A/N: Just a short reminder to say please please please don't scroll down to the bottom to see who dies. Yeah that's it, um, hope y'all enjoy.
Each and every tribute held their breath as their pedestals rose from the dark ash cover that blanketed what they would call ground. The very floor that will very soon be smeared with dark liquid that trademarked kids as murderers. The shed of that liquid is what exactly drives all human nature.
Not a single word is ushered into the cold air as the tributes take in their surroundings. They stood in a very wide circle surrounding what one would call a giant inferno of flames. The bonfire raged in a surprisingly very contained fashion, not protruding once from it's designated area.
Scattered around the fire were bags and weapons of all sorts. From giant two-handed crescent swords to small and very disguisable daggers. The dark brown bags also came in different sizes themselves, ranging once again from giant bulky bags to tiny satchels.
Behind the tributes was a giant maze, entrances beside many of the tributes. All they had to do was turn around and run. Then they'd be safe but without any supplies. Many different ideas race through each tribute's head as they contemplate what will be best for their own safety.
I mean there can only be one winner, right?
Sasha Snowbell, District 5 Female: Bloodbath
Some people can grow strong enough to whisper at the iron bars that hold them and see them bend out of their way and that to me is crazy magic. That's what love can do- fix souls, fix brains, in a way cure us all. The love for my brother is what healed me before, what saved me. He had saved me.
Then he was gone. Just straight up disappeared, as if erased from my life. Leaving me in the cold and utterly tragic world. Now his ghost haunts me even though I thought I had him figured out, I thought I had life figured out.
You can sit and call for help. You can act like there is no cage, wear a mask of coping and normality. You can rage against the bars. However, there is another escape route, yet it is one into another great pain.
It is possible to be so emotionally starved that you slip through the bars, no longer bound but with your soul crumbling. That was my way out. What followed was endless emotional marathons on bleeding knees. I learned how to hide the pain, how to look normal. I understand why some go cold inside to escape the pain of isolation, why they let their empathy wither and die- numbness over feeling, mental anesthesia. I refuse. The thing is, regardless of the pain, I believe that living with an incomplete soul is a form of death, and I'd rather be a humane human in pain than a zombie needing to bite others to feed.
My pain bleeds from my ears yet everyone pushes me away. The girl from Three was the first person in a while to show me the least bit of light. However, you can't turn your back on tomorrow, or at least that's what I keep telling myself. Yes, the present is important but you can't forget that life will keep moving no matter what. No matter the hurt or pain, life will keep on going.
Endless it stops. Life can't hurt you if you aren't living, that's my pain. Pain I wore on my wrists, shattering the mirror image of myself. My eyes bleeding out from the pain and pressure.
There was one way to stop it all and that is death. Death's right there, right in front of me. It's an arms length away, all I have to go is slip down towards the ground and I'd be blown to bits. The pain that is shattering my soul and rattling my heart would be gone. Forever.
Everything would be so simple, I'd get to see my brother again. I'd see him again and that's all that matters, "goodbye." I croak as I lift my right foot towards the ground. The only thing that held me and death apart was my back foot.
I scoot that foot even close to the edge and take a deep breath. Even breathing required a monstrous amount of energy. I'm done, this hateful world is done crushing me for eternity.
In a quick and sudden movement my left foot flies off the pedestal and there's a quick second where I feel the adrenaline build up and then there's nothing at all. Just a numb feeling of blackness.
James Patrick, District 12 Male: Bloodbath
The explosion rings in my ears, heaving deafness towards me. I couldn't hear anything but I could see, and that's all that mattered. I can see the backpacks and weapons littering the ground. I can see the ground covered in a blanket of ashes and charcoal. I can see a dark black pack with a small dagger leaning up against it. That's what I needed, a bag and a weapon. Perfect.
I can't hear the gong but I see numbers riding the flames of the giant bonfire sitting peacefully in the exact center of the cornucopia. I look around at the other tributes who stand in complete and utter silence. A few pointed this way and that but no words were etched into the cold smoky air, or at least ones I could hear.
Slowly the girl next to me narrows her eyes towards a bag planted firmly between us. It's the closest thing to either of us but I was shooting high, hoping to get the much larger one with a small dagger next to it.
