A/N: Hello, faithful readers. Here's the second-to-last chapter of Control. I really hope you enjoy it! Read and review!
Terkast woke with a jolt, his heart pounding. The last residue of his dream stuck within his brain, refusing to leave. He could still hear the mob outside of his modest District house screaming and pounding down his doors. He swore he could still smell smoke, though it was entirely in his mind.
He swung his legs from the bed, his body sore from the first sleep in a few days. "Maybe getting a District house isn't such a good idea," he muttered into the otherwise quiet room. It was completely dark, but with a press of a remote, the blinds lifted and sunlight poured in.
The bedroom was large and airy, and looked bright with the large amount of sunlight streaming in. It was barely furnished, partially because it was only a temporary residence. But all of the furniture was a pure white that matched Terkast's skin perfectly.
The light burned his eyes, but the Head Gamemaker ignored the pain for now. A quick glance at his watch told him that it was three thirty. He had slept two days straight, Terkast realized. Not as long as he had done previously, but still long.
It was hopefully enough time for the Capitol doctors to finish up fixing Arrett, so that the Final interview could commence.
Terkast stripped his clothes in one fell swoop, pressing another button on the remote as he did so. A dark suit was immediately placed on his thin body, accenting the white nicely. Terkast looked around, and plucked a pink rose from one of the many bouquets by the door. With a flourish, he dropped it in his pocket.
Feeling ready, Terkast opened the door into a light blue hallway. His was the only door on this hallway, making it harder for paparazzi to find him. The elevator door was farther down the hallway, but Terkast walked to it quickly.
He felt burdened with glorious purpose. The Final Interview was certainly tonight, for the child wasn't as damaged as some previous winners.
The elevator shot up to his floor after Terkast entered a key into the slot. He was loathe to leave the floor, because it was the last time he would ever be here. Even his personal key, which was the greatest measure of privacy, was to be taken from him.
He entered and pressed the ground floor button, his mind already racing. He would have to go to Antiqua Hall, where the Final Interview had been held for about a century. It wasn't too far away, but the throngs of people were scaring him.
The elevator dinged on the ground floor within a few seconds, and Terkast stepped out. A few secretaries greeted him, but Terkast only had eyes for the two large men waiting at the door.
"Mr. Nilgwis," the larger, dark gray one greeted, nodding his large head. The other one was lighter gray, with a red star tattooed into his forehead. "We're here to escort you the Interview," he rumbled.
Terkast nodded, and clasped his hands in front of him. "Very well, gentlemen!" he announced, stepping out of the front doors. "I know where I'm going, so just… bodyguard me."
The Head Gamemaker walked through the Capitol Streets with a brisk pace, making the men behind him struggle to keep up. A few reporters gathered up the courage to approach him, but fell back when Red Star flashed a menacing look at him.
Everyone was inside, and there weren't many people on the streets. Used to the gaudy, flashy Capitol people, Terkast was slightly unnerved by the emptiness.
The bright copper building loomed in front of him, and Terkast picked up the pace. He was almost running, fueled by excitement and slight fear. Nobody could see him, and he could use a little more time to prepare.
His hair was completely windblown when he entered the door, and a bead of sweat dripped down his otherwise perfect face. The receptionist glanced at Terkast quickly, but put her head down when she realized he was the Head Gamemaker. Thankfully, Terkast was not out of breath, because his lungs had been genetically fixed ages ago.
The elevator was already open, and Terkast stepped into it without another glance. He inserted his special key (once again feeling a sense of regret) and pressed the AAA 19 button. The doors shut with a clang. Terkast waited patiently with his hands behind his back, listening to the soft sound of the elevator moving up its shaft.
A large room greeted him when the doors finally opened. It was a pristine white, filled with blow driers, baths and other prepping material.
"Terkast!" A woman screeched, bustling over to welcome him. Her pink hair was piled on top of her head in big waves, with some of it spilling down onto her shoulders. Her sharp green eyes looked out from within her mocha skin, and her teeth were bared in a large smile.
