104
I stand and call for them to come down, sensing immediately where they’re hiding.
Cat descends the spruce first, Thorun behind, looking strangely half asleep.
As they walk towards me I open my arms and Thorun walks straight into them, sobbing into my neck as I enfold her.
Cat stands back, her eyes on the body before us.
“Cat,” I hold one arm out to her, the invitation obvious.
At first I don’t think she’ll accept, but weeks of trying to survive in this harsh landscape, and this night, have taken more from her than I’d imagined. Making some unseen decision, she takes the two steps and allows me to embrace her too.
Holding them both I breathe in their scents and allow them a moment to feel my warmth and know that, while I’m here, they’re safe.
“Are you hurt?”
Thorun, wracked with sobs, shakes her head, but Cat pulls back and points to Claire, her body covered with the bloodied words, ‘no other.’
“I’m guessing this is a message from your stalker,” she whispers.
“And I’m guessing that,” I nod to Silke’s body strapped to the back of my quad bike, a tranquiliser dart lodged in her jugular, “is a message from yours.”
Cat sighs heavily.
“I had thought they wouldn’t kill anyone. They darted Thorun in the back.”
“Whoever did this gave Silke a gift,” I murmur, “she was mauled by a bear a week ago and her wounds had become infected. She was, I imagine, in a great deal of pain. Someone simply put her out of her misery.”
“Why did you bring her body?” She frowns.
“Silke didn’t deserve to be left to the mercies of carrion eaters,” I shake my head. “Every one of you deserves far greater than that.”
Cat nods and looks back down at Claire.
“I didn’t see who did this to Claire. When I came upon her she was still alive.
She screamed, and I ran back to the cover of the forest with her pack before the sound attracted whoever darted Thorun.
I used her rope to haul Thorun up the tree.
I’ve been up there ever since, waiting for her to wake up and trying to figure out how to evade my enemy’s men. ”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve dined well tonight on two. Both confessed they were the only ones sent here for you.”
“How do you know they were telling the truth?”
“Because very few don’t when I practice my skills upon them.”
She nods and frowns as she studies Claire’s body, and it’s clear she’s sorting her thoughts. I wonder if she’s imagining this is the kind of thing I do to gain information when torturing. I don’t have the time or inclination to go into that right now.
“How did you get here so fast?” She eventually asks.
“Not fast enough,” I mutter. “I saw Asumpta on the screens, and I saw her heading for Claire. I knew she was going to take out more than one, possibly all of you. She’d started with Claire because we’d shared the last date, but I knew she’d be searching for Thorun because the ridiculous host keeps suggesting she’s a favourite. ”
“Isn’t she?” Cat sighs.
“I came as quickly as I could,” I go on, ignoring her question, “but I had no real idea where any of you were and had to be guided only by scent. On my way I found Silke. Cherry’s claimed the kill.”
“And I’ve claimed Claire’s,” she nods. “I tried to get Thorun to claim it, but she refuses.”
“I won’t have murder as my legacy,” Thorun whispers, her words muffled against my throat.
I meet Cat’s eyes over Thorun’s head.
“We’re far from the end,” Cat says, as if answering my unspoken thought.
“I can’t help you get there, Cat, but I have my guards scouring the forest now for Asumpta, and I intend to join them.”
“We’ll be safe,” Thorun sighs.
“Only from external threats,” I murmur. “I can’t interfere in the Games. You won’t see me. And Thorun, you can’t finish unless you eliminate a contestant.”
“I’m not going to finish,” she moans into my shirt.
“Cat will make sure you do. Won’t you, Cat?” I look into her eyes.
“You’re going to drain me when I reach the final two, aren’t you?” She whispers.
“What?”
‘Where the hell did that come from?’
“Just tell me the truth, Jag.”
I shake my head.
“Is that what you think? After everything I’ve told you.”
“What other conclusion is there?”
I reluctantly release Thorun and step across to Cat to place my hands on her forearms and force her to look into my eyes.
“Trust me. Trust me, Cat.”
She shakes her head and looks down at her feet, and I lean my head down to capture her gaze.
“Look at me.”
Sighing heavily she looks up and meets my eyes, and I’m once again struck by how haunted hers are.
“Have I ever broken my word to you?”
“Dishonourable actions, honourable intentions,” she murmurs, “we both know how the Game is played.”
I grit my teeth.
“I’m done with dishonourable actions,” I growl, “no matter the cause, no matter who seeks it, I’ll stay true to who I am. I know you feel the same. I’ve seen it, Cat.”
She shakes her head, but I sense she still has faith in me, even though every fibre of her being, past and present, is telling her not to.
“Get Thorun to the end, Cat. Trust that I know what I’m doing and that everything will work out for the best.”
“For you or for me?” She whispers.
“For all of us,” I murmur, holding her gaze.
“I’ll get her to the end,” she says quietly, “but not for you. I’ll get her there to honour a debt. She saved my life; I’ll save hers.”
“And she’s your friend,” I remind her, “as am I.”
“We’ll see,” she sighs, pulling away and moving to where Thorun stands, still swaying slightly.
“You will.”
I retrieve some candy from my pockets and press it into her hands before mounting my bike, Silke’s body attached to the back like a sack of potatoes.
“And you'd best get moving. If Cherry makes it to the altar, I swear I’ll swallow liquid silver.”
I’m rewarded with one of Cat’s rare smiles as, nodding to Thorun, I set off into the night to hunt for the one who claims I can have no other.