I know this update is early. I just really had my writing drive and wrote this whole chapter today, and I wanted to post it now. So without further a do, here is the finale of the 101st Hunger Games!

Marina Pier, age 18

District 4 Female

If Marina was asked if she thought she would be at this point before the Games started, her answer would have been a simple no. But she was here. She was in the finale, an more sure than ever that she could win.

But she couldn't get too cocky. Both Buck and Esmeralda were probably thinking that they could win, too. They all had their reasons for winning, and they all were capable of doing it. Marina just had to come out on top.

Esmeralda stepped forwards, and it was almost as if she had triggered a bomb. Buck came to life, charging Esmeralda and swinging his sword. Esmeralda ducked as the blade whizzed over her head. Marina readied her spear, waiting for them to turn on her. She always had to be ready in the arena. There was no telling what could happen.

Buck stabbed at Esmeralda's torso, but the girl sidestepped, and teetered on the side of the Cornucopia. Buck yanked her backwards, and she fell on her back. And all of a sudden, Marina was surging forwards, instinct taking over, knowing that she had to help her fellow Career. The Academy had taught her that Careers stood alone, that they fought their own battles. If they lost, then they lost. Careers don't cry for their allies, and they certainly don't save them if they're from another district.

By helping Esmeralda, Marina was breaking all of those rules.

She tackled Buck, knocking him away from Esmeralda. Marina fought to keep him down, but she wasn't as strong as she usually was, and he was stronger. He wiggled out from underneath her, and drew his sword. Marina readied her spear, and behind Buck, Esmeralda readied her sword. Career until the end, that girl was.

With her heart sinking, Marina attacked.

Buck Sadle, age 17

District 10 Male

Buck managed to avoid Marina's first attack, and dragged his sword across her forearm. Sensing another attack behind him, Buck whirled around, and blocked Esmeralda's blade a split second before it slashed across his chest. He pushed against her, mustering all of strength, until she finally relented, pulling away.

Esmeralda came at him again, swinging her sword in a hypnotizing pattern. Buck blocked her attacks, but she was moving with inhuman speed. Every time Buck's blade connected with her's, she was already pulling back for another strike. It was exhausting.

Then Buck realized that was her plan. To wear him out, then move in for the kill. But Buck couldn't let that happen. He had to win.

Marina swiped her spear at Buck. He knocked it aside with the flat side of his sword, but recoiled when a burst of pain shot up his arm. He looked in shock at Marina. She hadn't been that strong when Buck was with the Careers, was she? Maybe killing her wouldn't be as easy as Buck had initially thought. Obviously, she was getting better with her spears. She was getting stronger, too. Marina was becoming more like a Career.

Buck shook his arm out a little, and charged Marina again, determined to get her, determined to kill her.

But he forgot about Esmeralda. As Buck fought Marina, she rammed her sword into his abdomen, and his whole body screamed with pain.

Esmeralda Platinum, age 16

District 1 Female

Esmeralda pulled her sword out of Buck's stomach, and he fell to his knees, using one hand to keep him from falling, the other holding the wound. He was shuddering and breathing heavily. He fell on his side, clutching his stomach. Esmeralda just turned away. She didn't want to see anybody else die.

Marina was staring at Buck. Then she fixed her gaze on Esmeralda, her face hard.

"I never should have saved you," Marina said. "I should have known you were going to kill him." Esmeralda forced a laugh.

"He was going to die anyways, Marina, you must have known that," Esmeralda said, getting a wicked idea that she knew would get Marina's anger going. "Like you must have known that your poor little sister was going to die last year." Marina's face changed to anger, just like Esmeralda had hoped.

"Don't say anything about Tellin," Marina said, her grip tightening on her spear. "Not. One. Thing." For a moment or two, there was only the tension in the air, Buck's ragged, dying breathing, and the darkening arena. Esmeralda felt on edge, anticipating the inevitable battle that was going to come.

She felt like a bowstring, slowly being pulled back until she snapped, waiting for the arrow to be released.

When the cannon sounded, that arrow was released.

Marina Pier, age 18

District 4 Female

When the cannon went off, Marina ran at Esmeralda, with intentions to kill her. Nobody insulted Tellin right to Marina's face like that and expected to get away with it. She had her rage to power her. But Marina had to make sure that she didn't lose sight of what was important: survival. Not revenge.

Marina made the first move. She jabbed her spear at Esmeralda's chest, but Esmeralda sidestepped, nimbly avoiding Marina's spear.

"How did it feel to just watch your sister die in the arms of a complete stranger, Marina?" Esmeralda asked with fake sympathy. "Tell me about that."

The hatred for this girl and the rage that boiled up inside of Marina threatened her to act wildly, which would ultimately lead to her death. She needed to win, if not for herself then for her parents. She couldn't let them lose another child. Not when she was this close.

