Ruby clung to Hazel, her delicate hands tangled in her shirt as if clinging to a lone buoy in an infinite ocean. Hazel gazed back at the motionless spider; the weight of owing her life to Ethan and the overwhelming grief brought more warm tears streaming down her cheeks. The sight of the lifeless spider confirmed what she feared: Ethan had not made it. Guilt surged through her, sharp as any blade. How many more would die because of her?
Ruby's shuddering sobs reverberated through Hazel's bones, prompting her to hold onto Ruby even tighter. Hazel felt utterly helpless, unable to find any words of solace to offer in the face of such tangible anguish. The sharp sensations prickling her heart and soul overshadowed even the burning pain in her leg. All she could do was hold Ruby close, sharing the grief that bound them together.
A distant cracking of branches and the shifting of footsteps through brush lit off a sense of dread in her heart. Subtle movement from the District Eight tract caught her attention. Burnt sienna curls met her gaze as Caleb and his group cautiously extricated themselves from the tract. The group kept a wide berth around the collapsed spider, weapons ready. Julian tapped the end of a nearby spider leg with the toe of his boot and then paused as if waiting for it to spring to life. However, no movement came from the monster.
They wouldn't be distracted for long, Hazel realized. In the Hunger Games, there was no time for grief. She glanced back at the trap, her mind racing as she tried to shift gears. She needed to push down the sorrow to refocus on survival. Perhaps they could salvage the trap and adjust their plan. Caleb's intense gaze met hers across the field, and she tightened her grip on Ruby. 'I have to try,' she thought, the urgency weighing heavily on her.
Pulling Ruby away from her chest and wiping her own tears on the sleeve of her shirt, Hazel's voice croaked, "Rubes, I know this is terrible, but we've got to go. Caleb's coming."
She could see the terror in Ruby's eyes, a mirror of her own. Every fiber of her being screamed to protect Ruby, but she knew they had to move. If they stayed, they'd both be dead.
Ruby shuddered. Hazel gently gripped the girl's chin, turning her head to meet her gaze. Ruby's face was swollen, and deep red outlined her eyes. "We can still pull this off, but I can't do it without you."
Ruby cast a hesitant glance toward Caleb's group, but her face was still shrouded in thick, numbing agony. She appeared alert, but she seemed to see right through Hazel. It was as if the girl was hearing Hazel's words underwater. Ruby hesitated to respond, the doubt clear on her face.
Hazel gripped her hands. "We are a team," Hazel whispered desperately.
Ruby ran a delicate finger over her pink armband before she closed her eyes and nodded. She appeared to be battling both gut-wrenching grief and another wave of rising fear. Hazel empathized with the girl; her own nerves felt thrashed and hungover, but they didn't have time to rest. "Now get back to your original spot and signal Kai. Understand?"
"What about..." Ruby choked her voice raw, "you?"
"I'm going to do my best to be right behind you, but I need to get the message to Silus, and I need those trees to come down once I get them to follow me. You run and don't look back."
Ruby nodded but still clung to Hazel's arms. Caleb stalked closer to them, a wicked smile crossing his features.
"Go, Rubes," Hazel implored with one final hug before pushing her gently toward the woods. The girl sent her a long look before turning and sprinting toward the tree line. Her now crumpled armband was a rosy blur as she ran. Once Ruby was securely behind the trees, Hazel turned her attention back to Caleb. She needed them to be closer. The afternoon light was beginning to fade, and she had limited time before the plan would entirely fall apart. She took a few cautious steps in their direction. Caleb tilted his head as he watched her. She wiped the tears under her eyes and gripped her axe.
"How sweet, shedding tears for that annoying brat from twelve?" Caleb's voice dripped with venom as they advanced menacingly. "I could have saved you the heartache, you know? You should've aligned with us."
Hazel's eyes grew hard as she stared, willing her tears to dry, "And what? You would lead me to the slaughter like Eve and the tributes from nine?" Hazel locked gazes with Elara, then Julian slowly, "Or wait for you to strangle me yourself?"
