Timber

Chapter Fifty-Five: Curtain's Fall

Trigger Warnings for Death, Blood and Self Harm...

Hazel jerked awake. Something was wrong. Clouds clashed, and rainfall drummed in harsh beats against the metal overhead. The crisp aroma of lightning and drenched earth assaulted her senses. She took a moment to steady her breathing, her heart racing. Her body screamed, and her head spun as she jolted upright. She clawed at her temple, pressing against a pounding that harmonized with the thrum of the rainfall. Outside of the reverberation of the rain, the arena was soundless.

Her arms were chilled, and goosebumps prickled her flesh. The warmth of Silus's body was missing. She squinted in the darkness, combing through the rain and shadows, but he was nowhere in sight. It was just her, Ruby, and an empty Cornucopia. What the hell?

She raised her hand to wipe away the sleep from her eyelids when a light jangling sound filled the space. A not entirely foreign, cold sensation latched onto her wrist, and she paused. She frowned down at it; the silvery glint of a handcuff winked back at her. Attached to the other end of the metal restraint was Ruby's pale wrist. How? What? Something was definitely wrong.

The pallid tone of Ruby's arm demanded her attention. Her complexion possessed a sickly muted hue Hazel had seen many times before. Hazel shivered as her attention darted from Ruby's hand to her face. Her features were tranquil. Her snoring had dissipated, and her body was utterly still. Her lavender lips were parted ever so slightly, but no sound came from them. A sliver of her unseeing grey irises peeked between mauve lids. Hazel's heart lurched, and her mind reeled. No. Definitely, very wrong.

"Rubes?" She croaked, sliding closer. She groped at the girl's wrist as their cuffed hands jangled the metal bindings. Hazel pressed two shaking fingers to the inside of Ruby's wrist, fumbling to find the pulse point. Her skin was soft as velvet but as cool as the rain-soaked grass. She could not detect a thrum or beat of her heart.

"No." Hazel breathed, "Rubes, come on."

Hazel peeled away the matted hair that clung to Ruby's neck, revealing the thick, rosy bandages. She clawed at the wrapping with desperate sounds. Hazel's head spun, her muscles burned, but she couldn't care less, and it didn't slow her down.

The bandage tore and gave way to her wild efforts, and Hazel sucked in a breath at what was revealed. A wide laceration snaked across Ruby's collarbone. It trailed along her neck, ending just under her ear. Hazel covered her mouth with a trembling palm. A necklace of dark purple and blue discoloration made her stomach squirm in repulsion.

"Please." A sob wracked her body as she placed a finger against Ruby's delicate jugular.

Still, no warmth and no pulse of life met her fingers, only the iciness of Ruby's bloodless skin. A moan escaped Hazel as she placed her quivering hand over the girl's heart. Her chest remained stationary and felt stiff beneath Hazel's touch.

Hot tears flowed down Hazel's face, "I'm so sorry."

She pulled their bound hands up to wipe at her tears; the handcuff made soft tinkling sounds, and the cold metal bit into her. Ruby's frigid flesh brushed against hers. She grimaced at the sensation; more tears trickled down her cheeks.

The unfairness of it all washed over her, along with the tepid guilt that she had been trying to push to the back of her mind. It now ignited within her heart at the sight of the lifeless Ruby.

A flash of lightning illuminated the inside of the structure, jerking her from her thoughts. She scanned the Cornucopia again. Silus still was nowhere in sight. Another bolt showered the area with more light. Two axes were laid in the grass, Silus's large red one, and over the top was her smaller throwing axe. The backpack was missing, along with the Sapphire's breath. A sharp bite of fear mingled with her guilt-laden sorrow.