Chapter 7: The Victor
There are only five tributes left. The Career girl from 1. A boy from 5. A Girl from 7.
And Haymitch Abernathy and Maysilee Donner.
Pundits are wondering just when this last alliance of the Games is going to break off. Even Maysilee seems to be wondering, as Haymitch is still (!) proceeding in the same direction in which he began the Games. When his partner refuses to go on without an answer, he simply tells her, "Because it has to end somewhere, right? The arena can't go on forever."
Steffan and I look at each other, baffled by this cryptic message. I look across the expanse to Estes, but he just shrugs helplessly too.
Finally, our tributes use a blowtorch from a dead tribute's pack to get past some hedges. And they come out on a cliff. The edge of the arena. And from the way the camera seems to be bouncing, I wonder if this milestone was meant to be found at all.
"That's all there is, Haymitch. Let's go back."
But the stoic Seam boy shakes his head. "No. I'm staying here."
"Fine. There's five of us left. I don't want it to come down to you and me."
Actually, I would, because we would at least be guaranteed a win we have waited decades for, but Haymitch just shrugs flippantly.
I hear my father sigh with relief behind me as Maysilee walks away. But I am only just beginning to relax when I hear gasps from the crowd.
I look up to see Haymitch studying a pebble curiously. I must have missed something. What happened? But Haymitch merely lobs a boulder the size of his fist over the cliff. When it bounces back into his waiting hand, he begins to laugh.
That's when Maysilee screams.
There is nothing Haymitch can do to stop the pink birds with sharp beaks as they fly away, from where they attacked Maysilee just yards from where she and her ally parted ways. Haymitch holds her hand as she dies. BOOM.
Four tributes left.
"We might as well lose. We're going to lose," my father groans.
I am shocked by his words. And what they might mean. Does he actually want Haymitch to die? Indeed, the Merchants around me look like they have lost all of our tributes already. Their resignation and quickness to give up on Haymitch infuriates me.
So much so, that I publicly make a point of going over to Seam side, joining Estes to root for Haymitch.
The boy from 5 is hacked to death by the last Career. The girl from 7 is eaten by carnivorous squirrels. Both of these districts have had a healthy crop of Victors of the years, so for Haymitch to outlast them both is quite a feat. He is now in the Top Two - not seen since Cassiope Fletch herself won. District 1 and District 12 battling for the crown. Haymitch is the clear underdog.
But when the final battle happens, Haymitch gives as good as he gets. He even takes out the Career's eye.
But then she sends an axe into his stomach.
Haymitch makes for his cliff - the one he spent the entire Quell looking for. He barely makes it with his intestines still in, collapsing on the edge as the Career's axe sails over his head. She simply waits, thinking she can just outlast him.
Fool. Her expression is of disbelieving horror as she is too late to avoid her own axe going into her temple.
BOOM.
The Seam erupts, the Mechants swear. But I am cheering. We have a second Victor! At last! I barely hear Claudius Templesmith announce Haymitch's victory.
Suddenly, I feel a hand dragging me out of the square and into a back alley. I look up to see Estes.
"Estes, what are you doing...? Mmmmm!"
He kisses me soundly on the lips. And though I am frozen with shock at first, I quickly melt in the arms of my handsome Seam gardener and kiss him back. "Mmmm..."
When Estes begins to have his hands wander down past my waist, I don't hesitate to hitch my leg to his hips. Estes hoists me up the wall of the alley, and soon I feel something deep inside my core break, as a mysterious entity invades my most sacred spot. But I welcome it as I roll my hips against his.
"Uhhhhh... HUUHHHHHH! UHHHHHHH! OHHHHH... Estes..." At last, I cry out as I orgasm, my juices exploding all around me. I knew from my Healing profession and Family Planning classes in school that it was going to happen. I just never thought it would feel so good.
Estes and I share a chaste kiss after he and I come together. We have every reason to celebrate.
