One Lucky Winner

Chapter 38 ~ Thomas

Day 2
6:07 PM

I'm sitting on a log and shivering. Damn snow. It finally stopped, but it left at least six inches on the ground. I thought I would like snow, but I really don't. In fact, it's so cold that I'm wearing my ridiculous thick coat that I grabbed from the cornucopia. I put it on a few minutes ago.

It feels like the temperature dropped ten degrees, because the sun is starting to set. The clouds went away, and the sky's a really pretty orange-pinkish color. I would peacefully watch the sunset if I wasn't freezing my ass off.

I look at our 'clothesline'. Newt and I took our coil of wire and strung it between two trees. We hung our frozen blanket on there and Hermione hung her frozen poncho on there, hoping they would unfreeze. Instead, I think they got even more frozen. I stick my hands in my pockets of the coat. They don't get any warmer, of course.

"We should start a fire," I say. My voice sounds horrible. It's scratchy and sore. I wonder if I'm catching a cold. It would suck to be sick in this arena.

"It might be too risky," Minho says, leaning against a tree and looking flushed. I wonder if he has a fever. When I look over at him I almost burst out laughing, because he's wearing the little girl hat. Newt gave it to him in exchange for the gloves Minho was wearing. They've been switching ever since.

"And we don't have any matches, remember?" Newt says to me, slightly annoyed.

"I can start a fire," Hermione says, her voice strong and clear compared to our voices. I look at her. She looks warm enough. She has a scarf and gloves. Unlike the rest of us, she actually looks alive and well.

"You have matches?" I ask her.

"No," she says. She holds up her wand.

"You can start a fire with that," I say, my head pounding intensely for some reason.

"Yeah," she says. "Should I?"

"Yes," I say quickly. "I'm freezing."

"No. Someone might see," Newt mumbles to the ground, poking the snow.

"Who cares if they see. We'll freeze to death if we don't have warmth," I say to him. I look at Hermione. "Start one."

"No," Newt sternly says to me, looking up. "It's a good way to get killed."

"I say we should," Hermione says to him.

"Well, I say we shouldn't, and I'm in charge," Newt says to her moodily.

"How are you in charge?" Hermione says, suddenly defensive.

"I just am."

"Why? Because you're so smart?" she says sarcastically. I smirk. I like watching her attack Newt.

"What? No. I'm in charge. Ask them," he says, gesturing to Minho and I. "Just put your wand away."

She scuffs. "No. I'm not listening to you," she says sassily as she crosses her arms.

Newt gives her a look and starts to say something but Minho cuts him off. "Quiet down, Newt. You're second in command. Not first."

"What? You're on her side now, too?"

"I'm sick, shank. I need warmth."

"Well, it'll attract predators!"

"Yeah, well, we're all gonna die anyways," Minho says. He looks at Hermione. "Start one."