Chapter 10

With my headache nearly gone, I slip on my jacket ready to head out again. I choose my weapon – axe – and head out again. I've worked out that my little room is soundproof as I witnessed the careers chase after a small boy and kill him. I'm not sure which sector he comes from.

I check for any sign of human life before I slip outside and back into the woods. I wonder for a while. A part of me is screaming at me telling me I should go back and hide but another part of me is saying: Why not? So I carry on walking till I'm completely lost. I turn back towards the direction I came in. Then there walking through the shrubbery are the 'Careers'.

I want to run but if I move they'll spot me. Instead, I freeze. But just like a dog sniffing out a cat, Brent, the muscly boy with sandy hair, looks straight at me and smiles. Not a kind smile either. A dark and twisted smile.

I turn and sprint in the opposite direction.

"Get her!" shouts one of the 'Careers'.

Thundering footsteps behind me signal they're all chasing after me. I must keep running else they'll kill me. I know that I have no chance against them; they're too strong. My heavy limbs wear me down and I find it increasingly difficult to run as fast as I can. Knives swirl through the air and stick in the passing trees. My heart thumps in my chest. I can't run for much longer.

Slam.

I fall to the floor and grasp at my now bleeding thigh. I yank out Devyn's knife and try to clamber to my feet. Every second I hear them getting closer. I hear Devyn's sly laugh and it's enough to get me running again. Well limping and running. The searing pain hits me and I sweat despite the freezing cold wind.

I feel as though the trees are closing in as plenty of branches rip through my face and clothes. Then a hand reaches out and roughly pulls me into a large hedge. Their hand clamps around my mouth to stop me from screaming out whilst their strong muscular arm wraps around my waist to stop me from running. A familiar scent wafts in the air and I relax from fighting with them. Cash.

Devyn and the 'Careers' crash past. Once they're further away I'm released from the vice like grip. Instead of hugging onto each other, Shelby runs forward and grips me tight; startled by her sudden show of emotions I hug her back.

"What happened to the three strike rule?" asks Cash.

"What happened to staying as far away from me as possible?" I reply.

He frowns at me. Shelby steps back and clears her throat – to regain her composure I presume.

I try to limp over to Cash but my leg stings at the slightest movement.

"Do you think you'll be able to go back to wherever you were hiding?" asks Shelby.

"Not now." I wince.

"Where were you?" asks Cash, taking my hand to help me stand.

"Oh just around." I lie. I can't tell them. They'll want to know everything.

"We were down by the Stream." Comments Shelby.

"There's a river?" I ask.

"Yeah, you really haven't gone out much." States Cash.

He looks me up and down. I'm aware that I'm covered in blood, bruises and cuts but he doesn't seem to mind that much.

"I'm guessing that's not all yours." Speculates Cash nodding to the blood.

I shake my head. I don't want to relive those memories but my mind flashes with the images of the dead.

"How many did you kill?" asks Cash, moving in close. My face twists into discomfort as I recall the blood and death.

"How many?" he pushes.

"Cash." Warns Shelby. She grips her tiny knife as she sees me grip my axe.

"You don't have to feel like this Vivron, just tell me."

I hesitate before answering. "Three." Cash lets out a sigh.

"What?"

"It's not as bad as I thought. From the state of you I thought it was more like ten than three." Cash replies with a reassuring smile.

"I didn't want to kill anyone but if I hadn't they would have killed me." I babble as my eyes well with tears.

Cash hugs me tightly to his chest. I don't want to cry but the guilt takes over me. As I wipe the tears from my cheeks, a canon fires.

"That could have been you." Whispers Cash.

"I don't think I would have cared." I murmur so quietly he doesn't hear me. And I think it's true. I don't care if I die anymore. If I died then everyone around me would be safer.

Time has passed. I'm not sure how long but now it's getting dark. Shelby has lit a tiny fire down by the stream and is cooking some animals Cash caught earlier. Cash helped me dress my wound using a bandage he had in his bag. Now I sit in the setting sun with Cash as he twirls a stick with his fingers.

"Have you seen anything interesting?" Asks Cash trying to make conversation.

"I haven't seen anything. You?" I reply.

"I've seen the Jabberjays. They started singing a song. How did it go? Oh, I don't know but it was hauntingly beautiful. It was further back in the arena though. Not here." He replies.

"Maybe I'll check it out later."

"I don't know, they might have gone."

"Well, if they have it's a shame."

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Shelby stamp out of the fire. She hops through the stream by the rocks beneath.

"Here, I think it's cooked properly." She hands me a bit of bird.

"Thanks."

We sit in silence for a while until the wind picks up and it gets really cold. We head into the forest to shelter but it doesn't seem to help.

"Have you had any sponsors yet?" I ask.

Cash shakes his head as does Shelby.

"Neither have I."

Another canon.

"I'm going to see if I can find some berries we can eat." I say as Cash and Shelby slump against a tree.

"Are you sure you can walk by yourself?" asks Cash.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I quickly reply. Before he can say anymore, I turn and walk the other way. Well, hobble the other way.

Once I'm out of sight I hear another beeping. I look around and see no one walking towards the sound. I shrug. It must be for me. I walk towards it and sure enough another parachute is hanging off of a tree branch. I open it; inside are a bag of berries and a note from Ronald:

You can't have my help if you are allied.

It hits me like a ton of bricks. The longer I stay with Cash and Shelby, the more alone I become. But I can't leave them.

I chuck the note into the bushes and take the berries back to them – discarding the bag before. They didn't question me about where they came from and how quickly I got them. Lucky too because if they'd have asked I would have told them everything. Maybe I don't need Ronald. Maybe I can take care of myself. But then again I'll most probably die. Maybe I can take care of myself. But then again I'll most probably die.