Chapter 28:

Day Four

Jendaya 'Jenny' Barrett, 18, District Eleven

The throbbing in Jenny's leg somehow seems to increase with each step she takes running after Grey and Iroha, forcing her to start limping. What the fuck happened to her?! She looks down at her thigh, but there's no visible injury there. And yet, the burning is reaching a point of turning the leg numb.

Fuck. If she doesn't catch up to them soon, she never will.

"Get off me!"

The scream from Iroha forces her to move her feet faster, pushing with every shred of determination in her to stop that man from hurting Iroha. She can't let a man hurt another woman because she stood back. How often had she wished at first with Kane that someone would help her before she realized no one was saving her? Too many times. And despite knowing she should just let them fight and one of them die…damn it, she can't let it be him.

She knows Iroha went through something similar to her, but unlike her, she didn't escape her abuser. And unlike her…she has children. She didn't lose her children like Jenny did… Fuck, why did she ever ally with Iroha? Stupid!

Jenny rounds a stone wall and slows at the sight of Grey pinning Iroha to the ground, fighting to hold her dagger back from plunging into his chest. Her breathing gets faster at the sight in front of her, feeling the weight on her – no, he can't hurt her anymore.

Iroha cries out as Grey pushes the dagger closer to her and cuts her chest, snapping Jenny out of the crushing flashbacks to Kane. "Hey asshole!" Jenny yells at him, making them both freeze and look over at her. She aims her dart gun at his chest, a smirk of satisfaction slowly pulling up the corners of her lips. "You can suck my ass."

Jenny fires the dart as Grey tries to roll out of the way and it hits him in the shoulder. The impact sends him onto his side, seemingly much more powerful than that tiny dart should have been. At the same time, Jenny feels a punch to her own shoulder and she stumbles forward. Her hand shakes as she reaches up to put pressure on it, expecting some sort of injury, yet no one is near her and there's no blood. She stumbles to her knees as the world spins around her at the pain that just comes in wave after wave, each one more intense than the previous. "What the…"

She looks up at a yell and sees Iroha knee Grey right in the bastard's balls and he collapses over, gripping his junk in pain. "You're both bitches!" Grey lets out in a shrill shriek and tries to reach over to his warhammer with a shaking arm. The side Jenny hit seems to have locked into place and as Jenny laughs in satisfaction, she realizes her own shoulder and thigh are going numb. Her laugh turns into a gasp for air as it starts feeling like a weight is pressing on her chest.

Iroha stands up, a look of pure hatred in her eyes as she glares down at Grey. "You…" she mutters, her hands shaking as she holds her crystal dagger. "No man…is ever going to hurt me again." Grey tries to move again and Iroha stomps down on his leg, forcing him to cry out in pain again.

"You killed him! How dare you?!" Grey yells up at her, the pain audible in his voice.

"Yes, I did," Iroha answers, her voice strained at that. But she quickly steels herself as she adjusts the grip on her dagger. "And now I'm going to kill you, bastard."

Iroha doesn't hesitate to bring down the dagger in his chest and his body shudders at the impact, before growing limp.

Boom!

Even after the cannon fires, Iroha drives the dagger into his chest a few more times, letting out a painful scream that Jenny feels deep in her bones. The kind of scream she let out as she stood over Kane's slouched over body and knew he was gone… The painful satisfaction.

She hopes Iroha can get that feeling with Kayden.

Jenny suddenly falls to the side and Iroha looks up at the sound, blinking in surprise at her ally collapsing. She rushes over, looking her over for any injuries and looking puzzled by her seemingly uninjured. "What happened?"

"I don't…" Jenny shakes her head, not understanding it fully. But she starts to hold up the blow dart with a shaking hand, until it slips from her hand, no longer able to keep up the strength. "I don't think…I was supposed to use this…"

Somehow, the Gamemakers have hurt her when she hurt others with it… Her thigh where she hit Abel… Her shoulder where she hit Grey… Oh, the painful irony that her trying to win caused her own death. And she's almost certain she isn't surviving this. From the way the numbness is spreading to the whole side of her body…fuck, how long until she can't breathe anymore and suffocates? She can't die like that…

"I don't want to die like this," Jenny whispers, a feeling bubbling up in her that she hasn't felt in so long. A feeling that makes her eyes start prickling. Fear.

