Kalmin Brykman, 18

District 2 Male

My eyelids drooped as I sat in the entrance of the Cornucopia, watching the rain. Wavecrest had put me on guard duty before falling asleep around midnight. I yawned, forcing myself to stay awake by pinching my arm every once in a while. But I was just beginning to drift off when a hand clapped down on my shoulder.

"Come with me," Wavecrest whispered. Curious, I stood and followed her to the edge of the wet clearing, near the boulders. Wavecrest pushed a stand of hair out her face and smiled cruelly.

"Hiro and Cloelia are teaming up to take me out. But we don't need them. You and I can easily take them down," Wavecrest said bluntly. I frowned.

"Wavecrest, I don't think that's a good idea. There are still a few strong outliers left. We need to be a united front."

Wavecrest nodded, turning around. I began to follow her, but she whipped around and sank a knife into my gut. I groaned in pain, dropping to my knees. Wavecrest twisted the blade and jerked it out, and I slumped forward. She'd pulled the same move she'd used on Martin.

Wavecrest stalked towards the Cornucopia, blood dripping from her knife. My insides felt like they were on fire, and my vision was fading. But I managed to open my mouth and yell.

"Hiro!"

Hiro Kuromori, 18

District 1 Male

Kalmin's shout was what woke me up. I kicked my way out of my sleeping bag and grabbed my naginata right as a cannon fired. Cloelia was scrambling up as well, just as Wavecrest entered, holding a bloody knife.

Cloelia threw one of the knives she was holding, and Wavecrest stumbled back, away from the weapon. Cloelia charged her.

As the girls wrestled, throwing punches, I began to slink away. My cheeks flamed at my cowardice, but this was it. The Careers were splitting.

"Hiro, help!" Cloelia croaked. I whipped around, watching Wavecrest slam Cloelia to the ground and begin to choke her with one hand while she punched her with the other.

Without thinking, I drew my sword and charged, swinging at Wavecrest. She tensed, rolling away just as my blade came down, cutting into Cloelia's stomach. She groaned weakly and then fell limp. Her cannon fired.

Cloelia laughed and I turned on her with a growl of rage. It was time for the queen to fall.

Wavecrest Lore, 18

District 4 Female

Hiro came at me, his brown eyes narrowed in anger. I sidestepped his swing and turned to tackle him from behind.

His sword slid away on the wet grass as we wrestled. He landed a solid punch on my jaw, but I dug my knife into his side at the same time. I twisted the blade as Hiro shouted in pain.

I stood shakily, my face aching from where Hiro hit me. But with a last burst of energy, Hiro ripped the knife out and plunged it into my thigh. I screamed as his cannon fired.

I sank down, yanking the knife out of my thigh and pressing my hands down on the wound. The pain ripped through me, bringing tears to my eyes. What had I done? I'd betrayed my friends, and in my attempt to make it home, I'd killed myself. Hiro's strike had hit something vital, I could tell.

My vision was fading, and I laid down, removing my hands to let the blood flow.

"I'm sorry Jenny," I whispered, my girlfriend's face dancing in my vision. "I'm so sorry. I love you."

Hollie Loveland, 18

District 7 Female

Ceras leaned closer to me as another canon fired.

"Who do you think it was?" he asked me.

"I don't know Ceras," I whispered. "But it means we're one step closer to going home. Now come on, we're almost out of food."

"I can set a trap," Ceras offered, reaching into his pocket. He'd been unravelling the thread from our jackets and backpack for a few days, and had made a small, thick string.

"Good idea," I told him. "I'll look for some berries."

We stood, and I put a hand on Ceras's shoulder.

"Don't go too far. We should stay within shouting distance."

We separated and I walked deeper into the woods, climbing a fallen tree over a small creek. On the other side was a clump of blueberry bushes we'd been picking berries from over the past few days.

I stuffed ripe blueberries into my pockets, occasionally popping one into my mouth. The rain was starting to lighten up, and a hopeful feeling was filling my chest. What if it was the Careers who died? We were so close to going home!

"Hollie!" Ceras's scream cut through the peaceful forest and I jumped to my feet. He screamed again, piercing and wordless, and I took off in the direction of his voice.

I splashed across the stream and reached for my axe, bursting into the clearing near our shelter.

Ceras was on the ground, a bloody, gaping wound in his chest. Asha, the girl from 12, stood over him, a pickaxe in her hand. Blood dripped from it.

"Get away from him!" I screamed. Asha jumped, and when we made eye contact, she bolted. I briefly saw the face of Mason before I raced to Ceras's side.

He smiled sadly when he saw me. I gripped his hands tightly.

"Ceras, I'm sorry," I sobbed. Tears trickled down my cheeks, but he seemed calm.

"It's okay. Just promise me something? When you go home, tell Daisy I love her."

He closed his eyes, a peaceful look on his face. I hung my head, choking on my tears.

"I will. I promise."

His cannon fired.

Author's Note

Hi everybody! Here's the next chapter of Silva Mortis. The next chapter is the finale! Thank you all so much for sticking beside me throughout this story, and I hope you aren't too mad at me for these deaths.

Please leave a review and tell me what you thought! I had fun writing this chapter, for sure.

Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

- Fiona

Eulogies

10th: Kalmin Brykman - Killed by Wavecrest Lore (stabbed in the gut with a knife)

I loved Kalmin, and he was actually my victor for a while. But I felt it was best for him to fall here, warning Hiro just in time.

9th: Cloelia Ferro - Killed by Hiro Kuromori (stomach slashed open with a sword)

Cloelia was a fun tribute, and I enjoyed writing about her. But she was never a victor. Hiro didn't mean to kill her, and I didn't even plan that, but it just felt right.

8th: Hiro Kuromori - Killed by Wavecrest Lore (stabbed in the chest with a knife)

I loved Hiro so much. Hiro was the first of my four victor choices, and was so for most of the story. I can't put into words how much I loved him Manny, and I'm sorry I didn't do him justice. I hope you can forgive me.

7th: Wavecrest Lore - Killed by Hiro Kuromori (bled out)

Wavecrest wasn't submitted as a villain. She just went down that path so naturally, and I really had fun with her. Thank you for sending her in Carrot. She was great.

6th: Ceras Ambrette - Killed by Asha Morrow (axed in the chest)

Ceras was such a sweetheart, and he brought out the best in Hollie. I loved him Paradigm; thank you so much for sending him in.

Alliances

District Pride: Mason Ambers, Asha Morrow

SOLO (not an alliance): Hollie Loveland, Anastasia Valor, Christa Hewey

Kills

Hiro: 3

Seraphine: 2

Kalmin: 1

Cloelia: 1

Lir: 1

Wavecrest: 5

Hollie: 1

Anastasia: 1

Christa: 1

Sasha: 1

Mason: 0

Asha: 1