Daughter of the Games (Sequel to Pregnant in the Games)

Chapter 21: The Willow Tree

When I woke up in the morning, I felt like my finger tips were going to fall off. I could see my breath. A thin layer of dew manifested around the forest floor and the trees. I turned and saw Ni standing, leaning against a tree. We found a good place to rest last night. We were hidden on one side by some conveniently placed logs. The other side was to be protected by a guard, and we were to rotate out. Ni was supposed to wake me up at the first sign of dawn. Clearly he hadn't, because based off of the sun, it must be at least 10 AM. 

"Good morning," I said. The sudden noise startled Ni; he flinched and flipped around to face me. A very brief moment later, his brain registered the noise, and he relaxed. 

"Hey," he replied, smiling. "How did you sleep?" 

"Better than I should've." I sat up. "Why didn't you wake me up?" 

Ni shrugged. "I'm not that tired, so I figured I would just let you sleep." He walked over and sat beside me.

I glanced over to Grey and Ivan, still sound asleep. Ivan would probably be out for a while, since he was the first guard last night. We wouldn't let Grey take a shift. Not because we don't think she's capable, but because we all have her disease lingering in the back of our minds. She deserves the extra rest. 

"So... Siblings," Ni stated after a few awkward moments of silence.

"Yeah." I chuckled. "Do you think we ever would've found out on our own?"

Ni smiled. "No. No way. We were making out shortly before we found out, remember?"

I scrunched my nose up. "Ew. Don't remind me."

Ni laughed, and so did I. The weight of the Hunger Games, for a moment, had disappeared. Then I remembered where we were; the arena. Only one of us gets out. I've lived many years without any knowledge of having another brother. And now I don't know how long I'll be able to live with him. If I somehow end up winning, that means Ni is dead. If he wins, that means I'm dead. Or maybe none of us win, killed by some other tribute. Regardless of what happens, I get two weeks with these people, at the very most. Only two weeks with Ivan, Grey, and Ni, then nothing. I'll either die, or I'll lose them.

Maybe it would be best if none of us won. Yes, our lives would be cut short, and that would be tragic. But what's the alternative? Living alone? If Ivan wins, he loses Grey. If Grey wins, she loses Ivan. Ivan once told me that his parents were distant and self-obsessed. Grey and Ivan only have each other in this world. If one of them wins, they lose it all. If I win, then that means Ni, Grey, and Ivan are all dead. And then I go back to District 13, where Luke will still be in power and my family will still be in District 1.

I'd rather be dead than be that lonely.

"You're thinking about the Games, aren't you?" Ni asked.

"Of course I am. It's hard not to," I replied. "I'm thirsty. I'm hungry. And I'm not sure this is a game I'm willing to win."

Ni reached behind him, taking his bag off of his wet suit. He opened it up, reached inside, and took out a canteen. He then tossed it to me.

"You've had water this entire time?"

He shrugged. "I didn't realize you guys hadn't found any."

"We found a river of blood. But no water." I opened up the canteen, gingerly putting the edge to my lips. I tipped it back, letting the water slip down my throat. It was cold, and very refreshing. I wanted to chug the whole thing, yet I resisted. Grey and Ivan will be thirsty when they wake up. I handed the canteen back over to Ni. "Where did you find this water, anyway?"

"The willow tree. I'm telling you, Chris, it's amazing. It's the only green tree in this whole forest. The temperature is warmer. There's a clean stream running around it's perimeter. It's the lifeline of the arena. I'm pretty sure it's the only place with clean water and weaponry. It's the only place in the arena, as far as I've seen, that isn't a complete Hell-Hole."