Submerged

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Immediately, I broke into a run towards the edge of the roof. I didn’t check to see if Dylan or Aspen were behind me. During the two and a half seconds that it took me to clear half the space between my platform and the break between the buildings, I realized that I would have to keep running and just jump. I wanted to stop and rethink this, but it was too late for that. Besides, it wasn’t that big of a gap. And falling would only mean certain death, right? It would probably be a better death, too. It would be quick, and I wouldn’t have to suffer through these horrible games.

I pushed those morbid thoughts out of my head as quickly as I could. The wind was trying to push me back. I could hear my footfalls on the cement of the building’s roof. It sounded loud and awful, but I might have been imagining it.

My feet were on the edge for less than a single moment. I pushed off with every ounce of strength in my legs.

 Then, I was surrounded by only air, with bright blue water far below me. It felt as if I were traveling through time instead of empty space. Each second stretched for days yet also felt too fast. I felt a joyous and free as a bird, but I couldn’t land on the other building soon enough.

I hit the other roof full force, pushing my arms out to cover my face. Before running towards the cornucopia, I allotted myself half a second to make sure I was in working condition. My knees stung, so I knew they had been scraped, and my arms hurt like Hell. They were bleeding, but it didn’t look very bad. As I stood up, I glanced quickly over my shoulder and saw that I was the only one who had jumped.

A group of careers was grouped by the ledge, and one was kneeling on the very edge, looking down. I wondered if they would push her. I could see Aspen sneaking around behind the tributes toward Dylan. Most people were glued to their platform in slight shock. There had never been a Hunger Games like this before. We were in a city- most likely one of the cities from before Panem.

I turned my head back and kept running.

When I reached the cornucopia, I looked back again and saw that Aspen had Dylan and was preparing to run and jump. I turned back and surveyed the supplies. As soon as Aspen jumped, it would become a madhouse. Their shock had lasted even longer than I had hoped it would. I had gotten insanely lucky. I guess Mara had been right: they have everything to lose and I have nothing. For once, accepting death was lengthening my lifespan.

Grabbing a backpack without looking at its contents, I snatched a bow and a quiver filled with arrows. I threw on a thin, grey jacket after seeing that it had a dozen knives strapped to the inside. Aspen had safely landed with Dylan in his arms; he must have been stronger than I had guessed. If I had any question about whether or not he wanted me as an ally, it was now vanquished from my mind.

As he put Dylan down, and they sprinted toward me, I hastily stuffed a handful of dried meat into the backpack. I was running out of time; I could see the career tributes backing up to jump. I pushed the bow and quiver into Aspen’s hands. Hopefully, he didn’t suck at archery.

With almost expert grace, he shouldered the quiver, and we took off running to the stairwell. I pulled open the heavy door and pushed Dylan and Aspen through. Without pausing to look back, I pushed myself through the doorway and followed them. The world instantly plunged into almost pure darkness as the door banged shut.

Slightly slower, I walked carefully until I found the stairs.

“Over here,” I whispered. I spread my arms to keep my companions from walking any farther and falling down.

As soon as I could feel Aspen’s warm breath against the back of my neck and Dylan had tapped me, I ran as fast as I could without falling. Occasionally, I took two steps at a time, or Dylan stumbled a little, but no one fell and both boys kept up.

I didn’t pause when I heard the echo of the door slamming shut.