Chapter 37: Sonata of the End

~The Red in the Pale Realm~

District 11- Aster, 18

Location: The Pale Realm

When I walk slowly to get a closer view of my opponent, I notice that he, the boy from 3, has it too. The silver container. I take a deep breath and calm myself. This is it. This is the moment I've been trained for my entire life.

But now, it's not just my father's order that makes me stand here. It's for her as well. I want to win this for Jinx, and I want to tell her family of how sorry I am. And I love her, probably for eternity...

I take deep breath and try to focus my mind. The boy from 3 has already discard his silver container. Damn! I missed seeing what it is!

Judging from the fact that it's gone, I'm sure that it's quite compact. I try to figure out his expression, but he looks as steely as a cold machine. I take a deep breath again and open my silver container...

And it's a sword. The hilt and guard are made of a very sturdy wooden material. Why? Won't it be convenient to just use a normal iron one? Maybe it's for a dramatic value. But then I fix my gaze at the last opponent I need to defeat.

The boy from 3 is standing still. Why? No idea. But he doesn't look like he's going to attack me first...

How clever and very in-control. I know that he must want revenge for the boy from 10, because during the split second that I took Jinx away, he looks so stricken and broken. But he doesn't elect to charge me in blind fury... Clever.

"Do not disappoint me, Aster."

I nod and clench my grip on my new sword. Once again, I look at the cold and steely face of the boy from 3 and charges him at full power.

My sword then collides with his knife. I notice that he's holding it weirdly. Like he's trying to hide his hand with his sleeve. But I don't care and keep on forcing him back.

"Just give up, Three." I say venomously, trying to provoke him into attacking me. But his brown eyes show no hint of his emotion. He only bores straight into my own eyes with a look of piqued interest and surprise. But then instead of giving up, he mumbles something along the lines of 'interesting...'

I lift my sword away and keeps on trying to stab and slash him. But he moves swiftly. His movement reminds me of Katherine's gracefulness and the boy from 10's wildness. No. It doesn't remind me. They're completely the same!

So this is what almost killed Issac. This copycat ability...

Let's take it on.

District 3- Jay, 17

Location: The Pale Realm

The boy from 11, Aster Marino is different from Issac Blackfin.

I suppose it was to be expected since he wasn't attacking me in blind fury like the latter. But I must say that I assumed that he will also think of me as someone to set his grudges on since my friend killed his... lover, I guess?

But I was wrong. I was wrong. How... mesmerizing.

I continue to avoid his attacks, even when it's impossible to escape without any injury because his attacks are so swift and precise, I manage to make due with just scars.

My clothes are tattered, but that's not important. What's important now is to try and deplete as much stamina from him.

I can see the white snow below us get tainted with my blood... Yes. I haven't attacked him. I've only use my knife to block his sword attacks. But suddenly, the temperature starts to drop dramatically.

I can almost hear the impatience from the Capitol. As if it's urging us to hurry up and end it already. I take a deep breath and ready myself to do my plan...

My do or die plan.

I purposely slow down in my movements, trying to imply that I'm tired. Aster Marino immediately notices this and smiles. Just as according to plan.

"Shame..." He says as he drives his sword to my already injured one. I seethe as the wound Issac gave me begins to bleed again. But at the same time, I drive my knife to his arm.

"AAAAAAARGHHHHHH!" He screams in agony. Of course he will. It must have hurt to have 1 million volts coursing throughout his body.

The gift I got from Micro is a one million volts stun gun and some wires. I immediately did what both Sharon I did in our private session, only I hid my stun gun on my sleeve. That's why I didn't attack by throwing my knife, because it'd be meaningless.

We both knocked each other out, and so we both lie on the ground, waiting for death to take us. Aster is still convulsing while my vision starts to blur from the loss of blood.

My breath is ragged. I'm dying. And there's nothing I can do about it. But then I see Vincent and... Zero? hovering over me. Smiling.

"Get up, Jay." Vincent says and Zero nods at him. Why? Why is Zero here? Is he... is he dead...?

Ah. I see. The guy killed himself to be with Sharon. But he's waiting for me to win. I close my eyes, but then I can feel Vincent hugging me.

And then everything fades to black...

Who won the Hunger Games?

Review and find out in the next chapter :)