Just a Dream?

Chapter 4

     The next morning, Christina shields me as I get dressed. I am so sore from yesterday, it's not even funny. I've never been this sore in my life. We head to breakfast and it's as loud as can possibly be. I'm used to everyone ignoring each other. This is nice, though. Christina and I walk to the training room with the ginormous crowd of 9 people. Four says that one of us will not be fighting today, since there's an odd number, and looks at me. The space across from my name is empty. I feel a huge weight lift from my shoulders. I will not have to fight. I look at the pairs who will be fighting and see that Christina will be fighting Molly, whom she nicknamed "The Tank." Will is fighting Al and I can already tell that the fight is not going to last long. Al's a good half a foot taller than Will and a lot broader.

     When Will and Al stop, Eric yells at them and they ask when it's over. Eric says "It's over when one of you is unable to continue." Four challenges this and the continue to bicker and then stare each other down. Everyone knows that it is Eric who will win. Al and Will continue to fight, though Al does not want to. Al eventually knocks Will out and feels horrible for it. Christina fights Molly and it seems to be going well. I mean, it seems to be going well for Molly. Then Christina does something she shouldn't have. She says that she's done. When Eric "helps" Christina up, I get very nervous. We follow Eric to the railing over the Pit. He tells Christina to hang on to the railing for five minutes. I get worried about halfway through when her hands slip and she just hangs by her fingertips. Time ends and Al and I rush to help Christina up. I look at her blood-stained face, her soaking wet back from the spray of the river, and her shaking body. I look at her with admiration and know that right now, I never could have done that.