Timber

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Cornfield Crossroads

For a brief, heart-stopping moment, the entire cornfield was bathed in an otherworldly radiance. Once the ball of light from the flare had reached its peak, it exploded into a shower of crimson sparks before it began its descent. The group fell into a hushed silence as the glow of the flare sizzled out to nothing.

Eve let out a nasal deep snicker, shifting her focus from the sky to Hazel, her expression alive and crackling with excitement.

Hazel's breath caught in her throat as the remnants of the flare turned to wisps of smoke. So, this was how it was to be. Caleb was inevitably on his way, with Elara and Julian in tow, no doubt. He's not the type to hold back, and if he finds us here, outnumbered or not, it won't end well. We need a plan and fast.

Eve's gaze clouded as she glanced towards Grace, "Oh, by the way, go ahead and kill her," Her thumb caressed the knife in her hand, "It'll save me the trouble."

"What?" The question erupted simultaneously from Owen and Grace.

"Hazel, please. It's not what you think-" Grace's body trembled with her words.

"Come on," Eve taunted as her smirk widened, her gaze flicking between Hazel and Grace. "Let's see if the favored girl from seven has what it takes to actually be a victor."

The sickle's handle slicken beneath Hazel's palms as Grace stiffened her grasp. A soft whimper fell from the trembling girl's lips.

"Please, don't," Owen implored, his voice breaking as he discarded his weapon to the ground, distancing himself and holding his hands up. Aaron pulled his blade back from Owen's ear.

Hazel raised an eyebrow. "So, you'd have me eliminate one of your own?"

Eve's scrutiny shifted to Grace, a smirk forming on her lips, "She's deadweight if you will. Sometimes, you need to lighten the load. So, what are you going to do?"

Grace held her breath, tilting her head as far back from the blade as she could manage.

"I don't take orders from you," Hazel retorted.

Eve's grin widened, a gleam of mischief in her eyes. "Just from Snow, right?"

"Jealous?" Hazel questioned as she loosened her grip on the sickle.

Eve's demeanor hardened into something more serious. "Don't flatter yourself," she snapped back, "What could Snow possibly see in you?"

Hazel felt a surge of anxiety at Eve's words. She masked her unease with a soft chuckle, leaning in as if sharing a secret. "Can't help who you fall for."

Eve scoffed, her scrutiny sweeping over Hazel with disdain, from the fiery red of her hair to the stained boots she wore. "Please, a district girl? From district seven, no less?" She shook her head, amusement clear in her voice. "It's laughable."

"For someone unconvinced, you seem awfully determined to hunt me down," Hazel pointed out. "Sounds like you're taking it quite seriously. What is the point of you all going through all of this?"

"Perhaps we're just eager to expose you for who you really are," Eve barked, "Ordinary and weak."

Silus took several careful steps in her direction. "She is just baiting you," he warned. Hazel almost prayed he was right and that it was all just a bluff, a way to antagonize her.

Eve shot back, glancing towards Silus with a smirk before looking up at the arena sky, "He can't save you."

Hazel was unsure which "he" Eve was referring to, but in the end, it really didn't matter. Her own gaze lifted to the top of the arena, urging herself silently, Sell it, Hazel. "Perhaps you should reconsider before disparaging our Senator so publicly. Two. It might not seem so laughable when all is said and done."