Torn: Sequel to Ruthless

Chapter 14

Octavia

The arena shrinks. I know because this morning, I woke up with the shimmering force field right in my face. So close. Too close. Like it had silently crept toward us overnight. Panic punched through me as I shot upright, heart hammering. The Capitol was playing its next hand—driving us together, forcing us into another bloodbath.

"Wake up!" I hiss, shaking Apollo's shoulder hard. "We have to move!"

Apollo groans, his eyelids fluttering open, but the second he sees the shimmering barrier behind me, he jolts upright, fully alert. Around us, the others stir as I hurry to nudge Seena and Kai awake. Bark is already sitting up, his sharp eyes scanning the force field, alert despite the pain from his injuries.

"The arena's closing in," I whisper urgently, throwing supplies into my pack. "We need to get out. Now."

Seena's face goes pale as she notices the barrier, her hand clutching Bark's arm like it's the only solid thing left in the world.

Kai glances at the barrier, then back at us. "We should head for the train. If the tracks run far enough, maybe we can keep ahead of it."

Apollo nods grimly. "It's our best shot. For now."

There's no time to argue. We grab what we can, shoving food, water, and weapons into our packs, then set off toward the train. Every step feels heavy, like the force field is breathing down my neck. The woods are eerily quiet, the kind of silence that presses against your chest and makes your skin crawl.

By the time we reach the tracks, sweat slicks my skin despite the cool air. The train looms ahead, its metallic shell catching the weak sunlight. It's still operational—a twisted piece of the Capitol's game, left there to taunt us. Bark hauls himself aboard first, his movements stiff but determined. Seena follows, then Kai. I hesitate, glancing back at the shimmering wall of death creeping closer.

"Octavia, hurry up!" Apollo hisses, pulling me back to reality.

I scramble onto the train, collapsing inside just as the force field edges closer. Relief is short-lived. The Capitol isn't letting us escape. They're herding us like cattle, pushing us toward an end we can't see.

We settle into a tense silence as the train begins to move. My hand tightens around my sword, the weight grounding me. I glance at Kai. He's staring out the window, his jaw set, his eyes distant. My chest tightens. Even here, in this nightmare, my heart betrays me. But I shove the feelings down. There's no room for softness in the arena.

"We can't outrun this forever," Apollo says, breaking the silence.

Kai nods. "They're pushing us to the Cornucopia. It always ends there."

The word sends a shiver through me. Cornucopia. Where it all started. Where it always ends.

That was this morning. Now, the train hums beneath us, and for a moment, the air feels cooler, almost peaceful. But peace is a lie. My fingers tighten around the hilt of my sword, and I remind myself where I am. What's at stake.

Seena notices it first—a shadow flickering in the corner of her eye. She barely has time to point before a knife whistles through the air, burying itself in her throat.

Her cannon fires almost instantly.

Bark cries out, his voice raw and guttural, as he throws himself over her lifeless body. I reach out, my fingers brushing hers. They're already cold.

It's Wonder. It has to be. Ashlee can't throw knives like that.

Bark surges to his feet, grabbing my sword with hands trembling from grief and rage. Without a word, he charges toward the shadows. Wonder steps out, his face calm, almost detached, as he meets Bark head-on. But Wonder is faster, sharper, deadlier.

Before the rest of us can react, Bark collapses, blood pooling around him.

The second cannon of the day fires.

I can't breathe. Seena and Bark are gone. Just like that.

Apollo's hand grips my arm, pulling me to my feet. "Octavia, we need to move. Now."

The force field edges closer, and we stumble off the train. The forest swallows us, the shadows deep and endless. Kai is by my side, his presence steady, but my mind is spinning. Bark. Seena. Gone.

We don't get far. A blur of movement, the glint of a knife, and suddenly Kai shoves me aside.

Time slows.

The blade sinks into his side.

"Kai!" I scream, scrambling toward him as he collapses.

Blood pours from the wound, hot and sticky against my hands as I press down, trying to stop the flow. His face is pale, his breaths shallow, but he still tries to smile—soft and warm, like always.

"I—I'm sorry," he whispers, his voice barely audible.

"Don't," I choke out, tears blurring my vision. "Don't you dare. You're going to be fine."

But I see the truth in his eyes. He's slipping away.

"Octavia..." His hand weakly finds mine. "You have to win."

"No," I sob, shaking my head. "I can't. Not without you."

His grip tightens for a moment. "You have to."

And then he's gone.

The cannon booms, but it's distant, drowned out by the sound of my heart shattering.

Rage floods me, hot and all-consuming. My sword feels heavy in my hand as I rise, my eyes locking on Wonder.

He doesn't flinch as I charge, screaming with every ounce of fury in my body. My blade clashes with his, but he's too fast, too controlled. My attacks grow sloppy, desperation bleeding into every swing.

Then, just as Wonder raises his knife for the final blow, Apollo's spear strikes true. Wonder crumples, lifeless.

"It's over," Apollo says, his voice hollow.

But it's not.

Kai is gone. And no victory will ever fill the hole he's left behind.