The One From Four

--- Thalassa Rivers -- 17 -- 101st Annual Hunger Games--- "If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?"

[tituscronin]

Farro almost frowned when het received the punch on the jaw. It didn’t do much though, he was used to way worse. He noticed the girl reaching again and decided to throw a punch into her shoulder with all his might, followed by a. “Crack”. He quickly grabbed the trident and threw it away, figuring he’d have a better chance of they were both weapon less.

[thalassarivers-blog]

The adrenaline from the fight coursed through Thalassa’s viens, masking the pain from her shoulder only just slightly.  It didn’t hurt at first, but when she heard the crack, the pain set in extraordinarily fast.  She shrieked, the pain growing stronger, rendering her left arm useless.   The figure reached for her trident. No.  She waiting for her attacker to grab it and stab it through her chest, lifting her arms to shield her torso from the attack of the weapon, but it never came.  As quickly as the tribute grabbed the trident, he threw it away. Gritting her teeth, she risked a glance in the direction the trident was thrown; it was far out of her reach.  She had virtually no chance of grabbing it.  Thalassa couldn’t afford losing time to think, she had to act.  In a rash attempt to free her trapped hand, she lunged over as far as she could, and sank her teeth into her opponent’s arm, biting down hard.

[tituscronin]

Farro quickly reacted and jumped onto the girl. He didn’t pay attention to who it was. As he sat on top of her he grabbed the head, and smashed it against the cave floor. Only to feel a kick into his ribs. farro grunted and saw the girl struggling to get to her trident. He quickly grabbed the wrist and held it with all his might, almost crushing it with his hand. It was Thalassa. Farro saw it now. But there was no way back. They weren’t allies anymore and he had to eat.

[thalassarivers-blog]

The blow to the head dazed her, giving the figure the chance to grasp her wrist in a tight fist and press down with such a great amount of force, it lead Thalassa to cry out in pain.  That wrist hadn’t fully healed yet, and now with the other almost crushing it with such a great amount of force, there was no way it would heal as fast as it was doing.  She thrashed underneath him, the trident only a foot or two away.  If she could just get to it... Her legs were of no use now, there was no way she could kick or knee her way to freedom, so instead, she gave the figure a hard punch to the jaw, leading her to roll onto her side to reach for the trident mere feet away.

[tituscronin]

Farro had left Thalassa. Dehidration, hunger and tiredness slowly made it’s way to his mind. He had killed someone. His first kill. ‘’From now on no allies. Anyone I run into dies. I have to win. I have to kill.’’ the thoughts rushed through his mind. Almost as a zombie he walked through the caves, looking for either food, water, or someone to kill.  Sanety slowly left his body as his brain started to dry out. 

A movement, right in front of him. Thirty meters away. He didn’t recognize the tribute, but he had to kill. He locked his eyes on the target and started sprinting. He jumped over boulders and even cut his arm to one of the walls but he kept going. Running as fast as he could he gained up on the target. Before he recognized the person, he had already smashed into the body with full speed, forcing the target and himself to the ground.

[thalassarivers-blog]

She had finally cleansed herself of the blood that completely covered her.  All of it.  Except the bit on her jumpsuit but most of it came out with some work.  Thalassa had rinsed her hair clean of the sticky red liquid at last, and furiously scrubbed at her hands and under her nails and it was washed out for good, and for good measure, even washed the rest of her body, not wanting to look at another drop or streak of blood if she could help it.  Knowing after that, she wasn’t safe (and for some reason she had begun to feel ill, terribly nauseous, unsteady and freezing cold) Thalassa knew she had to find Lumen, her one remaining ally.  They had to find one another if they hoped to survive much longer in the arena.

As she walked through the cave she heard footsteps behind her, but only reacted a second later, when it was too late.  A fast moving figure entered her vision and then disappeared from it just as they both crashed to the ground.  Quickly twisting herself about as they fell, Thalassa managed to land on her arm onto the rocks below rather than hitting her head. She let out a hiss at the pain, no doubt bruises and cuts would form there, but it was better than it being her head.  Aiming a kick to the other’s side, she scrambled like a madman for her trident to defend herself.  She had made it this far, she wouldn’t go down yet, not this way.  She had a weapon now, she could defend herself.

[tituscronin]

“It’s okay. I wouldn’t forgive me either.”

