A/N: In this chapter, there will be a few deaths. Who? Read on to find out.
District 9: Jax Samuel's POV:
The midnight before the tenth day, I wake up to a beeping sound. Drowsily, I sit up in my sleeping bag. Luxe is just waking up, also. Glint, who is on guard duty, is reaching out to grab a silver parachute descending from the sky.
"Who's it for?" I ask.
Glint grins. "Well, it let me grab it, I so guess it's for me." He tears open the box and pulls out a chunk of meat, some cheese, and some bread. Enough for a feast.
My mouth waters at the sight of all the food. We started off with a lot, but it's almost gone now. "Hey, can I have some?" I ask.
Glint stares at me. "Of course not. They didn't give me food so I could give it to other people."
"I'm really hungry," I say. "Please?"
"Nope."
Defeated, I lie back in my sleeping bag, as does Luxe.
"Hey, Jax, where you going? It's your watch now," Luxe says.
"It is?"
"Well, I can sort of see it's getting a bit lighter," Luxe says. "That's your signal."
"It's your watch," Glint agrees. "Oh, and Jax, if you steal any of my food, it'll be the end of you."
I don't respond. I'm plotting. I've always planned to turn on my allies at some point in the Games, but I didn't know when. And now we're down to six. And I'm on guard duty. There could be no better time.
I grab the spare sword and turn to my sleeping comrades. Who will I kill first? Glint, I decide. They're both threats, but Glint would be a lot more eager to kill me. Luxe hasn't proved as bloodthirsty.
I turn to Glint, but then Luxe opens his eyes.
"What are you - "
Luxe's sword comes up to parry mine. He sits up, and I turn and attack him.
District 11: Orange Skyla's POV:
In the middle of the night, Archer wakes me up. Drowsily, I sit up. He looks excited. He's crouching, arms clenched against the cold.
"Oron," he says. "Oron, I have a plan."
"A plan?" I repeat. "What for?"
"To, ah..." He seems to be struggling to find the right words. "Well, to wipe out some of our competition."
"Wipe out?" I'm awake now. "Who? The Careers? There's still the boys from One and Four, and the girl from Four."
"I don't think the girl's with them," Archer says. "I heard them talking in the training center. But it sounds like they're with the boy from Nine."
"The boy from Nine," I repeat. "Okay. So, who're we going for?"
"Well, the girl from Four could be anywhere," Archer says. "But the other Careers are probably at the Cornucopia. They're usually at the Cornucopia. Some tradition or something, right?"
I shrug. "No idea. So, how to you propose we kill the Careers?"
"Well, they'll be sleeping," Archer says.
"So, we just sneak up on them and kill them?" I ask.
"We sneak up on them and kill them," Archer confirms.
I'm silent for a moment, thinking. "And what if they wake up before we finish the job?"
"Well, I guess if that happens we fight until someone dies." In the moonlight, Archer's face looks grim and ghastly. "And, Oron, don't shoot your arrows from afar. I know you're a pretty good shot, but I don't want to risk it. Odds are it won't kill them immediately."
"So, what should I do?"
Archer hands another knife.
I stare at it. "Didn't you only have one?"
"I only had one," Archer agrees. "But remember when we found the bag a few hours ago? With the fresh blood? Probably from Luda or Bellatrix, those girls who died yesterday. Well, there was a knife."
I clutch the knife.
"Only use the knife," Archer reminds me.
I'm quiet for a moment. "I don't like this plan," I mutter.
"What about it?"
"Well," I say, "they're probably going to have someone awake, watching to make sure this doesn't happen."
"Look, Oron," Archer says. "There are only six of us left. Someone has to make the first move. I bet the Careers will be hunting tomorrow, trying to be the ones to make that first move. But if we attack them tonight, we'll be the hunters. We can't put it off any longer." His eyes gleam. "I've been planning this since day one."
I sigh. "Well, if you're going, I guess the only thing I can do is follow."
Archer grins. "Quite right. Oh, and Oron..." He glances at me uncomfortably. "If we succeed, we should probably go our separate ways. I don't want it to be you and me at the end."
I nod. "Agreed. So, let's go. Where's the Cornucopia?"
District 7: Archer Lux's POV:
When Oron and I reach the Cornucopia, I stop him.
"So, look," I say. "I'll take Four, and you take One."
"One's the bigger one, right?"