"You saved me," Iroha points out to her, shaking her head at Jenny. "Why? I could have died and gotten you one step closer to winning."

"I couldn't-" Jenny cuts off to wheeze, gasping for air as it gets harder and harder with each passing minute. "Couldn't let another man hurt a woman like you…" Jenny blinks back her tears, growing angry that she couldn't do this. She couldn't live her life free from Kane. The bastard is going to win. "Like me…"

"Oh," Iroha says, understanding on her face and she doesn't have to hear anything else to know. "I'm sorry…but I have to get home."

"Oh I'm gone, don't worry," Jenny manages to let out a laugh and Iroha gives a small smile. "At least I don't have to backstab you."

It's Iroha's turn to laugh. "If I hadn't done that to you first," she tells Jenny and although she should be mad at that, she can't be, not when she was going to do the same. Iroha slowly grows serious as Jenny wheezes for air some more. "Do you want me to end it sooner?"

Jenny doesn't want to give up on the life she fought tooth and nail to get for herself. She's gone through too much to just die… Yet she nods her head, knowing it's too late for her. "Yeah…just make sure you get home to them. Make it worth it. And…" she gives Iroha a wicked smile. "Tell him fuck you from me."

"Oh I'll tell him that and more," Iroha answers, anger flashing on her face. "Thank you…I won't waste your death."

Jenny nods her head and looks up at the sky for a few seconds, before shutting her eyes as Iroha raises up her dagger. She doesn't need to see her bringing the blade down.

After working so hard for herself…it's time to rest.

Aberforth 'Abel' Barringer, 18, District Four

A painful scream brings him back to consciousness and it takes a few moments to realize what happened to him. It takes time for his brain to recognize that the throbbing in his thigh isn't just the normal aches and pains from the accident. He tries to sit up, his head spinning, and his hands shake as he reaches towards his thigh, clutching it and barely feeling his hands.

"No, no, not again."

Panic starts to build in him at the thought of losing control of his leg again and he kicks out his legs, desperate to have function. When his legs both still move, just one slower and more reluctant than normal, he lets out a long sigh. He reaches towards his face at the feeling of dampness on his cheeks and he realizes it's tears. He couldn't go through that again…he barely made it out of that place last time… He eyes the dart next to him and confusion sweeps through him. Why…didn't it completely paralyze him? Do the Gamemakers still want him alive for some reason?

"Fuck, why me?!"

Abel looks up quickly at the scream, remembering the reason he gained consciousness. From the position of the sun, he wasn't out too long. But this person… "Hello?" he calls out and the painful sobs cut off suddenly. "Who's there?" he asks and when they don't answer, just letting out some whimpers of pain, he tries to get himself to his knees first, one step at a time.

When he sees the girl across the field, her leg bent at an unnatural angle as she tries to hold on to life, his stomach twists and he very nearly loses his breakfast. Who could do that to her and just leave her to die?!

The worst part is…that could have been him.

"Sasha…" he whispers and starts stumbling over to her, his legs stiff from not moving and the leftover poison. He trips and falls hard halfway to her, scrapping his elbows. He curses and slams his fist into the ground, feeling fresh tears of frustration forming. Damn it! Why did he ever think he could do this with his stupid legs?! He couldn't save Kaz. He couldn't save Artem. He couldn't stop himself from getting attacked. And now, he can't even get to a dying girl without falling. Someone who has struggled through life breaking them, just like him. He so badly wants to just give up right there, curl up in a pathetic ball and just wait for someone to give him is death.

But a painful whimper forces his head up and he starts dragging himself over to her, refusing to give up on her. All alone, broken and bleeding… No. He won't let her last moments be alone. "I'm coming," he says weakly, trying once more to get to his feet. This time, he is not going to fall. He will get to her.

"L-leave me alone!" Sasha shouts at him as he stumbles closer to her and she tries to crawl away from him, dragging her broken leg behind her and a trail of blood.

