Save me - A Hunger Games Story

Chapter 12

'So there are 8 of us left.' Pointed out Ash, as we scavenged for berries the next morning. He popped one in his mouth. Suddenly, the anthem blurted through the forest and the familiar voice of Felix Falcon??? rang in my slightly startled ears. 

'Congratulations tributes for making it to the final 8. We have a special surprise for you at the cornucopia tomorrow morning. These prizes will be essential for what is to come.' He laughed and went silent.

'We can't go, they will be trying to lure us in.' said Ash immediately.

'We have to. Did you not hear Felix saying that they will be essential for what is to come. What if we are not prepared for what is ahead? We have to go; we just have to be careful.'

Reluctantly, Ash agreed and we continued to collect berries.

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Once again, that evening, I walked down to the wider stream where a few more fish were swimming. I was getting quite handy with my knife, and I managed to catch two more. After finishing eating them, we stomped out the fire and I shivered. The wind was strong and freezing. It was going to be a cold night. 

'Come on.' said Ash. 'Lets get inside the cave.'

We curled up in the sleeping bags and faced each other.

'You're like the little sister I never had, you know.' stated Ash.

'And you're like my big brother.' I agreed.

'I miss when we were all younger. Lucy and I were thick as thieves and you would always sit reading at the other end of the room when I was around. You were so shy. I wish you would have joined us.'

'Yeah. I was shy back then, wasn't I.' I replied and we both laughed. 'What actually happened between you two?' I asked.

'I don't know.' Ash responded. 'Once I had to take my fathers job at the coal mine, when he was unable, I worked almost everyday and never got to see her. Then just over the years, we didn't speak. Until the day of the reaping.'

'What?' I asked, confused.

'After we had been reaped and were sent to rooms in the Justice Building, Lucy came running in, tears streaming down her cheeks, begging for you to help me in the games. She told me that she was so sorry for what happened to our friendship and she would repay me in any way.'

I recoiled. 'What? I thought you allied with me because we were friends. Not because my older sister had begged you to. God, I'm so stupid aren't I?'

'No. At first I was going to ally with you because of her, but when we went on that first Tribute Parade, and I got to see who you really were, I wanted to ally with you because I liked you. You are just how I want to be. Brave, kind and strong.'

I smiled. 'So you allied with me because you wanted to. Not because my sister wanted you to?'

'Yes,' He assured, pulling me in for a hug.

I fell asleep on his shoulder, finally reassured that I had one true friend here, that understood what I was going through.