As the numbers start to trickle down from 10, bitter cold bites at my nose. Who let the arena be so cold? I try not to shiver in the black thick hoodie we had been supplied, our districts printed so plainly on the back.
The gong booms and I try not to jump in surprise, guess my hearing is back. I turn and confidently throw myself towards the larger backpack. I quickly snatch it up and hastily search through its contents. Trying to drown out the screams that raid my ears.
Even though the backpack was larger it merely held a small thermos, two water purification tablets, a skimpy bag of what I presume is jerky and a flashlight. I try not to roll my eyes at how little everything in the pack as I throw it over my shoulder. I guess something is better than nothing.
Now to find Lily, she is my target. There's a glass-shattering scream from somewhere behind me but I drown it out again. Lily. Where was she? The blinding stage lights shine down on me as my eyes search over the chaos of the Bloodbath. The once soft ash floor was now stained a dark red color.
"Liz!" I hear someone shout behind me, I try not to flinch at the high pitch scream of terror. I bite my lip as I turn to face the small girl from Three. There was the boy from Two, standing above her small frame, blade extended out. No blood had been spilled onto the ash-strewn ground but the boy was advancing towards her. A very flustered look expressed on her face. "Liz!" she screamed again, hoping her ally would come to the rescue.
I see the girl from Two fly in from absolutely nowhere. She has no weapon but that doesn't bother her. The girl throws herself onto her district partner, wincing as he slashes at her arm. "Jocylin, run!" Liz shouts and the girl nimbly springs to her feet.
Suddenly the tall boy from Seven enters the picture, rashly throwing the girl from Three backwards by the hair. She growls at him, launching herself towards him.
"Shit." I mutter to myself, remembering where I am, "I got distracted. I have to kill Lily." I sigh, turning back to chaos and shouting of the bloodbath.
Somewhere to the right of me the careers are clamoring at each other, trying to spread out to cover the most ground. They pay no mind to me, running past me as the cold air claws at my lungs. It feels like I've screamed for an entire hour but I've yet to utter more than a few words.
Words are really funny things, for you never really know what they truly mean. Words are always lies, and lies burn like fire. Then you lie to not get burned so it's a straight up cycle of lying and burning until someone has enough and water is poured on top. Hearts are unburned and unbroken, only leaving battle scars behind.
Suddenly a painful shout rings out over the chaos, bringing me back once again to the ranging bloodshed. I take a deep breath, scanning around the crackling raging bonfire, it's flames flying towards the sky. As if reaching for the non-existent stars.
There. Lily was to the left of the blazing monstrous flame, holding a small bow with her right hand and a a few arrows loosely tucked in the other. Even from here I could tell how much her hands were shaking as Abram ran towards a collection of backpacks. There was blood protruding from his arm but it didn't seem to bother him.
"Time for Lily to die." I sigh, adjusting my grip on the small dagger. I can't tell who but as I stride towards the girl someone lets out a raging sob. I push all sounds from my mind, I can't afford any more distractions.
About halfway to her she sees me, realizing I was running at her. Quickly she places an arrow loosely over the guard on the bow and draws the string back. She sends the arrow flying into the air and I can hear it's hatful whisper from it as it passes over my head. I smirk as the girl screams out from Abram, her voice shaky.
I charge as the girl, dagger wielded in my right hand. She lets out a small scream as I come within a few arm lengths away from her.
Suddenly a sharp pain blossoms in my chest and I can't help but scream out in rage. I grab at the knife lodged in my chest and tug fiercely. I was going to kill Lily, not even my own death could stop me.
I extend my arm out, attempting to make my dagger meet her flesh before this knife itself kills me. I grasp nothing but air as the pain spreads from my chest to my entire body. Pain screaming out in enmity, filling my entire body before everything goes absolutely dark and still. Too still.
Gage Powers, District 3 Male: Bloodbath
The bitter cold air sends a small shiver through my body as the numbers count down from ten. The numbers made of flames, flames that carve their place in the middle of the Cornucopia. Or the closest thing to a Cornucopia. They lick at the rings of backpacks and weapons, threatening to burn everything inside to a crisp.
