This first chapter is just kind of Glimmers Hunger Games and how she got there and really just builds on whats to start to happen, the story also starts to show where Finnicks interest peaks in. Theres lots of change in point of view so just kind of watch for it where theres line breaks (flash backs are in italics!)
Running. Running for her damn life. These are games, the capitols games, hopeless, and fatal.
"Cato" She screams desperately, her alliance, her new found love. What a time and place to find love. The 73rd Hunger Games, a year earlier than she was supposed to be reaped but fate has a way of screwing us all over.
Running through the snow of the manufactured mountains she struggles not to fall, for it would be her end. "Here I come lover girl, can't run forever can you?" Glimmer squeezes her eyes and runs harder, with more purpose. She tries to ignore the voice of the girl from District 7. How the tables have turned, the hunters become the hunted, a sorry excuse for a career.
She looks about, desperate for an escape, ducking between trees, dodging boulders, climbing higher, breathing harder. Tears stream down her face; she knows this could be it.
She stops; this ends here, turns, and pulls out one of her throwing knives. "Then come and get me."
The girl from seven comes to a stop in front of her. In one swift throw the knife sticks, right in her chest. Another, Glimmer thinks, again, and again. The girl falls to her knees. Blood pouring as she pulls the daggers from her chest.
Brown eyes meet her emerald ones, pulling the final dagger out and throwing it at her. It misses but nicks her shoulder. The girl from falls face first into the snow, the cannons sounds. Glimmer falls to her knees, stifling a scream of agony. Where is he, where is Cato?
"Glimmer!" He's coming; he thinks that canon was mine.
Crunching of the snow put her on high alert, quickly she loads her bow and turns to the source. "Please, shoot me!" The little girl from District Nine says, terror on her face. "I don't want to die in pain, please just make it quick. I'm begging you." Glimmer feels her heart break, and shatter. She nods and a tear slips down both their faces.
"I am sorry this happened to you. You deserved a much better fate" The blonde girl whispers before letting the arrow fly, striking her straight in the heart. Seconds later another cannon booms. She throws her bow and arrow down, going to cradle the 12 year old girls face. She crosses the girls' arms and closes her eyes. For the first time she notices the gaping injury in her leg, no wonder the poor child wanted it to end.
"The world owed you so much more" Her voice breaks and she stands, gathering her gear and heading towards where Cato's voice had echoed.
"Cato!" Where is she? I stand, and take off in the direction I had heard her voice, it's all that echoes throughout my head. My beautiful, beautiful Glimmer, I hope she knows I'm coming. She's in the mountains, how the hell did she manage to get to the mountains? I run as fast as my legs will carry me. She hasn't screamed since, I need to know if she's okay.
A canon goes off.
"Glimmer!"
Another cannon, another chance she is dead.
Faster, harder I run, she needs me, why did we split up, why did I even suggest it.
When did I fall for the beautiful huntress? The girl with eyes of gems and hair of gold, what I would give to get her out of this arena. She has family at home and I don't, I'm just a pawn in a game to bring pride to my district. I'm nothing more than a goddamn murder. These thoughts make me run faster. I have to find her alive or not. If she has died I'll take revenge on every last person in this arena.
I hear a familiar voice, singing. She's alive.
" And when he gets home he'll bring a diamond, a pearl, and a brand new home. These are the games, their games, volunteer small child you'll make it through, you'll make us proud. Hold your head high now" Her voice is broken. She's sitting on a boulder, crying, and bleeding. I watch her for a moment I just want to be able to hold her, to tell her I love her that we're going to be ok. It'd be a lie though.
"Glimmer I was so worried" I rush to her and pull her into my arms. I feel her sobbing against my shoulder.
I know the two cannons were her doing. It brings her kill count to six. Six more than she ever wanted. "I should have let her kill me Cato," I pull her back to look into those beautiful, broken eyes, "I'm senselessly murdering people and in the end it wont even matter." I stay strong, for her. It's all for her.
"My love, I swear to you, I will get you out of here" I pull her close and press my lips to hers, saying everything I can't through this kiss. "Knowing you has made my life so much more than it could ever be without you Glimmer, without your there is nothing left. I need you and without you I'd rather be dead."
