𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙏𝙒𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙔
—𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦—

     𝙄 𝙎𝙃𝙊𝙑𝙀 𝘾𝘼𝙏𝙊 and Marvel into the trees, shooing them away as I turn back to River. Giving him a weak smile, he returns it with the shake of a head. I sigh as he turns, placing my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort his disappointment.

"Look, River," I start, trying to find a way to speak my mind. "Cato and I talked last night, and I realized—"

"That you love him," He finishes, releasing a loud breath. "I know, it's not hard to tell."

"Earlier— that wasn't supposed to happen." I state, ignoring his words. "I already told him to leave the two of you out of this, and he agreed. But because you hit him, he retaliated. I don't want you two fighting again."

"Yeah, it shouldn't have happened— you shouldn't have been there. He should be dead right now for all of the things he's done to you, Casey! Why can't you just understand that I'm trying to protect you here?"

"Because I trust him!" I scoff. "I know him—"

"You've known him for five days, Casey. And not even that." River states rather harshly, his jaw clenching as his anger flares. Aspen stands beside of me, his eyes darting between the two of us as we argue.

"That's just a number! It doesn't affect how I feel about him, River! I understand that you're trying to protect me, but judging the people I care about is most definitely not helping our situation," I snap, narrowing my eyes. "If you care, you'll let this go."

"Are you forgetting what he's done to you?" River questions, his voice growing quiet as his eyes soften. "That he planned to kill you? And that you hated him two days ago? Does that not matter to you?"

"People make mistakes, and I learn to forgive," I murmer. "The whole thing was staged for Clove and Glimmer. If they found out, I would've—"

"Been on their kill list?" He raises an eyebrow. "Make it all the way to the top? I think we both know that they want to kill you either way. What reason did Cato have to be scared of Clove and Glimmer?"

"He wasn't scared, he was trying to protect me—"

"Protect you from them? Casey, I don't trust him! He could've just told them that he loved you if he really did, instead of lying and staging all of this bullshit!"

"And what would his mentors have said, huh?" I glare. "They would've dropped him as soon as they heard. They are his gateway to sponsors."

"Like he'd need them," River snorts. "You and I both know that he can handle himself without the sponsors. He's just using you . . . and you're letting him."

"I believe him because after these past few minutes he's had to kill me, he hasn't." I say, gesturing to the woods behind me. "And within the time that we've been arguing, he and Marvel could've killed the three of us without a second thought."

River's eyes immediately snap to the trees behind me, his eyes landing on Cato and Marvel, who watch the argument unfold in front of them.

"He's not what you think he is," I breathe out, my eyes turning to River. "I promise he can be trusted. The past is in the past- move on."

Aspen is the first one to move from their position, stepping over to Cato. His firm expression terrifies me, his hand gripping the knife in his hand with such force that his knuckles turn white. But instead of using it, Aspen drops his weapon.

"I trust Casey," He mutters, his eyes darting to me. "So I guess that means I have to trust you too."

A small sigh a relief falls from my lips as he backs away, facing River and I.

"I won't fight him." River states clearly, his jaw tightening in the slightest. "But I won't defend him."

"Thank you," I say breathlessly. "Cato, Marvel, you need to go. Clove and Glimmer are probably—"

A cannon explodes from above, my attention snapping to the sky. I slowly count as more cannons sound, the loud noise echoing throughout the arena. And after a solid sixty seconds, the cannons stop.

"Eight."

I look back to Cato, nodding my head in the direction of the woods he came from. He nods hesitantly, grabbing my hand to yank me into a tight embrace. "Watch out for yourself, okay? Don't get hurt."

"I won't," I chuckle. "I can defend myself. And I have River and Aspen. I'll be fine, don't worry about me."

"I'll be back tomorrow," He promises, his arms falling to my waist. "Maybe in the morning if I can."

"Like I said, don't worry about it."

"Sure thing," He rolls his eyes with a chuckle, placing a chaste kiss on my forehead. "Be safe."

"I'll will," I smile, watching as the two walk away. "I promise."

___♕___

"That makes nine," Aspen announces, securing the rope around his waist as another cannon blasts. "I was hoping there'd be more today."

"I'm not ready to see their faces," I say plainly, glancing to the darkened sky. "I don't want to know who got killed. What if Peeta or—"

"Peeta and Katniss aren't dead," River says reassuringly, dropping onto the ground next to me. "I know that for sure. I have no doubts they're hiding out together in a cave somewhere, or camouflaged."

"We don't know that for sure though." I shoot him a stern look. "Don't get my hopes up like that. You and I both know how bad the bloodbath was."

