A wet cough poured from Elara's lips as she stumbled backward before collapsing in a muted thud. Her sharp moans melted into deep, ragged gasps as her axe-adorned chest heaved. Her hazel eyes grew wide as she fixated on Caleb. Her expression was almost pleading before her focus wavered, her stare locking onto something unseen above them. Her breathing slowed to a nearly invisible quiver of her chest muscles until a haunting stillness settled over her. Her delicate features froze, her mouth open, her eyes heavy-lidded.

Silus sucked in a sharp breath, staring down at her figure. His surprise solidified into a satisfied expression as his gaze moved from the District One tribute to Hazel.

The shocked silence shattered as Caleb barked out an unhinged laugh. He ran a hand through his hair, staring at his alliance partner. "I didn't think you had it in you," he said

Black dots circled at the edges of her vision like vultures ready to claim a carcass. She bit her lip and shooed at the sensation.

Hazel's hands quivered as she bent and scooped up Mia's knife. The blade was coated in a coagulated mess of her blood and Caleb's. Holding it in her uninjured palm, she aimed the crimson tip at his chest and began to back away.

Why would he leave the knife in the tree? Was it some deluded test? Or maybe he was just that reckless—either way. I need him away from Silus, whatever it takes.

"I think you did," Hazel replied, her voice strained. "I think this is exactly what you wanted. So you didn't have to kill her yourself. Typical, District Two, having others do their dirty work."

"Quite the theory. A little dramatic, though." Caleb replied, his sword swaying back and forth in front of him.

"Yeah, dramatic doesn't sound like you at all." Hazel's voice was flat as she dragged her feet backward, doing her best not to stumble. She squeezed her blood-soaked palm in the tail of her shirt as she chewed on the inside of her cheek.

"Gotta give the people what they want. This isn't exactly what I had planned. But I'm flattered by your confidence in me." He took a long step toward her.

Silus yanked on his bound arm. The branch he was attached to convulsed, its waxy leaves reflecting the cooling tones of the evening sky as they danced with the jerking motions.

"Now what?" Caleb asked as he stalked forward, eyes darting between Hazel and her brother.

Hazel swallowed a moan as her hand throbbed, and her wet skin began to chill in the steadily cooling arena. Twisting the material of her shirt harder, she backed away. "I'm going to give you two choices. You can kill me or my brother."

Silus froze, his eyebrows twitching as their eyes met. "What are you doing?" he asked. She shot him an apologetic look but remained silent. Silus's frown deepened, and he redoubled his efforts to escape, straining harder against his binds.

Caleb's smile widened as she took several uneven steps backward, which he matched with a forward stride of his own. "Ballsy. Do you seriously think you can give me choices? You're delusional if you think you have any control in this situation." His smirk grew more terrifying.

Silus seemed to give up trying to dislodge the cuff and instead inched closer to Elara, prodding her arm with the toe of his boot.

"We both know which of us you really want to take out," Hazel goaded, widening the gap between them. The words felt sour on her tongue.

Caleb glanced back at Silus, who stiffened and grew still, then refocused on Hazel. "I don't see why I can't kill you both."

Silus tapped Elara's arm harder with his boot, but she remained still, staring skyward, mouth fixed in permanent shock.

"It's your choice, but if you attack him now, I'm gone, and I promise you won't ever find me."

"You wouldn't abandon your little brother," Caleb said with a smile, his sword reflecting the dark orange hues of the sunset.

"Haze, don't." Silus pleaded.

"Like you said," Hazel replied, ignoring her brother and glancing over her shoulder, preparing. Behind Caleb, Silus used his toe to edge Elara’s body closer. "You've underestimated me before. It would be unwise to do it again. So who will it be?"

"I can't decide if you are incredibly brave or just plain stupid. Do you really think you can beat me? You would struggle on a good day, Red." Caleb's smirk grew, and he took several more steps toward her. Hazel staggered a few more paces away from him, preparing herself for escape. Caleb tilted his head at her pulsating hand, soaked in crimson like she had dipped her arm in a bowl of paint. "And today is not one of your better days."

"Maybe I have a death wish. What does it matter to you.” Hazel chided. Out of the corner of her eye, Silus stretched further, grasping the air just above the axe. “Come on, it will be fun."

She was doing this for him. Her mind was made up even if it wasn't what he wanted.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Okay, I've made my choice,” Caleb responded. Hazel turned her attention away from her brother and refocused on Caleb’s figure, “Let’s dance, Red.”

Silus shouted something at her, but she didn't wait to hear it as she tore away from them. Her legs were exhausted, and her breathing was tattered. The jarring sensation caused nothing short of agony. Each time she pumped her arms, blood scattered in droplets around her. Her body was on fire as she became drunk on adrenaline once again. The blood loss made her head spin as she pushed herself forward. She veered hard toward the edge of the tract.

She was not deluded enough to think she could outrun Caleb in a dead sprint. He might be fast and strong, but she knew how to run in the forest and was armed with an idea.

She propelled herself through the devastation of the domino felling. The downed trees were like an ugly, jagged scar through the otherwise pristine forest.

As she ran, a flash of blonde jutted out from under the downed timber. A bloodied, muscular arm protruded from under a thick pine at an unnatural angle—Julian. No more than a few steps beyond, a long dark braid stood out in the rubble. A lean figure lay contorted beneath a tree—Marina. Hazel recalled the unusual sounds in the District Twelve tract. She must have been watching the whole time and followed them here. Hazel forced herself to look away and continued to sprint.