My hands shake but this is no time for nerves, it's time for life. Time to run away from all of the chaos that would follow the sharp ring of the gong. The gong that will signal tributes twenty-three tributes' deaths.
I don't have much faith that I can win but I know I can run. I know I can survive at least one day. I will run and run until there is no more strength in my legs. Until nothing holds me up and I collapse from pure exhaustion. That's when I know I'll be far enough, far enough from the piercing scent of death that lums in the air after the frightfully loud explosion.
There's something inside of me that tells me to reach out and grab the little backpack placed between me and the career from One. But she's the biggest reason I'm just running, if we were to fight she could take me down easily, no questions asked. I try not to grimace as she jumps up and down, hyping herself up.
"Or maybe shaking the cold from her bones." I sigh to myself, her flawless confidence obviously not rubbing off on me.
My hands continue to shake as the gong rings in my ears, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I race towards the closest entrance of the ice maze. The walls capturing my figure like a shattered yet dark mirror. My footsteps fall slowly against the ash, pushing me forward.
Suddenly something flies toward me and nicks the top of my left ear. Blood starts to pour from my ear as my breaths turn to short stabbing breaths. I whip around to face the girl from One. She held a handful of long pointed throwing knives in left hand, raising another in her right one.
She realizes it and it slices through the smoky air, cutting at anything resisting it. It flies straight into the wall behind me and it takes every ounce of my being not to start screaming as blood drips heavily from my ear.
My heart pounds deep in my chest as a mixture of fury and dread pump through my veins. I scramble backwards, my feet shifting through the pearly dark ashes. I'm sure there's a terrified expression planted on my face but I could care less.
I duck my head, bumping against one of the walls, as another knife flies directly over my head. At this point the career was furious with her aim, howling as she tore her arm back to release yet another one. I hold my breath, wishing I could just disappear from here. Wishing I was back in Three with my best friend and his loving dad, wishing for the life I once lived to freely back in District Three.
I try not lash out as pain as a small yet razor-edged blade tore deep into the flesh of my upper back. Pain sputters and erupts from all angles as I fall to my knees. My hand flies to the weapon, tracing it's leather handle. I grasp the throwing knife and rip it out of the wound, sending even more shattering pain up my spine.
My vision starts to fog as my body numbly starts to shake. I close my eyes tight in an attempt to shut out the pain, blood starting to blanket my body. I hold the wound with my hands, trying to stop the bleeding as my heart pounded in my chest.
Suddenly another knife flies into my left pant leg, sending a vengeful shower of pain through my body.
The tears held up in my eyes refuse to roll down. The screams that I hold inside my heart threaten to escape my quivering lips as I lay there, surely on my deathbed.
"Gage?" Someone asks, their voice soft and light but obviously stricken with pain. I can't tell who it is but their voice floats gently towards me as my mind starts to leave black holes in my thoughts. I feel my body turning even more numb to the pain. The pain that held on dearly to my back and leg as I lay here bleeding out onto the ash-covered floor.
Celosia 'Cel' Spring, District 11 Female: Bloodbath
The gong rings in my ears as I stumble forward, my legs violently shaking underneath me. Fear and dread fill my body as the bonfire, in the center of the cornucopia, starts to crackle and spark. The screams of tributes around me rise up from the ash-skewed floor as bright stage lights shine down upon me. I rush towards a small backpack but my ankle gives way and I fall to my knees.
Pain shoots up from my ankle, but I can't stop now. I can't, stopping means death. Death means never seeing Eleven again. I try not to wince as Sydney looks over at me, a painful expression planted on his face as he jogs over to me.
"Cel." He says, "here take this and put your weight on me." I sigh as I take the two backpacks he had managed to grab before he had come to help me.
"Sure." I reply, throwing my arm over his shoulder.
"Elizabeth! Sage!" Sydney shouts, his voice wavering a bit as we hobble our way to the one of the Eastern entrances to the ice maze. When there's no response I try not to let him see the silent tears that start to drip down my face.
