a/n

i said i would try to come back and i did, surpisingly. idk, i just felt the need to actually finish this and give it closure. every story i've written, i've never finished. i have somehwere near 50 drafts for stories i've wrote a few pages for, yet never got a second look. i'm tired of doing that. i started this story when i was i think 14. i just turned 16 about 2 months ago (jan 13.) and i'm done with the petty mentality of starting to not finish. this will be done. i will notify when i'm going to hatius, but for now i'm pushing myself to update. (clap for me lol) this was spawned by 2 syots i submitted to, making me think "damn! i got my own story i ain't worried about, yet i'm sending in things to others. i need to not" yeah. thanks to those two syots: Hear The Wind Blow by Mistical Pine Trees and A Spell Broken by Red Roses1000. onwards (if anybody still reading.)

Small shuffles made leaves shake to the ground. The clopping feet of a doe ruffled the still forest. A beast of a man sat hulking in the hollowed trunk of a tree. His breaths were light and shallow, a huge difference from his huge frame.

"Attack," he whispered to himself. "Take action. Go for the kill. Attack,"

In a moment the sleepy forest became alight with sound, the boy jumping from his hiding place with a guttural scream, attacking the baby deer with a rage only found in a broken person.

His meaty paws latched onto the neck of the poor animal, crushing the bones inside. He continued to scream and choke the deer until a set of lights flashed on over the forest. "No!" he dropped the now dead deer on the ground, leaving its body to twitch and flail in a post-mortem dance. "I was not ready!"

A metal door opened and two figures beckoned him to come to them. He brushed the debris from the tree he was sitting in off his shoulders before sulking out the Arena simulation.

"Rendus." a husky voice said.

"Yes, father?" he replied meekly, despite his size. Larger than life itself, Rendus Nadius was 250 pounds and 6'1 feet of bulk. Fists like heavy boulders, arms and legs like thick poles, torso like the frame of a vehicle, just large in general.

A hard slap was met with his face, yet his sturdy physique and inability to feel most pains didn't allow him to feel the sting from it. "You ill minded oaf!" What was thought to be a blow from his father was in fact from his mother. He slowly looked to her brown eyes, which held a world of shame for her son. "What did we say?"

"No more yelling…" he whispered, sounding like a child chastised for a small offence.

"Exactly! If you yelled like that in the arena, you'd be found dead in minutes! If you are to win you have to listen!" her words came harsh and cunning at her son, affecting Rendus more than her hit to his face.

He kept his head bowed out of fear and respect. "Yes, mother. I will listen."

"Good." he took that as a sign to leave, trying to make his way to the doors for the car waiting out front. "Wait!" he stopped in his tracks, whipping around to his parents.

"Have you taken your medicine today?" his father, Bostrus, held the same face as his child yet his body was half the size.

"Not for tonight."

A small box was set up on a table, its size no bigger than a lunchbox. Bostrus clicked it open and took out a large needle and liquid filled vial, the colour was of golden honey, consistisy of skimmed milk. The needle was dejected of air and refilled with the medicinal substance. "Give me your arm."

Rendus set his tree limb arm infront of his ftaher, pale skin showing the bloody lines running red, blue, green, and purple. Bostrus picked a bumping green vein and jabbed it with the needle, watching as it constricted then expanded, releasing a bloom of power through his entire body. An audible sigh slid from Rendus' lips. "Alright then. Devia,"

Picking a dead bug from his hair, his mother spoke. "Go on. Make sure you are picked." she smoothed a small hand over his warm brown hair.

"But what if I am not?" his blue eyes looked downed at his mother, questioning.

Her eyes, her voice, and her stance were like stone. "Make sure," she leaned closer, "you are," closer, "picked." she spat.

His head nodded vigorously and he set for the door.

With much less 'class' then the district of kids former it, the District Two kids all got ready for a 'final battle' of sorts to determine the two tributes for leading. Only invited families are allowed to attend the fighting hall in the center square of Two.

The rest of the year the building belongs to a Peacekeeper training doc, yet on this night it was a large, open hall with stands set up on each side of the 17x17 foot square. The mayor, all previous victors, and a few trainors sit in a booth and discuss the sparring teens. The chosen winner of all fighting rounds is dead set to be tribute, no matter the picked name. The escort will be informed that said person will volunteer.

"Phoenix, dear! Hurry in," called a mother. A red haired girl jogged along quickly to stand with her parents. They stood in line at the entrance of the hall, passes in hand to enter the showing. Phoenix's mother slicked her hand over her daughter's hair, pushing back fly aways. "They're calling for the fighters over there. Best luck dear, love you." she kissed her head.