Her eyes are swimming with tears, he loves her. She can see it with every look he gives her, with every word he says. She kisses the boy with passion, communicating she cares for him to, that knowing him has been the greatest honor.
"I care for you more than you know Cato Hadley." She whispers so low only he can hear, because her words are for him and only him, not for the media, not for the families of the tributes she's killed. It's all for him. He takes a look at her shoulder and takes his backpack, digging for the little medical box they had. He cleans it and wraps it. Her jacket is ruined, he hands her his, she accepts hesitantly, not wanting to take more from him than she already has. He places a soft hand on her cheek; she moves her hand to cover his. They almost forget where they are, lost in the others eyes, the others presence calming them.
"I killed the little girl from Nine." Tears run down her face, the little girl reminded her so much of her own sister, her heartaches. He nods, understanding she did it out of mercy, it's unspoken but he knows Glimmer doesn't kill unless she must. She was lethal though, trained to be this way, from a young age it had been understood Glimmer would go into the games. Her aunt and uncle, past victors, trained her personally.
There's a crunching behind the two lovers, they immediately turn to see the rest of their alliance, the girl Kai from Four, Platinum from One, and my better half from Two, Alexis.
"Hey lovebirds-" Alexis is cut off in the middle of her sentence, a spear pierces her chest, Glimmer pulls her arrow with cat like reflexes and her arrow hits right between the eyes, another straight in the chest of the boy from Twelve who was hiding in the trees.
In a matter of seconds two cannons go off, I fall to my knees and hold Alexis, she wasn't much but she was from home. Her grey blue eyes permanently closed. I feel Glimmer place a slim hand on my shoulder. She killed him, she killed the guy who did this. She knew it hurt me, and she did it for me. I will never stop owing Glimmer .
"I'm so sorry Alexis." It's a whisper but I hope they broadcast it so her family can see it. Kai and Platinum are in shock but on watch now.
Glimmer pulls me away; our group of four begins walking towards the large lake in the center where we've been camping by the cornucopia. Kai O'dair and Glimmer have become friends. When it comes time to leave Platinum and Kai it seems I'll be the one taking them out, I wouldn't dare ask Glimmer to even consider the possibility.
There is no rest in this arena.
"There's only six of us left, we should think about separating now." Platinum states matter of factly. He's not wrong. Glimmer nods and squeezes my hand before letting go and hugging Kai.
"Kai Odair welcome!" Caesar said, the crowd screamed with approval.
She's all smiles, sea green eyes, lightly tanned skin, and bronze locks, a female version of her brother Finnick. "And thank you all for having me!" she giggles. Her flowy blue dress looks just like the ocean. They're not playing her sex appeal like they did her brother, even though she is equally as attractive.
She's playing bubbly and social, much like Glimmer.
"So tell us Kai, any special boys at home?"
She laughs and places her hand on Caesars upper arm, "I'm not one to kiss and tell Caesar but I'll tell you what, I'll tell you a secret if you tell me one." They're all smiles and the crowds laugh and encourage it. They're going crazy for her.
"What kind of secret?" The host says with his famous smile, "need to see what im getting myself into folks!" The crowd howls.
"Hmmm," Kai says with a mischievous grin on her face, "well depending on your secret I'll find one of mine to match, so I'd make it good." Cue the flirtatious flip of her hair.
"Oh boy, ok," He stops, seemingly stumped, "I secretly bet on your brother to win his games, I saw it in his eyes, one of my favorite tributes." The crowd laughs knowing he would bring her brother up, Kai seems pleased enough with the so-called secret.
"I guess it's my turn! Well the whole ride here Finnick, as my mentor, told me to ask you for a secret, I guess I did well!" The crowd hoots and hollers.
Caesar laughs and shakes Kai's hand, "It's been a pleasure Miss Odair maybe if you come back we can continue our game of secrets!"
"Perhaps so, see you soon Caesar." She walks off stage with a smile and a blow of a kiss to the audience. She was a fan favorite.
Kai hugs Glimmer tightly back, "Stay safe ok?" the bronze haired huntress whispers.