[thalassarivers-blog]

Thalassa didn’t know what to say.  “I hope you don’t die.”

[tituscronin]

Before he left, farro walked up to Thalassa. A single tear left the corner of his eye. “I’m so sorry.” he said as he walked up to her and spreading his arms to invite her into a hug.

[thalassarivers-blog]

Part of her wanted to forgive him, really.  Thalassa wanted it to be okay.  Not how things were before, she had enough sense to know things could never be what they were, but she wanted to say that it was all right.  But it wasn’t all right, and it wouldn’t be.  She wanted to put the past behind her, what’s done is done, but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.  As he hugged her, she stood rigidly,  awkwardly patting him on the back.  It was a step.  

[tituscronin]

Farro calmed himself down again. “Sure, you can have it.” he said, looking at the object. “Look I’m really sorry I couldn’t save him, you have to understand. I did everything I could but it just wasn’t enough. I just ting the gamemakers wanted it like this.” he stated.

[thalassarivers-blog]

Thalassa didn’t really ask him permission to have the trident, but if he denied her that she would have surely fought him.  Watching him wearily, she moved herself from Bo’s body to his weapon, laying haphazardly upon the rocks in their cave.  She could have snorted, his apology was pathetic.  Yeah, the gamemakers wanted it this way.  They were the reason you killed him.  She had thought to herself.  “Guess so.” she huffed.  Trident in hand, she looked down at herself.  She was a mess, she needed to get clean.  Watching Farro, she unzipped her jumpsuit, ready to jump into the water and scrub herself clean.  After that... she didn’t really know what to do.  She had to disappear; Farro knew where their oasis was and if she stayed there, he could kill her after everyone else died.  She didn’t trust him enough to let him leave her be.  Thalassa guessed she’d have to find Lumen, she was the only real ally she had left in the arena.

[tituscronin]

“I did everything I could!” Farro didn’t care, and raised his voice. “I get that you’re sad but I didn’t ask for this.” he replied. “Of course you’re not Thalassa! But that’s what you are for the game makers. You deserve to go home just as much as I do.” He did’t know what to say. “You know, I think it’s best if we split up from now on.” he said, not sure how the girl would react. “There’s only ten of us, and I don’t get the idea that we still trust eachother.”

[thalassarivers-blog]

“Well you didn’t do enough!”  she shrieked back at him.  “You could have done more for him, you could have done something, saved him!  You were there and I wasn’t... you could have gotten to him and saved him.”  she should have gone up there with them, she thought.  If she had, she could have gotten Bo out of there.  Instead, she had stayed below in the caves... and had the blood of two people on her hands.  Even if she died up there, it would have been worth it to save his life.  She glared at Farro.  “I agree completely.  It would be better for the both of us to split up.  I don’t want to have to kill you when this wraps up.”  Thalassa sighed, it was hard letting him go.  She had considered him a friend once.  “At least leave me his trident.  You’ve got a weapon, and besides, it will be the only thing I will have left of him.”

[tituscronin]

Farro frowned. He didn’t like the tone the girl was talking to him. “You don’t know what happened, Thalassa! Don’t go screaming around conclusions when you don’t even know what happened.” Farro replied. “A bear attacked, I was about to kill it when another one appeared. It grabbed Bo. I killed the first one and then killed the other one. How can you expect of a person to kill two bears in one move? That’s right it’s impossible. I did my best for him but there was nothing I could do!” He wanted to shout, but he was afraid for tributes to hear him. “He wanted me to kill him! He was in much pain and I took him out of his misery. Do you think I wanted it to end like this? Why would I have done this much effort if I wanted him to die? I could have just ran away and leave him there, but I didn’t. You should be thankful!” He said as he rushed his hand over his head in frustration. “I get that you’re angry, and I feel bad for you, I really do. But there was nothing I could do. It’s the hunger games, people are supposed to die. Sooner or later it would have happened anyway. At least his death had a meaning.”

