Disclaimer: The Hunger Games is not mine.

Note: This chapter takes us to the end of the Games, but not the end of this story. There will still be another chapter or two (probably two) to tie up some loose ends after this chapter is over.

As this does mark the end of the Games, however, I am opening up submissions for my next SYOT. The form will be up on my profile, along with some general guidelines.

Lastly, there's another poll up on my profile asking which tribute's death was your favorite. Obviously, read the chapter first.

Finale
The Last Move

Mags Pharos
District Four Mentor

Mags wasn't quite sure why neither of the tributes had attacked the other yet.

Harakuise had been hiding behind a boulder for nearly twenty minutes before emerging, a silent witness to Sterling's death. He could have easily attacked. And he certainly wasn't hesitant to stab tributes in the back. Or the front. Whichever happened to be more convenient at the time.

And now Brie was simply standing there, watching her district partner, as if they weren't two of the last three contestants in a fight to the death. As if he wasn't already planning to kill her. Then Harakuise threw his knife into the cave. Mags tensed, waiting. Waiting for Brie to do the smart thing and just stab him. Or for her to drop her guard and allow Harakuise the opportunity he was no doubt waiting for.

She wasn't sure which to hope for.

"I hope Brie wins," Hazel said quietly.

"I hope so, too," Tania agreed, which was to be expected. Brie was one of her tributes, after all. And she'd been Sterling's ally, which explained Hazel's reaction. But it still hurt. Because, despite the fact that she knew where they were coming from, despite the fact that maybe Brie deserved it more, Ella was still Mags' tribute. Mags could still see the girl she had met on the train, driven half-mad by the Games, but somehow, miraculously, still alive.

Mags looked away from the other two. She liked Brie as much as anyone else. She felt sorry for her because of her brother. She wanted her to make it home, to save him.

But she and Ella couldn't both win.

"There's nothing you can do at this point, anyway."

Mags looked up as Lander slid into the seat beside her. "I know," she said quietly. "I just wish there was."

Lander shook his head. "No, you don't. Because then it would be your responsibility. It's up to her now, and that's the way it should be."

The way it should be. Mags cringed. None of this should be happening. There shouldn't be any Games at all. But there were.

"Think back," Lander continued. "Back to your Games. Would you have wanted someone to come in and wipe out all the other tributes for you? Would you have wanted someone else to choose, rather than letting you rely on your own wits? Of course not. Then you would have spent the rest of your life wondering why they chose you, out of the twenty-four tributes they could have picked. Or, worse, knowing why. Knowing why you were chosen. Look what that did to Vester. You don't want that."

Mags nodded silently. She had spoken with Vester the day before; he'd been convinced that the Gamemakers had rigged his Games – and possibly other ones, as well. Lander was right; she wouldn't have wanted that. She wanted to believe that she'd survived on her own.

But that also meant that she'd killed on her own. If surviving was her accomplishment, then the deaths truly were her fault. And she didn't want that, either.

Lander nodded. "You want the best of both worlds. You want to credit yourself with surviving but blame them for the killing. It doesn't work like that. So you can either blame them for everything or take credit for everything. I chose the second one. I survived. I killed those tributes. I learned how to fight and how to use my surroundings. I did that. It's mine. Whether I'm proud of that or sorry for it doesn't matter – all that matters is that I own it."

Mags studied Lander for a moment. She remembered his Games – remembered how he had begun, so scared and hesitant, darting away from the Cornucopia as fast as he could. She remembered his first kill – an ally who had gotten stuck in quicksand, as three older, stronger tributes were chasing them. An ally who had begged for a quick death at Lander's hands rather than a slow one from their pursuers.

She wondered if she would have done the same thing.

"He's right," Tania agreed quietly, turning towards Mags. "It's up to them now. And, either way, it'll be over soon."

Mags nodded. Either way. Whether Ella won or one of Tania's tributes did, it would be over.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. Aron. And, beside him, Glenn. All around them, the other victors had gathered, watching. Waiting together.

Waiting for the end.

Brie Fallyn, 17
District Five Female

It was a trick.

It had to be. There was no way the boy in front of her would really drop his only weapon and give her the choice of listening to him or not. There had to be a catch. He had to have a weapon hidden somewhere. He had to have a plan.

