Author's Note:

Apologies for the wait, so much has been happening in my life recently that has made it difficult for me to write these stories. I've only recently got a chance to work on my stories for you guys. I'm glad people are following this and you want to read this story. Just knowing people are still coming to this story after such a long time is a great feeling. Hope you enjoy Chapter 11 of a Conduit in the Hunger Games

Chapter 11

The Results of the 98th Hunger Game

(Hunger Game End)

(Cole P.O.V.)

"That kid's been gone for five weeks." Kuo said "How long will it take for him to get over the incident in the future?"

I sighed leaning on the roof ledge "Kuo he's just a kid, we need to give him time."

"I know Cole but he's also a very powerful conduit."

"Nix sees him once and a while in the swamps."

She rolls her eyes and sat down on the sofa scowling. Zeke came from the cooler holding a beer in his hand, the same cocky grin on his face as always. He sat down beside her and took a swig.

"Word on the street is our boy has been doing just fine. I mean could be a lot worst, we haven't heard of a conduit attack."

I nodded "Yeah, we could have met some people from my past."

"Don't remind me." Nix said appearing "Zeke where's the beer at?"

He just pointed to a cooler. Nix helped herself before sitting on a ledge.

"Well?" Kuo said "Where has he been?"

Nix sighed taking a swig of the beer before answering, smiling as she removed it from her lips "To be honest I've seen him in the swamps only one a week for five minutes at the most before he vanishes somewhere random outside of the swamp. I've tried tracking him but he catches onto me and will move even faster making a thick fog so I can't even see which direction he's facing when he vanishes."

I sighed, trying to think of where he was "He wanted to see the results and those are today so he has to come here to have me return him to the future."

Zeke rose "Perhaps he's worried about that right now. I mean he doesn't know if his brother and sister survived the games or not. That would drive anyone a little nuts."

"He's going to find out sooner or later." Nix said "We gotta go back to the future at some point to take them out."

Zeke nodded in agreement. Kuo went to the ledge and looked out. She took out her cellphone then looked up.

"I'm going to call some friends I have. They might be able to tell us where he's gone."

"No need for that."

We turned to find him standing there. He wore a fiery red T-shirt and ocean blue jeans. His hair was a swirl like before but he had a few more scars.

I got up "You ready for this trip?"

He sighed then nodded "Yeah and also I want to go back to punch Echo straight in the face."

"Hold your horses on that, you can do that in the Arena not outside of it."

Ace laughed which was a good sign from what I could see. It was a deep hearty one not an awkward and false one.

He went toward the cooler when Kuo put her boot on it stopping him.

"Oh no. You're not getting any beer!"

He shrugged smiling "Had to try hottie."

Zeke and I laughed immediately at the comment, he had to be back to normal. Kuo immediately folded her arms raising an eyebrow slightly.

I got up and raised my hand "Alright to the future!"

(Shadow Ace P.O.V.)

We landed at our usual spot outside of District 12 near the lake which was nice and still right now. I turned to them, ready to go to my home.

"I'll go to the train station and see if they survived or not. I'll be back when I can to figure out what we can do."

Cole nodded "Alright but call us as soon as you can. Sundown is when we'll come into check on you if we got no word."

I nodded then took off. I landed on top of a roof far enough away that no one could see me but I could see the train station.

I saw the train come up and waited wondering what would come out. I saw the doors open and my heart immediately sank. A pair of boxes were wheeled out by Peacekeepers. I leaped off the roof and tore through the crowd. I was nearly there when someone tried to block me. I struggled against the grip looking at the caskets.

"Christopher stop!"

I looked at Katniss then ahead "Let go of me! I have to go to them!"

I tore free of her grip and ran up to the caskets. I opened them to see my sister wearing a silk white dress to cover up the massive cut which I could see through the pulse vision I had acquired a while ago. I did the same with my brother in the other casket, only to see one over the heart. No one spoke as I looked at the casket's contents. I knew it was being filmed and this time I couldn't stop the tears from coming out as I cried leaning my head on the casket of my brother for both of them.

Katniss placed a hand on my shoulder "There was nothing you could do."

I looked at the bodies and just cried, letting my feelings come out. I dropped to my knees between the caskets and just stayed there with my face in my hands.

"Take the bodies to be buried."

I heard them beginning to be moved. I scowled slightly, this time I had to put my foot down hard.

"Stop."

"Christopher you're in no condition,"

I turned around lightning quick to Peeta "And you're a Pimp!"

Everyone gasped immediately when I had shouted that insult. I turned to Katniss.

