Leah Dagger (16), District Two Female-POV
A second cannon fires five minutes after Nicolas' goes off. Neatly drilled into his head, a white chunk of stalactite is the culprit, the reason behind his death. The entire time I'd known that trap had been there, even if Griffin and Jackson had been oblivious to it; they were dunderheads anyways. That boy from District Four would only drag us down, would only soak through countless amounts of bandages, so it had been a very smart idea to me if we just killed him. While I believed that Jackson would have agreed with me, Griffin being the one standing opposed, it would be best if I didn't take any chances. By this time tomorrow, the rest of the Career alliance will be under my thumb, putting District Two back in its rightful place as leader of the Careers.
Quite honestly, people from District One didn't have what it took. On our hunting trips, we'd only been targeting specific Tributes, when we really should have been chasing down all of them. Soon enough, the anthem is going to start off, signaling that we only managed to get rid of four people today. Thinking back to my Mentor, Runa Young, who was probably muttering with Dratari about what horrible Careers the Capitol Reaped this year; personally, I'd have to agree with her. Only Griffin and I were out for blood, though he lacked a certain flair that I found to be needed in a Career Tribute. Oh, whatever, I'm going to be the one winning the Hunger Games anyways. Glancing over at the beauty queen, well, beauty king, Griffin doesn't appear to be bothered in the slightest at Jackson's death. I can't help but wonder if he's going to feel the same way when faced with his own; I really hope that he breaks down crying like the pampered baby he is. Besides, his brother, Dragon I think, had been murdered by that girl from District Eight- Gelle McDoe I think. Or had it been the girl from District Twelve? In all honesty, I couldn't care less about him; he was too puny for my tastes.
"Ten bucks says that was Yoda!" I jeer, trying to lift up the mood, as Jackson's staring ahead stonily.
Griffin rolls his eyes, "You don't have ten dollars, Dagger," he retorts, stepping carelessly over Nicolas' corpse.
Huffing, I pull out a narrow knife, the one that Fialla had managed to knock out of my hand, and stab Nicolas when I step over him. The feeling of the blade sinking through flesh causes me so much pleasure that I can't wait for Tribute hunting; there's no way I'm going to let Griffin put me on guard duty today. Besides, Cashmere's been doing a perfectly splendid job of it all on her own; no one's managed to rob us yet! It would have been a shame if I jinxed it though; maybe someone would kill Griffin in the process, like Cato had done to that District Three boy in his Hunger Games many years ago. A smile creeps onto my face at that thought, not just because the blood of the District Four Tribute covers my knife.
"Hmm…Wait a little bit and we'll see about that," I comment smugly, "The Victors of Hunger Games get tons of pay, Griff-Griff!"
My District Partner bursts out laughing, though it sounds a bit strangled from the stained bandage on his neck. Huh, guess Cashmere's going to have to patch that up again, otherwise I'll be the only one representing District Two once we make it to the final eight. Sponsors probably like me better anyways, as Jackson's quite frankly a chucklehead. Chuckleheads couldn't kill you nine different ways while playing one of Tchaikovsky's on the trombone. Still, it didn't matter all too much, as even Jackson would be dead soon enough; it'd be fun to see the look of shock on his loud mouthed sister's face. It had been almost too fun Volunteering after she had been Reaped; my only regret was that I hadn't been able to relish the moment even more than I had done.
"Griff-Griff?" Jackson questions, "I can see it now! 'It is my pleasure to announce the winner of the 175th Hunger Games: Griff Griff Hallway!"
Griffin glares, pointing his sword menacingly at Jackson, "Knock it off now, Ross. Or you're going to regret it!"
He raises his hands in surrender, and then charged towards the final door separating us from the Cornucopia. Another reason that no one would want to sponsor Jackson- he's a bloody coward. If that boy, Jet Newton, had come across him again, I wouldn't be completely surprised if he ran with his tail between his legs. Then again, we'd have to sow on another one of our precious bandages to make that fantasy possible. Tossing back my hair, just in case any of the cameras are focused on me right now, I walk out briskly, intent on talking to Cashmere about the horrors of the male Careers. Really, why hadn't we gotten a decent girl from District Four this year? At this rate, we may very well have to go on a casting call for Howards, drag her back here, and tell her that she's our newest member. Actually, that's a rather good idea; I'll make sure to remember it.
