A Dangerous Game

Chapter Six: The Cornucopia

"Where have you been?" Sue barked as soon as Kurt walked in. Of course everyone is already awake! Kurt was glad he dressed on the roof.

Kurt paused for a moment trying to decide how much of a lie to tell. "I was on the roof," he said slowly, "looking at the stars one last time before having to worry about being hunted like an animal."

Mr. Schue took in Kurt's ruffled appearance knowingly, "Well you're back now. Good thing too. Go get ready, today's the big day."

He nodded. A horrible feeling clenched its cold hand around Kurt's heart; by the end of the day he would be in the arena fighting for his life.

Kurt and Rachel were being escorted to the hovercraft that would be taking them to the arena. Halfway down the hallway, someone grabbed Kurt's arm. "Kurt," Blaine pulled him aside, "we need to talk."

Sue eyed the two boys, "What's going…"

"It's alright, really!" Kurt said quickly, "Could you give us a minute?"

Glaring at them, Sue obliged and moved away.

Blaine took Kurt's hand gently, leading him out of sight behind the pillar. He kissed him then held him tight. "I need you to do something for me," he whispered in his ear.

"Anything," Kurt breathed.

Blaine moved back, his hands on Kurt shoulders, "When the Games begin I want you to get Chelsea out of there. As far away from the Cornucopia as possible. Understand?"

"And what about you?" Kurt said, "I thought that we…"

"I'll catch up I promise. We'll need supplies... weapons..."

"No, we'll go back for supplies later. Blaine, you are not being part of that bloodbath!"

"I'm sorry, Kurt. I'm so sorry. Please don't argue over this. You know we can't survive without..."

Kurt sighed, "I know that but…"

"Kurt…" Blaine warned.

"Just be careful," Kurt said throwing his arms around Blaine's neck.

"I will, I promise," Blaine held him as tight as he could, trying to memorize the sensation of having Kurt in his arms. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

Caesar sat at his desk, waiting for the countdown to end and for the Game to begin. It sickened him, every year watching innocents die for no reason. All for sport and terror. Control and Fear.

Sickening.

He tried to do all he could for them. He tried to make them appealing in the interviews. But no matter what he did only one would remain. He had no power to prevent that.

In a way he was more trapped then they were.

"Can't you feel the adrenaline folks?" He narrated, smiling charismatically into the camera. "Look at Sebastian Smythe from District Two, you can see the concentration in his face. He's planning out everything. He's going to be a hard one to beat, that one. But, there are some who might surprise you. Kurt Hummel from District Eight got a ten. He may not seem like much, but I've been told he's quite talented. And not just at singing!" Caesar paused to let his audience laugh.

Or cry.

The countdown was almost over. Blaine looked over at Kurt, mouthing words of comfort. Tears were filling Kurt's eyes, which he frantically wiped away, knowing that there were cameras focused on him.

In a strange way the countdown seemed to mimic the beating of Kurt's own heart. Both are ending soon? Is that it? Is that the similarity? Kurt thought bitterly. Might it just be easier to jump? To be blown to smithereens and not have to deal with this? He glanced at Blaine who locked eyes with him and mouthed three small words that meant everything to Kurt.

"I love you, too," Kurt whispered back.

Four.

Three.

Two.

The countdown ended and the Game began. Kurt was overwhelmed by the chaos surrounding him. Within seconds, Artie Abrams was dead, killed by the Careers.

"Kurt!" little Chelsea ran over to him, fear in her bright eyes.

Kurt hurried her towards the woods, running behind her to block her view of the bloodshed at the Cornucopia. "Keep going!" he shouted, helping her up when she tripped over a tree root. Now out of sight of the Cornucopia, they slowed. "Hide, quickly. I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Chelsea exclaimed.

"I have to help Blaine! For goodness sakes, hide!" Kurt turned on his heels, running back toward the Cornucopia. He glanced over his shoulder, glad to see that the little girl had scrambled up a tree and was now out of sight.

Kurt nearly tripped over the girl from District Six, she was lying splayed out in the grass a knife wound in her back. Kurt regretted never learning her name.

Kurt stopped as he neared the Cornucopia, searching for Blaine in the confusion. There he was, a sword in hand, trying to fend off Sebastian and Harmony from District Two. Kurt ran to him, grabbing a pair of sai swords on his way; they were the only ones there; as if they just for him. Blaine was backed up against the wall of the Cornucopia. There was a deep cut on his cheek. Kurt knew that if he was to join the fight; in retreat, he and Blaine would only lead the two Careers to where Chelsea was hiding. There was a pile of supplies nearby. Kurt grabbed a backpack, slinging it over his shoulder. A quick shove sent the supplies toppling down on the two Careers.

"What are you doing here?" Blaine carefully made his way through the mess, ignoring the protests from the two Careers, who were frantically trying to free themselves.

Kurt rolled his eyes, "Run now, talk later!" He grabbed Blaine's free hand, leading him out of the Cornucopia and back towards the woods. Kurt led him back through the trees, to where he had left Chelsea.

Seeing them, she climbed back down from her hiding place, throwing her arms around her brother. "I was so worried!"

"We need to get moving while the Careers are still distracted," Kurt said, adjusting the straps of the backpack he had managed to grab so that is sat more comfortably. The sai swords he tucked inside his belt where he could access them easily.

Blaine nodded, "You're right." He eyed the backpack, "Kurt, thanks for coming back for me. I was rather useless."

"Well, at least you managed to get a sword."

"You got two."

They continued on with this sort of conversation, trying to distract themselves as they hiked through the trees. About twenty minutes later they heard the six cannon shots, the bloodbath was over and eighteen tributes remained, including themselves. Knowing the careers would soon be on their heels, probably angered by having an avalanche of supplies dumped on them, they increased their pace, falling into a nervous silence.

So...

Like it?

Hate it?

Want to throw it in an arena to have it fight to the death?

Let me know in a review.

SPOILER ALERT FOR APRIL 24th's GLEE EPISODE

So... I watched Glee (the episode Dance with Somebody) tonight. I cried and threw things across the room. We finally get a Klaine storyline and they have a huge argument? WTF! This is why RIB are evil. And what was that um... nutella about them scheduling make-out sessions? Hell to the NO (to quote Mercedes)! In my mind Klaine have heated make-out sessions whenever and wherever they can.

I was crying throughout most of the episode.

Can we put Sebastian and Chandler in a closed arena and have them fight to the death? Except neither one survives. Can this happen? Please!

I'm so glad Klaine is still together.

At least they have now dealt with Blaine's obvious feeling of abandonment and have discussed what they are going to do next year (although knowing Glee none of this will happen). They have to stay together forever. Klaine Forever! That's where that came from, right? OMG!

Sorry for the rant...