Suddenly Syd turns, shoving me off of him. I try not to let out a yelp as I impact the ash-covered ground with a gut-wrenching thump. My mind frizzles a bit but I quickly put that away and snap back up into a sitting position. I rub the nape of my neck, trying not to flinch as a dark red liquid drips on to my fingers.
"Sydney!" I hear someone shout and I whip around to witness the scene behind me. Tears sting in my eyes and a scream rises up from my throat as I realize what had happened.
Sydney had thrown me to the ground because a career had come up behind us. He had heard the girl's footsteps and pushed me outta the way so I wouldn't get hurt.
Misty held her tridgent in her left hand and struggled to pin him with the other. "Cel, please go, run as far as you can!" he screams over the pure chaos the bloodbath had somehow entitled.
"I can't leave you." I say, getting to my feet. I ignore the pain that rips through my ankle as I stagger toward him.
Suddenly blood starts to drip from the career's arm and the small boy from Five comes into my already-cloudy view. He wields a long cutlass out in front of him, presumably to stab the girl again. The career howls out in pain but her district partner starts to charge Keir and the boy freezes.
I can't tell if it's Syd, Keir, myself or a mixture of all three but screams fill the cold air. My legs stop moving and freeze in place as Kai tackles Keir to the ground. Keir drops his weapon in the struggle, his pale face burning a bright shade of red. Red as the fire that burned bright in the center of the cornucopia.
"Cel, please." Sydney begs as the career grabs Keir's weapon and slashes at Sydney's throat. Everything stops and freezes next me as dark, thick, red blood starts to pour from the wound. He screams out in agony but it quickly turns into a gurgle as blood makes it's way from his mouth. He repeatedly coughs as the career get's to her feet, giving me a murderous expression.
Lucky she sees something more worth her while and sprints back into the terror of the bloodbath. Dark liquid stains the ash-covered ground next to Sydney's body. It takes all I have to not kneel beside him and just cry, silent tears were already streaming down my face but I know I can't.
Suddenly something grabs my shoulder and reels me backwards, onto the ground blanketed with a mixture of ash, coal and charcoal. I can't help but scream again, my lungs burning from the bitter and smokey air. The bone-chilling cold air seems to hold onto my shout as it turns into smoke or what looks like smoke. Out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of a grey, long axe. This is it, I'm going to die.
"Cel!" I hear a panicky voice shout behind me.
"Elizabeth!" I cry as I whip around to face her. She had pulled me back, thankfully it wasn't another blood-thristy tribute.
"We have to go." She says grabbing my forearm.
"What about Sage and Syd?" I shout trying to keep from shaking. Tears dripping down my face.
"Syd is gone!" She screams, attempting to keep the pain out of her voice. A few silent tears start to fall from her pale face as well but she quickly wipes them away. Her face quickly turns red from the movement but she hides it.
"What about Sage?" I shout over the noise.
"Sage!" Elizabeth screams.
"Sage!" I shout as well, even though I can't see them. I can't help but notice the bodies that scatter the once plain cornucopia. The bonfire is still raging fiercely, it's flames licking the edge of the blinding stage lights.
"Where I- Sage?" Elizabeth cries, her words tangled together, "we have to go."
"No!" I scream, handing her the backpacks Sydney had given me before running into the chaos of the bloodbath. I hear a scream from somewhere to the right of me but I ignore it, my only mission was to find my district partner. They are all I have, I need to find them, even if it costs my life.
"Sage!" Elizabeth screams from beside me, I try not to smile when I realize she has followed me into the outraging depths of the bloodbath.
"Cel! Elizabeth!" I hear someone scream and I turn to my left. There was Sage, kneeling over a body covered in a mass of blood.
"Sage we have to leave, now!" I scream and they get to their feet. Sage wipes their face, getting rid of the tears that had once flown down their face.
"I'm coming." Sage nods, grabbing a long knife that had been laid down besides the indistinguishable body.
Sage takes off towards us, passing the boy from Ten shouting at his ally. For how smart Sage is, they can run pretty fast as well. So pretty soon Sage's standing next to me and Elizabeth, a confused expression labeled their face when he seemed to realize who's missing.
"Syd?" Sage asks, sadness clinging to their eyes as Elizabeth hands me one of the backpacks she was holding.