"I think." I take a breath. "And on the count of three, we'll kill them together. And if they wake up, ah... Well, we'll have to keep fighting."
"Great." Oron shakes his head. "Let's try to avoid that."
"Yes, let's." I grip my knife so tightly my knuckles turn white. "So, let's head on in."
I take a deep breath, and then crawl a few meters toward the Cornucopia, Oron right behind me. Two of the Careers are asleep. One is sitting up. When we're about fifteen feet from the three, there is a beeping sound.
Sponsors.
I really, really hope it's not for me or Oron. It would blow our cover. I lay flat on the ground, my heart pounding.
It isn't for us. The sliver parachute goes over to the sleeping Careers. The guard, the boy from One, grabs the parachute from the air.
"Who's it for?" someone asks.
"Well, it let me grab it, so I guess it's for me," the boy from One says, opening the parachute. Food spills out.
"Hey, can I have some?" the second voice asks.
"Of course not. They didn't give me food so I could give it to other people." Not very generous.
"I'm really hungry. Please?" he pleads.
"Nope."
Two of the Careers lie back down in their sleeping bags.
"Hey, Jax, where you going?" It's a third voice, coming from one of the boys on the ground. "It's your watch now."
"It is?" Jax asks.
"Well, I can see it's getting a bit lighter," the third voice continues. "That's your signal."
"It's your watch," the first voice agrees. "Oh, and Jax, if you steal any of my food, it'll be the end of you."
The boy from One lies down, and Jax pushes himself into a sitting position. After a few minutes of waiting, I get to my knees and gesture for Oron to follow me. Trying again. But everything changes when Jax reaches for a sword.
I flatten myself out on thee ice again. He's seen us. Dang it. Now he's going to come after us with a sword.
But no. Jax is instead turning to the sleeping form of the boy from One. He raises the sword and -
"What are you - " It's the boy from Four. There is a clang as he parries Jax's strike.
Jax turns to the boy from Four, and attacks.
Oh, no. Dang it, dang it, dang it. Our mission is blown. I send a desperate look at Oron, and am surprised to find him on his knees. And rising.
"What are you doing?" I hiss.
"Joining the battle," he answers.
3rd Person:
Jax yells as he strikes Luxe, still on the ice in his sleeping bag. Luxe parries, and tries to kick his way from the sleeping bag. He strikes at Jax's knees, severing his right lower leg. There is a burst of fresh red blood, and Jax collapses.
Jax ignores the throbbing pain in his leg as best he can, and thrashes out at Luxe with his sword. Luxe lurches back, sliding across the ice. But it's too late; Jax's sword has met its mark. Luxe utters a cry as surprise as his sword flops to the ground. His hand is still attached.
The ice is already deep red in color, though no one has died yet. Jax stands on his left leg, blood pouring buckets from his right. His face is contorted in pain and discomfort. He hobbles after Luxe, creating a path of red behind him. He stands over the body of his former ally, sword in the ice for balance. He yanks it out, and thrusts it into Luxe's torso.
Luxe manages to roll, so the sword pierces his side. But the weapon goes in deep.
BOOM!
Jax collapses on the ground once more. Archer sees the limp but living body from a distance. He goes over to finish him off. He is repulsed by the blood, and knows that another strike will only bring more.
But he kneels by Jax, and forces his knife into his heart. The cannon does not fire, so Archer twists the bloody knife clockwise. The little blood Jax has left pours from the deep wound. Jax screams, then looses consciousness. Seconds later, his cannon fires.
BOOM!
Glint is out of his sleeping bag now, surveying the situation. Luxe and Jax are both dead. Archer and Orange are alive. Who to take on? Archer goes first, Glint decides. He's probably more dangerous, as he has already killed one of Glint's allies.
Glint grabs his sword and charges Archer. Archer's eyes widen and he ducks. Glint's first strike swings harmlessly over his head. But he can't evade forever. Glint shoves Archer to the ground. Orange, running over to help, trips over Archer's splayed legs. Glint grins. There could be no better setup. His sword is already in motion. It arcs downward, cutting into Orange's neck.
Pain shoots through Oron's body. He curls up, then lashes out with his knife, driving it a centimeter into Glint's calf. Glint growls, and strikes at Orange again, putting all his force into the downward thrust. Oron's eyes widen, and do not get the chance to shut again. Glint's sword, armed with force and sharpness, drives deep into Orange's neck once more, this time severing it from the body. Oron's head rolls across the ice, spraying blood like a fountain, and covering Glint and Archer.
