Torn: Sequel to Ruthless

Chapter 12

Octavia

Turns out, we stayed up until midnight, caught up in caring for Bark. By the time we arrive at Platform 8, we set up the blankets again. This time, we assign two people to take longer watches so Bark can rest uninterrupted. He's already asleep when we finish. Seena and Apollo join him not long after. 

The anthem plays, but none of them wake up. First is Rubie. Then the girl from District 9 we killed this morning. And that's it. Twelve tributes remain. I count them off on my fingers: Wonder, me, Apollo. The District 3 pair. Kai and Seena. Ashlee and Bark. The girl from District 8 and Taylor. The girl from 12. Taylor. He wasn't there at the bloodbath. Maybe Snow killed him for liking Cassia.

"What are you thinking about?" Kai's voice cuts through my thoughts.

"The tributes," I reply simply.

"What about them?" he presses.

"There's eleven of us left," I respond, deliberately excluding Taylor.

"I know, but what about them? You still haven't answered me."

"Can you just leave me alone with my thoughts for a while, Kai? I need some time."

"Alright."

His voice is soft. True to his word, he leaves me alone. He only speaks again an hour later.

"I'm getting tired. Could I switch out with Apollo?" he asks.

He does look exhausted.

"Sure," I say, "but I'm staying up. I won't sleep anyway, and Seena needs her rest after today."

Kai shrugs. "Suit yourself."

He slips off, leaving me alone on the bench with my sword. On the inside, I'm desperate for his presence—to sit beside me, to sleep beside me if he's tired. But on the outside, my face remains a mask of indifference. Soon, Apollo joins me.

"Hey," he greets softly.

"Hey."

"Tired? Kai said you didn't want to sleep."

"No, I'm fine. Besides, Seena needs her rest."

I inch closer to Apollo, the cold bench pressing against my back as the distance between us shrinks. For a moment, the oppressive darkness of the arena feels less overwhelming.

"I feel like we should go farther than this," he whispers.

"You know," I murmur, my voice low, "they expect us to like each other. More than friends. I feel like we've shown them that so far. But think about Missy and Rowan back home. How do you think they'd react if we... went further?"

"I know, and I know you like Kai. I've seen how you act around him."

I freeze.

"You do?"

"Yeah, you get all shy and embarrassed."

"Fine," I mutter. "I like him."

Apollo's smile is faint, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if we pretend to be star-crossed lovers? Make it out together. Then afterward, you can be with Kai."

"But he'll be dead," I whisper furiously.

"I know a guy who can revive him," Apollo counters, his tone confident.

"Really?"

"Positive."

Then, before pulling away, he leaves a light kiss on my temple. I imagine the Capitol going crazy. The whispered conversation. The kiss. Our 'romance' is not fully in motion yet, but it's a start. I never sleep that night. Seena and Bark wake first, their conversation drawing quiet smiles. Kai wakes soon after, and we share our crackers and cheese. Bark's wounds have mostly healed. Seena's bruises are fading. Apollo's chest is clear of even a scar. As the sun rises, Apollo suggests an idea.

"What if we use the trains to get around?"

Bark immediately agrees, and Seena quickly follows. After some consideration, I nod. Kai agrees last, and we set off.

The train arrives, its doors opening for 30 seconds. As it starts moving, I'm flung backward into Apollo. He catches me, steadying me with strong arms. My cheeks burn as I awkwardly pull away. The train proves fruitful—hidden compartments in the floor yield food, water, supplies, and weapons. We find batteries behind a wall panel. The most shocking discovery, though, is the District 3 pair. They bolt before we can confront them.

Eventually, we settle at Platform 3. With Kai and Apollo on watch, I finally drift off to sleep.

The next couple of days are uneventful. We sort supplies, keep watch, and care for Bark, who still can't walk far. Seena and Bark's connection deepens, keeping the Capitol entertained. Apollo and I share light moments, though nothing too dramatic.

But the calm unsettles me. I can't shake the feeling that something big is coming. And in the Hunger Games, it always does.