"You're a whore! The both of you are prostitutes to be sold to the highest bidder and the highest favor! I'm not letting you decide how these two are buried when you cannot control your own lives! You would only dishonor them immediately!"

I looked at the caskets then turned to the crowd, seeing some in awe while others were shocked. I saw the cameras filming me, no doubt this would be talked about. I probably looked like I was crazy and a mess, but I didn't care right now. I hurled a rock at it destroying the camera immediately without caring at all about the consequences of that action alone.

"I never asked to be on television." I whispered angrily, the tension thick enough that a machete wouldn't cut it "And I never will be again even if I am drawn into a hundred Hunger Games."

I shut the caskets and took them wheeling them to the right place.

I brought them to the meadow and with a single shovel began digging the gravesites for them. It took me a long time but when I climbed out I saw Peacekeepers coming with guns in hand. Echo was with them along with Katniss and Peeta and a few news teams.

I began moving the caskets into position when I heard Katniss.

"Take him to the victor village. He's unstable."

Alright she was asking for it.

I turned to them scowling furiously. As they neared me I prepared to use my powers when I heard a gunshot fire off immediately.

Everyone turned to see John standing there with the gun in his hands. He gave the riffle to a man in a business suit, his face completely calm. He looked at them carefully watching the guards.

"Let him bury them where he pleases. You would have had them disgraced because they had high honors you would never understand."

They looked at him but I didn't pay much attention after that. I lowered both of the caskets into the ground using the method I had seen before then began burying them . It took a few hours and I was covered in dirt when I finished. I put down two headstones then a third. I was going to put my mother's ashes here when I got the chance. She should be buried beside two of her children, an honor she deserved for all her years.

I got up and walked through twelve slowly, my face showing sorrow and anger like a plague. I had the shovel over my shoulder as I walked through the place alone. People looked at me as I walked down the muddy streets between the shacks. They could see the tears coming out but my face was set with a fury. One that they knew meant someone could die for this evil.

I reached the victor village and set the shovel down where I had gotten it. I heard an interview going on inside and scowled, no doubt it would be an insult.

"They competed well in the games and shall be forever remembered as tributes that died for Panem and the Hunger Game."

I scowled then went in through the door. I walked into the living room, intending to be left alone.

A camera turned to me. A woman looked at me smiling.

"Care to say a few words?"

I looked at Katniss "Yeah my brother and sister will never be remembered as Tributes! They are remembered as people! People forced to play an inhuman blood sport for the amusement of some nation that isn't worth anything!"

Katniss stood up, shock evident on her face "Christopher!"

"Shadow's Ace is the name whore, get it right for a change! Christopher Everdeen is buried in the ground long ago after these events have unfolded!"

Everyone looked taken back, the language startling them completely. I had a harsher tongue and I did something to the camera no one did before, mostly because their guts were weak. I screwed up my face and spat the worst Lougy ever into the lens. I turned to them then walked off without another word to anyone present.

I sat in my room looking at the picture of my family, the only thing I had from the house they had burned to remember them all. I shook my head then heard my phone ringing at my side, must have seen the news. I clicked it and sighed.

"Hello?"

"We're watching the interview kid." Cole said "Are you alright?"

I sighed looking outside the window "When we take them down I will be, but not before then. Seeing Snow in a grave is the only settlement that will work for this loan."

"Showing that fury may work for us when you could possibly be drawn." Zeke said "You showed everyone that you're not cold but have a heart of ice right now toward the others in the family because of what has happened to those that you loved. That'll make them wonder if you'll side with Echo for the hundredth game coming up, and if so will it be for the entire game."

I sighed getting up and walked to the window "These Games have destroyed thousands of lives sent they began so long ago. I can't believe two years will have to pass before I enter the games to avenge them for what has done."

"I'm sorry about your brother and sister Christopher." Kuo said "They were good people from what I know from knowing you personally these last few months. People like Snow, well they're just monsters looking to make themselves even more powerful without understanding what is truly being lost by each person."

I smiled, the comment touched my heart a little "Mom and Dad raised us right with what little they had available to them when we were kids. But now I'm the only one left to carry on what they had left behind as a legacy in this backwash district. Katniss and Peeta are the Capitol's pawns, slaves to their will as if nothing more than lapdogs. Echo is their pet, groomed to perfection to be the ultimate insult to what remains of the rebellion. Mimi I'm unsure of but she may be a whore also, at least I'm not sure right now with her behavior."

"Nice call too on that one." Cole said "It's the first time the Capitol has laid witness the start of an inter-family feud breaking out. They had expecting this family to bow down completely and appear perfectly at home, guess you broke the mold they had formed so carefully."