The Capitol anthem began to play, and Harakuise turned instinctively towards the Capitol seal, standing at attention, his hands behind his back, his head held high. Brie saw her chance. In one swift move, she grabbed the boy and flung him to the ground, his arms pinned behind him, her knife at his throat. Harakuise went completely still, waiting. Waiting for the stroke that would end his life.

It would be so easy. All she had to do was bring her knife down. Then it would be just her and Ella. Just the two of them. And then she could go home to Jai. Sterling's face appeared in the sky, watching her. As if waiting to see what she would do.

"Please." Harakuise's voice was strained. "Just listen to me."

It was the 'please' that made her think twice. He hadn't struck her as the sort for politeness, but neither was he begging. She could see that he was fighting to keep his voice calm. Steady. Controlled. But she could see the fear in his eyes.

Knife still in hand, she checked his pockets for weapons, but found nothing. She patted down his shirt, and he gasped in pain. His chest was bandaged, but, other than that, he seemed quite well off for someone who had survived five days of the Games. Brie eyed her district partner doubtfully. Someone like him hadn't survived that long by fighting. He'd used his wits, his words, his allies – and, now that they were gone, he was looking for a new one. Someone else to use before he could kill them.

But he could have killed her already. How long he had been hiding before finally revealing himself, Brie wasn't sure, but it had certainly been more than enough time to sneak up on her as she was tending to Sterling. She had been an easy target, and Sterling even more so. He could have attacked, eliminated both of them easily. But he hadn't. Why?

And she still owed him a favor. He clearly hadn't forgotten, and neither had she. Maybe debts didn't mean much at this point in the Games, but he was only asking for five minutes. She could give him that.

But that didn't mean she had to trust him. None too gently, she hauled him to his feet and pinned him against the side of the mountain. Keeping her knife firmly between them, she took a few steps back. "All right. Five minutes. Talk."

Harakuise nodded. "Thank you. You won't regret it."

"I already do. Say what you want to say, and get it over with."

"It's about your brother, Jai. I just wanted to say that I believe you – about his innocence. You're a brave young woman, Brie. Honest. Noble. Kind. If your brother is anything like you, he could never be guilty of helping the rebels."

Brie kept silent, wondering where he was going with this. Of course he believed her. He was the one who had come up with the story, after all, that day on the train. The idea of framing Jai for something more serious than petty theft – that had been his idea. He'd been the one who'd offered to plant evidence, to have his associates make it look as if Jai was guilty of treason. But why would he bring that up now?

"I just wanted you to know that … if you die, and if I win … I'll do my best to see that his case is investigated. I believe in justice, Brie, and if your brother is innocent, as you say, I'll do everything I can to help him."

Brie gritted her teeth. "That's very kind of you, but it's not going to happen. I'll take care of that myself as soon as—"

"In fact," Harakuise continued, ignoring her. "I have a few friends in high places. Friends who are quite experienced with finding evidence, with searching for the truth. People who are quite adept at finding things that other people might … miss. If anyone can help your brother, they can. In fact, they might be able to help him more than anyone you could hire. If you think about it, Brie, it might be better for your brother if I were there to help him."

Brie froze.

Harakuise was trying very hard to sound casual, but she could hear the threat in his tone. If she won, not him, then … what? His people would hide the evidence that could clear Jai? Make sure he was executed? Brie took a step back. Did he really have that sort of influence? Was there a chance he was bluffing?

Harakuise simply stared back. Brie clenched her fists. If she won, Jai would die? But then what if Harakuise won? If she died? Was she really supposed to expect him to keep his word? Did she have any sort of guarantee that he would, in fact, help Jai? But if she killed him now, and Jai died, how could she ever forgive herself? Would she spend the rest of her life wondering if Harakuise had been telling the truth?

Tears came to Brie's eyes. The whole world seemed to have been turned upside-down. She had entered the Games with a simple goal: live, so that Jai could live, too. But now, it seemed, if she wanted Jai to live, then she would have to die.

And, more than that, she would have to make sure that Harakuise won.

Brie waited a moment. Then she took a deep breath. She knew what she had to do. "What do you suggest?" she asked, knowing that whatever he said next wouldn't be a suggestion, but a demand.

Harakuise stood up a little straighter. "Besides us, Ella's the only one left. We find her, take her on together. After that … whatever happens, happens."

Brie nodded. It sounded so simple. "Any idea where to find her?"

Harakuise pointed to the southeast. "There's a volcano that way. They don't put a volcano in an arena unless they're going to use it."