"Love you too, mom." she hugged her mother, then father. "Love you, dad."

"Back at 'cha. Fight hard for me, alright?" he smirked at his daughter, kissing her cheek.

"You bet. Bye, Crilly." she ruffled her little brother's hair, earning a smile from him.

"Bye, Phe-phe!" he hugged her legs. She threw one last smile at her family before running off again, this time to lines of teenagers on the far side of the complex.

She shuffled her way through a line of boys, all jeering and tussling at the prospects of fighting in the Games. Compaired to the line of guys, the line of girls was far less. With at least thirty, forty 16-18 year old boys over there, Phoenix could only see about twenty five girls standing on the inside, counting her at maybe twenty six. She stood infront of the mechine where a Peacekeeper was standing, surpisingly without a helmet, but with the gear. Her hair was thick and dark in a small bun, eyes sharp and dark against her deep brown skin. "Name."

"Phoenix Green." she shakily said. Not from nerves, no- never nerves, but fear of social interaction.

"Age."

"E-eighteen." she stuttered as the woman pulled her through a modernized metal detector. A current went from the soles of her feet to the tips of her ears, like her entire body was asleep with static. As soon as it froze her entire body, it went away.

"Go through. You're the last one on my list." she jutted her thumb to the open doors.

Phoenix walked through the door, lean legs guiding her to an area with seats full of girls and a projection screen. She stood bewildered at what to do, choosing to stand to the side in the shadows as watch others to see what to do.

"Take a seat!" yelled a deep voice. Now deciding to just listen, she found a chair where no one was sitting near by, a secluded place just for her. "Pack it in tight, there's a lot of you!"

About ninty kids sat facing two people; one the female Peacekeeper from outside, the other a male companion.

"I'm Montaia. This is Sabiel," the woman said, no emotion on her face. "We're just gonna give you a brefier about what you're doing tonight."

"Okay. Since there's about 34 guys and 26 girls, you'll be fighting

in sets, also seperately." his voice somehow was much icier than Montaia's. "You'll go up in eight sets, four in each group. The extra two we'll fit in somewhere. In your sets of four you all will fight. No weapons, no gear, no help. There is no ganging allowed, you each fight one person. If you gang, you and your family will promptly be kicked the fuck out. No exceptions." he looked around with his sharp green eyes. "If you get overwhelmed, just say 'tapout' and everyone will stop fighting while we get you out,"

A tentative hand was raised in the back. "Will be get kicked out if we do?"

Sabiel ran a hand through his orange hair, the colour of a lit flame. "No. It'll look bad on your part though," he smiled. "The last guy standing at the end of the fight advances. Then those, what, eight of you get to stand infront of the Box with Mayor Yin, the newst victor, and a few more folks. They pick you single handedly and it's done. Got it?" he looked around. All male heads were nodding. "Good. Mo,"

She picked at her nail as she spoke, careless. "Pretty much the same for you girls, just less people. Four a group, six matches? That's twenty four, so two extra…"

"What are we gonna do about that? We can't have an odd number in groups, Mo."

"Yeah, I know. Should we ask Del?" she curved her head to him.

"Let's just do it later. Finish up the intro."

"Aight." she raked her fingers through her corse hair. "We get that this is a fight and all, you know for the Games and such. But there are still rules to oblige by. First of all, no ganging. As previously said, all fighting will cease and you will be kicked out, along with your family, but you will also be banned. Be warned." she seemed very serious about that. "No kicking/punching in the genitals. That includes the penis, testicles, breasts, and vagina." snickers came from a small mingling of teens.

Sabiel's nostrils flared, irritated. "Oh, you think that's funny huh?" he whipped out his gun, cocking it. All laughing ceased, instead frightened looks.

Phoenix sat up in her seat, smirking. I like him… She turned her head up to the laughing group a few seats diagnal her, and her breathing hitched for a second. Them!

Yes, the iconic them. The trio of friends she thought she had, who left her. She could point them out from memory, since they hadn't changed face in years.

There was Alàn, skin patched with different colours as he gulped quietly. Seems he's gotten confident in his condition since he left her.

There was Minerva, or Minnie for short. She cut her hair short, it was up near her ears now, when it used to stop in the small of her back.

Then there was the leader, her ex-best friend Nabby. She still wears those same bright purple contacts, contrasting with her deep bronze skin.

Three traitors all gathered together, causing ruckus in unimaginable proportions, as they had been for almost five years now.