I looked at the door then nodded "It's been coming for the longest time around here with what they've done to the image. It was just a matter of finding when the breaking points would start to form and spread, I happened to be that one point known as the hammer."

"We'll be waiting for your call. Take the time you need."

I nodded as he clicked off, rising up off the bed so I could set the picture back down where it belonged. I reached the door and listened below to a heated argument. I opened the door and shut it carefully, making sure no one heard me as I crept slowly to locate the source of the noise. I walked downstairs and saw Katniss and Peeta arguing with one another below about something. It didn't take a genius long to know it was about what I had just done on television to them moments ago.

"Katniss he just called you a whore and me a pimp on national TV to the entire Capitol! We can't let him do that or President Snow will have our hides immediately! He wants us to be the image of perfect obedience to the rest of the Districts. If they see that Christopher is rising up in such a manner of rebellion against us, they may follow suit putting us back where we don't want to be."

"Peeta I've tried everything I can with him, every single thing I know! He's just too stubborn to listen to reason now with all that has happened! He doesn't see that what he's doing is destroying this family's image and fortune with the Capitol. For all we know it may be too late to begin reversing the damage that he caused."

I really wanted to scream at them right now that what they were doing wasn't helping out at all! They were only reinforcing what I already believed them to be for such a long time. A broken family that was only barely able to remain together because they had to for survival in this world, one that could easily be destroyed with a mere action. They had no integrity or feelings anymore for one another, they were just blind meat puppets of society. Women wanted to be with Peeta, believing him to be a glorious prize to have. Men wanted to be with Katniss because she was known for her rebellious nature, wait no that can't be right. She has no more rebellious nature, maybe they just wanted to say they tamed the former rebel symbol. That is probably more likely in my opinion then what I original thought but that's up for debate.

Katniss sighed, her face drenched in sweat as she fretted over what may happen "Peeta perhaps if we sat down and explained why we have to do what we do perhaps he'll be more inclined to not fight as much. He may apologize and go along with what we must do to fix this."

He sighed shaking his head slightly "Katniss perhaps instead of talking we have action to ensure that he loses creditability with the people who support him right now. Snow has spoken with me and told us what we must do to accomplish this, and a methodology in which we can go about it so it'll work in the favor of the Capitol."

Katniss looked at him then sighed looking down "What is it that he wants us to do about this now? I wasn't told about this so I really have no idea anymore what is happening."

"Drug him and then make it look like he and you were intimately involved with each other in the bedroom. The Districts will be outraged by it and turn on him. If they don't have someone to rally behind, then there will be no rebellion."

She nodded, her eyes looking at the meal set out right now "Alright in his dinner I'll put some plants in so he's only semi-aware for the rest of the evening and do what needs to be done. I hope this works out well, we are in such a mess right now it's a nightmare."

I felt my hands curl up making shadows gather around them ready to hurl more fire at them, but if I did I would be exposed. I was so done with them, but using my powers would not help me any at this moment. I walked down as they walked off into the kitchen without a single word to them, I didn't want them to know I heard them right now. I looked around the study at the books praising the capital, all of them had the same exact meaning in them which made them appear heroic. I knew the truth though, they knew nothing but enslavement. I turned to the flat screen which broadcasted the news, or I should say the Capitol's nonsense to the masses that had television sets. Snow was speaking to the masses, a usually smug look on his face as he did. I don't know what the topic was but he just smiled which that alone was enough to put me on edge. That jackal would use anything to win over the masses, with Districts 1 and 2 behind him along with the Capitol it would be difficult to fight him.

"Katniss has always been loyal and doing what was necessary for the Capitol after her small error in the past. I believe we shall soon see an end to this battle in their family before it appears like something is amiss amongst them."

I smashed my fist through the TV absorbing the electricity into me immediately to heal the broken bones and flesh, but that didn't help any with the pain I felt inside. Snow had torn my family from me and gave me this, this puppet family he controlled! I let it come out and tore it off the wall tossing it out the window with a crash, who was he to decide who lived and who died! How was he made a god amongst men!

Katniss and Peeta both ran into the room from the massive crash, more surprised to hear it than anything else I guess. I turned away from the broken window without a word, my eyes showing a fury unlike any they had seen before in their lives I'd wager. Mimi and Echo both came into the room, the commotion must have been heard outside in the Victors Alley. They stared slightly shocked by what they were seeing before them, probably couldn't understand how it was possible even for someone like me to do. I had torn the flat screen right out from the wall and tossed it out the window, a device that had been designed not to move with a guy three times my size. Blood also dripped from my left fist from what I had done in a fury. I only had healed the bone with my powers, nothing more than that just to prove a point.

