Flooding Panem: The Hunger Games

Chapter Sixteen: Bleeding

They sure know how to get us to a feast.

I'm conscious of every shiver running through me, of every time my teeth click together of their own accord. I clench my hands around my sleeves, twisting the fabric in an effort to stop myself from shaking. For some of you, this may be your last chance.

I've been terrified of this from the first night I spent in the Arena. I was hoping- praying, even- that we'd been treated, that we were safe from out environment. Right. Like that was gonna happen. If that were the case we wouldn't have had the chance to learn survival skills.

The sun hangs low in the sky, a burning crimson orb seeping through the clouds. But even if the clouds can't block out the light, they're doing too good a job of blocking out the heat; even the water in my thermos is more slush than liquid now. I watch Parox as he unloads most of the contents from the small backpack into the larger one.

"Parox- you don't have to do this," I say again.

"Lilia, you're about as much use as a dead squirrel when it comes to fighting," he says, not unkindly. He turns to look at me and sighs. "Look, I'm coming back," he says, "and I'll have all the backpacks too."

I stare at him incredulously, floundering for an excuse. "But it's not just gonna be you! What about Laurel, Austea, Mar-" I break off. "Look. I don't have to fight, I can just stay in the trees. If you look like you're in trouble I'll throw a knife, what's the big deal?"

Parox looks at me. I can tell he's trying to figure me out, but I won't let him. Not this time. Because if he figures out what I'm thinking then fate knows what'll happen.

One of us has to die. Soon. Tomorrow. After the feast, I have no clue how many of us are going to be left, but I can't be alone with Parox in here. If I'm left alone with him then I don't know what I'll do, but it's not going to please the Gamemakers, that's for sure. And if he comes back with all three backpacks and Rosalina somehow recovers...

If I go, then even if Parox makes it through, I might not. Everything would be easier, for both of us. At least, that's what I'll keep telling myself.

"The problem comes when-" Parox breaks off. There a few seconds pause as I watch him try to cover up the fact that he has no argument.

"Exactly."

Parox fumbles with his jacket for a moment before looking up almost triumphantly. "Someone needs to stay with Rosalina." He leans over to pick up the backpack and turns to go. He stands with his back to me for a moment. "Just... Just stay safe. Please, Lilia. Until I get back at least... Please."

He doesn't stay for another word. He pulls the compass out of his pocket and heads off through the trees. I watch him for a few minutes until he disappears behind the trees. I stare at his footprints in the snow, frowning, until the sun drops behind the mountains. But even then I don't back away. I stare after him as the stars break through the blue black shroud that covers us.

Finally I feel a sting on my cheek. For a moment as I look up, I see the same thing that I saw on my first night here. The stars look like they're shifting in their places for a moment before more snowflakes start to stick in my hair.

A few minutes later and the world is thick with the flakes of frost. When the anthem plays, I can barely see the seal for the snow. I guess they're trying to shoo the last few tributes to the feast. Well, I did want to go, I silently note. No Gamemaker can accuse me of not playing along with their game.

The night soon grows darker, and after a short debate with myself I lie down. Parox will probably be lying in wait now, which means anyone hunting will be at the Cornucopia, not stumbling around in the woods trying to find two frightened thirteen-year-olds. I close my eyes and fall into a dreamless sleep.