The Hanging Tree Games Tasks

Bonus Task

Here is the bonus task that I completed :) I earned 5.5 bonus points.

One year ago...

Sartan tried to ignore the way his girlfriend's hands shook as they gently touched both sides of his face. "It's fine, Rayla."

"No it's not!" Even though he couldn't see her, he knew she was crying because of the tears in her voice.

The last thing he wanted to do was make her cry. "I'm alright, really." He smiled at her. It was just a twitch of his lips, but it was a smile. She was the only one who could bring a smile to his face.

"Your dad just sliced open your face, and you say you're alright? Sartan, nothing about this is 'alright!' He's gone too far!"

"Shh!" Sartan hissed at her. "Keep your voice down!"

There was a sigh. "What? We're hiding in the middle of an alley. You think he's going to find us here?"

Sartan clenched his jaw in response. "You don't know him like I do."

"I can't keep watching you go through this, Sartan! I can already see the way your expression hardened... I don't want to lose you to the way you used to be..." There was fear in her voice, making it crack.

He stepped closer to her, grabbing her waist and pressed his lips against her forehead. "Rayla, I promise you that I will never lose my ability to feel again. I won't become that man again."

There was no reply, only movement as her hands slid from his face, to the small of his back.

"Rayla, stop worrying." He didn't have to see her to know what direction her thoughts were going. Does it really scare her that much? The thought of me being closed off again? Becoming the man my father wants me to be? Sartan wondered.

Rayla groaned. "I'm trying not to."

He leaned away from her and gently traced her jawline with his fingers. Tilting her chin to look up at him, he bent down and grazed her lips with his own.

The kiss was soft and slow. It was a reminder of all they had been through together; a reminder of their relationship and how slow it had started. He had been so closed off—cold and detached—one that she had helped to open up. She had taught him to trust...

And even to love.

The kiss they shared was full of life. It was as if he had been a statue, and being with her restored him. Like he had been drowning, and now was coming up for desperately needed air. She made him feel again, brought him life.

He pressed himself against her as if they could merge together and become one. No matter how physically close he was to her, it was still not enough. They fit together like puzzle pieces—complete opposites that somehow joined and became part of the same whole. She was his light, his weakness and fluidity. Around her, he was no longer the perfect killing machine his father had wanted. With her, he was weak, unsure of everything he had once known.

He was her strength, rock and solidity. He kept her going, and made her feel safe and secure in the moments when she had nothing to hold onto.

Rayla chuckled, making goosebumps appear on his face. "Well, Mr. Fighter... Your hands are shaking. Am I making you nervous?"

Sartan paused, trying to catch his breath. His hands—hands that punched, stabbed, that inflicted pain, that were always so steady and sure—trembled as they held her.

Not wanting to lie to her, he nodded, swallowing. His breath caught in his throat, preventing him from speaking. He felt his cheeks grow warm, and he mentally cursed at himself.