A/N: Yay reviews! Just to let anyone reading to know I had this entire story written before I started posting. Thank you for reading and reviewing!
Chapter 10- The End
I tossed Jona's head and body off the top of the tower before walking back down the stairs. When I reached the bottom, I went through Jona's pack. It only had an apple and a bowl of soup. I ate the apple, drank a canteen, and slept in the shadows until nightfall. I heard someone run by and stop. I looked around the corner to see a boy sit down against a wall. He had a pack in his hand and when he opened it, he cursed. He pulled out brick after brick and a jar full of pebbles. I stifled a laugh and smiled at my trick.
Creeping back behind the wall, I sat and waited for him to leave. It took a while, but he eventually made his way in the direction of the cornucopia. The Capitol theme played and I saw a name I could smile at; Jona Hedge (male District 9)
I waited a while after the boy had left to do anything, but once I was sure he was long gone, I lit a fire using Jona's jacket as kindling. When I was warm, I fell asleep peacefully. I awoke in the morning to a rumbling. An earthquake seemed to pass in this building bringing it down. I grabbed the packs and my scythe and rolled out of the tower.
When I was safely away from the falling tower, I noticed other high buildings at the edge of the arena crumble as well. They were driving us towards the center. It was time for the finale. That day I made it back to the remains of where I had slept the first day. There were no names that night and I huddled up with my pack. I was out in the open and it was cold. It took me a while to fall asleep.
I had one dream that night. Rory was standing in the fields at home. I could see his mouth moving, but I couldn't make out his words. I ran closer to him. I was almost there when I came upon a canyon. It was just big enough to keep us apart, but I could hear him now. "I'll wait for you forever," he said. He kept saying it. He said it until I woke up the next day.
I walked slowly back to the cornucopia. I was halfway there when I saw a building with a roof. Once inside I lit a small fire. I warmed up the soup from Jona's pack and downed it all. I sat there in silence for a bit. In my mind I imagined going home. I would be crowned the victor, they'd send me home on a train, I'd live in the victor's village, everyone would love me, but I still wouldn't be happy.
It wasn't that I needed a man to make me happy. It would be hard, but I would make it even if I didn't have Rory. But the things I had seen, the things I had done the last ten days would haunt me forever. All the bread I would have wouldn't be enough to forget the blood. All the fame wouldn't be enough to forget the faces. Even if I went home, so many parts of me would be trapped here in this ruined city forever. I would never be whole again. I knew I had promised Rory to try to live, but in that moment, I wished for death.
It was almost noon when I started to move again. I made it through a few tunnels as I circled the area I knew housed the cornucopia. I passed the fountain twice before I saw another tribute. He was covered from head to toe with dust and dirt and almost blended in with the buildings.
We made eye contact. I ran at him with my scythe. He was quicker. He threw a small knife as if it were a dart. It hit my arm and I dropped the scythe. He threw another. This knife hit my knee. I fell down, all my weight on one knee, my right arm at my side and left leg behind me hanging uselessly. I looked up at the boy in time to see a third knife fly towards me.
The last hit me perfectly in the heart. Every muscle in my body went limp and I fell onto my back. I was breathing hard and fast but everything seemed to slow down. I felt warm on the outside, and cold on the inside. The boy rushed over to grab his knives. I recognized him as Sawyer. He took the first out of my arm as I lay still. There was a little pain then numbness. He took the second out of my leg and I said, "Thank you."
My death had been a sure thing since the reaping. I never could've won. But as I saw the clouds fading away, I felt frightened. A tear escaped my eye. With the last bit of strength I had I whispered one last thing to the sky, "Don't have to wait much longer, Rory." I wasn't sure if I had said it aloud but it didn't matter. Everything went black and the last thing I heard was the blast of a cannon.
A/N: There will be two epilogue chapters following this one.