Sejanus was in the arena. Why? And what was he doing hovering over Marcus's body?

"Yes. The Plinth boy you're so close with. It seems as though he went into the arena to spread breadcrumbs—sustenance for a fallen comrade on his final journey. A District Two superstition,"  answered Dr. Gaul, voice filled with malice. 

"Why aren't you getting him out then?" asked Vera, "Why'd you waste your time coming to tell me?"

"And risk him bolting and hiding like the little rabbit he is?" Dr. Gaul spat, inching closer to Vera, "No, that won't do."

"What's going on? Is it Lucy Gray?" Vera suddenly heard, turning her attention to the door where Coryo had been standing.

"Mr. Snow, I see you're here too," Dr. Gaul greeted, "I was here for Ms. Whitestone, but the extra help wouldn't hurt. Insurance."

Coryo furrowed his brows as he approached the two, eyes widening as he noticed Sejanus on the big screen.

"What's happening? Why is Sejanus in the arena?" 

"Mr. Snow, I need you to listen to me very carefully. In a few minutes, I will have a driver take you and Ms. Whitestone to the arena. I need you both to go in there and get that boy out," Dr. Gaul instructed, leaving no room for arguments.

"Why both of us?" asked Coryo, "Wouldn't that be more noticeable?"

"Because if Ms. Whitestone's empathy can't save him, then maybe your reasoning could," shot back Dr. Gaul, her voice sounding extra menacing at the word 'empathy' as if she were mocking Vera and her friendship with Sejanus.

Vera remained quiet for a few moments as she clenched her jaw. Going into the arena would be dangerous, but leaving Sejanus there to fend for himself would be worse. And Coryo would definitely not be able to do this alone. 

"Fine, I'll go," Vera announced, standing up from her chair. Dr. Gaul smirked at that, clapping her hands together.

"Of course you are," said Dr. Gaul, "I had no doubt you would."

"Now go. I have a driver waiting for you both."

-

"There he is, I'm going in," whispered Vera as she made her way into the arena, cautiously jumping over the barricade. Coryo stayed behind, begging for the girl to wait. Vera didn't listen.

"Sejanus," Vera spoke calmly as she knelt next to her friend, drawing his attention, "You're okay, thank god."

"Vera? I thought they'd send my Ma," Sejanus mumbled, clearly disoriented. Vera sent the boy a sad smile as she put a hand on his shoulder in comfort.

"I'm sure she's waiting just outside," whispered Vera, "But we need to get out of here."

Sejanus didn't budge, bringing his gaze back to Marcus's body which had now been covered in breadcrumbs.

"Oh, poor Ma. She never wanted any of this. Not the money or the fancy house or the driver. She just wanted to stay in Two," Sejanus muttered, "But my father... he's here too, isn't he? No, I bet not. But maybe he'll try to buy your silence after this, for trying to help me."

"I wouldn't take it, you know that," said Vera, "You're my friend."

"Oh Vera, you're the only reason I've lasted this long," Sejanus whispered, turning his eyes back toward his friend, "Without you, I don't know where I'd be."

Vera cupped Sejanus's face gently, wiping away his tears as she tried to urge her friend to snap out of it.

"You don't have to, Sejanus. I'm right here, I'll always be here with you. Let's get out of here please, and we can run away together like you asked," Vera begged. Sejanus scanned her face with a sad smile.

"I can't leave," whispered Sejanus, "I need to make a statement. I need the world to see me die in protest."

"You think anyone's watching this?" Coryo chimed in, finally making his way over to the two, "Gaul cut the feed. If you get killed in here she's just going to say you died of the flu."

"Coryo? They sent you too?" Sejanus asked as he stood up to get a better look at his friend.

"They thought if Vera couldn't persuade you then you'd listen to my reasoning. Look, I know you want to make a change, but you can't do that if they kill us all," Coryo mumbled, gesturing for Vera to stand. Quietly, the girl obliged.

"How can I make any change from out there?" Sejanus shot back.

"You have money. You're smart. You care more than most. And you're the only one who stands up against Dr. Gaul," Coryo listed, only pausing when he heard a noise coming from the corner.

"I can't leave Marcus," Sejanus muttered, looking down at the boy from Two.

"I'll help you carry him," whispered Vera, "we both will. But we need to leave. Now."

Sejanus only nodded, grabbing Marcus's shoulders as Coryo grabbed his feet. Vera looked around the arena before guiding the two as they trudged toward the entrance, switching intermittently with Coryo.

Then the footsteps began. Light, but clearly coming from the tunnel where many of the tributes lay in wait. A moment later, Vera could finally see who it was. Bobbin from District 8. 

The boy from Eight charged at the group, aiming directly for Sejanus as he held his knife.

