The Fourth Quarter Quell

Hunger Games Day Three

Jo Stevens Perspective

We stared these guys down as night was falling. They appeared from out of the waterfall to our surprise. I should've guessed there would've already been tributes nearby. Once I got a better look at them and their weapons, I established their names.

"Dominic. Andrew. Go away." I spoke. Concise but hopefully powerful.

"Not possible, Jo. Maybe you and your boyfriend should leave." Dominic said.

"That isn't gonna happen." Ryan said loudly.

Boyfriend? Oh, these guys were idiots. Wait...why hadn't they mentioned Colton or Penny?

My eyes darted to where Penny had hidden. She stood at the waters edge, shielded by tall grass. She was pretty close to the two boys but far enough for her to launch her trident.

I looked at the top of the waterfall where Colton was standing, readying his sword. He looked at me and nodded.

Then he leapt down onto the two boys. They cried out in surprise as Colton tackled Dominic to the ground.

"Now!" Colton yelled from his struggle.

I detached my shurikens from my belt and sent two flying directly at Andrew. One cut him across his cheek and the other impaled itself in his arm. It didn't stop him though. He came running with his sword.

He charged Penny who sparred with him using her trident. Andrew pushed her to the ground with his boot-clad foot, causing Penny to groan in pain. He lifted his sword, preparing to move in for the kill when Colton looked up.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Colton yelled and tackled Andrew from behind. The impact knocked Andrew's sword from his hand. Penny rolled out of the way and changed her trident into a spear.

"Jo, take care of Dominic!" Ryan yelled, rushing over to assist Colton.

I took two shurikens in both hands, sending them flying towards Dominic. He simply leaped out of the way harmlessly. He seemed to be focusing on something else. His weapon seemed to be a black rod with a blow tube or something. He inhaled and the answer came to me.

"It's a blowgun!" I warned. But it was too late. The poisoned dart flew from the gun and impaled itself in Colton's neck.

"NO!" Penny shrieked. She launched her spear overhead, piercing and killing Dominic. His canon went off. Good riddance.

Ryan charged Andrew and swung his sword at him, cutting him across the chest with a fatal blow. As his body fell, his canon sounded as well.

With our opponents defeated, the three of us rushed to Colton's side. He had plucked the dart from his neck but he was turning a sickly green color.

"No, c'mon Colton, you'll be fine." Penny urged, clamping her hands around one of his. "You're gonna stay alive and the four of us are gonna win this."

Colton smiled weakly. "There's that determination I love."

Penny's eyebrows furrowed together. "What?"

"I was meaning to tell you, Penny. But I couldn't find the right words. I love you, Penny." Colton said, brushing a stray strand of Penny's hair behind her ear.

Penny's eyes began to leak with tears. "I love you too, Colton. Just please don't leave." She began to sob.

Ryan and I looked at each other hopelessly.

"You guys will be fine. Be freed from this place as I'm about to be." Colton said hoarsely.

I began to cry. He really was going to die, wasn't he?