"Nyevah," Terkast greeted, taking her hand in his. The difference in their skin was startling, but he was used to it.
Nyevah lead him over to a bath, and began undressing him. "I can't believe it's your last year," she lilted, her deft fingers unbuttoning his shirt quickly. Her accent was foreign, because she hadn't been raised in the Capitol.
"I know," he murmured. She continued undressing him, chattering along like a jabberjay. When she was finished, she shoved him into a shower stall and quickly shut the door.
"You're going to look marvelous dear," she sang, pushing asset of buttons in a seemingly random way. They each made beeps, but the sound was slightly muffled from the glass. A lower tone informed Terkast that water was coming, and he instinctively closed his eyes.
Lemon-scented water poured over his body, immediately covering any other odor. Sponges appeared within machine hands and soaped him down quickly, removing any trace of dirt and grime he had accrued from watching the games. With a squirt, a large amount of shampoo plopped into his hair, and other machines began to rub it into his scalp.
The arms stopped moving, leaving the lemony water alone. Within a few seconds he was completely clean and the entire shower turned off. Large gusts of air dried him immediately, and the doors opened automatically.
With a laugh, Terkast realized that Nyevah hadn't started talking once. "My family in Constantinople," she explained, "they like my job over here. They say it's a very far hike, especially since I have to cross the ocean, but I like using my skills for something!"
Nyevah's arms were draped with piles off eccentric clothes, and her eyes looked hungrily into his. "I think we're going with a darker color this year, to draw attention to you. It's your last year, and we want people to know that!"
She threw some underclothes at him, and he put them on. Even they were made of silk and a rich ruby color. "Purple!" she exclaimed, her face screwed up in ultimate joy. "Purple means majestic and royalty and you fit that role!"
Without waiting for Terkast's consent, Nyevah shoved a lilac shirt into his arms, followed by a pair of white pants. He put them on quickly, afraid what Nyevah would do if he didn't. He looked towards her for more clothes, and was unnerved that she wasn't there.
Something touched his back, making Terkast freeze. It was only after he realized that it was Nyevah that he relaxed. She was trying to shoulder a deep purple jacket onto his body, but couldn't reach. Terkast chuckled to himself, and put on the jacket by himself.
"Now you're ready!" she squeaked, looking into Terkast's eyes. "The purple does well on your skin, and a lot of attention will be on you! Perfect for your last Interview!"
Terkast thanked Nyevah sincerely before turning around and strutting back to the open elevator. As the doors shut, he waggled his fingers goodbye to her.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the upcoming interviews. Even though he wouldn't be saying anything himself, people would be watching him and he had to look like royalty.
Finally, the doors opened on the floor he wanted. A large balcony with a few chairs waited for him, and Terkast noticed that most of the floor below was already filled. Soothing music was playing from speakers all around the theater, and Terkast relaxed into one of the chairs.
The President came out of the elevator a few minutes later, his dark silver hair gleaming in the low light. "Brilliant Games you pulled off this year!" he proclaimed, sitting in the throne-like chair that dominated the balcony. "Voting was brilliant, and I absolutely loved the Final Two Battle."
President Welch nodded, his eyes focused on the dimly lit stage in front of them. The balcony was an excellent view, and it was one of the things Terkast would miss greatly. The doors opened again, and three Avoxes entered. Terkast felt a great weight lift off his shoulders as he recognized Maylin as one of them.
She quietly stood behind him, but Terkast pointed to the chair adjacent to him. She accepted it after a brief pause, because nobody else was supposed to come up here. The two Avoxes that belonged to the President also sat, filling the remainder of the chairs.
"I'd like to see the theme of this year's Final Interview," the President mused, scratching his chin in thought. His skin was a pale peach color, and his eyes a muddy brown. Like his voice, he refused to get any changes done to his demeanor.
"Me too, sir," Terkast said, his voice quiet. "I think that –" Fanfare erupted from the speakers, interrupting both Terkast and the relaxing music. The lights above them dimmed even more, until they were completely out.