As soon as we open that door, the sight that I see isn't the one that I had been initially expecting. Maybe Cashmere would have been dozing off, poking at the ground with a stick, eating away at out supplies, but at least she'd be out in the Cornucopia. She wouldn't be absent from view, well, Cashmere wasn't completely absent. My own brilliant green eyes locked onto her gold ones, normally brimming with life, they're dulled while her face is frozen in an expression of bewilderment. Those dark black locks, rivaling my own fiery beauty, will probably remained hopelessly tangled until the Capitol stylists get to them. They'll be dressing up her corpse soon enough, making her look all pretty, until shipping her back home to District One. It bothered me a lot, actually, but I kept my face void of all emotion; friendships were only a weakness in the Hunger Games.
"Shame…," I remarked, trying to sound bored, yet my voice sounded more quiet instead, "Looks like we'll need a new guard now…"
Something wet is pooling up in my eyes, which I hastily blink away, not wanting to let the rich people in the Capitol know about how I cared for Cashmere Combe. If they ever did figure it out, then I could kiss all of my sponsor gifts goodbye; I'd never see one of my possible routes to obtaining victory of the Hunger Games. Watching the claw pull her body out of the arena, seemingly disappearing as it hits the rocky ceiling, I can't help but blink from wonder. How in the world are they able to do that? Just about every bit of information I paid attention to in science class screamed that it couldn't be done, that it just couldn't be logical, that it couldn't be possible…But there it was, standing there moments ago within the confinements of our underground arena.
Shaking my head slightly, not wanting the confusion to create a dull ache within it, I turn my attention to the smiling little girl. The small little number 10 on her sleeve helps me narrow her down; this must be Wednesday Vespers, one of the better scorers of the other Tributes. Judging by the bloody mace held in her pale hands, we're all face to face with Cashmere's killer right at this very second. Griffin's eyes meet Jackson's and I's, as if asking permission to kill her, but I shake my head no as an idea grows in my head. After killing a Career, it only makes sense that Wednesday would be worthy of becoming a Career; we were short a couple members anyways. Also, the creepy smile on her tiny face helps me know that she'll perform better than Jackson could, as she doesn't look like another chuckleheaded Tribute.
"Look what we've got here," I begin in a taunting voice, "A person who stained cashmere- didn't your mommy tell you not to do that?"
Wednesday has a pondering expression, fingering the mace lightly, void of any other supplies. Whatever her response is to this question will determine her fate, and I do believe that she understands that all too well. Peradventure that we won't need to go track down Fialla Howards after all; District Ten isn't all too shabby, working with livestock and such all day long. A couple of them were downright ripped; bursting with muscles that some of the weaker children in the Career Districts would have died for. Actually, they would have gotten them and died; unless they somehow managed to win the Hunger Games, like I would. Analyzing her, it's evident that she must have managed to sneak up on Cashmere, which probably wasn't all too hard, as the dead Career Tribute tended to zone out quite easily. Underestimating Wednesday is really all too easy to do, another plus for selecting her to be the guard; hopefully Griffin and Jackson, the dunderheads, won't argue with me about it at all.
"Oh…," Wednesday starts, looking like a child who knows they've been naughty, "My mommy's dead. She was weak, so it doesn't matter…Anyways, do you guys want to play a game?"
Taking that as acceptance, assuring that she'll be wonderful as a twisted and morbid Career, I smirk down at her. Griffin and Jackson raise curious expressions towards me, the latter picking at his bandage uncomfortably, probably wishing that Cashmere could be here to change it for him. Hopefully the District Ten Tribute will be able to serve as a medic as well; otherwise, we'll just have to make Jackson tough it out. Though, he's been a bit subdued ever since we witnessed Cashmere being taken away, but it's most likely because that means there are only three of us left in the Career alliance. But with the addition of Wednesday, and perhaps Fialla, we'll be strong and mighty once more, just like we should be.