Caleb’s haunting voice seemed to come from every direction as it reverberated off the trees, "I have to be honest; I am jealous of this whole demolishing an entire forest on top of your enemies. Very inspiring. Wish I had thought of it myself.” Hazel flinched at his comment.

The trees looked like they were getting closer together, and her legs were heavy, like her boots were filled with stones. I'm almost there. I'm almost there.

"Are we going to play tag all day, or will you stop being a coward?" His voice was much closer now.

She swatted away low branches and catapulted herself over mutilated stumps and mangled, limp roots. After several more strides, what she was searching for came into view. Feeling a sudden burst of energy, she threw herself toward it.

She placed the knife in her belt as she reached forward, groping the air. The forest's image gave way as her fingers met a cool, stone surface. As soon as she felt the wall, she whirled around and threw her body backward until her spine connected with a solid thump. She pushed herself as close as possible as if she could force her flesh to melt into the stone—this better work.

No sooner had she settled herself against the structure than bouncing curls came into view. Caleb's sword was tucked into his belt as he strode forward. His tall stature forced him to bend and push away obstructing branches. A deep line between his brows began to form. He slowed as he scanned the woods around him with an almost arrogant disregard.

Hazel held her breath and willed herself to be as still as possible. Caleb paused, occupied by something on the ground at his feet. Hazel followed his gaze. A splash of red snaked toward her. She squeezed her hand tighter, the blood in her palm thickening. Damn it.

Hazel longed for their backpack, the bandages, and Sapphire's breath. Out of ideas, she hoped Silus had reached the axe within Elara's chest and could defend himself if Caleb doubled back. The thought made her shudder. The further she could lure Caleb away from Silus, the better.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are," he bellowed, his attention moving from the earth to the branches above. He drew his long sword, tilted his head back, and shifted his stance. "I know you're here. I can practically smell it." He sniffed with an amused upward curve of his lips.

Hazel sucked in another slow, lingering breath through her nose. Her lungs burned, begging for more air, but she couldn't take the deep gulps she craved—not without him realizing she was just feet away, barely camouflaged by the arena's technology. It had been a deadly gamble, but she was more than grateful it had paid off. She raised her boot and took a delicate sideways step. Keeping herself plastered to the wall, she shifted her weight and slid along it.

Caleb circled trees, looking up toward the sky, swinging his sword in preparation for finding his prize. She took another step, pulling herself further down the boundary, when her foot met a branch, and it snapped. The sound was deafening in the evening’s stillness.

Caleb stopped, his head swiveling toward her. Hazel cursed herself as he took several steps forward. Her palms became slick with sweat and blood as he was almost close enough to see through the illusion of the arena. She held her breath, fingers grazing the knife at her belt. She could practically feel his breath on her face. She told herself it was just the wind, but her mind was battling her senses. His eyes met hers in a heart-stopping moment, and he paused, staring right at her.

Hazel waited for him to surge toward her, but he stood still. His eyes narrowed before he shifted his gaze away. His cocky expression remained, though his movements hinted at desperation. Hazel exhaled in a long, measured breath through pursed lips.

The orange sky dissolved into a deep reddish-purple. The impending darkness would overtake them within minutes, along with whatever else might come with it. Hazel took another long sidestep, carefully avoiding a pile of mauled branches. Caleb stood still, staring, listening, and waiting. She worked her way along the wall at a snail's pace.

Another plan—she needed another plan. Just one more. She begged herself to focus, but her hand burned, and her body protested. Glancing out into the woods, she searched her mind for a solution. Caleb was the last threat, the final barrier to ensuring Silus's safety.

While the knife in her belt was sharp; it was no axe, and while she might manage with it, her lack of skill was a significant disadvantage. She wasn't like Marina or Mia, who were proficient with such weapons. Hell, Caleb probably used knives all the time. She ran a finger over the handle. She had nothing else to use. No fire starter, no Sapphire's breath, not even an inch of rope—they had used it all on trip lines and snares.

Snares. Hazel's head swiveled toward the center of the arena. Memories from the beginning of the games flashed through her mind: Silus hanging by his ankle, her throwing her axe to cut the line, and the screams of their fellow tributes. She squeezed her eyelids together and shook her head. Focus, Hazel.

What were the odds that her axe was still out there? And how many webbing snares were left? With the spider dead, there might not be many, but a few could still be scattered around. She knew Caleb wouldn't fall for another translucent snare trap, but maybe she could use them for something else.

She closed her eyes and tilted her head back, clenching her left hand tighter in her shirt while her right lingered on the necklace resting against her heart. She felt the rhythmic thrum of her skin and the gem pressing closer with each pulse. Cedar, please help me. She imagined his warm green stare, his protective embrace, and the glow of his face when he gave her one of his carvings. She smiled as she remembered her dream and the dainty wood falcon, almost smelling the homey scent of wood and varnish.

It had been so life-like, outside of the bizarre collar around its neck. Her heart nearly stopped.

Her eyes shot open, one last plan solidifying.

Thank you. Her eyes grew as hard as jade as she turned her attention toward the Cornucopia. She was going to kill Caleb, or she was going to die trying.