Elara's eyes narrowed while Julian cast a cursory glance toward Caleb. Caleb's jaw tightened, but his eyes were alight with the joy of the chase, "All I can tell you is you have a better chance with me than the weaklings and runts you have chosen to align yourself with. Better than ten or eleven and infinitely superior to twelve. Besides all District Twelve is good for mining coal and dying."
"Go to hell," Hazel replied, her fists clenched, and her anger blazed within her like embers
. Though her body remained taut and still, her eyes burned with a fire ignited by his words. The heat of her rage dried the wells of her eyes, pushing away another round of tears. Wrath, fear, and adrenaline filled the spaces that grief wanted to occupy.
Elara kept glancing back at the spider, and Julian wiped his brow, but they followed Caleb dutifully. Hazel widened her stance.
Caleb laughed as he pulled his sword in front of him. "Only if you come with me."
"You'll have to catch me first," she challenged.
Caleb raised an eyebrow, a predatory gleam in his eyes. He reminded Hazel of a wolf when their prey ran. Unbeknownst to Caleb, the roles of wolf and prey were unclear in this scenario.
"Oh?" he hummed, his voice dripping with amusement.
Hazel didn't wait any longer. She turned suddenly and sprinted toward the tract, her eyes scanning the subtle guide marks in the earth. Please work. Please work, she repeated under her breath, her heart pounding. Every step felt like a race against time. If the trap failed, there would be no second chances.
"Alright, Red, I'll play," Caleb called after her. She could hear the three of them begin to jog toward her.
She lifted her legs higher and swung her arms with renewed vigor. The backpack pounded against her back with every step. Her calf cried out at the movement of her legs, and the extra weight felt twice as heavy as it was before. Without hesitation, she flung it off, discarding it in haste.
As Hazel charged into the shadows of the District Seven tract, the forest swallowed her. The scent of damp earth and pine needles filled her nostrils, mingling with the sharp tang of her own sweat. The leaves rustled in the wind, masking the sound of her pounding footsteps. The underbrush crackled beneath her feet, and the distant call of a bird resonated through the trees. She glanced ahead, noting the marks in the dirt that annotated the designated path. She needed them to follow, not too far but not too close. The path was deceptively clear but hopefully not noticeable.
The forest was alive with the noises of the chase. She could hear Caleb's group crashing through the underbrush, their footsteps heavy. Her lungs burned, and her muscles screamed, but she pushed on, her eyes fixed on the path ahead.
"You can't run forever," Elara called out behind her.
She ran forward up the sloping forest. Ahead, clumps of leaves were piled along the trail. Barely perceptible ends of fraying rope were visible just above ankle height. She leaped over them, careful not to touch the piles, before continuing. Several more meters of running and another clump of leaves lay in the path, waiting. She again hurdled over it. A few moments later, she heard heavy breathing and a thud.
"Damn it," Julian's muffled voice called out. Hazel smiled, taking a small amount of satisfaction at the sound.
"Get up!" Caleb's deeply annoyed voice demanded from behind her. She rushed forward, and after several grunts, the distant thud of their pounding feet returned.
"Running won't save you, Red!" Caleb taunted, his voice cutting through the woods.
She didn't look back. Her focus was on the path ahead. Then she heard the sound she was waiting for. A distant crackling sensation started softly but rapidly grew louder. Silus no doubt felled the top tree.
A tan cloud of dirt plumed upward as the rumble of falling trees started to echo around her. The tips of several pines quivered and then gave way, sinking into the woods. She turned hard to the right, veering outside the death zone and sprinting horizontally as fast as she could.
Her legs burned, her calf still bleeding, and her entire body begged for rest. She could no longer hear anything but the shattering of wood. She paused, and the loudest sound she had ever heard met her ears—louder than thunder, louder than the rushing waters of the District Seven dam. It vaguely reminded her of the bombs that leveled the old arena. She wondered to herself if this wasn't louder. There was some irony that Snow had destroyed the old arena, and she had seriously damaged this new one. Redwoods and pines were falling and breaking in a crescendo like a waterfall of destruction. Behind her, the air rippled with screaming and shouting.