Marina backed away from the advancing Esmeralda. Esmeralda was swinging her sword around wildly, and Marina backed away for fear of getting hit.

Her heart leaped into her throat when Marina felt her heel hit something and her begin to fall backwards.

Esmeralda Platinum, age 16

District 1 Female

Esmeralda suppressed a laugh. Marina had tripped over Buck's body, and fell over it. Luckily for her, she had landed a few inches away from his sword, so she wasn't impaled.

Esmeralda couldn't hold back the laugh anymore. She looked at Marina with triumph. "You know, Marina," Esmeralda said. "My sister won her Games. She came back like she promised she would. Did Tellin promise you that she would come back?"

Marina didn't answer. Esmeralda began to feel as if she had finally gotten to her, but for a split second, felt Marina's legs on her own, and a sudden jerk forward sent Esmeralda sprawling forwards.

She threw her arms out, trying to aim her sword away from her body. Wouldn't look good if she got killed by her own blade. Esmeralda hit the metal surface of the Cornucopia hard, and got the breath knocked out of her. She had also bitten her tongue, because she had landed on her stomach, and her mouth was filling with the taste of coppery blood. Esmeralda spit out the clump of blood in her mouth, and stood. Or tried to. The second her got her arms underneath her, a blow to her back knocked her down again.

Fine, Esmeralda thought. You want to play this game? Let's play this game.

And Esmeralda pushed herself up again. And again. And again.

Marina Pier, age 18

District 4 Female

Marina wasn't sure why she couldn't kill Esmeralda. It would be easy now, since Esmeralda couldn't defend herself. But Marina couldn't bring herself to do it.

Maybe it was because she didn't want to lose herself in the arena. She had never wanted to kill anybody in this arena, and now here she was, about to kill her third victim. What was happening to her?

Esmeralda tried to get up again, Marina hit her with the bottom of her spear, and she fell again. Marina heard her let out a huff of breath.

"If you're going to kill me, just do it," she said. "I can't do this forever, and neither can you. It'll be easier for both of us." Marina had to agree. She positioned her spear above Esmeralda's back, aiming for her heart. As Marina started to move downwards, Esmeralda cried out, "Wait! Can you let me say my goodbyes first?"

Marina thought she heard something strange about Esmeralda's tone, but she said, "Yes" anyways. Marina kept her spear ready in case she tried anything.

And she did. Esmeralda flipped around, and pulled one of Marina's legs out from underneath her. She fell, her arm getting sliced open by Esmeralda's discarded sword. The One girl jumped on top of Marina, and locked her hands around Marina''s throat. Instinctively, Marina began fighting against Esmeralda, but she knew her only answer would be to kill her.

Telling herself there was no other option, Marina grabbed her spear, and, gripping it tightly, she thrust the tip into Esmeralda's rib cage.

Esmeralda's face paled, and she slipped off of Marina, laying on her side on the Cornucopia. Marina watched as she died. And when Esmeralda's cannon sounded, MArina didn't take her spear out of her. She didn't triumphantly parade around like she had seen others do. She simply stood there, looking around the arena, then her eyes settling on the two still bodies next to her.

And the trumpets sounded. The voice of Jupiter Littleman boomed across the arena. "Ladies and gentleman, I am pleased to present the victor of the 101st HUnger Games: Marina Pier, the female tribute from District Four!"

A hovercraft materialized in the sky above Marina to take her away. She couldn't help but feel glad.

The Fallen

3rd Place: Buck Sadle, District Ten. Stabbed by Esmeralda Platinum.

Buck was a sweetheart. He wasn't afraid to do anything to get back home to Sierra. Sadly, he never will. I feel awful killing him off, especially so close to the end when he could have met his baby and seen it grow up. I'm sorry to Buck and all of his supporters, but don't worry. We will be seeing his baby in the epilogue.

2nd Place: Esmeralda Plainum, District One. Speared by Marina Pier.

Esmeralda was never really my victor. She was fun to write, and I really enjoyed writing her before she went into the arena. These last couple days in the arena really changed her. She almost completely left her Career path, but managed to stay on it. Sorry to all of Esmeralda's supporters.

Victor: Marina Pier, District Four.

I think Marina was always my victor. When I killed Forrest, she became my next top choice. She really changed and developed a lot through the course of this story, and she managed to override many of her conflicts. I'm sure that somewhere, Tellin is smiling at her big sister. I hope you all like that I chose Marina as the victor,

And we have our victor! Congratulations to Marina Pier of District Four and all of her supporters! There are only going to be two more chapters after this one (Victor's interview and the epilogue), so stay tuned for those! Thank you to everybody who has stayed with this story and reviewed. It really means a lot to me.

Also, a quick note to the guest Callum Andrews: I need a filled out form for your tribute for the 6th Quarter Quell. Whenever you can get that in to me, send it!

I hope you all stick around for the next chapter! Until next time!

-D9T