17. Hit or Miss

I didn't dream at all, which I guess is considered a good thing. I was surprised I had fallen asleep like I had last night.

I woke up, looking at my bloody hands. District 8 boy's blood was on my hands. I remember slicing his throat, his body falling before me. I hadn't felt happy when I had killed, probably because I was focusing on all the madness around me at the time. I never got the chance to truly accept and relish the fact that I made my first kill on day one.

I yawned, trying to stretch. I saw an arm thrown over my side, I frowned. I shrugged out of the sleeping bag and out from under Bane's arm, but I couldn't evade him. He grabbed me tight, having me pressed against him. I wriggled madly, as if he was about ready to kill me. In a way he was, because he said he was trying to forget his feelings for me. He was such a bad liar, because I knew he wasn't over me. People couldn't quickly un-love someone. People couldn't just turn off their emotions quick like a light switch. Things didn't work like that.

"Bane," I hissed, pushing on his strong arm, "get off me."

He stirred but didn't wake up. I snarled, trying to pull my body out of his grasp. I was having no luck. My eyes narrowed. I ceased struggling and listened as Aubrey moved on top of the Cornucopia. I heard her walking along the top, sliding to my left. She had to have hit the ground, because I didn't hear her clunking on the Cornucopia.

"My, my," she sing-songed, "what a sight this is."

The morning sun showed Aubrey had slept well. Her bright blonde hair was in a braid over her left shoulder, her arms crossed over her chest, her brown eyes lit up at the sight before her.

"Can you help?" I pleaded. "I can't escape. He's got a tight grip. If he gets any tighter, I think he might kill me without even knowing it."

"Didn't you try and wake him up?"

"No, Aubrey, I didn't think about it," I growled sarcastically, wriggling restlessly. "Just help, will you?"

"All right, all right." Aubrey walked into the Cornucopia, taking the blunt end of an arrow, prodding Bane in the back with it.

It woke him right up. He released me immediately, whirled around, sprang to his feet, and knocked into Aubrey, pinning her against the wall. She yipped. I staggered to my feet.

"Never do that again," Bane hissed at Aubrey, his words venomous. Aubrey whimpered lowly. I couldn't tell if she nodded or not, Bane's body blocked my view of her entirely. He backed off, leaving Aubrey plastered against the wall, her legs quivering. Bane looked at me. "I can see you look better standing."

"Yeah, um, what the hell is wrong with you?" I pressed.

"What?"

"You're such a horrible liar. You can't keep your hands off me."

"Crystal, I don't know what you're—"

"I woke up this morning to find your arm around me, and you wouldn't let go!" I roared.

"What?" he asked stupidly.

"Don't play stupid with me."

"I'm not. I swear I never touched you last night when you were asleep."

"I saw you with your arm on her, Bane," Aubrey squeaked, her voice a little shaky. Wow, and here I thought we Careers weren't afraid of anything. I guess I hadn't taken into account we could be afraid of each other. "You weren't letting her go."

"So you felt the need to poke at me with an arrow? I thought someone was trying to kill me!" he snapped. Aubrey shrunk under his tone.

"I thought you were trying to kill me with the iron grip you had on me when I tried to wiggle loose not too long ago," I barked at him. "I asked Aubrey to help me, so she poked you awake."

"You can't do that to me. I wouldn't have minded having water thrown on me next time."

"How about fire instead?" I snarled lowly. "I'll light your ass next time so you'll wake up since, apparently, if we try to prod you with a weapon you'll kill us on the spot."

"Ouch, harsh," Aubrey murmured. "Look! They're back!" She pointed out towards the mouth of the Cornucopia.

Sure enough, three figures were dragging themselves back to us. They all looked exhausted, about ready to pass out. Bane trotted out to meet them while Aubrey helped me wobble out.

They all looked like they had slept in the woods—which seemed likely. Jenna had a few twigs in her hair, Ben's hair was out of its ponytail and had gone wild, and Victor looked so saggy I thought he would topple and hit the ground face first. They didn't look happy.

"Sorry about the hunt," Aubrey said sympathetically. She had probably been up and out all night, so she'd know if any tributes died overnight. Actually, she probably would have told Bane and I the moment she came down from the Cornucopia's roof.

