Elizabeth Oakseed, Day 5

Time: 5:34 PM (17:34)

Quadrant~ 1

I continue running, not allowing myself to stop even when their footsteps cease to pound behind me. That was too close of a call for me, death was inches from my face yet somehow I survived. I always seem to fucking survive, no matter what shit happens. I let out a sigh, my legs stiff from the sprinting but I keep pushing onwards. One foot in front of the other. Trekking my way across this so-called 'quadrant'.

What did Kai even mean by quadrant? What the arena looks like is an ice maze with a river that separates two halves of the arena. But it has to disappear when the stage lights turn on, making it harder for tributes to find water. In its place, there's a giant clearing left behind, like the water just magically disappears.

There's something different about this half- or quadrant- there are pre-recorded conversations of tributes. Both dead and alive. They don't play constantly, just every once in a while. Sometimes tributes will talk to one another, having a nice and decent conversation. Other times, it's less peaceful amounts of screaming, or heavy footsteps. Both oddly terrifying.

I've already heard Abram, Lily, Jocylin, and Keir. Two of which are dead already. Dead. Gone forever. Left behind. I got fucking left behind. Why me? I have nothing to make it home for besides their memories, that's it. The feeling of friendship I'd never felt before I volunteered, pangs at my heart, sending blood rushing to my ears.

I slow to a stop and wipe the tears clouding my eyes. I can't cry, not now. I have to get away from the careers. I try to move forward but my feet freeze to the ground as if it were wet cement. I shake my head rapidly and take a deep breath in, trying to clear my head.

It works and soon I'm walking again, thank the heavens. Not thank the heavens, don't thank the heavens. Not when three of the greatest people are up there. I guess, it's not like I exactly believe in a god ruling over heaven and hell, I just know there's some type of afterlife. In my heart, I believe it's surrounding us, giving us the strength to keep living life. To keep us going forward, watching over the people left behind. That's just my idea, everyone has their faith so who am I to talk about beliefs?

I continue moving quickly through the heart of the maze, ashes sticking to my thick boats. The hiking boots dark in color, the same shade as Sage's hair. Dark brown, with light undertones of hickory. The soles of the boots themselves are the same dark green color as the thick slightly oversized pants. The pants durable and flexible, easy to run in but thankfully built for warmth in the cold environment of the arena.

"Really?" I hear Allegro say and I shutter remembering seeing my district partner's face in the sky last night.

"Yes really." Kinnik chuckles, his voice light, and airy.

"Oh come on." Allegro teases.

"That was the worst card to play, ah, why?"

"Not if you have this hand," Allegro says.

"Oh? And what is that?"

"Three kings. Ha."

"Are you sure about that?" Kinnik laughs heartily and I can't help but smile at his musical tone.

"Oh no," Allegro says, joining in the laughter, "how'd you get all four aces?"

"The cards favor me, obviously," Kinnik replies, both keep laughing together and my small smile fades. How'd Kinnik even die anyway? I thought he could really make it far, but I guess not.

"Fuck you." A harsh voice says, cutting over the boys' laughter. James's bitter tone countering Kinnik and Allegro's light one. My district partner's voice overshot by the bitch from Twelve. Allegro and Kinnik's conversation slowly fades out as another takes its place.

"I'm not trying to be nice, stop being a bumbling idiot." Lily replies and I can hear James sigh.

"You're the idiot h-" James says, but is interrupted with weird screeching background noise.

I cover my ears with my hands, trying to block out the terrible noise. I keep briskly walking onwards as I had done, just attempting to not let the sound fill my ears. My bag slides against my back, shifting its contents.

Then as soon as the noise started, it stopped and the arena fell quiet. Too quiet per se. Yet also not quiet enough at the exact same time. I feel like there's a fine line between the two, a balance almost.

Making my way past ice wall upon shimmering ice wall, I let out a sigh. All of the walls blend together at this point, so I have no idea which way I'm going anymore. Hopefully away from the careers. Are they even still following me? Have they given up and turned around, heading back to the cornucopia?

Knowing them, probably not. Neither Kai nor Misty are one to give up easily and are almost certainly following me. I pick up my pace from a quick walk to a medium jog. A pace I can hold for a while. Hopefully, I can get away from them, just sneaking past. I still can't believe I was able to lose them, or at least for now.

Allegro June, Day 5

Time: 10:37 PM (22:37)

Quadrant~ 2

I trek onwards, tightly gripping the dagger's handle in my right hand. The knife's lustrous sheen, collecting fragments of uncharted light stands. I brandish the weapon at my side, ready for an attacker to jump out. Ready for anything.

