The 65th Hunger Games - EDITING

Chapter twenty-seven

I start to run without even thinking about it, followed by my allies. To where? None one of us know. The only certain thing is that we need to get away from them. They're chasing us, occasionally clenching their jaws an inch away from our heels, teasing us. They're playing with their food. I feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins, panicked at the idea of ending in their stomach. Trying to keep my breathing steady, I force my legs to push harder, jetting past the trees. The thin layer of sweat covering the nape of my neck is becoming thicker and thicker, as an awful thought makes its way into my mind; anyone but me. For a second, I'm back into the blazing heat and the crowded square in my District on the Reaping day, having this exact same thought. I can't believe this was only a week ago, it seems like it was a lifetime ago.

"Anthos!"

I stop running and turn around to find Viviana standing over Anthos, trying to help him stand up. I hear him beg her to leave as he tries to push her away. He's too weak to continue. The mutts stopped running too and they are looking at them, eager to finally taste their flesh. The alpha makes a weird hysterical laugh-like sound. It reminds me of something I've once seen in history class, an animal that existed hundreds of years ago but has since then disappeared. A hyena. Yes, that's it.

I guess my wish came true. I'm not the chosen one. Not yet.

"Viviana!"

Before I can even finish saying her name, one of them jumps on her and, as she extends her arm, trying to reach out to me, trying to escape the crushing weight of the bloodthirsty monster, it rips her throat open with its sharp teeth. She looks so tiny under the big animal. From where I am, I can see life slowly exiting her body. I feel someone pulling me away from this awful scene as the sound of the canons resonates in the arena. I don't bother to turn around to see if they are still after us or if they're playing with the lifeless bodies of their victims. I'm not even thinking anymore; I'm just putting a foot in front of the other, sometimes getting out of my state of shock to hear someone scream to run faster, that they're catching up. Viviana and Anthos are gone; I can't believe they're gone.

Adenias, who was running right in front of me, stops abruptly. I realize it too late and crash into him, making us both collide on the cold ground. Cedar looks back at us but doesn't stop. I don't blame him; he just wants to survive. I have no choice but to accept my fate. This is it; we've reached the end. I secretly hate Adenias for stopping. We would still be running if it wasn't for him. Did he just give up, knowing too well that they were going to catch us soon enough? It's not the right time to hate someone; I can't die with this being my last thought. I hear him scream as the powerful jaw of a mutt closes on his leg, making the blood spatter on my clothes. I suddenly get it.

Adenias didn't give up; there was another one right in front of him, that's why he stopped. He couldn't go forward anymore; he was looking for an alternative. He didn't give up and neither can I. When I fell, I accidentally sent my spear out of reach, making the torch my only weapon. I stick the burning end on its side, making it release Adenias' leg as it howls in pain before running away, yelping.

Fire.

Fire is their weakness. Of course; why didn't I think about this earlier. Everyone would still be alive if I had. I hear my ally's breathing intensify as other mutts arrive. I quickly get on my feet, ready to fight back, not only for me but also for my murdered allies. They were just kids, we all are kids, and we don't deserve to die like this. They are walking in a circle around us, getting closer and closer. I sweep the torch around, hoping that'll be enough to keep them away. I hear something moving behind me and immediately turn around, but it's too late.

It happens very slowly as if time itself decided to mock us by making this moment last longer. One of them is in the air, projected by its powerful back legs, its front paws stretched out in our direction. I close my eyes, bracing for the impact. I'm thrown on the ground but surprisingly, it doesn't hurt. Maybe I'm already dead and all of this is over.

I hear a gut-wrenching scream filled with pain. It's neither mine nor Adenias'. Again, I feel someone pulling on my clothes, trying to help me get up, which I do without really questioning the situation. I don't have time to do otherwise. I put Adenias' arm over my shoulder and help him walk away. To be honest, it's actually quite the opposite; he's the one dragging me away. I'm not entirely aware of what's happening; it's like my brain stopped working and just gave up on the situation.

"We need to go faster, Finnick! They're still after us!"

I turn around, meeting the death glare of the beast but something changed; it looks less aggressive, less hungry. It's definitely slower anyway. I stumble upon a root, sending both of us on the ground. Adenias screams in pain, holding his badly injured leg. Realizing that I can now see without the light of the torch, I turn around to watch the magical landscape. We are not in the forest anymore; we are lying in a field of glowing flowers. Their pale white and bluish light illuminates the area like stars in the night. In normal circumstances, I would have stopped to observe the magnificent, breathtaking view but this is no normal situation. The grunting quickly brings me back to my gruesome reality. The mutt is still there but the others are nowhere to be found. It's standing on the edge of the forest, looking at us as if we were out of reach. It growls one last time before turning around and walking away angrily, leaving Adenias and I astonished. The sound of a third canon echoes in the night.

"It was Cedar's. They took their time; made him suffer. He jumped in front of you when it attacked. He saved you." he says, visibly still in shock.