Iridescent Demons

by La Menoir

[ON HOLD] Born and raised in District Four, Amethyst Carthage's victory of the 68th Hunger Games came as no surprise. She knows that the hardest part of the games is not winning them; it is its implied entailments. Now, being a victor herself, Amethyst must face the demons that lurk around every corner, threatening to break the line between reality and nightmare.

1. Prologue

Blood. Hot, rich and thick. The metallic smell reaches my nose and my stomach lurches. I look down and all I see is blood, covering my clothes, my boots, my hands. My mouth opens in silent terror, dumbfounded as to where the blood came from. Kaleb, my mind whispers. Without realizing, my blood soaked hands begin to tremble and I drop to my knees, clutching my head as my breaths come out quicker and shallower. I close my eyes and try to forget where I am, try to force back the tears that are threatening to fall. I can't let them see what all of this is doing to me. I can't.

My breathing slowly returns to normal and my hands stop shaking. The canon sounds and my heart sinks. I am the sole survivor. I expect to hear Claudius Templesmith's booming voice announcing my victory, but there is no sound. Confusion washes over me and as I open my eyes and lift my head, I see Kaleb standing in front of me, his throat sliced and his eyes wild; in his right hand, he holds my trident.

Before I can process a thought, he opens his mouth to speak; only gurgling is heard. But I know what he is saying. Why did you let me die? With that, he raises his arm and launches the trident in my direction.