"A volcano? How can you tell from here?" It looked like a mountain.

"Sher told me."

"Sher? When did you…?" But his expression – an odd mix of regret and satisfaction – told her what she needed to know. "All right," she agreed. "Volcano it is, then. Get your knife, and let's go."

Harakuise Swallot, 14
District Five Male

He hadn't expected her to be so eager.

Harakuise had expected her to stall. Maybe suggest they eat something before setting out, or pack some supplies. Try to find some way to put off the inevitable. Instead, she was ready to go before he was, prepared to face Ella, brave a volcano, and, ultimately, sacrifice herself. He had to admit he was impressed by her courage.

Then again, that was what he had been counting on – her courage. The fierce, reckless courage of a girl who had rushed forward at the reaping to volunteer because it was the only chance – however slim – of saving someone she loved. The loyal courage of a girl who had been willing to stay with a wounded ally, to risk her own life to get him to safety, if only for a little while. The selfless courage that drove her, even now, to place her brother's life above her own.

The sort of courage that got people killed.

Wordlessly, the two of them headed out across the desert, under the stars. Harakuise was quite content with the silence; there was nothing to say, really. Nothing that would change what had to happen. He had no doubt that she hated him, despised what he had done with everything that was in her. But there was also no question that she would follow him. Protect him. Perhaps it wasn't an ideal alliance, but each of them knew where the other stood. And, with only three of them left in the Games, maybe that was the best anyone could hope for.

"What did you mean?" Brie asked at last. "When you said Sterling deserved better?"

Harakuise looked up, surprised. She was about to die, and she was still thinking about her fallen ally. He shrugged. "I wanted to get your attention, and it seemed like a kind thing to say. And I've found that if you say something kind, people are less likely to throw a knife at you."

To his surprise, Brie actually smiled a little. "I suppose that's true."

"Of course it is. I'm still here." He shook his head. "In any case, he did deserve better. But the Games aren't about what we deserve – not individually, at least. They're a reminder that, as a district, we deserve so much worse."

Brie seemed about ready to say something rash, so he continued. "Think about it, Brie. The districts freely chose to rebel, even though they knew the consequence might be death. They accepted that as a consequence – not just for them, but for their children, as well. The Capitol could have chosen to wipe out everyone in each of the districts – like they did District Thirteen – but, instead, they chose to show mercy. Forgiveness. One or two deaths in a district per year – that's a small price to pay compared to the punishment we could have been dealt. Twenty-three deaths a year … to serve as a reminder of the past, to prevent such disaster from happening again. A small price to pay, don't you think?"

Say it, Brie. Just this once, say the smart thing. For Jai. For his sake, don't say anything that might sound rebellious.

It seemed like ages before Brie answered. "A small enough price, I suppose, when you put it that way. I just wish … I wish Sterling hadn't been the one who had to pay it."

Fair enough. There were, no doubt, people in the Capitol who were thinking the same thing, who wished that the boy had been able to make it home to his daughter. Brie had managed to say something both reasonable and kind. Now it was his turn. "For whatever it's worth, Brie, I agree. I know what it's like to lose a father, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. But I also know that it can make you stronger. Braver. Loss binds people together even more tightly than joy. Think about it. Was your family closer before or after your mother's death?"

Brie immediately stopped walking. "How did you know she was dead?"

Harakuise shrugged. "You must have mentioned it at some point." She hadn't. He'd assumed it when she'd told him Jai had been caught stealing food for their father and hadn't mentioned her mother. But, of course, he couldn't say that.

Brie shook her head. "I'm not sure we grew closer. Things just got harder. Harder to get by. Harder to find food."

Wrong direction. Harakuise silently cursed himself for saying anything about her mother. "But I bet it made you appreciate what you had," he ventured. "The family you had left. Maybe you don't see it, but … well, it's not everybody who would volunteer for a fight to death just because it might give them a chance to save someone they love." He looked up. "Not everyone would do that, Brie. I know I wouldn't have. There's no one I care about that much – not anymore. But you – you probably didn't even think twice. I respect that." He held out his hand. "I truly do."

Brie hesitated, but then took his hand and shook it.

Even as she did, there was a loud shriek behind them. Harakuise smiled a little as he turned just in time to see a pair of giant eagles. Watching two tributes chat while traipsing across the desert must have grown boring for the audience. He winked at Brie. "Brace yourself."

"For what?" Brie asked.

