Ciara Teal, Day 7

Time: 11:29 AM (11:29)

Quadrant~ 3

Boom.

The sharp ringing of a cannon booms in my ears and I turn slowly to Anne. Her eyes go wide for a second before she looks up towards the blindingly bright stage lights. Anne lets out a sharp breath, pivoting on her heals in place. The girl shoots me a terrified look and takes off the way we had come. I can't help but narrow my eyes at her foolishness.

"Sunna! Sunna!" she screams, pain clinging to each of her words, strangling her sickly sweet voice. "Please, Sunna!"

"Let's hope that was her cannon," I mumble under my breath, and the way Anne turns around I can tell she heard me. She balls her hands into fists, fingers reaching precariously to her belt. I don't care, try and kill me Anne. Do it. I'll take you out.

But she just shakes her head and turns back. "Sunna!" she screams again.

"Do you want to tell every tribute where we are?" I hiss at the girl but she just ignores me. Her cheeks flush a dark shade of rose, color hugging tight to her tan features.

"Sunna! Please!" she screams into the smoky air, I shoot the girl a pitiful look. She should know, this won't work. Hopefully, Sunna's gone but even if she's not, there's only a very slim chance she can even hear Anne's screams.

Tears start to drip down Anne's cheeks as she continues calling out for her ally. I smirk at the girl, following closely behind in her footsteps. Pain shakes Anne's body as she continues running forward.

Let the girl cry and mope around. It'll just be easier to kill her in the long run. I never wanted to kill Anne but I know it's a game for one, no longer a team sport. Anne's still playing this for her and Sunna, and that's what's going to get her in the end. Or at least hopefully, but one can only hope so fucking much before taking matters into her own hands, right?

"Sunna?" Anne asks, no longer screaming. Both of her hands shake as she scans the maze for her ally. Tears continue streaming down her face but she ignores them. She lets out a shaky breath and keeps running forward.

"Anne," I say, grabbing her wrist.

"What?" she screams into the smoky air, dark eyes burning.

"It's not worth it, you have to stop screaming."

"No." She croaks, shaking her arm from my grasp. "Sunna."

"Face it, even if she's alive, she can't hear you." I say, in a particular teasing fashion. If I was able to control Zach, maybe I could do it to Anne? Anne's quite smarter than Zach but her emotions are all in wack. Emotional bitches are easily manipulated and controlled.

"No!" Anne screams, the wind blowing through her curly dark hair. "Sunna!" she screams again.

"Anne, come on, she's fucking dead," I say and with my words, Anne stops in her tracks.

"I know what you're doing."

"What do you mean?" I ask, genuinely confused at what she means.

"You can't control me like a puppet, I know what mental abuse looks like. She can't be dead, not now." She cries, turning back to the howling wind. Shimmering tears roll from her dark eyes as she stares ahead.

"She's freaking dead, I have a gut feeling she is," I say, Anne still facing away from me.

"You don't know that." Anne says, her body quite literally shaking, "it could have been the girl from Seven? Maybe the boy from Two? Or could have also been either of the careers? You. Don't. Know."

"I don't, but I'm guessing she is."

"What makes you say that?" she quietly asks, her words whispering themselves into the raging wind. It blows through my body, chilling me to the bone. I want to tell her about the fight where I think Sunna managed to kill Zach. She must have received at least a few wounds, right? So it's probable that she died from the injuries.

I just lightly touch the girl's shoulder but she shakes away from my touch. "Tell me." She demands, her body still shaking. Anne quickly wipes her hands along her face to dry the hot tears that whisper down her cheeks. I cast her a glum look and she instantly knows. "You." She whips around to face me, eyes glaring deep fiery anger. "You sent Zach to kill her, then they must have fought and Sunna won. That surprised you, didn't it? Now, you're hoping she got some sorta injury and has died from it."

I give her a shocked stare for a second before replying, "not at all."

"Try again," Anne says through gritted teeth. She unsheathes her bow and with lightning-quick speed loads it with a long arrow. The point aimed straight at my chest.

