29. Flushed Out

Did someone say plot twist?

Here I was, lying with the son of the two people who changed the Hunger Games and tried to change Panem forever.

"Crystal?" Shane's voice brought me out of the stunning conclusion. "You're shaking." I flinched when he grabbed my hand. "Is everything okay?"

"You're—you're their son," I whispered. "A-and your sister is their daughter..."

"What are you talking about?"

"You let it slip, Shane. You're a Mellark." It sounded so weird, to associate that last name with Shane.

"I should have stopped when I mentioned my parents," he mused.

"Wait a minute. If your parents are them, why did you say you were used to starving? Your parents should be living in the Victor's Village."

"We were living well until even we went broke. We're just like the rest of Twelve now. Mom's been coaching the family through it since she's known that lifestyle for a while."

I found that hard to believe, but somehow I could believe him. From what I knew of 12, it wasn't a very rich district like 1 or 2 was. They were about as poor as you could possibly get.

"Does anybody else know about this, your bloodline?" I looked up at him.

"Well, you do, and now so does all of Panem."

"How come nobody knew about this?" I probed, curious.

"I didn't want people to know." He shrugged. "I went under a different last name so people wouldn't make the connection."

"Lying about your name could land you in trouble. I don't know what the punishment is for that sort of thing, but I'm sure it's bad."

"Isn't being in the Games punishment enough?" he retorted.

He did make a point there.

"I just didn't want extra attention," he sighed. "When your parents are well known in Panem, you're bound to be in the spotlight. I wanted to keep on the down low and never reveal to the world that I'm their son."

There was no way anybody could have anticipated this leaking out on live television.

"Well, you had pressure on you in the beginning, no matter what," I reminded him.

"Yeah, well, now I bet everyone is expecting me to take the Games for my own since they know," he murmured. "Since I'm their son everybody will expect me to know what I'm doing."

"Do you?"

"Yes."

"I think people will begin to call what we've got the new star-crossed lovers," I scoffed.

"I would be surprised if they didn't."

A loud boom echoed, making me jump to my feet. Shane stood up, shielding me protectively. The Capitol anthem made its way into the cave.

"I'll bet you that was a cannon," Shane said.

Shane took his time in avoiding the acidic water when finding the small path outside the cave. I ran my fingers through my hair as I waited. Who was dead tonight? Bane? Jenna? Bella? Someone I didn't know that was from 10? What about 13's girl, the one who evaded the Career pack last time? I wouldn't mind any of them dying since I wasn't the one who did it.

Shane came back inside.

"It was the girl from Thirteen," he reported. "It's a shame, I liked stealing from her."

"That doesn't sound like something you'd say," I snickered. "How cold is it out there?"

"It's actually not bad." He went to shrug on his shirt. He was definitely feeling better. I sat back down on the blanket, he came to join me. I burrowed my head into his neck, his hand messing with my fingers. "How many packs did you see earlier?"

"Hmm..." I counted in my head twice. "Five, but there were originally six because of District Seven. So if Thirteen is out completely, there's only...seven of us left."

"How do you know it's seven and not eight?"

"I remember way back that someone from Ten got killed on the first day." I wasn't sure how I remembered that when not too long ago I wasn't sure how many tributes were left. I yawned.

"You can sleep; I'll stay up and keep watch."

"Keep watch? Shane, I don't think anybody else is going to come across here."

"You don't know that. Remember the boy from Eleven?"

I didn't really want to recall that ordeal.

I wasn't sure how I managed to fall asleep with the waterfall pounding outside the mouth of the cave. Maybe it was because I cleared my mind and was content with Shane by my side. Whatever the reason, I managed to fall asleep.

* * *

I hadn't gotten a good night's sleep that night. I had woken up twice after Shane had to wake me. Apparently, I was having nightmares. I didn't remember anything that I dreamed. That was the weird part; I would dream but the moment I'd wake up, I'd forget what I was dreaming about. I hated keeping Shane up, because the both times he woke me, he sounded sleepy. I told him to go to sleep and that I would keep watch.

Yeah, that didn't last long. One minute I was awake in the middle of the night, and the next, sunlight peeped through the mouth of the cave, blinding me. I put a hand over my eyes, sitting up. I wasn't sure what time of day it was. I cracked my neck since it was stiff.

I looked down to see Shane missing. I looked around at what supplies we had left. He had the pack, and his bow and arrows. All I was left with was the food, my jacket, the blowgun and darts, my knife, medicine, and the other pack Shane had used as a pillow.

I frowned. I had to have been out cold for me to not notice his absence.

The ground rumbled under my feet, causing my legs to tremble. Another earthquake? I could hear the ceiling crack above me, some chunks deeper in the cave began to collide with the ground. This safe haven was no longer safe.

I had to get out before I would be buried in the rubble.

Hastily, I shoved the food and medicine in the pack, snatching the tainted blanket that still hadn't been washed since Shane used it as a towel. I mean I had used it as a towel, too, but he didn't know that, and he didn't need to know. I threw my jacket over my shoulder, my knife in the same hand. The ground shook even more, tossing me into the cave wall. I growled, more of the ceiling began to crash behind me.

