A Dangerous Game

Chapter Twenty-Three: Finale

A bright light woke Kurt. At first he thought it was the sun, but no… the sun doesn't move… it doesn't crawl closer to you. Fear tightened its hand around Kurt's heart. He sat up. "Blaine!" he shook him, in a panic, for he now saw that the light was most defiantly not the sun; it was a wall of flame making its way over the water. "Blaine, wake up right now!"

Blinking, Blaine sat up, his eyes adjusting to the light. His jaw dropped. He scrambled to his feet, pulling up Kurt, who was watching the flames like he was in a trance. "Run!" Kurt stumbled back a few feet, his eyes locked on the sight before him. He then turned and fled, Blaine's hand in his, pulling him along.

They made their way to the rocks, sliding down a foot for every two feet the traveled. Kurt glanced over his shoulder; the wall of flame had reached the water's edge. Soon it would be at the tree, under which were… his sai swords! Kurt knew this was the final challenge. He knew the point of the wall of fire was to push the remaining tributes together for one last battle. He also knew that he needed those swords if he was going to survive. "Go! I'll catch up!"

He broke away from Blaine and raced back toward the tree. His feet sunk into the sand making every step feel like a mile. He skidded to a stop, grabbing the swords. The flames were towering above him, like a wave of fire. Kurt could feel it burning his skin and as he ran back to the rocks it was close on the heels, threatening to engulf him but staying just far enough not to do so. Like a sheep being herded by a dog, he had only one way to run.

"Blaine, I told you to go ahead!" Kurt made his way back to the rocky hill. Blaine had already made his way up, and was lying at the top of an outcropping of rock, hands extended to pull Kurt up.

"I wasn't going to leave you."

Kurt grabbed his hands, kicking against the rock to pull himself over the edge of the outcropping. He felt his knee scrap in the process, but paid it no mind.

Blaine helped him to his feet and they both took off towards the Cornucopia, knowing that that was where the Gamemakers wanted them to go. From the other side of the clearing, a figure shot from the trees. Without a doubt, Kurt knew it was Sebastian.

Kurt stopped, hesitant to confront the Career, but the flames were relentless and pushed him forward. Blaine ducked into the mouth of the Cornucopia, Kurt at his heels. Sebastian made it in just as the flames closed over the mouth, effectively trapping them in the Cornucopia. It seemed like it should be hot enough to cook them alive, but it was more of an annoying tickle, a promise that things would become much more unpleasant if they didn't fight.

Sebastian had his sword drawn, the dried blood on it visible by the quivering light of the fire. Kurt held up his sais defensively and Blaine withdrew his own sword.

Everyone froze for a few seconds then all hell broke loose. Sebastian jumped forward, promptly bringing the hilt of his sword down onto Kurt's head and simultaneously sweeping the blade up to meet Blaine's sword.

Kurt stumbled back, dazed. The room seemed to be spinning and he had to blink to keep the blood out of his eyes. He fell to the ground, feeling like he was about to pass out. With effort he pushed himself to his feet, swaying.

The world seemed to be spinning. Voices echoed and Kurt couldn't tell if it was Blaine and Sebastian taunting each other or if the voices were just in his head.

After a few seconds everything started to come into focus. Blaine and Sebastian were on the other side of the Cornucopia, each one seeming to get the upper hand, and then the other overwhelming his opponent.

Kurt knew he needed to help Blaine, but he couldn't make himself move, the pounding in his head growing stronger.

Sebastian swung around and kicked Blaine right in his healing wound. Blaine gasped, and dropped his sword.

"No!" Kurt heard the scream and it wasn't until a second later that he realized that it was his own. His mind seemed to snap back into focus, and Kurt threw one of his sais, aiming for Sebastian's heart. Sebastian must not have had one, because instead of embedding itself into his chest it hit his throat. His eyes went wide and he just stood there, blood dripping from his lips, before dropping still to the floor.

Blaine jumped away from the body, hurrying over to Kurt's side. Kurt was shaking, looking at the fallen tribute in horror. Blaine held him, turning him away from the body. "Shh… it's over. It's over."

Kurt wept into his shoulder, "I just want this to be over."

Blaine took something small out of his pocket. "You could win." Kurt wiped tears out of his eyes, trying to focus on what Blaine held in his hand; it was a single dark berry.

Kurt's frowned, and then comprehension dawned on his face, "Where did you get that?" He reached for the berry, but Blaine held it out of his reach. "Blaine that's poisonous…"

"I know. I found it last night while you were asleep…" Blaine whispered, turning the berry over in his hand. Kurt tried to grab it again, "Don't… Kurt stop!"

Kurt did so, taken aback by Blaine yelling at him. "Please give it to me," he held out his hand, palm up. "Blaine, don't do this."

"I love you…"

"Blaine don't..!"

To Be Continued...