The 72 Annual Hunger Games

Chapter 11

"Iris, wake up." I feel a nudge on my arm to see Kaden rubbing it, wet from his shower.

"What time is it?" I ask as I start to get out of bed.

"9:00, you have an hour until your morning with Betty."

"Like I'm looking forward to that," I sit up and lean on Kaden, not caring that I'm 100% naked. "I should take a dhower." I say thinking about last night.

"Yes you should," Kaden says.

I look up at him "Was that a smelly insult?"

Kaden laughs. "No, it's just that we, or at least I was sweating last night." I nod and get up, but my body gives in ans I fall to the floor unable to move any muscles in my lower body. Kaden looks at me and picks me up.

"Your so light." He says.

"Really, I'm supposed to be gaining weight." I say

"Well, either you were really light to start off with or its not workinh."

I was really skinny back home; we were starving some of the time. Somethimes, mother and I wouldn't have breakfast; only the lunch that the district coveres which is a small roll of bread and an apple. My weight wouldn't mind meif I was back home, but I've been trying to gain weight for the games. 

"Can you stand?" Kaden asks me looking at the shower. 

"I don't know." I say. Kaden tries to stand me up but my legs quickly give up. I sit on the shower floor as Kaden cleans my body. 

"I feel bad, I was too hard on you." Kaden says as he washes my hair.

"No you weren't, I'm just sore." I relpy.

"Being sore is when your muscles hurt but you can still use them." I look at Kaden, he looks like a hurt puppy, I can't see him like that.

"Kaden, you didn't hurt me. You can trust me."

Kaden picks me up and puts a towel over me as he sits me down on the toilet. "Just promise me you aren't hurt."

"I promise." I say as I stand up, holding onto Kaden's wrist for dear life. I smile at him and he smiles back. My body just feels really sore, no big deal. 

Kaden and I sneak out of my room over to the dining section; everyone is already there and they immediately notice me having trouble walking even with Kaden's help. 

"What happened to you?" Bety asks.

"I'm sore." I answer.

"Where?" Interrupts Leif.

"Everyehrtr, especially my lower body and chest." I reply.

"Eat something Iris." Caff commands.

"I'm not really hungry, nausea." I answer.

Everyone looks at me like I have three heads. "What? You never heard the word 'nausea' coming from a kid before? I guess I ate something bad or I'm allergic to something. It's not abnormal." No response, "I'll be fine for the interview, Leif you don't need to change anything if you already have something planed for me." Leif smiles and mouths 'Thank you' to me.

"So, I guess we'll start with manners and the actual interview then. Iris due follow me." Betty announces as she gets up and starts walking to the next room. I sit there for a while, not being able to walk fully by myself. Kaden finally finishes his breakfast and picks me up.

"I wanta walk." I tell him.

"I don't want you to, I don't want your legs to be in bad condition for the games tomorrow. You need to rest them today."

I hits me, the 72nd Annual Hunger Games start tomorrow; in twenty-four hours, I will be on a plane to an unknown location where I will fight to the death with all the other tributes. I could be dead, stone cold, having a beatless heart in forty-eight hours, I start to feel hot tears rolling down my eyes. Kaden is about to walk into the next room where BEtty waits for me when he notices that I'm crying. 

"What;s wrong?" He asks.

"Nothing." I lie.

"Iris, please don't lie to me. Please, tell me."

I look into Kaden's dark brown eyes, they're filled with concern, why is he worried about me, when the games start he should care about no one but himself. But I have a feeling that won't be the case for the both of us. 

"In one day, we'll be going to the arena and I don't know if I will be dead in two days, and I don't wanta..." I say with burning hot tears rooling down my face.

"Shh," Kaden says with his soothing voice. "Nothing's gona happen to you, I promise. We're together now, you and me. If you die, I die."

"Don't say that!" I scream and start to sob even harder. "J-just promise me we'll be okay." I plead.

"I promise." Kaden whisperes. HE kisses me on the check and walks, with me in his arms, to Betty.