Absolutely fuming, Phoenix turned around in her seat, fighting back angry tears and a red face. Just how jolly, the people who took away every ounce of her trust were here fighting for the very thing she wanted to prove them wrong.

"Not so funny anymore, huh?" his tone was still icy, now with a lace on condecending laced through. "Now shut up and listen!"

Montaia was holding back a laugh. "Woof." she said, sobering. A small crack in Sabiel's glare glowed a smile. "Now. No weapons, I think that's pretty exclamitory. No do overs once you've lost. The winner wins and advances to the next level, no ifs, ands, or buts. Last rule: this is still a fight. You aren't putting on a show for these people, you're trying to become tributes to become victors. You want to be sitting here next year in the box with Mayor Yin, your folks, other victors, and the like. Fighting until you know you're going to win." her words resonated in everyone more than Sabiel's gun shocked them.

They were there to achieve a title, not to play for a show, show off or any of that.

I'm going to show everyone how strong I am. I'll prove them all wrong, I bet. Phoenix thought as the Peacekeeper friends dragged them to the waiting areas.

Sitting, Bostrus and Devia Nadius held their noses up at all the other parents sitting near. Bostrus put his hand over his wife's, shuffling closer together.

Closer to the edge of the bleacher like seats, the Green family sat waiting for thier Phoenix to come out. Cronix, her little brother, was jumping excitedly, ready to see his big sister beat everybody.

"Now entering the arena, the Fighters of the 70th," called out Sabiel, standing on a box as the jittery boys and girls walked through the doors to a box of reserved seats.

Families yelled out to their kids, all happy and riled up for the fighting to commence.

"First up, males! The first set out of eight: Mikel Coan, Geb Grover, Boron Hale, Zeke Palm, Alàn Tetrol, and Quint Walker. Please step down," the six boys stepped down from the group, all of similar builds, long and lanky. They walked to the square, seeming smaller now there were so many of them on it.

Montaia and Sabiel had solved their problem of the extra fighters with their commander, Del. The groups with the extra fighters would go first to get it out the way.

From the stands Mayor Yin and the latest victor, Nile Bladem, sat to observe, eating finger-foods.

The six of them split three on three in the square, all nodding condolences to each other except for Alàn who had a glare. He wasn't in the mood to play nice, he wanted to fight.

"Ready, boys?" lights all around the room shut off, leaving lights sprouting from beams of the bleachers to the floor only illuminated. The fighters could only see each other, the square, and nothing else. Sabiel's hair really looked like a flame now. "In five," Mikel's fists clenched. "Four," Geb shuffled his feet. "Three," Boron sniffled. "Two," Zeke cracked his knuckles. "One," Alàn attacked Quint in a second, rolling the boy onto the floor.

He slammed punch after punch into his face, lean arms doing mightly damage already. All around was commotion, pairs of boys attacking each other as the crowd yelled on for their son, their brother, their favorite to win.

The first five fights went by in a fairly lengthy time, averaging around eleven minutes a match, though the crowd never got tired of the battles.

The first fight was won by Alàn Tetro, a piece of Phoenix's past, a painful piece at that. After that it followed with Syine Uup, Brock Jennor, Blake Rocker, and Xander Goodwin.

Up next was a fight that was a bit unfair…

"Jesus," whispered Sabiel into his megaphone. Uncalled for, yes, but not disagreed upon. The entire crowd was thinking the same thing, all for Rendus' parents who smirked proudly.

"That's our son!" Devia commented, getting wide-eyed looks from the other mothers sitting by.

Rendus stalked through in front of his competitors, body bigger than anyone else's in the room. His shoulders bulged through the fitted shirt he was wearing, constricting the wanting to be free form. He was an antique circus act muscle man at only seventeen, frightening the boys whom he was supposed to sparring against.

Sabiel regained his composure, though the crowd -even the mayor- had not. "Round six we have Gideon McCol, Fenti Marl, Rendus Nadius, and Paval Yorn."

They went to the square as twenty-two boys did prior. Rendus took up a good amount of space in it too. "Begin in five, four, three, two, one!"

In a flash Rendus snatched Fenti off his feet, smashing the boy to the floor, taking all the oxygen out of his soul as he did so. Rendus climbed on top of the now helpless fighter, striking punch after punch to his cranium. After only three punches, Fenti was flailing, screaming, "Tapout! Tapout! Tapout!" just as another hit was sent his way, but froze in mid air.

"Montaia, get him out please," Del asked. "Krix you too. That boy looks heavy." Mo and Krix nodded to their leader, pressing small buttons on their shoes.

