Part XI

Summer wasn't prepared for the gong in any way but she found her own legs moving on their own, as if separate from her entire body.

-x-

Cat was off in blur of speed, she raced over to the back pack, seized it, yanking the knife out in the process, and looking around for Faith.

-x-

Adaam saw the small girl grab a backpack and snatched up aknife.

-x-

Summer grabbed the backpack, barely dodging a knife in the process. She didn't care who threw the knife at the moment. Her focus turned to the woods; they were a few yards away. She decided to make a run for them.

-x-

Faith had scooped up her sword, cradling it towards her as if it was a lifeline. She scooped up a knife, located Cat and began sprinting towards her.

The acting began as a maniac smile spread across her lips, inside she was screaming inwardly at Cat to run.

-x-

Cat turned in time to see Adaam running at her with a knife in his hand. She reacted instinctively.

Adaam smashed into Cat, knocking her off her feet. Suddenly, he felt a red hot pain go through his chest. He screamed and fell backwards off of Cat's knife. Cat spun and ran, not looking to see if he was alive or not.

-x-

Faith growled and kicked the boys dead body as she ran past, before a sly grin slipped on her face and she sprinted after Cat, knife raised

-x-

Symonn had planned on taking Cat first, for he saw her as a weaker competitor.

But as he saw her dash past with Faith hurtling after, he realised that she didn't have a chance. He smiled like a rabid Cheshire cat, knowing that she would be killed anyway.

-x-

Orchid saw Cat go. She pulled her naginata out of a boy's chest and ran after her.

-x-

Cat saw Faith and ran faster.

-x-

Orchid saw Faith after Cat. She raised an eyebrow. She followed them, keeping behind Faith, taking care that the girl didn't spot her.

-x-

Faith threw the knife a second before Cat rushed in. She remembered the day she and Cat practised with throwing knives, and she knew Cat could dodge easily. She heard someone behind her and whirled on her heel, her sword from its sheath in one second.

Orchid kept very still hidden behind a tree. Faith narrowed her eyes before turning back to Cat; she had to make it realistic, she knew, but she didn't want to lose her chance at killing at the cornucopia.

-x-

Cat ran quickly, but caught her foot on a tree root. She went down, hard. She let out a high pitched scream of shock, but bit her lip, cutting it off. STUPID! Do you want everyone nearby to find you?

Faith heard her scream, and although she still felt as if someone was following her, she turned in the direction of the scream.

Cat scrambled to her feet, wiping the tears which fell down her face. Her heart hammered in her chest, and panic constricted her lungs- her ankle hurt, she could barely breathe, and around 23 people wanted to kill her.

-x-

Orchid heard the scream, and smiled to herself. She stealthily followed Faith.

Faith slipped through the trees and through the shadows. She knew it now; the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

-x-

Cat kept moving, but jarred her ankle when she stepped on a loose stone. She let out a small cry that seemed too loud in the ominous silence.

-x-

Orchid moved forwards in silence, dark eyes glowing with the exhilaration of the hunt.

Faith was certain now, and she only knew one person annoying and stalker enough to stalk her or Cat. Orchid. Her lips curved up in a knowing smile, and she continued running, glad long distance was her favourite running. She saw Cat, sent her a secret wink and sprinted at her, leaping over at her the last second. Cat saw the wink, and began to act her part. She cried out, and acted scared of Faith.

-x-

Orchid saw the small terrified girl, and seized her chance. She shot like a bullet out of the darkness, swirling her naginata.

Faith flipped over, spinning to her feet her Katana raised. Orchid came to a halt. "Well, well, well. Look who it is." she smiled dangerously.

Faith thought she'd give Cat her prize and slipped into the shadows of the trees.

"Go away Orchid." Cat said, not completely having to fake the fear in her voice. She gripped a knife in each hand. Orchid giggled. It was a chilling sound.

"'Go away!'" she mocked in a high pitched voice. "Aw, is Faithy-waithy not here to save you now, ickle kitten?"

Faith climbed a strong tree a few metres, ready to leap at any second.

"Leave me alone!" Cat said, tears of fear trickling down her cheeks.

"Aw! The baby's crying!" Orchid said, with a mocking smile. "Aw...little baby, do you want me to really make you cry?"

"Aw. Orchid. Save me a go?" Faith jumped from the tree, deciding she'd be better nearby. She felt protective of Cat, for no apparent reason. Except that she reminded of her sister so much. She grinned slyly. "You can't have her to yourself..." She pouted, knowing she was a good actress.

"Faith...please..." Cat begged, not entirely pretending. "I thought...I thought..."

Orchid let out a shriek of laughter.

"You thought what?" Faith said harshly, raising an eyebrow and crouching beside her. She didn't wink or give any sign. It was the only convincing way.

Cat backed away, shaking. She hoped Faith was just a very good actress. "I thought...I thought I could trust you. Don't I mean anything?"

Orchid licked her lips. This was too good. She shot Faith an impressed and approving look. "You had me fooled."

"And I thought maybe you could at least hit a wall from 1 metre away with a knife. I mean, what are you doing with weapons anyway? How do even know how to hold them?"

Orchid laughed loudly. "You and me are gonna get on great!" she said to Faith.

Cat face was shining with tears at this point. "Please don't kill me!" she sobbed.

Faith grinned manically and took a knife out instead. She held the knife to Cat's cheek. Before suddenly spinning and throwing the knife into Orchid's arm.

Orchid screamed, and kicked out at Faith. She slashed her naginata at Cat. Cat blocked the strike with her knifes, twisting them so that the Orchids weapon left her hands.

"You really don't want to try me." She said, smiling sweetly at Orchid.

Faith laughed and straightened waving her Katana in Orchid's face. "Yeah. Trust me. Don't. Seriously, that girl has a good throw." Faith smiled sweetly.

Orchid stared at her in shock. "You're going down, bitch!" she screamed.

"Faith, can I take her on my own? Please?" Cat said, smiling.

"My treat." She grinned. "I'm going back to the cornucopia. Fresh blood." Her eyes twinkled and she sprinted off

"Bye Faith! Have fun!" Cat said, waving her off, though the words made her feel slightly sick. She didn't really like the person she was turning into.

"Now let's do this." she said, looking at Orchid.

-x-

Faith ran into the thick of action.

-x-

Acacia had grabbed a back pack and run, she was far in the forest now, no daring to slow.

-x-

Orchid smirked at Cat. She'd picked up her naginata, and she twirled it. She didn't for one moment think the girl could beat her. She slashed suddenly without warning. Cat deflected the blow with her knifes, and almost knocked the weapon from Orchids hands. Orchid pulled back, and spun suddenly, catching Cat's face, and drawing blood. Cat threw a knife at her, and she deflected it with one end, and she deflected the other knife Cat threw with the other end. "Is that all you've got?" she laughed. Cat's third knife hit her in the chest.

-x-

Faith slashed her Katana into the chest of a boy she had no name for, glad she was back in the thick of things. She didn't worry about Cat. She knew Orchid was no match for her.

-x-

Orchid stared at Cat. Cat stared back into the black eyes.

"I've been training for this for 18 years." Orchid whispered, a tear falling down her face.

Cat looked at her, her face crumpling. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so, sorry." Orchid nodded, and pulled the knife out of her chest.

"I tried." she said, and she crumpled like a rag doll, her beautiful dark hair covering her face. Cat picked up the knife, wiped it, picked up Orchids backpack, and her own, and then turned and walked away.

She didn't look back.