The Chamber [Sequel to Silence]

22

 “So, after that incredibly clever stunt by Otto from District 7, we’re down to the final eight, which means we get to meet the families of all the tributes! I always love this part, personally. We get a sense of how the kids became the way they are from their parents and siblings. Now, whose families do you think will be most interesting, Venus?”

 “Well, Claudius. I think our District 7 tributes this year are simply fascinating. I’d love to see what sort backgrounds Otto and Riley come from. And Elianna too. How did she get so shy? Perhaps her parents are introverts too?”

 “There’s only one way to find out, I guess. Tune in later for the interview sessions with me, Claudius Templesmith, and my lovely assistant, Venus Swift!”

 There was applause from the live studio as I switched back to watching Riley. Otto had left the rest of the Career pack, clearly deciding that to be alone was a better option for him, especially as they were down to the final eight. The way things were working out, it was going to be a very short set of games, but most likely action packed for the audience. Milo was doing well, able to walk around now without Riley’s help. Elianna had come out of her shell a little, laughing along with the other two as they huddled together for warmth.

 “I think maybe we should move from here,” Elianna said seriously that day “We’re low on water supplies. We need to find a source.”

 “That makes sense,” Riley said “Are you up for it, Milo?”

 “Me? I’m ready for anything,” he said with a grin.

 “Great. Should we move now?” Riley asked, addressing Elianna.

 “Now is as good a time as any. Come on.”

 They set off walking in the early evening, and I spent the whole time panicking over whether they might cross paths with other tributes. I knew Otto wasn’t far from them, and after seeing him get both Summer and Cassia killed at once, I didn’t doubt he could take on the three of them. Especially as Riley was reckless and Milo still weak. It was late night when they reached something unusual. There was a tree, much larger than the others, with more sturdy branches and a thicker trunk. Riley ran over to it, touching it carefully. Though it bore no leaves and was black as soot, there was something intriguing about the tree.

 “I wanna stop here for a while,” Riley declared. The finger she’d touched the tree with came back covered in black.

 “Are you sure? It’s kind of creepy.”

 “It’s interesting,” Riley corrected “I want to do some investigation.”

 “Alright,” Elianna said, shrugging the bag off her back and dumping it on the floor wearily “I’m gonna find some water, OK? If there is any nearby. Maybe I can hunt too.”

 “OK, sure,” Riley said, hugging her quickly “Stay safe.”

 Elianna buried her face in Riley’s hair, smiling. There was something maternal about the way she held Riley, as though she was her own flesh and blood “I will,” she whispered, before scurrying off into the woods with her bow and arrow.

 “Why are you so interested in the tree?” Milo asked. Riley had her nose pressed to the trunk, sniffing it.

 “Because there’s something about it. I like things that are out of the ordinary, and this happens to be one of them.” Quick as a flash, she scrambled up the tree, crawling along a branch and snapping a small twig from the end of it. She ran it through her fingers, and the black of it stained her skin.

 “It’s like…hmm…I dunno…maybe we’re near District 13,” she mumbled to herself.

 “What makes you say that?” Milo asked. Riley didn’t answer straight off, tucking her legs over the branch and hanging upside down from it like a bat.