The same current that traveled over Phoenix in the metal detector system was the same here, tingling anyone who was on it in a freeze, unless you had proper coverage. The two prayed Rendus' large hands from Fenti's increasingly blue face, Montaia picking up the boy in her arms as he passed out from head trauma.

"Is he even seventeen? He's an animal, look at him." Del whispered to Sabiel who could only nod, in shock of how quickly Rendus ended the boy, half a minute at most.

As soon as Fenti was completely off the square, the current went away and Rendus' fist hit air. Now devoid of a partner, Rendus turned around, setting his eyes on Gideon, who had restled Paval to the ground, yet was still loosing. His black hair wooshed around as his head was kicked heavily to the ground, a loud crack bouncing around the arena.

The crowd, silent, all flinched at the boy who was K.O.'ed quicker than Fenti had. Devia and Bostrus jumped in their seats, clapping loudly for their beast of a boy.

All Paval could do was look up with eyes wide as he scooted away from Rendus on his back. Countless punches were coming to Gideon's torso, the poor child coughing up blood and getting bruised. Rendus' didn't understand the power of his own self. Paval shook his head, and stood. Will all the will and strength he could muster, he ran at Rendus, not taking into accord his gutteral yell as he did so.

Just as he was his, Rendus turned at the sound, only to be knocked down on his side. Paval was of equal height Rendus, only half his body mass. His punches were quick and sharp, leaving bruises and scratches, but no pain came to Rendus' at first thought.

Paval jumped away quickly, staying on the balls of his feet, bouncing, ready to move at any given moment. Rendus dragged himself to his feet, angry. How dare I get one-uped! Mother and father will not be happy.

Keeping in mind was Paval did not, he lunged for him quietly, yelling in his head instead. The crowd had started to cheer for Paval and he was basking in his glory, both hands up, cheering for himself too. With a hand cocked very far back, he raced his palm to Paval's side, knocking him over to his side. Rendus sat on the boy's chest, struggling to keep him still under him. "No! No! Get off, you fucking monster!"

Rendus paused for a second, hit by the words. "I am not a monster!" then in a furious rage he bashed both fists on Paval's face repeatedly.

A now conscious Gideon slid his way to the edge of the box, hand shaking towards Montaia and Krix. "P-please," he shook.

Oddly, Montaia looked pained for the boy. She wouldn't want to be near that monstrosity either. "I can't come in unless you tap out, I'm sorry. Just say it, I promise I'll get you," she cooed to him.

"T-t-tapout, tapout," blood was running from his head, leaving a little puddle.

"HELP MY SON!" yelled a man, voice threaded with fear.

"Sabby, the lock!" Krix yelled to Sabiel, who turned on the field. They went in quick and grabbed Gideon out. Just when they were about to leave, Paval had passed out from Rendus' fists.

"Mo, grab him!" Del yelled. Fists in mid-air, Rendus was frozen as Montaia pulled Paval out from under his armpits. His head lolled to the side, blood pouring out his nose and a split in his lip. She looked up and almost stumbled back at the primal look on Rendus' face, eyebrows knitted, lips snarled, nostrils flared. His soft baby blue eyes contrasted everything he was, shocking her. She hurried to pull Paval out to safety.

"The winner is Rendus' Nadius. Please go take a seat for choosing," Sabiel checked his watch. "Match six- five minutes and thirteen seconds."

After that the female rounds went smoothly, averaging around twelve minutes a match. So far the winners had been Nabby Schols, Kit Runder, Gaia Orion, Venus Orion, Clair Whislar, and Phoenix Green. She was the under dog of her match, taking out one girl with a power kick from her slender legs, and another from tripping her with her own weight. One had tapped out early in the fight.

"Will all of the previous winners stand up!" Sabiel announced, coming back from the Box of officials. Seated by order and gender, they all stood. Sabiel turned stepped down from his podium, allowing Mayor Yin and the newest victor to stand upon it.

Mayor Yin smiled brightly, eyes crinkling at the sides from years of doing such. His wispy black hair lay slick on his head. "Hello, my marvelous fighters!"

Each one of the bowed, the last one being Rendus who took the lead from others. Somehow after his match had been won, his shirt had been lost. His rippled arms and torso were now on full show.

"We appreciate every one of you who fought tonight, although we may only pick two winners," he looked down the line gleefully, though his eyes bulged a bit when landing on Rendus. "Contrary to previous years, on this night we would like to end with one more fight. This one between the two girls who showed the best skills, Miss Nabby Schols and Miss Phoenix Green."

