me: This chapter in Max's POV, the next chapter will be this chapter in Fang POV.

Angel: Poor Max...

Total: Oh, and Isaac is still doin good!

me: My cell phone wallpaper is still him, it has been since this whole medical scare started. Anyway, enjoy!

-Max POV-

"I believe in you," Mom whispered, kissing my cheek as the door slowly rose.

Just like a M&G, the jets parked on different sides of a field. The Competitors walked down the steps, shook hands, and waiting as the jets took off. There are cameras, but only so the Governors and a few people, sworn to secrecy, can watch our progress in both the North and South. Blood still stains the grass every now and then from last years Competition, probably the bloodiest we've ever had. It was like WWIV (There's already been a WWIII. It's where they decided on an easier way for who gets the harvest. AKA: This.)

I walked out of the jet, a noticably firm, murerous look was on Fang's face as he neared me. Did I see a hint of softness when he saw me?

No matter. We met in the middle of the field, clasp each other's hands, and watched as the jets turned around to head back to their corner of the globe. Fang and I made eye contact for what seemed like forever, a blank look in his eyes, before he jerked his hand down and ripped it out of mine. We turned our backs on each other and walked for the woods.

...What?I thought. I always retreated for the woods, every Southern Contestant did. Tt's what the Governor had told us hardly ever fails, and gives your nerves some time to calm down before we have to face our opponent again. The old Northern Governor -the one who actually taught Fang, said never to run, it makes you look like a coward.

Actually, the past few yeard the Northern opponents have chased the Southerners. Still, none of them had ran.

I recovered from my shock and did what our old, wise Governor said. Run as far as you can, then rest and find water. Water wasn't all that common, since we were so close to the Equator, but I found a stream my first time here not too far away. (I will admit - I got the running and finding water idea from HG. But this will not be like HG, as far as I have planned out.)

I wondered if Mom was watching me now. The Governors and those few could only see the Competitors from their nation, so Mom could only see me. The Northern Governor would only see Fang. So I did as Mom has told me time and time again: Don't stop running, even if you look like a coward.

Slowly I pulled out the sword that was allowed, one per Competitor, that has fought and won me four Duels, and hopefully a fifth. I held it stedy at the lookout, ready to stab whatever might run out the woods around me. I saw the stream, crouching next to it, and sat my sword beside me just long enough to cup water in my hands and bring them to my mouth.

I heard the wind of a sword and jumped up, catching my blade with mine. I stared in the cold eyes of Fang, looking like he was possessed by a demon.

Neither of us said anything, the only sound was our deep breathing and the sword blades shaking against each other.

"Why do you want to win another Duel?" I asked, my breath coming out in gasps. "The North has food to last a lifetime, while the South has to eat like mice." And they wonder why they have so many more teenagers then the South. We've been weak from hunger since I was born. Once in a blue moon the tide turns, but it always turns back.

Fang swallowed. "I owe it to my nation."

"No," I said, shaking my head, "you want honour. You want to be looked at as a hero, again. The North doesn't need the harvest, and you know that."

"I won't let the Northern people down." He jerked the sword away from mine and slashed, landing on my blade. We backed into the water, still catching each other's sword slashs. I was backing into the water, the pressure almost making me fall on my butt.

With a grunt he thrust his sword to hit me in the stomach in I hadn't hit it, moving it to the side. That didn't stop him from trying, and the blade cut a deep gash in my side, just grazing my rib. It was three inches at the least. It automatically started pouring blood.

I couldn't handle the sword with my left hand, and it hurt too bad to fight with with my right. Dispite the pain, I aimed one good lunge with it at his throat, but he was too fast. He flipped the blade over and used the duller, not-near-as-sharp side to pound my wrist, making the sword fly from my hand and wedged into the bark of a tree behind him.

I was definceless and wounded, and if I didn't stop this bleeding soon, I would bleed to death.

"Go ahead," I told him. "You have me right where you want me." I pressed my hand to the ngash in my side, blood already starting to stain the rim of my jeans.

Fang held his sword at the ready, but didn't swing. His eyes moved to the blood that was making a bigger and bigger red spot on my dull yellow T-shirt. With a sigh he loward his sword and slipped it safely in it's holder. "I'm not going to win like this."

"You're letting your nation down, letting go of an easy kill," I challenged."

"No. They wouldn't want to win when my prey has no way of a counter attack. Get your sword and stop that bleeding, then we'll fight again." He gave me a cocky, lop-sided grin and ran back into the woods. I watched him go until he disappeared behind a tree.

I trudged out of the water and pulled my sword from the tree, put it in it's safety. As I cleaned my wound, I thought about what just happened.

The hit on my wrist already had a red scratch, but that and a bruise would be all it would leave. If he hit me with the sharp end, he could have done real damage. So... why didn't he? It's like he didn't want to hurt me. Well, I couldn't say that. I did have a three inch long ngash in my side that was just near killing me. Literally.

Prey. He called me prey. If anything, he was my prey. I wasn't his prey. But he did want his 'prey' to be able to fight back, so this is about the second time he's spared the life of me or those I care about. I owed him big. And, as much as I hated it, I'd repay him, but I wouldn't let him kill me.

I had no supplies, so all I could do was stop the bleeding and hope it would heal. It still felt like fire when I moved, but it wouldn't kill me. I realized I still didn't need to fight Fang now - not tonight. I walked through the woods a few miles, and climbed the tallest tree I could find. I settled on a curved branch and fell asleep.

me: How did you like it?

Angel: Fail, Max, fail.

Total: Anyway, TO FANG POV!

me: R&R?