Голодные игры
Chapter 25
Westandlikestatues,bothofusseekinganout.
Mymusclesarestrainedsotightly,theyfeeltheymightsnapatanymoment.Myteethclenchedtothebreakingpoint.ThemuttsgosilentandtheonlythingIcanhearisthebloodpoundinginmygoodear.
Peeta’slipsareturningblue.IfIdon’tdosomethingquickly,he’lldieofasphyxiationandthenI’llhavelosthimandCatowillprobablyusehisbodyasaweaponagainstme.Infact,I’msurethisisCato’splanbecausewhilehe’sstoppedlaughing,hislipsaresetinatriumphantsmile.
Asifinalast-ditcheffort,Peetaraiseshisfingers,drippingwithbloodfromhisleg,uptoCato’sarm.Insteadoftryingtowrestlehiswayfree,hisforefingerveersoffandmakesadeliberateXonthebackofCato’shand.CatorealizeswhatitmeansexactlyonesecondafterIdo.Icantellbythewaythesmiledropsfromhislips.Butit’sonesecondtoolatebecause,bythattime,myarrowispiercinghishand.HecriesoutandreflexivelyreleasesPeetawhoslamsbackagainsthim.Forahorriblemoment,Ithinkthey’rebothgoingover.IdiveforwardjustcatchingholdofPeetaasCatoloseshisfootingontheblood-slickhornandpluminetstotheground.
Wehearhimhit,theairleavinghisbodyonimpact,andthenthemuttsattackhim.PeetaandIholdontoeachother,waitingforthecannon,waitingforthecompetitiontofinish,waitingtobereleased.Butitdoesn’thappen.Notyet.BecausethisistheclimaxoftheHungerGames,andtheaudienceexpectsashow.
