Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
THE THREE ENTERED THE DARK AND DAMP TUNNEL UNPERSUED. Whether it was from being outnumbered, or prioritizing the stray waters, Coral and Mizzen stayed behind, allowing Treech, Lamina, and Zea to escape safely.
"This way!" The boy led the two younger teens around, his short stint in the tunnels producing at least some useful knowledge.
Between him and Lamina, Zea clung weakly. Tanner's chain sickle had hit its mark, the weakest part of her.
He led them to a door, rusted open and marked for staff. "In here."
Stairs awaited them, and Zea gave a groan, "Just leave me here, I beg you." Down and down the steps went, far below the tunnels other tributes sought haven in.
"We aren't leaving you," Lamina protested, panting from the journey. She had eaten nothing since the night before the games began, and had only had the water Pup sent her. The efforts to escape the pack, as well as carry Zea, threatened her with collapse.
Another groan from Zea, "Then throw me over, I don't think I can do those stairs." Even on a standard day, her legs would protest the descent.
The boy beside her paused, nodding for Lamina to release Zea. He turned, arms set behind him, "Get on my back."
"What?"
"Get on my back, I'll carry you down."
Such a simple offer, but Zea felt tears pricking at her eyes. The task had been delegated to Panlo. He was dead barely a day and already, his job lobbed onto someone else. She barely raised her voice as she let out an "Okay."
Treech grunted under her weight, but didn't complain as he nodded to Lamina, "You go first."
She gave a silent nod, taking to the steps, occasionally shooting a nervous glance behind her at the two.
Blood from Zea's legs fell in droplets every few steps, leaving a barely visible trail to follow. Treech, either too focused on carrying her or genuinely unconcerned, said nothing when she pointed it out, huffing as he neared the landing where Lamina stood.
"Let's stop for a bit," he suggested, bending his knees to lower Zea gently to the ground.
"Good," she teased, placing her back to the wall and sliding down, clutching at her leg with a wince, "All those stairs really took a lot out of me."
Beside her, Lamina gave a short laugh, dropping down to sit beside her as Treech bent forward, hands on knees as he took heavy breaths. "Is she serious?" He gasped out.
His district partner shook her head, leaning forward to inspect Zea's leg. "Can I see?" When she received a nod, her hands began to roll up blue denim.
The friction of the material against Zea's torn skin elicited a hiss, the redhead stopping her movements entirely with wide eyes. "No," Zea reaffirmed, bringing her hand to her mouth, "It's fine, go on."