"I won't hurt you," Abel says, slowly his pace and hurt at the accusation in her eyes. Accusations he deserves. He volunteered for this, after all.

Sasha soon collapses to the ground and puts her head down, sobbing loudly. Abel slowly approaches her, not wanting her to try and move again and hurt herself further. But up close…her leg is so shattered, there's no way she will recover from this. "Hey…" he says softly, lowering himself to the ground next to her. He reaches out and puts his hand on her shoulder, watching her flinch at the touch. But as he comfortingly rubs her back, she starts to relax as much as she can with her leg. "You're not alone now."

"Just leave me to die," she cries out, turning her face to look away from him. And from the waver in her voice, Abel is almost certain she won't make it past this.

"I won't leave you," Abel shakes his head at that thought. "We're…similar, you and I. I…I can't leave you alone with this."

Sasha slowly turns her head to look at him through tearstained eyes that make his own eyes start watering at her pain. "We both know I'm dead," she whispers, picking up a hand to gesture at her leg. "He…he got my good leg. I-I can't…"

"W-who…did this?" he asks her, not knowing if he can promise her vengeance, but he would give her whatever she asks right now.

"That bastard," she cries out and slams her fist on the ground, anger all over her face. "I knew not to trust him…yet I did. Grey."

Abel's shock shows on his face at that, followed quickly by disbelief that Grey would do this to her after he insisted on protecting her. "Well I hope he's dead."

Sasha lets out a harsh laugh at that, showing how much she believes him. "He's like a cockroach. Refuses to die."

"If I see him, he'll be dead for sure," Abel reassures her and they fall into an uncomfortable silence broken by her sobs as Abel looks down at her leg. He so badly wants to help her…but he can't. There's nothing he can do for her now.

"I-I'm scared," she whispers after a couple minutes and looks up at him with fearful eyes. "I thought…I thought death wouldn't scare me after everything. But I'm terrified."

"I won't leave you," he responds softly before moving to gently pull her into his lap like he would one of his sisters. She whimpers in pain at the movement and he winces at causing that, but as he starts smoothing down her hair, she shuts her eyes, seemingly starting to relax. "It's going to be okay."

"Will it though?" she asks without opening her eyes to look at him. A shudder goes through her and he pulls her closer, trying to keep off the chill in her. But he knows it's futile…he can see her chest struggling with each breath.

He can't do anything to stop her from hurting… Well…there's one thing he can do…

His hand shakes as he slowly reaches into his jacket, grabbing one of the knives there. He could stop her from hurting… But can he do that to her? Suddenly, faced with the thought of killing, he isn't really sure.

"Please."

"What?" he asks, pulling his hand out of his jacket, startled to see her looking up at him.

"I don't…" she shakes her head as she cries quietly, from pain and fear. "Don't let me lie here, waiting…for someone to kill me. I…I'm ready."

Abel isn't ready though. It doesn't matter that he barely knows her. He knows they suffered through similar things in their lives… But if the situation was reversed, would he be asking her for this?

He would. There were times he wished for death after his accident.

"Please forgive me for this," he tells her softly.

"Nothing to forgive," she tells him resolutely. "I asked for it. Just…" she takes in a shaky breath and blinks back tears. "Make it quick, please."

Abel nods in agreement and Sasha shuts her eyes, tears still falling down her cheeks. "I love you Mom," she whispers as he reaches into his jacket for his knife. He stares down at the blade, willing himself to have the strength to do this for her.

How many times as he practiced the most efficient ways to kill someone immediately? He knows the spots…and he'll make sure she doesn't suffer anymore.

"I'm sorry."

Sasha lets out a gasp at the pain from the knife driving into her heart, but her face soon relaxes as she lets out her last breath, freed from her pain.

Boom!

Five more cannons follow Sasha's, officially bringing an end to the feast. Abel lets himself put his head down and shuts his eyes, not even trying to fight off the tears from taking her life. He leans his head against hers, pulling her closer to him and just rocking her as he sobs, letting out all the frustration and fear that's been building in him over the past few days.

