Life was all I wanted to see

A new flower bloom

My vision you stole from me

And left me in endless gloom.

The Capitol

Samara Elvin (16) Victor of 59th Games

"FIND THE LOCATION OF THE ARENA!" I cried.

"We're not able to detect it!" Haley snapped back. She was crushed after Virgo's death too but… no I couldn't let Edith die. Tyler… I didn't even realise when I had started crying. I was always so bad to him. I couldn't be a good mentor. I couldn't even be a decent person. Why did I keep forgetting that there was a chance that they wouldn't return? I always kept that thought away so that I didn't have to face reality but Tyler…

"We're trying," Haley replied in a much soothing voice. I looked up at her. Her eyes looked haunted and there were dark circles under them. She must be going through what I was feeling. Yes, officially she was mentoring Cress but she in reality had grown to like Virgo a lot too. I couldn't let myself get weak.

Nothing was going well. Opal was dead, Regal was captured, there was a traitor who was giving away all our secrets, and the Capitol was slowly gaining control. They had the same weapons as us. I was afraid that the traitor might hack into our server. We had changed the password and made changes in security. More people had been assigned to guard it.

I still couldn't believe that Opal was dead. If she were here I was sure she would have found out the location of the arena. If she had found it out we could have rescued the tributes. Now only three were alive. Tyler…

I clenched my fists. He had to be avenged. The Capitol had to be destroyed. I cursed myself. If I hadn't killed Hannah then maybe I could have forced her to spit it out.

I followed Haley to where Alan was. His fear had reached a whole new level when he learned that Regal was captured. Albert had demanded us to surrender in exchange of his release. His message had been broadcasted throughout the Capitol and only here. And then we had heard a laugh so insane that, well I would appear saintly to others. I recognised the voice. It was Regal's and that was what terrified Alan so much.

"Alan," I said, "You're good with computers too, right? Can you try to hack into their system and find out where they have made the arena?" That was the problem. Nobody apart from the head panel of Gamemakers and Albert knew where the arena was. And Snow. Snow. We could get it out from Snow!

"Haley!" I said, "Try to find out Snow! We can confront him about it! Alan, try to get the data. And meanwhile, I'll try to find out who ratted us out."

"Yes, I'll go with a team now," Haley said as she put on a blue mask covering her mouth, nose and head and revealing only the eyes. She was one of those people whom nobody suspected of being a rebel. Well, nobody knew about me as well and a few others too. Anyway, secrecy and hidden identity was important. I put on my own mask and shaded glasses.

"Good luck," she said and then took off. Well, I really needed some good luck right now.

Regal Winter

Albert pushed his son against the wall and leaned closer, glaring at the boy.

"Tell me, who all are involved? Give me the names!" he yelled. Regal smiled at him.

"As if that's going to happen," he replied softy, "Why don't you find out yourself? Stop pestering me."

Albert punched him hard on his jaw. His head was thrown back with the impact and blood dripped from his mouth. Regal's body was shaking but that was because he was laughing.

"What do you find so funny?! You disgraceful little-"

"Silence," the son said looking at him with hard eyes. His hands were still tied behind his back. Or so Albert thought. Early in the morning he had at last managed to struggle out of his bonds. As soon as he had been about to leave his father had returned with his whip. It was that same whip that he grabbed now and struck him with. The skin on his arm turned an ugly shade of red but Regal didn't even flinch.

"You can't think of anything new, can you?" he asked bitterly, staring at the whip with a sort of crazy interest. "Well, I have a brand new way to kill you if you don't tell me everything!"

The boy's eyes met his and he smiled. He knew he was getting under Albert's skin and that's what he wanted. Very soon, he wouldn't even know what hit him. Very soon everyone in the whole building would be surprised. Death was always surprising. He just hoped that the rebels weren't present there. It would be bad, very bad.

"You're about to die," he said with a light chuckle. Albert stared at him for a few seconds then burst out laughing. Regal's grin grew wider. His father would definitely love the pleasant surprise that he had for him. He didn't want to do it but there was no choice.

"Who will kill me, son?" Albert sneered.

"I will," Regal replied.

His father laughed again. "Yeah? And how will you do that? Cry for your sister till I die laughing at how pathetic you are?"

Regal brought his hands to his sides. His father stared at him. When did he break out of his bonds?

"I have other plans," Regal said. There was a chain around his neck with a heart shaped locket dangling from it. He opened the locket. Albert's eyes widened when he saw a red switch in it. It was really small but Albert knew that this wasn't good news. He took a step back fearfully as his son looked at him quizzically.

