Chapter 10

Azzi’s Pov

I wake up to the sound of a knock on the door, immediately hit with the feeling of Paige’s arm tightly around my waist. I try to slowly move it off of me, but her arm only tightens instinctively. I try again, slowly prying each of her fingers off of me first. Once successful, I lift her arm slightly, just enough to wiggle free.

I put a pillow under her arm to fill my absence, walking towards the door. I look down at my feet and see a letter with three trays of food. 

Once I pick it up, I walk towards the bed with my and Paige’s trays of food, setting them down on the nightstands.

I think Paige figured out that I deceived her with the pillow as she began waking up, patting around the bed for me then eventually meeting my eyes.

“What is that?” her husky voice mumbles.

I don’t reply, opening the letter, I set the envelope down on the bed before unfolding the paper.

“Dear Paige, Azzi, and Kamorea.

    We are willing to let the three of you out of your small room and give you all an upgrade whenever willing to comply with our request. There will be no negotiating on the requests as all are highly important. Firstly, we ask that Paige and Azzi participate in the upcoming Hunger Games that we have scheduled for the next few weeks. We understand The Hunger Games is typically once per year, and the couple has already participated this year, but we have determined the viewers would enjoy it more with their presence. We are willing to allow Kamorea to stay either here in the building during the games or participate. She will be considered a weapon and won’t be allowed to be murdered, with the understanding that either Paige or Azzi won’t have a weapon unless donated

  Secondly, we ask that nobody announces this event to their fanbases until the time for the games, as we have not determined when or if this is official.

Lastly, we understand Azzi requires ‘medicine’ and those needs will be met during the games, but Paige’s medical needs cannot be met during the games. We only request that if /when Paige becomes weak, she is given the time to rest, as she is our latest experiment and we want to make sure all things are successful.” I read out my voice, beginning to falter during the last paragraph.

I can feel Paige’s eyes dart to the back of my head, not knowing how I’m going to react. I don’t allow a reaction, slowly standing from the bed, walking gently over to where Kamorea is sitting being half awake through the entire read. “Girl, boo, you okay? You are looking creepy as fuck right now.” KK says, looking up to me. I simply nod, grabbing her hand, pulling her up from the seat. I guide her towards the side of the room where Paige is sitting, staring at me, waiting for me to react. “I have no idea what they are talking about, Az.” Her husky voice says gently as she reaches for my hand.

My hand shifts, behind my back,  “We accept their terms, what about you?” I ask my voice a firm and unwavering tone.

She stands from the bed, walking closer to us. I don’t back up, “You can’t be serious, Az. They are fucking with us! And they know that we are going through a rough patch, meaning we won’t have each other out there. We can’t survive without each other. If you’re going to agree, then at least try to forgive me, princess.” 

“I have nothing to forgive you for,” I say, putting on the fakest smile I’ve ever made. She just shakes her head, sitting on the bed again. “I don’t agree to the terms, not yet.” She says, staring into my eyes, knowing she did something to me. 

I walk away to the other side of the bed after grabbing my tray of food. I slide into the bed under the covers next to the blonde, not letting my smile falter. She turns, lying back in the bed against the headboard. “I know you don’t believe me, but I have no idea what they did while I was in that laboratory.” 

Taking her words in, I nod. “You have been trying to get us to break up for the past two weeks. Maybe-” She cuts me off. “No, you can’t be serious right now. Not over this fucking game. I love you, and you love me. We can’t break up.” She says, her pupils fully enlarged and her face full of tears. “Are you Barney now?” I ask, commenting on her clearly stolen line.

She rolls her eyes, “Please, don’t break up with me. It’s been you and me against the world since we were 14 and 15 years old. Ever since I first laid my eyes on you, I was down bad for you. You’re mine. Always have been. I don’t think I could go through a day without knowing you’re mine.” Paige says her voice, still having that husky sound, I love in it. 

I don’t reply to her. She can tell the moment my fingers begin interlacing with hers, she immediately brings the back of my hand to her lips, planting a kiss on it. I giggle at the jester a bit. Our eyes are locked on each other, silence growing in the air, but the most comfortable kind. Until a voice cuts through.

