Kai From Four

Arena: Day 7, Part 2

I slowly regained consciousness. I'm dead, was my first thought.

A violent burst of pain in my head told me otherwise. My migraine was still there, but as I opened my eyes, I noticed all else wasn't.

Then my vision adjusted, and I could see that I was surrounded by metal; I was trapped in a box. I was only grateful for this new turn of events until I realized everything was still increasing in temperature. I would die if I didn't get out.

Seconds later, I heard a scream that made my heart stop for a full second. It was a voice I instantly recognized. No. It can't be. My hands clenched into fists. You can't be here! Not in the arena!

"Help us! Kai, please!" A masculine voice joined in, raw with desperation. They were right outside. I had to get out there to save all of us.

My fists banged against the doorway. I completely ignored the burning sensation in my knuckles and arm as I watched the metal sheet that was the door slowly dent and give way. Ramming my fists harder into the door, I finally burst through and saw my aunt and uncle with their wrists tied tightly with Capitol-strength cord, lying against the ground, merely feet away from a fire inching its way closer.

Heat buffeted my face and stung my eyes like I was staring into the lava and smoke of an underwater volcano. I almost couldn't breathe, but I dove at my aunt and uncle, and pressed my fingers against small pads on both of their cords.

My fingerprint registered, and they stood up. I reached out, tears falling from my eyes, but they smiled sadly as I did so.

"Thank you," they whispered, and as my fingertips were just about to touch them, they and the nearby fire disappeared in a flurry of electric blue pixels.

Speechless, my arms fell limply to my sides. Though the immediate danger of the fire was gone, everything burned from the inside out. It was all too much. My mind shut down, and all I could register was that I started to scream.

I felt like I was watching myself from someone else's eyes. I couldn't feel my throat drying, or my eyes stinging. A choking, invisible blanket descended over me, blocking everything for what felt like forever until something in me snapped, sending a rush of energy back into my body.

Slowly, I regained focus until my mind was the sharpest it had ever been during my time at the arena. I glared into the distance and ran, grabbing my bow and nocking an arrow as I spotted a shadow in the distance, almost completely obscured by smoke.

I wasn't a long-distance fighter for nothing.

The arrow was in the tribute before the camera I noticed hovering above could focus on anything. The cannon resounded, and my lips curled into a sneer. That's right. Die immediately. I ran towards the tribute, but the helicopter had come and gone by the time I reached the place where he or she had fallen. No matter. This ends today.

A smirk found its way onto my lips as I continued to run, eyes roaming the horizon for any sign of motion in the heat.

Everything ends today.