"Fine, try and kill me. You and I both know you need numbers for the feast. Nor do I think you can kill."

"Whatever." The girl says, taking a long moment before lowering her arrow point.

"Thank you." I sigh, "was that so hard?"

Kai Morgan, Day 7

Time: 8:23 PM (20:23)

Quadrant~2

"Who do you think died?" I whisper into the howling wind and Misty just looks back at me, rolling her eyes.

"How should I know?" she quips.

"I don't know, I was just asking, jeez," I reply.

She just nods, silently deliberating her thoughts. "My bets on the boy from Ten." Misty whispers thoughtfully after a moment.

"That's a good guess, I'd say probably Elizabeth." I reply, looking away from her and towards the maze we're still trekking through. We'd be kinda lost for the past few days, yes, we found water but that's about it. We still hadn't found Elizabeth so I'm hoping that was her cannon so we could stop looking and make our way back to the cornucopia.

"I don't know, I got a feeling he's dead now that his ally is."

"Oh yeah? Well, let's hope he ran into the group of girls."

"Why them?"

"So that one of them might have gotten injured," I say, and Misty gently nods. She smiles and I turn, sweeping my gaze over the light blue ice around us.

"They're the biggest targets for us, I mean, unless one of them died?" Misty asks and I narrow my eyes.

"I don't think they'd split up but maybe?"

"I doubt it but you never know, they're our biggest targets right now." Misty nods.

"Yeah, but I think we can kill them at the feast."

"Oh my- freaking shoot, I almost forgot about the feast. When even is that?" the girl beside me asks. She stops in her tracks, thinking to herself. Her honey-blonde hair braided in two plaits running down her back. Both messy but she doesn't seem to care, hair is the least of her worry out here.

"I'm guessing it'll be announced soon."

"Then we should probably start heading back towards the cornucopia?" she suggests and I nod slightly.

"I think that's our best bet, give up on finding Elizabeth."

"Yeah, I doubt we're even going in the right direction." Misty chuckles.

"Ugh. I can't believe we let her escape." I sigh and she smiles playfully at me.

"Which way is the cornucopia?"

"Like I should know?" I say jokingly punching her in the arm.

"Obviously, of course you should know."

"I doubt that."

"Doubt your abilities to remember which direction we're heading in?" she laughs, "did you pay any attention at the navigation station during training?"

"Not really." I let out a small wispy chuckle, I really hadn't paid much attention during that station. I didn't think it'd be useful and that's stupid of me. All of the survival stations are useful out here.

"You idiot." Misty sighs, shaking her head while cackling to herself.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think it'd be helpful."

"Did you not learn anything from Onyx?" Misty asks.

"Huh? Onyx ran away."

"Yes, but that's not what I meant. Remember in training when Onyx was stressing the survival stations, saying they were just important? Didn't you learn anything from them?"

"Oh, whatever, survival stations totally helped them in the long run."

"You're not wrong." Misty chuckles, "how do you think they even died?"

"Probably another tribute, I haven't heard or seen any mutts out here," I say, and Misty nods.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they aren't out here." Misty replies, taking a sharp left corner from the fork we'd come to.

"What kinda mutt do you think they are? That is if they're out here and all."

"Snowmen, definitely snowmen."

"Vicious snowmen?" I ask, raising my eyebrow.

"Yes, terrifying snowmen unleashed in an ice maze. With a razor-sharp carrot nose, cold cut coal eyes, devilish grin. I can see it now, we're just walking and suddenly out pops a cute looking snowman. Catches you off guard, doesn't it?"

"Oh my, yes, the mutts are definitely snowmen."

"What else would fit in an ice maze?" she laughs.

"Really anything…"

"Oh shut it," she chuckles and I can't help but join in. Her laugh light and contagious. It floats between us, cutting the space between my body and hers.

"Why am I shutting it?" I say between fits of laughter.

"Because snowmen mutts are the greatest mutts of all time."

"Oh, yes, undoubtedly."