[thalassarivers-blog]

“You could have saved him.  There are so many things that you could have done to save him, but you didn’t.  You saved your own ass first, but that’s all you ever do, isn’t it?  You only look after your damn self.  You could have killed his mutt first.  That’s what allies do.  That’s what friends do.  They look out for each other.  But you never liked him, not until it was too late.”  Thalassa realized, still enraged, but lowering her tone only slightly in case another tribute was around to hear.  Reluctantly, she let go of Bo’s hand to wring hers together, the sticky feel of the drying blood unpleasant to say the least.  She wanted to be clean again, her blood mixed with Freyja’s, and Bo’s too, making her feel weighed down with guilt for their deaths.  As long as the blood was on her, she was constantly reminded that they were gone, and that she was the cause.  “Is that what you think of me too?” she asked softly.  “That I’m just another person that has to die in these games to get you home?  Is that all that I am?”

[tituscronin]

“Thalassa…” Faroo said, not really knowing what to say. “He wanted it like this. I did him a favor.” he said, but he knew that it was still his kill. “I tried the best I could so save him. I killed two bears up there to get him to you. I risked my own life so you could see him one last time.”

[thalassarivers-blog]

“You did him a favor.”  Thalassa stated in disbelief.  “You did him a favor.”  She could have laughed at him, she was furious.  “He sacrificed his life for you, and you did him a favor.  He died for you Farro, but I’m glad you risked your fucking life to be a decent fucking person and get him away from the mutts before they tore him apart.  I’m glad that you were the one to kill him.  I’m glad that you killed him before I got the chance to say goodbye, before I even knew what was happening.  I’m glad that he wanted you to kill him because he was hurt so badly saving your sorry ass.”  she growled at him, Bo still in her arms.  “Your best wasn’t enough, and I don’t want to hear it.  You don’t get to act like you’re a fucking hero or the goddamn victim here.  All I know is that my brother is dead, and you were the cause of it.” 

[thalassarivers-blog]

The trident pierced through Bo’s heart, and Thalassa let out a bloodcurdling scream of grief and horror.  She wasn’t ready, she wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet.  There were so many things left unsaid; so many things to tell him… she didn’t even get to say goodbye yet.   Thalassa threw herself on top of him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, watching as her tears washed away some of the blood on his neck.  “Bo.”  She let out a broken sob, the sound of his canon resonating throughout her mind.  She heard a noise beside her.  Farro.  That son of a bitch, that fucking bastard... he was the one that killed him.  If Farro had reacted quicker, none of them would have died.  And if he hadn’t pierced the trident through his chest, Bo’d still be here; she’d get to say goodbye, or tell him that she loved him one last time.  She looked up from Bo’s body at the boy with fire in her eyes.  “You did this.  You’re the reason that he’s dead.”  She spat at him menacingly.

[bo-sheehan-mckenzie]

“Well- you might be stronger, but I always ahd the better poker face.” he pointed out breath stopping lightly. it was going to end soon. and so he reached out for farro’s hand. “hey- that favour. You need to do it for me! I don’t want to die liek I’m just a toy forthe gamemakers.” He pressed the tridents with nimble fingers int farro’s hand. “I’m sorry i have to ask this of you, but it has to end.” he had nothing more to say to Thalassa, but he knew if they kept talking for long it would smily make himw ant to stay even more. he took her hand again and fiddled with her fingers: “I wanted to, but there are people waitig for me Can’t really leave them alone and honestly- Death is going to have such a hard time with me I’d want to be as polite as i can!” 

[tituscronin]

Without a word, Farro grabbed the trident. He didn’t want t do it, but it was the least he could do to the boy who had saved his life. “Alright.” he said. He looked at Thalassa, and waited for her last words. After that he used all his force to stab the trident into Bo’s heart. It was satifying. Not that the boy had died, but that the canon boomed only on seccond later. it hadn’t hurt the boy, and Farro was happy with that.

[thalassarivers-blog]

The trident pierced through Bo’s heart, and Thalassa let out a bloodcurdling scream of grief and horror.  She wasn’t ready, she wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet.  There were so many things left unsaid; so many things to tell him... she didn’t even get to say goodbye yet.   Thalassa threw herself on top of him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, watching as her tears washed away some of the blood on his neck.  “Bo.”  She let out a broken sob, the sound of his canon resonating throughout her mind.