“GIRL BOO I’M STILL HERE STOP EYEFUCKING,” KK shouted at us. Our stares break, turning to her laughter filling the air. 

“We weren’t eyefucking.” I say bluntly. “And pigs fly,” KK says, making Paige laugh. “Shut up!” 

Laughter fills the air before eventually dying out, leaving an awkward silence, and everyone knows the decision is still lingering in the back of our heads. “I know it seems crazy, but you have to accept. Trust me.” I tell my girlfriend while rubbing the back of her palm. 

She doesn’t reply, she just stares at me as if looking for something. Scanning. “Okay, I trust you.” She whispers.

This room is full of cameras. I realized it from the moment we entered, they’ve been watching us. Why wouldn’t they?

Paige and I have this code phrase you could say, mainly for when we are on the court. It’s kinda universal sometimes for “I have a plan” or “love you” or anything really. We always use it when their are prying eyes nearby, usually fans. It’s kinda stupid, I don’t even know where it came from.

“Pandas eat bamboo” I mumble staring down at my tray of food picking at it. Her head turns to look at me, processing. Probably trying to figure out what it means this time.

“Yeah they do.” She replies, finally catching up.

Kamorea just stares confused, “you didn’t know pandas eat bamboo?” She questions.

Laughter fills the air, KK clearly doesn’t get the code word.

“I just suddenly remembered” I reply. She just shakes her head. “I thought Boogers was the slow one.”

____________________________________

Not to long later, there is a knock at the door. KK answers it this time, a group of people I can’t remember the names of stand before her. They don’t bother waiting for an invite all flooding the room, one woman I recognize stands front and center.

“We reckon you determined your decision?”

We all nod, “We are doing it. But we have our own conditions.” Paige tells them.

The woman is clearly irritated, “What are they?”

“Firstly, we need you to promise to give us an advantage. You need us. Alive. Our fans won’t watch if we don’t surive.”

The woman looks like she strongly debates saying No. But then someone whispers into her ear and she nods. “What else?”

“You promise, even after the games you will provide medicine for Azzi. Thats all.”

She nods, “Fine.”

“Wait. I want to know what you did to Paige.” I speak up.

The woman scoffs, “She didn’t tell you?”

Great. The begining of another fight.

Actually No. I won’t give into their antics this time. “No, she didn’t, mind telling me?”

I keep my composure, they purposely are piting us against each other. I won’t give in this time.

“You will find out in due time.”

Just the answer I wanted. Vagueness.

“Of course, sorry I asked.” I say bitterly sweet.

The group of people lead us down the stairs to a room, a very familiar room. The training room. “The other contestants will be selected tonight, we will give you this extra time to train.”

The woman and the group leave and allow us to train in peace.

“So who is KK going with?”

“I know you probably want a real weapon, but I can protect you. Think about it last time I did a lot of saving your ass.” Paige replies.

“Yet I apparently died.”

“That won’t happen again.”

I trust her. More than anything. She’s really good with weapons, She’s right. “Okay, yeah, I’ll take KK with me.”

“Good thing I can fight girlypop.” KK says popping her P. She lifts her hands pretending to fight, she definitely can’t.

Paige begins training with the sword, her best weapon.

KK and I work on punching, let’s just say, I hope that Paige has gotten enough practice.

Eventually, Stacey, the woman who styled us last time gathers the three of us. She leads us to a room with a TV playing this times picks of contestants.

District one, has a really buff tall girl, looks about Paige’s age, and a boy who looks 13, very frail.

District 7, choose two siblings, twins I think. Both boys, you can tell they have been training.

District 12 chooses, someone named Katniss and Peetah? Sounds familiar.

The competition looks weak this time, but we won’t underestimate anybody.

“Only like six or seven contestants looks like they are competent.” Paige says making KK laugh. I just side eye her. “Don’t ever say that phrase again.” I say playfully. She just rolls her eyes.

We are trying to make the best of the worst situation.