"Syd is gone." Elizabeth croaks, "we have to go now."
"But-" I start to say but Elizabeth interrupts me.
"Now." She repeats and I try not to let my mind wander to the boy who had tried to help Sydney.
As we start to make our way out of the deep rumble from the cornucopia I realize the career had probably managed to kill the boy. Another round of silent tears clog down my eyes but I wipe them away and bite my lip to keep from screaming out.
Sage sees the pain I was fighting and grabs my hand. Elizabeth leads us into one of the entrances of the maze, confidence leaking off of her. I squeeze Sage's hand and in return they smile back at me.
For a while we run, twisting this way and that into the maze's confusing depths. We run until none of us can anymore, exhaustion kicking in.
Vienna Sauveterre, District 6 Female: Bloodbath
The gong rings and I take off towards the giant fire raging in the middle of the cornucopia. I freeze looking across the arena, where is Tyree? We had planned to meet in the center and go from there but now I couldn't see him at all. It didn't help at all that the air was kinda smoky, with blinding stage lights shining down upon the Cornucopia.
Somewhere in the background of the chaos I hear a scream, a war cry. I try not to let my hands shake with fear as I call out, "Tyree!"
"Ciara." I hear someone whisper behind me and I whip around. I come face to face with the girls from Nine and Eight. They exchange looks before the shorter of the two starts to make her way toward me, wielding a medium-sized dagger.
The other girl, Sunna, gives me an apologetic look as Ciara makes her way towards me. I stubble backwards and fall to the ground. I try not to call out in pain as my right leg twists the way it's not supposed to. I raise my arms above my head, hoping that'd stop her from advancing any farther.
"Tyree!" I scream, hoping he could come or at least get away.
"Vienna!" I heard a voice shout but it's pretty far away.
"Ciara please." I beg the girl as she begins to quicken her pace.
"I'm sorry." She heaves, slashing her blade against my side. She leaves a messy cut running down my side, blood pouring from the wound. I cry out clutching my side, trying to apply pressure to the wound.
"Vienna!" Tyree shouts but louder this time, as if he's getting closer.
"Run!" I scream back as Ciara stabs at me again. Pain fills my body as I roll over, this is it. I curl up into a ball as blood pours out both sides of my torso. Somewhere in the distance there's another bone-chilling scream but I know it's not Ty's. My brain starts to get fuzzy as he reaches my side.
I have no clue where Ciara or her ally went, all I can make out is Ty's face.
"Vienna you can't go." He cries as my ears start to ring.
"Ty, I have to go." I say.
"No no no don't leave me." he begs.
"Tyree you know I have to." I reply, still holding my wounds in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
"No you don't. You can't." he cries, a few silent tears start to drip down his face and fall down onto the ashes.
"I have to." I sigh, letting go of my wounds. Let them bleed out, he has to win.
"No, no you…" he cries, "Vienna, please."
"You know only one of us can win,"
"I can't. I can't without you."
"You have to." I say, my eyes fluttering as Tyree's image starts to darken.
"No, you'll get better. Just hold on. Please." He begs, lifting his hands up and putting pressure on the first cut Ciara had left.
"Ty I have to go."
"No."
"There will be only one victor, you know that."
"Then let me die. You win." He cries.
"Ty let me go..."
"You can't die."
"Tyree!" I shout, "I have to go. You have to win."
"No!" he sobs.
"Let go…"
"No."
"Tyree, please. Just let me go."
"I-I can't." He cries.
"When you win-"
"Not without you!" he interrupts.
"Listen to me!" I command as my blood stains his dark green pants and black hoodie. "I have to go but I want you to give them this." I dig into my pocket and pull out the long foldable fan I had brought into the arena as my token.
"Vi, please don't leave me."
"I have to." I say my mind leaving giant black gaps in my thoughts as I slowly started to fade away from all life in itself.
Sunna Saccharin, District 9 Female: Bloodbath
Ciara holds out the bloody knife, disgusted with herself. Pain laid so blatantly on her tan face. It's obvious Vienna's death was burned into the back of her mind, playing over and over.
