She hears a name.
Her name.
She is going to die.
She steps forward.
Left foot
Right foot.
Breathe
In
Out.
In her head
She screams.
She doesn't want to do this.
She has to.
She wants to live.
She is going to die.
On the stage
She hears another name.
Just a boy
Like she is just a girl.
Another tribute
Soon to be forgotten.
Like she will be forgotten.
She waits.
People say goodbye.
They are sad
But life will still go on
When she is dead.
She is going to die.
They make her pretty.
They show her off.
She won't smile.
She can't.
She won't wave.
They are not her friends.
They are her murderers.
She trains.
She gets a score.
Maybe she can still
Win this.
Maybe she doesn't
Have to die.
She will try.
She still will try
To win.
But really
She knows
She is going to die.
They ask her questions.
She answers.
She lies.
The truth is
She is scared.
She doesn't want
To kill.
She doesn't want
To die.
She stands
On the platform.
She sees them.
They are all around her.
Her opponents.
But aren't they
Just kids
Like her?
When did they become
Her enemy?
But they are.
The gong sounds.
She is going to die.
With a knife
Or an arrow
Or a sword
In her head
Or her heart
Or her stomach.
Does it matter?
She runs.
She takes a weapon.
She doesn't want
To use it.
She will have to.
Won't she?
She wants to live
Even though
She is going to die.
Again she runs.
She hides.
She waits.
She thirsts.
She starves.
Will she ever
Get out of here?
She still
Doesn't want to die.
A face.
A tribute.
She fights.
She struggles.
She kills.
Her heart burns
With regret.
Just another tribute.
Who didn't want
To die.
She killed them.
She ended a life.
What did she do?
And still
She fights.
She still wants to live.
She is going to die.
Another face.
Another tribute.
But this time
There's a knife
In her side.
She is going to die.
She is dying.
She didn't have to kill.
She did.
Now she will die
With blood
On her hands.
She is dying.
She remembers
Years past.
Of dying tributes.
Sometimes
They were sung to.
Sometimes
Their hands were held.
Sometimes
A kiss was placed
On their cold lips.
Others
Were simply comforted.
Not her.
She is dying.
There is no one near.
The life is bleeding
Out of her
Onto the ground.
She is dying!
Is anyone there!?
Does anyone know!?
Does anyone see!?
Does anyone care
About her!?
That she is dying?
She is dying!
She is dying.
She dies.
Alone.