After a sleepless bitter-cold night I feel like I'm just dragging on. Tiredness racking my frame. To be fair, I haven't slept well in the past five days and I doubt that will change tonight. But yesterday was terrible, yesterday was the worse fucking day in the world.

"He's gone, get over yourself," I whisper into the wind, trying to convince myself that it's fine. But it's not. Kinnik's dead and there's nothing I can do to change that. I could've saved him, could've died for him. But I failed, I fucking failed, I didn't save him.

That's why I have to keep going, get out of this quadrant. Kinnik's memory burns deep here and I hate it. I can't stay here, not like this at least. Recently I've been really good at blocking out the tribute's family pictures or images lately but they're still there. Kinnik's grandmother played again, that's when I told myself I had to escape. A small tear collects in the corner of my right eye but I wipe it away.

Dead. So many people have died, not just Kinnik.

Only ten other people stood living and breathing in this arena alongside me. Only ten stand in my way to victory, but is that what I want? Do I want to win? Not without Kinnik, I don't. Can I keep on mercilessly killing? I don't think so… but maybe? I don't want to have to kill more than I possibly have to but I'm not scared of death. Killing Liz wasn't very scary, I did it to protect Kinnik. That part wasn't that bad, just that he still ended up fucking dying because of her.

Kinnik is dead, gone.

My heart thumps in my chest, pounding a fast rhythmic beat. How could I let him die? I'm an idiot, that's how. I deserve to be the one dead, not him. Kinnik should've made it farther than he did, Liz just made it her mission to stop that. I hate her, I hate her. How could she take Kinnik like that? She just did. She just fucking did. How could Liz? Why didn't I kill her when I had the chance during the bloodbath or stopped her quickly before she was able to sting her axe?

My ankle twists in the soft ground, sending pain shooting up my leg. It brings me back to the reality of where I am. After a while of traveling, only passing wall after wall of shiny light blue ice I have to a clearing. Probably the same clearing Kinnik and myself had crossed yesterday. Or was it the day before? Whatever. We have crossed already. I'd rather be in the bitterly freezing half than the one showing the other tributes' loved ones, that's really fucking hard to sit through without getting emotional.

Yesterday I'd watched it roll through almost all the tributes but I had to look away when Kinnik's grandmother came back on. Her dark tan skin lined with laugh lines. The woman's dark forest green eyes shining bright, the same as Kinnik's had. My chest squeezes tight but I block it out. I can't afford to feel emotion, I just can't.

A gust of shattering ice-cold wind whips at my bones, sending a shiver up my spine. Quickly I make my way through the giant clearing and in less than fifteen minutes I've crossed the clearing, entering another section of icy maze. The soles of my shoes rubbing fiercely against the bottom of my feet but I pay it little mind.

I keep going on, one foot in front of the other. For at least an hour I continue on, turning this way and that. Not exactly sure what I'm looking for, I guess just walking to distract myself from Kinnik's death.

As I turn the corner I practically run into the boy from Ten. He backs up, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet. Abram looks at me, eyes wide. He sputters for a second, welding a long tree branch in his right hand. He stares at the knife in my hand, narrowing his blue eyes in determination. I give the boy a mirrored look as he starts to circle me. He launches the first attack, throwing himself at my body. I block his attack, sidestepping quickly to the right. He grunts but whips around as his name is screamed into the smoky bitter air.

"Abram!" I hear a girl shout, pain lacing her words. Abram frantically drops his make-shift weapon and turns back the way he came from. I watch him go, not daring to follow the blonde boy just yet. I turn to the right, remembering the way he went but making myself harder to find. I'd hunt him down another time.

Lily Rosett, Day 5

Time: 11:04 PM (23:04)

Quadrant~ 4

"Do you hear that?"

"Yeah," I nod, looking towards the netting laid across the torches.

"Get ready," Abram says, his eyes glinting full of determination. He wields his tree branch tightly in his right hand. I do the same, just not nearly as confident. My hands shake as I cling to the tree branch with both hands, brandishing it in front of my body.

"No, shoot it's that way, whoever it is won't fall in the trap." He says frantically whipping to the left but shooting me a smile even though the words he just said don't make me feel like smiling at all. Please don't be a career. Please don't be a career. I wipe the beads of sweat from my forehead, bouncing my legs up and down with anticipation.

"What?" I ask.

"It means I need you to stay here." Abram ushers, taking a few steps forward before turning back to look at me.

"No way, I'm coming with you," I say flatly, trying to appear as confident as him.

"Please, I'll be right back."

"But what if-" I start but his voice interrupts me.