"We've got a bunch of good hiders," Jenna said. She yawned. "We couldn't track anybody."

"But you're good at camouflage. You would have seen if anybody was using it, right?"

"I'm good at hiding myself, not finding others through their cover."

"How far did you go?"

"Not far," Ben said slowly. "We didn't want to venture too far to where we wouldn't make it back by morning."

"Get into any trouble?" I asked. I shifted against Aubrey.

"No, sadly," Victor sighed.

"We'll get something to hunt soon, don't worry," Bane assured Victor. I knew what he meant, too, more than anything: Shane. I knew Bane wouldn't get the boy from 12 out of his head until he was dead by his hand. I shuddered at the thought. "But I think for now you three better sleep. We just got up." Bane shot a nasty look at Aubrey.

"Good, I'm about to drop dead," Jenna whined. She swayed dangerously, Ben steadied her and guided her into the Cornucopia, Victor towed in behind them.

Aubrey, Bane and I stayed outside. I needed to stand anyway.

"Do you think we should head out today?" Aubrey said after a minute.

"Maybe, just us two," Bane said.

"Hey," I protested. "I can walk, I'm not disabled."

"You're injured." Bane turned to me. "I don't want to risk it. Besides, what would happen if Aubrey and I couldn't get to you fast enough?"

"Why are all your situations involving me being helpless and vulnerable to where I would be easily picked off?" My voice turned cold.

"I'm trying to make you see reason." He shrugged. "Besides, those three could use a lookout while they rest."

"Oh no, I'm not playing babysitter. I'm sure if there was danger near them, they'd be awake enough to take care of the threat. Whether you like it or not, Bane, I'm going. Aubrey will help me along."

"Of course I will," she piped immediately.

"See?" I raised a triumphant eyebrow at Bane. He sighed irritably.

"Fine, but carry light things if you're going with us."

"You stay out here, we'll get the things," Aubrey said. She turned me around, and we both went back to the Cornucopia to grab what we'd need.

We had to step over Victor, Ben, and Jenna since they were knocked out cold. I was sure Aubrey didn't want to have another episode like she and Bane had no too long ago. Aubrey grabbed a sword, lodging it between her arm and her side while she handed me a belt of knives to secure around my waist. Aubrey stuck a knife in her boot as a last resort. She tossed me a blowgun and six darts.

I was able to get a good walk out of my limp as Aubrey dragged out what Bane would need to him. He tested the sword, making sure it would work for him. All I carried was an array of knives, a blowgun, and six darts. Aubrey had my knife in her boot, and Bane had a sword in his hand. I seemed more equipped than they did. Maybe Aubrey gave me all this for a reason. She was probably spooked by Bane's hypothetical situations, I thought bitterly. Aubrey seemed to be easily scared, not something you'd see on a Career's face unless they were attacked by something other than a tribute.

We set out away from the Cornucopia, straight ahead for the woods. I kept up pretty well despite the twinges I'd get in my leg every few steps. I pretended I was in good health and dived into the woods.

The grass was longer and the sunlight was a little more limited in here. The woods could go on for miles, so the other twelve tributes could be lurking anywhere. We'd have to head back at night, because there was no way I would stay in the woods overnight, even if I was armed and even if Aubrey and Bane were with me. I felt safer in the Cornucopia than in the woods.

Aubrey was looking at every little detail around us, probably to see if a tribute disguised themselves with camouflage. That wasn't a bad idea, to look out for that. I should have been the one doing that, being I was the slowest out of us all. I could take my time, having more time to pick out a tribute's feature, whether it's their face or a part of their body they forgot to cover.

Bane was more on edge than Aubrey was. Every time something moved above us or near us, he stuck out his sword, eyes narrowed in concentration. It was amazing how one second Bane could be calm, but the next he'd get defensive, ready to attack if anything decided to pounce on him.

* * *

Daylight seemed to be fading around us. The light became less and less visible through the trees. My feet were burning since we hadn't taken a break from walking since we started. Nobody thought to bring food along on the hunting journey—my stomach didn't hesitate to remind me about that. I considered chewing on my colored nails but then didn't bother. I was sure nail polish tasted nasty, and I didn't want to get sick.