"And you too, I'm betting on you." The blonde whispers back.
They all head back to the campsite and divide up supplies, the deal is they all four head in separate directions and Glimmer is just fine with that. No more having to live for Cato. Let the next person she runs into finish her off and be one less person in his way. But she could also take out a few for him, make it easier. She knows she doesn't have it in her to kill Kai, because if Cato had died earlier on, she would have worked on getting Kai out instead. Platinum isn't anyone huge in her life, they're not close, or even really friends. They tolerated each other, but they were cousins, and that's where her loyalty with him lye. She couldn't harm anyone of her previous alliances, only help them and that's what she would do.
Glimmer grabs a set of knives and her arrows, I hand her a couple of bags that she compiles into one. She really plans on separating from me, which hurts more than it should. I knew that it'd happen; I think her instinct is kicking in to survive. I'm not mad about that. I want her to survive, she's more than capable of holding her own, and she doesn't need me. That hits me harder than anything. She doesn't need me to save her, she can do all this on her own. She's strong, and she's got this.
We've finished dividing all the supplies and eat one last meal together in silence. Glimmer and Kai look like they want to cry but they don't, they're stronger than that. Platinum hugs his cousin silently, a solitary tear rolls down Glimmers cheek.
"I couldn't have asked for a better alliance." Kai says, her voice shaking. "You've made this bearable, thank you guys so much."
Glimmers bottom lip trembles, "It's truly been an honor, knowing all of you. I never thought this would be so hard. I'm so sorry that only one of you can live." She's implying she's not making it out of this. I look at her, in disbelief.
"Don't say that Glim," Platinum holds her hand. "My mum would slaughter me if I came back instead of you." He had volunteered to protect Glimmer.
She sniffles, as does Kai, they're both too emotional for us to split up right now.
"My brother might kill any of you who come out of this instead of me," she laughs with a roll of her eyes. She doesn't think it's going to be her who gets out of this.
At this point it's all up in the air.
They all finally say their good byes and split up Glimmer runs for the mountains, she prefers them; maybe she'll be able to die from the cold and never have to worry again. What a thought, being at peace. She deserves that much, after all, she decides. A little bit of peace. That's all she really wants, to be able to think for ten goddamn minutes without worrying about her death or the death of others.
She's joggings at a good pace, her feet are a bit cold but she'll be alright. There are only two people left outside her former alliance, the girl from Three, and the boy from Five. The boy from Five should be easy to take down, he had a low score and no skills, he's probably out hiding somewhere, trying to wait it out. The girl from Three was good with traps but that was about it, she's most likely hiding out on the opposite side of the arena though where the wild life she can catch resides.
She's almost at the peak, it's snowing up here, She doesn't mind it though; She can see everything from here. An hour or so ago a cannon went off, her heart swells with pain knowing that's a sixty percent chance it was one of her friends. She climbs up a tree and make a kind of camp, I'm hidden but she can see. It's close to night.
The boom of the cannon goes off once again. She squeezes her eyes closed. This can't be happening, but it is, and she's trying so hard not to lose it.
"How are you staying so strong?" Glimmer whispers to Kai on the brink of tears.
Kai smiles at her before looking out at the lake, "It's something my brother told me a long time ago." The girl with eyes like the sea smiles fondly. "It takes ten time longer to put yourself back together than to fall apart."
Tears fall down my cheeks at the memory of her friends' words. The sun is setting and I'm a nervous wreck.
The music begins playing. Platinum's name and face flashes, I bite my hand to muffle my cry. "No, no, no, not Plat, no, god no!" I cry out into the mountains. The next picture is the boy from Five. I place three fingers to my lips and salute. Tears stream down my face until they freeze, and there's nothing left for me to give. I fall asleep for the night, if I'm lucky, I won't wake the next morning.
The tributes are all on the move, except Glimmer who sat in her tree.
Cato was searching for the one he loved, it was driving him crazy, not getting a goodbye, and after all he did kill her cousin's killer. He knows she must be hiding in the mountains as she has whenever she has separated from the pack.