Hazel's breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed herself harder. The ground beneath her feet was uneven, and the forest seemed to convulse. Birds flew out of the trees in large hoards, making it seem like the very earth was crying out.
She could feel the vibrations of the dropping trees, and the arena shook like an earthquake was ripping through it.
Hazel found a spot just outside the domino felling zone, pressing her back against a sturdy oak tree. Her breath came in short, controlled bursts as she could barely hear herself breathe over the roar of falling trees. The massive trunks crashed one by one, and a terrifying symphony of splintering wood and snapping branches rang out. The forest floor vibrated beneath her feet as the destruction moved down the slope, the noise gradually fading as it passed her and continued its path down the District Seven tract. She could hear the final trees thudding into the earth, the overwhelming noise diminishing until there was only the deep boom of the last crash. Hazel waited, her ears ringing from the noise, until she was confident that all the trees had fallen. She took a deep breath and knew she needed to reach the meeting point. She took a cautious step forward, eyes scanning the forest for any signs of life.
Hazel moved away from the destruction toward the precipice. The afternoon sun had faded into a warm golden glow of sunset, with streaks of light cutting through the unearthed dust, tinting the air a buttery-brown hue. She tried to silence several coughs as the aerosolized soil caught in her throat.
She was losing light and losing it fast. Frantically looking around, she saw no one. The voices had faded, and now the forest was eerily quiet. The only sound was the distant noise of branches shifting and settling with echoing cracks. Maybe they got them all in one swoop.
She saw no one as she reached their designated spot on the other side of the slope. It was still quiet, too quiet. Spinning around, she searched for the telltale signs of a pink armband. She saw nothing—no Silus, no Kai, and no Ruby. Panic bubbled under the surface as she wiped her face with her palms. Suddenly, a heavy hand grabbed her shoulder. She raised her axe, ready to swing as she turned.
Chocolate eyes met hers, and she froze. Silus outstretched his hands and backed up. "Haze, it's me."
Hazel searched his face; it took her several moments to realize he was really standing before her. After a long pause, relief and sorrow washed over her in one breathtaking moment. She wrapped her arms around him. He returned her embrace but his brow furrowed as he pulled back. "Where is everyone? What took so long? I almost came looking for you. What happened?"
Hazel shook her head, unable to find the right words. "Ethan's gone."
Silus seemed to understand immediately, the hardness in his eyes softening slightly. "How?"
"The short answer is a giant spider," Hazel swallowed hard. "But Kai and Ruby should be here."
Silus shook his head. "Haze, I don't know where Kai went."
"What?" Hazel questioned, her voice rising with concern.
"It was Ruby who sent me the signal," Silus replied. "She ran off, probably looking him."
Fear erupted in Hazel's stomach as a high-pitched, bird-like scream rang through the branches, dust, and debris. But it wasn't a bird.
Hazel spun around desperately, searching the downed trees. Maybe Kai and Ruby were caught up in the wave of mayhem. Hot nausea bubbled up her throat at the thought that they had brought the forest down on their alliance partners.
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Another shriek curdled Hazel's blood as she recognized its owner. "Hazel!"
She scanned the forest but could see nothing. "Ruby," she whispered. "We have to find her," Hazel turned and headed back down the slope toward the desperate cries.
Silus grabbed her arm. "Haze, we can leave right now. We can get out of here. It's going to happen anyway. You promised we could leave."
"Silus. I am not leaving her." Hazel pulled her arm free from his grasp.
Silus sighed fiercely. "Be realistic; that girl isn't going to get out of these games alive."
Hazel's eyes hardened. "I made a promise to Ethan."
"You made a promise to me."
A whimpering cry, softer this time, met Hazel's ears. "I did. And I guess this is me breaking it." She sprinted away from him down the slope.
"Haze!" Silus called after her. She hated running from him but couldn't abandon the girl.
