I've been traveling all night long through the forest.
I don't feel tired or fatigued, I am too numb to feel anything.
Felicia's death keeps playing over and over in my mind, and every time I see her small child, it worsens the ach in my chest.
I have to stay strong and keep my word to her. I have to get her baby through this, even if it means losing my life. Not that I want to survive anyway.
The baby has been quiet for the most part, sleeping most of the time. But even when he is awake he is silent.
I have no plan where I am going, I'm just walking. I decided to travel somewhere deep in the forest, hopefully where we can live out the rest of the stay in the arena in peace.
I pause for a minute in a small clearing. This place is as good as any to set up camp.
I untie the sling, and set the baby on a folded up sleeping bag. Then I gather wood, and start a small fire.
Once I have everything set up, I pick up the baby, and sit down by the fire.
He squirms slightly, and whimper.
"Hey little guy, it's okay. I know you're probably hungry, you haven't eaten all night."
His bottom lip sticks out, and his eyes look so sad. I swear he's the most expressive baby I've ever seen.
"I don't know what to do to feed you. I'm not your mother, and you can't eat big people food."
I reach for my sword quickly, as I hear something; like the steady tick of a clock. Then I see it, a small silver parachute floating down through the trees.
I stand up with the baby in my arms, and catch it.
"What do we have here?"
I ask the baby as I open it.
Inside is a small bottle, and a large package of baby formula. There's also a small spoon, and a slip of paper that says: Two scoops per bottle.
I sit down, and set the baby on his bed beside me.
"Well, it looks like you have some fans. Hang on for just a minute, and I'll get your dinner ready."
I get a canteen from the back-pack, and heat the water over the fire until it's warm. Then I pour it into the bottle, and add the formula.
I shake it until it's mixed, and pick the baby back up.
"Here you go little buddy."
He reaches for the bottle eagerly, and begins drinking with small sucking noises.
I laugh quietly. Felicia was right, he was strong. Maybe with a little help, I can get him out of here alive.
I hear a sound in the woods, and I set the baby down carefully on his bed, between me and the fire. Then I grab my sword, and stand up slowly.
I listen for a minute, then I hear it again. It's too big for an animal. A tribute?
I keep my sword at the ready, scanning the woods around me with narrowed eyes.
All of a sudden, someone explodes out of the trees with a roar.
I block their attack, as I get a closer look at my opponent.
"Jewel?"
She pauses, as she realises who I am.
"Bruce?"
I lower my sword slowly, still wary after what happened with Sheira and Flash.
"Are you...yourself?"
She nods, as she lowers her sword.
"Sheira and Flash, are they..."
I nod my head.
"Felicia too. What happened to them?"
She lets out a sigh, and sinks to the ground.
"We were on the trail of a third tribute, when Flash and Sheira got shot by these little darts. I don't know where they came from, or what they were tainted with. But after they got shot, their eyes turned red, and they turned on Titon and I, and tried to kill us. We fought them, and they ran off. That's all I know."
I sit down next to her, pick up the baby, and continue feeding him.
"They attacked us at the cornucopia. I had no choice but to...anyway, Felicia was protecting the baby and she got in the way."
Jewel scooches closer to me.
"Where did you get the formula?"
I nod at the empty parachute.
"Sponsor. Where's Titon?"
She stands up quickly.
"He's back at our camp. I'll go get him, be back soon."
She runs off into the trees, and I'm left alone with the baby.
He finishes the bottle, and I set him down on the folded sleeping bag. Soon he's fast asleep.
In about an hour, I hear Jewel returning.
She staggers into the clearing, supporting Titon.
He is covered in blood, and I can see several deep wounds on him.
I run over and support his other side.
"What happened?"
We take him over by the fire.
"I didn't see Flash coming, and he got in a couple of hits."
Jewel scoffs, and holds his head on her lap.
"A couple of hits? I would say this is more than a couple of hits."
I run over to my pack, and grab a first aid kit. I take it back over to Titon, and pull out some bandages.
"Jewel, can you take his shirt off please?"
She gives me a look, then asks him to raise his arms. It peels off slowly, sticking to him with all the blood.
He grits his teeth in pain, but doesn't cry out.
Now that I can see the wounds, I realise it's going to need more than just bandages.
"Titon, I'm going to have to give you some stitches."
He braces himself against the ground.
"Do it."
I pull out a needle and thread. Then I grab a bottle of medical alcohol.
"Ready?"
He takes a deep breath, and Jewel brushes her hand through his hair soothingly.
A brief nod from Titon, and I pour the alcohol over his chest and stomach.
Then I start stitching. I can tell it causes him great pain, so I do it as quickly as I can. But you can only go fast when you're give someone around fifty stitches.
When I finally finish, I pour more alcohol over the closed wounds to clean away the blood. When it's all cleaned, you can see the four long gashes, two across his chest, and two on his side.
They are all clean and stitched up now, and I wrap a thin layer of bandages around his torso to keep them clean and protected.
"There, all finished. You should just lie still, and let the stitches rest. Don't want to start bleeding again."
He unclenched his fists, and relaxes.
Jewel bundles up her jacket and tucks it under Titon's head.
"I'm going to go collect some more firewood. I'll be back soon."
"I'll come with you."
Jewel offers, but I turn her down.
"You need to stay here and look after the invalids."
Titon grumbles in protest. I grin, and walk into the forest.
I find a fallen tree, and chop off some of the dead branches with my sword. Then I gather them all up, and turn to go back to camp.
Suddenly, I hear a whistling sound, and a sharp pain in my shoulder.
"Ouch!"
I pull a small dart out of my right shoulder.
I turn around in a circle, but I don't see anyone.
I take a closer look at the dart. Could it be poisoned? I taste the tip of the dart, but it's not bitter, so it probably isn't poisoned. What's it purpose then?
Suddenly, I see a red mist in front of my eyes.
Kill the tributes.
No.
Yes, kill the tributes.
No!
They are going to kill you! So you need to kill them!
I shake my head hard, trying to rid myself of the voice echoing inside it.
Kill the tributes now.
It whispers quietly. Suddenly I grab my sword, and turn back toward the campsite.
I try to make myself stop, to put the sword down and stop walking. But I'm not in control.
Kill them!
"No"
I shout it out loud, fighting against my body.
"Bruce?"
I hear Jewel's questioning voice calling from the camp.
"I've been infected with what the others had, and I...I'm going to kill you! No! Stop it!"
I dig my feet into the ground, but I just step out and continue toward the camp.
"Stop. Moving!"
"Bruce what can I do?"
"Just, look out!"
I stagger into the clearing, and raise my sword.
"Bruce I'm not going to fight you."
I turn to her, and step forward.
"No, you're not going to fight me, you have to kill me."
She shakes her head, and takes a step back.
"I can't do that..."
I snarl as I take another step forward.
"You have no choice! Just do it!"
She hesitates, and raises her sword.
I feel myself charge forward, and swing my sword at her. She blocks it, and I swing again.
"I can't kill you Bruce!"
"You have to! Or I'm going to kill you, Titon and the baby!"
She shakes her head.
"I think I can get control for a few seconds...make it count!"
I gather all my will power, and stiffen my entire body.
"Do it now!"
All I feel is a sharp pain in the back of my head, and then everything goes black.
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