Chapter 48

NARRATOR | Lucas Li, District 6

TIME | Day 14

TRIBUTES REMAINING | 9

I don't know how much longer I can last, living on the run like this. I feel like I'm going insane.

It's bad enough that I've been stuck with this stupid bracelet. I know that my problem has an easy solution - just drop the bracelet - but it's really not that simple. What I've learned about this bracelet is that the person who wants it the most is the person who will get it. The person who fights the hardest is the one who prevails. Everybody knows that Violet wants the power in this Arena, and if she gets her hands on this bracelet, she'll be unstoppable. I know for a fact that she's still on my tail; if she was able to hold a grudge against Safira for five years, I'm sure she won't be forgiving me anytime soon.

Before the eruption, I fell into a routine. When my bracelet's tracker went off at midnight, I'd run as far as possible for most of the night. Once I knew I was clear of Violet, I'd sleep through the day. It's been harder these last few days, though, since the sun has been blocked away. It feels like night all the time, and it's hard to predict when my location will suddenly be revealed to the other tributes. I've been a wreck, and paranoia has started to creep over me.

My mentor, Irma, has been able to use the sapphire bracelet to keep me alive through the last few hellish days; I doubt she'd have the sponsor funds to give me food otherwise. Honestly, I don't think I'd still be alive if I didn't have the bracelet, and I'm surprised that the other tributes have made it this long without it.

A bird chirps overhead, and the sound brings my eyes to the sky. What I see makes me gasp - the sky, although still dark, is tinged with blue. The dark clouds that had blocked the sun for so long have vanished, and that means one thing. Something is coming.

The color of the sky shifts before my eyes as the Gamemakers push their artificial sun into the sky. Its rays shine down on me, feeling searingly hot on my freezing skin. A static sound fills the air around me, quickly followed by a booming voice.

"Good morning, tributes!" a woman calls enthusiastically, her voice echoing through the Arena. I wince at the sound - this is the first time I've heard someone else's voice in a week, and the excitement in her voice is hard to stomach.

"This is your hosts, Valentina and Venia, speaking," another woman says; I can't distinguish the two voices much.

"Congratulations on surviving two weeks in the Hunger Games," one of the women continues. "To celebrate, the Gamemakers are extending their generosity to the nine remaining tributes. The one thing you all need after the last few days is some of our famous Capitol cuisine. A Feast has been set featuring all the food you could ever want... if you're willing to face the other tributes to get it."

So this is it: the Feast. I've been wondering when the Gamemakers were going to pull this trick out of their sleeves, and it looks like the time has arrived.

"The Feast will be held at the center of the Arena until sundown tonight," the hosts say. "Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor."

My hands frantically work to untie the knots of rope binding me to my treetop hideout, but they slow when I think about the Feast and its repercussions. The other tributes are almost certainly more hungry than me, and they'll be gunning for me if they see me with the bracelet. Violet could be camping out by the Cornucopia, waiting for me to arrive so she can pounce...

My stomach growls, and my hands start working again. This might be my last chance to get some real food in my body, and I can't pass up on this advantage if my competitors are going to take it.

My feet pound against the mossy ground as I weave my way through the forest toward the center of the Arena. The shining sun gives me energy as I go, and I push myself to run faster than I have in weeks. I have to get to the Feast before Violet, and I know she's not wasting any time right now.

When I finally reach the center of the Arena, I'm surprised by what I see. Somehow, the Gamemakers have drained the lake that once filled the Arena, replacing it with flat, grassy terrain. It reminds me of how it looked back at the very beginning during the Bloodbath, but the Cornucopia is nowhere to be found now.

At the center of the clearing sits a single table. It's massive, and I can see food piled up so high I'd have to strain to reach it. Next to it, I can make out something that looks like a water dispenser. Without the freshwater lake, that might be our last source of water.

I want to sprint out, to take my chances and rip into the food as quickly as I can, but my instincts hold me back. There are too many unknowns right now; what if the food is poisoned, and what if the other tributes are waiting for someone to make a move?

Before I can decide what to do next, I detect movement in the corner of my eye. It's the girl from Three; she looks like she could drop dead at any moment, but she manages to make it to the table and dig in. She looks ravenous as she shoves food into her mouth with her bare hands; clearly, she doesn't have the same worries about risks that I do.

After a few minutes, it becomes clear that nobody else is around. Minna stops shoving food into her mouth and starts loading it into her bag.

I have to go now. Minna's still working her way through the table, and my chances are better if someone else is out there with me. I make a split-second decision, shoving the sapphire bracelet into the pocket of my jacket before tearing through the trees and into the open.

I'm so fueled by terror, so focused on reaching the table as fast as possible, that my legs start to move faster than my body. Before I even realize that I've tripped, my body hits the ground with a smack. I hardly feel the impact, scrambling to my feet, but I hesitate by what I see in front of me. Minna's finally making her escape from the table, and two tributes are running in to take her place. Ansel and Wyatt look less desperate than Minna, taking a careful look at the food and talking to each other as they scout out their meal.