Why her? Phoenix scathed in her own mind, not turning to look anywhere but at the Mayor. She could feel her cheeks flush and her fists clench. She steadied her shaking leg. Phoenix doubted she could beat Nabby single-handedly. Not for the fact that they used to be friends, but for the fact that Nabby was large and a good hand to hand fighter.

"Please step forward to the square," he motioned his hands to the quarreling area. Phoenix kept her hands behind her back, not looking up at all.

"Goooo Phe-Phe!" she heard a small voice from the silent crowd. Knowing the little boost could only come from her brother, she smiled. Now her eyes lifted, sending him a small wink in the general area he was in. She heard a giggle and shh!s from her mother.

"Sir, the male winner," Nile softly whispered.

"Oh! Yes, yes! The male tribute we have chosen is...Rendus Nadius!" people clapped, but no one looked surprised. Devia and Bostrus clapped furiously for their son, proud of his physical finesse, though attributed by drugs.

Rendus stood and bowed his head to Mayor Yin, then sat back in his seat with a smirk. Mother will be happy.

Sheesh, he's a big guy. Phoenix thought as he waved his hand out. Don't know how anyone's gonna deal with him.

Nile stepped off the box and walked to the sqaure. "Stand here," he pointed to an 'x' on the oposite side of where Phoenix was standing. Nabby moved there. "This fight won't be like the others. You get to use weapons and it's timed." A dramatic intake from the audience filled the gap of continued quietness that had been in.

Nile snapped his fingers and two large walls sprouted from the far side of the floor, adorned with all types of weapons: knives, stars, sais, you name it. He strode to the wall, the two girls in tow. "You pick what ever you want. The winner is the one who gets the other down on the ground in a kill position, in under three minutes. If neither is on ground, a sudden death mode will ensure, and we pick at random," he looked them both in the eyes. "We hope not to do that though. We want to see who can really bring something home for out district again, alright?"

"Yeah." Nabby deadpanned.

Phoenix nodded her head.

He stepped out of the way. "Pick your weapons."

In a flash Phoenix snatched a spear from the wall and stalked back to her standing place. She closed her eyes, prepping. You are going to beat her. You are going to win this. You will prove them all wrong. Her hands tightened over her spear. Nabby had grabbed a long sword, something cruel and sharpened that she didn't look like she knew how to handle.

The previous victor looked between the two ladies. "Remember, you have three minutes. Good luck to you both!" he then jogged out the Square to stand next to Sabiel.

"Long time no see, Phoenix." that same languidness in her voice hadn't went away either. It was like her words didn't want to hold themselves up, relying heavily on her throat to give them sustenance.

"Shut up."

"Sorry it had to end up like this, ya know, us fighting and all," her tone was mocking, purple eyes looking sickly superficial in the lighting.

"Nabby, if you don't shut your mouth." Phoenix growled.

"Alright, ladies!" Sabiel called over the crowd. Again all focus was on the square and its fighters. "Get ready in five, four, three, two,- one!"

With a smile Nabby lifted her large sword, aiming at Phoenix's side in a heavy arc.

Catching the move, she dodged out the way, rolling on the ground and back up behind Nabby's back. She kicked her square in the spine, making her ex bestfriend fall on the floor in a clatter and huff, not antisipating the heft in Phoenix's kick. She put all her resent and bitterness in that kick too, you could tell. Nabby turned from being on her stomach to her back, pawing for her sword she'd lost so quickly. Phoenix kicked it somewhere out of bounds.

The tip of her boot left an imprint on the suit of Nabby, while taking the air from her lungs. This was all so unexpected from the girl. The head of the spear was positioned at the neck, the very tip of it scratching the thin skin that was there.

"Time!" yelled Sabiel. "Thirty-two seconds. Our female tribute is seventeen year old Phoenix Green, everyone give an applause!" the entire crowd of people clapped for Phoenix, the loudest ones and cheers from her family.

She stepped back, smiling.

"No fucking way! She cheated me, rematch! I want a rematch!" an angry Nabby got from the floor, growling. She was dragged away by a passive Krix.

"No. You lost. Deal with it," said Montaia, accompanied by Mayor Yin, Nile, and others. "Congrats, Phoenix! We will see you and your partner Rendus off in the Reapings tomorrow,"

They brought Rendus up and they stood next to each other, smiling at the crowd of people.

This is going to be good, she thought.

Mother and Father will be happy! he thought.

Both were beyond ready for battle.