[bo-sheehan-mckenzie]

Bo chuckled lightly and that was when the pain kicked in again. Fuck him and his body for torturing him like that. He chocked on the mess of blood and tears: “don’t cry- please don’t.” he wiped them away only to leave blood stains on her cheek. His hands shivered, when heused his sleeves to wipe the blood away that time. “I’m such an idiot I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make you cry i didn’t want any of you to cry. So please don’t! You are not annoying and you don’t talkt oo much. It’s me who is talking not enough and you just try to make up for it. I’m the dork after all. And I know that. i have always known I was your favourite. Ever since you threw that old rag at me and told me to shove it up my ass for beating you at gambling.” His breath was growing steadily weaker. He ooked back over o farro: “i would have done it all over again kiddo! I’m sorry I can’t root for you though.” Everyne in this arena deserved to go back home: Thalassa, Farro, Elaina- at that moment he was actually kind of relieved to be gone before it all fell apart. He wiped his own tears away. he was going to die on his own terms: “Look Thal- you don’t have to watch, but- i’m going to be fine. I’m going to see them again. Mom, dad, Douglas, lynn dover I’m going to meet them again.” the wind rustled through the rocks and touched the water and ofr a moment it seemed like someone had laughed and called out to Bo. he knew that laugh and he knew that voices. Bo knew that he was probably going mad, but it was comforting he didn’t want to let go of that again.

[tituscronin]

Farro smiled, and nodded. He didn’t expect the boy to root for him. But he knew that he Bo did like him, and that they turned out to be friends. Atleast, if you would be able to call it that. He saw the two crying, and talking, and just knew that they needed to be alone. “I’ll be around.” he said, as he gave Bo a friendly nod, and looked at Thalassa afterwords. He turned around to walk away, only realising then that that would be the last time he’d speak to Bo.

[thalassarivers-blog]

She laughed through her tears at the memory, guiding his sleeve to wipe them all away.  “I did have a good hand, I thought for sure that I’d win.”  She clutched his hand in hers and brushed it to her lips, then moved it to her cheek.  “NO.  I’m not leaving you, Bo.  Not now, not here, not like this.  I’m going to be here.  I’m going to stay with you.  Stay with you until--” she swallowed thickly and took a shaky breath.  “Stay with you until the end.  I’ll be here.  It’s going to be okay.”  She turned and watched Farro as he left, knowing that he’d live because Bo was going to die.  Always the hero, Bo.  “You’re not afraid.”  she stated.  “If I were death, I’d be scared of you.  I’m surprised you didn’t tell it to fuck off already.”

[bo-sheehan-mckenzie]

Bo clasped his hand tighter around him. Bo was glad that she was at least trying. They had always managed to make things stay unspoken, but heard. He reached out cupping her face in hs palms and bringing their foreheads together. “You can do this. I know you can. you were stronger than me anyway.” He smiled weakly letting the little whit elie slip out of his mouth. for now he hadn’t failed. he would never be able to make sure that she got out, but he had saved someone. That had to count for something right. “It’s not hurting Thals. I feel so light.” All the pain the exhaustion the hurt had vanished. he wasn’t thinking straight anymore, but he was fine. Tears continued to slip out of his eyes. he didn’t want to leave them. he didn’t want to leave Thalassa or Artie or Joe. He didn’t want to leave his family, like they had to him. “I love you Thalassa. So so much. You are my family. You all are. never forget that. No matter what will happen-” he choked again, but he wanted to get that off his chest. he had never had the talk for douglas had been in denial and Bo and lynn were torn away from him in a rush. “never forget that I’ll always be there.” His hands pointed towards her heart leaving a bloody point, right where it should be: “Right there. Remember me. Drink on me, but don’t grieve, for I’ll never really be gone.” His eyes flickered over to Farro: “Stay. You’ll have to do me a favour later.”

[tituscronin]

Farro nodded. “Allright, if that’s What you want.” He said as he looked at the boy. “Im sorry Bo.” The words came out withouten Amy form of ease. He found it hard, but he felt guilty, although it wasn’t even completely his fault. “You shouldn’t have saved me.” Farro said. Seeing the two together made him realize Bo had way more reason to stay alive here than he did.