But Harakuise didn't have a chance to answer before the eagles swooped down, lifted the pair in their talons, and bore them off towards the mountain.

Ella Halliwell, 17
District Four Female

They were coming.

They were coming for her. Whoever was left. Didn't matter who it was, really. Ella wasn't sure who was left. Or how many. But, sooner or later, they would come for her.

She almost wished it would be sooner. Then it could all be over – one way or the other. With her trees gone, the arena no longer held any joy for her. And the volcano … she could stay here a while, but not forever. She had no food. No water. And she was tired. So tired. But she didn't dare sleep. Not yet.

Not yet.

Ella fingered her knife, staring into the darkness of the tunnel that led outside. When they came, she would be ready. Waiting. How many could she simply take by surprise? One, certainly. Maybe two or three. More might pose a threat, but surely there couldn't be that many of them left. She tried to remember how many cannons she'd heard, how many faces she'd seen in the sky. But it was all a blur.

For hours, it seemed, she simply stood there, staring into the darkness. The sunlight at the top of the volcano had long since gone; it was night outside. The moon provided a little light, and the glowing lava a little more. Enough to see the edges of the rocks, enough to keep her from falling into the fiery abyss below.

Enough for her to see any attackers who were approaching.

Suddenly, she heard a shriek. Not from the tunnel in front of her, but coming from above. Two dark shapes descended, plummeting from the sky and into the volcano. She could see wings. Birds. Huge, with sword-like talons. But the talons weren't reaching for her. In their grip, the birds held two tributes, holding on for their lives lest the birds drop them into the heart of the volcano below.

But they didn't. Instead, the birds let their charges fall just yards away from Ella before turning and soaring back out of the volcano and into the night, their task completed. Ella stared, knowing she should attack, but, for a moment, too shocked to do anything but observe the new threats.

The two of them – a boy and a girl – were on their feet quickly, eyeing her, taking in their surroundings. The boy's gaze strayed to the edge of the rocks, glancing at the lava below. He smiled a little.

And Ella smiled right back.

Two of them. One of her. But she had been here in the volcano for hours. She knew her way around. She still had a few surprises left. She—

Ella's thoughts were interrupted as the girl charged, knife in hand. Ella barely had time to dodge her first blow, and the second struck deep into her left shoulder. Ella growled, furious with herself for waiting, for wasting time, for allowing her opponents to strike first. She wouldn't make that mistake again.

Knife raised, she struck out at the girl.

Brie Fallyn, 17
District Five Female

Ella was strong. But it was obvious from the start that she wasn't quite thinking clearly. She had simply stood there, staring dumbly, letting Harakuise and Brie catch their breaths and take in their surroundings before attacking. So Brie had taken her chance.

Ella dodged her first blow, but her second stroke found its target, her knife sinking deep into Ella's shoulder. Ella growled in pain and anger, and, for a moment, Brie hesitated, a surge of guilt coursing through her. She hadn't even thought twice about attacking. Ella didn't deserve this – no more than any of the others had. But she was so close. So close to being able to save Jai. Ella had to die.

And then Brie simply had to do the same.

Ella struck again, but Brie dodged. That moment gave Harakuise time to make his move. He charged in without hesitation, his knife finding Ella's stomach before she had a chance to react. Ella struck back in fear and rage, tackling the younger boy, her knife plunging deep into his chest. Harakuise struck out again, but she caught his wrist, and his knife went flying. Ella raised her knife.

For a split second, Brie considered letting her kill him, and then simply killing Ella herself. No one would blame her. She might still be able to save Jai. Maybe. Maybe.

But maybe wasn't enough. Brie flung herself at the other girl, tearing her off Harakuise and dragging her towards the edge of the cliff. Towards the fire below. Ella thrashed and yelled, but Brie was stronger. Maybe not strong enough to force Ella over the edge alone. But strong enough to take Ella down with her.

For a moment, she stood there, at the edge, watching as Harakuise forced himself to his feet. Brie swallowed hard. She was afraid to do it, but, in the end, she knew she had to.

Arms wrapped around Ella, she threw herself off the edge of the rocks.

She let go of Ella as they both fell, screaming. Then Brie hit something hard, and she stopped falling. But Ella didn't. Brie looked away, but she could still hear Ella's screams as she plummeted into the lava below. Soon, there was a cannon. But only one.

Brie was still alive.