Bane pushed back bushes so Aubrey and I could get through. Their steps were silent, mine weren't. Each time I made a step, I felt like they made the ground tremble.

As night just came upon us, Bane grabbed my arm, stopping my progress. I twisted around to shout at him, but I saw him sniffing. Aubrey eventually stopped.

"What?" she asked.

"I don't know," I said back. "Bane, what is it?"

"You don't smell that?" he asked.

"Smell what?" I pressed. My hand was hovering around my knife belt, ready to grab the hilt of one to use for battle.

Bane turned his head the way we had come. "It smells like smoke."

"Smoke? Someone lit a fire?" Aubrey gasped.

"Smells like it."

Aubrey giggled shrilly, I shushed her. She muffled her laughs behind her hand. "Which dumbass decided to make a fire during the night?" she snorted. "That's a rookie mistake."

"They probably think nobody's near them," I whispered, shrugging.

"Let's go. Bane's got the nose of a bloodhound; he can lead us to the fire. Go on, Bane!" Aubrey was bouncing, I could hear her feet.

Still holding my arm, Bane slowly led me along, Aubrey behind us. He took a few sniffs each time to make sure we were on the right track. I was sure Bane wasn't making this up. I decided to take a whiff, I couldn't smell anything.

"I smell it now," Aubrey murmured excitedly. She grunted. "I'll get to use this!"

"Shh, if you scare them off, I'll stab you," I threatened.

"I'm with Crystal, if you scare them off, I'll make you regret it," Bane said darkly.

"You both are a match made in heaven," Aubrey muttered.

"Shut up already," I groaned. Aubrey muffled her sniggering.

"We're getting close," Bane said. "Be ready."

"I am," I said confidently, my hand floating above my knife belt.

Bane tried his hardest to keep us away from bushes and branches on the ground. I wasn't sure how he could see since I couldn't yet and there was no moonlight. His eyes were probably already adjusted to the dark. Good for him, he could lead me.

"We've got to be really close by now," Aubrey said, coughing. "It's strong."

"Through here," Bane said.

We snuck behind a tree. Bane let go of my arm finally to peek around. He pulled back quickly. There was somebody nearby, I was sure. I flinched when his sword touched my injured leg that he wrapped with a piece of his jacket last night.

"Stay here," he muttered.

Very slowly, Bane took one step out from behind the tree, then another. He stiffened up, and then walked casually away. I pressed myself against the tree, popping around it.

We were partially right. There was a fire, but it was out and nobody was here.

"It's safe," I whispered to Aubrey. She and I stood side by side as we came out from cover. Bane knelt down by the extinguished fire. There were a few embers flying then vanishing before my eyes. "Well?"

"Whoever it was, they're gone," Bane sighed. "This was just put out. They probably heard us coming and took off."

"Looks like Aubrey is getting stabbed," I joked.

"Hey, I highly doubt my voice gave it away," she said defensively.

"You laughed loudly. How does that not give us away?" I retorted.

"I think I've got footprints, you guys," Bane interrupted us. He waddled towards the footprints. Aubrey and I bent down to examine them. "What do you think?"

"It looks like only one set. If there was more than one, they would be in such a hurry to not have them step in the same place."

"I'd say it's a guy judging by the print. No girl I've seen from the tributes has huge feet," Aubrey said, touching it. "This looks new, too, like we just missed them."

"Which way is this heading?" I asked.

"The way we came from..." Bane's voice trailed. We all looked at each other.

"You don't think they went for the Cornucopia, do you?" I asked carefully.

"You thought that, too?" Aubrey squeaked. I nodded. "Good, I thought I was going crazy for a minute."

"If that's where they're heading, we've got to go back now," Bane said, his voice suddenly urgent. "Those three looked near dead when they came back. I have no doubt they're still be out cold right now."

Aubrey and I looked at each other, pale. Whoever this guy was, he was heading for the Cornucopia. This was our chance to make the tribute count one less.

"Well, what are we doing here?" I snapped. "Let's go!"

In one fluid motion, we leapt up andfollowed the footprints. My leg didn't seem to bother me anymore, because myblood was fueled with adrenaline, and nothing made you forget pain more thanhaving a dose of adrenaline in your system.