"A game?" Jackson echoes; he's not too pleased to see the District Ten Tribute.
"Sure, but I think we ought to play as a team, Weddy," I coax, watching the girl's teal eyes buzz with excitement.
It's impossible to fight back a smirk as she accepts, as the Career alliance grows stronger once again. Maybe it hadn't been a good idea to kill of Nicolas like that, but he hadn't been able to kill his District Partner, while she had been all too willing to maul him. If I had known that before the Hunger Games had even started, it would have been the other Tribute from District Four denied entry into the Career alliance; Fialla had actually gotten blood on her hands, Nicolas remained a silly pansy and sat out on the sidelines. Even Jackson, the knucklehead, had managed to kill the girl from District Twelve! Now, there simply was not a single excuse for the dead Tribute, so I didn't give him another thought in my mind. Cashmere, on the other hand, should have been able to live longer in the Hunger Games. The Cornucopia almost felt void of life without her, death and blood marring its sparkling shine that it had carried since we arrived on the very first day.
"Leah…," Griffin cautions, but I throw him a particularly nasty look and he stops dead in his tracks.
"Mind if I grab some supplies?" Wednesday asks, "I didn't manage to come away with much during the Bloodbath. Just my mace…"
"Yeah, sure thing kid," Jackson replied hastily, as if he wished that the girl from District Ten would just drop dead, "Take whatever you like."
The littlest Career smirks triumphantly before disappearing within the Cornucopia. Taking a quick peek towards my other allies, Griffin's sporting a quite magnificent glare; if looks could kill, then he would have won the Hunger Games right then and there. Really, he should have been on his hands and knees thanking me over our newest recruit. And when we decided that we didn't need someone to guard the camp anymore, then all it would take is a clean slice of a knife, or even just a simple snap of the neck, and we'd be rid of the creepy little girl as soon as she had come. Watching the ginger hair vanish inside of the vast metal structure, part of me can't help but be reminded of Matt; neither of them had a mother anymore.
"Why'd you do that?!" Griffin commands, coming over to me abruptly.
"Because," I huff, "Cashmere's kicked the bucket. Nicolas is off dancing in the great green meadow. This, in case you haven't noticed, leaves the Career alliance a bit short on members. If you kill a Career, then you are a Career…And besides, we'll just leave her as the camp guard and kill her when she's not needed anymore."
Evidently, this doesn't please my ally. Griffin throws another dirty look in my direction, as if he's so appalled by my existence, but I stand my ground firmly. Despite the fact that he stands a good foot or so higher than me, I can feel him wavering slightly under my own killer stare. Brushing my lips lightly against his neck, just to leave him guessing, I can't help but be reminded of another menacing Tribute in the Hunger Games. But unlike Griffin, the sight of his blood on my hands would do more than just make my day; I'm positive that it would instantly make me the Victor of the Hunger Games. Not many kills are able to make you feel like that, a fact that most of the Victors in District Two will inform new recruits at the training center.
"Then get rid of her right now!" Griffin challenges from afar, leaning against the rocky wall that confine us inside of the arena.
Muttering a couple choice words under my breath, I stick out my chin in refusal, yelling back in reply, "You wish, Griff-Griff!"
Our alliance had begun to get to that point where it would be best if we all split up. But right now, that thought hadn't even come across my mind; most Career Packs don't feel that way by the end of the second day. Surely, with our newest member, the novelty of the entire thing should keep the tempers even for a little bit longer, just enough to get it down so only eight Tributes are remaining in the Hunger Games. Otherwise, Panem will never forget the horrible Careers in the Seventh Quarter Quell.