Then she saw Harakuise – climbing down the wall of the chasm, his knife tucked in his belt. He was coming to finish the job. Brie clenched her fists. It would be so easy. So easy to simply leap up and bury a knife in his back as he was climbing. Her whole body ached, but she was certain she had enough strength left for this, at least. She could do it. She could win.

But then Jai would die.

So she fought the urge – the overwhelming instinct – to get up. She simply lay there, waiting, as he approached. Still, he was cautious. Hesitant. Or maybe only pretending to be for the sake of the cameras. Maybe he didn't want to appear too eager to kill his district partner, even if she was the only one left.

Tears came to Brie's eyes. What would Jai think? Surely he was watching now, urging her on. Willing her to get up and fight. Maybe the audience was even thinking the same, wondering why she wasn't even trying to fight back.

She had to give them a reason.

Brie looked up at her district partner. "Can't move," she whispered. "Broke my neck, I think … when I fell."

"When you jumped," Harakuise corrected, relaxing a little when he realized she wasn't going to try to stab him. "You saved my life. Thank you."

Brie smiled a little. "If you want to make it up to me … then do me a favor." She took a deep breath. "Make it quick, Harakuise."

Harakuise nodded as he knelt by her side, taking her hand in one of his, his knife in the other. "I can do that."

"I love you, Jai," Brie whispered, squeezing Harakuise's hand tightly.

Then he cut her throat.

Harakuise Swallot, 14
District Five Male

Brie's cannon sounded.

"Ladies and gentlemen! The Victor of the Ninth Annual Hunger Games: Harakuise Swallot of District Five!"

Harakuise dropped his knife and slid his other hand out of Brie's dead grasp. Blood – both Brie's and his own and maybe some of Ella's – covered his hands, but he wiped them on his shirt, then reached over to close Brie's eyes. Then he quietly removed something from her pocket and tucked it safely inside his own.

Finally, he stood up, knife in hand raised above his head, still aware that the audience was watching, undoubtedly cheering for him. For his last kill.

Harakuise looked up towards the mouth of the volcano, waiting for the hovercraft. But, instead, one of the birds returned. Harakuise nearly burst out laughing when he realized what they wanted him to do. Grinning triumphantly, he climbed up on the eagle's back.

The eagle lifted Brie's body in its talons, and then took off, spiraling up and out of the volcano. As soon as the eagle had cleared the mouth of the volcano, it began to erupt. Harakuise grinned as the flames and the lava spewed closer and closer, but never quite reached the eagle. The Gamemakers would make sure of that.

Looking down, he took in the spectacular sight below him. The whole arena laid out before his feet – mountains, swamp, desert, water. Then he looked up, up into the night.

The stars were beautiful.

A hovercraft descended nearby, dropping a ladder that dangled near the eagle's back. Harakuise reached up and grabbed ahold of it. The current froze him in place as they drew him up, up into the hovercraft.

Only once he was safe inside did he realize how tired he was. He was still bleeding, his shirt soaked. But that didn't matter. They would fix it. One of the doctors helped him lie down, and another injected him with something. Harakuise smiled as the anesthetic took effect. He was safe. He had won.

And it felt good.

Jai Fallyn, 13
Brother of Brie Fallyn

Brie was dead.

Huddled in the corner of his cell, Jai wept silently. Brie was dead. And he would soon join her, he was sure of it. They had only kept him alive long enough to see her die. Now they would kill him, too.

And part of him even wanted them to.

They came for him a few hours later – two men dressed in black. They threw a bag over his head. Dragged him from the room. Jai didn't even bother to fight back. He was crying too hard, grieving too much, to think of his own safety.

He could tell they had left the building. He could feel the fresh air – probably for the last time, he realized. He stumbled along with his two guards as they led him through what was probably a street. But he heard no people. No voices. Nothing.

He heard a gate open. Then a door. They led him up some stairs, then into a room. Finally, they dropped him to the floor and closed the door behind him.

Something was wrong. The floor wasn't hard. It was carpeted. Soft beneath him. Slowly, Jai opened his eyes, fumbling until he could get the bag off his head.

It was bright. The room was a bright white – the walls, the ceiling, the bed.

The bed.

It was a bedroom. But not his. Jai staggered to his feet, staring. Confused. Whose room was it? What did they want?

Why was he still alive?

"If this be jest, then it is too bitter for laughter. Nay, it is the last move in a great jeopardy, and for one side or the other it will bring the end of the game."