𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 - 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟏𝟔

𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝟖

donghyuck, jihyun, mark and renjun had returned to the cave by the lake and the minute they got settled inside, a storm began outside. even if they managed to convince donghyuck to go back to the others, they wouldn't be able to.

jihyun knew this was all part of the gamemaker's plan. they had put the storm in the arena at that exact moment on purpose, to separate each other. they didn't want them to be together. that was clear.

"donghyuck." jihyun called out to the boy who was sitting far away from the rest of them. "we have to go back. we have no fire, food and barely any weapons."

"i know..." he muttered. "i'm sorry. i should've left you with them so at least you'd be safe while your leg heals."

"it's alright. i'm healing quick. i'll be fine soon. now come lay with us." she patted the space next to her and he moved to lay there.

"we'll discuss more in the morning when the storm has hopefully calmed down. night." mark said and they replied with their 'nights' too.

several minutes had passed and none of them had fallen asleep. they had too much on their minds and it was cold so they were shivering which made it even harder to sleep.

"it's cold." donghyuck muttered, breaking the silence.

"so... who wants to cuddle?" renjun asked.

"me and jihyun in the middle this time." mark said.

"sure whatever." he replied and the two quickly shuffled towards him. mark wrapped his arms around the boy and jihyun squished closer. she glanced over at donghyuck who was still lying in the same place.

"hyuck, come here."

he sat up, stunned by the sudden use of his nickname. when he saw them gesturing for him to join them in the comfort they found in each other, his heart swelled a bit. he nodded and laid down next to jihyun. she noticed his hesitation and grabbed his arm, pulling him closer.

it seemed like the two were switching the way they act. jihyun entered the capitol as a very cold and hard to approach person but throughout the games, she managed to loosen up around the others, showing how caring and funny she could be. for donghyuck, it was the opposite. his first impression was that he was cheery and talkative but over time, he became closed off and unable to rest for even a second. jihyun wanted to change that.

"night." she said.

"night..."

♆

𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝟗

"the storm hasn't cleared yet?" mark asked, sighing as he sat beside jihyun who was watching the rain near the cave opening.

"no and i don't think it will for a while." she replied, tossing a stick aside.

"then what do we do?"

"we stay here. it's the safest option but let's just pray the storm will pass soon because we have no food or a fire."

"the only thing we have is nightlock berries but it's not like we can eat those." he said, chuckling bitterly.

"you kept those? why?" she asked, watching him from her peripherals. he shrugged his shoulders, looking down at his hands.

"i'm not sure."

"you're not going to..." she trailed off and he looked up at her, alarmed.

"no! i wouldn't!" he exclaimed then turned away again. "i want to live..."