Just Another Face In The Sky

by Sexy-Foxface

We were the ones whose tales were never told. We were the ones who were either forgotten or scarred by the horrors we were forced to live through. Perhaps it is better off our horrific tales were lost amongst the howls of the wind, but perhaps it is time our tales of our final moments are brought to light. We suffered and we lost and very few of us got to hold onto our lives.

1. Family

A/N So this is just a collection of one shots that I am doing for a friend of mine. I will be doing a chapter for each Hunger Games starting at the first all the way to the 75th Hunger Games. Each chapter will be focused on a certain word that will be expressed and described in the story so I will be taking suggestions for following chapters. Now read and review and let me know what you think ^^

Games: 1

District 1 female tribute – Age sixteen – Garnet Lancaster

Key word: Family

My heart beats wildly against my chest, as if it is fighting to tear its way free from its confinements. The pounding noise echoes through my ears, pushing me that much closer to the brink of insanity. Another cannon sounds and the tearing noise slices through the air, sharper than any blade which causes a flock of Mockingjays to burst into the sky. They soar above me, as if they are mocking me with their freedom, as they are free from this whirlwind of hell while I am trapped in this wasteland.

As another cannon blast sounds, ripping apart the very fabric of the once still air I am off running once more. I am alone in this now and I am that much closer to becoming the first victor of the Hunger Games. I will my legs to propel me further, if only I knew where it was I was going. Tree branches slash against my exposed flesh, but I breathe in sharply and try to embrace the concept that I can still feel something.

I stop only for the briefest of moments and lean heavily against the worn bark of a tree, as I try to regain control of my breathing once more. I close my eyes tightly and try to visualize each and every face that has been displayed in the darkening twilight sky. The faces of my allies that once stood by my side are the first to ripple across the inside of my now closed eyelids. The pair from District 2 and the pair from District 4, those were the ones I had forced myself to stand by. To stand by them and watch them tear the flesh of our victims so one of us could possibly fathom the idea of going home, but now that idea is close to becoming a reality for myself.

A single tear rolls off my cheek at the memory of the boy from District 4 who perished because of my fatal and foolish mistakes. He was the one who earned my trust faster than a blink of an eye; much like myself he didn't want to be here. I remember the hushed promises we whispered to each other, promising that we would do whatever it took to get one of us home. What gave us the right to make those sick promises? In these Games the saying whatever it takes, takes on a whole new meaning; a much more sinister meaning. Whatever it takes in these Games means we will have to raise our blades to the cool satin flesh of a fellow human being. A human being that holds so much life that we must steal away from them.

"Sayer," I whisper quietly the lost name of the boy from District 4, as I wrap my arms protectively around myself. If I had only ran instead of standing there frozen in fear, as the large boy from District 11 driven mad by the crimson blood that has fallen around us charged at me. My eyes grew to twice their size, but I couldn't feel anything except that one toxic emotion. The emotion of fear is something that is no longer new to me, something that will not vanish to be lost amongst the howls of the wind. I can feel that one seemingly simple yet complex emotion snaking its way through my veins, burrowing its way towards my very core where it has rooted itself.

I stood there cowardly and I should have died in that instant, but instead Sayer took the hit of the blade. I stood there and watched, as his blood was painted across the once vibrant green grass. I heard the sickening sound of the sword that was held tightly between the boy of District 11's grasps, as it tore apart his flesh, as if it was softer than butter. I remember the horrifying choking noises that escaped his lips, as he turned to me with pleading eyes that begged for me to help him. I remember him screaming out my name, as I ran away from the horrific scene. He stood by my side through all of this, he took a blade for me and how did I repay him? I ran leaving him to die on his own.

At this moment in time the tears are now readily cascading down my cheeks, leaving the surface of my flesh slick and moist. The paling light of the setting sun casts a faint light off of me, which causes my tears to glisten in the light of twilight. I couldn't even be there to hold onto his hand, as he slipped into the final stages of his life. I didn't even say goodbye before he slipped into an eternal slumber. The image of his face in the sky keeps replaying over and over in my mind and it takes all my strength not to succumb to a breakdown. How inviting that sounds however, to give into what I rightfully deserve. I glance down at my now shaking hands and I know his blood might as well be stained across their surface. Even the guilt of the murder I committed of the young girl of District 10 cannot even pale in comparison to the indirect death that I caused.