Katniss walked up to my hand removing the glass "Christopher why did you?"

I tore away from her before she could finish "You are the worst human being alive right now! Pretending that you care what happens to me when you plot behind my back to do things that are unspeakable! You are a vile demon that deserved to die for your sins!"

She looked at me shocked then sighed disappointed "You heard what we said in the kitchen, didn't you?"

I merely nodded waiting for her response, right now I was in a very ticked off mood ready to bash in some skulls. She turned to the others, her eyes more than a little sorrowful at the moment but that didn't matter. After her last plot I had to make sure to take nothing at face value.

"Can we have a minute alone."

They all walked out silent as ghosts, no doubt they felt the tension and anger from me which made them more than cautious. They had no idea what I could do in battle, if they did they'd know to be completely terrified of me. Echo and Mimi whispering with each other looking at my hand then the hole in the wall I had made moments ago.

Katniss sat down, her eyes completely focused on me "Christopher do you think your family would approve of this? Of all this destruction that you are causing right now."

"With all that happened to them, I can picture them smiling at every action that I have done. There is probably nothing that they wanted more to see me doing right now."

"Prim wanted you to leave and survive in District Thirteen long enough to have kids and a family. Doing this is the exact opposite of what she wanted, she wanted to see our bloodline survive. Making Snow angry would cause all sorts of nightmares upon your life, believe me you do not want that on you no matter what he's done."

"It could also be the greatest thing ever to happen if I fought!" I roared furiously "Right now there is no peace in this land! Just a dictator trying to command the last of humanity!"

Peeta walked up, guess he too had been listening in on our conversation "Listen to me right now Christopher!"

I turned to him immediately "The name is Shadow's Ace! Get it right!"

He struck out with a right sending me to the floor.

"Peeta!"

I rose up and felt my mouth carefully as I glared at him, blood was pouring out of a wound. Peeta cracked his knuckles a bit, a firm look on his face.

"You wanted discipline in this household and now you've seen it." He said firmly "Now shape up or else you'll receive more of it. I won't tolerate you endangering our family over some stupid vendetta you have against a force you can't understand."

I rose up as he waited, my mind racing. I turned to him scowling as what I was about to do next came to mind. I roared then hit him in the face sending him spinning to the ground immediately, blood and a few teeth flying in the process. He collapsed to the ground then began getting up slowly, a shock look on his face. I turned as Katniss held her hands over her mouth shocked as well. Neither of them were expecting me to pack that powerful of a punch I'd wager. Peeta was massive when you compared him to me, had to be twice my size.

I walked up my hands balled up into fists "I'm done with you all! You're a puppet of Panem and you always will be from this day forward! I want nothing to do with you! You don't deserve a second longer of my time!"

I marched to the door and kicked it open sending it flying with a single kick of my foot. I walked off a few feet then vanished in a flash of flames to another location.

Cole and the others looked up as I appeared before them in my usual manner, except I had a pissed look on my face. I walked up to a stump and sat down, my eyes focusing on the flames ahead of me. I put my hands on my head shaking slightly.

"The world is coming apart!"

Kuo walked up to me "Ace you alright?"

I looked up at her "Peeta just threw a fist at my face, he literally threw a punch. For the first time in my life I've seen him get angry at someone, the first time in my entire life. I've never seen him throw a punch in his life at another human being except for replays in the Hunger Games they had been in long ago. I have gotten him so worked up that he believes that I'm finally done with words. He took the only opinion left and threw a punch directly at me, it didn't end well."

"I believe it's time we speak with them." Cole said calmly "An intervention so to speak. It may help smooth things out around that household."

I rose up immediately "No its not time for that. If they discover that you're the one's giving me strength they will tell the Capitol!"

Kuo walked up to me "I believe the damage has been done already to where there is no turning back. Those two will be your mentors for the games and we may need them to help us succeed in this plan to get you out alive."

I looked at her then toward District 12, they were going to try to reason with my aunt and uncle. A feat that was so impossible. I felt my hands curl into fists as I tried not to scream out at them.

"You want to speak with them? You can try but I will not return there!"

(Kuo's P.O.V.)

I watched as Ace went to the lake side scowling as he looked out over the water. He was mad about what happened and why wouldn't he be? I mean his old life was torn apart and now he had to live like this forever, even if he won the war the memories would still be there. Anyone would be furious about the new life they had at the moment until they were finished with what must be done.

I turned to Cole "We need to speak with his family."

"Kuo you and Nix go. But when you go make sure this Echo character doesn't see you or the president himself for the matter. Natives cannot see you use your powers either so go in stealthy, don't want the cat out of the bag until later."

