A/N Sorry that I haven't updated this in a while. I'm writing an SYOT, and iI've just been caught up in it. Most tribute spots are still open (especially boys).
Meadow wakes me for my watch. It's routine now; I go to sleep, have a nightmare or two, and wake to Meadow gently shaking me. Usually, waking up provides relief from the nightmares, but it doesn't work today. My dreams were about ending up with Jack and Meadow in the final 3. In some of them, Meadow sliced us up. In others, Jack decapitated us. However, the worst ones were the ones in which I killed the other two and transformed into a monster. Snow was laughing in the background, because I had done what he wanted me to do.
No, Buck, you can't think this way.
Today's the moment of truth. I have to focus on the task at hand: getting rid of the Careers, because if they don't die, then NONE of us will be able to win, since they're so much stronger. I grit my teeth and focus on taking out the Careers. Only Cato and Arlen are left. I was expecting Cato, but Arlen? What score did he get anyway?
I know that Cato mainly fights with swords at close range, even though his spear throwing skills are nothing to laugh at. Arlen is a stereotypical District four Career, good with tridents and spears. That's fairly close ranged too. I guess that we'll have to keep a distance.
The sun slowly comes over the horizon, but it's still moving too quickly. I would do anything to keep this day from moving on. But there's nothing I can do. Jack and Meadow both get up slowly. They know what'll happen today, and I can tell that they're not happy about it. Jack mumbles something about death, and we all eat, even though none of us are hungry. We finish the last bits of our food, because we know that this is our last meal in the arena. We're ending it today.
We've actually been pretty lucky. Meadow has a now healed cut on her left arm, Jack has a scratched up chest, but that's about it. Maple's instincts and quick brain kept us fairly safe for the first half, but after that, it was luck. It was pure luck that Rue died before I could die with the acid. Pure luck that the Careers never found us. But as much luck as we have, we still have to face the Careers head on. Either that or wander away and get killed by mutts or something.
We pack our bags, but we leave out many items. The extra water bottle is left out, and so is the vial of water purification tablets. We only bring our weapons and things we might need in and right after battle; namely, Meadow's first aid kit and three water bottles, one for each of us. Jack packs the extra axes (I didn't know he had so many), Meadow puts up a collection of throwing knives, and I just have a nice long dagger and a whip. We stand up, take one last look at our campsite, and head off.
Normally, tributes don't have to leave so early to reach the Cornucopia (it's our only guess as to where we'll meet), but I'm not normal. Travel is slow, but I don't really care. It seems like the other two don't mind the slow pace either. But a journey has to end, and this one is no exception. Too soon, the woods open into the field surrounding the golden horn, which is shiny and bright, as usual. Cato and Arlen are nowhere to be seen.
"Where do we wait," Meadow says, not really asking. We all know that waiting by the Cornucopia is our best bet. We make our way up to it and wait. And wait. Surprisingly, there are some leftovers in the back of the Cornucopia. Beef jerky and dried fruit. A knife in the corner and a rope. Meadow takes the knife.
Soon, the sun is hot overhead. We eat the food in the Cornucopia and drink our water. No use getting dehydrated. I get impatient.
"What's taking so long," I complain. We bothered to come all the way here, and the Careers don't show their faces.
As if on cue, we hear sounds of footsteps. We turn in the direction of the sound, and there they are, the ones we've been waiting for. They see us. Noticing our weapons, they keep a distance, knowing that they're best at close range.
"Well, well, well," Arlen says, "We spent the entire day looking for you, and you had to come here?"
"If you had a brain, you might have figured it out," Jack coldly replies. I'm unfamiliar with this Jack. Before, he had been a kind friendly guy always ready to laugh. After Maple's death, he was quiet, a little sullen, but mainly just depressed. But now, his voice is bitter and cold.
They look at each other, trying to stare the other down, but both of them don't drop their gaze.
"Jack! Move!" Meadow shouts, and he jumps to the side just as Cato's spear whizzes past him, barely missing.
"I guess it's begun," Jack says, raising his axe.