The death of that young girl seems almost surreal to me, almost as if it never really happened. The moment my knife sliced across her flesh in one fluid movement I felt, as if I was watching from a third person point of view. It didn't feel as if I was really present in that moment in time. Almost as if my mind was in a land far away. I slump down against the tree until my body sinks down into the mossy grass that surrounds me. I cannot run anymore for tonight, as my body slowly begins to turn against me for it knows all the wrong I have done. I dig my nails into the soft grass, as my eyes fall close, the cover of darkness shielding me from my reality.

Perhaps I can fall head first into a world that was given birth by my dreams and in those few moments I can forget all of this, it can all become lost to me. Even this alluring idea is not enough, as I know at some point it will all come crashing down around me and I will have to open my eyes once more. I want to fathom the idea that perhaps whoever it is left stalking the arena will perish by some other means and I can return home without more blood stained on my hands, but for me to return home I know who it is must die.

As the soft Anthem of the Capitol ripples through the twilight tinged air, I force myself to turn my attention towards the sky. Two more faces are shown above me, the boy from District 5 and the girl from District 4. It takes several moments for the notion that I have reached the final two to hit me. I swallow once knowing the girl must have died by some sinister plot of deceit, as she was allied with my final competitor; my District partner and my brother. I know the arena had begun to warp his once bright mind after only a few days of being thrown into the sick hell.

My brother once stood tall; I was proud to call him family, but now I can't be so sure. I watched him commit several torturous murders before Sayer and I disappeared into the thick darkness one night. Leaving behind what was left of the rest of my alliance must have been the only wise decision I have made in these twisted Games, for if I had stayed behind my life could have already been snatched away from beneath my feet without as much as a feeble warning. I pull my knees to my chest, as the Capitol anthem fades away into night leaving nothing, but the deafening sound of silence. Who would have thought that the quiet could be so loud, as when noting else can be heard this is when the drone of your thoughts begin to increase in volume. This is when my guilt begins to bubble up inside my chest, as a sick voice in the back of my head begins to whisper harsh words into my ears.

You killed that helpless little girl Garnet. You took her life without as much as a second thought. Even now you try to forget about it, but we won't make it that easy for you. You deserve to feel guilt; you deserve to have this guilt tear aware at your insides like a pack of hungry wolves. You do not deserve to be graced with a sweet dream filled sleep, but you deserve to be thrown into a slumber riddled with horrific nightmares. Good night sleep tight and may all your nightmares be brought to light.

I cover my ears with my hands, as I begin to hum softly. At this moment I do not care if I am giving away my position, I just want more than anything to drown at my own mind. I want to silence it, but no matter how hard I try the intensity of the haunting voice just continues to grow.

You killed him Garnet; it is your fault Sayer perished. If you hadn't been such a coward he may have still stood a fighting chance to return to his family. Don't you remember the stories he told you about his family back in District 4? Do you remember him mentioning his sister Rosalie who meant the world to him? Now because of you she will never get to lay her eyes upon her older brother, but instead she got to pay witness to his murder, as you ran away out of fear.

I knew I was afraid, but why did I still run leaving him alone? I lay down on the soft earth, as the gentle blades of grass seem to caress the rough and scarred surface of my flesh. I curl my body around my backpack that is full of the few supplies that still remain. My eyes fall shut, as soft shivers rivet their way through my entire being. I just want sleep to finally come and claim me; even though I know all that awaits me is a nightmare that may just be as horrific as my reality. The wind howls through the trees like a beast unseen, as all my emotions come crashing down on me in one death defying wave. I take in one shaky breath before the night finally claims me as its own.

The arena surrounding me buzzes with life, as my slumbering form remains out in the open for all to see. I cannot even fathom what it is my parents back home must be going through at this moment in time. To have to watch the final two come down to their only two children is something no parents should ever have to go through. To watch their only son hunt relentlessly through the arena for his only sister, while his eyes are tinged with a scarlet brought on from his undying need to spill blood. To watch as the Capitol warps their children into beings they were not meant to be is something I hope I will never have to experience.

