District nines mentor Barric Emmer's POV
The clock struck midnight as I watch Omri settle down in his tree, he isn't going to head down and have to face Ermin and his spear, and the foggy arena is making it hard for him to continue shooting darts. Ermin continues to circle the tree watching but struggling to see anything, I can't see him settling down for the night though, he's far to exposed.
The night drags on and I find myself falling asleep for small chunks of time, although never really settling.
It is around six am when the sun begins to rise in the arena, the fog has cleared and Ermin is laying against the base of the tree, his eyes closed. The sun shines through the trees and one beam catches Omri in his eyes, he groans then wakes up wobbling a little in the tree as if only just remembering where he is. He looks down the tree and sees Ermin whose eyes remain closed, I am unsure if he is sleeping or not, as is Omri who gathers up his stuff and scoots around to the other side of the tree, where he begins to shuffle downwards.
Several feet from the floor he jumps and makes a good landing, he quickly looks behind him before running off along the raised ground.
I watch as he heads for higher ground, keeping an eye behind him as he runs.
I wonder if Kana our escort is watching, she had no faith in the boy, in either of them. Told me that first night on the train to the capitol, her pink lips pouted as she complained about the lack of decent tributes in nine. Omri sure has shown her, he's shown a lot of people who discounted him because of his age or district, just as I and Bryant had been during our years.
I wonder if Mena has had her child yet, Bryant will make a wonderful father he's so caring. I remember the day he won his games like it was yesterday, the only one I've brought home. His eyes were bloodshot and his body was skinny. He didn't speak a word for weeks after the games, they just sent him home without an interview. He only made one kill, they were the final two and the boy from two was bloody and bruised recovering from his final grand battle with the boy from one. I remember the skinny little boy emerging from his hiding place hardly able to stand, he picked up the boy from twos abandoned axe and ended the games. He hadn't really wanted to kill anyone, but I think his hunger drove him on.
The same couldn't be said for Omri, he had a ruthless streak an urge to return home. At first I couldn't understand it, what could a community home kid be so desperate to go home for, but then it hit me. He wouldn't be just another kid in the home, he'd be a victor and he'd be noticed. He was a lot like me in a way fighting to get home to be noticed.
Where Omri has no family I could say I had too much, three older siblings and three younger ones, I was very much a middle child. But I couldn't support all of them with my winnings and eventually we grew apart, leaving me, Bryant and eventually Mena, the girl who made him smile again.
Omri is making good distance in the arena but I can't help but notice that he is heading back towards the cornucopia, whether this is on purpose or not I don't know all I can do is watch.
He eventually reaches the cornucopia where he finally stops moving he makes his way over to the abandoned career camp and begins to rummage although I'm not sure what for. I check his funds, I could send him something if I knew what he wanted.
He is still rummaging when Ermin appears on my secondary screen I groan in annoyance, we are on his turf now, nice flat ground for hand to hand combat, there will be no time for Omri to reload his darts down here. I quickly ponder if Ermin was awake the whole time or woke up to find Omri gone and followed his tracks. It doesn't really matter, he is here now.
Ermin charges out of the bush to the crouching figure or Omri his spear out stretched, here it is I think, here is the end. As he approaches Omri my boy ducks and throws something at Ermin, a sharp piece of broken glass it flies through the air and hits Ermin's leg cutting it a little, Ermin winces but otherwise remains upright.
Omri dives behind an apparently empty box and in the split second it takes for my camera to change angle Omri has what he was searching for. A small glass vial, he carefully opens the lid and gives it a sniff before grinning.
Poison.
I don't know how the careers could have missed it when they emptied the camp but here it is, much stronger than any of Omri's remaining berries. In the time it's taken for Omri to find this Ermin is well on his way to reaching my boy even with his bleeding leg.
Omri quickly dips his two remaining darts into the poison, I didn't realise he was so low, hopefully I will be able to send him more if he makes his shot.
He slides the dart into the gun and positions it to his lips, in one quick movement he sticks his head above the box and fires, the dart hits Ermin straight in the chest as the district four tribute was only meters away at the time, Ermin falls to his knees and groans and Omri fires his last dart hitting the other boy straight in the neck.
"Mom" cries Ermin "I lov.." his final words are cut short as the poison works quickly and the cannon sounds.
I hear a scream flying down the corridor and gulp, Ula will be on her way.
I stand as my door flies open.
"You, You" she cries storming towards me
I try to remain calm "technically Omri"
Ula dives on me and my instincts kick in and I block her attack, she punches and kicks and I try to control her without striking back, we struggle for a moment until two peacekeepers pull her from me.
"Thank you" I nod towards them, they move to one side not speaking and allow Leto Stone to enter.
Ula glares towards him and spits at his feet.
"I did tell you Ula dear" he says completely ignoring me
"Why, why, why" she cries collapsing on the arms of the peacekeepers holding her.
Leto looks from me to her and back again "So Omri can win. Take her away."
"Where to sir?" asks one of the peacekeepers
"Home" Leto replies with a wave of his hand, "Make sure you don't forget Maggie too"
The guards leave keeping hold of Ula as they walk her out of the room, the door closes behind them.
"I'm sorry sir, but did you say Omri will win?" I ask him he sighs
"These words will not leave this room. Correct."
I am wise enough to know this isn't a question. "Correct"
"I have certain stakes on the victory of your district Barric"
"Money?" I blurt out.
"Yes money" he hisses "and I think it would be best for all of us if he wins right. You could retire or allow Bryant to skip a few years to take care of his baby; it's a good thing for your whole district"
I nod, the crops have been poor the last couple of years leaving us with little to eat for ourselves and the district would love to welcome a third victor home.
"Your secret is safe with me sir" I reply "and I am honoured you have chosen my tribute"
"He is clever and skilled with that dart" he replies before nodding and leaving my room, I am alone again.
I look to the screen where Omri is creating a shelter inside the cornucopia using the abandoned crates to create a wall protecting him. With a few directions I send him food and a pack of ten new darts, he grins as he pushes them into his backpack.
A quick recap, 5 are left, Diamond, Clos, Ryker, Ava, Omri.
Dead: D2: Nolan, D3: Techa and Cable, D4: Caitlin and Ermin, D5: Brites and Atom, D6: Ford and Aston, D7: Lindell, D8: Lea and Rolag, D9: Gwenith, D10: Merona and Orford, D11: Maizie and Spud, D12: Brooke and Cole. (18 dead, 5 to go)