The Hunger Games | Rilaya

Safe and Sound

In my state, I somehow still managed to fall asleep. When I wake up, the Careers are gone and the camp is deserted, the only remains being the ashes of the supplies.

Since there is no way of telling which direction the Careers went, I decided to head back to the rendezvous point. But when I make it there, there's no sign of Auggie. He should've been back by now. I try to wait for him but by late afternoon, I knew it was time to go looking for him.

About half an hour later, I'm at the place where the third fire should've been set. Only it wasn't. The site was exactly how we left it, not a single hair out of place. Auggie never made it back here. Somewhere between the second fire he had set, he must've ran into trouble.

I travel back to the second fire, hiding in the bushes, looking for anything suspicious. But there was nothing. I almost do a double take when I hear the mockingjay tune. Auggie was okay!

I smile and head in the direction of the sound. I softly whistle the tune back and a mockingjay repeats the melody.

My smile fades when I hear the scream, one that could only belong to Auggie.

Almost as if it was there to clarify my fears, there's another high-pitched scream, this time shouting my name. "Maya! Maya!"

"Auggie!" I shout back, sprinting towards the sound of the cries, heart pounding in my chest, knowing full well that this could be a trap. And I was willing to take that chance.

"Auggie, I'm coming!"

When I rush into the clearing, I see Auggie tangled in a net. I don't even have time to be shocked before a spear hits him in the stomach.

I whirl around, loading my bow. Marvel dies before he has any chance to react, an arrow lodged in his neck.

I turn back to Auggie and one look at the wound tells me that there was no way I could heal it. Auggie doesn't need to be a genius or see my shattered look to know that it was hopeless. His hand reaches out to grab mine.

"You blew up the food?" He asks softly.

"Every last bit." I manage to choke out.

"You have to win." He says.

"I'm going to. Going to win for both of us now." I promise.

Even though he was about to die, Auggie still smiles at my words.

A cannon sounds, almost giving me a heart attack, thinking it was for Auggie. But his eyes were still open, looking at me with so much compassion. The cannon must've been for Marvel.

"Don't go." Auggie whimpers, breaking my heart even more. He was just a kid. A kid that grew up too quickly because of war and tragedy.

"Course not. I'm staying right here." I say.

"Sing." He whispers.

I blink back the tears, swallowing the lump in my throat, then begin.

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said, "I'll never let you go."

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Auggie's eyes slowly close, his breathing growing weaker. I have to force myself to continue, knowing that I had to finish the song for him.

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound

Everything is quiet. Then the cannon sounds. I loosen my grip on Auggie's hand, reluctantly standing up. The Capitol will want me to go now so they can collect the bodies. I grab Marvel's supplies, then take Auggie's pack as well, knowing he would want me to have it.

And with one last glance at Auggie, who looked even smaller than before, I left the clearing.

Suddenly, I remember Riley's words on the roof. "Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to...to show the Capitol they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their Games."

For the first time, I understand what she meant. I wanted-no, I needed to show the Capitol that Auggie was more than just a pawn in their Games. And so am I.

There was a small bank of wildflowers growing in the woods. I gather up as much as I could hold, then go back to the clearing. Silently, I decorate Auggie's body in the flowers, covering the wound, wrapping a couple of the flowers in his brown curls.

"Bye Auggie." I whisper. I press the three middle fingers of my left hand to my lips and hold them out. Little did I know about the effect this would have on District 11.

This time, I walk away without looking back.

I have no idea where to go. I wander around in the woods for a while, stopping when a silver parachute floats down and lands in front of me. What? Why would Shawn send me something now? I had everything I needed.

I open the parachute to find a small loaf of bread, recognizing that it was from District 11. What must it have cost them to send me this? I had to have been meant for Auggie. But when he died, they must've told Shawn to give it to me.

"My thanks to the people of District 11." I say clearly, holding the bread up. They had to know that I appreciated the value of this gift.

I climb up a tree and strap myself in for the night. Soon, the anthem plays and the Capitol seal appears in the sky. First there's the picture of Marvel and that's when I realize something. He was my first kill.

I had done it. I actually killed a human being. I killed someone's friend, someone's son, possibly someone's boyfriend.

I blink and Marvel is gone, replaced by Auggie. I force myself not to cry. Crying won't help me in the arena. But my eyes still betray me and I find myself furiously rubbing the tears away, cursing myself for breaking my pact of not showing emotion.

Only six of us left.

"Attention."

I hear Claudius Templesmith's booming voice.

"There has been a rule change in the Games. Both tributes from the same district will be declared winners if they are the last two alive. I repeat, both tributes from the same district will be declared winners if they are the last two alive."

The news starts to sink in. Two tributes can win together. Both can live. Before I could stop myself, I shout,

"Riley!"