The path of destruction was wide and devastating. Thin-rooted trees lay scattered, broken like fallen soldiers. She hurdled through the aftermath until she heard voices. She paused, listening carefully. Silus, taking heavy steps, slowed behind her. Silently, she cast a glance over her shoulder at him. One look at his expression told her he wasn't pleased. Not pleased at all.
Inching closer, Hazel listened to the two voices through the trees. She peered between broken branches into a part of the woods untouched by the felling and caught a flash of color. Pushing a few limp branches out of her way, her eyes locked onto the source of the voices. An unkempt Caleb stood covered in dirt and leaves, with winding scratches across his neck and arms. He was holding Ruby's quivering form, a sword pressed to her throat. Hazel's heart sank at the sight. Ruby looked so small and fragile in his grip, like a sparrow caught in the claws of a wolf. Elara and Julian were nowhere to be seen. Raw disappointment tugged at Hazel's senses. She had hoped they could take Caleb out, but the boy was like a cockroach—impossible to kill.
"Come out here, Red! First, you try to burn a field down around me, and now you try to drop a forest on me?! Come out here, or I will ensure District Twelve continues its strong history of dying in these Games!"
Hazel stepped forward, but Silus grabbed her collar, his grip tight. "Haze, don't. He will kill you." She glanced back at Silus, seeing the terror in his eyes. She knew he was right, but she couldn't just stand by. If she didn't act now, Ruby would die.
His voice was rock-hard, and his eyes bore into hers. "Let's leave while we still can."
"What if she was Sage, or Linden, or Lily? Wouldn't you want someone to help?"
"She isn't, though. She isn't my sister. But you are." Silus's voice was cold, unyielding as he let go of her collar and instead wrapped his hand around her bicep.
Suddenly, Caleb's scream jolted them from their conversation. Kai had emerged from the thick branches and slashed at his arm with Mia's knife. Kai held the knife aloft, a streak of red coloring its sharp blade. His young eyes were wide, but a new line between his brow made him look much older.
The surprise attack jolted Caleb enough to release Ruby momentarily, allowing her to push apart from him. After a brief pause, Caleb sprang forward, slashing at Kai and then Ruby. Ruby screamed as the blade of his sword connected with her collar, and a fine red mist sprayed into the air. She fell to the soft earth with a shrill scream, scrambling backward. Ruby managed to rise to her feet just as Kai lunged toward Caleb, slicing at him again with the blade. Silus took a breath beside her as he watched the boy's newly discovered bravery.
"Very valiant," Caleb jeered, licking his lips. He swung his much larger weapon at the much smaller boy, quickly knocking the knife from his grasp, and with a smooth lunge, he sunk his sword into Kai's stomach. Ruby screamed and scurried backward. Hazel covered her mouth with a palm and looked down, disgust and shock filling her. Caleb pulled his sword back, and Kai grunted, crumpling to the ground, unmoving, a moan escaping his lips. Silus shifted next to Hazel, his knuckles turning white as he gripped her upper arm. All she could do was watch as the light faded from Kai's eyes. Silus face had grown stony as she wiped at the tears forming. I'm so sorry.
Caleb sent a final sneer toward Kai's dying form, then turned and stalked toward Ruby again.
Hazel stepped toward Ruby and Caleb, but her arm was still encased in Silus's grasp. She met his eyes, but he still didn't let her go. "Don't," he whispered.
Soft gurgling escaped Kai's lips as Ruby continued to back away from Caleb, shrieking.
"Very good; scream for me, little girl. I want her to hear you."
Hazel pulled against Silus's hold on her.
"Haze, let's go, don't give him what he wants," Silus urged. His voice warbled as his features paled.
"No, but I am not going to run while I still have some control," Hazel replied.
"Control? Look around you, what control?" Silus demanded.
"Of how I am remembered," Hazel murmured, her eyebrows twitching as he let her pull away. This might be the last thing she ever did, but it would be worth it if Ruby survived.
He didn't protest as she recited his words back to him.
Instead, he let her go as she squared her shoulders and left him hidden behind a trunk.
She stepped out into the open with a shaking breath, glaring daggers at Caleb. "Ruby, run," she said as calmly as she could manage.