Kai was hunting for the girl from Three. She's been tracking her, stalking her, waiting for the most precise moment to end her life with her trident. Game over.
The girl from Three is hunting for Glimmer who had killed her district mate, or at least Cato who had assisted in killing her ally.
Glimmer doesn't eat, or sleep, she just thinks, thinks about her family back home, her almost lover fighting for his life while she just lye's there in a damn tree, about her friend fighting, about her friends brother undoubting hoping Kai can win this.
Glimmer just hopes if she stays in this tree long enough that maybe she'll just starve to death.
I can do this. I can go home. I'd be the first winner from Three in almost ten years. I just have to finish off the career pack, awesome. Sounds fairly easy in theory, except it's completely not. Cato and Glimmer are quote on quote, in love. So I have a feeling that will be a two on one fight. Kai from Four has been following me for a while but I'm waiting for her to grow tired, and then I'll kill her. I might even take her trident who knows, I'll make a plan as I go I suppose.
I'm jogging my way to the cornucopia, all the left over career shit is waiting there for me, I can back up into it and lure Kai in, when she least expects it I'll strike. I look to the single peak of the mountain, I figure the lovers are hiding there, it looks like the game makers are about to run them out, a giant storm system is circling the peak, which means there will be snow up there. I hear a fatal crunch, there it is, her fatal mistake. I turn and smile grimly at the girl from Four. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the capitols favorite little sister! The one who can never live up to her big brother, hiding behind the other careers for protection, opting out of using that shiny new trident!" I tease her, her face ad neck flush red. I wonder why she doesn't attempt to finish me off. I realize though, she doesn't want to kill. Well she wants to, but she cant. A smirk forms on my face. "Take your best shot fish girl, I'll let you have the honors!" I can feel the cameras on us, feel my family watching, knowing I might come home.
She clenches her trident tightly. "That's just too kind of you, but tell me a secret first, indulge me before you die." I can see past her confident mask. I can feel the fear radiating off her, the weariness that clouds her eyes apparent.
"A secret huh?" I roll my eyes, tired of her stupid little games, "I got a good one," I pause with a wicked smile, "I've been following the career pack the entire games, I've watched as you've let your pals kill for you, you even pretended to kill someone at the Cornucopia, but I know you didn't, because I killed that person. I've watched your weaknesses, watched as you fell for the boy from One, which in its own was pathetic. So my secret? My secret is that I know your secret." I give her one final look before lunging forward to behead her with my machete. One down, just two to go. The canon sounds, I'm one cannon closer to be able to go home.
It's snowing, hard. Glimmer packs her things and quickly climbs down the tree and maneuvers through the snow. It's raining down by the lake. They want to wrap this up, and soon. The cannon that sounded earlier belonged to one of three people and she can only hope it was the girl from Five. A thought enters Glimmers head, what if it was just her, Cato, and Kai left? How could they kill each other without a lifetime of guilt.
The thought makes her speed up, run faster, go harder, she has to find Cato. If he's even still alive, a small voice in the back of her mind reminds her coldly.
He has to get out of this. "I'm so sorry Kai," she whispers, if she's still alive she's going to have to kill her.
It takes half a day to travel down the mountain, too low for the game makers apparently as she had fought through several avalanches, they could chill, she'd be dead soon anyways, she thinks.
She heads to the cornucopia, surely they'll be waiting there.
It's time to end this.
I watch the TV my head in my hands. That stupid girl from Three, or as her mentor reminded me her name is, Techa killed my little sister.
I go to the general area of Cashmere and Gloss who are watching their lovely niece make her way down to the cornucopia, Enobaria is excited at the possibility of the boy Cato winning, Cashmere is thrilled at the thought of Glimmer making it out, Wiress looks horrified by her tribute.
Ah the life of mentors. Cashmere is talking up all the sponsors saying how resilient Glimmer is, how she just knows she can do it, after all she would know as her aunt. It's sickening that Cashmere and Gloss didn't blink an eye at the death of their other tribute, but I don't think that they had high hopes for him. After years of mentoring you learn not to get attached, just to watch and see.
I didn't care too much about what's his face biting the bullet but when Kai died, something woke up in me. Making me feel.