My heart drops, and I stare at the boys, frozen in place. The last time I saw them I was raiding their camp, and their friend Eddie died because of it. I doubt they'll have many nice things to say to me.

I'm too far in to go back now; besides, I pose no threat to them. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, so we're on the same side now regardless of our history.

Wyatt hardly reacts when he sees me approaching, but Ansel immediately looks suspicious. "Where's Violet?" he asks, drawing his sword and pointing it in my direction as Wyatt puts down a piece of chicken to watch me.

Only now do I realize that these boys know nothing about what's happened. I've been separated from Violet for a week, but it's been even longer since I've seen them... and a lot has changed since then. The last time they saw me, I was her mindless puppet.

The tip of Ansel's sword reflects the sun into my eyes, and I can feel my heart thumping as I try to find the words to explain myself. The words don't come, though. These boys won't believe anything I tell them, and why would they?

Without any other option, I feel myself reach into my pocket. The sapphire bracelet glistens as I hold it out to the boys; their eyes widen at the sight.

"I took this," I tell them. "And I left."

"And why would you do that?"

"Because I would've died if I didn't. You know what happened to Declan and Evelyn; in the end, we were all expendable. I was the only one to survive long enough to realize it."

Ansel nods, but I can see him scanning the trees behind me. He really must think that Violet is waiting somewhere, sending me out as her bait for a trap.

"You can have it," I offer. At this point, I'd be happy to get rid of it. I've been on the run for a week now, and they deserve to have it more than I do.

"Enough people have paid with their lives for that," Wyatt says, waving his hand in my direction. "I'd rather it be you than me."

Ansel glances at Wyatt. Something passes between them with just a glance, and Ansel turns back to face me.

"Okay, come on," he motions impatiently. "We don't have much time."

Relief washes over me as I join the boys at the table. Wyatt passes me some cookies from the very top of the heap, and I eat as fast as I can without throwing up.

"I'm surprised by you," Wyatt admits quietly as we eat. "Pleasantly surprised. It's not easy to cross Violet and get away with it."

"I had to," I shrug, but it feels good to hear his words. I wasn't responsible for the raid on Wyatt and Ansel's camp, but I played a part in it, and I've carried that guilt with me ever since. "I really thought she'd protect me, and that was my only chance to make it out of here. After Evelyn and Declan, I couldn't convince myself to stay anymore."

"You don't give yourself enough credit," Wyatt says, licking his fingers. "That's all I'm saying. And I think you've redeemed yourself."

"Wyatt," Ansel calls, his voice tense. I glance up to the other boy and follow his worried gaze to the tree line.

A chill runs down my entire body when I see Violet's face. She's sprinting towards us like a wild animal, her eyes locked firmly on mine. The look on her face is one of pure determination... she's been hunting her prey for seven days, and she's finally found her opportunity.

I feel the urge to run, but my body doesn't respond. My knees go weak, and I grab onto Wyatt's arm to stop myself from falling to the ground.

"Come on, let's go!" Wyatt calls, but it feels like he's a million miles away. The only thing I can process is Violet, her gaze piercing through my soul as she grows closer and closer.

And then, as if in slow motion, I watch as Violet reaches into her pocket. With a scream, she launches something at our table; it flies through the air, growing closer and closer...

I only realize it's a knife when it's a few feet from my face. All I can do is watch, frozen, as it flies over the table of food.

Suddenly, I feel my knees give out as someone pushes down on my shoulders. It's Wyatt - he shoves me to the ground, and I can hear the whirring of the blade as it passes over my head.

"Wyatt!" Ansel gasps from across the table. I hear his thumping feet as he approaches us, and I look up to see that Wyatt has a shallow gash in his forehead, dripping blood down his face.

"Th-thank you-"

"I told you to run!" Wyatt hisses. "Come on!"

Wyatt grabs Ansel's arm, and the pair sprint away, leaving me on the ground. I quickly rise to my feet, my heart thumping. Violet will be here any second, and I need to get out of here.

I sprint after the two boys, glancing back to make sure that another knife isn't coming my way. Violet's finally reached the table, and she ducks around it to chase me. What she doesn't see is the boy behind her, following her with the same murderous expression that she has.

Violet reaches into her pocket for another knife, but she doesn't get the chance to throw it. Vinny reaches for her neck, his arms wrapping around her as the two tumble to the ground.

I know I should run - Ansel and Wyatt have already left by now - but all I can do is back away slowly as I watch Vinny and Violet, the two strongest tributes in this Arena, scramble for dominance. It's like a fiery explosion that you can't rip your eyes from; I force myself to move further away, but I can't bring myself to stop watching.