She sighs as she wipes the knife clean with the heavy fabric of her sweatshirt and reaches out for my arm. She pulls me away from Tyree who's sitting beside Vienna's bloody body.
As Ciara starts to head back toward Zach and Anne I cast a swift glance back at Tyree. His eyes, red and puffy from the tears that trickle down his face. He shone with a completely sudden sadness. I remember him saying something about a plan to escape the arena but I doubt that will happen because Vienna's dead. She's dead.
Ciara shot me a look, telling me to hurry up or I'd be left behind. I hesitantly move to follow her as she sprints toward the outer entrance of the giant maze. Our footsteps blending into one steady beat as we reach the edge of the cornucopia.
I glance back once again and notice Tyree opening his bag and taking out a lonely arrow. It shone bright in the glowing stage lights as he lifted it to his chest. I try to burst out with tears as he pushes the arrow deep into his chest. He heaves a small scream before falling back beside his district partner.
They were close, best friends, so witnessing her die must have burned him deep. So deep he took his own life? I guess so-
"Sunna!" Ciara shouts, tugging on my arm. "No, forget him."
"Tyree…" I whisper, trying to keep the pain outta my voice.
"Sunna, the careers!" Anne shouts from beside Zach, "hurry!" I quickly glance to my right and there's the girl from One smirking straight at us.
"Tyree…"
"Sunna. Come on." Ciara says, yanking on my arm again but this time I allow my feet to trudge towards her.
She lets out a quick and shallow breath before pulling me again. I let her pull me away from the bloodshed and into the maze entrance that Zach and Anne had been waiting by. They both give me empathic looks as Ciara leads us away from the Cornucopia, still dragging me by the hand.
Kinnik Verdugo, District 7 Male: Bloodbath
Blood pounds in my ears as I pull Jocylin away from Allegro, reeling her back on to the ground. She glares daggers at me as she springs back up onto her feet, sidestepping to the left as I send my fist flying towards her. She nimbly dogues and launches a counterattack, sending me railing back. I trip on a small backpack and stumble to the hard ground, sending forceful pain shooting up my arm.
The girl throws herself at me but I grab her ankle and she falls to the ground. She cries out in pain as I hug my left arm to my chest. She kicks up the ashes spewed on the ground in an attempt at distracting me as she flies back on to her feet.
I hardly feel anything but suddenly my fist was slamming into her face while she sunk her foot into my stomach. Blood pooled in her mouth as I gagged. We stumbled apart for a brief second to catch our breaths before diving back at each other, eyes narrowed in determination.
I dodged her fist and came up with my own; for a brief instant, her dark eyes widened before she managed to tilt her head back and slam it into mine. Stars burst in my vision but I shake it off, blinding throwing a sloppy kick.
She steps back, easily evading the kick. I growl and throw myself back at her, sending her backwards as blood pours in my ears.
The strike hits her directly in the chest, sending her heaving backwards toward a crate of ash covered boxes. She falls facilely onto her knees, eyes watering slightly from the blow. She tries to take a deep breath but just coughs up more blood. I take the weakness of the moment to shove my forearm into her chest.
She lets out a dreadful yelp as I use my other arm to pin her to the ground. I have no weapons but I have my hands and sometimes those are the best weapons.
I wrap my hands around her throat, trying to ignore her frantic movements to wrestle free from my grasp. The image of her face turning purple stains my mind a dark red color. The color of her unspilled blood.
Her dark eyes go wide, pleading with me to let her go. But I can't, I have to kill her, it's one less person standing in the way of winning. Winning. That was the thing I had thought about the most before I got to know Allegro.
In exactly a week I had fallen for the boy, even though I told myself not to. Guess having life riding on the line make your thoughts all messed up. I'm still not sure if I want to win or I want him to. He had more to prove, more at stake. He deserved it way more than I did but I'm still not sure.
Jocylin lets out one last stuttering gasp before her dark eyes slowly roll in the back of her head. I try not to let any tears fall as I take my hands off her bruised throat. I had just done that. I had just killed someone.
"Al!" I shout, returning to the sounds of the chaotic bloodshed.
"Kinnik!" he screams, dashing his eyes frantically behind him to make sure I was alright.
