The Spark

The Final Day

I was covered in mud and dirt by the time I'd finished digging. It wasn't deep, but it was full of sharp sticks.

I grabbed some branches and laid them over the top, then started to pack snow around it.

I wiped sweat off my forehead and trudged out into the forest, looking for some berries to pick. I found some and started to pick them, eating some occasionally. My hands shook with the gravity of the situation, and I wondered if I would faint.

"Ouch!" I had, once again, pricked my finger. "Again? SERIOUSLY?"

Stupid plant. I kept picking berries, then headed for the Cornucopia, not feeling very hungry anymore.

Now we play the waiting game.

I hid in a small 'corner' of the Cornucopia, some empty crates covering the side, facing the opening.

He's gonna bail on us, Sky said. I just know it.

I know you don't trust him but... right now he's all we got.

He can't be all we have.

You have a better idea?

When Grayce falls in, we push him in.

That will kill him.

That's the point. He dies and you make it out.

And become a murderer? No chance. He has a plan and won't bail.

Fine. But when you die, it's not my fault.

I'm willing to take that chance.

I watched as Terrek led Grayce out toward the Cornucopia. I took a deep breath and clutched the glowing flower, then snuck out from my hiding spot, pretending like I haven't noticed them.

Grayce gave a shout and charged toward me.

I ran, positioning myself on the other side of the pit I dug.

I'm sorry... but please... fall in.

She thought nothing of it.

And a few moments later, I heard a scream cut short.

I stop running and fall to my knees, taking deep breaths. Terrek ran over to me and gave me a hug as tears spilled down my face. His shoulders shook as he cried quietly, and we sit there, the final two in the arena.

"I-I'm so... so sorry." I could barely form my words. A cannon shot goes off in the distance.

He squeezed me a bit. "It's okay. It's okay. We did it. We did it, Mako. We're gonna get out of here."

I grabbed the glass flower from the package I had placed it in to keep it safe while I ran, handing it to Terrek.

He let go of me and took the flower. He stared down at it, his hands trembling.

I spoke softly. "We still have one last step."

"Right," he said, his voice hoarse.

"We could jump from the top of the Cornucopia," I murmured. "Or find poisonous berries..."

I paused, a thought came to me in our silence.

"I have an idea... though we'll get a little bloody."

"What is it?" he asked, leaning in closer so the viewers couldn't hear.

"I still have my throwing knives. We could threaten to slice our throats or stab a vital organ. If they think we're lying at first we could start to slice or stab, it'll hurt, but it'll prove that we're willing to do anything."

"Okay." He took a deep breath. "Let's do it."

I nodded and pulled out two throwing knives. He took one, his hand shaking, and I took the other.

I looked around at the arena, starting to shake.

"Ready?" I whispered, my gaze returning to Terrek.

He reached forward with his free hand and took my own, the glass flower between our palms.

"One," I whispered.

"Two," he whispered back, raising the knife to his throat.

"Three." I placed the knife on my throat and started to cut. I can hear Terrek gasping and sputtering as I just kept cutting deeper, begging for the announcer to stop us.

But it never came.

The world started to go blurry, and I dropped my knife. I collapsed in the snow, barely able to register Terrek do the same. He stared me dead in the eye and holds my hand.

Goodbye, my mind whispered.