The Night Games

**There are things like trees, caves, rivers, and random animals in this world right? If not I'll feel like an idiot. I'm also going to avoid first person, for it is annoying me...**

Frost ~ 16 ~ Were/Vamp ~ Night Lands


Once both Frost and Shinar were away from everyone Frost glanced over at Shinar and smirked, lunging at him and tackling him to the ground. They rolled for a while and soon were both laying on their backs, laughter filling the air around them. Frost's laugh was full blown while Shinar's was rough and deep, much like a coughing sound. Frost rolled onto her stomach, smiling widely as she scratched Shinar between the ears. Something about their surroundings affected their attitudes. For example, while they were in the dark room both were moody and angry, but afterwards, at the sight of the sun they were both happy and laughing. "Hey Shine... you want to go scout out a cave while I bring the food?" Frost smiled widely, her body itching to transform.

'Sure make me do all the work,' he smiled sarcastically.

"You poor thing," Frost teased, suddenly transforming into a white wolf with piercing blue eyes. "Now go get some shelter," she stuck out her wolf tongue as Shinar snorted and jogged off, the permanent shackles and chains on his neck and paws rattling a soft song, only audible to Frost's ears.

Tara

I wandered around the grounds, watching new people meet and greet each other casually but a little nervously. I smirked to myself. They wouldn't be acting like that for long. I felt a tap on my shoulder, and I jumped. I unsheathed my sword and whirled to see who it was.

"Woah, cool it! I was only going to ask you a question," the voice said, retreating. I flipped over their head and stopped them from running away.

"Who are you and what's your question?" I whispered dramatically, moving the blade closer to their face

Cynthia

"No idea, but I'm sure it will be fun," Sin replied, barely phased by Sebastian's worry and anger. She smiled and began to tease him: "Are you worried about me?"

"It's kill or be killed out there," Sebastian hissed. Sin stared at him, not quite sure what to think as she blinked her green eyes and tried to get her head around what he had said.

"You mean..." she hesitated and suddenly the booming began, breaking through into their conversation. The announcement chilled Sin almost as much as Sebastian's words had and when the rush to get out of the room began, Sin hovered in the corner, biting her lip.

"I don't want to kill children," Sin said.

"You've not got a choice now," Sebastian replied hollowly. Sin stared at him, her eyes wide and flaring with anger.

"The only person I want to kill is Danilo. Just wait until I find him," she said and then the tone of her voice changed to airy, bubbling with laughter, "Wish me luck!" she called as she hurried out. "I'm hunting the shadows."

Alex

"She would have come for me... if she was a shadow," Alex said slowly, turning the words over in his mouth, not quite sure that he liked the revelation that some shadows could be... good. He'd dedicated years of his life to trying to destroy them all and now he'd paused to talk with one and all he could feel for the creature was pity. He used to be human...

With surprise, Alex suddenly noticed the hand that was being held out to him and shook it cautiously. Then the booming began.

"What was that?" Alex demanded gruffly, turning back towards the doors.

"The games have begun," the shadow said.

"Then I have to go," Alex decided. He grabbed the handle of the door and hurried through as soon as it was open. He was just in time to hear the announcement and then followed the throng of people outside, not looking over his shoulder to see if the shadow had followed. There was too much else to do. He had to protect these children, he had to make them realise that the way to win was to stick together. But at the same time... he couldn't afford to be weak.

Max:

"Have you ever been in the night games before?" asked Cody

"No I haven't" I answered

I followed cody through a crowd of people. "You?"

Brahn, 18, Night Lands

Brahn stopped and studied his surroundings. The world looked just like the one back at home, forests filled with tall, foreboding tree's, the sound of a trickling river far off in the distance. This should be interesting. He thought to himself, continuing on into the forest. Brahn switched his pace from a steady walk to a speedy run once he was away from everyone else, dodging trees and jumping over fallen logs. This is too much like home...

Brahn soon came upon a river. Looking around to make sure no one had followed him, Brahn undid his belt and dropped the weight of his blades into a small grove of trees right beside the rushing blue water. He unsheathed one, studying the gruesome blood-stained blade before dipping it into the river and washing it off. For three years he had slain creature upon creature with his blades, and as a reminder, he had never once washed off the gore. It's time to start anew, he thought to himself, slipping the other blade under water and rubbing it with his hand. It's time to start a new kill count. Once his blades were completely clean and shimmered in the light of the setting sun, he sheathed them once and more and stood up. Removing his shirt, Brahn dipped his hands in the ice cold water and splashed it on his face, rubbing around his eyes. He heard twigs snapping behind him, but he didn't jump for his blades like he normally would, he knew that killing wasn't allowed until the moon was high in the sky. Brahn turned around and found a large white wolf with eyes sharper than the river itself studying his upper body. It seemed to linger on the way his muscles were formed, and the scars that encased his back and arms. Despite the amount of muscle he carried, Brahn had managed to keep his shape small and thin, the better for dual-wielding and fast-paced running. He smirked and turned around, plopping himself onto the ground, fiddling with his shirt as the white wolf approached him.