We'll be a laughingstock for sure…
Juniper Griffin (17), District Seven Female-POV
Our tunnel's come to a dead end, something that makes me even more nervous. Yet with Axel's sponsor gift, a beautiful and deadly looking axe, we should be able to take anything that comes our way. But if Willa suddenly went into labor, as she'd been looking about the right size to burst to me, just about anything could happen to us. The Capitol might send the Careers running towards us, intent on murdering the three, or five, of us as quickly as they could. Or they'll put in a fearsome mutation, even worse than Dopples they had set on the Tributes a couple years ago in the Hunger Games. Creepy had been the main word for them; by touching it, the Dopple would become glued onto your skin, sucking off of your life until you remained a hollow shell. It then had the ability to mimic your voice, convincing allies that a friend was waiting for them around the corner, only to be devoured by the Dopple. Really, why did the scariest creations of the Capitol have to have such silly names? It's been puzzling me since I was just a little kid, but I hadn't yet found out the answer to it; I never will, too, as Axel's going to be the one winning the Hunger Games.
Abruptly, the Capitol anthem starts to play, nearly scaring me witless as it shocked me out of my train of thought. Axel glances worriedly towards me, taking his eye off of the pale and miserable looking Willa, silently asking if I'm okay. A light blush graces my cheeks, to which I nod; good thing no one in Panem will ever be able to see that, as they're too busy looking up at the Capitol seal. The very same seal that microscopic hidden cameras are projecting onto the grainy rock ceiling of the Quarter Quell arena. After a final musical flourish, the faces of the four Tributes who died today are revealed, done in District Order as always.
Gold eyes are the first thing that greets me, a sense of astonishment occurring as I discover that one of the deaths had been Cashmere Combe's. The Career girl has a far off look in her image, as if she couldn't be bothered to pay attention to us in the arena; a small voice tells me that it may have had something to do with the way that she died. Bewilderment is soon replaced by elation though; the Careers are down a member, leaving them with only five people, I believe. Slowly, the odds are starting to come in our favor; Axel's favor, I mentally correct myself before watching anxiously to see who is shown after the District One Tribute's face disappears. Out of the corner of my eye, a smug look is on Axel's face, as he's always felt a deep hatred for District One; he blamed his father's death on them, on Cypress too, when he really should have been blaming it on me. Feeling like crying, a bit of me feels glad when another image is finally revealed, after they finished recapping the death for the viewing audience back home.
A District Four Tribute is shown next, causing another pang of happiness to go threw me; only four Careers left to deal with now. The sea colored eyes of Nicolas Riddle glare down at all of us, as if trying to guilt trip his killer into repenting for his death. But of course, there isn't anything that Nicolas would have been able to do to us right now, as he had been killed hours earlier. Thinking back to the District Four Tributes this year, part of me wonders if they were in a relationship like Axel and I was, but I quickly dismiss the thought. Fialla had always appeared to be sweet and innocent, while her District Partner had been the horrible opposite of that. Nicolas' father had been a Victor though, and since he Volunteered, I can't help but believe that the Riddle household will be a bit more than shaken up tonight. Or right now, I mean…Time's getting frustratingly difficult to tell here in the arena; only the showing of the dead Tributes lets us know how long we've been here, though it doesn't really mark the hours either.
