Jessica got little sleep that night, and Conner stayed up the whole night. Neither of them spoke at all as the night went by, and then the sun began to rise on the horizon. Just as Jessica was about to suggest they keep moving, she heard a rustling in the bushes behind her. Conner and she grabbed their wands, pointing them at the bush.
"Your defensive spells suck," Conner muttered.
Jessica gave him a sideways look, and then turned back to the bush. Out of it stepped a small boy with short white hair and big blue eyes… very similar to Conner. He lowered his wand and ran forward, and Jessica stared, confused, but not lowering her wand. Conner embraced the kid, tears pouring down his face. The kid's face remained unchanging, and he stood stiffly. There was definitely something off.
"Conner…," whispered Jessica, and then she repeated it a little louder.
"Con…ner…," said the small boy, his mouth moving oddly. "Con...ner…"
Jessica moved back a little, not knowing what to do. She felt helpless – how could that kid be in the Arena? He was probably Conner's brother, but what was the point of him being in the Arena? He definitely wasn't in the original tributes, but maybe they added him, but why would they place him right where they were?
She heard the crunching of leaves behind her, and she turned just in time to see two jets of red light being flung towards her. She ducked out of the way, and they continued towards Conner and his younger brother. However, before they hit, his younger brother touched Conner's neck.
"Pro… tego…," he said.
And out of his mouth erupted a white shield, blocking the spell from him and Conner.