Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games, unfortunately.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. Sorry for the previous chapter being so short. It's just I wanted to post a chapter on my birthday, but I promise that will not happen again. The Games are going to end soon so look out for that. Read. And Enjoy...
Last three!
I truly am alone. No people around me. No animals around me. No sounds of animals scurrying across the forest floor. No wind whirling around me. No sounds of anything filling the void. The emptiness of the night, increases my vulnerability and insecurity. I feel scared. That maybe I won't be able to see my family. That maybe I will die heartbroken.
I lean my head back to rest it on the tree trunk and look out as far as I can. I just want this to be over with. I didn't want to be here. I didn't ask for it. I didn't want to be here…to kill. All I wanted was to live a peaceful life with my family. I don't care whether we live in a hut or a mansion, I'd be happy, because of my family. They have been through too much to watch me in the same Games that ruined their lives. That was the cause of their wounds. That gave them everlasting pain. Pain that doesn't reduce over time. I want to go back to them. I just want to win and lead a normal life. But that can never happen. A Victor never has a normal life. My life will be full of pain, something that can never heal.
Even if I win and get through this torture, it will never end. I will have to mentor children my age or even younger. They could be my friends, like Jesse or Amethyst. Or it could be Rye. I wouldn't be able to live through the endless pain. Maybe death is my only way out. Maybe if I end my life it will end this torture. Maybe if Aquilo Snow got what he wanted, to kill me, he would leave my family alone. Leave my parents and Rye alone. Rye. I remember how he desperately wanted me to come home for him. I unclasp my knife from my sheath and brings it to my wrist. A single tear drops from my eyes. As I bring the knife in contact with my skin I remember the desperation in Rye's voice when he asked me to come home. I knew it wasn't likely, but I promised.
Promise.
I promised Rye that I would come home to him. I cannot break his promise by not trying. He would hate me forever even after I die. No, Rye. I will not break the promise I gave. I am not sure I will win, but I know that I will try to get back to you. I will do whatever it takes to ruffle your messy blond hair and see that mischievous smile of yours. I withdraw my knife from my wrist and draw it in my sheath again. I promise.
The thoughts of Rye put me into a nice sleep. Or as nice as sleeping on a tree would be. My eyes flutter open at the bright sun shining on my face. It should be late morning. I don't know how I managed to sleep like that. Maybe it was because of all the crying from yesterday that wore me out.
I untie my bag from the thin branch next to me and take out some meat that Mason obtained. If I weren't in the need of food I would've thrown it away, but unfortunately I am desperate. To keep alive. But not for me…for family, the people I can do anything for or go to any extent for.
Once I am done eating I untie myself from the branch and stuff it into my backpack. I take my bow in my hand and begin to climb down the tree. I decide that it is now time to walk to the Cornucopia. With only four other tributes left, the finale is here soon. I just know it, with all the tension in the air. I begin to walk in a medium pace; not too fast, not too slow. I am in no rush to get to the Cornucopia or kill.
I have been walking for about an hour now and it is noon, with the sun at the highest point in the sky, glaring at me, causing sweat to trickle down my forehead. I continuously wipe the sweat but my actions are futile. After a while I decide I should take a break and therefore I sit on the ground against a tree and take a couple of sips of water. Once I feel that my energy is regenerated, I pack my water away and stand up to begin my journey again. I am about to move along when I hear leaves rustle.
Frantically, I look around for the source of the noise until I spot the leaves of a bush moving around. Slowly, I make my way over to the bush, loading my bow at the same time. Now there's only a difference of a foot between me and the bush when it stops rustling. Attentive I take a couple of steps back but I am too late as a girl flies from behind the bush and pounces on me. She catches me off guard as she pushes me to the ground with her on top of me. Who could this be? There's only one other girl in the arena.
Paige.
I realise that my bow has long left my hand and is away from me – out of reach. She is glaring down at me and I don't avert my eyes either. I keep them fixed on her. If I do avert my eyes it will be a sign of weakness and I am not weak. I give her my most evil look to intimidate her. She has pinned me down and I try my best to come out of her clasp, but she is holding me down strong. She lets out a loud laugh and then looks down at me again. She her arm on my arms to prevent me from attacking her. Damn it. She pulls out a knife from her sheath and presents it in front of me. My knives. I completely forgot about them. But how do I get them out? I cannot move my arms. She begins to bring the knife down to my face.
"Ah. That pretty face of yours. Won't last for very long I'm afraid." She comments. I snarl at her. After a slow approach, the knife finally makes contact with my skin as she begins to drag it along my cheek. I wince the pain and clench my fists to try and control all emotions. I cannot show I am scared.
Then I realise something. She hasn't caught my legs yet. In one moment I bend my knee and kick her in the stomach. The first time she lets out a moan. The second time I kick her in the stomach she goes flying near to the bush she came from. Her head hits the ground with a great force. I stand up to make my final move. Her eyes are still open but they only show pain and defeat. She is breathing heavily and I even see blood trickle from the back of her head. That's when I see the rock behind her smothered with blood.
