District 11: Falcon Dide (18) Pov-
I don't understand what the point is. What's the point of trying to survive? I don't want to go home. I don't want to go back to being hated and feared because of what happened to Kai. It was an accident. But no matter how many times I tell people I loved my little brother, they will never believe that I'm not evil.
The bloodbath looks close to over. Most of the tributes have either made their escape or are now lifeless carcasses littering the body of water. The boy from 5 is still sitting on the platform where the boy from 8's bloodied body lies. He's running his fingers through the blood, a look of complete inspiration on his face. I suppose since he's the partner of a career, he isn't worried about getting murdered.
The boy from 6 is giving Sparkle quite a fight. He dodges a blow to his stomach. He looks completely terrified, scampering across his platform as the girl again shoves her sword towards his middle. I'm sure he won't last long. Besides, his partner's already dead. He's pretty hopeless. And the hopeless are never good fighters. They have nothing to fight for.
The girl from 3 is washing her bloodied sword off in the water, catching her breath. The girl from 2, accompanied by the boy from 9, is filling a water bottle. They're not worried. They know they're safe as they're part of the career group.
I take one look at Kasey; she's already on the bank closest to the mountain, holding up her spear, getting aim on Sparkle. I know Kasey's waiting for me. She expects me to get to the cornucopia, pick out a weapon, and kill a couple careers and meet up with her. She puts down her spear as she glances in my direction.
"Falcon!" Kasey shouts, just as the boy from 1, Colton, makes eye contact with me, a determined look in his eyes. I thought he might be the one to kill me. Ever since our little brawl at the feast, I've known he doesn't like me. "Falcon! You need to come here! There's no more time to go to the cornucopia! I'll hold them off while you swim!"
But, I ignore Kasey's shouts. Didn't she learn anything from the conversation we had during training? She's supposed to leave me alone.
"Falcon! You have to move!" She screams.
I continue standing on my platform, making sure to keep my attention on the career from 1. He lifts up his right hand in a wave, as if to say I see you. I'm going to kill you. He grabs the sword from the girl from 3 and dives into the water, swimming towards me.
This is it. I'm going to die. Strangely enough, the thoughts that run through my mind aren't fearful. They're relieved. I'll get to see Kai again. I'll finally get to apologize.
Colton's head pops up from the water, his blue eyes fastened on mine. It's as he pulls himself onto my platform and holds his sword up that he hesitates.
"Why aren't you running?" he asks in a whisper.
"Kill me. Go ahead," I say, my voice unwavering.
His blonde eyebrows come together in confusion. "Why aren't you running?" he repeats. "Are you too scared to move? You're a coward?" Even though his words are taunting, there's a certain uneasiness to them.
"Don't call me a coward." I say through gritted teeth. For a moment he actually looks a little scared, but he pulls his expression into one of fortitude.
"Then run," he hisses.
I look at Colton, momentarily puzzled. He should have killed me already. Why is he telling me to run? Does he think I'm trying to con him?
"I'm doing you a favor. Go ahead and kill me," I say, holding my arms up to show my defeat. "I'm not tricking you."
He lifts the sword up, pointing the thirsty tip at my chest. I wait for him to stab me. He doesn't.
I let out a soft chuckle.
"What's so funny? Stop laughing!" His voice is commanding, but his eyes are apprehensive.
"You can't do it. You're too afraid."
"I'm not afraid," Colton spits back. "I just…I can't kill you unless you fight back."
I peel my gaze from Colton's, peering down at the blade that's pressed against my jacket.
"And why not?" I inquire.
"Colton, hurry up!" Sparkle shouts, sticking her sword in the water, washing away the dark red blood of her most recent victim. A cannon goes. The boy from 6's body lies limply on his platform. His mouth is hanging open. Drops of blood slide from his lips and into the water. Poor kid. Though, he didn't really stand a chance against Sparkle.
I look back up at Colton. His sword is shaking in his hand.
"Just do it," I say, calmly.
Colton mutters something I don't quite catch, probably some type of insult to infuriate me; some sort of offense to make me hurl a punch in his direction.
But, my attention is focused on the water. The still liquid begins to bubble into white, frothy liquid. Colton notices a few seconds after me.
"What is it? What's happening?" His blue eyes get wide.
"Colton! Finish him off and get out of the water!" Arianne shouts. Her and the rest of the careers are now standing on the bank by the mountains, having fled from the dangerous looking water. Kasey is nowhere to be seen. She's probably realized there's no use waiting for me.
Before Colton or I can flee, the water shoots into the air, landing on top of me with such force it knocks me off the platform.
Colton drops the sword, falling in after me. And the current is so strong that it feels like strong arms forcing me under water, shoving me down stream, right towards the waterfall. Colton struggles to push against the current. But, it's no use.
I just let the water push me. My instincts scream that I should grab onto a platform nearby. But, I let the current carry me. And I just think of Kai. How ironic it is that I should die in water just like my little brother.
I smile. I'm finally going to get what I deserve.
District 3: Arianne Pixel (16) Pov-
I stand in silence, waiting for Colton's shout. Waiting to hear him call up to me. He'll tell me he has killed the boy from 11 and that he's okay. But, no such voice soars through the arena. There's just the soothing sound of running water.
"Well…" Jared heaves a small sigh. "I guess-"
"Be quiet!" I cut him off. "We have to listen for Colton."
After a few more beats, a hand lands on my shoulder.
"Arianne, I'm sorry," Brynn says, her soft eyes so understanding.
