(Earlier version) Flowerborn Part 1: The Arena

Chapter 19: First Blood

We were almost there when we could hear clanging and shouting. James took out his sword quietly, and looked over the edge of the hill. 'Two groups. We will go when they one of them wins. That is our best chance.' I took out my bow a placed an arrow. Kate, Emmeth and Toby only had their knives and one bullet, alltough Kate used her bullet to save me the first night. It was realle difficult to stay still while I could literally hear people dying on the other side of the hill. 'Okay, Lucy come over here.' I pushed myself though the snow towards James. He pointed at the six people that were left. I understood. He turned to the rest of the group. 'When Lucy fires the first arrow, you shoot.'

I pulled the bow string backwards, and aimed the tip of the arrow towards one of the guys. I tried to find the courage to shoot. I found it in the thought of my mother and me living together after I won. I shot.

The group turned into chaos. I heard shooting, from our side as well as theirs. After a few seconds it stopped. Everyone was out of bullets. A silence fell on the snow. Then James said: 'Run.' Anna and James where the first to go. Emmeth wanted to follow them but Kate yelled: 'You stay back!' He nodded and looked over the hill towards the chaos. I placed another arrow on the arrow rest and holded the grip tighter. That was when I saw one of the girls take out her gun and pointed it at me. I released the bowstring from my grip. "That's it", I thought. "I am going to die, my mom will die from hunger and I will never be able to see my friends again."

I felt the bullet. I felt the wind. I felt it going past my face. I heard a gasp behind me.

Kate looked at me and then behind me, with widened eyes. She froze. 'No.. Please no..' She started running. This cannot be happening. I ran after her. She sat next to her brothers body. 'Emmeth don't close your eyes. We can save you. Right James? Lucy? Anyone?' She was sobbing and gasping for air.

Emmeth wheezed and was trying to say something. 'Ka.. te.. It hurts..'

The flickers in his eyes disappeared. Kate shaked Emmeth's lifeless body. 'No no no no..'

I wrapped my arms around her and caressed her back. She was trembling and crying into my shirt. 'Ssh..' I did not know what to do, but besides me, she didn't have anyone. We kept sitting there in the melting snow.