Timber

Chapter Forty-Three: Charcoal Undertow

The water churned around Marina as she worked the net with expert hands, her braid lashed out like a whip as she fought to keep Aaron subdued. Her physique was lithe, shaped by countless hours in the oceans of district four. The muscles in her arms were sharply defined as she pulled both herself and Aaron into deeper waters. She seemed to be an extension of the sea itself. Aaron's body jerked violently under the tension of the net. Each time Marina yanked the mesh, Aaron vanished beneath the surface, only to appear moments later gasping for breath, his legs thrashing in a futile attempt to free himself.

"Aaron!" Ruby squealed. Beside her, Ethan flung the items in his lap aside, his fingers fumbling to set an arrow in the rest of his bow.

Up further on shore, Kai had run away and ducked behind a palm tree, his wide eyes peeking out. Ethan's voice cracked as he shouted for Ruby to run. Ruby stood rooted to the spot, her stare frozen and unblinking, she was rigid as if the horror before her had turned her to stone.

Silus sprinted toward the sounds of struggle, his boots flinging tufts of sand behind him. Hazel followed close on his heels, her feet sliding on the loose sand. Each step seemed to stretch out painfully long as they watched Aaron gasp for air. Marina pulled a flailing Aaron deeper into the surf, submerging him once again.

"Take a shot, Ethan!" Hazel yelled as she ran. Ethan, with bow in hand, had the bowstring pulled back.

His scrutiny darted from Aaron to Marina, his arms adjusted, the bow creaked slightly under the strain, his muscles visibly tensed as he aimed. Frustration creased his brow until finally, with a grimace, he lowered the bow, "Damn it, I can't." He tossed the bow into the sand as he closed the distance between himself and the ocean. As he hit the surf, his pace faltered under the resistance of the waves. Water splashed around him, droplets arcing like shattered glass in the sunlight as he bellowed, "Hang on, Aaron!"

At the sound of Ethan's voice, Marina's head snapped up, her stare held the chill of the deep-sea currents. She tightened her grip on the net, pulling Aaron closer before diving beneath the surf once more. From the shore, Hazel's heart raced as she watched Aaron's movements grow sluggish, his attempts to resist becoming weaker.

Ethan finally reached them and lunged at Marina, attempting to pry her away from Aaron. However, Marina dove beneath the waves again, slipping out of Ethan's reach. She resurfaced moments later, a gleam of steel was visible in her hand. Ethan recoiled as she brandished the knife, slashing at him. Water erupted around them as they grappled in the churning sea.

As Hazel and Silus neared the scene, another figure rose from the water ahead. Flynn, tall and athletic, emerged from the surf, clear droplets streaming down his sculpted frame. His damp sandy hair hung over his face, revealing sharp, sea-green irises. In his palms, he held a sleek harpoon, its dark, razor-sharp head shone in the ocean's reflection, a sophisticated blend of metal and engineered materials. Flynn's muscles tensed and his expression darkened, like a squall brewing on the horizon, the harpoon poised above his head, blocking the path to their group. Hazel skidded to a stop, her heart pounding. It appeared that the district four tributes had been lying in wait, choosing this moment to strike when Hazel and her group were most distracted.

Silus adjusted his footing, adopting a broader stance. His gaze darted briefly to his red-bladed axe resting on the beach.