[thalassarivers-blog]

Thalassa was too upset to make a sharp-tongued remark back to Farro without thinking about it.  She was in the process of grieving for her soon-to-be-dead surrogate brother.  She smiled through her tears at him.  “I told you so.”  she whispered.  “I told you I was stronger than you.  I just didn’t want you to admit it like this.”  Her lip quivered as he spoke, knowing full well that these would be the last words he said to her, the last things that he would say to anyone ever.  She wanted to tell him he was a profound ass, that he was a sappy bastard, tease him like they always did, but she couldn’t find it in her to say it.  “I love you so much.”  She whispered to him.  “You’re my best friend, and my brother, and I love you so much, even if I do call you names and swear and curse like a fucking sailor. Even though I am annoying and I talk too much, I love you more than words can describe; I need you to know that.”

[bo-sheehan-mckenzie]

Suddenly tears threatened to enter Bo’s eyes. he didn’t want to cry. He wanted to smile and laugh. he didn’t want to go mad like lynn or cry like Dover. He just wanted to be the old Bo again. The one that hadn’t cried. The one that ha laughed. the one that had loved. he was going to speak, but then a violent row of coughs interrupted him and he spit out blood: “Don’t- Don’t let artie know that, okay? he alway s though the was your favourite!” And that was it. he tears were rolling down his face: “I don’t want to leave you Thals. You need to get out. promise me. You’ll get out and you’ll greet your old man from me okay?” it was all too much. The blood loss, the memories. he had never expected dieing to be lie this. He wasn’t scared simply sad and grieving. “but hey- on the bright side- the pain is almost gone.” he chuckled lightly just to scough uo even more blood. he looked down to his stomach, and saw the damage, but it didn#t feel like a part of him anymore.

[tituscronin]

Farro looked at the two together. There really wasn’t anything he could do, nor say. “Do you want me to leave you?” He asked them both.

[thalassarivers-blog]

“You can stay if you want, I won’t make you leave.  You have the right to be here just as much as I do.”  She spoke to him calmly, despite the circumstances.  Despite him being the reason Bo was dying.  She turned back to Bo, nodding her head, the tears beginning to fall from her eyes.  “I won’t let him know.”  she told him, trying to sound as though she were joking lightheartedly, like they always did.  “I promise.” her voice cracked.  “I promise, I’m gonna try.  I’ll get out for you Bo, I’ll get out.  I’ll get out and I’ll say hi to Papa for you.  Tell him you loved him.  I’ll make you proud.  I promise.”  She tried to smile for him.  “You’re going to be okay.  I promise, I’m gonna stay with you.  You’ll be okay.”  She watched his face pale and watched him cough up blood, coating his lips red.  “Hey, hey, hey, take it easy now.  Don’t hurt yourself.”

[bo-sheehan-mckenzie]

“hey-hey-” bo caught her hand and fiddled weakly with them: “it’s okay Thals. Are you- are you okay?” even hsibreathing was raspy now, but was shocked him more wa the pool of blood on her aswell. For a moment panic rose once again and he reached out for her face lightly wiping the blood away: “it will be okay.” They were both lying to themselves nothing owould be okay. Bo had failed and he would take his unishment for failing. but i a sense it would be alright. He had never really believed in the afterlife, but maybe there was something. maybe he really would get to see them again. he hissed lightly though when his wound touched the air. he knew he wouldn’t hang on for much longer, but he could see her. 

[tituscronin]

Farro looked at the two. As soft as he could he pushed his shirt onto the wound again, to give Bo as much time as possible. A fraction of a second, his and Thalassa’s eyes met. He shook his head, barely see able, but he knew she had seen it. Now all of them knew what wa happening. “Hang in here pall.” Was all Farro could say.

[thalassarivers-blog]

In a sense they really weren’t lying to themselves.  They both knew Bo would die, and soon as well.  There was nothing Thalassa could do to change that.  She reached out and clutched his hand in hers.  “You’re going to be okay.”  she swallowed the lump in her throat.  “You’re going to be okay, it’s all going to be all right.  I’m here.  I’m right here, I’m not going to leave you, you hear?  You’d be crazy to thing that, anyone would.  You were always my favorite brother, why would I leave now?  I love you so much, Bo.  You’re going to be okay.  It’s all going to be okay.  I promise.”

[bo-sheehan-mckenzie]

Bo slipped down next to the water his hand falling into the liquid. Maybe he had been meant to die there. Maybe it was all meant to end where it started.  he had been born in the water and he would die there aswell. there was something comforting about the though. it took him some time to look up again looking out for Thalassa.

