Fractured

Chapter 12

*From Brisa's Perspective*

Bam!...... A cannon sounded. I had crawled to the entrance of the cave, that Rowan and I were staying in. I had been laying beside him because he insisted that if I didn't he wouldn't be able to sleep. Something made me believe him. He had been so gentle and kind to me. From the beginning, I had wondered what had changed his heart. He started out not liking me and plainly rejected my offer to become alliances, but then later it seemed he became somewhat fond of me. Damon had forced us to be a team, but Rowan proved that he really did hold up to the promise of teamwork. He had saved my life twice even when it could have cost him his own. I was astonished by his selflessness. I began feeling myself getting attached to him, but I couldn't. There would be one winner and that was final. There was no way to slip past it or break the rule. One victor was crowned out of the 24 tributes. Even if one of us managed to survive we would still lose the other. Every option ended in me losing him. I knew it would hurt more if I got attached but I found it hard not to. He watched out for me, he worried about my wellbeing, he risked his life for me, and he cared about me. These things made liking him easy. I loved being back with him. After all the time I spent worrying about whether or not he was okay, I found him. Well, actually he found me after I ran from the careers and into a tree. I fell to the ground and blacked out. Rowan had grabbed me and saved me, although I thought he was a career trying to kill me. Because of this, when I woke up in the dark cave I thought someone was trying to attack me. It was just Rowan but from my perspective, it could have been anyone; friend or foe. Once I realized it was him I was filled with relief, which was later filled with grief. Seeing Skarlett's sweet face in that sky made everything come back; The horrible image of her dead body on the ground, and knowing that there was absolutely nothing I could do to save her. Rowan's strong warm arms comforted me, but there was nothing that could ever erase those images from my mind. I was stuck with a scar that would never heal.

When the cannon sounded I had been checking outside because I had heard sounds. I was on watch first because I knew Rowan needed sleep and I wouldn't be able to rest anyway. My mind was tormenting me too much for something as sweet as sleep to present itself.

After the loud thunderous sound, I jerked my head back and forth scanning the outside area. That's when a huge hovercraft found its way across the sky to the other side of the arena. Chills crawled up my spine. Another child has fallen. 16 more tributes left. That's when a sound from behind me shook me from my thoughts.

"Brisa!"

Rowan's voice was frantic, and I flipped around to find him desperately searching the darkness.

"Rowan."

I said reassuringly. When the cannon went off he must have got worried, and me no longer being beside him probably didn't help him. Little did he know that the hovercraft went across the arena for a different tribute. He quickly crawled to me. He pulled his arms around my head. His whole body was shaking and he was breathing heavily.

I never knew I meant that much to him. That the fear of my death caused him so much pain, almost as much as the thought of his caused me.

"You.....I....thought.....you were dead..."

He said in between anxious breaths.

"I am fine....I'm okay....everything is okay....."

I tried to calm him as I stroked my fingers through his hair.

"Please don't leave me, promise me......you scared me so much..."

He begged me. He was still holding me as I began feeling guilty. I hadn't meant to scare him.

"I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry Rowan....I didn't know..."