BOOM!
Archer kicks off from Glint's already wounded leg. He skids across the ice, and Glint curses and grabs his throbbing leg. He follows Archer. Archer struggles to his feet and uses his last weapon. He can't win in hand-to-hand combat with this monster, but maybe... Archer hurls his knife at Glint, catching him in the arm. Bad throw. That's it.
Glint is tasting victory, despite his leg and arm, approaching his terrified prey. Archer turns and sprints away from his adversary. Glint yanks the knife from his arm, and throws it back at its former owner.
Archer has nearly reached the safety of a towering glacier when a sharp pain shoots through his upper leg. He hops on his right foot, still stumbling along. But the ice, slippery as it tends to be, is no surface to hop across. Archer's leg goes out from under him, and he crashes to the ground.
Glint strolls over to his wounded prey, satisfied. He has never had great aim, but his knife had met its mark. Archer is still trying to get away, pulling himself with his hands, his feet scrambling for purchase.
Glint sticks his sword under Archer and flops him over onto his back.
"It's not worth it," he says gleefully. "You're not going to make it."
Archer, not one to give up, grabs at Glint's injured leg. Glint hops out of his reach, wincing as he lands heavily, and then he grins.
"This is when you give up," he says. "You are completely at my mercy. You are on the ground. I am over you. You are unarmed. I have a knife - your old knife, I should mention - and a sword. Now, tell me. In whom's favor are the odds?"
Archer does not reply. He collects the moisture in his mouth and repels it at the older boy.
Glint smiles cruelly. "I have all the time in the world. It's just you, me, and a Career girl who would've been dead already if she had been in our alliance. So, I think I'll do this slowly. Let's start...let's start with your arms. No more desperate grabs, little boy."
Glint chuckles, and then swings his sword down at Archer's shoulder. He freezes it inches before compact.
"Too afraid?" Archer says bitterly. "Can't do it?"
"Oh, I assure you that I can," Glint says. "It's just that I've had another idea. My aim isn't that great, currently. I'm going to practice...with a real, living, breathing, screaming target."
Archer blanches. He's really going to do it.
"So, let's start by tying you to the glacier. Or...actually, let's pin you there." Glint grins. Then he grabs Archer's wrist and drags him over to the supplies pile. He grabs a bucket of knives. Archer gulps.
Back at the glacier, Glint forces Archer to stand at the wall. He grabs a knife and pulls Archer's arm out to the side. Archer struggles, but can't pull free of Glint's iron grip. Glint opens Archer's clenched fists and casually shoves a knife into his palm. Archer shakes with the pain. Glint does the same with his other palm.
"There," he says, satisfied. "Not going to be leaving now, are you."
He grabs a handful of knives. He picks out a long, thin, deadly sharp one. He smiles before hurling it at Archer. It pierces his stomach. Archer shakes with the pain and presses his thin body into the ice.
"Doesn't that feel good?" Glint asks in an icily sweet tone.
Archer can't answer through the pain. Blood trickles down his stomach, staining his shirt red.
Glint's next knives land in Archer's shoulder, his leg, and again in his stomach.
"I'm getting awfully good at this, aren't I," he says cheerfully. "Oh, man. This is fun."
Glint takes a few steps forward, and takes out a short, thick knife. He focuses and aims. He takes a deep breath, and throws. Archer braces himself for the pain. The knife lands just above his heart. Archer can't hold back his scream.
"Oh, look, I'm out of knives," Glint says casually. "Hmm. Should I pull them out? Nah, let's wait. You'll be dead soon enough. See you soon, dead boy." He goes back to the campsite at the Cornucopia.
It is almost midnight when the last breath leaves Archer's lungs. BOOM! His body slumps to the ground and there is another burst of blood as his hands pull free of their holding knives. The hovercraft comes and scoops up the dead body.
Glint is back in his sleeping bag when the anthem plays. He looks up at the sky. Luxe's face is first. Then Archer. Then Jax. Then Orange. All his allies are gone. An alliance that was once of five is now of one.
Two more tributes left.
A/N: Two more tributes left! I know who the victor will be. But tell me still: Who do you want to win? And who do you think will win?
District 1: Glint Harson
District 4: Aquamarine Mer
