Nubu Sanders
The little girl died in my arms. Her cannon sounded over our heads and the noise rang in my ears. I set her down and knelt over her. Why would anyone want this? No matter how much they hate us, why would they want to watch her die? She didn't hurt them. She was just a little girl. She didn't die cursing them or vowing revenge. She was alone and scared that she wasn't good enough for heaven. Heaven belonged to people like her. It was her killers that deserved something else.
Something rustled on her neck as I lowered her. I saw she was wearing two necklaces. One had a flower with a pink center, and the other was made of candy. When I saw that, I lost it. I cried like a baby that she wasn't going to get to eat the candy. Of all the things to mourn, I cried because a little girl never finished a candy necklace. There were so many things that weren't fair. I cried for every one.
I'd barely set her down when the parachutes started coming. One after another they fell, like an army. They could only be for me, but their numbers were all across the board. The first was from Ten. Another from Six, then one from Seven. A round one from Four, and one from Five. Finally, one from Twelve. I wondered if it had originally been for Alinta. Panem had made its choice. It seemed I was their champion, just like I tried to be for the girl. I didn't care about the Games, and I didn't want to unpack more weapons and blood. Then I thought that maybe one had flowers or a note for the girl, and I started opening them.
After I unpacked them all, I was richer than half the people in Twelve. Someone sent me a jacket and gloves, along with a roll of bandages and a bottle of vitamin D tablets. There was a meal of roast meat, but I couldn't bear to eat it. Someone else sent a bottle of water and a meal packet. There was a blanket, which I spread over the girl. A sword from my own District. A thermos of soup, a first aid kit, two grenades of some sort, and a gas mask.
I opened the round gift last. It was a shield, so balanced and light it didn't seem like it could possibly stop anything. But when I tapped a finger against it, it was like it swallowed up the force. By the light of the floating green things, I could just make out a design of alternating circles.
I knew I should take my things and go. Victory would want to know who she'd shot. She was like a shark, waiting for her victim to bleed out so she could feed. She'd be coming soon, and I had no business fighting her. But I didn't want to leave. I wanted to face her and make her see what she'd done. I could feel all of Panem behind me, begging me not to put their gifts to waste. Then I realized I didn't need any of the things they'd sent, as much as I appreciated them. I lifted Alinta and set her down in a hollow between two fallen branches, removing the arrow from her and hiding her out of sight. I went back to where she'd died. Her blood had dripped onto the ground, and it covered me from when I'd held her. Victory would follow the sound of the cannon and the smell of blood. She'd arrive soon.
Victory Amarinthine
No matter who I killed, it all came down to One and Twelve. Panem's jewel versus Panem's embarrassment. If it was Alinta left, she'd played a good game but she was out of her league. If it was Nubu, it was a good showing, but no cigar. Victory was in my grasp. I was about to live up to my name.
I reached the fallen flashlight, but there was no body. I picked the light up and circled it around, looking for the telltale blood. I found the trail and followed it. A short distance away, I saw the body. I could see right away it was Nubu. It was far too tall to be Alinta. The Game was over, then. I had nothing to fear from Alinta. I saw the packages littering the ground around Nubu and was glad I reached him first. Even if Alinta couldn't use the blowgun or machete against me, the food could have dragged things on another few days.
I walked up next to Nubu to take the machete by his side and the shield draped over his hand. I almost laughed at whoever sent him that. Unless he had training, a shield would only get in his way. His other hand was still loosely curled around the arrow in his stomach. I bent over the body, and it came to life.
Nubu Sanders
Victory leaned over me. When her head was as near as it was going to get, I lunged upward, smashing into her face with my shield. I felt her bones crack and the force knocked her onto her knees. While she was still falling, I shoved her backwards again with the shield. She toppled onto her back and I picked up my machete. I jumped to my feet and dropped my shield, gripping the machete handle with both hands. I bent over it and shoved it into her, bearing down with all my weight. I staked her like a vampire, like the blood-spilling beast she was. The blade went through her and stuck into the ground, like a flag. Like a victory flag...
"What?" she gasped wetly. I couldn't believe she was still alive. Her face and body were streaked with blood. She didn't move, but only looked up at me. "Your cannon..."
"It wasn't mine," I said. I pointed at Alinta. Victory looked and saw the bit of blanket peeking from between the branches. "It belonged to a little girl. The one you killed."
I thought Victory might have a shred of guilt left in her. Instead, she just laughed.
Victory Amarinthine
You sly dog.
I didn't shoot Nubu. He was holding the arrow against his chest like the age-old practical joke. Of course I wouldn't suspect. Not when I heard the cannon. I got outplayed by a rube from Twelve. I was always so good at Games. Who could have seen this coming? Blood dribbled from my mouth as I broke into laughter.
"Well played," I said.
Nubu Sanders
I thought I'd be happy when Victory died. Instead, she just looked like another dead girl. Instead of feeling like I'd brought justice, I felt like I'd become exactly what the Capitol wanted me to be. I couldn't say I was better than they were when I was a killler just like them.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" I said to Victory. I pulled the machete out and tried to pull her to her feet. She was limp and lifeless as a coil of rope. I threw the machete as far as I could and wound my bandages around her chest.
Suddenly her face was awash in light. I heard the hovercraft approaching and turned to flag it down. When it landed, I pressed on Victory's wound and called them over.
"We're here!" I yelled. There was still time. They could still save her. Two men came out and pulled me away from her. I tried to tell them that I wasn't hurt, only her. Another man crouched by her and I could finally relax. I let them take me away and hoped they had come in time.
There we have it. No two Games ever end the same. Sometimes there's a fight, sometimes one Tribute simply outlasts, and this time, there was a trick. Nubu didn't end up using hardly any of his supplies, but I did manage to get the shield in there. I'm very happy that Captain America himself is among the Victors, since of course it's impossible to separate Nubu from that faceclaim.
2nd place: Victory Amarinthine- stabbed by Nubu
Victory was one of a few Tributes whose votes were stable all through. Aside from people who didn't like any of the Careers, most people liked Victory. She was devoted and skilled, but not as mean as most Careers. She just didn't seem to realize how much pain she caused. It was all a game to her, and she didn't see that most people didn't want to play. With a name like that, she was destined to go far, and she almost won. This wasn't as close as Tillo and Calvary, but she had a good amount of votes. Thanks Ultimatemaxmericashipper for Victory. She was a really cool Career. I liked her, and I don't usually like Careers. She was pretty kicking, and I wouldn't have been mad if she'd been chosen.
Victor: Nubu Sanders
Of course I liked Nubu as soon as I saw his face. However, I didn't think he'd win. I had no reason not to. I just didn't get that feeling that people would pick him and he'd last a long time. I'm glad he did, though. Demi's going to be through the roof, and I'm glad she can stop killing herself with stress. Most fans think Twelve's other Victor was a girl, and I always did too. Since I don't require exact matches in order that everyone has the same chance, it doesn't matter. We'll probably see a lot of Nubu for a long time, since Twelve doesn't get many Victors. I look forward to it. YesMyLordCiel, you made it big. Like Nubu, you're now part of an elite group. Yours is even smaller, since I've only written eight Games.
Stay tuned for a few wrap-up chapters and the inevitable set up for the next Games. Now I can write as fast as I want, since the voting is complete.
