Ok. This is the final chapter of Day's Story. I know I've been really bad with updating. I just can't seem to get myself to write most of the time. I just want to thank Syeira-La for allowing me to write about their amazing character. I also want to thank anyone who has subscribed and/or reviewed at any time while I was writing this. Without out farther hesitation, I present to you… the final chapter of Day's Story.
The familiar feeling of being shaken yanked me from my content dream world back into harsh reality. The sunlight streaming through my open window blinded me as I opened my eyes, forcing me to squint at the person standing next to my bed. As their face came into focus, I could tell that it was my district partner, and new boyfriend, Cloud.
"Day, come on, you have to get up. Today is the Hunger Games."
His words yanked me out of my half asleep state, making me jerk up into a sitting position. The Hunger Games. How could I forget. After all, today will most likely be my death day. I know I shouldn't think like that… but I mean how likely is it that a 12 year old from District 11 will win? Not very. I skae the thoughts out of my head, and take Cloud's waiting hand. He pulls my out of bed, before promptly giving me a light kiss on the lips, and heading out of the room. As he shuts the door, he gives me one last, sad, lonely look before walking off to his own room.
I sigh, partly in happiness and partly in sadness. We might have found true love, but today will also be the end of it. I head to my closet, not bothering to take a shower, because to tell the truth, where I'm going I won't need one. As I pick through my pile of clothes, I see a blouse in the very back that I hadn't noticed before. It was a deep, midnight blue colored with half length sleeves and white trim. I can still remember the day my sister gave it to me, the week before the Reaping. It was the last gift I ever got from her. Even though I won't be able to wear it for that long, I put it on anyway. It makes me feel closer to her. The rest of the outfit is easily completed with a pair of long black jeans and brown sandals. I yank my hair into a ponytail as I final touch, before heading off down the hall to join Cloud and Iris for my last breakfast.
I walk into the long, lavishly furnished dining room, and take my seat across from Cloud. Iris, seated next to me, gives me a slight look of disapproval before looking away. She never seemed to like me much anyway. Breakfast seems to pass quickly, and mostly in silence, despite the efforts of some of our companions trying to strike up a conversation. However, the subject of the Games looms heavy over our heads, stifling our words before we say them. In short, speaking right now seems like a close to impossible task. I have a hard time eating too. Though I try to tell myself that I'll need to eat to keep my strength up so I can survive, my heart keeps telling me it's not necessary. In the end, the only thing I can force down my throat is a single buttered roll. After half an hour, everyone present besides me and Cloud stands up and abruptly leaves. Two peacekeepers come out, and just like that it's time.
They pull us up from our seats, and take us through a set of wide double doors back to the elevator. We can climb in, riding in an uncomfortable silence. The floors seem to ding past way to quickly, and before I know it we are on the main floor. We are escorted down a long, bare hallway to two separate doors. Before they push us inside, they allow us to have a moment to say good-bye. I immediately rush to Cloud and wrap my arms around him. He gently strokes my hair, soothing me with his calming words.
"It's ok day. They can't separate us. No matter what we do. I know we'll end up together. I don't know how and I don't know why, but I know we will be reunited. Just remember, I love you, and I always will."
"If we do get separated, just remember. I will never forget you. I love you too Cloud."
After one more passionate kiss, the Peacekeepers pull us apart, and push us through our separate doors. Inside, there is a single rack of clothes, and my stylist, Andreas. In the center of the room, there is a long clear tube, with an open door leading into it. I know immediately what it is. The tube that will carry me up to the Cornucopia, and my death.
I walk over to Andreas, and without words, he takes a pair of fitted camo pants and a black long sleeved t-shirt off the rack. I slip them on quickly, then pull on a pair of heavy duty hiking boots. My hair stays in its ponytail, a nice practical hairstyle for the Games. We sit in silence for a minute, before the order is given for the tributes to enter their tubes. As I go to step in, Andres puts a hand on my shoulder.
"Day, I believe in you. I trust you. Good luck."
With those final words, I step all the way in and the tube's door closes. He might not have said it outright, but I know that he has told me that he knows I can't win. That I would face death in bravery. I know this because I trust him, and he trusts me with the truth. The tube starts to rise, and I get the first glimpse of the Cornucopia, and the last glimpse of Andreas's face.
The arena is a wide landscape split into four sections. There is an icy cold, snowy land to my right, a grassy oasis with flowering trees across from me, a barren desert with hot, dry winds, to my left, and where I am standing, a forest of colorful trees, and the crunching of leaves underneath. It is an arena of the four seasons.
As the rest of the tubes finish rising, I start scouting for my allies. I can make out Aria in the distance, all the way across from me in the Spring section. A few spaces away from her stands Sarah, positioned in the Winter section. I keep looking, desperately scanning the circle from a sign of Cloud, before finally seeing him. He's next to me, but in the Summer section instead of the Fall. He smiles at me reassuringly, but I cannot be comforted at this point, I as the countdown starts I can only imagine my life ticking away before my eyes, each second brining me closer to my death. As it reaches 10, but mind suddenly goes blank I know what I have to do.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
The buzzer goes off. I immediately jump off the plate, heading straight for the Cornucopia. I can see Cloud to my right, heading over to me and in the distance, Sarah and Aria joining up and coming to find us. In front of me, a Career takes an axe, and brings it down on an unfortunate tribute's head. The boy from District 3 is no more. I keep running, desperate to reach Cloud, and next to me, the District 6 girl goes down. I am so close. I can almost touch him.
I finally reach Cloud, just as the Career girl from District 1 reaches him too. She raises her sword high and starts to break it down on him. The world shifts into slow motion as I jump in front of him. The blade curves downwards, its wicked metal glinting in the morning sun. Then it hits. The pain is intense, a white hot burning sensation in my chest. The career girl yanks out her sword and her laughs sinks into my mind through muted ears, as she heads off to slaughter more children. My knees give out and I fall towards the ground. At the last second though, someone's arm arms wrap around me and pick me up, bridal style. I can see Cloud's anguished face above me, I can hear his shouts and cries through muffled ears. Aria and Sarah finally reach us, their faces a mirror of Cloud's. The group runs towards the trees, each bump and jostle of the causing the pain in my chest to flare up again.
They set me down in the shelter of some trees, a minute later. Cloud desperately scrounges around, looking for something to staunch the bleeding. But I stop him. I already know it's too late. His tears start to flow freely again, and his sobs reach an all time high.
'Day, how could you. That sword, it was meant for me. Why would you jump in front of it."
I give him a pained smile, before letting out a quiet laugh.
"I promised I would take an arrow for you, didn't I? Is a sword so much different?"
It's growing harder to breathe, and black spots form in front of my eyes. The pain starts to numb, and I know the end is approaching.
"Cloud, I love you."
His eyes are finally accepting, and as my heart slows down, my breathing stopping I can faintly hear his final words, his voice still choked with tears.
"I love you too Day."
Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Baaaa-bump. Baaaaaaaa-bump. Bump. Silence.
Then the darkness overtakes me and my eyes close. Forever.
And that, my good friends, was the end. I hope I didn't make Day too out of context. I probably didn't follow the context enough, and for that I'm sorry. However, this is officially over. Please review. I hope you liked Day and her story.