A spotlight lightened the stage, where Thorfinn appeared in a thick cloud of smoke. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the 725th Hunger Games' Final Interview!"
Cheers came from every single Capitolite on the floor and from everywhere else in the Capitol. "I think you're all excited to meet your victor! Welcome, Arrett Hayes!"
Screams of appreciation, cheers and clapping filled the entire theater. The young boy had his lips tightly pursed as he sat in the lavishly adorned chair, much different from the metal chair he sat in during the first Interview.
Arrett looked around him, his face set in fierce determination. However, Terkast gleaned that he was nervous by closely studying the boy's body posture and his eyes. The Head Gamemaker doubted that anyone else could discern that.
"Let's begin with the video, shall we?" Thorfinn asked, the spotlight dimming. A large screen descended from the ceiling, the words 'The 725th Hunger Games' written on it in an eccentric script font.
A quiet, mournful song played from the speakers as the words were replaced with video clips. Small clips from each Reaping were shown. However, there was specific attention drawn on the Careers, the pair from District Seven, the brutes from Districts Eleven and Twelve respectively, and Arrett of course.
Just from looking at the screen, Terkast could tell the boy had changed during the time passed. There was no longer an innocent look to him. The child had become a coldblooded killer.
The pre-Games material went quickly, only really highlighting Arrett and the aforementioned tributes. It became obvious what the angle was: the Underdog.
Certain interviews went up, and Terkast shuddered as he remembered them. Cree had been so vicious, as if she would personally kill everyone in the room. A small smile crossed his lips as Terkast remembered the one lady that Cree had personally called out. For wearing a piece of jewelry, he thought.
The haughty Tamara was shown on screen, telling everyone why she would win. It hadn't worked out well. Floyd threateningly told the crowd he volunteered for glory. There would be no glory for Floyd Barabe, and his name would shortly be forgotten.
Caddis and Joss had both expressed their desire to win. Sadly, Caddis did not achieve the status her brother, Strip, had gained. Joss wouldn't be going home to his family, either. Terkast heard that the mother gave birth a few days ago. Healthy baby boy.
Unlike during the Games, Harley was weak and small. She even burst out in tears. It was a clever ruse, often used by female tributes, but failed to win Harley anything. On the other hand, it did work better than Gyton's over-the-top confidence in himself.
Arrett's Interview played over the screen, and the entire crowd went still. Terkast detected only a smattering of recorded applause, showing how little faith the Capitol people had in him. The boy was very snarky, trying to prove he had it in him to win, but the people weren't too impressed. The buzzer rang early, and Terkast remembered the slight rebellion he had feared then.
Indas' and Sheave's Interviews were short, as they hadn't done anything that interesting. Terkast closed his eyes and braced himself for the following video clips. He had lived through the Games once, but he was going to relive them. And it was his last Games.
The tributes rose up in the arena, looking rather confused at their enemy-less surroundings. An aerial view succeeded that, and Terkast's mouth dropped open in appreciation. It was certainly an amazing arena, and the dots of tributes made it much more interesting.
The gong went off, and the tributes immediately walked off their plates. It showed some Careers immediately bounding off to find prey, and Tristan running away from his starting point.
Arrett was shown looking through his given pack, pulling out supplies with glee. He packed everything up and moved towards the trees in District Eleven.
Abruptly, the camera angle switched to Tristan's brutal murder of Kacey. He choked the life out of her, and took her pack afterwards. Twenty three tributes were left in the arena.
On the other side of the stadium, Floyd confronted Brenda. He taunted her and shot her pointblank with arrows, drawing a lot of blood. The ground was splattered with it, and so was Floyd's face. He didn't seem to mind. With an arrow to the skull, Brenda finally left this life. Her final moments had been filled with pain, fear, and blood. Twenty two tributes were left.
With the only two deaths that had happened the first two days played out, the screen focused on the tributes. Harley fought bravely through the trees, showing her strength and courage. She briefly met with Gyton, who saved her life, but had no chance to kill him.
