This was it.

Reaped into the Hunger Games, you and Treech had braced yourselves for the certainty of death. But at least, you thought, you’d face it together.

Wrong.

When Coral asked him to join her Pack without you, he went. He looked back twice, eyes shadowed beneath his hat, heavy with apology—as if that glance could undo the fact that he had just sealed your fate far sooner.

That was only during the first tour of the arena.

Now you were back in the zoo where the Tributes were caged. Before, you and Treech had been inseparable. Now, he sat among the Pack, laughing too easily on the rocks.

It wasn’t until the middle of the night, when the world was drowned in darkness and only the distant glow of the Capitol lights cut through, that he returned. He slipped quietly to your side, saying nothing at first, letting the silence press heavy between you.

After two long minutes, he whispered.

“I…I’m sorry. They…they don’t want you in. I tried to convince Coral, but she—”

He broke off. His hands trembled as he removed his hat, brushed the dust from the brim, and stared down at the ground, unable to meet your eyes.