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Chapter 45- Dove Rosestar

I keep growing colder and colder, crashing my way through the jungle. I need to get out; it's been hours and I haven't seen the end yet. What is the weather doing? Even the jungle creatures are confused; the birds are silent and I only hear the occasional call of a monkey. Otherwise, it's quiet, so quiet I can hear my own heartbeat.

I'm so alone, in the quiet and the dim light. The dark green trees overhead, the vines and roots that crawl across the ground, tripping me at every other step. I didn't bother to go through the treetops this time; I need to get out of this jungle as fast as I can. Unfortunately, it isn't very fast. My water bottle and the axe handle keep knocking against my sides, bruising me black and blue.

There! I see light in the distance, leading out to the desert beyond. It's oddly colored light, but it's light all the same. I duck behind a tree quickly, because I also see Kouza and Alyss, sitting on a fallen log side by side. I'm just close enough to overhear their conversation.

"Something's happening, Alyss."

"Obviously, the weather is different," Alyss says, flipping her hair over her shoulder. She's seen better days as well; her face is gaunt and her hair is tangled. Kouza doesn't look much better.

"Today's the day, when we take the rest out. They'll be driving us together at any moment," Kouza says, knocking his sword against the wood.

"Think today is the last day?" Alyss asks Kouza. By her is the mace I saw her with earlier, balancing on the log.

"No, I don't. But we're close."

I quietly scale a tree, listening in and hiding at the same time. What is the weather doing? I try to see through the trees, but all I see is a dim white light. Something is wrong.

"Do you see him?" Alyss says suddenly, grabbing her mace. Kouza nods.

"Let's go."

With that, they charge out of the jungle after whoever their victim is. This is my chance, I have to go now, before it's too late. Run, Dove, run!

I drop out of the tree and start running, tripping over roots; something scratches my face and I feel warm running down my cheek. I just have to run.

I get to the edge of the forest, to a bizarre sight. It's a blizzard. In a desert? I can hardly see three feet in front of me, but somewhere in the blur of snow I can hear the sound of impact and weapons clashing.

Without hesitating, I sprint into the snow, but it blinds me instantly; the wind turning me around until I don't know what way I'm facing. Am I facing the pyramids, the open desert, the jungle, or the fighting tributes? I don't know, don't know!

Cabel, I need you.

I can do this. I was Dove alone for two days, and I'm Dove alone now. I'm strong, I got a 6 in training. I can do this. I am Dove Rosestar, after all. And I can't let Mum down.

The wind whips around me with such ferocity that it knocks me down. I scramble to my feet, brushing snow off of my clothes and hair. The cold is shocking and makes me gasp with pain.

The cannon startles me, but I start running again, hopefully into the open desert. I need to find some sort of shelter so I don't freeze to death. My eyelashes are already frosted with snow; my fingers are stiff. I know I'm lost, but I can't stop now. I need to keep going. I don't have a choice. I run and run and run against the wind.

And I run straight into Alyss.

She grabs for me, but I dodge out of her reach, running backwards into the storm where she can't see me. I trip over a body; who is it? The glance I give the bloody corpse tells me it's the boy from 9. Have to run, have to run, have to get away from Kouza and Alyss.

She comes barreling towards me, mace swinging. My cold and stiffening fingers fumble for my axe still swinging on my belt. I manage to grasp it, hold it tight. When Alyss has almost reached me, I run backward again, dodging her blow. I have to move away, so I do, turning and sprinting again. Where's Kouza?

The mace makes impact with my back, knocking the wind out of me. Alyss is right on top of me, mace raised again for a killing blow. I dodge again, and it catches me on the side of my head. I see stars, everything whirling. The snow is blowing around me like the sand tornado was, but it doesn't take me away. I'm here, and I can't move.

"Where's your brother, little songbird?" Alyss sneers, looking me up and down. I see two of her, then only one, then two again.

"He's dead," I growl.

"Aw, isn't that too bad? We all knew he couldn't win, didn't we? And I know you're not going to win either," Alyss says, then laughs.

"Neither will you," I say, and I strike with as much venom and strength as I can muster.

Time pauses then. Alyss and I look at each other straight in the eyes. Then we both look at the axe protruding from her chest. She opens her mouth to say something, but before she can form the words, Alyss from District 5 crumples forward into the snow, and the cannon fires.

I stand, half blinded by the snow, pain thundering in my head, and I'm shocked at what I just did. I killed Alyss. I killed her.

I can't bring myself to pull the axe from her chest, I can't do anything. My head injury seems to be fogging everything I do. I have to get away.

"Dove, run," I order myself, and I start running again, my water bottle slapping against my thigh as I go. The snowstorm is getting worse, and it's like I stand in the middle of oblivion. I can't see anything; I don't know where I am. Is this how it ends?

I hear Kouza behind me screaming, "Alyss! Alyss!" He's looking for her, but he doesn't know his ally is dead. Kouza, you and I are both alone now, I think. I'm Dove alone, he's Kouza alone.

Then I think he finds her, and he screams in rage and grief. "I'll find you! I'll find you!" he screams. My head is pounding, and the stars are back, mixing in with the shifting snow. It's disorientating.

"Dussel? I know it was you! I know it was you!" Kouza's screaming, and even above the howling wind and the snow I can hear him coming, and I run again, but the snow is deep and cold, and it's so hard, so hard.

I scream as Kouza grabs my arm, pulling me backwards. "Did you do that? Did you kill her?" he yells into my face. I just look up at him blankly. What am I even supposed to say?

Then my wits come back, and I try to pull away, to run again, but he's got a firm grip on my arm. Without a word, he pushes me to the ground, stepping on my back to keep me from going anywhere.

I scream as loudly as I can, "Help! Help!" But who is going to help me?

The snow stops abruptly, like no real snow would do, and above us a crack in the clouds appears, letting down slivers of light. I twist, trying to see Kouza, trying to get free.

What I see is a raised blade, the sun glinting off the metal. His expression is fierce and deranged, and I kick and scream more, trying desperately to get loose so I can run.

Why did I leave the jungle? Mum, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Then the blade flashes down, and I scream.