The anthem played, and the first Voting commenced. The video flashed through each tribute quickly, highlighting who they chose. It showed that Arrett was not voted for at all, and he was not threatening to his fellow tributes. Arrett voted Cree that night, knowing that she was a strong contender.
Floyd backed away from the mutts that bombarded him, screaming in pain as they ripped his body apart. Not only was it physical pain, but psychological pain, too. He had 'killed' one of the mutts that was now killing him. The strong, District Two boy was reduced to a pile of gore. Twenty one tributes still lived.
On screen, Arrett darted in and stole Floyd's misused bow and arrows. It would serve him well later in the Games. The boy returned to his perch in District Eleven, waiting out the sweltering heat.
Immediately, the video switched to Tamara's brutal murder after the voting. She had put up a valiant run, but in the end it was fruitless. She ended up exactly like her former District partner. Twenty tributes remained.
Harley received her sturdy axe on screen, and cleaved trees in half with it. Terkast snorted, remembering Jahall's reaction to that. Shortly after, she killed Gyton. The top dogs of the arena were falling quickly, leaving the underdogs – like Arrett – to flourish in the arena. Nineteen tributes still breathed.
A quick video clip showed of Arrett loosing one of his arrows into Cree's calf. It wasn't blatantly said, but Terkast knew everyone was thinking about the later battle.
A small amount of time passed, and Cree was on the hunt again. She chased after Vesture, the Victor's grandson, and ran him into his own trap. Defenseless and missing a foot, the boy was no match for her brute strength. Cree had her first kill, leaving eighteen tributes.
Terkast felt Maylin stiffen in the chair next to him, and wondered what had happened. A feral smile sat delicately on her face, and Terkast realized that Vesture's was the only death she hadn't seen.
In vengeance for her brutal murder of Gyton, Harley was voted off next. She put up a valiant fight, killing a mutt before they all dog piled on her. Seventeen tributes remained.
Quickly, the video showed Frankie being trapped by her own wires. The flames engulfed her body, raising blisters and scorching skin wherever they decided to touch. Frankie's death was agonizing, and nobody deserved that. But it left sixteen tributes.
Lavinia was murdered by Jet when she tried to seduce him. Terkast shook his head. She should have just stayed with Joss, because that Career was head over heel for the whore. Fifteen tributes lingered.
The camera focused on Arrett, who was escaping the fire in District Eleven. The trees had provided too much cover for him, and made it easy for him to pick off tributes. It wouldn't be a good advantage at all. The owl screeched at him in the voices of the different tributes, which must've been unnerving.
Fortunately, both Arrett and Indas escaped the fire that consumed The Orchard. The screen quickly switched to Jet's death later in the night. He was voted off, and had tried escaping using his silver tongue. The mutts weren't having any of that, and ripped him apart just the same. Ten tributes had died, leaving fourteen.
Livianna killed herself, eating a poisoned creature. It wasn't a good death, but another top contender was dead. Thirteen left.
Caddis' death was much more interesting, as she lead the mutts on a worthwhile chase. Her fatal mistake came when the District Four female decided to take to the water. She was good at swimming, but the mutts far surpassed her. There were only twelve living tributes in the arena now.
Marielle was electrocuted on the floor of the Estate, her body filled with tons of current. Her dying throws hadn't lasted very long, and he cannon boomed rather quickly. Eleven tributes' hearts still beat.
Voting again. This time, Sheave killed himself. Terkast remembered that day, hoping that Sheave had written out Cree's name. That way, both of them would be killed. However, by writing Joss, Sheave sealed his fate. There were now only ten tributes left.
Indas ran Asher down, taking extreme pleasure from the boy's frightened look. In an act of pure brutality, Indas hung Asher from a tree in District Seven. The boy swung a few times before his cannon boomed, leaving nine tributes.
Arrett had moved onto the Mountain, happy with his vantage point. From here, he could watch Virgo being consumed by fire. She screeched high and mournful, but nobody wanted to hear it. The Final Eight.
In quick succession, both Indas and Linea were killed. Indas was eaten up by poison and the mutts in District Twelve. Linea was left alone to struggle in the sea, and killed by Joss. Six tributes were left to fight it out.
