they ask 'do you love her to death?'
i said, 'speak of her over my grave and watch how she brings me back to life'
Laurel was never meant to be in the games,
all she wanted was to keep her sister safe.
the only way she could do that was to die.
...
"Don't make this hard." He growls when Treech takes a step towards him. Quickly, he realizes he's stuck between two threats, though he doesn't have to debate who to fend off first. Coral moves first jabbing at him with her trident, the only thing stopping it from meeting his side being Laurel.
She grabs ahold of the staff pushing the blunt end in the other girl's hands back towards her, where it meets Coral's gut and she lets out a harsh grunt, doubling over. The weapons slip from both their hands and fall to the ground many feet below. When the girl straightens back up her eyes are ravenous, and she dives on top of Laurel. They land with one of Coral's hands around Laurel's throat and the other pressed over her mouth.
"I told you not to make this..." Coral's demand transforms into a howl as Laurel sinks her teeth into her Pinky finger. Blood fills her mouth, and a harsh crunch follows. A fist meets the side of her head in an effort to release the hand, but Laurel throws one back, pushing the girl off.
Treech and the boy from Ten, Tanner, still haven't moved, dancing around each other. Treech lets his gaze turn towards Laurel who still wrestling with the other girl Tanner takes a step forward, but the shifting of gravel forces the other boy into action. Treech turns back quickly swinging the blunt end of his axe into the side of Tanner's knee, which buckles. The boy falls to the ground groaning before rising back onto his good foot and slashing his knife across Treech's chest. In response Treech sends his axe back towards the boy, this time embedding it in Tanner's side before he pulls it back out and plunges it back into his chest. Tanner's eyes widen and his hands rinse slowly to grip the handle of the axe as he falls to his knees. Blood gurgles in his throat before he slumps and falls over the edge of their stage.
When Treech turns back to Laurel and Coral he finds Coral lying on her back, staring blankly at the blue sky and Laurel heaving on her hands and knees, a bloodied rock beside them both.
"Laurel!" he yells, darting to her side. Her face is so bloody she's not sure if it belongs to her to the girl beside her. She's drowning in it, breath spluttering out in harsh sobs.
Laurel opens her mouth to say something and reassure Treech that she's fine. They're both fine, but the exhaustion she has been fighting for the last few days overtakes her. Her arms can't hold her body up and she collapses flat on the ground.
"Laurel." Treech sobs, dragging her into his lap where she lays limply. Her eyes flicker between his face and the sky before a tired bloody smile rests on her face.
"Take my jacket. I won't need it anymore. " She wheezes, eyes half-lidded and cloudy. Slowly the girl reached up to touch the ribbon around his wrist, it was bloodied and foul but nothing could feel nicer against her fingertips.
"No. No. Not yet." He begs pulling her into him, "Please." How could she still be trying to give more to him right now? His mind screams.
"It's okay." Laurel breathes, tilting her head back grateful to feel the sun on her skin one last time, "Make sure you take me home."
She isn't sad that she's dying, Laurel knew it was coming since the day of Calla's reaping. Doing this means her sister would be safe for the rest of her life. She'll live her life, she'll get married and she'll have children. And one day she'll tell them about her big sister, she'll tell them about all the fun they had and how deeply Laurel had loved. She'll visit Laurel still, at her little tree. Maybe she'll even tie a ribbon or two to its branches.
Still, a tear trickles down her cheek as she stares at Treech's face, all red and distorted, with tears streaking down it. None of this is fair to him. He hasn't had a choice about anything since reaping day, but still, he put aside his resentment and hate. Because of him, Laurel remembers the love and the generosity of her home. And now he's going to take her back there.
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a/n he he he call me fairy godmother because your wishes will come true. just give me like a week maybe.
