Hunger | A Jikook Hunger Games AU

̶̶̶̶ «̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ «̶ ̶̶̶ Chapter Eighteen ̶ ̶ ̶»̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ »̶ ̶̶̶

It was colder than it had been in the days before. Jimin hugs himself, dressed in all layers on this chilly morning. The smell of rain was on the horizon, much to the pair's dismay. They talked about it in the morning, deciding to try the jungle region if it rains in the forest. If they were lucky, the rainforest would be dry—ironically—while rain comes down in the woods.

For now though, they stayed in the region they were most comfortable in, staying close to the rainforest ring, but not straying over the line just yet. Jungkook walks close next to him, their arms brushing as they go. He was cold too. Any touch, however small, warms them up, if only a little bit.

"It's been too silent," Jungkook remarks. "I'm surprised..."

Jimin looks at him softly. He knows why Jungkook feels that way. He was incredibly surprised the game makers would let uneventful days pass so late into The Games. Capitalites were probably getting bored.

"It'll come soon enough," Jimin answers. "Let's just stay far away from it."

Jungkook nods in agreement.

The rainforest gives the pair a bit of extra warmth. The humidity makes it marginally warmer than the rest of the woods. Jimin pauses at one point, putting his hands out, and warming them like he would over a fire. It actually does help.

Wind tugs at Jimin's hair. It stings his face a bit. The change in temperature was starting to bring Jimin anxiety. Were they putting the tributes into more discomfort to make them more irritable? Jimin knows there are still tributes in the arena who would kill over something so trivial. It was such a small thing—the change in weather...but they've been in the arena for so long. Tomorrow will be two weeks.

"Okay, I want to rest for a second," Jungkook takes a deep breath. "Just for a second."

"Alright..." Jimin trails. They've had to stop more frequently than in days past. Jimin can feel himself getting weaker.

"Only for a second," The taller repeats. "I promise I'm good to go."

"Koo, it's okay," Jimin rubs his back. "It's good to take breaks."

"Sure," Jungkook sounds a bit dejected. "But-"

"You traitor!"

Jimin and Jungkook don't even stop to look at each other in shock. Jimin swiftly leads his lover to the bushes.

"How dare you keep this from us!" A female voice rings through the trees. Jimin peers out, and his eyes widen.

Five girls and a boy are grouped together. Jimin immediately recognizes them as Careers. One of the girls kicks another girl in the chest, and she stumbles to the ground. The first girl looms over her.

"You don't hide sponsor gifts from us," She holds up an empty canister—obviously a gift from a sponsor—before thrusting it to the floor. The container and lid clang together loudly. "Those were the rules. You hide resources, you die."

The other girl in the conflict glares up at her. "You say that as if you haven't been hoarding resources yourself."

Her gaze hardens. Thunder rolls in the background. "...What?"

"I've seen it too," Another girl confronts her. "You always take more food when divvying it up. You're not as smooth as you think you are, Atalanta."

The girl named Atalanta steps forward. "Don't you dare speak to me like that."

"Or what?" The boy speaks up. "You think you're so much better than us because you're from District 1. You're not special just because you came from more."