On screen, Arrett was almost buried in a mudslide. Terkast heard gasps all around him, and knew that the Capitolites had felt the boy was dead. The rubble was silent, giving away no hints. Minutes passed, watching the rubble. The light shifted, and Terkast knew that the video had switched times. When Arrett's hand erupted from the debris, everyone in the theater cheered. Their Victor had lived.
Wolf herded Corson into his carefully made trap, dropping the younger boy with a knife to the forehead. It was a gruesome death, but left five tributes.
Cree and Joss fought in the sands of District Four, their cries echoing against the arena walls. Cree clearly had the upper hand, but Joss was aided by a shot of adrenaline. With a snarl, Cree embedded her tomahawk into Joss' neck, leaving the Final Four.
The screen focused on Arrett, who had a nocked bow waiting as he appraised Tristan. The boy was silent as he watched his prey, and then let it loose. The arrow pierced Tristan's eye, and immediately elicited a cannon. From this viewpoint, the shot had taken a while, and wasn't just a quick kill. It showed that Arrett wasn't the cute tribute that should be pitied. He was angry and a murderer. Someone who could survive. Three more tributes.
Wolf was herded towards Cree by the mutts in District One. It was a short fight, leaving Cree alone to face Arrett.
They were brought together by the fire, the underdog and the Alpha Female together. The screen showed every move of their perilous fight, even Arrett ripping Cree's ear off. But, ultimately, Arrett was the Victor. He stabbed Cree ferociously with his arrowhead, and the screen went dark.
"Arrett, Arrett," Thorfinn said as soon as the spotlight was on him again. "Tell me, how was your Games? How did you feel being the youngest?"
Arrett's face tightened and he gripped something in his hand. "It was…" he began, thinking of the right word. "Stressful. I didn't know if I could make it out, and my life was threatened every moment. I thought I was dying when the avalanche-thing happened. Scariest moment in the arena, actually."
The crowd laughed at his statement, although Terkast could tell that Arrett had meant it in all his being. "I knew, at the end, that if I wanted to survive I'd have to kill. So I did."
Thorfinn patted the boy on his shoulder with a large grin. "How do you think your family's going to react to your winning?"
Arrett smiled lightly, no doubt thinking about his sister. "They'll be happy. Rose especially. I told her I'd try to win, and she gave me my lucky token: a goat horn. I think it helped me a lot. I'll live with her in the Victor's Village and help my mom out on the farm. Maybe it'd be like old times."
The crowd sighed at his statement. To them, he was just 'too cute!' They didn't see the broken, angry boy that laid underneath. And when he was finally old enough, he would have quite a lot of fun in the Capitol. People would love to run their fingers through his ginger hair or stare lovingly into his bright green eyes.
Thorfinn asked a few more quick questions, but none were noteworthy. It was easy to see the boy just wanted to be left alone. He was tired and needed some quietness. Terkast looked around, shocked that he had missed the President leaving.
President Welch stood on stage, a crown held tightly in his grasp. "For your valiance, bravery and cunning in these Games, I present to you a memento of the 725th Games," the President said. A circular medallion hung from his hands. "There is a piece of every District in this, Arrett. Wear it well."
The influential man hung the medallion from the boy's neck, and then placed the crown on top of his head. Arrett's nervous face broke into a slight smile, and the crowd erupted into cheers of joy. They liked their Victor, the underdog of the Games. He would suit them well.
Arrett was hustled off stage, and people began to leave. Terkast stood up, cracking his back in a few places as he did so. "Come on, Maylin," he jovially said, "I have a surprise for you."
A/N: I'm extremely sorry if the Games recap was boring! But now it's over! And we have one more chapter before Control is over. Speaking of, I'd like to take up the burden of a Submit Your Own. If anyone's interested, just think up a good tribute and be on the lookout for another story of mine. I'm only going to accept a few tributes to make it easier on me, because the bloodbaths would be annoying. Tell anyone you think'd be interested! Anywho, I hope you enjoyed it! Please review?
