The Factions' Fall, Book 2: The Faction Games

Chapter 1

I walked through a thicket of trees in the arena, looking for Alec. We'd agreed to split up an hour ago, searching for food and scoping out the landscape, when I encountered another tribute whose back was to me. She was dressed like an Erudite, the eye emblazoned on the suit, on the small of her back. I knew her, I thought, seeing her russet hair. Tentatively, I reached out, barely brushing her braid. "Momma?" She whipped around, but her face was rotted, her eyes milky white. "Oh, darling, you're just in time for our feast!" Between the trees, more and more of the creatures appeared, the stink of putrid rot filling the air, terror filling my brain. I saw Dad zombies and James zombies, but the worst part was not even the creatures themselves. It was the horror of people that I loved attacking me, of them being something that all humans instinctually feared: death and the personification of it. I began running, running as fast as I could possibly go. Behind me was the horde of undead family, and in front of me was a forest that seemed to be against me as well- snarled roots, low-hanging branches- and then suddenly there was a wall ahead of me. I slammed into it with all of my force, unable to stop running. My family crowded around me and began to feast- I was the main course. Over all of this was Jeanine Eaton's piercingly cold laugh, which caused me more pain than anything.

I woke up in a tangle of sheets and sweat, my heart racing faster than I was in my nightmare. Gasping for breath, I realized the coldness on my cheeks was not only the chill of my room but also tears I'd shed in my sleep. "Okay, Sera. Calm down. Deep breaths; inhale, exhale." I thought. I controlled my breathing until my heart rate seemed back to normal. I needed to go back to sleep, I knew, but after that nightmare, there was no way that was going to happen. I needed somebody to stay with so I wouldn't have to question every little creak and bump in the night. I needed Alec. I tugged on a pair of socks and opened the door to my suite. Peering into the dark hall, I reasoned that the boys would be on the other side of the building, so I set off in that general direction, doing my best to move silently.

My eyes had finally adjusted to the low light, and I was seeing abnormally well. Then I remembered the eye implants Dr. Faust had given me, and that they had some added bonuses. Night vision had to be one of them; I was seeing too well for it not to be. I made my way down the boys' hall, searching for the one with my boyfriend's name. The last black door on the row bore "Alec Yeoman" in bold white lettering. I tried the knob, unsurprised when it turned easily under my hand. His suite was different from mine- very different. The floor was cement, the walls cinderblock, and instead of books and coffee tables, he had an armory and sparring zone. "Huh," I murmured, crossing the floor to his bedroom. I opened it quietly, but it creaked nonetheless. 

Alec stirred and then sat up. "Sera?" I padded inside and smiled at him. "Hey... I had a nightmare. Can I stay with you tonight?" He opened his arms, so I jogged over to the bed and clambered up beside him. He stroked my hair with an arm around my shoulders. "You're okay, Princess. I've got you, and you're in control of yourself. I love you. Will you be okay by yourself for a second?" I nodded, and he rolled to the floor and disappeared into his closet. I waited in silence for him to come back, and then he came back with a pillow in one hand. He tossed it to me, and I fumbled, dropping it. "Thanks," I said, my voice small. He crawled back into bed beside me, taking my hand. "It was about your family, wasn't it?" he said darkly. "I would know... I've been having them since I was six." I didn't say anything, and instead, I laid down in the dark beside him. Alec kissed my forehead and laid down, our hands entwined between us. His breaths evened out a few minutes later, and I listened to that, letting it be my lullaby.

The next morning, I woke up as Alec started to get ready. "Good morning, Princess," he said, seeing me shifting in the bed. I grunted softly and rolled over. "I should probably head back to my room, huh?" He sighed and nodded, coming over to hug me. "Yeah. See you in a bit. Love you."