Making Plans

AMARA AND CREED KNEW THEY'D BE STUCK IN THE cave for awhile. For some reason, Shine was hellbent on making the Reed girl suffer, and she realized that probably meant killing the people she cared about before getting to her. The girl hoped Basil was okay, they hadn't heard any cannons for hours so, that was a pretty good sign.

"Tell me what happened." Amaranth spoke up as her her friend set the canister of water down beside him.

"Which part? We've haven't seen each other for hours." Creed was trying to make light of the situation, if he got serious, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to come back from it.

"I want to know what happened to Mercy, how did she die?" Amara side eyed the boy, his body tensing at the question.

"I told you, Shine killed her at the Cornucopia." The Sparrow boy looked off into the distance, his mind obviously somewhere else.

"There is something you aren't telling me." The Reed girl paused, turning her whole body to face him. "We are supposed to trust each other, just say it."

"She sold us out, okay?" Creed sighed, running a hand over his face. "She talked to the Careers, traded us to keep her alive, Shine said something about watching out for my friends before she slit her throat right in front of me. I—... she was my friend, Amara. Our friend, and I don't want to remember her as a traitor."

"That's why you didn't tell me?" Amaranth, reached forward, placing her hand on his, a frown on her face.

"Yeah, didn't want you to remember her that way either." The Sparrow boy shook his head. "It doesn't matter anymore, we're both goners anyways, right?"

"No." Amara shook her head. "You can't think like that, it'll never get either of us anywhere."

"So what is the plan? Because I have no idea what to do at this point." Creed sighed, letting his fingers wrap around the other girls, both their hearts beating faster.

Amara couldn't tell if it was the near death experience, or boy right next to her but, she knew she needed to keep it together.

"We find Basil and we stay alive." The Reed girl nodded her head, trying to hope for the best. "Figure it out along the way."

"That's really hopeful." A small smile creeped up on the boys lips as he leaned in slightly, Amara stiffening at the gesture.

"I'm trying something new." She responded, watching as the boy pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and leaned in even closer. "What are you—"

She went silent as the boy pressed a kiss against her lips, her body relaxing as his hand cupped her face softly. Their lips moved in sync, him lowering himself to her level slightly. After a few moments, the boy pulled away, his smile now full.

"Okay, i'm ready to go out there now." He turned away, grabbing the canister before throwing it in the bag and getting to his feet. "Let's find our friend."

He held his hand out, the girl grabbing it as he helped her up to her feet.

"My best friend." The girl said softly, nodding her head slightly. She didn't have the heart to tell Creed that what just happened was her first kiss, and she also didn't have the heart to tell him it inspired her to keep going, stronger than she had before, especially for Basil.

But as corny as it sounds, she was his reason for going forward too.

"If he listened to Lennox, he went to find a water source." Amara bit her inner lip. "Have you seen any around?"

"No, i've been trailing Batiste and Shine and they got supplies from the Cornucopia." Creed tapped his foot as they reached the entrance of the cave. "I can only assume it's that way."

He pointed in the direction opposite from which they came.

"... and they probably went that way looking for us." Amaranth sighed. "That's just great."

"I'm sure Basil is okay." The Sparrow boy was the first to step out, looking around carefully before waving Amara out, the girl stepping out beside him.

"People might underestimate him but, he can protect himself." The Reed girl let herself breathe, slowly walking, trying to make sure the leaves under her feet weren't too loud. "I know this is a weird question but uh... have you... you know."

The girl made a cutting gesture across her neck, letting her tongue fall out of her mouth.

"Killed someone?" Creed nodded his head slowly. "Only one, uhm... you?"

"Me too, Oliver, district seven." Amara noted, knowing that she'd remember his name for the rest of her life. "I feel... disgusting."

The Sparrow man stopped in his tracks, putting his hands on the girls shoulder and lowering his face to her level.

"We were sent here to do this, and I know that outside of this arena, you'd never do something like that and some of the others? They would. They'd kill you or me in a heartbeat and they've tried, and they are going to keep trying. So don't hate yourself for protecting your own life." The boy shook his head slightly. "That will slow you down."

"You're right." Amara nodded slowly, gaining her composure again. "You are completely right."

"I know." The boy shrugged, letting his hands fall to his sides. "You should really listen to me more, I have a lot of knowledge in my—"

An arrow flew directly passed Creed's head, grazing his cheek as it went by him.

"Get down!" He quickly pushed Amara down, covering her with his body. "We need cover."

"Okay, okay!" The Reed girl looked around, spotting a huge rock not far from them. "Back there!"

She pointed, two more arrows flying at them and missing them by only inches.

"Come on!" He helped the girl up, both of them running behind the rock and taking cover from the arrows that were coming their way.

"Who was that?" Amara breathed in and out, holding a hand against her chest.

"I have no idea." Creed looked behind them, the arrows not coming their way anymore. However, a figure was coming straight towards them.

"Amara? Creed?" A familiar voice asked, tilting his head as he came up to them. "I've been looking for you everywhere!"

"So why were you shooting at us!" Amaranth stood up, running over and throwing her arms around the boy.

"Sorry, I didn't see your faces. Thought you were Shine and Batiste." Basil laughed slightly, returning the gesture. "But, we might have to get out of here, I ran into some trouble with some of the careers."

Of course he did.

AUTHORS NOTE—
There is still so many parts to this book but its so sad to have to get rid of Basil and Creed—

Any predictions for what will happen next?

Hope you enjoy!