A vacant looking Tribute, Cassius Lisette, is revealed to be the third person who died in the arena today. Hailing from District Six, there isn't much else that I had known about the boy. For the entire time that we'd been in the Capitol, all I could remember about him was that his eyes were always searching, as if there had been something that he had been looking for. Other Tributes in past years had been like that, looking for Peacekeeper parents or Avox siblings that had never returned home, but that theory didn't feel like it fit exactly right for Cassius Lisette. Some big and complicated story had been silenced; a life that may have been full of great pain and tremendous joy snuffed out like one would blow out a candle each night. There hadn't been any thought to it; it had been mindless murder, a favorite of the cruel and unforgiving Capitol. I wished that I could have reached out for him, that I could have added Cassius to our little alliance, but it probably would have made it only harder for Axel to win the Hunger Games. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes because even though I didn't know Cassius, that didn't make him any less human to me; someone had died today in the arena, someone that wasn't a bloodthirsty monster. And maybe, just maybe, there could have been something that I could have done to prevent it. Guilt swirls through me, the worst kind of feeling, causing each bone in your body to become unsettled until you finally cannot take it anymore. Biting the inside of my cheek, all I want is to run away from the Hunger Games as fast as I can, making sure that Axel comes out alive, but I can't do that. I'm stuck here until the Capitol decides that they're done with me…
Finally, the sweet face of Rocky Nightlock is shown up in the sky. A sad smile is on her lips, as if Rocky had already known about her fate when the picture had been taken. Looks like District Twelve is out of the running this year, leaving them with only one Victor, whose name always seems to forever slip my mind. Poor girl, I couldn't help but think, recalling what a wonderfully compassionate soul Rocky had been. From what I'd seen, she'd taken Fialla, the District Four Tribute, under her wing, and hopefully helped her get over whatever thing she had going on with Nicolas. It made me feel bad to think this way, but the dead Career Tribute was just bad news; anything with 'Career Tribute' in front of it made most of us want to hurl or cry out in fear. Biting down on my cheek harder, the resistance the skin had been giving gave up, the warmth sensation of blood filling my entire mouth. After a moment's pause, I swallowed it down painfully, wishing for some water, but we had ran out this morning. To make matters worse, the only source of it here seemed to be the lake, which everyone understood to be strictly Career territory, along with the dreaded and cherished Cornucopia.
Right as Rocky's picture begins to fade, a sudden gasp catches my attention. Beads of sweat line Willa's forehead, who's desperately trying to breathe as much as she can. Axel stares on helplessly, as if not sure wherever to try and comfort his ally or save her. Our eyes lock onto each other, a desperation coming out of the District Eight Tribute's. Letting loose an anguished cry, Willa's dainty hands fly to her swollen belly, already tipping me off on what was about to happen.
"Juniper…," Willa whispers, barely audible over the sound of the closing anthem, "You know how I said I wasn't near to being due in the interview…?"
"Yeah?" I reply uncertainly, already dreading where I knew that this was going, but the blonde haired girl seemed to be determined to speak it out loud.
"I…I lied," she finishes, letting loose another cry, sounding more painful and louder than the first one was.
Nodding, as there was a lack of anything else to do, I sprang towards her. Not a single time did it cross my mind that the other Tributes would undoubtedly hear us, probably even kill us while our backs our turned. My District Partner shouldered his axe, following a train of thought that I had completely missed, and stood a couple spaces away from the two of us. I let loose a sigh, and then I try to attempt to do something that I had only heard of being done. Never had I dreamed of something like this happening in the Hunger Games; it felt as if it should be against the rules.
But then again, there's a first time for everything, right?
Cashmere Combe: Skull shattered by a mace, throat stabbed and sliced with a rapier by Wednesday Vespers (D10)
Griffin Holloway:
Leah Dagger:
Jackson Leo Ross:
Malaya Finaca:
Jitz Low: Skull smashed and strangled by Griffin Holloway (D1)-BB
Fialla Howards:
Nicolas Riddle: Bleeding profusely from Fialla Howards (D4), suffered severe brain damage from a trap constructed by Maya Eberhart (D6)
Reina Vane:
Elezar Brewen:
Maya Eberhart:
Cassius Lisette: Shot with an arrow, then cut up into several pieces by Tetra Comn (D11)
Juniper Griffin:
Axel Treefall:
Willa Hellmans:
Abe Mercer: Fell off his platform, his bad knee had given out (The Capitol)-BB
Cedar Tremaine: Throat slit with a silver dagger by Tetra Comn (D11)-BB
Ebon Furial: Skull cracked, dangled as he bleeds to death by Cashmere Combe (D1)-BB
Wednesday Vespers:
Ether Lessing: Tortured with stiletto knives by Leah Dagger (D2)-BB
Tetra Comn:
Persei Baxwoll:
Rocky Nightlock: Sword driven completely through upper body by Jackson Leo Ross (D2)
Josh Quick: Speared through the stomach by Reina Vane (D5)-BB
Adia Loya:
Jet Newton:
