Fawn woke up to someone knocking on her door insistently. Crawling out from underneath her warm blankets, she yanked open the door quickly. Willow was standing there, looking a bit disheveled. Fawn invited her in hastily.

"What is it?" She asked. Willow closed her door and took a deep breath.

"I haven't seen Garrett all morning, do you know where he is?" Fawn's brow furrowed.

"No, why?" Willow rubbed her forehead anxiously.

"We were going to meet for breakfast this morning and now I can't find him anywhere." Fawn felt a pit sink in her stomach. Garrett was never late.

"Have you checked his room?" She asked. Fawn began rummaging through her clothes to get dressed.

"I'm afraid to." Willow said, a small quiver in her voice. Fawn walked into her bathroom, leaving the door slightly ajar. Willow stood outside it.

"I will go with you." Fawn reassured her as she dressed hurriedly. Once she looked decent enough, she exited the bathroom, grabbing Willow's arm on the way out. They went into the hall. Fawn could feel Willow trembling slightly.

"I'm sure he's fine." Fawn said firmly, even though dread weighed down on her like a cold stone. Both she and Willow stopped dead in their tracks when a blonde crossed their path.

It can't be. Fawn thought in horror, but the bright red lips gave it all away. Ruth was out of jail.

"That's not possible!" Willow said lowly to Fawn.

"Someone must have bailed her out." Fawn glared at the tall blonde, who smiled innocently. Willow frowned.

"Who would want to do that?" She asked. Fawn shrugged, she really didn't have an answer, although one name popped into her head. She tugged on Willow's arm to get them moving again. Once they reached Garrett's room, Fawn noticed the door was closed. She tried the knob, it was locked.

"Oh no." Willow gasped quietly. Fawn shook her head, refusing to give in.

"Maybe he's getting dressed or something." She put an ear to the door.

"Garrett?" She called. No answer.

"Garrett?" She repeated, a little louder this time. Still no answer. Fawn banged on the door repeatedly.

"Something wrong?" Garth's voice came from behind Fawn.

"Garth, can you break down this door?" She backed away from it. Garth raised an eyebrow.

"Probably, but I'm wondering what's going on." He said carefully.

"Please." Willow begged. Fawn noticed her eyes were growing watery. Garth must have understand something in her tone as he turned around and kicked the door, close to the knob. It came open with a loud crack. Fawn grabbed Willow's hand and they both walked into the room slowly. Fawn felt bile rise in her throat when she saw him. She could do nothing, but stare and tremble. Then Willow let out a blood curdling scream.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fawn watched Willow collapse onto the floor, bursting into sobs. Fawn had to keep herself from retching as the smell of iron tainted all of her senses. Blood was everywhere. She felt someone grab her shoulders and she was pushed into Garth's chest. He put his arms around her, shielding her from the horrible sight. It was too late though, the image had already been seared into her mind. Garrett was dangling from a light in his room. Not by his head though, by his feet. His body was battered and bloodied and any skin that was showing had cuts sliced through it. That wasn't the worst of it. His throat had been slit and dried blood stuck to his face and hair, some still dripping on the carpet. He hadn't been killed that long ago. Something else made her want to puke. All over the walls painted in his blood were the words, "No compromise." Fawn could hear Willow's anguished cry through the protective embrace of Garth. She pushed out of Garth's embrace slowly. His horrified gaze reflected hers. Fawn crouched by Willow, who turned and threw herself into her friends embrace. Fawn's eyes watered and sad tears began to streak down her cheeks. Soon footsteps rushed down the halls, stopping at the door. Fawn heard gasps and cries of horror as other guards and overseers saw the scene before them. Willow coughed when she choked on her tears and Fawn felt her heart breaking in two. First Trent, then the rule change, and now this.

"Alright everyone, back away!" Fawn heard a guard shout. She looked up and saw four of them pushing everyone back. Sean came forward and reached down, helping Willow up. Willow continued crying into Sean's shoulder and Fawn whispered a silent thank you to him. The guards went to shoo Fawn back.

"Leave her be." Came Travis's voice from the doorway.

"That's the overseer from her section." Fawn spotted him just outside the doorway. He stared back at her and she knew they were thinking the same thing. The guards didn't try to chase her away any longer, they also allowed Garth to stay in the room with her. He held Fawn close while the guards took Garrett's body down from the light. Fawn looked away. She couldn't see him like this. They had been so close in Section 2, making decisions to keep their section safe together. They had worked as one, now he would never speak again.

Once they had hauled Garrett's body from the room, Garth walked Fawn back to her room. Fawn felt numb to everything around her. With just four days left, Garrett's death was going to be quite a shock to everyone, and there was no way to cover it up. It was a brutal murder. Garth kissed the top of Fawn's head as they sat on the edge of her bed, rubbing her back slowly. She let out a slow breath, trying to stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks. Garth had no idea how comforting he was to her right now. He stayed completely silent and soon the only thing Fawn could hear was the sound of him breathing in and out. Closing her eyes, she let herself relax against him. The heat of his body against hers warmed her up and suddenly she felt like falling asleep. Without much effort Fawn laid down on her side, dragging Garth with her. He didn't resist, almost seeming to know what Fawn wanted. She rolled over so that her back was against his chest and she felt his arms wrap around her stomach, holding her close to him. His head settled just close enough to her that she could feel his breath across her ear. An hour passed before Fawn lost track of time. She didn't know how long they laid there, in the same position, like two people frozen in one spot. Fawn felt her limbs grow heavy and soon she gave into sleep. It washed over her like a wave, bidding her to let go of her worries.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Fawn woke up her room was washed in bright orange and pinkish sunlight. Moving her head, Fawn glanced at her clock and was slightly startled to see that it was seven o'clock in the evening. Her limbs were stiff from lying in the same position for so long. She felt a hand tighten around her stomach and remembered that she and Garth had both fallen asleep. A shiver went through her spine as she felt him move and his face pressed into the back of her neck and shoulder. His warm lips just grazed the side of her neck. Heat flared through her limbs.