Everything that unfolds next happens so fast that I can hardly comprehend what I'm seeing. For an instant, it seems that Violet has regained control, her body pushing back against Vinny's, but she's outmuscled, and he pins her to the ground. Then, like in one of my wildest dreams, I watch a knife appear from his pocket, its blade sent hurtling down into her. Vinny strikes down once, twice, but his third blow never lands. Out of nowhere, he's knocked over and is forced to grapple with another tribute.

I'm barely concerned with the identity of the new boy - by the look of him, it's probably Easton from District Nine. Why he'd go out of his way to fight Vinny, or save Violet, is none of my concern. What is my concern is the girl lying on the ground next to him. The girl that is sitting up and looking around, her eyes finally landing on mine.

Violet's hand clutches her shoulder, tears streaked across her face. Her wound pours blood through her fingers, but that seems to be the least of her concerns. Her red-rimmed eyes narrow when they see me, and she's on her feet in an instant.

By the time I realize how stupid I've been, Violet's already sprinting towards me.

Finally, I find my feet, and they carry me in the direction Wyatt and Ansel ran off to ages ago. I don't need to look back to know that Violet is following me.

I duck between trees, trying my best to slow Violet down, but there seems to be no stopping her. Even with blood pouring down her body, she doesn't seem to slow a bit. Panic rises in my body as I run, and I start to feel the food in my stomach come up with it.

My mind is racing, but I make sure to keep my eyes pointed at my feet; to stumble now could be a fatal mistake. I try to keep myself calm as I go... Left, right, left, right...

What happens next is so hard to believe, I wouldn't believe it myself if I wasn't watching with my own eyes. As if controlled by some sort of invisible force, the roots of one of the trees spring up from the ground and slam into my feet, and there's nothing I can do but fall to the ground.

And in an instant, it's over. I should've known it would come to this; the Gamemakers probably adore Violet, and now they can watch her get her sweet revenge.

In an instant, Violet is on top of me, her knife on my neck. She grins, and I can feel the blood from her injury dripping onto me.

My first instinct is to beg. Please, Violet, spare me, don't let me die... But after weeks at Violet's side, I know that begging won't work. My fate is sealed, and surprisingly, I'm at peace with it. I was on the run for a week, and the fact I made it this long is impressive regardless.

But still, I refuse to go out with a whimper. All of Panem is watching... District Six, my family back home. I have one last card to play, and the time has come to use it.

"You don't want to kill me," I say, staring up into the girl's face.

"I wouldn't have wanted to kill you," she says, her voice raspy and thick. "If you hadn't betrayed me."

"That's not what I mean," I say, laughing in her face. "If you really think about it, you'll find the truth. It doesn't matter to you if I live or die because you know I'm no match for you. I never was, and that's why you chose me in the first place, back in Training. Whether I die now or tomorrow, doesn't make a difference either way."

"When I slide this blade across your throat, I'll be one step closer to making it out of here," Violet says, but I can see in her eyes that she's listening to what I'm saying. "If you're not with me, you're against me. And if you're against me, you have to go."

Close by, I hear the sound of trickling water, and an idea forms in the back of my mind. A glimmer of hope - the only thing that could possibly save me.

"But I'm not going to kill you, Violet," I tell her. "I've never been a threat to you. You don't want to kill me, all you want is this-"

I reach into my pocket, pulling out the sapphire bracelet. Violet's eyes widen at the sight, and she lets go of my other arm to grab it. I don't give her the chance though; I swing my arm up, throwing it as hard as I can. I hear a splash as the bracelet reaches the waters of the river nearby, and I know that it's done.

"And now it's gone," I say. "You can go grab it if you want, I doubt it's too far down the river yet. But now that it is gone, think about how you really feel. That power is the only thing I ever stole from you, and now that it's gone, I'm back to being nothing. So if you really want to kill me, the only person who had your back when every other tribute wanted you dead, then go ahead. All of the people who ever trusted you will be dead, and the world will finally see you as the heartless person you've always been."

Violet just stares down at me, her expression horrified as I finish my rant. I can tell that she's really listening, her eyes glancing to the river behind me. The blade of her knife loosens on my neck, and I can feel that glimmer of hope start to take over my mind... by some sort of miracle, I may have really convinced her...

I see a look of hesitation on Violet's face. I can see that scared, fragile Violet I saw at the beginning of the Games fighting its way to the surface. She told us that she didn't want to be a killer, that she didn't truly want blood on her hands. Well, now's your chance to prove it, Violet...

Finally, after several excruciating seconds, Violet makes her decision. Something caves in her expression, as if she can't hold herself back from the temptation anymore. I see it in her eyes as her knife digs back into my neck, but I have no more time to bargain, no more time to convince her to do the right thing. Her blade slices through me layer by layer until there's nothing left to slice.

The last thing I hear is her voice, so quiet I could have imagined it.

"I'm sorry..."