Rue's Games

In a Sticky Situation

I whip my head to the owner of the voice. He sat in a tree across from me, his crooked smile was smothered across his face.

"Thanks for back there,Rue." He said just above a whisper.

"Shut it,Jay. You lied to me," I grumbled at him.

"It's the game,Sweetheart. I didn't lie about loving you. I swear, the first time I saw you, I was struck by emotions," He placed his hand over his heart.

I know better than to believe him.

"Emotions to get rid of me?" I growl, tuning out the high-pitched screams of hunger from the mutations.

He shook his head, "I'm going to help you. That'll show you that I'm not a liar. Trust me."

I scoff to myself. Trust him? As if!

I'd rather be ripped to shreds from the mutts than to trust him.

"What are you going to do to help me? I suppose you must have an extraordinary plan to get me out."

"I do actually."

"Oh really?"

He smiled sadly, "I told you that I loved you,Rue. I wasn't lying. Never was. My mentor wanted for me to get rid of you, you are too smart. Victor smart."

"I didn-" I start but get cut off by him.

"I wasn't finished," He started again, "I never had a chance, you know? I just really want...you to win for me. Okay? I'm going to hop down from here and run. I'll make sure that they're far away from you, then you can run and escape."

I let this process through my brain.

"W-Wait. You're going to die for me?"

He nodded, "You have to win, there's only three tributes. You,me, and a boy from 12...Peeta Mellark. Don't worry. You'll make it, he's weak. He lost his partner, Katniss Everdeen, to a random tribute tht outsmarted her. He's heart broken and defenseless."

I nod back and place my hand on the side of the tree, instantly feeling something sticky.

"Uh...Jay?" I stare at him, trying to move my arm but I can't.

"What? Rue, what's wrong?" He can read my expression on my face. I'm totally panicking.

"My arm and hand are stuck...it's like a goo or-" I stop as I see his eyes wander to the top of the tree.

"This isn't good," He quietly says, probably to himself but I could hear him.

"Jay?" I squeak out.

I look down and see the dog-bear mutts retreating. The tree starts vibrating...buzzing.

I look up to see ginormous wasps or bees exploding from a crack on top of the tree.

I can see Jay starting to freak out.

I keep my eyes going to Jay to the huge insects.

The bees/wasps buzz nearer to us.

I can feel something on my stuck arm that's in the sap.

My eyes get big.

Is it going to sting me?

I open my mouth to tell Jay that I love him, but nothing comes out.

I feel a huge shot of pain go through my arm.

It stung me.

Am I going to die, be paralyzed or what?

I let out a yelp to Jay, he gets the signal that I'm hurt.

That's when I black out.