The Demigod Games Book One: Knives of Blood

Chapter Ten: Hidden in a Tree

Disclaimer: I don't own Hunger Games or Percy Jackson

Chapter Ten: Hidden in a Tree

SNAP!

Lou tried to ignore the sounds of the branches breaking beneath her. It was the middle of the night, and she was cold.

So cold.

Chris was dead. She had watched as Clarisse plunged a spear through his body. She hated that girl. When he was still alive, all Chris had talked about was Clarisse. How smart and beautiful she was. How he knew that she was misunderstood, just like him.

Well, apparently his feelings were one-sided.

SNAP! SNAP!

Lou shuffled through the woods, looking for branches. Maybe if she found some, she could make a fire. Then she wouldn't be cold.

So cold.

As cold as Chris's lifeless body, laying on the ground by the Cornucopia. Glassy-eyed and still, his mouth open in shock like, 'I thought you were different. Why would you kill me?'

As cold as the sneer on Clarisse's face as she pulled her spear out. As cold as the look on her face as she stomped over to the other Careers. The look that said, 'you were a fool for thinking I was different than the Career I was made to be'.

So cold.

SNAP!

Lou watched as a fire blossomed to life beneath her cold hands. It warmed her, just a little bit, but the cold feeling was still there, lurking inside her.

And then she heard it.

Feet, running across the forest floor. Running towards her. To kill her.

Lou didn't move. She was already so cold...

Piper watched from her spot in a nearby tree as the Careers killed that poor girl. What had her name been? Lou. Lou Ellen. And now her life was gone, snuffed out like a flame.

"Twelve down, eleven to go!" Said male voice. She could hear hooting and cheers. So the Careers were fighting in a pack. Not altogether surprising.

Piper had a pretty good idea who would be in the pack. The annoying girl from one, Drew, and her partner Octavian. The monstrous pair from Two, Clarisse and Luke. And that girl from four, the one who had been eyeing Jason. What was her name? Reyna.

Someone else muttered something, and then they began to shift towards Piper. She watched in horror as they moved to stand under her tree. But from their stances, they wouldn't know she was there.

Except... one of them did.

Eyes peered up into the tree, settling on her. Electric blue eyes, eyes that found Piper's and latched on.

Jason's eyes.

Jason was with the Careers.

Piper watched as Jason made a subtle shh sign. So he wasn't going to tell them where she was after all! Maybe there was still hope for him. Maybe he was only with the Careers because he wanted something from them.

The answer hit Piper, making the air rush out of her chest in a gasp. Her. Jason was with the Careers to protect Piper. In that moment, Piper forgave Jason for whatever silly things he had done in their childhood. She forgave him for all of it.

"Hey, did you hear something?" One of the Careers asked.

Jason glanced up at her. "Nope. Nothing."

"Well, I did!" Luke said, shouldering his way forward. He stood at the base of the tree and looked up. Piper gulped as his eyes found hers.