Chapter XX: The Feast of Lives Part 1

                                    

                                          
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to invite you all to a magnificent feast at the cornucopia, tonight!" Sophie winced as the voice echoed through the air - she couldn't hear what was being said, she could just, sort of, detect the waves of telepathy through the air. Of course, she had to read Keefe's mind to know what it was, but she still winced. Tam glanced across at them and shook his head. Sophie agreed with him.
                          
"But this feast will not be an ordinary feast," continued the voice. "Every single person has one thing they desperately need, just one. We will give each and every one of you the thing you need most of all." Tam glanced at them again, more uncertain this time. Biana shook her head firmly.
                          
"We're not going. It's a trap."
                          
"Undoubtedly," replied Wylie scornfully. "But I'm still going. Try and stop me." Biana looked at Sophie and Keefe, who'd unconsciously reached for each others hands, though Biana didn't notice. Sophie thought for a moment.
                          
"I'm going," she agreed. "Come with me if you want, but you can't stop me." She looked at Keefe and let go of his hand to stand with Wylie, who looked less than thrilled to be standing next to her. Sophie glared viciously at him, despite him being three years older and at least a head taller. Wylie glared back at her, fists balling again, but he at least didn't punch her this time.
                          
Biana sighed and sat down on a log. Tam went to sit down next to her, and whispered something in her ear. Whatever it was, it made Biana blush a bit, but then she looked at Sophie regretfully.
                          
"Tam says he's going," Biana announced, standing up. That obviously wasn't what he'd said, but Sophie didn't call her out on it. "Hands up if you're going." Dex raised his arm enthusiastically, followed nearly immediately after by Sophie and Wylie. When Keefe saw Sophie'd put her hand up, he raised his too. Tam looked at Biana regretfully for a second, but then put his hand up too. It was almost unanimous, Sophie realised. Biana had no choice but to go really. 
                          
"That settles it. We're going," said Sophie finally when Biana didn't reply. She closed her notebook (where did she even get a notebook?!?!) and stood up. 
                          
"Alright, plan," said Dex to everyone's surprise. "We go into the grove starting from here," he said pointing at a point in the map of the arena he'd just drawn in the dirt. "Biana, you go first in vanish..." Sophie stopped listening, because she was to busy thinking about something that she kept noticing. The Neverseen members didn't need anything desperately, except to win. So that meant this had to be a trap.
                          
She wasn't walking straight into it, she was taking advantage of their expectations. At least that was what she told herself, even though it wasn't very convincing. The Neverseen were right - she needed something desperately. So desperately that she was quite prepared to have to fight for her life for. Obviously everyone else felt the same, or maybe they just hadn't worked it out yet - either way, it wasn't going to be easy. And Sophie wasn't exactly thrilled about her friends going, but it would be useless fighting them on it.
                          
"Understood?" Everyone nodded, though Sophie was sure that none of them understood it any better than her. As if to prove her right, as soon as Dex was gone, Biana huddled them altogether. 
                          
"Seeing as I doubt anyone understood Dex's plan," Biana started, glancing back at Dex. "Just go in there and kick some butt. Think of what you need most of all - now's the time to decide how much you need it." Biana looked at Sophie questioningly.
                          
"Don't think I'm not going." Biana smiled sadly, pulling out of the huddle and squeezing Sophie's hand comfortingly.
                          
"We leave at sunset." Wylie shook his head.
                          
"I'll leave at sunset, and I'll come back to tell you if it's safe."
                          
"But what if someone gets there while you're gone? No - we're all going," Tam argued, walking over to Biana subtly. He reached for Biana's hand, before Dex joined in.
                          
"Um, guys. We all leave now. It'll be sunset in about half-an-hour, so we should go now!" Sophie glanced back, bag slung over her shoulder. She rolled her eyes: as she walked towards the centre. Keefe followed straight after her without a seconds hesitation, smirking as usual.
                          
"Lead the way, Foster!" Keefe shouted after her, chasing to catch by her side. Sophie blushed furiously when he stared into her eyes with a deep intensity Sophie'd never seen in him before. 
                          
After about a mile of walking, Sophie paused as she saw the cornucopia in sight. She gave a satisfied smile, before realising that her friends were looking at her expectantly. Even Wylie was looking at her, though it was more with distaste than respect. Sophie's stomach dropped, and all the happiness Keefe had made her feel earlier evaporated. Keefe must've felt this - he was an empath after all - and leaned in and whispered something in her ear. Sophie glanced at him softly.
                          
Sophie took a sharp intake of breath when she saw a boy, only 11 or 12 standing near the edge of the arena cautiously. He jumped slightly when he saw them, trying to unsuccessfully hide behind a tree.
                          
"Hello," Sophie called cautiously. "You there?" The boy clambered out quietly, before gasping and opening his mouth to speak.
                          
"HiguysI'mJensiYoulotarepartofthealliancerightcanIjoinpleasesayyespleasesayyes!!!!!" He said in a way that made Sophie think he'd had sugar for breakfast, even though that was impossible in the arena.
                          
"Um, sure?" Sophie said uncertainly, glancing around at her friends for confirmation. The boy sealed excitedly, but it soon vanished, because someone was there. Sophie was smiling, then she blinked. In the split-second that she'd had her eyes closed, someone had appeared out of nowhere. Jensi wasn't saying anything, just staring wide-eyed at Sophie, as if begging for help. Why was he doing that?
                          
Because someone had a knife to his throat.
                          
AN
                          
Guys yeah I'm sorry that I skipped the last update, but honestly, I doubt anyone cares if I update or not. Whatever. Anyway, I had some action and introduced Jensi. Yeah. Sorry guys. What for, you may be asking. Wait and see. Wait and see. 
                          
I'm writing this AN on Friday, and I hope to double update with this and the next chapter. If I do, then the cliffhanger will be a waste. As you can tell by the title, the next chapter will be part 2. Someone dies. That's all I'm saying. And it breaks my heart. 
                          
My Jensi interpretation is more childlike than he is in the books, but I like it. It'll make the next chapter better. Hopefully. Lol why am I wasting time on this authors note get to the dedication Pit! (Lol I'm Pit. Not my real name. Why did I even call myself Pit?)
                          
This chapter's dedicated to @FangirlAtHeart- for... Being a fangirl. I don't really have time to sort through my inbox, so I'm sorry if this is late or if I missed someone out. If you read this story and haven't had a dedication yet, reply here. Cool.
                          
Bye!!!!! Till the next one...
                          
Mwahahahahahahahahahaha