A Story Of Nightlock.

Part 12 - A Choice

Part 12 - A Choice

Peeta stands before me but cannot see me through the layers of shrubbery I'm hiding behind. The small pile of deadly berries is rising, and Peeta has no clue that he is signing his own death warrant. I feel like I should tell him no, don't eat the berries, or that I should scream to the sky and curse the world for these games. But I know I can't do that, because at the moment, it's kill or be killed.

It feels weird, knowing that this will be my first kill. This also involves Katniss, who will be sure to take a 'delicious' mouthful of nightlock before it is too late. I remember the day my work mate from the power plant ate a teaspoon of those berries a few years ago. In a matter of seconds she was gone, and nothing could revive her. The next day her desk was cleared and a new kid moved in to her cubicle, totally un-aware of what had happened the previous day.

From as far as I could see, Katniss and Peeta were good people. I do not wish to kill them, but these are games of survival, and by knocking these two out of it, I have a better chance of living in the final three.

But do I? Then who would I be faced with? Thresh and Cato, that's who. If Cato even caught a glimpse at me I would be dead. Stone dead. Or maybe he would give me a long, slow and painful death for the camera's. Yes... yes I'm sure that is exactly what Cato would do for a chance at life. And then there's Thresh. I wonder how he is. He's not dead yet so that is a great sign. I miss him; I don't think I will ever get over the pain of having to leave him for my own chance at survival. But I guess he would have killed me anyway, in the end.

On the other hand, if I make an alliance with Katniss and Peeta it may benifit me greatly. However, I'd probably just be left in the hands of Cato or with an arrow through my stomach. I don't know if Peeta has killed in the games. Surely he has, you almost have to if you want to survive. I wonder what his family would think. I have seen previous victors who's parents turn their shoulders and abondon their kids, even when they've just come out of the hunger games. I wonder what my mother would say, if she were still around. What would she say about me killing two innocent people? Maybe she would forgive me because she would know that they would kill be in a heartbeat without thinking twice about it. No, I tell myself. She can't make her choice, mum is dead. Now unless you want to be, too, stop complaining.

I know Katniss has killed at least one person in the games. I didn't see her get a bow and arrow at the cornucopia, but after she got it she really was the girl on fire. I wonder how she did manage to obtain the bow and arrows, anyway. I know that career from District 1 had it from the start of the games. I also noted in training that she couldn't use it very well, but maybe just well enough to get an accurate shot at predators, or prey. But if Glimmer missed the shot, then Cato or Clove would have killed Katniss in an instant. She must be pretty clever, that girl on fire. Must have a lot of experience. I wonder if she has a family; a mother, father, brother or sister. I cannot possibly fathom the pain her siblings must be feeling, if she has any. Have their family gone through this before? I know my cousin, Bellona, was reaped when I was really little. In fact, I was so little I can't even remember her. But I do remember how hard she tried during her time in the games, how she struggled. After about a week Bellona was in the remaining ten tributes in the hunger games, but was found by one of the careers from district four. Bellona played a lot of tricks on the careers, such as stuffing venomous snakes in their sleeping bags and taking the batteries out of their torches. Nobody else in the games would have the guts to do this to the careers, so they cut her face slowly and slit her throat when she was minutes away from death. Bellona's death lasted for over an hour, yet she never screamed or cried out in pain. She was strong.

 I don't think I'm strong. I don't mean the muscular kind in which Cato gloats about, but the kind when your mind and spirit never give up on you, no matter what the cause. My cousin endured a long and painful death, and the only thing I've been wishing for is a quick one. Maybe I should avenge her by killing Cato. Or try and avenge her by trying to kill Cato. I think this way is easier, though. I am in the final five, even further than Bellona without disturbing the careers. I may have a chance.