In her favor

𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄

THERE WAS NO WAY, Saleah Barnette was still alive. At least that's what everyone in District eleven was thinking.

She had fallen into freezing cold water. They all watched as the girl's body collided with a hard ice block, shattering it before she fell into the body of water.

Even though they were sure she was dead, the cannon had not gone off.

Maybe she was alive? But how was it possible, she couldn't even swim. She would drown.

But the people of eleven were proven wrong when Saleah's body had been retrieved from the water by another tribute.

Saleah was unconscious, her brown skin pale and lips blue.

She was alive, but for how much longer?

-

Saleah's eyes stayed closed.

Was she dead? She had no idea.

All she knew was that she was freezing cold, but at the same time she was warm. She could feel the cold air brushing her face, but to her left she could feel heat radiating on that side of her body.

The last thing she remembered was being thrown into the water by Faye..so where was she now? Heaven? She did not think Heaven would be this cold.

Slowly, she opened her eyes. She felt weak, pain overtook her limbs. Her head throbbed.

She could see the clear sky, but all around her were trees topped with snow.

This was definitely not Heaven.

She was still in the arena.

She rose up, panicking. She was still in the arena. She was still in the games.

Why was she here? Shouldn't she be dead?

Being dead was definitely better than being in the games, she thought. Her eyes started to well up with tears. She was still a tribute in the Hunger Games.

Before she could panic even more, a voice spoke.

"You're awake."

Saleah's head whipped around. There stood the female tribute from District four, Isla Shallow. Saleah hadn't even noticed the girl, or the fire that the girl had made, because she had been too busy panicking.

"What...What happened?"

"I saw you fall into the lake, I thought you were dead, so I took you out so the hovercraft could come get you, but to my surprise you were very much alive. You had a pulse, so.." The girl explained.

Saleah frowned, "Why didn't you kill me?"

"It didn't seem right...I've only killed one person during the games, and it felt awful. I couldn't bring myself to do it again."

"Oh." Was all Saleah could say.

"You're lucky you survived, most people in your position would've been dead already."

Saleah scoffed, "I'd be better off dead." 

Isla hummed.

"How many of us are left?" Saleah questioned.

Isla thought for a moment before speaking, "I'd say about five or six of us. I know for sure that Faye's still alive, and both tributes from five as well."

"What about your district partner? What happened to him?"

"Dead. Just like yours."

Saleah sighed, trying her best to not think about her long gone district partner, Craig. She also tried not to think about Jessica, or Feather.

She changed the subject, "How long was I out?"

"Two days."

"TWO DAYS?!?" She gasped, "How is that even possible..."

Isla made a clicking noise with her tongue, "You had quite a fall Saleah.. You hit your head pretty hard, I'm sure you can feel the pain?"

Saleah nodded, she sure did. Her head throbbed with intensity.

"You most likely have a concussion." Isla explained.

"Great." Saleah muttered sarcastically.

They two girls sat in silence for a while, until Isla spoke up.

"I'm surprised we hadn't crossed paths at all until now."

"Well, I was hiding out in a cave for a while. Well, Feather and I." Saleah explained.

Isla hummed, "I'm sorry about him. You two were good together. You killed 3 out of four careers, that's impressive."

Saleah sighed, "I guess. You're from four, why weren't you with them?"

"Me and my district partner, Xan wanted to avoid them. Eventually they all turn on each other, it was too much. Plus they only wanted me, not Xan." She explained.

Saleah's brows furrowed. Xan seemed like a great addition to the career pack, why would they have not wanted him?

Isla saw the confused look on Saleah's face and chuckled, "Xan looked strong, I know, but he was a softy at heart. That's what got him killed." Isla grimaced.

Saleah's eyes softened at the girl's words. It was cruel really. The whole thing. The games, the separate districts. Panem. All of it.

"I keep thinking, why? Why have random children go into the games, you know? What's so entertaining about watching children kill each other?" Saleah questioned out loud.

Isla shrugged, "I have no idea..."

"I just wish I could go home." Saleah pursed her lips, trying her best not to cry.

"Me too. I have a little brother and a father. I can't imagine what would happen if I died, you know?" Isla said.

Saleah nodded, "I'm the oldest. I have six siblings. The oldest of them is only ten. I don't know what they'd do without me."

"Only one can win, Saleah. I have no idea who it's going to be."

"Me either."

Saleah stared at the sky, thinking about everything and nothing at the same time.

A glow caught her eye, she turned towards a few bushes that were behind her and Isla, covered in snow. She could see something blue coming from inside of them.

"Do you see that?" She asked Isla.

"What?" Isla turned her head to the bushes, her eyes went wide with curiosity.

Saleah stood up and headed towards the bushes, ignoring Isla's protests.

She separated the leaves and gasped.

There were butterflies. Glowing blue butterflies.

Saleah took one letting it sit on her pointer finger as she brought it over to Isla, who stared in awe.

"Do you have something I can put it in?" Saleah asked.

Isla searched her backpack and pulled out a flask. Saleah gently placed the winged creature into the flask, going back to the bushes to collect more of them.

She then sat down next to Isla, "How is that even possible?"

Isla shurgged, "I don't know. The Capitol can really do anything huh?"

"Guess so." Saleah said.

It was crazy how something so beautiful resided in a violent place. But Saleah wasn't complaining, she did love butterflies after all.