I Can't (A Hunger Games Fanfiction)

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Seeing Death's Face

I close my eyes and hold my last breath in my throat. After a moment, I feel myself dying. I faint.

****

I suddenly sit up, my head bumping into someone else's. "Ow..." I say and rub my forehead. I look around. Everyone sits around me, Aaron being closest. They are wet, soaked even, with water and the cave is damp.

"How am I even alive?" I ask. Everyone shrugs.

"Anyone of us-other than you-fainted, the water level dropped," Aaron answers.

"But it still doesn't make sense. Water was in my lungs."

"Well, about that..." I waited for a moment. "I kinda saved you."

What? The weird boy saved me? Maybe he's not as weird as I thought.

"You see," Jon explains.

****
Between Elena fainting and waking up.

The water level suddenly swiftly lowered and was completely gone in moments. Aaron coughed and looked around. Jon sat up with a sigh and took deep breaths. Ben laid quietly on the ground, trying to catch his breath. After catching their breaths, Aaron and Jon stood.

"Is everyone okay?" Aaron asked.

"No," Ben answered. Aaron and Jon turned their heads to see Ben, holding his sister's hand. Elena laid on her back, too still.

Something broke in Aaron. He felt like crying.

"Aaron, can you do CPR?" Jon asked and Aaron nodded.

****
Back to present time

I wiped my mouth. Ew. "It was the only way to revive you," Ben says. "You were close to death."

"It's still gross," I complain.

"Come on, Elena, brighten up. I just saved your life," Aaron says and folds his arms.

"You kissed me!" I complain.

"No, I didn't. Would you call saving your life kissing?"

"In some stories, yes."

"Fairytales don't take place in this world."

"So?"

"Just be grateful that you're alive."

"I never want to see you again!"