Tap. Tap. Tap.

"He's still sitting there."

Pause.

"No. He hasn't moved."

Pause.

"I couldn't see what happened, could you?"

Longer pause.

"Yeah, I guess. I don't want to ask."

Leo's voice faded in and out, swirling around my head like waves. I stared blankly at the ground, focusing all of my attention on a small rock. I was exhausted after the round, but I couldn't sleep. I couldn't even close my eyes. I just sat there on the floor, my head between my knees, staring at that rock. I guess that's all I was good at. Staring.

I couldn't get that image out of my head - Laszlo lying there in a puddle of his own blood, gasping for breath, writhing in agony, all because of me. His blood was on my hands - both literally and figuratively. I'd killed him. I couldn't get the dried crusts of blood off of my fingers. Maybe it was because my hands were shaking too bad.

"So ..." Leo said awkwardly. "How'd it go?"

I felt all the guilt rush back into my chest, replacing the numbness and making me ache. I wanted to cry, but I couldn't find the energy. I'd killed an innocent boy. I was a murderer.

"I'm surprised, I'll admit. I didn't think you'd make it."

"Please, Leo," I whispered.

"Sorry?"

"I killed someone!" I shouted, my voice cracking. I finally allowed myself to look up at the Unnatural, leaning against the window of my cage.

"So?" he said.

"So?" I repeated. "I just ended someone's life for the entertainment of an entire country!"

"Yeah?"

"You don't get it, do you?" I accused, staggering to my feet and marching toward him. He actually stepped back this time, and Braken made a sharp gesture. "You're just like they said you were. You don't even care if you kill someone, as long as you survive. It doesn't matter. You enjoy these games, don't you? You enjoy killing people. You're just making up Howell and your nightmares and being all scared of the dark. You're a coward, just like the rest of them!"

Leo's eyes darkened with anger, but at the mention of Howell and his nightmares, they filled up with pain. "How can you accuse me of that?" he whispered, backing up. One hand rested against his heart, grasping his shirt, and the other felt behind him, as if for a table or a bed. "You have no idea what it's like in here. Yesterday was nothing."

"Really? I doubt it. You're too 'oh yeah, I killed a guy but that's nothing' to be in as much pain as you claim you are. You're making all of it up!" I screamed, my emotions running wildly out of control. I needed to calm down, but I couldn't think straight. All I could see was the look in Laszlo's eyes.

"I'm not making it up!" Leo snapped back, his pale and bruised face flushing deep scarlet in anger.

"Really?" I said, laughing hysterically. "Then prove it."

Immediately, Leo pulled his shirt off over his head and threw it on the ground, like a child throwing a temper tantrum. He whirled around, jerked his thumb at his back, and said, "There. Happy now?"

His back was covered in scars. Some were long, some small, and a few weren't lines, but dark splotches blemishing his fair skin. Some were purple and blackish, and others were red or pink, and a few were pale white, barely noticeable. There were scars upon scars, some of the tissue bumpy and mangled beyond repair. There was hardly a spot of untouched skin.

I stared at him in astonishment, unable to form words or make any sort of sound. He glanced over his shoulder at me and said, "You said the Post tells you everything you need to know about me. You've watched all my rounds, haven't you? Then tell me where these came from."

I licked my dry lips nervously, those stupid, weak tears slipping down my cheeks. I wanted to get away from this nightmare.

Leo turned around and marched back up to me. "Tell me, Joel," he ordered, his voice low and threatening. "Where did these come from?" I still couldn't answer, and he seized the bar with one flaming hand. "Where?" he shouted. "Where?"

"I don't know!" I wailed, throwing myself on the floor in despair. I curled up with my arms over my hand and resumed staring at the floor. "I don't know ..."

"Yeah, you don't," Leo said coldly.

...

A week passed.

I stayed in my numb and depressed state most of the time, staying curled up on the floor and staring at nothing. Leo talked about me a lot, most of his words unkind, but I tried to ignore him. I ignored everything.

I didn't eat my food when they brought it. I just left it there on the floor. After I hadn't eaten for nearly four days, Leo convinced me to eat something. He had said he was translating for Braken, but I wasn't sure. I ate slowly, and then I slept for the first time in nearly five days.

Finally, after I woke up, I was able to pull myself out of my protective ball and stand up, wandering to the window. I needed something to get my mind off of this mess, even if it was arguing with Leo. He was half asleep, humming to himself, and Braken was watching him with a peculiar look in his eyes, tracing patterns on the walls. He looked up when I grabbed the bars to steady myself, and smiled, giving me a little wave.

I awkwardly waved back and returned my attention to Leo. He had stopped humming and was now mumbling softly. He paused, thought for a moment, and then nodded and continued.

"What's he doing?" I asked softly.

Braken opened his mouth and pretended to do something, but I didn't understand. He tried again, but I still didn't get it. Eventually, he huffed and tapped on the bars to get Leo's attention.

