I'd never understood other humans; sometimes I wondered if I was even human at all and not some dry-humored angel that had been cast to earth for the sole purpose of killing people. To me, it was rather probable, after all it seemed as though I was immune to most of the fog that clouded the vision of just about every miserable creature on the face of the earth. I alone could see things for what they truly were- the thunder was just one of those things.

I hadn't moved all day. I lay facing the sky sprawled across the top of the cornucopia with my eyes shut. I listened intently to every slight breeze that rippled through the leaves and to every small crackle of twigs made by a small animal. My patience for the telltale soft breaths or the cautious yet hesitant footing of a tribute was endless. They were coming and I could wait all day. If my calculations were correct today would be the day that they would start to feel an urgency for food due to the fact tomorrow they should be out completely.

I had no doubt that I would hear them coming. Their fear would betray them as fear betrays everyone. Perhaps it even betrays me.

It had been a long time since I felt the electric horror stem in my chest and infect my body, but as the thick sound of thunder cracked in my ears I was reminded of it. I sat bolt right looking at the massive clouds hanging ominously in the sky. I hated myself for the feeling of infidelity that settled itself in my chest as I peered at the cloud with a tight throat.

My friend Death always seemed to make himself known to me in the sky and it was in the thunderstorms that I questioned our friendship, for it was in them that I knew he was furious. Sweat began to drip through my pores and I fought the urge to wring my shirt. The sky had been perfectly clear since I had gotten here- what had I done wrong?

It struck me in an instant. I had failed to kill anyone since the bloodbath, I was wasting time in Death's mind. I felt my heartbeat pick up in my chest sending adrenalin cascading through my veins like a river. I had been moronic to attempt and wait them out. Death waits for no one, not even me. "I-I'm incredibly apologetic." I stumbled, reduced to nothing more than a stuttering child and I completely despised myself for it.

'Go to the castle', the words popped into my head without me thinking them. Death, I realized letting out a small exhilarated breath. He was being merciful, he wasn't going to strike me dead with a lightning bolt and then torture me in the afterlife for an eternity. That is, assuming there was an afterlife, which in my mind was most definitely not worth a gamble with Death.

"The castle it is, my dear friend. I won't fail you." I stated aloud eyeing the clouds warily. I slid off the side of the cornucopia and entered its gaping mouth, still teaming with supplies.I scanned it and made my selections swiftly. Time was ticking and I couldn't afford to be the slug I had been over the past two days. My fingers closed around a backpack that I knew held enough food and water for six days, I slung it awkwardly over my sword sheaths that were also strapped to my back. I selected a few additional silver knives and gleaming daggers strapping them to my legs and arms to grab easily if I were to need them. It was better to be prepared than dead. My mission was proving itself more and more pertinent to fulfill, I thought grimly as I resisted the urge to look back up at the clouds.

And then I started walking. My feet crunching against the rocks and the wind tugging at my hair, like right before the bloodbath, except this wind wasn't gentle and reassuring. This wind taunted my fiercely, warning me that I had better deliver another soul to Death very soon, lest he showed me his wrath. The castle looked moderately close so it should hardly take me much time to reach. I would have enough time to appease him before sundown.

'You're just like the miserable creatures you are killing you realize, don't you?' The thought entered my my abruptly much like the command to go to the castle except the thought was most definitely mine. 'You look at yourself like you are above them- what were you thinking earlier? You are an angel? Ha. You're just as human as the rest of them. You fear, you hope and you dream. The fog that surrounds your head is just different than theirs. Perhaps the wolf was right, maybe you are a psychopath.'

"Silence you impudent brain cells, can't you see I don't have time for moral conflicts?" I snapped irritably, stepping around an especially large boulder. I paused gazing at the castle- it didn't seem to be getting any closer. I threw a glance over my shoulder, my gaze fixating on the large metal cornucopia from which I had come. It was small and very distant. 'Edgar, what if you are insane? We need to think about this.' I took a long tense breath, the crisp air filled my lungs. "I said silence. Now, or I swear I will shut you up permanently with my sword."

'What if everyone else is right though? How could almost every living organism in Panem be wrong?' I furrowed my brow, clutching my face in my hands. My nails dug into the thin skin of my face. "They are all morons. Every last one. Now shut up so I can hear myself think." I moaned as the thunder grew louder and more frequent. My clock was ticking.

The castle was obviously further away than I originally anticipated. I'd have to run if I wanted to make it. With that conclusion I started sprinting toward the castle, my feet digging into the ground and propelling me further ahead. With each footfall the castle got no closer. How was this possible? I felt the first drops of rain hit my face.

I pushed myself harder, my heartbeat pounding loudly against my ribcage as my ragged breaths raked my throat.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

I stumbled to a halt. The castle wasn't getting any closer. I stared at the large building that loomed in the distance mockingly. I stared at it for a long time, the rain began to pelt my skin. Was it a mirage? Death wouldn't have told me to come here if it didn't exist though... would he? Perhaps our comradery wasn't what I thought it was....

'You're imagining everything. None of this exists! Can't you see you are a victim of your own mind?' My voice of doubt taunted the back of my mind, daring me to consider it's points. Who knew one's mind was their own worst enemy? Unless... the voice in my head was actually Life trying to stop me from completing my mission. I clung to the thought with a sudden desperation. A flame of irritation alighting in my chest. Not even supreme beings were permitted to mess with my mind and live to tell the tale. I was an angel of Death and Life would not move me. A bolt of lightning cracked across the sky as if it was feeding off of my utter fury.

By changing my perspective I had realized that I was being toyed with- perhaps Life wasn't the only one toying with me. Perhaps the castle that loomed before me and yet remained forever out of my reach was a reflection- much like a rainbow except it was fake in every way and meant to drive children mad. I looked to my right, a thick fog loomed in the otherwise clear arena. The fog had seemed unremarkable and before this I had paid no mind to it, now I had no doubt fog hid the castle.

I sprinted through the pouring rain that infested my raw lungs with every breath I took and beat at my skin. I didn't slow down or look back. Through the fog that engulfed me in it's thick blanket my eyes could just make out the concrete columns of the castle. I had been right- but of course I was always correct so my shock was really quite moronic.

I was fulfilling Death's wish and my destiny. I paused for a brief second gazing upon the massive castle, sopping wet and small in comparison, but never feeling more invincible. I was powerful, I was strong, and I was incorruptible. I was a god on earth, even, and nothing could touch me.

That was when the lightning struck me.