What has he even done to be alive still when six tributes just died? Sasha, Kaz, and Artem all deserved to be alive more than him. Even Tiv deserved it more. Yet he's still alive.

Why?

And so the feast concludes. And I have a lot of eulogies to do:

11th - Kaz Aberdeen [2], Killed by Tiv [1]: Kaz was such a good boy and if he hadn't been doomed as a non-featured tribute, he probably could have been a contender for victor. Unfortunately, he was not, and at this point in the Games, it was his time to go as one of the last non-featured tributes. He was so much fun to write within the career pack as their leader. Thanks so much for subbing him, Art! RIP Kaz.

10th - Nativity Nadal [1], Killed by Marian [2]: Oh how I wished Tiv hadn't been doomed as a non-featured tribute (and Clark, but besides the point). Celtic, you had to go and sub a great career girl as a non-featured tribute knowing full well she'd wreck us XD Tiv was truly a Good person in a sea of Not Good people and I loved having her as a light among all those bad people. She was too trusting of Marian and I always knew it would come down to a betrayal from Marian. And as the last non-featured tribute, it was simply her time. Celtic, thank you so much for always subbing tributes who wreck me! RIP Tiv.

9th - Artem Nobyl [5], Killed by Iroha [6]: Oh my good valid boy who deserved much better than me putting him in these Games knowing full well he wasn't going to win them. Seriously, why did I think that was a good idea lol. I think his death at the negligence of Grey was something everyone expected because it was always the game plan with him. The least I could do was give him a quick death. RIP Artem.

8th - Grey Pendleton [8], Killed by Iroha [6]: Oh this death gave me so much satisfaction to write. Grey was truly one of those characters you loved to hate and sure, maybe I was a bit more on the love side with him lol. I just love a good shit son, sue me. For a long time, Grey was actually a contender for victory because I think it's so rare to see a villain victor in SYOTs. But once I decided otherwise, I knew this abusive boy had to get killed by the two women who survived abusive men. Love that karma right there. Mik, thank you so much for this boy who you so accurately described as Bitch Boy! RIP Grey.

7th - Jendaya Barrett [11], Killed by weapon side effects/Iroha [6]: Ah, the invalid girl among a sea of valid boys submitted by Dreamer XD We'll see if I still managed to make her death hurt despite her making quite a few invalid choices in life. I was so excited for Jenny from her concept and then when I saw Iroha's form, I knew I had to write those two together and I've loved it. Jenny was a hardwilled woman who was willing to do whatever for herself, but ultimately, she had to help out someone just like her. It just felt Right to have her death this way. Thank you so much for subbing her Dreamer (and for subbing an invalid girl this time around ;) )! RIP Jenny.

6th - Sasha Kolster [3], Killed by Abel [4]: Welcome to the one death that has made me cry in this story. Man, this death Hurt to write. I kinda always knew in my heart that Sasha wasn't going to win but writing it sucked. Despite knowing she was doomed, I connected with her a lot more than I did with Artem and loved writing her. But her story had to end and I knew she needed to have a touching death with someone who understood her. RIP Sasha.

Okay. Still with me after all that? It was a Lot but feasts will do that lol. Good news is that next chapter will be a much needed reprieve from death as we have the interviews for the final five tributes! But after that, well, once again I will tell you to hold onto your butts. At this point, I've written all of the Games and can say that the finale will be January 29th! I'll have a time as it gets closer, but anticipate in the evening.

Also, time to explain how these blessed/cursed (or blursed) weapons work. Those with a score of 1 were deemed Saints and those with a score of 12 were deemed Sinners. Saints can use blessed weapons and Sinners can use cursed weapons without harm. Each type gives extra damage against the opposite, so blessed against sinners, cursed against saints. Blessed against saints or cursed against sinners will just do a normal amount of damage. However, a saint using cursed or sinner using blessed will also cause that tribute to get harmed the same way/place they harmed the other tribute. That's why Jenny felt the effects of the tranq gun after using it (since it was blessed) and why Sasha's leg injury did her in (the warhammer was cursed). Hopefully that makes sense lol.

Alright, I will see you on Friday with the interviews!