trigger warning: brief mention of suicide, descriptions of dead bodies.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
THE RIDE TO THE ARENA WAS IN THE VERY SAME TRUCK THAT DROPPED THE TRIBUTES INTO THE ZOO. This time, the back was filled with herself, the Dean, and a few peacekeepers. The truck pulled right up through the entrance, backing up until the back door was lined up with the turnstiles.
Cari was the first out, deadly silence filling the air as she immediately moved back to the front of the truck, where Treech had fallen.
Only, he wasn't there.
Finding the very spot where Treech had died, the space was empty. It couldn't be the wrong entrance; the ceiling above was gone, as Coral had broken through in an attempt to get Lucy Gray.
Had they already removed Treech's body? She had told the Dean she wanted to see him, to say goodbye. Her voice cracking, she spoke, not moving her sights from the ground before her. "Where is he?"
At no response, she turned, finding the others filing out of the truck boredly. "I said, where is he?"
The Dean, his back turned as he downed a vial of Morphling, gulped. "Hmm?" He pivoted, following her eyes. "Oh, yes, him. He was removed to make way for the truck."
Was the Dean seriously saying Treech was in the way? "You said—"
"I allowed you to come here, I made no guarantees about the location of your tribute."
Is he fucking serious? "So what? His body is gone? Will I still be able to see him?"
The Dean gave pause. "You will be able to see him, at some point. Now..." he waved her over. "The rest of the tributes await."
The rest of the arena was bright, and airy, sunlight still streaming in. "Can I... have a few minutes alone?" She was fuming, but couldn't dwell on it just yet.
"Miss Finch—"
"I will give you Morphling." She knew it was wrong to fuel his reliance, but at that moment she didn't care. She would not say goodbye in the presence of the others who accompanied her. "My father has some left over from a fall a few years ago."
Casca stared at her, analyzing the girl. "Ten minutes." He faced the peacekeepers, who awaited his command. "Not yet."
They seemed happy enough to get back in the truck and relax, allowing Araucaria to advance into the arena, turnstile telling her once more to enjoy the show.
The first thing she noticed was the smell. She had blocked it out when they rescued Sejanus, her adrenaline too high.
But there were over a dozen dead bodies cooking in the sun, some there for more than a day. She pushed back a gag; the smell was the least of her concerns.
She knew where Mizzen would be, but she wasn't ready just yet to face him. Instead she made her way into the tunnels, eyes low as she searched for Mizzen's necklace.