"Garth?" She whispered. She felt him stir as he woke up.

"Yes?" He asked in a groggy voice. Fawn smiled.

"It's seven o'clock." She informed him. He sat up, looking over at her clock.

"Hmmm it seems it is, time for bed." He said in playful tone, laying his head back down.

"No, sir." Fawn forced a laugh, sitting up, which brought a protest from Garth. When she looked back at him, his was running a hand over his face and hair, trying to get himself to wake up. Fawn reached up and fixed a stray strand of hair that was sticking up. Garth grabbed her hand as she took it away, winding his fingers through hers.

"Are you going to be okay?" He asked. Fawn let out a long sigh.

"I think I'll be fine, I'm more worried about Willow." Garth's eyes saddened.

"I am too, this competition, it's tearing her apart." Fawn felt her eyes water, but she stopped the tears from falling. It would do no good to start crying now. She set her head on Garth's chest.

"Thank you, for today." She said quietly. Garth pulled her into a hug, stroking her hair.

"I will always be there for you, I swear." Fawn leaned back and smiled at him softly. Garth leaned forward and kissed her slowly. Fawn almost jumped when there was a loud knock on her doorframe and someone cleared their throat. Garth released her quickly and they both turned their heads toward the door. Travis was examining his fingernails absentmindedly.

"I came by earlier, but you were busy." He said, not looking away from his hand. Garth let out a long sigh before leaning forward and giving Fawn a quick kiss. Standing up, he passed Travis wordlessly, the other overseer refused to acknowledge him. Travis waited until Garth was out of hearing range before entering Fawn's room. He turned around and closed the door. Fawn frowned, this was going to be important. Travis stood by the door.

"Clay is giving us all time away from the palace until the day of the choosing." Fawn stood up slowly, shocked.

"What?"

"Clay is giving us all a break until the choosing." Fawn rubbed her temple. This changed things, dramatically.

"We can do anything we want?" Travis nodded.

"Except for try to escape to Canada, start a riot, you get the picture." Fawn shook her. She couldn't believe it. She had three days to what they wanted.

"And he extended the competition one day so that anyone who wants to attend Garrett's funeral can." Fawn's jaw dropped. This was crazy! She didn't know how to take it in.

"What are you going to do?" She asked Travis. His answer was almost immediate.

"I'm going back to 8, make sure things are all right. With Ruth being removed from her overseer position, everything will be crazy over there." Fawn nodded. That sounded logical. She thought about how crazy it must be in her own section. Garrett was very good with the people there and he was going to missed.

"What about you?" Travis asked. Fawn thought through her answer for a couple seconds. She knew exactly what she wanted to do, it was whether she should do it.

"I will stay in 2 for Garrett's funeral and to calm the people there. After that I'm going to talk to Garth and see about spending the day over in 5." Fawn saw Travis narrow his eyes, but she ignored him. He hadn't heard everything yet.

"Then I want to spend the rest of my time in 8." Travis straightened, looking shaken.

"You want to what?" He asked sharply.

"I want to spend some time in 8." Travis immediately began shaking his head.

"No, that's a terrible idea, Fawn." Fawn stiffened, feeling offended.

"What do you mean?" Travis walked across the room so that they were face to face.

"There's a lot people in Section 8 that would like to see you dead." Fawn rolled her eyes, that was old news to her.

"Travis, I'm about as safe here as I am there. You've seen what happened to Trent and Garrett here. The danger is no different in Section 8. I want to see what's going on in 8, especially if it's as bad as you say." She could see that Travis wanted to argue with her, but as much as he wished she was wrong, she was right. Fawn touched his arm lightly.

"I want to spend time with you too. To see the real you, away from the palace and the cameras." Travis eyed her.

"Did you say those things to Garth too?" He asked. Fawn glared at him.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Travis let out a sigh.

"It means it's either me or him and it kills me to see him with you." Fawn shook her head.

"Okay, well where were you today? Where were you when I was visibly shaken at the sight of Garrett's dead body dangling in front of me and my best friend screaming beside me!" Fawn's voice rose as she talked, getting choked with emotion. Travis rubbed his face.

"I thought you wanted to be alone!" Fawn shook her head. She heard Travis mumble under his breath.

"What was that?" Travis looked at her.

"Maybe if Garth wouldn't have his hands on you all the time I would have a chance." Fawn took a step back like she'd been struck.

"You're acting like a child, Travis." Fawn hissed. Travis sighed.

"I'm sorry, I'm just under so much stress." Travis rubbed his face and Fawn noticed the dark circles around his eyes for the first time. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off his words.

"We're both under a lot of stress. We need to keep it together though." Travis stared at her.

"Sometimes I just feel like I can't hold it together." Fawn leaned forward and kissed his cheek lightly, knowing how hard it was for him to open up.

"You will. Go back to your room and get some sleep." Fawn told him. Travis gave just a whisper of a smile when he turned to leave her room. He stopped just as he was opening the door.

"I wanted to tell you something else. Garrett's death-"

"It was the East." Fawn said, cutting off his statement. She could still feel the pit in her stomach when she first realized it.

"If the West is in as much disarray as you said, they would be happy with compromise. No, this was the East's work." Travis held her gaze sadly.

"Does Willow know?" He asked.

"No, and she must never know." Fawn said firmly. Travis nodded and closed her door slowly.

"Goodnight, Fawn." He whispered.