"No what ifs, I'll be right back." He nods, turning away from me and charging forward into the maze just to the left. My breaths come in quick gasps and I can't help but feel my body freeze. This can't be it, not the end. What if it's the careers? The strong outlining group? Both of those could kill him, I should go and help.

I try to move but my body stays frozen in place. "Abram," I whisper into the smoky air, attempting to swallow the lump in my throat. It stays, making breathing even harder than it already is. I should go and help him, I need to move. I try with all my might to get my body to move but it stays frozen.

That is until I heard footsteps to the right, the opposite way where Abram ran. Were they cornering us? Am I about to die? No, this can't be happening. It can't. I slowly reach down and pick back up my disregarded tree branch, thankful I can move my body again. My hand shakes as a surprisingly tall figure clashes into the netting.

I can't help myself and let out a shattered scream. The netting wraps around the girl, making her face undetectable. She struggles against the netting, fighting, and growling. The girl fumbles for a weapon of some sort as I advance toward her. That's when I recognize the darkish blonde hair and small light hazel eyes. The career from One struggles against the netting, curses flying from her mouth.

Throwing myself on top of her to knock her down, I let out another broken scream. Not sure if it's a battle cry or a terrified shout, but either way, it escapes my lips. The girl struggles, obviously way stronger than me but I'm quick, holding the tree branch to her chest. I can't kill, no-no. But I have to, this is the hunger games. Without another thought, I close my eyes.

"Abram!" I shout over the howling wind, clinging to the tree branch. I call out to my ally, hoping he could help. She fumbles for a weapon but I open my eyes and take a deep breath. I bite my lip from screaming again as I push the make-shit weapon against the girl's skin. She keeps trying to pull the sword from her belt out but the netting pins it to her side.

"Fuck!" Angel screams, as the tree branch breaks her flesh. Piercing though her hoodie and soft skin. Without another thought, I scream with her. She struggles against the net but it holds her in place. I let out a grunt, a few tears forming against my eyes. Pain rushes to the girl's face but she digs her nails into the skin of my forearm.

"Angel." I sob, pushing the tree branch farther into her chest cavity. Tears cascade down my face as blood splatters stain my dark green pants.

"Lily!" Abram shouts from afar, hearing my shout.

"If I'm going down!" Angel snarls over the howling wind, "so are you." She rips the tree branch from her chest cavity and from my hands. She plunges it into my stomach, catching me off guard. Pain sprouts from my abdomen and I can't help but let out a painful scream. Agony clings to my body and I start to shake.

"You bitch!" I curse, pulling out the branch, my hoodie already drenched with blood. "Abram." I croak, shakily getting to my feet and whipping to the right as Angel's body crumples to the ground in a fit of gurgled screams. Two light hands grab my arm and I feel my knees caving in. I fall against Abram's body. His hoodie drips with my blood as he supports my weight, holding me tight as the world starts to spin and everything fades to dark.

Sunna Saccharin, Day 5

Time: 11:19 PM (23:19)

Quadrant~3

I hold my breath as the Capital's anthem blares, the bright seal lighting up the dark sky. Two cannons had gone off just a few minutes ago and I can't help but feel nervous about who's they were. I really hope one wasn't Lily's, we're the two left from launch team one.

The seal fades and the girl from District One's pale face steals the sky. Her long hair dirty blonde hair up in a messy bun. She smiles warmly at the camera, hands slightly tucked in her sweatshirt's pockets. Angel's hazel eyes lit with determination, a brightly flicking fire of ambition. My heart goes to the dead girl but she was a career, that's one less threat standing strong. How did she even die? Are the careers breaking apart or are the Fours sticking together? The two left are a strong duo, hopefully, they break apart.

"A career?" Anne whispers beside me and I heavily nod. My eyes flicker lightly to Ciara and Zach who sit staring up at Angel's smiling face. I slowly turn back to the sky, watching as her face starts to fade and in her place is another blonde.

Lily's face booms in the sky and I feel like I'd been punched in the gut. Her wispy light-blonde, almost white, hair falling to her stomach. Wavy strands frame her pale, slightly reddened face. Lily stands for the camera, resting her head on her left hand. Her fingers delicately holding her face, her innocent features smiling at the camera. Just as Angel had done.

Anne slowly, without a word, turns to me and shoots me a sad look. Knowing how much I didn't want Lily to die. The gut-punched feeling lingers, pulling at my heartstrings. I'm the only one left, our alliance is dead. Our launch team had talked for hours on our way to the arena. The hovercraft flew so slowly so we got to know each other before making our debut into this stupid arena. After the truth serum wore off, all of them were pretty easy to talk to. I don't know why I let myself close to the others, we're going into the games. It was just nice to talk to people who weren't Anne or Zach. Ciara too, but that was before she became a bloodthirsty killer.

