Snowdrop ➳ A Hunger Games Story {Wattys 2019}

Chapter Twelve ➳ The Taste of Death

"What's that on your arm? Were you hurt?" Ember reaches out to gently touch the cut on my arm, and I wince.

It didn't seem that bad, just a flesh wound. "Oh, it's nothing." But in the early morning light, I see a patch of crimson appear on the bandage.

"It doesn't look like nothing," Ember says. He unzips my bag and rifles around until he finds the first-aid kit, then he pulls out a fresh bandage and tape. He sighs and shakes his head at me as he carefully pulls away the old one and inspects the wound. "This is going to hurt, since I have to clean it with some snow. It's not too bad, but we can't risk it getting infected out here. You can be a brave girl for me, right?"

I nod. "I think so. I was at the Bloodbath, just after the gong went, and I tried to grab a bag. One of the boys from District Three, the one who died, had an – ahh!" I let out a cry and clamp my teeth together as Ember trickles ice-cold water onto the wound.

"Shh, shh, sorry. I know it hurts, but hang tight for just a few more seconds. I'm nearly done." I know he hates doing this as much as I do, but I also know he doesn't have a choice. It's a toss-up between a minute of stinging cold water, or days, possibly weeks if I last that long, of a swollen, infected cut. Having seen the effects of infected grazes on Ember and Burnet's knees years ago, I know which one I would prefer. Tears spring to my eyes, but then Ember wipes the cut clean and bandages it tightly. After a few seconds, the pain lessens to a dull throb.

"There, is that better now?" When I nod, he sits back. "Anyway, the boy from Three. What happened?"

I take a deep breath. "He had an axe, and he cut me. I thought he was going to kill me. He was going to, because I fell, but someone shot him and saved me."

"Oh, Melia," Ember says miserably. "This is why you weren't supposed to go in for supplies. I tried to tell you not to."

"I couldn't see, the snow reflected the sun into my eyes," I say, frowning. "And you went into the Bloodbath, so why shouldn't I?"

"Because I could have lost you, Melia," he replies. "You would have been able to survive without a bag, you're not silly."

I huff, suddenly irritated. "And what if I'd lost you, huh? What would have happened then? I saw a boy die. I watched as the girl from Two murdered him. I thought it was you! Do you know how that felt, Ember? I was so certain I'd just watched you die, and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't go back to help, that would have got me killed for sure. Instead I had to wait for over twelve agonising hours before I realised you were okay. I was scared and confused and upset. You don't know what it was like."

"Melia, calm down. Please don't get mad, I don't want to fight again," Ember says. "I didn't know you saw that, and I'm so sorry you had to. Is that why you were crying?"

My throat tightens and I shake my head, continuing. "I was attacked by one of the girls from Five. She was going to kill me, but I picked up a rock and hit her in the head with it. Knocked her unconscious. I... I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to hurt her. I just didn't know what do to!"

"Hey, hey, it's okay," he says, patting my arm. "Was this just before?" I nod. "Well there wasn't any cannon, so she isn't dead. She'll probably just be a little bit groggy when she wakes up. And we'd much rather it was her than you, wouldn't we?"

I nod again, considering this. I still don't like to think that I knowingly hurt someone, but at least I didn't kill her. I reach over and retrieve the knife from the ground, stowing it away in my backpack. "The thing is though, Ember, she wasn't like the other tributes. At least, not like the other tributes from the lower districts. She was taunting me because you weren't there, said you wouldn't miss me when I was dead. I was an idiot and didn't realise that it probably meant you were still alive, but she was acting like the Careers. I don't think she would have had any problems killing me," I say.