Electra's victory is celebrated with a giant feast in the commons area that night; and I indulge like I haven't eaten for weeks. Ironically, Electra hardly eats any of the food. I can sense guilt already settling inside her. She keeps looking back at Chloe's family. Their eyes are all red from crying.
"You didn't do it because you wanted to," I remind Electra. "And they don't blame you; never forget that. Her mom told you so."
"It's so easy for you to accept that, isn't it? Well, excuse me if I can't accept the fact that I'm a killer." Her voice comes out bitter. Icy. For now, I decide it's best to leave her be.
Time crudely shoves me into the next morning; the morning when two boys must fight in the male version of Thirteen's Battle. Since Mom is so nice-Haha, don't make me laugh- I get to escort Xavier.
When his name rings out, he pulls his axe from the target that he's been practicing on. I straighten my jacket, walking to the door.
"Oh boy," I hear him mutter. "This is really happening. Can you believe I came here to escape this sort of thing? Irony."
I nod, grimacing. "I just wish things could be like they were… before the Dark Days. It wasn't perfect, but at least our continent was safe then."
"Yeah. Just, the thought of killing Raines… He's too young. You know, he's been my friend since he found me half-dead in that field a year ago. I owe him my life. And now, I'm supposed to take his life as a way of saying, 'thank you'? What's the purpose here?"
Xavier drops the axe for a moment. I guess he wants to say our farewells here, instead of under the camera lens.
"Alma," he tells me, "Regardless of who wins, whatever the other girls might put in your head, there's only girl I really want to win for. That's you."
I feel frozen in place. What do I say? Somebody, help me. I think he's admitting to having feelings for me!
My reply isn't quite as eloquent as I'd hoped it would be: "Well… Good-"
"Stop. Don't even start with that."
Suddenly, there's no space between us at all. I feel the pressure of his lips overpowering my lips. And darn it, I wanna completely give in to him. So badly. I grab him by his shirt collar, pulling him against me. It's all I can do to show some restraint. The constant flirting; the subtly intimate gestures; they've finally escalated to a kiss- in the worst-possible scenario. Bad timing. Still, I've got no regrets.
"Wow," he says breathlessly when he releases me. "I didn't think you'd kiss me back."
"That was for good luck," I reply.
Somehow, Xavier's brown eye radiates affection; but his blue eye twinkles with mischief. "Then I wonder what you'll do if I win…" He offers a wink.
"Come on, Romeo," I chide, grinning. "As much as I'd love to show you what I'd do… we've got to go."
Beep, beep. beep.
And there go the last of my nerves. I bite my fingernails as Xavier's face appears onscreen. He- and his rival, Raines Kettle-are on the move. Raines has chosen to carry a club. It's probably half his size, which, in other circumstances, would make me laugh. Instead it just makes me depressed. His limbs shake with every step, wondering if Xavier could be around the corner.
Raines finds him inside an old grocery store; way at the back, pacing through a refrigerated food section.
The boys are hesitant. I imagine that's exactly how the first Hunger Games began. Just a minute-long staring contest. Chloe and Electra were basically strangers, but not Xavier and Raines. So… who's gonna take action first?
That would be Raines. He swings his club near Xavier's shoulders, and Xavier sways backwards from the impact.
Crunch. Some bones have been cracked- by Raines, of all people! That's the last time I underestimate somebody because of their age. Xavier stands his ground; and he swerves his axe towards Raines' chest. Raines jumps to his right, missing the blade narrowly. He comes away with merely a shallow wound. Impressive, I'll give him that.
How am I supposed to root for someone? Would it even be humane? I cheered for my sister, and look how she acts now. She's just a skeleton.
All loyalties are cast off as Xavier punches Raines straight in the nose. Raines doesn't fall. As a matter of fact, he offers another blow at Xavier; targeting his legs.
Cruunch. Horrifying moans.
Stop it, Raines! I can't lose Xavier!
My friend (or, should I say, almost-boyfriend) is unable to walk. But he still swings and swings, hoping the axe will reach Raines. Xavier's opponent earns a deep gash just above his stomach. Another one near his right hip. Raines persists in wailing away at Xavier with the club, wincing from his own injuries. Testing the limits of a human body.
If I didn't know any better, I'd say I am watching the Hunger Games. Not a single person around me is cheering, laughing, or smiling. As expected. Only a handful voted for Thirteen's Battle. The rest of us radiate fury and despair. Couldn't this death match possibly cause District Thirteen to rebel again?
Count me in.
For people who claimed they were repulsed by violence, Raines and Xavier aren't concealing their inner brutality. They're both so bloody now, so locked in combat, that I can't even tell who is who anymore. I nervously anticipate the moment when one tribute will lie dead. It originally seemed that Xavier had victory locked up for himself, but Raines isn't the wimp he appears to be. Either boy might win. I give up on staring at the screen. Too awful.
Electra prods me harshly. "Open your eyes, Alma," she jokes in a serious tone. Mocking me.
"Oh, like you haven't done it, too. Wasn't I just reminding you of that a few weeks ago, when you were tuning out the Hunger Games?"
"We didn't play a part in it," Electra reasons, "So it was completely different. Refusing to watch Thirteen's Battle is like telling Mom you-"
"I don't care," I snap.
However, my ears are widely alert. And they detect… Silence. Which can only mean that someone's heart is no longer beating.
"Alma…"
"I know," I mutter. I slowly shift my gaze back to the screen. The boy who survived rises, and my entire world spirals out of control.
It's Raines.
