Safe and Sound || Hunger Games

Chapter Thirty One - Dead Heartbeat ||PART THREE||

PART THREE - THE SCAR

Chapter Thirty One - Dead Heartbeat

I had never kissed anyone before, and I wasn't quite sure what it was supposed to feel like, but if kissing normally felt something like the kiss Grayson and I were sharing, I wondered why I hadn't tried it more often. Yes, I could taste blood, and not only my own. Yes, we were bruised. Yes, there were tears. But it was soft, warm and just how I imagined it would be, perhaps even better. I wasn't aware of the arena, the Games or the Capitol. All I knew in that moment was Grayson's bloody fingers lacing with mine as our lips seemed to dance together perfectly, the warmth from the kiss spreading all over my body and reaching my fingertips and toes.

The pain in my leg seemed to disappear as my brain was distracted. Grayson's warmth mixed with my own, making the situation that had been quite cold before seem warm and comfortable, as if we were really on fire. But a good fire. Not a scolding, burning, scarring one. A warm one. One that you would roast marshmallows on and stare at for hours. One you would sing to when you sat next to it, and one that welcomed you home after a long, cold day outside.

When we both pulled away and my eyes flickered open again, I found myself staring right into Grayson's blue eyes. The pain was still gone and they shone. The realistation of what I had just done suddenly dawned on me, and I sat up, only for my leg to practically beg for mercy. Grayson looked up at me, curiously. His blood stained my hand and the rest of it lay in a pool around him. He was bleeding out, bleeding himself to death. I had just kissed him, thinking of my own needs instead of his. Even after all this time and despite the amounts of times we had worked together, I felt like I was still quite bad at this 'ally' thing. I choked back a sob, tears streaming down my face.

"Grayson, I'm...I'm so s-" I started but Grayson dragged his frail body over to me and shook his head.

"Don't, please." He said. He sounded so heartbroken that I could have just ran after the mutts and let them eat me alive. "Actually, Harper. You wouldn't believe how long I have had to wait for that. Harper, don't look sad, please. That was all the painkillers that I need right now. Harper, it's been so good knowing you and I can't say how thankful I've been. But it's my time, I can't prevent that, and I know you know."

Grayson then turned away and coughed, his whole body shuddering. Blood came out from that cough, genuine blood. He was bleeding internally too. His whole body was begging for mercy, but Grayson stood firm. He was holding on for just a few more minutes, trying to stay in this world for as long as possible.

Yet again, another thing he had over the Capitol. Yes, he was dying, but he wasn't letting the Games snuff out his light as quick as a switch. He was elongating his death, making sure he touched the hearts of everyone in the Games. He turned to face me, the blood from his lungs covering his mouth and chin. It genuinely hurt me to see him like this.

Grayson then took another breath, before falling backwards. He was completely still. I screamed and dived forward, grabbing onto his body, not caring about the blood. Why hadn't the cannon gone? I thought, but I had more important things to think about, such as waking up my ally. That is, if he could be woken up.

"Grayson?" I said, my voice barely a whisper from shock and sadness. "Grayson? Grayson?" I was cut off the by the cannon and the anthem of Panem blaring loudly. I gasped and looked up to the sky.

No, I couldn't.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victor of the ninety-ninth Hunger Games, Harper Anselin!" Claudius Templesmith's voice says. But I didn't smile or fall to the ground crying with joy, I shook my head.