Leo snapped up and looked up at him, and he signed something quickly and pointed at me. Leo glanced over and mumbled, "None of his business."

"S-sorry," I stuttered, blinking in surprise and sitting down. I didn't want to fight him. I just wanted someone to talk to. I wanted a distraction. I wanted to get this image out of my head.

A few minutes later, someone started singing. His voice was gentle and rich, filled with emotion.

"When the sun steps down and escapes the day,
We'll calmly walk away, walk away from the fray.
When structure falls, and all else fails,
We will build it once again."

Someone sighed softly from farther away, and I felt myself relaxing, imagining a different world, picturing each phrase in my head.

"When the colors fade, and it turns to grey,
We'll calmly walk away, walk away from the fray.
When structure falls, and all else fails,
We will build it once again.

And we can climb high, higher than before,
Oh, we can stand by while it burns to the floor.
Though we cannot fly, we will build and the wounds will mend,
As we build it once again."

"Was that Tristam?" someone called.

"Sing it again, please," someone else said.

Surprised, I stood up again and looked in, and he glanced up at me. "You're going to say something mean, aren't you?" he muttered. "You're going to make fun of me."

"That was pretty," I said softly.

He didn't say anything.

Braken tapped on the bars more, and as Leo glanced up, he gave a few quick hand signals. "You want to write a song?" Leo said, laughing a little.

Braken glared at him and signed something angrily.

"Braken, you can't even sing."

"Let him try," I said softly.

Braken nodded and quickly signed something again.

"Sing it for you?" Leo asked in surprise, and Braken nodded excitedly. "No! Not in front of him." He jerked his thumb at me.

Braken put his hand over his heart and made a little circle, giving him an innocent smile. I smirked as Leo groaned in mock frustration.

"Alright, alright, fine. Don't give me that look. Okay ..." Leo cleared his throat uncomfortably, and glanced at me. Braken thought for a moment and then signed something quickly. "You can stay ... For now you can stay, right here ... we will play. Um ... what?"

I watched them curiously as Braken repeated himself multiple times, and Leo struggled to make the words sound musical. I zoned out and started thinking of other songs, the things I used to listen to. I missed those days, when I'd lay on the couch and just let the music fill my soul.

"For now, you can stay,
Right here we will play,
Until somehow you can find
A slightly different frame of mind.

Right here in my arms,
Away from all harm,
You'll be safe from all the flares,
Although I know you don't care."

I stared at him in disbelief. He'd made that up on the spot? The melody fit perfectly with the words, and I could almost hear the accompaniment behind his singing. He had a beautiful voice. The numbness, the guilt of killing Laszlo vanished, just for a moment.

"That's amazing," I said, and they both looked at me. "Braken, those lyrics are beautiful."

Braken blushed and quickly signed something I assumed was his thanks.

"And I really like your voice, Leo," I said.

Again, he didn't answer me. He just stood up and went over to Braken's window. Braken hit his arm and pointed at me. Leo yelped and rubbed where he'd been hit. "Watch it, Braken," he grumbled. "I have a bruise there." Braken just hit him again and pointed harder, and Leo began to get frustrated. "What do you want?" he demanded.

Braken gestured with his hand, as if saying "go on," and when he didn't respond, he put his fist to his chest and made another circle. The signs seemed so simple, and I felt stupid not knowing them.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"Sorr..." Leo started to say, but cut himself off as he caught his friend's smirk. "It means sorry," he grumbled. "He wants you to apologize." Braken hit him once more, harder this time, and he yelped again. "Alright, alright, stop hitting me. He wants me to apologize to you." Leo stared at the floor and rubbed the back of his neck. "So ... sorry. And thanks."

"Oh ... you're welcome," I said, surprised.

Braken clapped the same way someone would say "good job" sarcastically, and this time, Leo hit him back. Braken giggled, though it came out more like quick bursts of air, and swatted his hand away as his friend reached in his cage to poke him. They reminded me of two little puppies, bugging each other for play. I smiled slightly as I watched them, and then the smile melted as I remembered something.

Tomorrow night was a Friday.

I voiced my thoughts and Leo's face immediately went pale. "Tomorrow's finalist night," he whispered.

Braken shrugged and patted his head, playing with his hair again.

Leo turned so he couldn't reach and took his hand, bringing it down. "Braken, you know what that means, right?"

He shrugged again, pulling his hand out of his grip.

"I don't think you understand."

I tightened my fingers around the bars and leaned forward, anticipating his answer. I already knew it, but the way his voice shook and the gentle manner in which he damped the mood caught me in anxious anticipation.

"They're going to choose you," he said softly.

Braken's smile faltered a little and he shook his head, but I could see the fear in his eyes. He knew Leo was right. Tomorrow night, he was going to fight to the death.