I heard water spraying into the cave. I looked over my shoulder. The cave was splitting open because of the acidic water. The acid was some wicked stuff if it could split open the cave Shane and I had used for shelter. Trying to avoid even the tiniest drop of acid water, I stumbled down the little path away from the cave.

Just in time. The cave imploded, releasing more acid water into the lake. It was quickly overflowing. Eyes bulging, I retreated away from the lake, the pack and my jacket slamming my back as I fled. Shane wouldn't be too happy to find our site in ruins.

I ran far away from the roaring water. If the water overflowed, it could easily burn the grass and greenery near it. I made all sorts of turns, never going back towards the acid water. When I could just barely hear the water, I stopped, panting, bending over.

Great. The shelter was now gone, Shane wasn't aware, and he was out hunting. I was going to have to find him somehow.

I caught my breath for all of two minutes before I trudged on, looking for Shane and a new temporary home for us to stay in. Judging by how warm it was, I guessed I had slept until afternoon. Finding something fantastic like Shane's shelter wouldn't be easy. The cave had to be the only good shelter in this arena.

I considered calling out his name, but I was safe and didn't do it. Even though there were seven of us left, five were enemies to me. I had a better chance of attracting an enemy to me than Shane himself if I called for him.

At one point, the woods thinned out, and I saw the hole of where the Cornucopia once stood. The table that supplied the packs had disappeared, so everybody probably had taken their pack. I slunk around to head in a different direction using the Cornucopia's hole.

This part of the woods was much more flourished—more plants and bushes, definitely denser than what I'd seen. I knew it was a long shot that Shane had ventured this far for hunting, but I didn't know. If Shane hadn't found anything near our old camp, he might as well go into possibly dangerous territory.

A scream made me jump. It didn't sound like Jenna or Bella. I gulped. It was one of the boys, but which? Bane? Shane? The boy from 10? The boy from 7? The scream came from behind me, louder this time. I crouched, ready to strike just in case.

I saw a quick flash of black hair shove me aside; heading the same way I was traveling. I brushed myself off as I stood.

Howling and growling behind me made me realize what he was afraid of. Muttations.

Just my luck.

Knowing I had no choice but to run, I ran the way the black-haired boy did, the smart way, away from the mutts. Mutts were attacking this early in the day? Usually, Gamemakers made it night first before sending mutts out. I guess they didn't want this chance to go to waste.

I didn't tail the black-haired boy, but I went in his general direction. I could hear thundering paws behind me. My heartbeat was the same pace as my feet: fast. I tore through brush only to be tackled from behind yet again. What was with everybody and trying to get me from behind?

The tribute and I rolled, and I noticed it was the black-haired boy. I slapped his dirty face frantically, trying to shove him off me. Mutts were closing in on us. What was this kid doing? Was he trying to disable me so he could flee and I could be the mutts' meal? No way, I've made it this far. I am not about to let some kid feed me to mutts.

His hands grabbed my throat. I sputtered, trying to dig my nails into his wrists. My legs stomped the ground angrily. I cried out, hoping someone—Shane—would come to my aid. I reached for my knife, but the boy kicked it away. I tried to swipe at his face.

I couldn't believe I was saying it, but a mutt saved my life. It took the boy off me; I rolled onto all fours, coughing for breath. Blood pounded in my ears. I heard the mutt yelp. In all the chaos, I grabbed my knife and ran deeper into the woods. I heard more than one set of paws thump furiously behind me.

I never looked back over my shoulder to see how close the mutts were. I passed a bunch of thick trees, any eligible for me to climb. If the mutts were a considerable distance away, I'd climb one. After all, the mutts weren't squirrels.

I saw brush move in front of me. I paled, skidding to a halt. The mutts were trying to cut me off, I knew. These Gamemakers were determined to make me die by mutts mauling me to death. Well, I was just as determined to live as they were to make sure I died today.

I wasn't sure what made me do it. Maybe it was because I knew I might not be able to outrun the mutts forever. Maybe it was because I knew I didn't have much time left here in the arena. Whatever caused me to do it, I did it. I tackled the brush, hoping to dive into teeth, snarls and claws.

Instead, I tackled Shane.

"Shane!" I squeaked, clambering off him. He jumped to his feet. I hadn't crushed his bow, thank God. He had his arrows and the pack on his back.

"Crystal? What are you doing out here?" he breathed. "You should be back at the cave."

"Funny you should mention that." Howls interrupted us; I looked over my shoulder anxiously. "We've got to move."

I snatched Shane's wrist, pulling him along. Sweat drenched my forehead, my throat was extremely dry, but my legs felt fine. They wouldn't feel so great too much longer if the mutts kept on their hunt. I tried swallowing good gulps of air, but even they seemed short.

I was so into running that my arm was ripped back harshly by Shane. I was about ready to mouth off at him, but he had his hands cupped. I understood. Nodding, I let Shane give me the leg up. I perched myself on a branch, a hand out for him.

