Asha Morrow, 17
District 12 Female
I rolled over in my sleep, the images of Ceras's bloody, carved-up chest flashing through my mind. I didn't want to see him anymore. I didn't want to remember what I'd done. Suddenly, the scene switched and it was Ceras burying an axe into my chest. I woke up with a scream.
Mason jerked away at my cry. He glanced around, looking confused, but relaxed when the morning continued its stillness. He turned to me.
"Asha, what happened?"
"Bad dream," I muttered. He nodded sympathetically, but rolled his eyes.
"This whole experience is a bad dream," he pointed out. I sighed and slumped down against the tree behind us.
Trumpets blared loudly, making both of us shoot to our feet. Caesar Flickerman's voice blared through the arena.
"Tributes, you have made it to the Final 5! Congratulations! Today, a feast will be held, and attendance is mandatory. Our lovely canine friends will ensure you make it there. If not, your death will be imminent and painful. Good luck!"
"How does he go from cheerful to menacing and back to cheerful in the span of four seconds?" I asked. Mason snorted, but hiked his backpack onto his back.
"I don't know. But we should get going."
We hiked through the woods, walking in silence. We were both clearly avoiding the big question. Would one of us die? Would both of us die?
As we approached the Cornucopia, I spotted a small girl peeking around the rocks, and gestured to Mason to be quiet. He looked ready to protest, but I raised my pickaxe and crept forward.
I got lucky. She didn't near him until I was only a few feet away, when she turned to me. I recognized her as Christa right before she began to run. But I threw the pickaxe with all my strength.
The handle hit her in the back, the force knocking her to her knees. I tackled her to the ground and grabbed her throat, locking my arms around her and holding tightly. Christa screamed and thrashed, but eventually, she went still.
I closed my eyes and gripped her neck. Her chest was still rising and falling lightly, but I pulled, and her breathing stopped. Her cannon fired.
I rose to my feet and turned to find Mason, trying to hold back tears. But he was gone. I scanned the forest before grabbing my pickaxe and making my way between the boulders.
Anastasia Valor, 17
District 8 Female
I'd spent most of my time laying low, and that was the way I'd liked it. If I was boring, the Gamemakers would ignore me. My only kill was from the bloodbath, and there was now way they'd focus on a girl hiding out near the cliffs.
But now, here I was, in the Final 4. I wasn't sure who'd just died, since both Asha and Christa were missing, but Hollie and Mason were standing together, eyes wide. Mason had a sword, Hollie had an axe. And me? I had a small dagger.
Asha burst into the Cornucopia clearing, eyes shining with tears. She hefted her pickaxe, but nobody moved. A wolf howled in the distance. And I decided to move first.
I lunged at Asha, who was the closest, and knocked her to the ground. Her pickaxe slipped away and I tried to plunge the knife into her chest. She caught my wrist and grit her teeth, forcing my arm away.
I brought my knee up, jamming it into her arm. But she refused to release my arm and the knife cut deep into her forehead. Asha screamed.
"Asha!" Mason gasped, but the clang of metal alerted me that he couldn't make it to her. Asha struggled beneath me, and with a massive shove, managed to flip us over. I was barely able to hold on to my knife.
Asha gripped my throat but I slashed the knife along her forearm and she released me, drawing back with a shout. Before she could move, I plunged the knife into her gut and shoved her backwards.
Asha screamed, reaching for the wound in her stomach, but I grabbed the knife and twisted it. Slowly, Asha fell still. Her cannon fired.
Pain blossomed through my back and I winced, looking down numbly. The tip of a blade was protruding from my stomach. My vision grew black around the edges.
"Lily," I whispered softly. And then everything went black.
Hollie Loveland, 18
District 7 Female
I sat up with a groan. During our duel, Mason had thrown me backwards into the Cornucopia, and now my vision was swimming. I felt sick, but I forced myself to stand just as a cannon fired.
Mason turned back to me, tears in his eyes and streaking down his cheeks. He looked as broken as I felt. But I forced myself to raise my axe and charge him.
The ground swayed beneath me and I stumbled, nearly dropping my weapon. Mason swung his sword and I staggered out of the way. I couldn't win like this. I was too dizzy, and he was at peak performance.
The next time he slashed I dropped my axe and fell back, sitting down in the wet grass. The knife that Ceras had in his pack was gripped tightly in my right hand.
Mason struck with his sword, and I blocked the blow with my left hand, screaming as he cut into me. He stumbled back in shock, but hardened his resolve and came forward again.
I lunged forward and plunged the knife into his leg, just above his knee. Mason shouted and drew back. I threw my knife, point-blank, and it sunk into his stomach. I hugged my hand to my chest as Mason looked down at his wound.
"I'm sorry," I mouthed, tears filling my eyes. Lightning flashed, and Mason's cannon fired.
Caesar's voice split through the storm. "Panem, I give you the Victor of the 80th Hunger Games; Hollie Loveland!"
Author's Note
So… this is it. The finale. I know this SYOT was not my best work, and I sincerely apologize to my readers. I should have done better. But I have high hopes for Pillars of Salt and I promise to work harder on that story.
I also hope you guys like my victor choice! Hollie was always a contender, and I loved her from the very beginning. But Mason and Hiro were also near and dear to my heart. Congratulations to matts0688!
Eulogies
5th: Christa Hewey - Killed by Asha Morrow (neck snapped)
I loved Christa. I know she wasn't the most popular, but I ADORED her. Thank you Guesttwelve, for sending me such an intriguing character.
4th: Asha Morrow - Killed by Anastasia Valor (stabbed in the gut with a knife)
Asha was a good tribute and I thoroughly enjoyed writing about her. She and Mason were such good friends, and I loved their relationship. But she had to fall here. Thank you, abookoftears.
3rd: Anastasia Valor - Killed by Mason Ambers (stabbed in the back with a sword)
Anastasia was my original victor. I loved her. But she wasn't very popular, and Hollie just stole my heart. I'm sorry Paradigm, but thank you for sending her to me.
2nd: Mason Ambers - Killed by Hollie Loveland (stabbed in the stomach with a knife)
Mason, Mason, Mason. I loved you so much. You were never my victor, but I knew you'd be in the finale. You're such a good big brother and person. You will be missed. Thank you Marie464. I loved him.
1st: Hollie Loveland - VICTOR
Hollie was my victor from the moment I received her. I wavered in my decision a few times, but in the end, I knew it had to be her. Congratulations Matt!
Kills
Hiro: 3
Seraphine: 2
Kalmin: 1
Cloelia: 1
Lir: 1
Wavecrest: 5
Hollie: 2
Anastasia: 2
Christa: 1
Sasha: 1
Mason: 1
Asha: 2