"Lin?" Liz asks, noticing Allegro's gaze and getting distracted herself. The shock on her face breaks my heart and makes the tears I had been holding back start to slowly fall from my face. "Lin!" she screams, dropping her long blade she had been dueling Allegro with.
Her breath comes in short gasps as she falls beside the girl's dead body. Tears start to fall from her face as well but she fiercely wipes them away with the sleeve of her black hoodie. "Lin no!" she shouts into the cold air, shaking the girl. When Jocylin doesn't flinch form the shaking Liz's body starts to tremble.
"Come on Kinnik," Allegro says grabbing my wrist, "we have to go."
"But-" I start only to be interrupted by his voice.
"Now."
"Alright." I say, attempting to swallow the lump stuck in the back of my throat.
Kai Morgan, District 4 Male: Bloodbath
The boy from Five was an easy kill. Of course that was after I managed to throw him off of Misty's back. He was extremely easy to pin, even though he trashed and fought with all his little heart.
He had screamed out, calling for anyone, anyone at all. His face turned a bright shade of red, as bright as the girl from Eleven's hair. But I'm glad I was able to knock out a tribute that'd could've injured Misty. Yes, the boy was small but when there were multiple of them, never underestimate your competitors.
I jog back over to Misty, Onyx and Angel who, with everyone living having fled to the depths of the maze, were taking in the dead bodies that scattered over the ashes. Blood dripping from multiple wounds, ranging from small throat slits to entire bodies covered in stab marks.
"Which?" Onyx asks, their voice quivering.
"What?" Misty snaps, turning her gaze toward Onyx.
"Which ones did you kill?"
"The boy from Nine." Misty sighs, rubbing the mark on her arm, "ugh, how did I not see Keir as well?"
"You were lucky I was there." I chuckle.
"I could've taken them both out."
"Sure." I sarcastically laugh.
"Fine, what about you two?" She says.
"The boy from Three." Angel whispers, pain conflicting deep in her voice.
"I d-didn't get a kill, I was guarding that." Onyx says pointing to a heaping pile of weapons and backpacks.
"I mean no one got anything from that stack, so it's ours." Misty replies.
"Sounds good to me, we start hunting tomorrow?"
"Of course." Misty says.
Boom
Boom
Boom
Cannons start to roar in the distance, signalling death that laid so calmly in the air. The smell of death and blood was kinda weirdly comforting. Each body laying on the floor is one more step closer to making it back home to my little siblings.
Boom
Boom
Boom
Angel shutters, trying to block out the sound of death raging in our ears. She looks like she's about to break down, her body slightly shaking.
Boom
Boom
All there's left is silence, eerie, cold-cut silence. We exchange glances back and forth before Onyx sighs, "we should go, so the hovercraft can come and pick up the bodies."
"That's true." I nod, "let's go, see if we can find any stragglers."
"Alrighty." Misty says and we each grab a weapon from the giant stock pile of supplies next to the giant bonfire.
"Shouldn't we leave at least one guard?" Angel asks, "so no one steals from us."
"Nah, I think everyone wants to get as far away from the Cornucopia as they can. I don't think anyone's close enough to steal from us." Onyx says.
"Cool then, let's go." I say.
24th place- Sasha Snowbell
Your death was so sad but it was the very first one I planned. Honestly I was a fan of you when I wrote your reaping but I do think you kinda faded to the background a tad. I feel so bad I let you slip though and I feel like I did such a bad job at portraying you because of how much you faded into the story. I did love you though, and will miss you so much. I love how much spice you added to the story (more so towards the end when I brought you back into the story). Rip Sasha...
23rd place- Vienna Sauveterre
This was one of the first deaths I planned out. I knew for a while you'd be a bloodbath but that didn't stop me from growing attached to you. I loved your relationship with Tyree, it was so much fun to expand upon. You kinda remind me of myself with how broken you are on the inside which is why I may or may not have cried writing your death. I loved developing your character and letting your personality shine though in. You were a favorite of mine which I think is why I made myself kill you now. Rip... Vienna
22nd place- Jocylin Liu
So your death was one I made up on the fly. I guess it just fit here. You were such a kind soul ugh I loved you so much. Your iconic duo with Liz will never be forgotten and the way your were so open to Sasha. I loved developing your character and how much you changed in the Capital. I'm really gonna miss your happy energy and just how much fun you brought to the story. Rip Lin...