Cody

I laughed, this guy for real?

"Of course, I've done this before." Rolling my eyes and searching as I saw everyone running.

"Is it difficult?" He asked.

I shrugged, "it's ok I guess."

Max drew back from me, to study my facial expression, I kept it blank.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Geez, kid I dunno how excatly would you feel killing innocent children?" I growled, but then remembered not to take it out on him, he couldn't help what had happened to me in the past.

"Then why do you do it?"

"It's not willingly I'll tell you that much." I scratched the back of my head. I searched for the girl who had stared at me, l face haunted me, I can't wait to see her again. I blinked and saw so many people running, it didn't matter how fast they ran they'd never get out....

(Alrighty guys, I'm brining Erin back into the story as of now. And October Girl I thought this was a good time for Wesley and Cody to actually speak... so...)

Erin Anderson - 13 - Elvin/Werewolf - Night Lands

I ran with the huge crowd of people, trying my best not to get stepped on by the older teens. It was all I could do until finally, one of them actually did step on me, knocking me down to the ground right before I got to the open door. Crying now I felt someone pick me up in their arms but I was to afraid to open my eyes and my head hurt so bad, I blacked out seconds later...

Wesley - 17 - Elvin - Night Lands

When I had seen that little girl get stepped on and her fall to the ground I'd acted fast and ran to save her before she was killed, now cradeling the child in my arms I knew that she had passed out. Poor girl..., I thought to myself and stared at her face, her cheeks wet with tears. Walking slowly forward now I saw him, Cody was stopped right where I had been before looking for him and I was only steps away from him. He stared now at me and the girl in my arms and as I looked behind him I saw the boy who had been with the first time I saw him.

"Ca- Ca- Can you help me?" I stammered and he nodded, gesturing to take the girl out of my arms and into his. "Thank you..." I said and looked away from him but didn't for long until our eyes met, his aqua eyes to my muddy brown. A strange feeling almost overwhelmed me as I followed Cody and the other boy out of the building and out into the open, Why do you feel this way Wesley, you don't even know him....

"So, whats your name?" Cody asked me once we were out of the room and running to the safety of the thick forest...

**no worries***

Cody

Did I have something stuck to my face or something? She started at me, for the longest time, she kept swallowing Ohhhh, I get it, she was probably afraid of me, well who could really blame her? I told you I'd see her again.

"Wesley." She said then smiled.

"Wesley." I repeated, aware that Max was still behind me. Her name, it fitted her akwardly but it fit her. "Well, Welsey, my name is Co-"

"Cody." She said before I finished.

I blinked. "How... how did you know that?" I asked.

I tried not to notice as heat rushed to her cheeks.

Erin Anderson - 13 - Elvin/Werewolf - Night Lands

When I'd opened my eyes the first thing I saw was the blue sky, the sun and the tops of trees and I thought I was dreaming, until I saw the two, unfamiliar blue eyes staring down at me so I jumped.

"Whoa there!" said the owner of the two eyes and he sat me down on the ground where I noticed two other unfamiliar people, a girl and another boy. The girl started at me, clearly relieved of something and I noticed how her eyes flickered back and forth from Cody to me. "You okay?" asked the blue eyed boy.

"I-?" I started then noticed the pain in my head and stomach and cringed. The girl sat down next to me and put her hands on my head, both boys looked at her questioningly but I knew what she was doing. Clearly the girl was Elvin and she was healing whatever wounds I sustained when those people stepped on me. First came the burning sensation throughout my body and I gasped slightly, then the cool feeling that made me want to go to sleep. "Thank you" I whispered.

"Your welcome" said the girl and she smiled at me, "my name is Wesley."

"I'm Erin..." I said and hugged my knees to my chest tightly.

Wesley - 17 - Elvin - Night Lands

"Nice to meet you, Erin" I said and stood up, my hand was burning slightly and I wondered why but didn't think much more of it once I saw Erin hug her knees uncomfortably just as I had when I met Brahn. She... reminds me of myself when I was first alone..., I told myself and sighed then looked to Cody and the other boy who were either looking at me or Erin. My cheeks flushed bright red when I saw Cody smile at me and I surprised myself when I didn't look away from him.

"Very, nice to meet you" Cody said to Erin. I held my hand out for Erin to take so I could help her up but when I did she was unsteady on her feet so I gestured to pick her up and she nodded that I could. She was so small and I only guessed that she was either twelve or thirteen but she looked as if she nine or ten, She won't last long in the games..., said the voice in my head but I shut it up.