The arena has done weird things to the girl from Eight's mind. The smoky air made her turn evil, or what I presume is close to evil. She's constantly been on edge lately and hasn't seemed to let go of her poison dart gun. Not once.

"Lily? Meh, I saw that one coming." Ciara sighs as the sky turns back to black.

"I know." I sigh, trying to keep myself from breaking down again. I can't keep doing this, I have to get my head in the game. Like Ciara said, it's kill or be killed, and I don't wanna die. I really don't wanna die. I promised Lav I'd make it home to her, Lilac and Miller. They need me, I have to.

But that's the problem, everyone has something to go back to. Someone to win for, make it home for. Zach his best friend, Anne her brothers and parents, and Ciara her friends and mom. Really every tribute has their own story, that's what makes these games so difficult and freaking terrifying.

I'm sure Angel had a story, someone to make it home too. As did Lily, yet neither will be able to. That's just the games and I hate it. I hate these whole games. Turning one of my best friends into a monster, killing the boy I told myself I was gonna protect, and destroying my friendships. I'm still mad at Anne but I'm looking past her killing Cel. Anne means too much for me to get mad at her when she did it to save me.

"Yeah, I guess," Zach says and Anne turns back to me. Even in the torch-lit darkness, Anne's eyes line with sorrow. Her other features asking the big question. Are you okay? I'm not one hundred percent sure I am but I nod at her. She nods back, sending a sad smile my way.

"A career though?" Anne asks.

"I guess so, I wonder if they're falling apart?" Zach suggests and Ciara smiles at the thought.

"Let's hope."

"Yeah." Anne nods, still looking at me. Her eyes search my features, not exactly believing my nod. I let out a small sigh and she narrows her eyes, parting her lips in a comforting smile. I feel an ounce of hope shoot up my veins as I smile back at her. I give her a sure nod and she returns it. We both turn to Zach and Ciara who both keep their eyes pinned to the dark sky.

Misty Weaver, Day 6

Time: 5:23 AM (5:23)

Quadrant~ 1

"Ready to keep looking?" I ask as Kai sits up, rubbing the remains of sleep from his eyes.

"Of course." Kai nods, getting quickly to his feet. The boy looks at me and nods.

"Where the fuck did she even go?" Kai whispers into the whimpering wind. We'd ended last night setting camp up in quadrant one so in the morning we could keep looking for the girl. He grabs his pack off the ground and gives me a smile. He slides the straps over his arms and I do the same.

"I don't know, how did we let both Angel and Elizabeth get away?"

"Good question." Kai whispers, "we have to keep looking for her though, can't give up now. And it's alright, Angel's dead."

"You're right." I nod. He's making a point, we can't give up now, not when we're so freaking close to finding Elizabeth. Once we find her, it'll be easy to kill her. She's young and small, easy to overpower. And besides, I didn't even see any weapons on her. She'd be an easy kill for sure, we just have to find her. And he's right, Angel's dead, so we can focus on tracking Elizabeth.

"But there's a small problem, we're lost."

"We're not necessarily lost, just wandering."

"There's really no difference," Kai whispers and I roll my eyes at him.

"Of course there's a difference, careers don't get lost." I joke.

"Keep telling yourself that, hopefully, that'll help us find the girl." Kai sarcastically quips, "we should at least look for some sort of water while we're out."

"Cool, I'll keep my eyes peeled for the river we found a few days ago and that stupid blonde," I whisper and Kai nods.

"How about this way?" Kai asks, pointing to the newest fork coming up. I nod, letting him take the lead. We're a partnership now, no more queens or kings. A duo and an iconic one at that. Our first mission as a duo- find and kill the girl from Seven.

"I don't even know at this point, tracking's impossible in these," I say, kicking up some ashes. They scatter, floating briefly in the smoky air before setting back down onto the soft plushy ground.

"You're not wrong." Kai whispers, nodding his head. I shoot him a small goofy smile and he returns it. His light brown eyes shimmering and reflecting specks from the shadowing torchlight.

"I know, I'm never wrong." I say sarcastically, whispering into the freezing wind. I am wrong, a lot. I was wrong about Angel, I knew she'd run away but I lied to myself. I told myself I'd be there for when she tried to run. I was wrong, letting myself drift asleep, letting to have the opportunity to try to send her rapier rifling through my chest. Kai had stopped her, waking up to the noise of shifting backpacks and seeing the girl standing over me, sword in hand.