As my senses slowly begin to awaken due to the warmth of the morning sun that plays its way across my flesh, the idea that this may be my last day either in the arena or my last day alive begins to slowly dawn on me. I remain curled up on the ground if only for a few moments before I force myself back up onto my feet. I may stand tall at this moment, but I know my entire being has been torn down and reduced to almost nothing. I glance around my surroundings, as I try to formulate what step it is I should take next. I will not murder my brother, but I will not allow him to take my life. I will allow the elements to take a hold of his life so I may return to what is left of my family. He will forever become nothing more than the missing piece; the one that was lost. That is if he doesn't find me first.

I begin walking forward, but my entire form is tinged with a numbness after the realization of everything that I have done hit me the night before. I breathe out slowly trying to focus my thoughts on nothing more than surviving, but I know I am growing weaker and weaker by each second that slips free through the cracks. I try to focus on the noises that hurdle through the air around me, but all I can hear are the sounds of my shallow breathing. I keep walking until I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end; I can feel a pair of piercing eyes watching every movement that I make.

I come to a halt and gently place my hand over the knife that lays perched peacefully in my belt. "Come out from hiding Glare," I say coolly, but the shaking fears in my voice in undeniable. I hear the sounds of snapping branches beneath steady footsteps, but the sound of his voice is enough to send icy claws raking down my back.

"Hello, little sister, have you missed me?" I keep my back to him, but I know once I lay my eyes upon him he will not appear as the brother I once looked up to for the better half of my life. His voice no longer sounds the same; even that small aspect about him has been warped by this madness.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to find me," I try to keep my voice steady, but my tone begins to waver slightly, as I feel his presence stepping closer towards my form.

"I have been watching you since last night Garnet. I just thought I should allow you to live to see one final sunrise before I cut you down into nothing," The way he says this is as if he has done me some favour by allowing me to live through one final night. My body begins to shake in terror at the thought of his piercing silvery blue eyes cutting through the fog that night brings forth, watching intently as I cried myself to sleep the following evening.

I don't even think about what it is I am doing next, but as my heart rate begins to pick up I know what it is I must do; I begin to run. As I dash forward my form being propelled by adrenaline, I hear an inhuman howl escape Glare's lips. I can hear him crashing through the forested area in hot pursuit. I have to get away; I cannot allow him to steal my last precious breath away from me. I know I stand no chance against him, but here in this arena is not where I want to spend my last few moments of my life.

"Stop running Garnet; you are only delaying the inevitable!" Glare screeches after me. This is when I hear it; the now familiar sound of steel tearing its way through the air. I feel the blade dig its way into my back and my entire form crashes forward into the earth below. Pair ripples its way across my back, as I struggle to stand back up. I knot my hands into the grass, as I fight to pull my body forward, as the sounds of Glare's heavy footsteps grow louder and louder until they become an ear splitting sound, announcing my soon to be demise. His cold laughter dances through the arena echoing off the trees back at us, as he looks down upon my struggling form.

I continue to drag myself across the grass at a slowing pace that is until I feel the sharp pain of Glare's boot coming into contact with my ribs. The sound of cracking bones causes a smile tinged with bloodlust to split its way across Glare's lips, as I let out a gasp of pain.

"You don't want to do this Glare," I whisper brokenly, as I know what it about to happen; I am about to die by my brothers hands.

"You see the thing is I do want to do this," He leans down to whisper this menacingly into my ear. At these words tears begin to work their way down my cheeks, but I do not cry for myself, but I cry for my brother. Even though I am the one who is about to die a part of him has also been lost. That part of him will be buried next to my cold lifeless body.

"But were family," I whisper, as I firmly close my eyes.

"Family means nothing here in the arena," His voice is void of all emotions, as he removes his axe from his belt. My breathing slows, as he holds his weapon high above his head poised just above my neck. The crimson stained blade glimmers menacingly in the late morning sun, before it is brought downwards in one swift movement. I breathe in my final breath, as the blade tears through the smooth surface of my neck. My cannon goes off only moments later, ending the first ever Annual Hunger Games.

My eyes glaze over, as the life slowly begins to drain away never to be seen again. Here during these first ever horrific Games is it shown that all values we once held dear no longer matter. Even the strongest bond of family will be torn apart at the seams. Family means nothing in this place of hell where twenty three of us lost our lives and where one was created into something unimaginable. How is it that one can live knowing he destroyed the life of one he shared blood with? This is something I will never know the answer to, as I am now just another face in the sky.