Here We Are || HG Sequel

Chapter Three

Luke approached Karalyn, sitting beside her. Pierre had been dragged into conversation with Alex and Niall as the boys poked at the fire with swords and sticks. "So, think you could get used to this every day?" he asks with a smile. Karalyn shrugs.

"I mean, like they said, it's like you're still in the games. I guess The Capital dumped us Here thinking that we'd just die off. But if they've all been here as long as they've said, that's years. I mean, at least eight years! At this point they've proven that they're practically untouchable. We could live here forever." 

"For quite a while, at least," Luke nods in agreement. They all knew what would have to happen eventually. Eventually, they were all going to die. Unless they found a way out of Here, they would all live here for the rest of their lives; however long they might be. Naturally, they had to have thought over what this meant. 

"I could certainly get used to sleeping under the stars, and not worrying about if people were trying to kill me," she laughs. Luke laughs as well, looking up at the now darkened sky.

"Same here. I kind of like it, actually. It's a lot less intense than The Games. Plus, we can do whatever we want, here. Within reason, of course," he adds. 

"Yeah." 

"Hey, I kind of promised Rhett that I'd go check out the area tomorrow, but afterward, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out. Just the two of us."

"What would we do?" Karalyn asks, intrigued. 

"Anything we want. Talk, explore, maybe I'll find something while looking around with Rhett that's pretty cool and I'll show you." The girl smiles.

"Yeah, sure. I'd like that."

"Cool," Luke says. There's a brief pause, and he kisses her on the cheek before going to talk to some of the others that had been Here before. Karalyn decides to lay in bed, staring up at the stars. She allows her eyes to flutter open and closed, taking in the night sky. She didn't even notice someone join her until they started speaking.

"Let me ask you a question, Princess," Ashton says, climbing into the bed with her and looking up at the sky as she is. "What do you see in him?"

"Who?" she asks, somewhat annoyed that he had joined her.

"Your boyfriend."

"He's still not my boyfriend."

"You didn't answer my question," Ashton practically cuts her off. 

"Well you don't answer any of mine!" she shouts back at him.

"Fine, do you have a question?"

"Why won't you call me by my name?"

"Because." Karalyn sits up, glaring at him. Ashton's arms are folded behind his head. 

"That's not an answer," the brunette presses.

"It's my answer. You never said it had to be a good one. Now, my turn. What do you see in him?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because." Folding her arms over her chest, Karalyn huffs.

"He's sweet, unlike you. He cares about me, he makes me laugh, and he's nice. Is that enough of an answer for you?" Ashton had ignored most of everything she had said.

"So you don't think I care about you?"

"I didn't say that." There was a moment of hesitation before she continued. "Why? Do you..." he cuts her off again.

"You don't think I'm nice?"

"Well you haven't exactly shown it." 

"So you like him because he's nice, and he cares about you?" Ashton asks in confirmation. 

"Well, yeah. That's what I like in friends. So it makes sense."

"Do you consider me your friend?"

"I considered you the "not much of a people person" type. I never really thought much more." Ashton takes a long beat before responding. In fact, he doesn't respond at all. He simply sits up, brushes a leaf off of his pants, and leaves. He hadn't made eye contact with her once during their entire conversation. Karalyn waited a moment before laying back down. She didn't understand Ashton, and perhaps she never would. She didn't think she ever would, that's for sure. 

Annie and Niall had been sitting by the fire, talking to Crystal and Holland. "So how long have you guys been here?" Annie asks. The girls laugh.

"Quite a while. We don't really keep track, but it's been a long time," Crystal answers.

"So, have you guys ever thought about what happens in the future? You know, do we all just stay Here for the rest of our lives?" Niall asks. Holland nods.

"We haven't been given much of a choice now, have we?" Annie and Niall rest in the thought.

"So are any of you guys, you know, together? Surely you have to have thought about that."

"Oh, we have. But you know, when you spend so long with each other as friends and as allies, it gets hard to see each other as anything more. It's not impossible, of course, and I'm almost positive everyone here has had a crush on everyone else. But like I said, it's hard to think about."

"You guys are lucky, to have been sent Here. You know as well as we know that The Capital could have easily taken you all out. They could have done the same with us. But their idea of punishment is thinking that A) we would have died in the transportation here, or B) we wouldn't have survived the wilderness, and what lies Here. Or you know, that we would have killed each other, and finished The Games," Holland continues.

"Yeah. We've had this theory, that that's the real reason we're here; to finish what we started. Live a new version of The Games, no matter how long it takes. But we'd never. We've all worked too hard to defy The Capital to just go back on all of our progress and give in to what they've always wanted. We would never. But The Capital, they would want that. No guarantees that it's correct, but the theory isn't insane enough to dispose of completely." Everyone nods at Crystal's explanation. It did make sense, but they couldn't prove any of the theories for certain. 

Rhett and Emily are sitting by the fire while the others are dancing around it, and still having fun. The two of them were mostly silent, but their subtle conversation now and then was pleasant. "The stars are unbelievable," the boy admires. Emily nods. "I can't believe you get to see this every night!"

"You get used to it, but every now and then I look up and still gasp in amazement." She smiles, looking over at him. He returns the smile, and they both look back up at the skies. "You know, when I came Here, I was dropped off not too far from where you guys were."

"Really?" he questions, curious. She nods.

"Yeah."

"Well, what did you do to get Here?" he follows. She sighs.

"I- it's something I don't like to talk about often, but..." Rhett frowns, putting a hand on her arm.

"Hey, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." She smiles shyly.

"No, I will." Taking a deep breath, Emily continues. "I cheated. I was able to hack into the system of The Games and make it so everyone else would have the hardest time surviving, and I knew every obstacle, to avoid it before it happened. The Capital found out, and I was brought Here."

"Wow..." Rhett's eyes widen. "That's impressive. Really impressive." Emily tucks a strand of hair away, chuckling lightly under her breath.

"Thanks. I think your story is better, though." He smiles.

"Ah, what can I say? We had a great team of allies. Ones that could actually be trusted." The two don't say much else, but their silence is anything but awkward. In fact, it's kind of comforting, in a way. Soon, the fire is put out, and everyone climbs into bed. The tributes sleep soundly for the first time in a while, knowing that for once, nothing dangerous would sneak up on them.