Flight of the Phoenix (COMPLETED)

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

IMMEDIATELY, I KNOW I've done something so horrible, I can't hold back. Slamming my fist on the door, I begin to wail from the depths of my being. How could I have been so hurtful to one who's shown me the most kindness in my life? She deserves better than this. But how can I reconcile that with needing to find a way to crush the Chairman and being forced to kill her in the final round because I know there will be no one else left? Every fiber of my being tells me I can't kill her. As far my heart and mind care, that goes without saying. But regarding the Chairman... My mind and body want to do the dangerous things to rid the world of him despite the fatal consequences. Except my heart says an emphatic No. Each of my internals give reasons for holding to its opinion. Only my heart keeps softly saying, You're already marked for death. So how does it benefit Sarah? In short, my heart is right. It doesn't.

Slinking away from the door, I crumple on the bed just as Bryce had collapsed in the caravan. The tears and racking sobs won't quit. It's a good thing I'm such a weenie. Otherwise this would be humiliating. I bury my face in the sheets, not caring if I stop breathing at some point. Life has already shown me how worthless it is. So why do I continue to struggle against my inevitable death?

Sarah.

It's the one and only answer I have. So I gather what tiny shreds of courage I find in the thin, recycled air around me and push myself back to the door. It slides open without my input and I am greeted by a Games Masters attendant. "Mister Murphy, it is lunchtime. Your presence is requested at the dining table."

The attendant gestures for me to exit the room and go consume food with three, possibly four, new haters of the semi-human known as John Murphy. But I don't feel disconnected like I did the night Janie's brother was taken away. In fact, I feel more intact. As if no one has the power to tear me in two anymore. If I succeed or fail, it's all of me or none of me.

Similar to the penthouse in the Hall of Victory, the dining table is covered front to back, side to side with innumerable delicacies. Allen, Bryce, Christine, Sarah, who have all changed into jumpsuits similar to a Guardian's uniform, and a female who seems strangely familiar are all relaxing, waiting for me to appear. Allen's voice owns no tone of the coarseness from earlier. "John. Come. Introduce yourself to Head Games Master Lillian Pentree."

My eyes flare with an anger I can't keep from my face or vocal chords. "You wouldn't happen to be related to a Jillian Pentree, would you?"

The Head Games Master, shock emanating from her whole body, is stunned and wounded. "Well, actually, yes. She's my sister." Her voice comes across my ears as soft and inviting. Stark contrast to her job. And her sister. "I haven't seen her in years. How do you know my sister?"

"She's the Head Master of the Province Seven Orphanage." I turn my eyes to her, doing my best to show how her sister hurt me.

"Oh! Wow. Moving down in the world." Head Games Master Pentree looks away from me, genuinely disheartened at her sister's demotion. "She used to be Province Seven's Imperial Selection Committeewoman. I heard she lost that to James Listmeyer a few years back, but the letters I wrote her were all returned unopened." She turns to Allen, clearly desiring to leave. "If you'll excuse me, Mister Telfer, I have details I need to attend to."

"But you haven't eaten anything yet," Allen protests.

"That's alright." She looks at me, regret veiling her face. I know what she feels. She won't eat at all. I've taken her appetite away from her. "Thank you for the offer. Nice to meet all of you. And Mister Jonathan Edward Murphy...if you see my sister again, tell her I love her and miss her." Without one more sound, the Head Games Master leaves us all in stunned silence.