had to find Rue. I had to find Marissa. I had to find Prim. I- I tried to blink the tears away. I had to find- I screamed to the sky. I screamed until my throat hurt more than it already did. I closed my eyes and planted my face back into the sand.

And I cried.

For the first time since I came into this world. I cried. I lost my family. I lost the comfort of my old life. I killed people. Demetri, Marina, and possibly Marvel. I nearly killed Marissa… She's probably dead because of me. Prim is probably dead because of me.

I failed!

I failed my parents! I failed Rue! I failed Marissa! I failed the Everdeens! I failed everyone because I thought I was so sure of how everything was going to go! But nothing went the way that it did! Prim had been forced to become a Tribute! I had become a Tribute! I had closed myself off to everyone! I had believed Prim was the only one worth leaving! I was the unknown that changed everyone's perception of the game! I had risked everything and everyone because I had been so damn sure of everything!

And I failed…

Morning had come. Which meant I had been out since yesterday afternoon. Marvel was either dead or in the same state as me. Marissa and Glimmer could be the same or dead too… Prim and Rue could be hiding… or dead… And who knows where Cato, Clove, and Thresh are or if they're still even together…

I didn't know anything…

I- I opened my eyes and reached my hand again. I felt a handle. I looked further up to see my serrated sword had washed ashore with me. I grabbed it and pushed myself up to sit. I looked around. The river still kept going down an unknown direction. I could follow it and find Marissa… Then maybe we could find Prim and Rue… Maybe I still had a chance… I made a promise.

It was the only thing I had left.

Slowly, I tried to stand but screamed from the pain I felt from my right leg. I knelt back down in the sand and tried again using the sword. I hissed from the pain but kept trying. Finally, I stood but not at my full height. I used the sword as a crutch and I walked toward an unknown destination.

Until hours later, I came across something that made my heart stop.

I stopped along the river and found three Tributes in different conditions. Glimmer dead with an arrow threw her heart. Marissa faced down a few feet away from her with a bow. And Thresh standing beside them both… with a sword.

I said nothing. Neither did Thresh. I felt more tears fall and gripped my serrated sword. He gripped his sword.

"Is she dead?" I asked quietly with anger.

"No." He said firmly. "I found them like this. Foxface-"

"Marissa." I growled.

"…Marissa killed her. I was going to wake away. Give her a chance… But now you're here."

"I am." I said firmly. Thresh said nothing for a moment before he shook his head.

"I don't understand you. You become Tribute. You say nothing to nobody but the Everdeen girl until the game starts. But I get it. I was the same with Rue. Because of you. Few saw it. But I did. You watched over her during the Ceremony, the Parade, the Training, and the Interview. You kept her safe because you didn't plan to get out of this. Why?"

Silence.

"Because I made a promise. I'd protect her. I'd get her out of here."

"I understand. But I'm sorry. She's not the only one with family."

"I know… But please… Please don't do this. We still have a chance. We can all still get out of here."

Hesitation.

"All of us?"

Slowly, I took a step forward with a limp.

"All of us. I thought maybe it'd be easier if it was just Prim and I. But then Marissa… Rue… You… We can still get out of here."

His grip lessened. I kept limping.

"I don't believe you… I…"

He lowered his sword. I kept limping…

"I was wrong… I thought she was the only one with a family out there… I thought she was the only one worth getting out of here… We still have a chance…"

He cried… I stopped right before him and raised my free hand up slowly.

"All we have to do is take Marissa, find Prim and Rue, and then kill Cato and Clove-"

"Clove is dead." He lowered his head.

What.

"What?"

"I killed her. Cato ran. But I still killed her. Because I didn't trust her. And I don't trust you."

He raised his sword. But I was faster. My serrated sword went right through his stomach. He dropped his sword and fell. And without my crutch, I did too. We knelt down together. I grabbed his shoulder with my free hand. He looked at me with tears.

"Why…" I whispered in quiet fury. "Why… W-why would you… Why? Why?! Why would you do that?! Why would you make me do that?! Why would you make me kill you?! Why?!" I yelled the last part out.

But it didn't matter.

Because he was already dead. And when he fell over dead. My eyes widened. And a cold hand gripped my heart. Because staring at what had just happened was Rue with wide tearful eyes… That turned to cold anger filled with hatred. And then she ran… There was only silence. And all I had was a single thought.

What have I done?

Wait.

Prim ran with…

No…

Next chapter: A promise broken.