On Monday of the third week of the games, Jungkook and I head south of Seocho, past my home and toward the outskirts.

"I think now that the numbers are reduced, the outskirts should be pretty safe," Jungkook says. "Everyone is sticking to the city for clues."

"How are we going to get clues ourselves?" I ask.

"I watched the fireworks—where they were set off." Jungkook points to the skyline. "Most are in the city, yes. But once in a while I see one near the outskirts. Mr. Fame wants a balanced game. A chance for everyone to receive a clue no matter where they're hiding."

"Okay," I say. "Let's head down to the shield border."

For a horrible few hours, I think I'm going to run into my family. My mother will see me in the League of Fame uniform, crying and begging me to return home. Zion and my father will somehow spot me from the apartment window. Yelling my name in vain.

But Jungkook and I pass the area of my apartment.

And we run into a group of six.

Three boys and three girls. When they spot us from down the street, we all freeze. We must be miles from the more developed parts of the city. So what are they doing here?

When one of the boys raises his gun, Jungkook grabs my hand and we run in the opposite direction. Bullets fly past us, missing us by mere feet. I know what Jungkook is thinking. We can't handle a party of six. Even if Jungkook has the better aim, I'm an inexperienced fighter. We might be able to take down one or two, but the rest will take us down before we can make another move.

My feet pump against the concrete. I hear them chasing us, their boots making a miniature stampede. I run and run, but still we're being chased. More shots go off. They miss us again, and I'm thankful they don't have Jungkook's aim.

"Why are they chasing us?" I say between my panting.

"They're desperate," Jungkook says.

And I realize that's the most accurate word. Yes, some participants are still hesitant to kill. But an alliance like this one is planning to steal all six items. They need everyone eliminated as soon as possible. These six made a pact in the beginning of the games to do everything they can to secure six items. Even if that means dozens and dozens of murders.

How many have died because of this alliance? Are they the reason the numbers have been dwindling?

"Stop running!" one of the boys yells, so aggressively that the words seem ripped from his throat.

Jungkook turns. I stop with him. He raises his gun, and I reach for my own. By the time I switch off my safety, Jungkook has fired.

One of the boys goes down, Jungkook's bullet flying true to his chest. The girl screams his name, but it's so guttural that I can't make it out.

His allies surround him. I put my gun back in its holster.

Jungkook and I continue to run. We run until we're sure they're not following us anymore. I know they're trying to revive the fallen boy. I also know they're trying in vain. Jungkook killed the boy. I know it is as true as the existence of the air I'm breathing.

Jungkook and I stop in an underpass. The shadows hide us well, and we shuffle with our backs against one of the walls. A cluster of older ladies makes an event of seeing us in our uniforms. They panic among themselves and run away as quickly as they can at their age. Bikers pass us too, swerving away in a wide berth.

"You saved us," I say. I'm beginning to believe that this boy will save me more times than I can count.

Jungkook is pale. Even in the low light, I can tell something's wrong. "Did they shoot you?" I ask. I look around, not seeing any blood.

He's breathing heavily. "No, I'm fine." He sinks to the ground, back scraping against the concrete wall. I follow him down, kneeling beside him.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

He shakes his head. "I have a confession to make."

I'm afraid of what he'll say next. "What is it?"

"The boy I killed in the boathouse," he says, "that was the second person I killed in my life. The third and fourth were the boys I was defending you from while you grabbed the clue. The boy we just ran away from is my fifth."

He closes his eyes. He tries to breathe normally, but he's beginning to shake. I stay silent. Knowing that he'll continue when he's ready. "The first person I killed was a loan shark. He had info on who killed my parents. But he wouldn't tell me. He said he'll offer his information on some insane price that he knew I couldn't afford. I killed him because I was angry. I shot him with the same pistol you saw when we first met. I don't regret killing him. To me, he had a role in my parents' death.

"The boy at the boathouse too, I didn't know him. Same for the other two boys. It was easier for me to treat them like random strangers. I know that sounds terrible."

I almost know what he's going to say next. And the horror of it makes me panic. "Jungkook—"

He holds up a hand. "Cosma, the boy I shot just now... I went to middle school with him. We ate lunch together. We both didn't have many friends. I don't know if I would consider him a friend. But he was someone I knew. I feel like a monster."

It's my turn to hold him as he shakes. He's cold, and when he leans into me I get the sense of a boy who's trying his best just to hold on. "It's okay, Jungkook," I say, even though I'm not sure if things will ever be okay again.

It's the least I can do for the boy who saved me, who continues to save me. I hold him as he sobs. I offer my shoulder to the boy who offered me part of his heart. 

A/N: Thank you for reading! What do you think of the story so far?