"You hardly saw any of it," Aspen shutters. "Trust me Case, it was worse than you thought."

The memories of being choked replay in my mind, my hand immediately darting to my sore neck. I could tell there were going to be bruises, no doubt in that. I was just glad I didn't have to see them.

"I could've lived without knowing that," I sigh, placing my face in my hands. "I'm worried. What if something happened to Cato and Marvel?"

"Have you seen them? I'm sure they're perfectly fine."

"But there's always a chance th—"

My sentence is interrupted as the anthem begins to play, the Capitol seal stamped onto the arena sky. I grab River's arm, clutching it tightly as the first picture glows, shining brightly like the artificial stars beside it.

It was a girl that I surely didn't know— but one I had seen in training. My heart pounds for the small girl. She'd never arrive home to her family.

But as the picture fades, turning into another, I find myself relieved. None of the nine were my allies— something I was happy about. But the others were still people, children, that were dragged into this arena just like me.

Except they hadn't been as fortunate.

They didn't make it this far.

My heart ached for their district, friends, and family. Witnessing someone die would be hard enough, let alone having them be someone you know or love.

A crunch of leaves behind me catches my attention, pulling me from my deep wave of thought. I immediately surge forward, reaching for my axe, and ducking down. But I was unfortunate enough to be a second too late, a hand reaching out to drag me back by the hair.

I cry out as my hair is yanked back, taking me along with it. I'm tugged into a harsh grip, a knife held to my throat and an arm holding me forcefully at my collar bone. I struggle against the choke hold, elbowing my captor intensely. But instead of loosening their grip, it only intensifies.

River and Aspen stand, weapons in their hands as they eye the boy that holds me. I grunt in pain as the tip of the knife nudges into my neck, drawing the slightest hint of blood.

"Stay where you are," The boy commands roughly. "Drop your weapons and hand them over."

A girl stands to the left of me, another boy to my right. They step forward, expectant to retrieve the weapons that Aspen and River hold.

"Let her go," River narrows his eyes.

"I think you're forgetting the one who's being held right now," The boy chuckles. "Let me refresh your memory."

I'm shoved to the ground violently in an instant. And before I can react, a knife is lodged into my hip. I work hard to fight off a scream, but fail as my lips open on their own accord. A surge of pain floods my body, my eyes glossing over with tears at the pain.

"No, Casey!"

I'm given no time to adjust to the pain as the knife is ripped from its position, my mouth being covered with a harsh hand. My screech is muffled by the hand, my eyes immediately landing on the boy above me.

I don't recognize him, but I'm sure I've seen him before. My eyes snap to River and Aspen, another wave of pain hitting me hard.

"Drop your wea—"

The boy above me is interrupted as a knife lodges itself into his skull, a single drop of blood rolling down his forehead as he falls to the ground. I clutch my side as blood begins to pool out of the wound, holding pressure as tight as I can.

My vision is blurry as Aspen, River, and the boy and girl fight, each taking hard hits. I can't tell what is happening as I manage to shove myself into a standing position. With one hand on my wound, I grab my axe, swinging it into the spine of the girl that shoves River backwards.

She gasps, collapsing to the ground quickly.

But as I turn to defend Aspen, I realize that the boy he was fighting is laying on the ground, a knife in his chest. Looking around for Aspen in confusion, I groan, another wave of pain hitting me.

"Aspen," River murmers, his eyes landing on the boy on the ground.

My heart hammers as I sink to my knees, my eyes finding Aspen, who lays breathlessly on the ground. His body is stiff; rigid. He doesn't breathe, a spear lodged deep into his chest.

"No, no, no," I mutter, my eyes stinging with tears. "Please don't be . . . my God."

I choke out a sob as I place my bloody hands on the boy's face. "Aspen, please, please wake up! River, help him! Y—you have to . . . please just help him!"

"Casey," River shakes his head from beside me. "I'm sorry, I can't . . . Come on, we have to get you to Cato. You're hurt."

"No! Do something!" I cry, my sobs growing heavier as four cannons explode. "He's not— he's not dead! He can't be."

Wiping the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand quickly, I kneel over Aspen, my head placed on his chest as I cry. "You can't be gone, you can't be gone. Please come back to me."

River rips off a large piece of the boy's shirt, wrapping around my waist as I continue to beg for help. Instead of heading my pleas, he sorts through the backpack, searching for something.

The pain in my side grows more and more unbearable as I move, only to be ignored because of the boy that lay lifeless underneath me.

"This is all my fault," I murmer into his chest, my tears soaking into his shirt. "I'm so sorry, Aspen."

_______