Chapter 12: Kelso

There he sits. His back is to him. He can't see his face, but he's sure it's the same grumpy expression he's had since the Reapings.

A long swig finishes off the water. The mutts have stopped their pursuit and disappeared. He steps out of the shadows and makes his slow descent. This is his final destination. This is his moment.

The boy lounges on the dirt, one arm on the ground, the other leaned against metal table. He could see the movement of his arm from the table to his mouth. The boy was eating, enjoying a meal before the final fight. It's still hard to believe this greasy-haired, runt of a kid killed off half his alliance at this very spot.

This year was full of surprises. Amazement had prepared himself for a fantastic show. What he got was the exact opposite. The lack of weapons in the Cornucopia. The dismal bloodbath count (Six. A pathetic score). The Arena itself was a remastered version of the Tenth Games. 'The Aftermath' they were calling it. A horrible idea in his opinion. Water was plenty but food was scarce. No weapons to be found throughout the Arena. Had to be assembled from the scraps and shrapnel lying around. None of them were too good at it.

To make matters worse, Tributes were dying left and thought it was the blowhard from Eleven until he appeared in the sky second night in. Summed it up to the Gamermakers. Weren't any weapons in this place. Who else could it be? Sponsors dried up. Amazement secured many at Showcase. The most he received? Crackers and jerky.

Tensions rose. District Four pissed him off. Cost him his life. Things were sane for a moment.

Then, the feast.

Fourth day in, what was left of the Career Alliance and a few ragged outliers made their way back to the Cornucopia. The feast was just that, food, no weapons, but the Careers' spirits were raised. They hadn't killed since the bloodbath. It was time to work.

They made showy deaths of the outliers. Amazement chuckled as the little Seven boy screamed and squirmed his way to nowhere. Looking over his team's work, Amazement sighed in relief. They did good. They had proved themselves worthy. Silver parachutes rained down on them. He was even awarded a sword. More of a machete, but a proper weapon nonetheless. No one noticed the shiny glass ball flying out of the Cornucopia's mouth.

Pristine went down first, the blast engulfing her in shrapnel. Amazement barely had time to register what was happening when he saw District Two sliced down by some wooden object. Wild eyes searched for the culprit but to no avail. He made his retreat, Mirari close behind. He couldn't believe their folly. They had been ambushed, so easily at that!

A betrayal, one more outlier death, and here he stands, approaching the last person standing in the way of his victory.

He tries to recall what he can remember of the surly boy. He didn't cry at the Reapings. Didn't do much in training. Gamemakers' score was a two. Grumbled his way through the interviews. Spent the entire Showcase glued to the exit. District partner died in the bloodbath, courtesy of Amazement.

How did this cannon fodder make his way to second place? He couldn't even remember his name!

Lying beside the boy is the wooden object that took down District Two. From the distance he can make out a long stick with a sharp, jagged metal piece fastened to the wood by rope and a...melted water bottle? A crude spear, but it's done its job well. Other objects surround it: glass balls with metal pieces, a makeshift knife, some sort of cloth rope with a rock tied to the end, a jar of powdery white, a sparkling new satchel. Is he the one responsible for killing all the others? Snow help me...

Amazement is nearly to the boy now. He hasn't moved an inch, eating the food with a voracious hunger. He could have rushed down Three and take him out that way. Surely he is worthless in close combat. Something told him that would have been a bad idea, so he went with the element of surprise. Use the boy's strengths against him.

Sweat builds upon Amazement's brow. His feet scraps against the dirt, kicks a rock across the ground. His grip on the machete tightens, breath heavy with excitement. He is getting sloppy, he knows that, but he is so close. He will win. Make Brilliance proud. Marry Quartz and give her the life she deserves. He will make an awesome Victor. He can see it now. Victor Presque. It has a nice ring-

The boy from Three leaps to his feet. The spear zooms through the air. Amazement moves a second too late, dying with his namesake.

The cannon booms. Trumpets blare. Kelso sits back to his meal, waving off the hovercraft. Twelve kills, and he cares more about lamb stew.


A very, very long writer's block. Hope Oisin55 doesn't mind me borrowing 'cannon fodder'.