Simultaneously, Ruby and Caleb's heads swiveled toward her. Caleb's smile unnerved her, but she continued forward, stepping over the shattered logs and splintered tree limbs.
Ruby backed away as Caleb fixated on Hazel. Ruby's petite hand held her shoulder, fresh blood seeping into her shirt.
"Get out of here, Rubes," Hazel called. The girl hesitated. "Do what Ethan told you."
Ruby watched her with wide, terrified eyes; tears streamed down her face, but she didn't argue. She sent Hazel one last grateful look before she backed away and disappeared into the woods.
Caleb flipped his sword around, watching Hazel approach.
"I'm here. Is this what you wanted?" Hazel moved closer to Caleb. He was studying his bleeding arm like it was amusing. Her gaze locked onto Kai's lifeless body at Caleb's feet, and she clenched her jaw.
"You're almost right," Caleb replied.
Silus loudly grunted as he was shoved into the clearing behind her. Elara emerged, covered in debris and dirt, holding a knife to Silus's neck; his red-bladed axe was gone.
"Guess I haven't lost my bet after all." Elara sneered as she dragged Silus passed Hazel toward Caleb.
"Bring him over here," Caleb ordered pointing to a willow nearby. Elara pushed Silus in front of her.
"Wait!" Hazel called, her stomach lurching. She should have listened. Now, it was about to cost her everything.
Caleb reached into his back pocket and produced a set of handcuffs. When Elara and Silus reached him, he secured one end to Silus's wrist and the other to a long branch above his head.
Silus stood awkwardly, one hand suspended. His eyes met hers. "Silus, I'm sorry," Hazel whispered.
"Haze, get out of here," Silus urged, straining against his cuff but pausing as the knife's edge caressed his throat.
Caleb pointed toward the axe in Hazel's hands. "Now, be a good girl and drop it," he demanded.
Hazel gripped the axe tighter. "Let my brother go, and I will. I'll give up, surrender. No more running, no more tricks."
"You're not in a position to bargain with me," Caleb sneered, raising his sword to Silus's neck.
Hazel raised her hands and threw the axe down. It landed on the soft earth beside her.
Caleb smiled and handed the handcuff key to Elara. "Watch him."
Elara nodded, her appearance disheveled and covered in sticks, leaves, and dirt. Her hazel eyes were bloodshot, burning with hatred. She pocketed the key while keeping the long knife pointed at Silus, watching with satisfaction.
Caleb scrutinized the lifeless form of Kai, whose eyes had grown hollow. Bending over, he grabbed Mia's fallen knife, inspecting it. His blood still stained the surface. He tucked away the knife in his belt as he approached Hazel.
Hazel took a deep breath and scowled at Caleb as he came closer. "Red, red, red," he tutted. "Honestly, I thought this would be easier, but you have succeeded in making things immensely difficult for me."
"Glad to hear it," Hazel fought to steady her voice.
Caleb moved closer, his eyes drilling into hers. Hazel stood her ground, refusing to back down. She could feel the intensity of his gaze, but she met it head-on.
"Let's see how brave you are now," Caleb taunted, towering over her.
Hazel fought to keep herself focused, swallowing down the rising terror. She could see Elara watching them closely, the knife still pressed to Silus's neck. She knew she had to find a way to turn the situation in her favor. This was not how she wanted to die. Her heart yearned for her abandoned backpack and the blue blooms within.
"This is how it was always going to end," Caleb said, tilting his head as his dark curls fell over his forehead.
He reached behind him and placed his sword into his belt, trading it for Mia's knife. His other hand landed on her left shoulder. He stared into her eyes as he squeezed. She sucked in a sharp intake of breath as the wounds beneath her shirt protested and she swore she felt them start to bleed beneath the bandages. His dark irises glittered at her discomfort. With a large step forward he pushed her to walk backward until her back met a solid trunk, rough bark pressing against her shirt. "You must know that," he uttered.
Hazel searched his face, her voice softening to a whisper, "Does Augustus?"
Confusion flickered across his features. "What?"