"Why are you scared?" he asked.

"You won't do it! YOU CAN'T DO IT!" Albert screamed.

"You shouldn't tell me what I can do or not," Regal replied airily. He had expected such a day to come. Just after the Reapings he had his good friend, a surgeon and fellow rebel, plant a bomb inside his body. Risky, yes, but necessary. Also he had the inner lining of jacket covered with a thin sheet that were actually thousands of small explosives. Small but definitely good at their job. If nothing else worked then suicide bombing would. He had the trigger in his locket, the same Jennifer had got for him as a child. Either way, the President would die. He hoped that the rebels would be able to capture the traitor and gain control.

He pressed the switch but did not take his thumb off.

"Albert," he whispered in a calm fury, "You were the disgrace for me. I hate you and you deserve what you'll get."

"You're joking," Albert said.

"No," Regal said with a wink, "I'm not."

He thought of Alan then. He couldn't tell him. All he wanted was to see him one last time and give him a bear hug. Tell him how special he was and how honoured he was to have a friend like him. How he was not a part of his life but his very life itself. But that couldn't happen. And in a way it was good. He wouldn't be able to face him.

He removed his thumb from the switch.

There was a loud sound of explosion, everything was in flames and soon all that was left was a pile of debris.

Alan Aquila

Alan grabbed his chest. He had a terrible feeling. As if, as if something was very wrong. Something bad was happening to someone close. Were they torturing Regal again? He couldn't focus on anything that he did. His mind and heart were with his friend and he was all he cared about. He had a task at hand though. Hack into the system. Why didn't Samara understand that he was not good at hacking? Sure, he had helped set up the server but…

He was on his way to the headquarters. Just a five minute walk and then he would be safe again. He didn't want to stay in the daylight. He didn't wear a mask as that might make the Capitolites suspect him. The streets were completely deserted. Of course. There was unrest here.

Alan came to a halt. Something was going to happen. He could just feel it. He turned to look at the tall building of the Gamemakers that loomed over the city. It was too far away but he could still see it. Regal was there somewhere.

Then right in front of his eyes, there was an explosion in the building. It was burning very soon. Large chunks of it were falling down. But that couldn't happen! Regal couldn't go anywhere! Not without Alan! Not without his friend!

Alan felt as if somebody had stabbed him in the heart. There was no limit to how much it hurt. He couldn't breathe properly anymore. His right hand rested on his heart. He was crying and screaming silently in agony. Regal was dead… he was dead… dead…

His throat felt raw. What was he going to do? How would he handle things? Regal wasn't there to look out for him! No, that wasn't possible. He must be joking. Yes, that was it. Very soon he would be there with Alan, laughing at how easy it had been to kill the President. He would make plans for the future. He certainly wouldn't desert his mission!

Alan saw something from the corner of his eye. It was a figure covered completely in black from head to toe. It was slim and tall and Alan knew instantly whom he was looking at. He ran after her. Seeing him approach she started sprinting away. Alan jumped on top of her and took off her mask.

His heart almost skidded to a halt. His eyes widened and that moment's hesitation cost him too much. Tiara pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest just below the heart. Breath exploded out of him and he could feel his vision get blurry. This could not happen! Why was Tiara helping the Capitol?! She threw him off herself and stood up, putting on the mask again.

"Sorry Alan," she said, "Had to do that."

With that she fled.

Alan grabbed the hilt of the blade sticking out from his body. He had to tell the rebels. But it didn't seem as if he had much time. At least he would soon be with his friend. Maybe they would have some peace and joy in afterlife.

He touched his wound and when his fingers were smeared in his own blood he started writing on the cemented ground.

TIARA.

He grabbed the knife and pulled it out. He felt cold now and he wasn't able to breathe. Everything appeared dimmer.

"Alan!"

That was Samara's voice. He felt her running towards him. But his eyes were closed and all he wanted to do was rest.

You bound me in the chains of your wrath

And committed every sin

I broke my bonds and took my flight

And in the end I did win.

I felt terrible while writing this. I killed two of my little friends in one go. Well, I hoped you all liked it anyway.

Okay the reason this was not the final showdown is that I am going to put up another poll now for the victor so be sure to vote. The poll will be there for some time so that more people can vote in it.

Thank you for all your reviews! They were wonderful to read though they made me feel really bad about killing all those kids…

Have a good day!