𝙲𝙾𝙽𝙵𝙾𝚄𝙽𝙳 ° finnick odair ¹

23

After quick introductions, the three tributes started their journey again, Sarah leading the way. With only a handful of people left in the arena, including themselves, Adrienne was thinking they might actually have a shot; they were equipped now. They were prepared.

But only one of them would make it out. And she promised herself that that would be Vern, even if she had to kill herself for him to win. If it did come down to the two of them, she wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice herself for him. He was needed back home more than she ever would be.

Vern deserved to live.

"Hey, I think I see water." The boy in question's voice rang out from ahead of Adrienne.

The blonde girl sped up her walk to where he stood, smiling as she saw that Vern was right; up ahead was a small river running through a field of what appeared to be wild daises.

"What are we waiting for then?" Sarah said before taking off in a run, spreading her arms out to brush the flowers as she ran.

Once they were alone, Vern lowered his voice to ensure only his district partner heard his words. "Are you sure we can trust her?"

"She saved me." The blonde told him in the same tone. "I trust her. Whether you do or not is your own decision."

The boy sighed and nodded. "If you trust her, then I do too."

Adrienne gave the boy a grateful smile before the two of them reached the bank, where their ally was already starting to fill her canteen. The two other tributes did the same before dropping the tablets in and purifying the water.

After being refreshed and washed (as well as they could in a stream), the three just sat and talked with one another, the occasional sound of a cannon going off signifying where they truly were.

The blonde girl counted as the cannons went off, keeping a tally in her head. When they ceased, Adrienne was shocked by the number. She doubted herself until the younger girl's voice called out.

"I counted four." She said.

"That means..." The District Four tribute said with wide eyes. "There's only ten of us left, Vern. Only a few more days, tops."

Vern's confused face turned to a wide smile, thinking about how this could all be sooner, not thinking much about his fate.

Adrienne looked around and stepped forwards a bit. "We need to head back towards the center. Knowing the Gamemakers, they're gonna want to draw us together, and they could easily kill us by doing that." She took a breath. "We're so close now. We could actually do this."

"You can't." A sinister voice said behind her. "But I can."

Adrienne spun around only to be met with Sarah, holding one of the swords in her hand, red blood painting the blade. The blonde's worried eyes trialed you behind her, where Vern sat against a rock, clutching his bleeding stomach.

"You lied to me." The girl snarled, angered that this young girl betrayed her. "You were never going to help."

"I just needed your trust long enough to attack when least expected, and you fell for it way too easily." Sarah said with a mischievous grin. "That was your last mistake."

The girl lunged forwards, but Adrienne, without emotion, grabbed her carving knife from her waistline and sunk it deep into the girl's chest. Sarah gasped and dropped her blade, her eyes wide with shock. After a few seconds, her body went limp and fell to the ground as a cannon went off.

She was dead. The traitorous girl was gone.

But did she take Vern with her?