Torn: Sequel to Ruthless

Chapter 8

Octavia 

I reach the Cornucopia in seconds, trailing behind Rubie, Apollo, Kai, the boy from District 10, and Ashlee, the girl from District 7. My instincts take over; I grab a backpack and sprint away without hesitation. When I reach the podiums, an unexpected silence greets me. I scan the Cornucopia—no sign of the usual bloodbath. A few tributes are fleeing, their faces marked with confusion. Something is off.

I unzip my backpack, revealing a sword wrapped in a blanket. Just as I pull it out, a boy rushes past me. I act on impulse, slashing at his leg and drawing the first blood of the Games. My breath catches as I watch the crimson trail drip to the ground, mesmerized by the sight. Screams finally break out, snapping me back to reality. The chaos reignites as tributes arm themselves, and I finish off the injured boy on the ground with a quick thrust. Two shudders later, he's still.

A deep rumbling echoes through the Cornucopia, followed by the crashing sound of walls crumbling. The arena opens up before us, revealing an expansive landscape. Clutching my backpack, I scramble away from the falling debris, barely making it out alive.

I claim one more life before our alliance secures the Cornucopia: Apollo, Seena, Kai, and me. The cannons sound one by one. Nine times. The hovercraft appears, taking the fallen away, and we retreat into the Cornucopia's shadows. Apollo drapes an arm over me, maintaining the illusion of our alliance's bond. If only that arm belonged to Kai. Between the four of us, we inventory our supplies: three identical backpacks. Each holds a small box of crackers, dried meat, a large water bottle, a waterproof jacket, a blanket, a flashlight with spare batteries, basic first aid supplies, rope, and a sword.

"It's not much, but we can work with it," Apollo assesses.

"I want to explore," Seena says, eyes glinting with determination.

We murmur in agreement. The next eight hours are a grueling trek through the arena's vastness. We discover a circular train track that bisects the area, branching into eight paths like spokes of a wheel. The center is littered with debris, broken walls, and stagnant pools of sewer water. Beyond the tracks, we navigate benches, rusted vending machines, and crumbling ticket booths.

After hours, we reach the edge of the arena, walking parallel to the force field. No more kills—our disappointment is palpable. The arena remains cloaked in darkness, and we set up camp near a platform marked 'Platform 8,'  a few meters from the tracks. Our blankets form a triangle, supplies in the center. The moment I sink into my blanket, exhaustion claims me.

I'm jolted awake by Kai. "Your watch," he whispers. I rub my eyes, nodding an apology for my brief sleep. He hands me the flashlight and my sword.

"It's before midnight. The anthem hasn't played yet. Wake Seena when you're tired."

"Thanks," I murmur. "Sleep well."

He settles in my spot as I take position on a bench, sword spinning in my restless hands. An hour passes before the anthem begins. Ten faces light the sky—both tributes from Districts 5 and 6, the boy from District 9, both from 10 and 11, and the boy from 12. Fourteen remain.

I mark the train's circuit: twenty-two minutes and six seconds. My lids droop when a cannon fires, jolting me awake. A clatter sounds behind me, and I kick Seena, waking her. In moments, we're all up, weapons drawn, ready. The flashlight reveals Ashlee from District 7, her partner already fleeing. Ashlee charges. Seena chases the boy, leaving us three to face her. Agile and fierce, she manages to slash Apollo's chest before retreating into the shadows. Kai takes guard as I kneel to help Apollo. I grab the first aid kit and press a cloth to his wound.

"It's not that bad," Apollo grits out, though the blood says otherwise.

"Not that bad?" I echo, focusing on bandaging him.

Seena returns, breathless and alone. Her eyes are clouded with guilt.

"Where's the boy?" Kai demands, his voice tense.

"I... couldn't do it," Seena admits. "He wasn't a threat. He looked terrified. I couldn't."

Kai's frustration boils over. "This is the Hunger Games, Seena! Survival comes first!"

"I know!" Her voice breaks. "But I couldn't. He's... someone I care about."

I stare at her, stunned. "You know him?"

"Yes," she whispers, tears pooling in her eyes. "I think I love him."

The weight of her confession hangs in the air, a stark contrast to the deadly reality we face. Kai's expression hardens, frustration spilling over. "This isn't a game about love, Seena! You need to focus on surviving!"

"But I can't just ignore my feelings!" she cries. "I thought I could, but when I saw him, all I could think about was the way he looked scared, just... lost."

"Still, Seena, THIS IS THE HUNGER GAMES!" Kai's calm demeanor breaks. "YOU CAN'T-"

I grab Kai's arm, pulling him away from Apollo and Seena, hoping he'll calm down.

"C'mon," I say lightheartedly, "she's your district partner. Lighten up on her."

"Why would I lighten up on her? She let him go!" Kai screams, frustrated.

"But she loves him," I reply calmly, placing a hand on his arm. 

Kai's face is contorted, reflecting conflict. Sensing he's calmed down, I lead him back to Apollo and Seena. Finally, he bursts, his voice trembling with emotion, "You just don't get it! You know what it feels like to love someone, but I don't! You understand the ache of wanting someone so deeply! Seena knows love! Apollo knows love! I'm the only one left in this! I'm the only one who longs for this!"

I know what it's like to want someone. I know what it's like to want you.

His breakdown hovers between us like a fragile thread, the air heavy with unsaid words. I want to tell him that love isn't a liability, but a strength. That Seena's feelings for the boy from District 7 could give her a reason to fight harder to survive. He looks at each of us, eyes filled with a longing that breaks through his hardened shell. "You all have someone. I'm the one left wanting. The one who never knows what it's like."

My breath catches. I reach out, voice steady. "You're not alone, Kai. We're your reason. We're a team."

Kai looks down, his jaw clenched. "It's easy for you to say. You and Apollo... and Seena with her boy. What do I have?"

You have me.

"We need to stay alert," I remind my alliance, trying to shift the mood. "Ashlee could come back, and we don't know if anyone else is out there. We should keep our eyes open."

Kai's eyes drop, the fight in him dimming. "Yeah," he whispers. "We survive first."

We reset our positions, wary of the darkness. The silence settles, but the fire within us shifts, driven by something more than survival—by the fragile hope that love, in whatever form, might just save us.