There's Nothing More Important than Family, chapter 21

Zania’s large brown eyes are open; the look of terror is unmistakeable. They are empty and cold. The girl from 4, Kelly, had cut her hair to just below her chin and drawn little tridents in her skin with her knife. On Zania’s forehead, she had written, “Your move.”

I stab my sword into the ground in anger. After Zania’s cannon went off, I killed the girl from 1 easily, without hesitation. I wanted to go to my sister’s side immediately, but Dane, Mahogany and Kelly were still present. To my surprise, Kelly tossed them backpacks and told them to run, like cowards. I didn’t care; I’d kill them later.

Now, I hold one of Zania’s hands in two of my own. Her body is still warm, but that is deceiving. She has no pulse, no heartbeat. Kelly’s knife went right through her left lung and into her heart. Her death was quick, but Kelly made sure it wasn’t painless. The tears and blood on her face tell me that much. I use my sleeve to try and wipe some of it away, but it only smears it around worse.

The hovercraft appears to pick up the bodies of Breah, Vella and Satin. I know it wants to pick up Zania, but I refuse to move from my sister’s side. Mom told us to stay together.

I feel Jason’s hand on my shoulder. “C’mon man.” He mumbles. “We have to go.” I brush Zania’s hair off of her face and Jason helps me stand up. We sit in the mouth of the Cornucopia, as the hovercraft claw lifts my sister’s limp figure out of the arena. I bury my face in my hands. I should have been there to help her sooner, as soon as she screamed the first time, but I was too busy. Apparently fighting Mahogany was more important than saving Zania. I hate myself for not going to help her.

“It was a trap.” Jason tells me. “Kelly knew you’d make Zania hide. She had Satin kill Breah; she knew that would draw Zania out. It isn’t your fault. Kelly’s crafty and she tricked us all.”

“I promised I’d protect her!” I cry. “Now she’s gone. I should just kill myself now.”

“No!” says Jason, and he takes away my sword warily. “Do you think that’s what Zania would want you to do?”

“Who knows what she wants me to do? She’s dead!”

“Nathan, listen to me. Don’t throw your life away, you can still win this. Zania would want you to win this.” I shake my head, and Jason continues firmly. “Nathan, listen! Your little brother is probably scarred for life now! Think of how traumatized he’ll be if you die too! Focus! Your parents need you. Your brothers and sisters need you. And me, too. There are five of us left, and four out of five are Careers. A Career can’t win this year!”

“No, they can’t win.” I agree. “Especially not Kelly.”

“Exactly. Now come on. The Careers left their supplies here, and we need food.” He helps me stand up and we get to work.

There are many backpacks left. Jason grabs two and tosses me one. We fill them with food and other supplies. My hands are trembling and I’m not paying attention to what I throw in the bag. Eventually, Jason takes it from my hands and fills it himself.

It’s dark. The anthem plays, and I see Satin and Vella, and then Zania. And, finally, Breah’s face looks down at me for the last time.

Jason throws me my backpack. It hits me in the chest, and I awkwardly catch it one-handedly before falling backwards. I don’t stand back up.

I hear Jason sigh. “Dude, I think it’s time we split up.” I look at him curiously. I knew this was coming.
When the seven of us teamed up together, we said we joined because we wanted a better chance of winning. We didn’t know it at first, but the real reason we joined forces was to protect Zania. She was young and vulnerable and she stole their hearts, as she stole mine when we were kids. She made them want to send her home. Now that she’s gone, there’s no reason for Jason to stay and help me.

“Nathan, you need some space to get your head on straight. I’ll try and take out as many of the others as I can. If you’re lucky, I’ll kill all of them. But you have to win.” The intensity in his eyes makes me flinch.

“No.” I contradict. “Kelly is mine.”

He smirks. “Fine, everyone but Kelly. I’ll injure her up for you, though.”

I take a deep breath, and it kind of calms me. “So this is goodbye, then?” I mumble.

“This is goodbye.” He shakes my hand. “You be careful. You’re gonna win and the victor needs to stay handsome.”

I frown. “One can only hope.”

Jason chuckles, and starts to walk away, sword in hand. He’s ready for combat. He knows where to find the Careers, although I don’t know how. Before he disappears into the trees, he calls, “I better not have to light a freaking fire!”

I laugh and wave, but once he’s gone, I return to the Cornucopia and sit inside. Depression hits me like a brick wall. I know Jason didn’t mean anything with his last statement, but it still hurts. I realise how much I miss Zania already.

I hear a cannon. Jason has found them already, I suppose.  I just hope that death wasn’t him. I expect to hear more cannons, but none come. I guess they’ve run like cowards once again. It’s not normal Career behavior, that’s for sure.

The gamemakers have stocked the Cornucopia with Capitol juice boxes. I throw one on the ground and stab it multiple times. I’m splattered with artificial fruit juice, but I don’t care. It was a good way to take out my frustration. I feel a little better, but not a lot.

I get an idea. There’s a sack full of granola in the Cornucopia for some reason, so I stand it up against the outside wall. I take some kind of berry paste and write ‘Kelly’ on the rough sack. Repeatedly, I stab and slash the bag. My rage is unforgiving and the pitiful sack is the first to face my wrath. “Kelly, wait until I get my hands on you.” I say to myself. Oh, how I hate my life.

When I’m done beating up the granola, I fall straight backwards on the ground. It’s once again getting late. I didn’t realize how long I was pummeling the bag, or how tired it was making me. I stay up just long enough to see it was Mahogany who died, and then I fall asleep in the middle of the clearing.