Chapter thrity seven. Tears are welling in my eyes.
Thank you so much to everyone who has continued to read my story. I appeciate each and every one of you.
Alas, it seems, we are almost at the end of this story.
This one anyway.
I have got something to tell you guys, don't forget to read my little announcement at the end of this chapter!
Well, I guess I'd better get on with writing...
Chapter Thirty Seven - Cannons
Was it really real this time? Or was it all a dream again? The pain tells me it's real, although, sometimes, I find it hard to tell which world I'm conscious in.
In one world, everything is sweet, in the other, bitter.
Right now, they're mixed together, creating the most wonderful taste.
I'm slowly fading away, I'm a dying star. I've shone, I've seen the light, and I know I'll be happy when my last breath passes through my lips. The tears that escape my eyes as they close will not be those of sadness or pain, but those of joy.
Cannons go off, echoing around the arena, and my head. I can't count them, my mind is slow, my body is shutting down. That can't have been Ryan, Hunter, or Raven. They deserve better than to die in such a way.
I lie in my bed of long grass, hy hair spread out around me like a satin pillow, and I'm content. I try to ignore the stabbing, throbbing, burning pain in my side, but I can feel the warm tears rolling down my cheeks.
I'm just waiting for death's sweet embrace. I can be with my Mother and Father, and see the rest of my family live on, knowing I saved them.
The booming sound of the cannons begin to fade, and I blink my tears away, trying to get one last glimpse of my family before I am gone forever.
They should be happy. Happy that they survived.
They're not though.
"Oh my god, Phee, No! Please, no, not this way, I can't lose you like this!" I hear a desperate cry, mixed with screams and sobs, as a voice booms across the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the victors of the 100th annual Hunger Games!"
My cannon has already been fired. I know it has. Somebody else has survived, and taken my place. I'm alright with that though, as long as Ryan, Hunter and Raven survive.
That's all that matters.
"No, Phee, Please! Stay with me! Oh god, I'm so sorry! This is all my fault, please, don't die on me! Please!" comes a a desperate whisper.
Raven's face comes into focus. She's alive. She's alive. I did it.
"I'm, I'm so glad I could see your face again." I whisper, more tears falling. I reach up with a shaking hand, using all of my effort, and move her hair out of her face.
I see Hunter and Ryan next to me, rummaging through bags, trying to preserve my life with what little they have.
"Let me go Raven. Just remember, I love you. More than anything. I'm dying happy. I'm so glad I saved you." I manage to choke out, my breath catching in my throat.
"No, you're not gonna die. You're gonna make it. They'll save you." she cries, getsturing to Ryan and Hunter, who are still trying to find something.
"No. I'm going to die. Just let me go. I'm happy, okay?" I whisper.
She leans on my shoulder and cries.
"Best thing we can do is wait for the hovercraft to pick us up." I hear Ryan say, his voice distant. Everything is muffled, and my vision is blurred. I can feel the pool of hot, sticky blood gathering around me. My blood. My life, slowly draining away.
"I'm so glad you won. You deserve it." I manage to smile. My eyes are beginning to hurt. It's best that I close them.
So I do.
"You deserve it. We're getting you back as soon as we can. You can't go. We love you Phee." whispers Hunter.
"You have to stay alive. For Ryan, for Megan, for Joel, for Emily, for Rebecca, for Lewis, for Hunter, for Will, for me..." says Raven. I can feel har hand grasping mine.
I can hardly speak anymore, the pain is consuming my body. I can't let it show.
"I love you." I whisper.
I hear Ryan say something back, but my ears can no longer hear his once clear voice.
I'd like to add so much more to that, but my body is shutting down. I just can't, it's impossible.
I'd like to think that we'd meet again. Hopefully, I will be able to laugh with you once more, to cry with you, to share my deepest secrets with you.
But for now, I have to go.
I have to leave this world.
The sound of my family crying out for me fades away, and I can only feel, even then, I am numb. The world around me seems to be fading away.
I'm not far away now.
Darkness surrounds me, and I embrace it. It is my time to go.
I have to say goodbye to this bittersweet life.
I've lived it well. I had a loving family, I made memories, I was even going to get married.
I know I've left it all behind, but I know, in my heart, it was the right thing to do.
I can hear the voice in my head now,
You did perfectly. Time to step down from the spotlight. A welcome relief I presume. Raven will thank you for this.
I'm still here.
I'm still here
I'm still...
I'm...
...
Time to say goodbye.
Yes, that was the last chapter, of this story!
Yes, I will be releasing the sequel soon! Eeek! How exciting!
So please, please, please check it out once I have put it up, you will not regret it in any way at all...
I can't believe I've actually got to the end, it seemed like a million chapters away just yesterday! Please leave a review and tell me what you think!
Again, thanks so much for sticking with me throught all of this. It's amazing that you take the ime to read.
Special Thanks To :
Elysian Dawn - You've been reading pretty much from the start, and I find it amazing that somebody so talented can be bothered to read my story! You leave awesome reviews too. Thank you.
Bridget - Thank you so much for your kind reviews. I really do appreciate them,
Harriet and her friends - Wow! Such compliments! Thank you so much for spreading the word about my story, it really does help me out.
Sarah - My first reviewer, I have no idea if you're even still reading, even if you aren't,, thank you.
Bondgirl88 and David - Thank you for the constructive criticism! I always try to take things like that no board.
Ellie - Thank you so much for your review. Although in my opinion I'm not as good as Suzanne Collins, I am very flattered.
Guest - My most recent reviewer, thank you for your review. I love how you picked up on the little details.
Wyvvern - My first little bit of feedback on my change to the cornucopia. I really appreciated that, thank you.
JessTWIxox - Thank you for the support, and yes, Phee is an awesome nickname.
Stephanie - Thanks for reading! And my story has a lot more than fifty views now...
And of course, thank you to everyone who has favourited and followed my story, even added it to a community! The silent followers deserve recognition too, thank you so much for reading.
The sequel will be called "The Girl Who Fell Down The Well." and I'm starting on the first chapter right now!
Thank you, once again,
BethanyDee x x