My fingers release their grip on the metal handle of the sword and it hits the floor with a thud. I look down as blood begins to flow from my nostrils, falling through the holographic blade of the sword to the mat below.
"Oh God," Sonia lets out as she grasps my shoulder and back, helping me off the mat. I glare at Victor, who doesn't look fazed at all, and I'm helped through the crowd of other tributes as they all stare at me—they probably think I'm a little wimp. Sonia helps me toward the exit, when I see Domni at the knife throwing station, her attention on me. I look at her as I hold my face, blood drenching my arm, my training shirt, and the floor. Sonia glances at my nose, offering her sympathies as she escorts me into the elevator. "He wasn't supposed to do that to you!" she says frantically, then looks away, saying something to the wall. "Yeah, I'm going to make sure Justin's all right, and I'll be back d