Chapter 41
NARRATOR | Lucas Li, District 6
TIME | Day 7
TRIBUTES REMAINING | 11
It's been about an hour since the wolves finally left us alone, but my heart still hasn't stopped thumping. I've never seen anything like that in my life, and I hope I never have to again.
Those creatures... I still don't know what I was looking at. They looked like some sort of hound, but their fur had been carved out, leaving glistening plates of sapphire. Whatever they were meant to be, their message was loud and clear - no matter who has the sapphire bracelet, the Gamemakers are the ones who are truly in control.
Speaking of that damn bracelet, it's still wrapped around my wrist, and I feel like it's burning its way through my skin. How many people have already died just to touch this piece of metal? I felt its power for the first time tonight, and I also felt just how easy it was to lose it. The wolf pack must have been programmed to hunt for it, because they were clawing at the trunk of my treetop hideout for hours. I considered just throwing it to them and getting it over with, but I knew I'd never be able to with Violet watching over my shoulder.
I heard two cannon shots tonight, and it would be a miracle if one of them wasn't for Evelyn. Part of me is glad to see her gone - after everything we've been through, I find some satisfaction in the fact that I outlasted her. She thought she had our whole group under her control, but she was just as expendable as the rest of us at the end of the day.
Still, no matter how happy I am to see Evelyn gone, I can't ignore the possibility that Violet could do the same thing to me that she did to her. What's to say that Violet won't leave me to be killed by whichever muttation attacks her next? I'm not stupid - Violet was closer to Evelyn than she was to me, but at the same time, she knows that I'm more loyal than Evelyn ever was.
It's not out of the question, really. Violet's never looked so glad to be apart from the sapphire as she was tonight with the bracelet around my wrist. The wolves who tried to attack me tonight practically ignored Violet just a few feet away, and it didn't even seem like Violet cared one bit about what happened to me. I think she went to sleep before the wolves even left for the night.
Ashlyn's words from yesterday still ring in my ears. "Don't let Violet take control of these Games... don't let her take control of you." I haven't forgotten, and now that Violet's bad side has returned, I'm in even more danger than I thought. Violet is gearing up for a full-on rampage, and I'm the only person in this Arena who has the power to stop her.
Looking back, I feel so stupid. I've let Violet walk all over me this whole time, probably because I'm used to it back in Six. I knew what she was doing, but I just let it happen because I truly believed that she would repay me for my loyalty. Well, Declan and Evelyn thought the same thing, and where did that get them? Did I really think that Violet cared about me enough to protect me in this Arena? I'm only here as Violet's lifeline, so she can throw me to the wolves to save herself.
Somehow, it took Ashlyn's warning to snap me from my trance. Looking back, Evelyn and Declan have been suspicious of Violet this whole time, but I didn't trust them for a second. I knew that they wanted to pry me from Violet so that they could have her protection to themselves. I saw them as my rivals - the three of us were all fighting for the same thing in this Arena. Now that I'm the last one standing, I see that we were all fighting for a nonexistent prize.
Ashlyn, on the other hand, had no motive to tell me what she did. If Violet's character is apparent to someone who doesn't even know her, then I'm clearly in trouble.
I couldn't have known any better, really. Back in Six, the loser was the role I naturally fit into - I just never fit in anywhere, and that was how it always was. I was a practical joke; as soon as I arrived at a new job site, I'd be sent to the next one. I was too weak to work at any of the construction sites, and I was too clumsy to operate the factory jobs. I tried to get into the engineering sector, but I failed the entrance exam. Even Dina passed me along when I was in her crew in the hovercraft sector.
So when Violet approached me that day in Training, I saw my opportunity. I had a chance to be a part of something, and I had a chance to survive past the first day of the Games. Dina didn't have that opportunity, and she's long gone now. I truly felt like a member of a team. We would protect each other until the end of the Games, and I'd have a fair chance of surviving these Games.
Well, it took a week, but I've realized my mistake. Nothing in this Arena is fair, and I know that now. But no matter how low my position is in here, I still have one last card to play.
I glance over to the tree next to me, examining Violet's face. My greatest protector and my greatest threat. It's only a matter of time before Violet pulls the sapphire bracelet from my wrist... If I don't make this move now, I may not get the chance again.
Don't be a coward for once, Lucas, I hear Dina scold me, just like she did back in Training. Do what's right.
Before I know it, my feet are touching the ground. I'm not even sure that the wolves aren't wandering the forest around me, but I have to take that chance. I have a better chance of survival by taking this risk than I do staying with Violet.
I take one last look back at Violet. Tomorrow, she'll wake up to find that her most loyal ally has finally betrayed her. I've known Violet long enough to know how she'll react; the second my bracelet marks my location, she'll be after me, and she'll do anything to make me pay for this.
Still, I know that this is my only chance to take a stand and fight for myself in this Arena. And I'll do whatever I can to make sure Violet doesn't get her hands on this sapphire ever again.
A/N - Finally, Lucas is taking a stand and fighting for himself! As to how this will work out for him, we'll have to wait and see...
~S