She glanced at Elara and Silus before returning to Caleb, whispering, "You mean you don't know?"
His dark eyes sparkled with a mix of intrigue and confusion. "Are you trying to manipulate me right now?"
"I'm not the only one," Hazel replied, her voice steady.
Caleb shook his head, appearing to search his mind, then abruptly brought the knife up to her neck. The maroon stains glistened in the sun's fading light. "Nice try, Red." He looked her up and down. "I'm thoroughly impressed."
He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. He ran a finger over the pink band around her arm, quirking up an eyebrow. "It's too bad we didn't meet under different circumstances. Snow would have some stiff competition."
She could feel her pulse quicken at the implications of Caleb's words. Her mind drifted to the senator. She could almost feel all the eyes of Panem upon her.
Hazel responded in a low tone but loud enough that she was sure the cameras picked it up: "I can assure you, he wouldn't."
He chuckled, pressing closer, the tips of his boots skimmed hers, "You've got courage, I'll give you that. But that will only get you so far."
"Yeah, and trust in the wrong people gets you nowhere," she retorted, her voice steady despite the knife at her neck. She saw a flicker of doubt in Caleb's eyes. She hoped her words would plant a seed of doubt, anything to buy them more time. Not that she felt her theory didn't hold some truth.
Caleb's smile faltered, confusion flickering in his eyes. "What are you getting at?"
Hazel kept her gaze locked on his. "How certain are you that Augustus really wants to continue District Two's winning streak?"
"Of course he does; he's my mentor. Why wouldn't he?"
"From what I've learned, he's much more than a mere mentor. I think you know something. I think you know more than maybe you realize."
Caleb hesitated, the knife trembling slightly. He searched her eyes as he seemed to be contemplating her words, trying to determine if she was being truthful or just throwing whatever she could at the wall in desperation, "You're lying."
"Am I? Or are you just afraid of the truth?" Hazel's voice was quiet, but her eyes were fierce, challenging him to consider her words.
He leaned back slightly, trying to regain his composure. "You're good, Red. Too bad it's not going to save you."
"Maybe not," Hazel replied. "But at least I know who my real enemies are."
Caleb hummed as he searched her eyes, "I seriously doubt that."
"Ignore her, Caleb. She's just a cornered ginger rat," Elara muttered from behind him.
Caleb didn't acknowledge Elara's advice, instead he studied Hazel for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing. Then, with deliberate slowness, he leaned in closer, further invading her space. Hazel held her breath as she watched him close in and used the tip of the knife to pull a strand of her hair toward him. He stared intently as he gripped the red strand calmly between two fingers like he was analyzing it. He was getting too close. She turned her face away from him, her skin crawling, "What are you doing?" she breathed out.
His chest shook with a low, rumbling laugh, "Testing a theory."
She could feel the curls of his hair brush against her temple. She inhaled sharply as his lips met the side of her cheek, pressing a gentle kiss against her skin.
"Get away from her, you bastard!" Silus called from behind them. Elara whispered harshly to Silus, pressing the knife closer to his throat. The branch to which he was secured shook violently as he tugged on his arm and cursed.
The pressure of Caleb's lips made her stomach churn, panic rising dangerously. Hazel closed her eyes, fighting the urge to shove Caleb away, the knife at her jugular be damned.
"I think your brother is jealous," he murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. "Among others, I'm sure." His breath warmed her skin until he finally pulled away a few inches.
Reopening her eyes, she turned toward him, her green irises as sharp as the blade at her throat as she scowled at him.
"Projecting again are we?" she hissed. She waited tensely for his next move, but he just stared at her. "Get off of me," she ground out through gritted teeth.
Caleb's smile widened as he straightened up, mockingly looking to the sky. After a moment of silence, he chuckled. "Well, would you look at that? I wasn't struck dead." He glanced back at Hazel; his eyes glittered as if a question had been answered. "Looks like you're on your own, Red."