"You got it Demon." Nix said calmly "Come on Kuo, let's go meet the Shadow's aunt and uncle. I'm curious to see who they really are, I have a feeling it'll be some fun shit there when we get up close and personal."

We both vanished appearing outside the house, taking a brief moment to make sure we looked alright. I looked around then walked up Nix beside me. I knocked sharply on the door then listened to what was happening inside.

After a few more knocks Katniss answered the door for us. I looked at her carefully then smiled, even though she appeared middle class she was the upper class in reality of this district thirteen. Deserved some respect I guess, even though her place in my time is average.

"Hello Mrs. Everdeen may we come in?"

She moved aside "Yes I guess."

Nix and I entered the house, my eyes peeled for any threats at all present in this area. I looked at the place carefully then noticed a window had been broken in the study, also a television set that had once been attached to a wall torn completely off. Shadow must have some impressive talent, he hadn't even revealed his true powers while he was that angry. Katniss walked in there and began cleaning up some tools that were lying about.

"Excuse the mess please, a little, accident happened. We're trying to fix it as soon as we can but for now we'll have to wait."

Nix walked up to the boarded up window examining it more closely "Broken window, TV missing, I say there was a fight going on here if I didn't know this sort of thing. Am I on the dot here or was this some sort of freak incident."

I shot Nix a venomous glance at her joke but Katniss only sat down on the couch, unaware of what Nix meant "To be honest, yes there was a bit of a fight here. I just wish it hadn't happened, after all that happened I didn't need it. When Christopher was a little kid and Prim alive my world was perfect nearly except for what I had to do to keep them safe, but I could deal with that for the two of them. They held my world together."

I sat down beside her "What do you mean by that? You appeared so composed on television I would not take it that they were the only things holding you together."

She looked outside then turned to me "Christopher has a burning hatred for the Capitol and Echo because of what has happened in the past to him. He wants nothing more than to kill Echo in the arena and the feeling is mutual from Echo. They both are ready, and what is growing inside of me is killing me slowly."

I placed a hand on hers "Don't worry about that one Katniss, things will change before then I believe. Sometimes enemies can become friends given enough time and patience with each other."

Nix gave a small nod, understanding exactly what I meant by that. After all we were on opposite sides but we had set that aside, for now that is. Echo and Shadow may not have been friends now, but surely at some point that had to change

"No, not Echo and Christopher. Echo purposely abused Prim in front of Christopher causing him more pain then any child could ever bear in his entire lifetime. He was also part of the squad that fired on her, they will always hate one another from that day forward for what has been done. Echo for Christopher's defiance to the Capitol, Christopher for the death of his mother at Echo's own hands. Neither will stop until the other is dead in the ground."

She sighed shaking her head "I'm not sure whether those two will ever get along until the other is dead. Echo has Snow behind him making him unstoppable at the moment, and in a much better position to do harm to his opponent for his amusement. I couldn't discipline him at all without having Snow come after me right now. Mimi isn't much better than Echo in the sense with all that has happened."

I scowled "What do you mean?"

Katniss looked at us then away "At that school I had no effect on her life, no way to show her the way she should act. Snow purposely wanted me separated from my children as much as he could possibly do. His final revenge upon me, making the children of my own womb into something I couldn't shape at all. I can't bear it, all of this is tearing me apart!"

She gathered herself slightly "I'm sorry, we're not supposed to talk about about those things in front of guests. Please forgive me, it happens sometimes."

I leaned forward placing a hand on top of hers "Everything will work itself out, I'm sure of it. All you need to do is give it some time and things will set themselves right."

Katniss met my eyes then down shaking her head "No it never will, not after the rebellion. Especially with the media eating this up and what has happened. He could have doomed us all now without even realizing it!"

I looked at her as she cried in her hands, she was suffering worst then I thought through these events as they unfolded. A slave that was trapped by the government and forced to do their bidding without any way to say no really.

I turned to Nix, wondering what she was thinking about this whole thing. She wasn't looking at Katniss finding the situation just as disturbing as I was at the moment, guess that was one thing we could agree on. I turned back to Katniss rising up from my seat.

"I'm so sorry."

She looked at us for a moment then down toward the floor closing her eyes "When the next Hunger Games come they will fight each other without mercy, I know it deep down in my gut. Whether here or in the arena, only one of them will live to leave there alive."

I leaned down to comfort her but she merely rose up "Please can I have a moment alone, I'm sorry about this. "

We watched as she went off to a back room. I turned to Nix with a slight sigh.

"Come on, let's go back to report. I believe there is nothing more to find here."