21st place- Sydney Tasogare
Syd... ahh I loved you so much but I knew at least one of your alliance had to die. I have arcs planned for the rest of them so I'm really sorry that your death had to fall here. You were so sweet and saving Cel like you did, ugh you were way too nice for this world. I loved your sense of adventure and how you never seemed to stop talking. You were such a lively light in this story and brought so much to your alliance. Your map skills and artistic abilities will never be forgotten. Rip Syd...
20th place- Gage Powers
I have no idea how to start this but let me just say how much I loved you. You brought so much substance to the story and just ugh. I told myself I wasn't gonna cry but I did when I was writing your death. You were such an amazing tribute and I love how you brought a sort of pessimistic view to the story. You were so stubborn and that's what I really liked in you. Rip Gage...
19th place- James Patrick
I'm wheezing while writing this because even though I hated you, you never failed to make me laugh. I'm glad you died here but you did make the story interesting. I kinda liked writing an evil character but I knew you had to die here. You were sexist/homophobic and really just a piece of shit so I'm sorry you couldn't be killed first. Please don't Rip James...
18th place- Keir Wiessle
So here we go, guess D5's out oof. Well, I really really liked you Keir and didn't want to have to kill you now. You brought so much to the story and I loved how shy and smart you were. You were such a fun character to play around with and just ugh. I really liked you so I'm pretty sad now but I guess it had to happen. There was no real chance of you winning, due to your size, but still. Ugh *I'm not crying, you are*. Rip Keir...
17th place- Tyree Strenberg
Ahhhh this was another death I made up on the fly, even though I really like you. You had so much potential but I really do think you were attached to Vienna so that's what ended up killing you in the end. I can't believe I actually took the time to come up with a very detailed plan that would be yours to escape the arena xd. Butttttt that's not to say how much fun I had writing you. You brought so much wholesome energy to the story and well I just really enjoyed having you in my story.
A special thanks to- Thebartonsrule for Sasha, CuriosClove for Vienna, Foxfacedgirl for Jocylin, LordShiro for Sydney, Tyquavis for Gage, JStar14H for James, Yugismallymcsmall for Keir and CuriousClove for Tyree
RIP the fallen tributes.
Alliances-
The Bread Queens (and Zach): Sunna, Ciara, Anne and Zach
Still Mighty: Celosia, Sage and Elizabeth
Happy As Fuck Cause James is Dead: Lily and Abram
Dysfunctional yet Functional: Angel, Kai, Misty and Onyx
Emotional Mess: Allegro and Kinnik
Sub-alliances-
Hospital Gang: Abram, Lily, Ciara and Zach
Just a Pact: Anne and Abram
Stick With Me Please: Celosia and Sage
Loners-
Can I Be Iconic Alone?: Liz
A/N: That was such an emotional rollercoaster ugh! I cried a few times and I don't get emotional with stories. We've come so far with these tributes so it was so sad to see 8 of them go. Thanks to anyone who's stuck around all 30 of these chapters :)) I love y'all so much and I really really hope that even if your tribute(s) die that you'll keep reading to find out who the victor is. There will be a bunch of memorial stuff at the end which every tribute will be featured in as well :)).
So the sponsor system! points will close on the first of December, giving everyone sometime to review if they want. From tonight until the night I post the final ten/eight (I'm not sure which one yet) it's up and running. Please Dm/Pm me on either Discord or and I will happily see what I can do. I do still have the authority to say no to somethings but I'm open to almost anything. There's a list of things on my profile you can sponsor or you can create your own thing, just Pm/Dm me the item and I'll give you a price.
Also I want to just briefly shout out to a few kind souls who've made ashes what it is today- Averyrandomauthor, Cartierscrown, MeTheFantic19, Optimisms, Matts0688 and so many others, y'all are absolutely amazing! That's it, have a goodnight/afternoon/morning!
Bye for now,
Marie