Hazel's heart pounded, but she clenched her jaw, refusing to show fear. Caleb grabbed her left wrist, his fingers lingering on her pulse. His dark eyes bore into hers. "Interesting," he murmured to himself. Then he turned her hand over, pressing it hard against the tree, her palm facing outward. The rough bark scratched the delicate skin of the back of her hand, and she gave him a questioning look.
"Do me a favor. Stay put while I kill your precious brother," he whispered, leaning in, his breath hot and menacing against her cheek.
He eyed the knife in his hand, still wet with his blood. A new wave of alarm washed over her at the look in his eyes. With that, Caleb raised the scarlet glittering weapon above their heads and held her gaze as he flicked his wrist forward, sinking the sharp blade right through the center of her palm. A white-hot, blinding agony filled her hand as the blade pierced her skin and lodged into the tree behind her.
Hazel couldn't help but let out a guttural shriek as the anguish nearly blinded her; her vision became spotty, and she faintly heard Silus yelling at Caleb, cursing him in every way he knew how. Caleb smiled darkly before backing away, leaving the knife. He turned toward Silus, withdrawing his sword from his belt.
"Pay attention, Red," he called over his shoulder.
Hazel's senses were overwhelmed by the searing pain and a profound dread, drowning her in a sea of unbearable sensations.
"Stop!" she shrieked, her voice weak and cracking, but Caleb made no move to acknowledge her.
He took another long step in Silus's direction. "Your turn, big boy." His tone was filled with sadistic amusement, and he twirled his sword theatrically.
"Come on then. Fight someone your size, you piece of shit. Undo this cuff and have a real fight," Silus challenged, his eyes burning with defiance. He jerked viciously on his bound hand; the branch above him threatening to snap.
Hazel struggled to process their words. She reached her right hand toward the blade protruding from her palm. The moment her fingers brushed the handle, a jolt of agony shot down her arm. She quickly pulled away as the pain was blinding, and darkness built up at the edges of her vision. Her chest heaved as she struggled to control her breathing, willing herself to remain conscious.
"If it were just you and me, I'd be all for it, my man. But I want to watch your sister's face when I gut you." Caleb winked at her over his shoulder. Silus's muscles strained harder. He pushed himself against Elara's knife, and several crimson drops oozed down his neck, soaking into his collar.
Hazel's pulse quickened, and her body tensed. The thought of losing Silus was more unbearable than the torturous feeling of the knife protruding from her hand. She couldn't let it happen.
Caleb positioned the tip of his blade against Silus's collarbone. Elara observed with intense focus. Silus, with his chest heaving, glared back at Caleb.
"I'm ready if you are." Silus spat.
Terror overwhelmed Hazel's sense of pain. With a deep breath, she gripped the knife in her hand and pulled as hard as she could. Her vision blurred with tears and pain, but she kept pulling. The knife dislodged, sending a searing sensation through her that threatened her consciousness. She bit down on her lip to keep from screaming. Blood gushed from the wound, and she quickly pressed her other hand against it to stem the flow.
Caleb chuckled as he stepped closer to Silus, "Maybe I should let you have a little goodbye kiss, too huh?"
Silus eyes had grown nearly black and his voice was like ice. "You disgusting worm. You are nothing but a coward."
"Bravery seems to be a family trait," Caleb retorted with a sinister laugh.
She urged herself toward the axe lying among the shattered timber. She pulled the weapon into both hands, barely able to grip it due to her injury, but she swallowed the angry protests of her body as she held the axe above her.
Overwhelming pain set her nerves on fire as she brought the blade backward behind her head. Caleb turned as Elara yelled at him, pointing at Hazel. With a strangled cry, she brought the axe forward in a swift arc. Every ounce of strength she had left went into that throw. Caleb appeared unsurprised as the blade flew past him, missing him by several feet.
"A for effort, but you missed," Caleb taunted with a smirk.
Hazel panted, blood oozing from her hand and pooling at her feet as she locked eyes with him, her gaze steely. "Did I?"
Caleb arched an eyebrow as he tilted his head and turned around to look over his shoulder. Elara stood frozen; a look of quickly fading shock colored her hazel irises, axe embedded in her chest.