𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍 𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐒 | hunger games ✓

chapter 34

━━･❪ 🌸 ❫ ･━━

"Aim the slightest bit to the side when you shoot," Caelum said, gently nudging Daphne's extended arm. "But not that far."

"Are you underestimating my ability to aim?" Daphne teased, fixing her line of sight down the shaft of the arrow as she adjusted her aim. The tip was pointed just outside the small circle she'd carved into the tree as a makeshift target.

"Hey, I'm not the one who almost shot one of my arrows into the sea." Caelum snorted. "I only have four left. Unfortunately, unlike most archers in the books, I can run out of ammo and I'm going to if you keep aiming too far to the left."

"Okay, okay, my bad," Daphne released the arrow, which sank into the tree trunk a bit below the target. She lowered Caelum's bow proudly. "Look, I actually got it on the tree this time."

Daphne's headache had receded after a while, and she'd begged Caelum to teach her some archery. Not only did archers look really badass, an arrow could be shot way farther than a knife could be thrown. However, Daphne's aim with a bow was atrocious, which she would never admit aloud.

Caelum let out a laugh, snatching his bow back. "Your arm is dipping as soon as you release. That's why it's going downwards." He drew an arrow and nocked it, then hesitated. Daphne watched, expecting him to shoot a perfect beeline into the center of the target just to rub it in. Instead, his eyes fell shut, and she noticed his chest rising and falling at a growing pace. He lowered the bow, a haunted look in his eyes as he shook his head.

"I can't," he whispered. "Sorry, Daph, I don't know why. I haven't been able to shoot unless it's a frantic situation since- since..."

He didn't have to finish his sentence. Daphne understood. As the bow dropped from his shaking hand, Daphne wrapped her arms around him and felt his chin drop atop her head.

"Mellie, Theron, Azalea..." Caelum's voice was hoarse. "I know Theron and Azalea were just Cortexes, but still. I shot Theron when he was alive too."

"Hey, if you didn't shoot Mellie, I wouldn't be here right now." Daphne said gently. "If you had let the Cortexes live, they would've possessed and made us kill each other."

"I know, but still."

Daphne stood and held him for a little while after that, only lifting her head once he'd stopped shaking to press a kiss against his bruised cheek. More than anything, she understood. Every time she threw a knife, even if it was necessary to save herself and Caelum, a throbbing ache went through her heart, reminding her of the lives she'd taken using those very knives. Every damn time.

"Do you smell that?" Caelum suddenly asked, pulling away to sniff the air as his spine went straight with alertness.

Daphne frowned, the husky scent touching her nose. "Is that... smoke?"

"There's nothing burning here," Caelum said, surveying their surroundings. "Must be further away."

Daphne blanched as she caught sight of a wispy, gray smoke pillar beginning to rise up in the far distance, somewhere within the suburban beach town. "Caelum, I think you were right. They're definitely chasing the last few tributes together."

Caelum tightened his grip on his bow. "Then should we be worried that our own house will catch on fire?"

"Perhaps," Daphne said, "or maybe they're bringing the battle to us." She spun around to face Caelum, grabbing him by the shoulders. "The Games may end today, Caelum. Today. All we need to do is survive the final faceoff, and we're going home!"