Chapter 11

The light outside is dim, and no one is here but us. The rain is harmless again. Wet, and heavy, but harmless. I'm crying, holding Flint's injured head in my lap.

"Please…" I sob, my voice cracking. "Please stay with me." I beg, my tears falling onto his face. I close my eyes and try to keep my weeping quiet.

"I will." He says.

My head snaps up immediately.

He answered me! He's covered in blood, but the light outside is brighter and I can see his injuries a little better. A small hole in his forehead, but a deep one nonetheless. He spoke to me. That means he's still OK. I hope it means he's still OK. He needs medicine; good and expensive medicine, or if not, I'll lose my ally. If not, I'll lose my love. If not, I will be unhappy and lonely for the rest of my short life. If not… Flint dies. It's as simple as that.

Suddenly the rain stops. There's no sign of any other tributes. Maybe the rain was not as bad in their parts of the arena. I turn back to Flint.

He can't walk, but we can't stay here: the Careers will find us. I have to take him away from here by myself.

I could leave him to die. Right here in the cornucopia. If his injury doesn't finish him off, something else will. Mutt or Tribute. It's all the same once you're dead. But… I know what is right and what is not. He's saved me twice. First, at the tree without even knowing me, and then again in the Tracker Jacker field.

"Flash," I whisper to him, "I'm going to take you to the Lake, to our lake. And… I'm going to have to carry you." He mumbles something in reply and I bite my lip. For now I'm going to have to assume he said OK. I slide my hands under him and painstakingly lift him up. He's not that heavy but he's not that light either. Unfortunately now, being so muscular isn't a pro. "Come on, let's go." I sigh, as I heave him up.

"No!" He manages to say, fairly loudly. I almost drop him in surprise. "Leave me here." He whispers. I shake my head, knowing full well he can't see.

"Flint, it's only a small injury, we can get medicine." I try to convince him. "Come on, think of your family, of your friends. Think of me" I keep insisting but he shakes his head. "Flint, if you don't let me take you, I'll stay here. Then we're both at risk."

He says nothing. Then he reluctantly nods. He's not going to stay here. I smile sadly and then start walking, out of the cornucopia and into the morning sun.

He's not that heavy because of the little food he's eaten in these past few days, but he's not a "tiny weak man" either. What I'm hoping against hope for is a safe journey to the lake. If I bump into a career, I'm dead. I can't fight Aquette, Squirrel or the boy from 11 in this condition. But then I remember something: Squirrel and Aquette could be at the Lake... at my Lake! There's also another possibility… They were staying somewhere as sheltered as they could find, but now they can travel, and they'll head to territory they know. The cornucopia. The Careers won't like a simple, natural place, with a lake with fishes they don´t know how to catch. They prefer somewhere where every tribute can find them. Somewhere with provided, safe food. Somewhere safe and sheltered. Somewhere central in which to fight to the death.

I limp through the forest, Flint in my arms. It's hard going but eventually I reach the lake, and it's deserted. Oh, how very lucky we are. I carry Flint to the edge of the lake and lay him down. God, I hope he's alright. I clean Flash's injury, to try and banish any infections.

"I'm here." I whisper to him. "And I'm gonna do everything I can to save you. You'll be with me."

He smiles weakly, his eyes still closed. I lean down a kiss him gently, trying to ignite the Capitol's interest and sympathy.

Sponsors, please, send us something.

Maybe I need to talk to him a little bit more, because the medicines are very expensive, especially now that Flash needs it desperately. If he can even talk at this point.

"Tomorrow it's going to be a calm day, don't worry." I say to him. "After this, nobody wants more…" I can't say deaths. I can't think of anything worse I could say. "You will be okay, Flash. You're strong."

He points the ground next to him, telling me to lie down next to him. What do I have to do now? Kiss him? Hug him? Say something sweet, or smart? I just want to be me. I am not pretending I love him, and he isn't either. I frown for a moment. Is he... my boyfriend? It sounds so trivial, considering we're in the Hunger games.

It's just then a little parachute lands over us. That was all I had to do. Say nothing, just stay with him.

I open the pot and there I can see a shiny orange cream. I take some and spread it onto his injury, cautious not to press too hard. I immediately notice his relief. Maybe he'll be ok.

I take some more and spread it softly over his forehead again. I want him to say something. I need to hear his voice gin: I need to make sure he's OK.

I don't want to lose my hero. His eyes open and stare at me, frowning slightly, and smiling at the same time.

"I feel better. Much better actually." he says and smiles.

Suddenly the anthem booms loudly in the arena. But, as I expected, there were no faces in the sky. Five of us left. Me, Flint, Aquette, Squirrel and the boy from Eleven.

Nothing could be better than this. Flash and me, together, alive. We sleep only when we get bored watching the stars. Tomorrow I plan to give him more medicine. I also pray that the other Tributes finish each other off, because I don't think I'm strong enough to go up against them. If Aquette gets tired of Squirrel and kills her, it would be a blessing. Flint is alive, and he's the strongest person I've ever met, and I think he is doing this more for me than for him, that's why I love him so much.

And it's final. Decided. I love him.

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Lucy xxx