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Life's the prize for one
"-Marlow, I'm begging you. Come and help me. "
I opened my eyes to the understanding of this familiar voice, the darkness darkened my vision and I could not find the owner of this voice. I gently pushed Alec's arm around my shoulders, I had no desire to frighten him or shorten those few minutes of sleep.
" - Marlow, can you hear me? Marlow, can you hear me? Help me. Don't leave me. ", raised her voice.
I fluttered my eyes a few times to sharpen my vision, or rather to adapt it to the surrounding darkness, I could now make out the outline of the yellow fir trees and their leaves, which were rising in the light wind. The silhouette stood behind the body of one of the spruces, his hand barely protruding from the trunk, but that was enough for me to see his hand sign. It wasn't safe to venture into the forest without my partner, and yet I was already standing up and following that oppressive voice. Something was bothering me. The tone of voice was familiar, yet I couldn't put my finger on who that person was. I also couldn't control my legs, which were leading me straight to the dirt ditch that had engulfed several tribes earlier in the evening.
" - We have to help him, Marlow. "
I turned sharply to meet my teammate's closed eyes, he must have felt me get up and follow me, but I didn't even hear him. I whispered his name, surprised to see him, and to hear words similar to those spoken when Leigh-Anne was the victim of a trap set by the creators of the game.
" - You're not going to help him?
- What are you talking about, Alec? Help who?"
Alec was coming close to the edge again, forcing me to watch him, I was afraid he'd try something stupid or stand too close and a root would grab his leg. His gaze caught mine, his was hard while mine was lost. Further down in the pit I could make out a new body and when my eyes finally fell on the victim's face, I had a high heart.
"Newt! Newt! "
No, it wasn't possible. Newt was not part of the tribes, he could not be in the arena, he could not fight or represent a victim. His brother was supposed to be in District 4 helping unload the fishermen's fish shipments and reassure their mother about Marlow's fate in the arena. No. Newt couldn't be in the arena, let alone in that cruel pit, it wasn't possible...
"Help me, Marlow, I beg of you. I'm your brother, help me.
- But it's not possible, you can't be here...
- I'm in pain, I beg you! "
Leigh-Anne's cry a few hours earlier seemed more bearable to me than the one my brother had just given when a root crushed one rib and scratched the upper one with his brambles. I could not even control myself, my eyesight was blurred, and I soon begged him not to scream any more. I couldn't tolerate his screams, I couldn't bear to see him suffer. I couldn't accept that he too was in the arena.