"Oh everyone look!" Enobaria says excited, "Cato's about to finish the last of the careers." Can't stand that woman, scary and not to mention bitchy.
Of the three left I hope the girl from One wins, she's extravagantly beautiful and seems to understand what's truly happening. Of course if she does they'll eat her up here in the Capitol. She can join her good ole aunt and uncle in the capitols grand whoring scheme. As she's not to young, she's 17, as is that boy from Two either way Snow will have a new toy here to sell.
The screen is showing Glimmer flying though the woods, searching; we can see she's close to intersecting Cato's camp. I doubt the boy will kill her as Enobaria hopes, as he seems to be quite smitten with the killer girl. Pun intended. Techa is by the lake, waiting, plotting. If she wins this I'll be sick.
I walk to Cashmere, "Send Glimmer anything she needs, on me. I want her to win" I mutter. I've grown to be friends with the siblings of District One, Cashmere used to be unbearable but after being broken down by the capitol she's fairly good company. Gloss has always been a good guy, more than what he's made out to be.
Cashmere makes her way to a computer where she purchases Glimmer her true choice of weapon, a trident. How the hell the girl had come to love that particular weapon is beyond me but Kai allowed her to borrow hers for a bit while they were allied and she showed great skill with it, Cashmere later revealed it's what Glimmer preferred training with. I walk to be behind Cash, "Let her know its from me, I appreciate her help in keeping my sister alive as long as she did." Cash nods and thanks me, wordlessly. I know she wants Glimmer to make it out of this, she got nervous when she got involved with the boy, scared he would trick and kill her. Of course it seemed they were "in love" which brought in great amounts of sponsors, until the girl turned her back and scaled the entire damn mountain and sat in a tree for two days. Seemed a bit melodramatic to me but to each their own.
"Cato" My head snaps to the clearing and in comes Glimmer.
I feel my face light up I stand up and grab her, and twirl her. "Oh my god Glimmer I was so scared you were dead." I place her on her feet and stare into her gorgeous eyes, as bright and beautiful as emeralds. She's smiling at me with more meaning than before.
"I'm so, so happy you're okay." She throws her arms around my neck. She's so thin, thinner than when we came into the games. I wrap my arms around her slim waist and take her in.
There's a soft thud, which causes us to separate. It's a trident; one of the sponsors bought her a trident. Her eyes light up and she rushes to pick it up.
"Who sent that?" I marvel, "Does it say?"
She opens the small note, she's left speechless from its content. She passes it to me.
Thank you for all you did.
You can win this ~F.O.
Finnick Odair sent her a trident. That means… It can only mean that cannon was Kai's. More people than she knows want these games to be hers.
Glimmer doesn't cry but I can tell she wants to. She looks op into the trees where there is most likely cameras. "Thank you, I'm so sorry I couldn't save her." It's soft but filled with raw emotion. I don't dare to pull her close with her weapon in hand but I want to. "We have to kill her" There's a harsh tone settled in her voice. She's going to kill the girl from Five.
"Let's go then." She nods coldly, leading the way to the cornucopia; she's going to end this. Once and for all.
They track their way to the cornucopia, where Glimmer snarls, "Come out, come out Five, I'm ready to end this."
Techa strolls out of the forest with a wicked grin on her stone cold features. "As am I Glimmer, as am I. I've grown tired of these games, as have you I can tell."
"'Im not here to talk, I'm here to end it."
Techa rolls her eyes, "Well that's just no fun! Nice trident, where'd ya get it? Kai's went up with her body, I'd know, I watched." She's spinning a spear in her hand absent-mindedly.
Her words strike a nerve with Cato, who reveals himself, storming at her. Kai was Glimmers friend, He throws a knife, Techa throws her spear, and Glimmer lets her trident fly. Two cannons, simultaneously. Glimmers eyes open wide in realization, she falls to her knees with a scream.
"Congratulations, we have the winner of the Seventy Third Hunger Games!"
Well there's the 73rd games, next chapter will be life after and will begin bringing in Katniss and Peeta. If you could leave a review that'd be amazing.
hugs xx