I used all my muscles to pull Shane up when I felt him suddenly get heavier. I peered down to see the black-haired boy grabbing Shane's ankle. Shane looked down, body dangling, putting strain on me. My jaw clenched as I held onto Shane's arm as long as I could.

"Kick him off!" I cried.

Shane eventually socked the boy in his face, knocking him into the ground. Once Shane was on my branch, I climbed higher. We overcame a few more branches before settling on one that could hold us both. We looked down to see the boy trying to pursue us, but a pack of colored fur, teeth, claws, and growls ripped him from the tree. The boy's screams made chills run through me.

"Don't watch," Shane whispered as I burrowed into him. I didn't have to watch to know what the mutts were doing to the poor boy. Teeth digging into flesh, claws scraping skin, snarls of satisfaction as they tore at their helpless prey.

This was just as torturous for me as it was for the black-haired boy being ripped apart below us. The torment didn't end immediately, either. It went on for hours, until the sun set. Over the growls, I could hear the boy's faint whimpers. During the time the mutts slowly picked at him, I never once looked down.

"They're going," Shane murmured. I looked at him, and then dared myself to look down at the ground.

The mass of multicolored fur backed off from the boy down below, running off. I quivered. What if that had been me down there, and Shane had to watch? I shuddered at the thought.

I watched the boy. A cannon hadn't sounded yet.

"I know you're there," the boy croaked. I gasped, he was still alive. Shane and I looked at each other. "Help. Me."

How could we help him? Still, I wasn't one to ignore a cry for help. I hadn't ignored Shane, and I wasn't about to ignore the boy.

"What are you doing?" Shane asked, appalled as I started to climb down.

"I'll be back. Hold my things." I handed off everything except my knife.

I shimmied down the tree, almost having to look away from the boy. His clothes were ripped to shreds, just like his body. His face was half eaten, the flesh on his arms were cut into strips. He was bleeding onto the ground. I inhaled, trying not to look at the blood, but the boy's eyes. His eyes were a dark color—green, I think.

"Kill me," he whispered. "I'm dead anyway. Please." Tears welled in his eyes.

This was the second time someone offered me a chance to murder them. If I didn't kill him now, he wouldn't last the night. I twisted the knife in my hand. What would it be considered, if I killed him? An act of kindness or murder? It was probably murder no matter what way I looked at it. Still, I didn't want the kid to suffer.

Closing my eyes, I felt for his heart and stabbed him. I was kind and didn't twist it in his heart. I heard his last breath leave him before the cannon sounded for his death. I pulled the knife out gently, though I didn't see the point since he was dead. I wiped the boy's blood on the ground.

I looked up at Shane as I went to the tree. He helped me climb back up. As I got settled into the tree with him, the Capitol seal lit up the night sky, the anthem playing. I had just killed the boy from 10. He was the only death tonight...so far. There was still time for one more tribute to get killed.

"That's number three," I mumbled.

"Three?" Shane heard me.

"He's the third I've killed."

"But he asked you to kill him. You didn't do it because he attacked you. You did it as a favor to him."

Shane made a point, but it was still murder no matter what.

"I've changed," I realized.

"You have," he agreed. "Now, can I get an explanation as to how you found me and left the cave?"

I spilled everything: about how I found him missing, how I assumed he'd gone hunting, about how the cave was split open by the acid water, and how the lake was overflowing. Shane wasn't too happy about losing his camp, like I had expected. I told him I got what was left in the cave out, and that what we had was everything we had before.

"The Gamemakers don't want us to live in luxury, it seems. They must think it's unfair to the rest of the tributes," he muttered.

"Oh please, they've got their packs with what they needed. They got a boost, just like we did," I retorted. "Besides, I'm sure they've found shelters of their own."

"Are you going to be okay tonight?" he asked me carefully, grabbing my hand.

"I don't know," I admitted, laying my head on his chest. "What about you?"

"I will be for tonight." He put his cheek on my head.

"Why?" My brows furrowed.

"I'm still alive, and you're still here with me. As long as those two things remain true, I'll be okay."

I wouldn't be okay with that, partially because if he was to still be alive, he'd be the winner. He couldn't win and still have me with him in the end. We could always threaten to not live without each other...

I wasn't sure if I liked that idea. The last time that happened, a rebellion started. But Shane and I wouldn't intend on starting a rebellion, we'd fight to save each other because we were in love. This was no act we were trying to pull.

I wasn't sure how people—or the Capitol—would view our love as. A spark of another rebellion or just two kids who want nothing more than to live a long life together? My bets were more on the rebellion idea than the two-kids-who-want-live-a-long-life-outside-of-the-arena idea.

Thinking about that made me wonder: what would happen if it did come down to Shane and me? Would we try to save what we had by threatening to kill ourselves? If I was still the Career I had been trained up to be, no doubt I would kill Shane if it was just the two of us.

Now...I wouldn't be able to.

How would I be able to kill someone I had fallen for?

I knew one thing for sure: our Hunger Games romance most likely wouldn't survive beyond the arena nor have a happy ending.