I take slow steps towards her, giving me enough time to convince myself that I need to kill her. I close my eyes for some time before releasing my knife. It lodges right at Paige's heart. Her hands are now still. The canon seconds after signifies her death. I bend down beside her and with my hand gently close her eyes. As I do so I whisper a soft sorry. I know she hated me but she didn't deserve this fate, which explains the apology.
I decide it is time to leave the area so the hovercraft can collect her body and I continue my journey towards the Cornucopia. I walk for another ten minutes when I hear the engine of the Cornucopia far away. I turn my head to watch a gigantic claw descending from the hovercraft. It disappears behind the trees and after a while I watch it reappear this time mercilessly holding Paige as her limbs dangle from the claw. At least treat her well now that she has left this world, I think to myself before sitting down under a tree.
I take out the medical supplies from my bag and use the cotton wool to clean my wound. There is a lot of blood flowing from what I can tell from the cotton wool. The worst part is trying to put a plaster on it because I am not exactly sure where the wound is. Once I manage to put the plaster on, I carry on walking.
From fifteen minutes to half an hour to another hour, I carry on walking with nothing but the mockingjays up in the tree keeping me company. The silence around me makes me feel quite scared. Like something is going to happen. Therefore I begin to sing the four-note tune Mum and Rue used in their Games. I whistle the tune and soon after the mockingjays begin to replay it like they are a recorder. As one mockingjay picks the tune up it passes it on and on until all the mockingjays around me begin to sing. They are so elegant. Their sound so soothing. I wish it never stops.
But it does…
Abruptly, the mockingjays stop singing. Something's wrong. Panicked I look around for any signs of danger. I hear a sound of rumbling slowly getting louder as I feel the ground shake slightly underneath me. The next thing happens extremely quickly. I hear a male voice shout and out from behind the tree jumps Chase who is shouting and running away from something. As he swiftly runs past me he shoves me onto the floor. I prop myself up onto my elbows and that's when I can see it. The ground is shrinking. The arena is getting smaller. The canyon is expanding swiftly as the hole expands towards me. I can see a pile of dirt lining at the edge of the expanding canyon as it approached. Immediately I jump up onto my feet and make a run for it to the Cornucopia. The Gamemakers are trying to bring the tributes closer. Only four of us left. This is the finale. This is where two of us die and other two survive. I run as fast as my legs can carry me. The noise begins to get louder. It is gaining on me.
After a lot of running and my legs starting to give up on me I finally make it to the clearing of the Cornucopia. I walk all the way to the mouth of the Cornucopia and I turn around to watch it stop expanding at the edge of the Cornucopia and grass. I wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead. I look up to the sky to see it darken into a deep and dark blue. The Gamemakers are increasing tension by making it dark. I am right next to the hole that formerly split the arena in half. I decide to walk away but as I do Chase jumps in front of me, out of nowhere. He holds his sword out of me ready to attack. Subtly, I try to unclasp my knife from my sheath.
"I wouldn't if I were you. You never know when this sword can move." He warns and I stop where I am.
How do I defeat him? This could possibly be the end for me. He starts to approach me with the sword all ready to stab me with it but I react quickly which catches him off guard. I jump and with my right leg kick his hand and he drops his sword to the ground. I kick him in the stomach and as he bends over to hold his stomach I use all my strength to try and push him down into the large canyon. I get him to the edge when he grabs onto my wrist and pulls himself back. He has me by the neck ready to push me down into my death when I see him collapse and fall into the canyon, bringing me with him. I feel my heart fly as I look into the darkness of nowhere.
This is goodbye everyone.
Suddenly I feel someone's hand on my wrist using all their weight to pull me back. When I look up I see Mason. His blue eyes show fear as he tries to pull me up. In one strong move he pulls me up completely and we both fall onto the ground. My head slams onto the ground but it doesn't hurt that much. I manage to get up and brush off all the dirt from my trousers. Mason gets up too and I just look at him impassively. What do I make out of this gesture? Of saving my life. Why go through all the trouble and planning of killing me when in the end he saved my life?
I leave Mason where he is and make my way to the mouth. Keeth jumps from inside and instantly I smile, but then I turn my expression to be impassive. Mason, Keeth and I stand in front of each other, not sure what to do. Suddenly we hear a voice boom.
"Attention tributes. Congratulations on making it to the final three. I am pleased to announce that all the combinations of Victors are valid and therefore any pair of tributes can win." Claudius says. So all our combinations have killed five people. Mason and I have killed five people. Keeth and I have killed five people. Mason and Keeth have killed five people. And that is the bare minimum. "Happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favour." He concludes.
We all share glances. We all know what is going on in each others' minds.
There is only one question in our heads: Who dies...?
Finale next chapter. The Victor will be announced. I have an important question to ask: I am planning on writing a sequel but I am not sure whether to continue in the same story or write a separate one, so I'd like to know your opinion. PM or review your response.
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"When she sings, even the birds stop and listen." ~ Peeta
