Kai From Four

Arena: Day 7, Part 1

The boom of a cannon startled me out of sleep.

"Artemis?" I rubbed my eyes and sat up as quickly as I could, cursing under my breath when stars filled my vision. After the dizziness passed, I looked at where she was supposed to be, but she wasn't there. Snow hadn't fallen over where she'd slept, but that didn't mean she'd just left. It didn't prove anything. Everywhere, the snow had vanished. Not melted. Vanished.

The ground was bone dry as I stood, grabbing my bow and quiver of arrows. I made sure my two knives were also at the ready, and then headed off toward the faint sound of fighting.

Maybe, I could pick whoever they were off. If they weren't Artemis, of course.

I pushed back the thought of us being the last tributes alive.

I approached to find two girl tributes engaged in an intense battle. Neither one noticed me. Recognizing one as Artemis, I took out an arrow and was about to nock it when the other girl caught Artemis off guard and quickly moved in for the kill.

She'd slice through Artemis before my arrow could stick through her, so I made a split-second decision and jumped in front of her, pushing Artemis back as she yelped in surprise. My right arm instinctively raised to block the blade, and I knew I wouldn't escape without an injury. Steel bit into my forearm, and I winced momentarily before pushing my opponent back as hard as I could, catching her off guard.

The female tribute's eyes widened, and she stumbled back, tripping before running away. She knew she was outnumbered and wouldn't win this battle.

I didn't chase her, and looked back at Artemis to make sure she was okay. Her cheek was bleeding, but she ignored the injury, instead choosing to glare at me.

"I can fight my own battles." Her tone was surprisingly bitter.

I raised an eyebrow, approaching her. She didn't back away; she knew I wouldn't hurt an ally. I tried to keep my tone light. "What? No thank you?" I held out my uninjured arm so she could grab my hand, but she narrowed her eyes, standing up on her own.

"Thank you? For what?" She snapped, and blinked for a second as she looked as if she wanted to take the remark back. But she didn't.

Ouch.

"I did save your life," I pointed out, crossing my arms and ignoring the screaming pain from my right arm.

Artemis let out a chuckle, but anyone could have known she didn't mean it. "I could have taken her, I had it under control."

Had what under control? Dying? "If you can handle yourself so well, then maybe you don't need me." My jaw clenched at her ungratefulness, but I could see this conversation ending badly. Very badly. I took a quick breath, and shook my head. "Wait. I..."

"Fine."

The word cut through me more than the knife had. Artemis threw me one last glare and walked away.

We weren't invincible. We'd thought we were; we covered each other's weaknesses. Absolutely no one would be able to take us. But now, I realized one situation we failed to address back at our Capitol room. One that had never crossed our minds. And it was happening right now.

"Artemis!" I shouted after her, the name echoing slightly. She didn't turn, but kept walking, leaving me with the shattered shards of our once formidable alliance.

I took a shaky breath, sitting down on the ground. No one was in sight, and I was sure my face was flushed with red-hot anger and betrayal.

Then I realized it wasn't just me. My hand scooped up some dusty dirt. It was warm.

On the horizon, I saw orange flare up. The air turned increasingly hotter. Artemis was gone, I was alone, and in a disadvantageous situation. I gulped, and then coughed when I took in my next breath. The dirt started to steam at my feet, the air rippling with heat waves.

I tried to stand up, but sank to my knees, the energy sapping out of me. My injury throbbed, my head throbbed, the earth throbbed. My surroundings spun, and I pressed my hands to my temples at a migraine I could feel already starting to form.

Then everything went dark.