"So, where should we go from here?" asked the boy who's name I hadn't quite gotten.

"I won't be leaving Erin" I said automatically and held the girl tight like a mother would her child.

Cody

Riiiiight I thought, that exactly the words my father had uttered to me when we'd talk about my mother except in this case he used MY name. Max stood by my side, I blew out a frusterated breath, what was I suppose to do my hands clenched at my sides and then unclenched.

"Hi, Erin, Wesley, my name is Max." He extended his hand.

"Hello, Max." Wesley said. How could someone be so beautiful while saying such a simple thing?

"Well, nice meeting you, Erin." I said again. Then looked into wesley's chocolate brown eyes. "Wesley." I nodded. "I hope we see each other again, on purpose." I said not smiling as I turned to walk away.

"Wait..." Wesley said, I stopped in my tracks...

Erin Anderson - 13 - Elvin/Werewolf - Night Lands

"Nice to meet you Max" I said from Wesley's arms, where I felt so safe.

Wesley - 17 - Elvin - Night Lands

"Well, nice meeting you, Erin." Cody said again. Then looked into my eyes. "Wesley." he nodded. "I hope we see each other again, on purpose." He said not smiling as he turned to walk away.

"Wait..." I said and Cody stopped and turned around. YOU DID NOT JUST SAY THAT OUT LOUD! screamed the voice. Shut up!, I shouted to it and looked at Cody, my expression and eyes serious. "You and... Max, are strong and I think that the four of us should stick together... you know, for the sake of us all..." I said, making up some random excuse to stay with Cody.

"You're right you know Wesley" Cody answered seriously, are eyes meeting again sending that weird feeling through me once more.

"It'll be great fighting with you guys in the games!" Max said exitedly and looked at Cody confused and he gestured not to ask questions and I nodded with a small smile.

"Great? Nothing is great about the games" Erin said in a voice that shouldn't have come out of her mouth because it sounded more like something from a shadow except without the evil chuckle.

Cody

Hey at least Max was trying to lift up everyones' spirits right? I wouldn't say I was cocky but I was confident and I was independent. I knew I worked better alone.

"As fun as it would be playing your bodyguard ladies, I think I'm gonna have to pass." I said in a type of unrude growl. Max elbowed me in the ribs, I grunted and closed my eyes. "But Maxie is giving me the impression that he wants to stay..." I said.

"Thanks for giving my a nickname Coco." Max said grinning.

It became silent and Wesley started to really look pale.

"Alright." I finally gave in.

Wesley - 17 - Elvin - Night Lands

When he had said that one word I felt as if I was going to explode with happiness, but I didn't.

"Coco and Maxie... That's going to give me and Erin something to laugh about for the entire extent of the games" I said and smiled as Erin let out a giggle.

"Wes?" Max said alloud, "no... thats not as funny but I'll go with it."

"Wes...? Hmmm... fitting" Cody said, I flushed blood red again and Cody looked away, making me feel stupid. There is no way he feels the same about you Wesley... No way, I told myself and looked away from Cody and to the ground.

Cody

I didn't exactly know what I was feeling now, I didn't know where any of this was going. I think as crazy as if sounds, I... I think I liked Wesley. But in a dangerous game like this, I couldn't like or love anyone. And vice versa.

"So, Wes?" Max asked.

"Yes?" She responded, not looking at me as if to avoid eye contact at all costs.

"What exactly are the Night Games?" He asked,

"Oh, boy." I said, he opened a can of worms, I looked down at Wesley, Max, and Erin-being freakishly tall and skinny wasn't exactly FUN.

Cody

I didn't exactly know what I was feeling now, I didn't know where any of this was going. I think as crazy as if sounds, I... I think I liked Wesley. But in a dangerous game like this, I couldn't like or love anyone. And vice versa.

"So, Wes?" Max asked.

"Yes?" She responded, not looking at me as if to avoid eye contact at all costs.

"What exactly are the Night Games?" He asked,

"Oh, boy." I said, he opened a can of worms, I looked down at Wesley, Max, and Erin-being freakishly tall and skinny wasn't exactly FUN.

Wesley - 17 - Elvin - Night Lands

"You seriously don't know what the Night Games are?" I asked Max, giving Cody a questioning glance.

"Not exactly" Max replied.

"The Night Games are a horrible series of games made by the leader of the shadows, reffered to as the Night Keeper but his real name is Zachariah Hawthorne..." Erin said in a whisper. "I know this because my mother was a Night Games survivor, she and about six other people... She told me so much and I never thought this would actually happen to me..."

"Your mother was a survivor?" I asked Erin and she nodded, tightening her hold around my neck.

"Wow..." Cody said. "What else do you know about the games?" he asked her in a soft voice.