Gwen wasn’t a stranger to nightmares. She had been having them since her mother died. But they seemed to be more often now that she had survived the Games. Images of the tribute she stabbed to death even haunt her in her dreams. She survived, but she still killed someone.
She volunteered, just to save her friend’s life. She didn’t mean for any of this to happen. It was just to protect someone.
“One day, I’m gonna volunteer. Just like you did.”
She didn’t want that, she didn’t want people (especially kids) volunteering for the games. All because she wanted to protect a friend. That was it. Then she didn’t want Miles to die for her. Their plan was to just both die. No victors for this year’s Hunger Games. But of course, the game makers change everything last minute and let them both live.
Now Gwen was struggling to sleep at night. And when she did, she would have nightmares sometimes. It was another night of that.
Gwen was in the arena again. She saw her best friend, Peter. How could he be here? She volunteered for him. Before she knew it, a tribute got to him. It all felt like a blur. She cradled his lifeless body in her arms as she heard the sound of canon. She sobbed for a bit until the tribute that killed him got to her. Familiar situation; pinned to the ground, being strangled, except this time she didn’t have a knife. She was killed.
Gwen woke up screaming, sitting up as she started to quiet down. She looked around, trying to realize where she was. She was on the train, on her way to the next district for the tour. It wasn’t exactly helping that she was here right now. She then heard the door open. It was Miles.
“It was just a dream, I’m sorry.” Gwen said, looking at him. Miles seemed worried, Gwen wasn’t really surprised by that. She did wake up screaming. “It’s okay, I get them too.” Miles said in response, which reassured Gwen a bit. At least she wasn’t the only one who had to deal with that. “Goodnight.” Miles started walking towards the door again. If Gwen had to be honest, she didn’t want him to leave. She didn’t want to be alone right now. “Miles?”
Miles turned around. “Will you stay with me?” Gwen asked softly. She hoped he would, but was expecting him to leave. They may pretend to be in love, but they didn’t actually feel that way. “Yeah.”
Miles walked up to her, then got into the bed. Gwen slowly snuggled up against him, her head gently resting against his shoulder as Miles held her in his arms. “Always.” He whispered, meaning what he had said. After a while, the both of them fell asleep, still staying close to each other.
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They thought they survived the Hunger Games, but now they were back in an arena.
Gwen was walking in the arena with her allies, one of them was obviously Miles. She didn’t want him to go into the Games again, but he volunteered for their mentor. She was worried he would get himself killed, so she was alert.
But he wasn’t.
She saw the force field, he didn’t. “Miles, no!” But it was already too late. He had already hit it with his sword. Gwen promised herself she wouldn’t let Miles get hurt, she just broke that promise. “Miles?” He didn’t respond. She rushed over to him as he laid on the ground. “Miles?” She then noticed something. No, no, please no, Gwen thought.
“He’s not breathing, he’s not breathing!” Gwen felt panicked, she couldn’t let Miles die. If one of them had to make it, it should be him. She promised herself that. She promised herself that she wouldn’t allow him to get hurt. He wasn’t just hurt, he was dead.
“Miles?” Gwen called out his name again. One of their allies, Pavitr, came to help Miles. Gwen didn’t know what his intentions were at first, so she grabbed her bow just in case Pavitr would try and hurt Miles. But once she saw he was trying to help him, she put her bow on the ground. Gwen called out his name a few times, seeing if he would respond already. “Please, wake up.”
All Gwen could fear is hearing the sound of a canon. Everything felt like a blur. She felt the tears flow down her face as she kept looking at Miles. She could only fear the worst right now. “Come on, Miles.” Gwen could hear Pavitr say as he was trying to save him. Gwen was already starting to lose hope, until Miles moved a bit. “Miles?”
Pavitr moved aside so Gwen could go up to him. She gently brushed her thumb across his face, waiting for him to wake up. Once he opened his eyes, Gwen couldn’t feel more relieved. “Oh my god.” She choked out.
“Be careful, there’s a force field up there.” Miles spoke softly. Gwen laughed while still crying. She was just glad he was still alive and didn’t end up dying. She then kissed him. If it was part of the act she was playing where she pretended to be in love with him or if it was real was something she didn’t even know anymore.
“Oh my god, you were dead.” Gwen whispered once she pulled away. “You were dead; your heart stopped.”
“It’s okay, it’s working now.” Gwen then hugged him, tears continuing to fall down her face. “Do you wanna stand up?” Gwen asked when she pulled away from the hug, her voice shaky from the tears and fear she felt. “Yeah.” Miles responded. Gwen helped him up before hugging him tightly. She has never hugged him so tightly before. It even lasted longer than normal. While their whole love story was an act, she couldn’t help but always feel the need to protect him.
Maybe it wouldn’t remain an act for long.