"After interest in the Games drops to an all time low, President Snow is determined to regain the once amazing popularity. Twelve tributes. One 'arena.' And one game-changing twist. Welcome to the 80th Hunger Games, the Rebirth."

~ The Rebirth Games ~

Chapter Ten:

The Bloodbath(?) Part 2

I wasn't expecting this at all. In my dreams were towering volcanoes spewing toxic lava. Dragon-like mutts bearing their fangs, ready to rip my throat out. Rocky terrain scattered with steep cliffs. So of course, I wasn't expecting to step into a bedroom.

After looking back behind me, it's clear that I was in a closet just seconds before. The fresh scent of soothing lemon candles runs up my nostrils. I watch as three of them flicker away on the open windowsill. A soft wind pours through the window as the orange sunset glows in the corner of my eye. The silk covers up the gigantic double-bed softly sway in the gentle breeze. The entire room has got a pale pink, creamy lavander finish to everything; the lamps, the carpet, bedside desk, the curtains, the cabinet. Absolutely everything. I'm taken aback by the stillness, everything seems almost too calm, but the yells outside the door warp me back into my mind.

The Hunger Games. I remember now. I scurry towards the door, slowly opening it and peering outside. Immediately I see the source from the noise. It's Destiny. She exits a door and shuts it behind her several meters down the long hall from me. Towards her end of the wall is a shut window covered in curtains. My end has a sharp turn to the left with more doors along the wall.

"I gots my eye on you, Danny boy!" exclaims Destiny, pointing her finger straight at me with her eyes tight shut. "You wanna come kill me, you come kill me now! I gots me a gun to go pow pow!"

Of course I don't believe a word she says about her 'gun.'

"How about we become allies?" I say. "It won't hurt to be the last ones surviving."

She hums to herself, rubbing her chin with her index finger. "I suppose it would be nice, Danny boy.."

"But on two conditions," I continue. "One, you call me by my real name: Danix. Two, we find and make allies with Tren and Mara.. Otherwise I kill you with my knife right now."

"Sounds good, Danny!" she says completely ignoring the first condition, but I can tell from her tone that she didn't say that purposely. She just wasn't listening to me. "Well I suppose we best be hoppin' to find them right now before them crazy beasts tear them apart! Let's go!"

We make our way down the hall, and just as we're about to turn the corner, I hear a click. I spin around and watch as Igneous steps out of one of the doors, staring at me maliciously. His hands form to fists and he takes a deep breath. I already know what's coming, so I grab Destiny's hand and drag her forward just as he sprints at us. He's totally weaponless, but that's only good for him. Two kills by a career with their bare hands will go down as a first in The Hunger Games history.

Around the corner is an intersection of sorts. To the right is a plain wall, straight leads to another identical hallway and to the left is a flight of stairs. Except straight ahead, the hall is filled with other tributes. Obedience is running towards us, maybe just away from the others. Crazy is standing around aimlessly while Fern peeks her head out from one of the door frames.

I pull Destiny down the stairs and we enter a living room of sorts. Plump, fluffy white sofas cover the floor, a gigantic chandelier casts as a shadow against the walls and the fish tank in the corner makes a bubbling sound. Off to the left leads into what I think is a kitchen, straight is another set of stairs and the right leads to another hallway. I feel a throbbing pain run through my spine just as I hear Igneous yell. I let go of Destiny and I crash to the floor face first. My head collides with the soft carpet as Destiny's shriek echoes in my ears. I spin on my side and watch as she pushes him back against the wall in a desperate struggle.

"Stop!"

I'd recognize that voice anywhere. It's Tren tagging alongside Are. They both appear at the top of the stairs and charge downwards. I rise to my feet as Igenous launches Destiny a few feet away. I watch as Tren's nails dig into his cheek and he stumbles back in shock. Are wraps his arms around her, pulling her back in fear just as a bell rings throughout the air. It's like an alarm clock, but super loud which makes me cover my ears in pain. And one it stops, it's replaced by a man's deep voice.

"All tributes, please make your way to the living room and take a seat."

We all look at one another, confused, puzzled, wondering what on earth is happening. They've stopped us from fighting. There's no Cornucopia. No weapons. These aren't Games. This is something completely different and nobody was wrong when they promised that these Games would be unique.

I place my hand on Tren's shoulder as Are guides us over to one of the sofas. We sit down and Igneous gives us a deadly stare as he storms over to the one opposite us. The other tributes march down the stairs and ask us what is happening but all we can do is shrug. Now I get my first look at Solly. He's about six feet tall with scraggily blonde hair. His body reminds me of a dumbbell in an odd way. He's certainly not thin, but certainly not fat. One thing I can guarantee is that he's the thickest of the bunch here. His face is clustered with small freckles and disgusting pimples. Once he, as the final tribute, sits down, a holographic image appears above the mantlepiece along with scrolling text.

Tributes, welcome to the eightieth Hunger Games. This year, we do not recommend fighting one another. We hope you all appreciate your peaceful and harm-free stay at the Tribute Mansion. Enjoy your stay, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Once the hologram vanishes, the silence doesn't last for too long.

"Well, well... Looks like Danix has screwed the Games over!" squeals Celia from the seat over in the corner.

"What did I do?" I ask.