"Sejanus, watch out!" Vera yelled, before jumping in front of her friend and shoving him out of the way. From behind her, she could hear Sejanus and Coryo yelling, but the sharp pain in her abdomen clouded her entire body as she looked at the young boy in front of her. 

For a moment, Vera watched as the boy's eyes filled with fear as he looked at the girl in front of him, flickering his eyes down to the knife that now punctured her stomach. But then, hatred seemed to grow in his eyes as he threw her into the wall.

Vera let out a pained cry as she hit the wall, trying her best to get up, but the wound in her stomach and the pulsing in her head, made it almost impossible for her to move.

Bobbin seemed to leave the girl alone after that, heading toward two boys as he swung his knife, hoping to hit one of them. Unluckily for Vera, Bobbin seemed to get both of them. Slicing Coryo's left arm before falling to the ground, where he took a stab at Sejanus's leg.

This only seemed to anger Coryo, who shook violently as he grabbed a club off of the ground, slamming it into Bobbin's temple, and knocking him down. And then, as if all his self-control was gone, he continued bashing the boy. Hitting and hitting and hitting until the boy was surely dead.

Vera watched in horror at his actions, shouting his name over and over, but he refused to stop. 

"Coryo!" Vera yelled as loudly as she could, finally grabbing her friend's attention. Vera felt a chill go down her spine as she stared at her friend, haunted by the triumphant look in his eyes. And for the first time in her life, she feared him. 

Coryo cleared his throat, leaning down to help Vera up, who only flinched out of his touch, shaking her head.

"We need to go, Vera," Coryo instructed, once again trying to reach for her. Vera once again dodged him. This only seemed to anger Coryo.

"We need to go now, Vera!" Coryo shouted at her, causing her to flinch again and waking the tributes that hadn't already been woken up.

From the tunnel, Vera could hear movement again and then, she heard footsteps. 

"Vera?! Vera?!" she heard Treech yell as he made his way out of the tunnel and toward the voices, "What are you doing here?!"

Immediately, Vera sprang up, letting adrenaline take over as she turned toward Treech's direction, clutching her stomach.

"Treech?!" Vera yelled as she limped toward him, "You need to go. You need to hide."

"Who did this?!" Treech yelled as he grabbed Vera's arms to stabilize her, staring at the blood on her shirt, "Was it one of the other tributes?"

"That doesn't matter," Vera muttered, panicking as she heard more voices in the tunnel, "You need to get out of here now!"

"Vera, let's go!" Coryo yelled back as he picked up an injured Sejanus off the ground before heading toward the entrance. Soon, Vera's vision began to blur as she felt the adrenaline leaving her body.

Not too far, Vera thought. She just needs to get Treech to run and then maybe she'll be able to make it.

"Treech, listen to me," Vera pleaded, cupping his face with her hands, ignoring the blood that coated them, "I know you're mad at me, but I need you to get out of here and let me help you win."

Treech only shook his head, refusing to let her go.

"Please, Treech. Go. I need you to win. I need you to come back to me."

For a second, Vera thought Treech was going to ask her to repeat her words as if he heard her wrong, but then, the banging began again and his face was filled with determination. 

"I'm not leaving you," Treech argued back, "Look at you. You can hardly stand. I can't leave you here to die."

"Treech," Vera begged, eyes filling with tears as her legs began to give out. Immediately, Treech caught her, holding her up as he clenched his jaw and looked around the arena, noticing Tanner, Mizzen, and Coral emerging from their hiding spots. Quickly, Treech began to escort her toward the exit, ignoring Vera's pleas to leave.

"Don't come any further!" Treech heard one of the Peacekeepers yell, but Treech refused, continuing to run.

"Wait, no that's Vera!" shouted Sejanus, forcing the Peacekeeper's gun down, "She's a mentor!"

But still, it wasn't safe for Treech to get any closer to the gate, so as soon as the two were close enough, Coryo rushed back in and grabbed Vera from Treech's arms, sending him a knowing look. 

"Go," Coryo instructed him, "Get out of here. She'll be fine, but not if you don't get out of here alive."

And with that, the blonde boy ran as fast as he could toward the gates, followed shortly by the pack as they taunted him. Treech watched from afar as the two made it to the gate before Vera finally fell to the ground, soon surrounded by her friends and the Peacekeepers.

And just like before, Treech was useless. 

-

a/n: treech and vera together again ?? literally for five seconds lol,,, they've still gotta get through the rest of the games :(

anyways, don't worry vera's fine lol !!! I'm so excited for the next couple chapters !!!

as always, thank you guys for reading and leaving me comments !! I really appreciate it all so much !! have a great few days <3

love you guys,

hannah <3