I feel a hand on my shoulder, someone whispering to me. My eyes flicker open.
"We have to go," Nick says. He has a worried expression. I look down but he stops me. "She'll see you. The district 9 girl. She's got a bow and arrow and I think a knife."
I start to panic.
"Don't worry," Nick whispers. "We just have to get away without her noticing us. She's on the ground. The water's drained and she's hunting."
"She'll be looking in the trees," I whisper back to Nick. "She'll spot us if we move."
"But she's set up camp."
"Okay," I whisper, finally agreeing to make a move. I search for the backpack. It's easy to see from the ground. I yank at it and quickly pull it towards me. An arrow comes flying into the tree where the backpack was. I take a quick peek below me. The girl has her arrow aimed at the tree, ready to shoot if there's movement. Nick's about to move. He hasn't seen the arrow. I quickly grip his arm and before he has time to move. He looks at me curiously and I look at the arrow then at him again. He finds the arrow and understands. I look down again. The girl has her arrow down. She's given up. Now, I mouth the words. We slowly start climbing down the tree, making sure that we aren't noticed by the girl. After a while we are on the ground walking soundlessly away, until a twig snaps. Nick stood on it. I look at the girl. She's turned around and spotted us.
"Run!" I yell at Nick.
He starts to run. I'm right behind him. I keep looking back and realize the girl is gaining ground on us. Nick quickly ducks behind a tree. I keep running. I can't take the risk. When I look back again I see Nick pouncing on the girl attempting to grab the knife. I grab the pocket knife which is in my belt. I run towards Nick. He's pinned the girl to the ground. The girl is punching him in the face. Blood drips from his nose. She rolls over and is on top of Nick, quickly getting her knife. She raises it to stab him. I dive and push her away. I got there just on time. We roll for a long time and then I pin her to the ground. She punches me and I raise the pocket knife. She snatches it out of my hand and cuts my arm. Blood oozes out of it. I grab the pocket knife but she rolls over and pins me to the ground. She grabs her knife and forces it up against my neck. She snatches the pocket knife out of my hand but Nick pulls her off of me before she can do any harm. He smashes her into a tree. She falls to the ground and Nick kicks her in the stomach. She screams and quickly grabs her bow that she dropped and reaches for an arrow.
"Nick!" I yell, desperately hoping he won't be killed.
She shoots but she misses. She shoots again and although Nick tries to dodge it, it hits him in the hand. He grunts in pain and doesn't see the next one coming. Straight in his chest. I get up and punch the girl in the face. I'm furious. I kick her and grab the knife that's on the ground. I swipe her on her forehead. She screams in pain and grabs another arrow. She aims but I chuck the bow and arrow out of her hands. I pin her to the ground before she can get up. Tears are already welling up in my eyes. Nick's dead. I raise the knife but she rolls over and now I'm on my back. She tries to grab the knife but I keep it out of her reach. She makes another desperate grab for it but I move it fast and stab her in the chest. She collapses on top of me. I push her off and run over to Nick. The two canons go off.
"Nick, Nick, no!" I weep by his side. The tears come flowing out. I scream in anger. I bury my head in my hands. I punch the ground.
"Why do you do this?" I yell out, hoping the game makers hear me. "You just like watching people kill each other!?"
I'm sure everyone can see my tear stained face. I don't care. I just want Nick back. I wrap my arms around him and bury my head in his chest. I can't do this anymore. I can't do this without Nick. I lie there for a while, not wanting to leave. I know I have to leave, but I don't want to. I kiss Nick on the forehead and slowly walk away, making sure to take all the weapons and my backpack. I'm still crying. I can't stop. I look back at him again, his lifeless body. I start to run away. I'm scared, frustrated and heartbroken. My arm hurts. I just want to get out of this stupid place.
Fourteen tributes left. I'm nearly half way through the games. I'm scared. There's no one here to help me now. Who knows where Lucas is or what he's doing. He could have made an alliance with someone else.
I sit down and lean on a tree. I've killed two people. I do have a chance of winning. A very slim chance but I've got to try. I remember the first time Nick told me he loved me. I remember how he helped me through the previous days in the games. Just these thoughts make me feel like crying again.