The Careers must've planned this out or something, because they charge, and I find myself face to face with Arlen while Cato is against both Meadow and Jack. He is too close for my whip, so I find myself using the dagger.
I tackle him, thankful I did wrestling in training. He, however, has been trained, he drops the trident, which is no good when you're on the ground, and pulls out a knife. We tumble this way and that, getting myself and him cut in the process. We eventually drop the knives and resort to fists and physical strength.
If he was Cato, I would be dead, but he isn't, and he isn't as strong or trained as the older one. He finds his way on top of me, but before he can pin me down, I force him off with a combination of my legs and fists. He backs away a little to retrieve his trident. We're now at the perfect distance for a whip. I quick pull it out and let it fly. It feels at home in my hands, and it does exactly what I tell it to. Cutting him with the sharp edge, I back away.
Big mistake. He sees me retreating, smirks, and moves over to the other battle. Jack and Meadow are currently standing about 40 feet apart, with Cato in the middle. Ideal for them, since it's far enough to avoid getting slashed, but not too far to make throwing difficult. Jack is down to his last axe, and he motions to Meadow. I interpret it as, "Distract him so I can get this axe into him."
However, Arlen picks that moment to go after Meadow. She's pretty fast, so she dodges the first strike. But after that, he has her right where he wants her. She's forced to drop her knives and bag, which weigh her down, and he drives her away from them. Weaponless, I know that it's only a matter of time until her cannon sounds. I'm too far away to help, and Cato keeps Jack from rushing over to her.
All of a sudden, Jack throws the axe. It was a horrible throw, and it wouldn't have hit Cato if he had stood stil. But them we hear the sickening crack of bone and a cannon.
Jack wasn't aiming at Cato, but at Arlen. At first, I'm relieved and happy, because it's three on one now, but then it hits me like a punch to the gut.
That was Jack's last axe.
Cato realizes it too and charges. I want to run to them, but they're too far away. Meadow is still weaponless and looking for the spot where she dropped the knives. Jack runs, but the years of training have made this match unfair. Before either Meadow or I can do anything about it, Cato has stuck his sword through Jack's abdomen. He collapses, and Cato swings one last time. The cannon booms.
Jack died as himself, doing what he loved to do, which was protecting others. He first saved Meadow at the bloodbath, and now how final action was saving Meadow on the same field.
I force myself back to reality, since we still have one enemy. Cato looks at us.
"I never imagined that the my final two kills would be of a crippled boy and a weak girl," he sneers, "Which one of you would like to go first? In fact, the first one to take my offer gets a quick death. Any takers?"
Neither Meadow nor I move.
"Fine, but you made the decision."
He decides to come at me first. I trip him a few times and keep him back for a little while with my whip, but he charges, not caring when he gets five lashes and bloody marks on his chest. I pull out my dagger when he gets close, but he disarms me easily. I try to back, but my leg catches on something, and I fall backwards. He stands over me, ready to make the final blows.
I think about my family and friends for what will be my last time. I'm going to die, and Cato will easily overpower Meadow. This will be just another game. Nothing big will happen.
I hear a loud "No!"
I close my eyes.
I hear a thud and a body on me.
I open my eyes, and I see Cato's blank eyes staring into mine; I'm stuck under his body. I let out a screech of surprise, and them I see four big knives in Cato's back.
Meadow.
She runs to me.
"Are you okay?" she says.
"I think," I say, and I try to get out from under the dead boy's body.
"Let me help," she says, and rolls him over. Together, we move his body away, and I climb out.
"Look at this," she says, and hands me a wooden cross on a rope necklace. These crosses can be seen all over Panem, remnants of the world before, but no one knows what they mean. "I found it beside Jack."
It must be his token. I walk over to him, and loop the necklace around his neck.
"His family should get it back," I say, now struggling to hold back tears as I see Jack's body.
Meadow gasps.
"What?" I say.
"B-Buck," she stumbles, "We're the last two."
A/N Dun, Dun, Dun! How do you guys think this will work out? And Jack. :'( :'(