CHARADE | Glimmer (THG)

Chapter Eighteen

Trigger Warnings: Death, Blood

Cato pulls the sword from Tasmin's chest, slick with blood. Her mouth gapes and her eyes land on me accusingly as she falls backwards onto the floor.

Cato's mouth twists cruelly, "Twelve down and eleven to go!"

Clove's the first to cheer, and I add my voice to hers. Cato waves his arms in the air, as if doing a dance of victory, as Clove checks the ground for weapons.

Her mouth puckers in distaste, "There's nothing."

And oddly no cannon yet. I glance at Tasmin. Clove's up on her feet already, taking the sword from Cato and wiping his sword. She's too preoccupied to notice the slight rise and fall of Tasmin's chest. How much blood can someone lose before they die? Will Tasmin be able to survive on her own like this?

"She was definitely an idiot then," Cato says, "Better clear out so they can get the body before it starts stinking."

This is the best I can do for her. I turn and walk away, moving quickly as I lead the others away from Tasmin. My eyes fall on the trap that we saw earlier. Katniss has to be around here somewhere.

"What?" I hear Cato say behind me. There's a note of concern in his voice, and I turn to find that Clove has stopped walking.

"Shouldn't we have heard the cannon by now?"

Shit.

"I'd say yes," I speak as loud as I can. If she can move, then she'll know we're still close. Give her a second chance to run, "Nothing to prevent them from going in immediately."

Clove turns her dark eyes on me, and raises an eyebrow, "Unless she isn't dead."

"She's dead," Cato growls, "I stuck her myself."

"Then where's the cannon?" Clove demands.

"Someone should go back," Marvel says uncertainly, "Make sure the job's done."

He shrinks back as Cato glowers in his direction, but Clove moves to his side in silent support, "Yeah, we don't want to have to track her down twice."

"I said she's dead!" Cato shouts.

"So where's the cannon?" Clove tilts her head, challenging. They hold each other's gaze.

Cato drops his eyes first, defeated. I move to place a hand on his shoulder, "Cato's the leader, Clove. We should trust him on this one. I do."

Clove sends a withering look in my direction. Then, just as she's about to speak, a voice says, "We're wasting time! I'll go and finish her and let's move on."

We all turn to stare at him in shock. Peeta Mellark. His blue eyes, scared but fierce, as he meets our eyes. What's his play here? To help Tasmin escape?

No, that will only lay suspicion on him. He must mean to kill her. To eliminate another obstacle between Katniss and her victory, whilst also gaining him Cato's favour. Well played. But what am I supposed to do now?

"Go on then, Lover Boy," Cato says softly, "See for yourself."

In silence, Peeta turns and walks back to Tasmin's campfire.

I wait for his footsteps to die away, and then I murmur, doing my best to sound bored, "Why don't we kill him now and get it over with?"

"Let him tag along," Cato says, "What's the harm? And he's handy with that knife."

Clove looks over at me, and I raise an eyebrow. She looks as displeased as I am.

"Besides," Marvel adds, shuffling his feet, "He's our best chance of finding her."