Here We Are || HG Sequel

Chapter Seven

The later it gets, the more the new tributes start to worry for the return of Ashton, Louis, and Zayn. The others assured them that the boys would be fine, but they weren't so convinced. "They do this all the time, they're fine," Holland explains. Some of them prepare for bed, and the others remain around the campfire. Niall sits with Annie on his lap, beside Alex. Annie and Alex are talking, and she happens to notice a unsightly scar on his arm that his sleeve happens to be revealing. 

"Alex... what happened to your arm?" she asks, reaching out to touch his sleeve. His eyes widen, shooting toward the scar. He jerks his arm away before she can touch him, avoiding the question.

"Uh, nothing, it's nothing..." Annie stares at him, but he won't admit anything. 

"He was standin' too close," Crystal says with a bit of a smirk.

"Shut up!" Alex glares. After this, he storms off, not saying another word. 

"What was that about?" Rhett asks. 

"It is like Crystal said," Pierre. "He was standing too close." No one quite understood what this meant, but they were too afraid to ask for more explanation. Emily and Rhett were talking by the fire, poking at the dying flames with long sticks. 

"The fire's almost out," she sighs.

"Should we get more wood?" Rhett asks, but she shakes her head.

"Nah, it's getting late anyways. We can just wait it out. After that, it'll probably be time to sleep anyways." He nods.

"Fair enough." After a while, the fire dies, and everyone starts to get into bed. Well, mostly everyone. Karalyn remains by the fire pit, staring out into the woods. Pierre takes notice, and accompanies her.

"What is the matter, Mademoiselle? It seems to me that something is troubling you." Karalyn sighs, looking up at him,

"You could say that," she whispers. Pierre takes a seat beside her, staring out as she is.

"Ahh, je comprends. C'est amour, non?" She sighs under her breath as Pierre turns and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Mademoiselle, do not fret. He will return. I'm sure of it. Did you talk to him as I suggested?"

"I sure did," she answers.

"And?"

"He kissed me." Pierre's eyes widen, surprised.

"This is good! Is it not?" He is excited for her, but clearly she doesn't feel the same for herself. 

"No, it's terrible!" she cries. Pierre's expression shifts to a frown. 

"Oh... I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. I did what you said, and still, nothing. But... there's more."

"Yeah?" She nods, taking a moment before continuing.

"He told me he's in love with me." There is a long, drawn out silence between the two of them. 

"Wow," Pierre finally replies. "He must be a very complex man if he can hold all of this in with no explanations." Karalyn scoffs.

"If that's what you want to call him. I'm starting to think complex doesn't even begin to describe him anymore. And honestly, it's exhausting."

"Does he know you feel the same way?" Pierre asks. Karalyn shakes her head. "Well, do you?" She takes her time answering this as well.

"Well I mean... I don't... I guess.. maybe... yes," she finally admits. "I do."

"Then tell him. Maybe then he will be more willing to express himself to you. It seems to me, Mademoiselle, that one other thing is standing in the way of your communication with him; your friend, Luke. I think, Ashton may feel threatened by him." Karalyn can't help laughing.

"Threatened? Ashton? I doubt it."

"I wouldn't, Mademoiselle. Jealousy is a crazy feeling. Maybe you could give it a try, and tell him the truth, even if he doesn't want to hear it." Karalyn knew deep down somewhere that this was what Ashton was getting at all along. He wanted her to choose; him, or Luke. How could she choose? Especially during The Games? You can hardly hold anyone to anything in The Games. But, she has thought a lot about this, and maybe it was time to admit to Ashton how she felt. 

"Do you really think it's a good idea?" she asks. Pierre nods.

"Oui, Mademoiselle. I do." Karalyn smiles sweetly at Pierre, kissing him on the cheek.

"Merci, Pierre, mercie beaucoup." Pierre smiles back.

"I think it might be time for rest," he suggests. Karalyn nods. "He'll be back, I know it." The two of them head back to the others in the camp and lay down for bed. Karalyn still worried about Ashton, but she slept more easily after talking to Pierre.

***

Out in the woods, Louis, Zayn, and Ashton waited to steak out their prey. "What exactly are we waiting for, and where exactly are we going?" Ashton asked.

"Hush up," Louis says. "You'll see." After a while, the three boys come to a large wall in the middle of the woods. 

"Whoa..." Ash says, confused. Louis and Zayn smirk.

"We're Here," Zayn turns and says to Ashton.

"And where exactly is "here"?" he asks. The others laugh.

"This, is where we get this place's name from. Here, is everywhere. You see that wall?" Louis asks. Ashton nods. "Behind that wall is something you never want to mess with."

"Then why are we here?" Ashton asks.

"To test our luck," Zayn smirks. Ashton looks around, inspecting the wall. 

"So uh... where exactly does this thing end?" Louis laughs. Ashton turns, looking at him, not amused. "Did I say something funny?" he asks with a straight face. 

"It doesn't end. This wall is one gigantic square, around us. All of our campsite and woods that we hunt in, are in the boundaries of this wall. Behind that wall, there's a barbed wire fence. After that, what lies ahead is partially a mystery."

"Why do I get the feeling you're still hiding something from me?" Ashton asks, following the others to the wall. They don't respond. Once they reach the wall, there is a screen on it, that seems to be some sort of locking system. 

"When we enter these doors, whatever happens to us is unpredictable. You have to be aware of everything, and watch your every move. We have to have each other's backs in here. Because out past that wall, it's hunt, or be hunted. And I would much rather prefer the first to the latter."

"Okay," Ashton agrees. "So, we wait until midnight?" They nod. "Well, when is that?" 

"Right now," Louis smirks, unlocking the gates of the wall. It felt something like unlocking a portal to another world. "Everyone, stick together. And whatever you do, don't stand too close to the fence. And don't speak of anything you see tonight to the others. Let's go." So the three of them stepped over the threshold, completely unaware of what they would come face to face with.