"Why? He's not dead!" I retort.
"Arianne, let's be realistic," Jared says, his tone far less consoling that Brynn's. "The boy fell about 100 feet in a dangerous arena. He's probably dead."
"Did you hear a cannon?"
Jared frowns. "Well, the water is loud."
"But did you hear a cannon?" I raise a brow. Jared is silent. "Exactly. Now, we have to go look for him."
"No." Jared replies. His voice is soft. It's not authoritative, but his expression is sober and stern. "We will take to the mountains. Remember our game plan?"
"But-"
"We don't go back for anyone."
"Yes. But-"
"Colton's a smart guy, anyway. I'm sure if he's alive he'll make his way to the mountains. He already knows we're heading there."
I remain silent, shooting Jared a glare filled with as much odium as I can manage in such a situation. What if Colton's injured? Or what if he really is dead? I shake the thought from my mind.
"Who the hell made you the leader anyway?" I hiss at Jared.
The career from 2's expression doesn't change. He shrugs.
I glance at the rest of the group. Brynn is still wearing a pitying expression, Sparkle appears a little uncomfortable and she fiddles with the strap on a backpack. Mikey opens his mouth as though he's going to say something, but after a nervous glance in Jared's direction, he remains silent.
"If you want to go look for him on your own, you can," Jared says.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. I want to scream at Jared that this isn't fair. I should shove my sword through his chest right now. But, I know I'll need him to kill more of the other tributes before I dispose of him. So, I put on the most charming smile I can muster, and nod my head.
"You're right, Jared. Colton is smart. I'm sure he'll come back."
Jared blinks, not offering a response. He turns towards the rocky mountains in front of us. Brynn and Sparkle follow him closely. Mikey pulls the water canteen from his backpack. He doesn't say anything. But, from the way he holds the jug out to me I can tell he's offering me some.
I shake my head.
He sticks the canteen back in his bag, tightening the straps so the backpack hugs his shoulders. We walk after the rest of the group. He whispers very softly to me, "Don't worry. He's not dead."
I glare at him. "I know that." Because of the way he bites his lip and looks at his shoes after my words, as though hurt, I add a quick, "Thanks for the optimism, though."
He shrugs. "And he'll come back. I'm sure."
"Yeah. Well…we'll see."
I watch as Mikey speeds up a little so he can walk beside Brynn. The two of them start into a soft conversation. She chuckles at something, and he beams as she laughs. Brynn flicks a piece of dirt off the collar of his jacket while he's looking ahead at the climb into the mountains. It's such a caring action. As though Mikey's her little brother.
Then I start thinking about my little brothers, Cole and Copper. I would give anything to see them again.
No. I will do anything.
I don't care if I have to kill Brynn's and Mikey's friendly souls while they sleep.
If I see Colton's name in the sky after the anthem tonight, I'm killing every single tribute in this arena before morning. Because there's no way I'm dying in the next day. There's no way I'm dying. Ever.
Bloodbath is over. I'm sorry if your tribute died. It's nothing personal. Honestly, I don't even know who's going to die until I start writing and then my fingers type out someone's name in the same sentence as "spear" or "decapitated head" and before I know it, that character has been killed off.
This chapter's known death: Anderson Piely. The thirteen-year-old from district 6 who was into dating older women. Even if no older women even wanted to date him. I thought this character was an odd ball and therefore a wonderful character. I do feel sorry for the boy and for his mother and little brother. For, it's always hard on the families, isn't it?
6 down. 18 still have a chance.
As for last chapter's question, you all were right! Yes. I'm aware it was an easy easy easy question. So, I'm going to try and come up with a much more interesting question for this chapter:
True or False: Colton and Falcon are both alive.
Yeah. So just write what you think. You think they both survived the travel down the water fall? Perhaps the journey down the waterfall was just like one of those rides at a water park which all the preeteen couples go on because they're too short to go on the AWESOME rides, yet still want to feel cool and accomplished enough to go on a ride not crowded with little kids with life jackets. (yeah-you know EXACTLY the ones I'm talking about. There's always that preeteen couple). Or do you think one or both of them died? Tell me what you think.
I did want to thank all those who have reviewed, followed, favorited and all that jazz. It's always a nice feeling to get a review. And it means a lot to me that you're all taking the time to read this story. :D
You can start sponsoring tributes now, by the way. If you wish to.
Bellow is a list of the tributes. The numbers of tributes they have killed are to the right of their names. The bolded tributes are still alive.
District 1:
Male: Colton Orsel (16)
Female: Sparkle Uccello (17)- has killed 2
District 2:
Male: Jared Lynxx (17)- has killed 1
Female: Brynn Carson (16)
District 3:
Male: Skip Ryden (18)
Female: Arianne Pixel (16)- has killed 2
District 4:
Male: Tommy Scott (17)
Female: Janette McKinley (16)
District 5:
Male: Talen Morton (15)- has killed 1
Female: Sophie Merita (13)
District 6:
Male: Anderson Piely (13)
Female: Hadley Paxton (15)
District 7:
Male: Joey Morel (16)
Female: Clara Kinking (16)
District 8:
Male: Todd Brown (12)
Female: Kat Callaghan (15)
District 9:
Male: Mikey Jonah (15)
Female: Clarity May (17)
District 10:
Male: Friesian Wade (14)
Female: Halley Morris (15)
District 11:
Male: Falcon Dide (18)
Female: Riley Kramer (17)
District 12:
Male: Hunter Night (15)
Female: Kasey Spalik (16)