[tituscronin]

Farro desperately looked around to find Thalassa. When he saw someone coming from one of the caves, a small breath of relieve left his lungs. “Thalassa!” He screamed, waving his hand towards him, indicating she should hurry.

[thalassarivers-blog]

Blood.  It ran down her face, covered the upper part of her jumpsuit.  There was so much blood.  Her blood, Freyja’s, it all mixed together.  She wanted nothing more than to jump into the coldwater and scrub herself clean, scrub her skin raw if that’s what it took.  She needed to be clean.  As if scrubbing her skin raw would absolve her of the thing she’d done.

It took her some time to navigate back to their camp, her being a world away.  She’d just walked through the same tunnel, following it through until they reached their hideout.  She’d ducked in, dropping Freyja’s jacket on the ground, ready to strip and dive into the waters, Farro’s scream resonating in her mind.  Wait, that couldn’t be right.

Blood.  More blood.  So much blood.  It completely caked Bo’s abdomen, it looked as though he dove into a pool of it.  No.

“Bo?”  she choked out, scrambling to his side.  She pushed back his jumpsuit to reveal his wound.  If there was some almighty power of the universe, she doubted even that could save him now.  “Bo, you’re going to be all right.  I’m here.  Don’t worry, it’s all going to be okay.”  She tried to offer him words of comfort through her shaky breaths.  “You’re going to be okay, you hear?”

[thalassarivers-blog]

Another One Bites the Dust

[tribute-valentina]

Freyja looked up at the sky above her, trying to regain her vision. It was of no use. Did still darted across her vision making it hard to see. She turned her head a fraction when she heard Thalassa moving closer. What more damage could the girl cause. Once again freyja thought about the little voice telling her to flee and she hated herself fit not listening to it.

She refused her hand, swatting weakly at the approaching girl. She didn’t want her anywhere near her. She tried to take another breath as she laid her head back. Her eyes fluttered shut and she was still fit a moment, her only movements the slight and rapid raise and fall of her chest. Sib that to quit and a moment later a cannon sounded in the distance. Freyja was fine though and hasn’t heard it. She wouldnt hear anything again.

[thalassarivers-blog]

The cannon had sounded, the sound ringing in her ears, sounding in her mind, replaying herself over and over again.  The sound had awakened her, almost from a trance.  Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of Freyja’s body, lying broken over the rocks.  She was-- but she couldn’t be-- but she was-- but it wasn’t possible-- couldn’t be-- dead.  Her mouth fell open as she let out a scream of horror, quick to muffle the sound with her hands.  Tears began flowing from her eyes instantaneously, as she realized what had happened.  What had she done?

Thalassa’s emotions overcame her body, causing her to sink to her knees with grief and guilt.  She looked over Freyja’s body in horror, in terror of what she had done.  A hand still covering her mouth, muffling her sobs, she reached out and brushed the girl’s arm, half-expecting her to jump up and grab it, yanking her down to her.  She never moved.  In death she looked just as fearsome as in life, but Thalassa saw her for what she was; still a young girl.  “I’m sorry.  I’m so so sorry.  I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.  I’m so so sorry.”  she had choked out through her tears.  

She had had a life, a personality (even if it wasn’t an entirely pleasant one).  She wasn’t just a nameless tribute.  She had had a family, one that cared about her more than words could describe.  A family that was watching her from district Two, anxiously waiting for their daughter to come home.  Parents, siblings, they would all be watching her, yearning for her to come back to them.  She would never see them ever again.  They would never see her.  Knowing the Gamemakers, they would do something with the body; take her DNA, genes for mutts or something like that.  Her family wouldn’t even get a body to mourn over. 

As she wept, she heard the hovercraft from a mile away, knowing it was coming to take Freyja away.  She had to get out of there before it got there, before tributes followed it to her.  “I’m sorry.”  Thalassa had whispered to the dead girl again, even though she could never possibly hear her.  Shakily getting to her feet, she looked at Freyja again, knowing that the image would be burned into her mind for as long as she living.  She wiped the blood from her face, the tears from her eyes, and ran as she heard the hovercraft come closer.  Without thinking, she had run to the jacket she’d left on the ground with the berries on top, snatched it up, and ran away, not stopping once to look behind her at the girl she’d killed, at the girl who’d stay eighteen forever.