"Oh, you know.." she continues. "You're up to no good! I saw you chat with Head Gamemaker Umbree last night at Snow's mansion!"

Even though that chat was nothing suspicious, I bet this whole section will be edited right out of the televised footage later tonight. Umbree cannot risk keeping it in. Snow would fire her seconds later when unavoidable fix claims arrise.

"All she did was speak to me about the Games.. Just basic stuff, clearing the air," I explain. "You're just trying to cause some trouble, you attention-seeking brat."

"Me? Attention-seeking? Oh, please!" she exclaims.

"Yes, you are attention-seeking!" Mara shouts. "You're a chippy oik! A complete buffoon of the highest order!"

"Such elaborate language from a filthy rat," says Celia. "Now it's my turn: bog off you complete time-wasting, hypocritical, totally un-intellectual, mind boggingly idiotic mongrels!"

And now the much needed silence plays out for about ten seconds. But then it's broken again by Destiny's contagious laugh.

"This cray cray just too fun-nay nay!" After Celia squeals her heart out and says she's locking herself into her room and never coming back out, everyone gets up and begins exploring the house.

Mara heads straight up the next flight of stairs while Tren, Are and I walk out into the hallway to the right. A large door rests at the end of the hall with two windows fit on either side. But no longer is there sunlight from just minutes ago in the bedroom. Instead when I look out, all I see is snow. Snow is everywhere. It's thick on the ground, pouring down in blizzards from the skies. And most noticably, it runs along the tops of buildings down a large slope. It's almost like the mansion is on a huge hill and there's a small village at the base. But shockingly, I see dots. Lots of dots across the streets and pathways. And the dots are moving.

1 HOUR LATER:

Mara gently slips off her shirt and her trousers and drops them onto the floor. She takes one of the crisp white towels from the shelf and hangs it around one of the railings in the shower. She steps inside of the bathtub and draws back the opaque curtain. She twists one of the knobs and water begins spraying from the head of the shower hose on the wall. After days of suspecting the worst, she can't believe the Games. The mansion. The peacefulness. It's almost like she's in a sureal universe where none of this should be happening.

She closes her eyes, rubbing around her neck with her smooth palms. The hot water steams up the room causing condesation on the mirrors and blocked out windows. But not even the click of the opening door can be heard over the pounding water. She rubs down both her arms as a silhouetten forms behind her in the curtain. The darkened shadow looms closer and closer, Mara totally oblivious. The figure's hand yanks back the curtain, and with their other, they raise a sharp knife into the air.

Mara instantly spins, letting out a gut-wrenching scream as the knife slashes across her chest. She grabs their hand in pain, trembling and forcing them back, but they break lose and another cut opens up across her hand. She continues to scream continuously, slowly sliding down on her back against the wall as the mysterious being continues to slash away.

The person darts out of the bathroom as Mara's bloody handprint stains the tiled wall. She collapses into the bathtub and remains perfectly still as her breath vanishes. The screams have stopped. The only sound being the continous thumping of the water from the shower. The blood swirls down the base of the tub and down the deep drain. Her eyes stay glued open as a new meaning for the Bloodbath is created.

I can't believe it. Nothing can describe it.

Tren and Are headed to the kitchen. The other tributes were in their rooms, outside or just exploring the house like usual. Just like me. And I wasn't expecting to find any of this. It all starts when I see the blood from the corner of my eye as I pass the room. Curious, I push the ajar door open with an odd creak, and that's when I gasp. My feet slip in the puddles of water dyed red and my hands press into the sludge. I tremble, confused, puzzled. Not knowing what to do. My throat feels clogged up with sand, unable to scream for help. So I stand up, sprint backwards out of the room and run down the hallway. Down the stairs, into the living room, straight into the kitchen where most of the others are.

My heart pounds fast in my chest as I scurry towards the group. My hands are glued with blood and I pull them apart, watching as sticky strings connect from one to the other. They all look at me in horror, but I can't say anything. No matter how hard I try, the words just won't come out. No matter how much pain I feel, words still refuse to come out. But after minutes of them assuring me everything would be alright and that I need to speak up, words finally do come out.

"Who could have done this?"

Author's Note:

OH. MY. GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!

Hello everyone.. Welcome to Chapter Ten of The Rebirth Games, The Bloodbath(?) Part 2! So... what did you think?! ;D

We're finally in the Games now.. Was it what you were expecting?! I haven't quite revealed what these Games will be about, but the entire ending with Mara is a major clue! All you have to do is put the puzzle pieces together! ;) All shall be made clear within a chapter or two!

MARA IS DEAD! Were you expecting that?! Who do you think killed her?! What do you think that was all about?! ;DDDDDD Also, do you know what her death was an homage to? Props to you if you know. HINT: It's from an iconic movie. ;)

And that (?) in the title of this chapter and the last were for her dead. We didn't have a Bloodbath with lots of deaths. Instead we had a bath filled with blood... SO A BLOODBATH! XDDD

I cannot explain how excited I am to bring you more chapters! Also, Merry Christmas! This is my gift from me to you, a new chapter! :P

Once again, thank you to AsgardianGrizzly for creating the character of Danix! We're going to see him truly shine in this portion of the story!

These Games are going to be exciting... Be prepared for lots of suspense! :)

Thank you all so much for reading, byeeeeee! :D