"Of course, certainly not." Kai chuckles, stopping in his tracks.

"Wait Kai, deadass is that water?" I ask, stopping as well.

"No way, wow, I didn't know what water looks like." He light-heartedly yet sarcastically replies.

"You found the water, nice job, good thing we have a few canteens with us this time," I say.

"See we're learning from our past mistakes." Kai jokes. And I stop, sliding off my backpack and unzipping the zipper. It screams at me but I rip it open. I take out one of the other canteens we'd found yesterday, the ones Angel didn't happen to take. I was actually really glad to see her face in the sky yesterday. That bitch got what she deserved for trying to kill me, I just hope her death was painful. Which tribute or tributes did she even run into?

"Exactly, that's the only thing you can do out here." I nod, unscrewing the lid to the canteen and running it under the crystal-clear water. Deep in its depths, glowing strands of golden light dance along like puppets. It doesn't matter though, the water's clean and drinkable. That's all that matters.

Kai kneels next to me, lightly dipping his canteen into the water as well. He gives me a confident nod and I return it. My slim metal canteen fills up fast and I quickly take a drink of the sweet liquid. I hadn't realized how parched I was until we were sitting beside the river itself. I don't hold myself back and drain the entire canteen, my cracked and dry lips drip with the crystal clear liquid as I lower the bottle back into the river's light current.

"Thrisy huh?" Kai teases and I smirk in his direction. His metal canteen fills to the brim and he raises it gently to his lips. The water dribbles from the corner of his lips and down his chin as he gulps down the water.

"You were too, shut it." I laugh and he doesn't say anything in response.


11th place-Angel Mayfield, impaled by Lily Rosett

Ahhhh Angel, you were such an amazing character! I absolutely loved you but I guess your time came. I've had this scene in my mind for a while, but that didn't make it any less hard to write. You brought so much to Ashes and added so much spice. The District One relationship you and Onyx had was really awesome and I loved writing it out. You had quite the character arc and I'm so glad I got to write you in my story. I guess you really didn't turn out to be an angel, with your 'if I go down you're going down with me' line. Rip… Angel

10th place- Lily Rosett, impaled, as well, by Angel Mayfield

Lily, Lily, Lily. You will always have such a special place in my heart! You were such an amazing character and I really enjoyed writing you. I'm sorry but you and Abram? Cutest thing in the whole world, too bad he couldn't save you, I really wanted him too. But alas there's more in store for Abram so I had to say goodbye to you. Your death absolutely breaks my heart and I'm really gonna miss you. You were such an amazing character and it was awesome writing you. Rip… Lily


Alliances-

The Bread Queens (and Zach): Sunna, Ciara, Anne and Zach

The Newest Iconic Duo: Kai and Misty

Sub-alliances-

Hospital Gang: Abram, Ciara and Zach

Just a Pact to Not *Stabby Stabby* Each Other Until the Finale: Anne and Abram

Interesting Rollercoaster of Emotions: Sunna and Anne

Just Keeping Ciara From Murdering Everyone In Her Sight: Zach and Ciara

Loners-

The Smol Lizard Breath Herself: Elizabeth

Wtf do I do Now: Allegro

I'm With Al on This One: Abram


Kill Count (underlined ones are gone)-

Sasha: 1 (D5F, self)

Ciara: 1 (D6F)

Kinnik: 1 (D3F)

Misty: 1 (D9M)

Kai: 1 (D5M)

Abram: 1 (D12M)

Angel: 2 (D3M, D12F)

Tyree: 1 (D6M, self)

Elizabeth: 1 (D1"M"-NB)

Anne: 1 (D11F)

Zach: 1 (D11"M"-NB)

Allegro: 1 (D2F)

Liz: 1 (D7M)

Lily: 1 (D1F)

A/N: Shaboom! Annnd another chapter! I told y'all I stole -permanently borrowed- Tia's speed, it's cool. Hope you guys enjoy! I feel so sad about killing off two of my absolute favs but it's happening! We're almost at the final 8! Gosh, a lot happens at the final 8. I do plan on doing family interviews then and probably the feast at the final 7. But yeah, it's gonna be so freaking cool!

Also, I may have cranked 90 percent of this chapter out in one sitting but it was cool. It's called speed. I also couldn't sleep and stayed up till 3 am writing this cause why not? So here y'all go Day 5 night/Day 6 morning! Honestly, I don't feel like this chapter quality was the best I could've done but I don't care. I've struggled so much with the last few chapters so getting this done so quickly was such a relief. So yeah, that's all I got for tonight- have a good day/night/afternoon.

Bye for now,

Marie