The 53rd Hunger Games- Two Words

31. Unbelievable, Unconditional

I can’t believe he left.

He assured me he wasn’t going to run off.

He lied.

I call Hadrian all sorts of things, swearing furiously. I have to bite my lip to keep myself from crying. How could he? He promised he wouldn’t leave!

I don’t believe him.

My vision goes blurry, and I tell myself not to cry. He betrayed me, so what? I expected it, didn’t I? It isn’t the betrayal I expected, but it’s betrayal all the same.

How long has he been gone? Not long, I imagine. It’s just good luck that I haven’t been found by another tribute, though.

I slam my palm against the ground, about to begin shouting another bout of curses. I feel a slight indention. It runs between my fingers, and as I look, I realise it isn’t just a random indention. It’s a letter. I scramble backwards, and stand up. The pack and my axe are just to the left of the message. It’s been written in messy scrawl. It doesn’t look like it belongs to Hadrian; it isn’t elegant and rehearsed like the rest of him.

The stupid poser.

I consider kicking the message away. I consider running as far away as I can get from this place, and never giving a second thought about either of the District Four tributes ever again.

The I realise both of these options are impossible.

I read Hadrian’s message aloud to myself. He’s written it in the dirt, using what looks like his sword blade. It takes up a lot of room, so I have to stand back to read it.

“Eunia. Sorry I left. Stay where you are. I’ll be back soon. I promise I’ll come back to you. Hadrian.”

Now I kick the writing away. Hadrian hasn’t fulfilled his promises lately. If he came back, I’m not quite sure what I’d do.

And he never said anything about coming back alone.

***

Hadrian tripped over the forest floor as he ran. His grace has been disturbed by his need to travel quickly. He was already late; he should have left earlier. Eunia looked so calm when she slept. Not spiteful like Jem, or provocative like Arabella or pleased like Argus. She was just calm.

He loved her for it.

She would have woken up by now. Why did she think? She’d be calling him all sorts of things, things that he’d never thought anyone would consider him being.

And she’d call him things he was.

A liar. A traitor. An idiot.

He’d come back for her. He’d already broken one of his promises. He didn’t intend to break anymore. Besides, he wanted Eunia to trust him. She was different. Different to anyone he’d met before. Before her, every girl that has seen him had swooned, wanted him. They’d fall under his spell as he flirted with them, when he chatted them up. They’d follow him around, almost obsessed. They loved him, but he’d never love them. They were like cattle; indifferent, stupid, blind. They were always afraid of the Games, and because of this they never really lived.

They just survived.

Eunia wasn’t like them. She choose to be unique, in the way she tried to hide her fear. When Hadrian flirted with her, she’d send equally provocative comments right back. She didn’t let the Games bother her. Or tried not to, at least. She didn’t whine about how unfair it was that she’d ended up in the arena, how much she hated it.

She still lived, even though she was only meant to survive.

“Hadrian.”

They were here. Just as they had promised. Just as they had planned. They knew they had him pinned. There was nothing left to do but struggle. Struggle and bargain.