"Snowmen mutts." She says, her laughter slowly dying down. "Ugh, when we get back to the cornucopia I should wrap this again." She adds, changing the subject while she gingerly touches her arm. The one the boy from Five, Keir, sent a weapon slicing through. At least it was her left so she could still wield her weapon so that's good. It still pains her but I'm not sure what to do to help her.

Why had Keir done that anyway? He could have escaped, without trying to save Sydney. Whatever, it was my kill at the bloodbath so I can't really complain. I'm glad I was able to kill him, I know Misty would never admit it but with Celosia, Sydney and Keir all working together they could have killed her.

"Good idea," I say, nodding and she shoots me a small smile.

Anella Finch, Day 7

Time: 11:02 PM (23:02)

Quadrant~ 3

Sunna's small frame fills the dark screen of a starless sky and can't help but let out an outraged scream. This isn't fair, none of this is. First Zach, then Sunna, and now I'm stuck with freaking Ciara. That idiot, I want to kill her so badly. She's the reason both of them are dead and she deserves to die. I hate her guts with a fiery passion and the only reason she's not dead is that I need a backup for the feast. That. Is. It.

Ciara had been absolutely great during the pregames but something changed when her feet hit the soft ashes. A new, different, spark ignited in the once sweet and brave girl I used to know. She's gone and in her place a vicious manipulative murderer. Who undoubtedly wants me dead but I could care less.

Breaths rack my already shaky chest, clawing their way down into my parched, burning lungs. The smoke of the crisp air fogs up around me but I don't care. I inhale and slowly let out a deep trembling sob of a breath.

This can't be happening, not to her. Not to my best friend out here, no. This isn't freaking fair. None of this is fair and I hate it. But that's the thing I guess. Life isn't freaking fair, is it? Not to me, but this shouldn't be happening, it can't be. Sunna can't be dead, she can't. No, not when I'm left here.

"She's dead," Ciara says, her voice low but not melancholy. Teasing and taunting lace her words, striking through the air like a razor-sharp knife.

"No. She can't be." I quip, burying my face in my palms.

"Get over yourself, jeez, you knew coming in that only one could make it out."

"Yes, I did, but Sunna."

"Ugh, it's not even that bad. You have to forget her."

"But I can't, that's the problem." I croak, a lump building up against my vocal cords. The world folds around me, ice walls closing in on my body.

"Yes you can bitch, it's not that hard." Ciara shrugs, her tone a harsh tease. But even though I hate her guts, I know somewhere deep down that she has a little point. There can only be one winner I guess? But Sunna was my best friend and she's dead because of the freaking girl sitting beside me.

Sunna can't be dead, can she? Not possible. Not when we were so close to making it to the finale. Just barely out of reach, hanging just above my head.

"But she-" I start but stop when Ciara swiftly gets to her feet.

"I'm going for a walk, I can't stand your crying and moping."

"Go, I don't care," I say, pushing my face back into my arms and letting out a small sob.

I can't believe she's dead, she's dead because of Ciara. Ciara. Ciara. For that, I hope she dies. I hope she dies at the feast and if she doesn't, I'll kill her myself. I can feel Ciara's stare burning holes into my knees. She lets out a sigh and undoubtedly rolls her eyes. I listen to her footsteps leave, pounding a rhythmic beat against the ashes.

Raw pain slides across my chest, burning tears dripping from my puffy and blotchy eyes. The death of my best friend cuts deep, the pain worse than death. I let out another enraged scream into the smoky air. It whispers echoes through the walls, painful echoes. Echoes I can't stand almost echoes of another world.

"Please." I croak, unsure who I'm exactly talking to. "She can't be dead, can she?"

"Yes. Face it, Anne, she's dead. You have to start playing for yourself now." Ciara says, turning back into the space between two ice walls where we'd made camp at.

"That was a very short walk."

"I changed my mind."

"Whatever." I sigh, looking up from my hands and at the girl. Her relatively tall frame standing, blocking the touch lights from shining bright in my face. Ciara's dark tan skin reflects the light behind her and her wavy hair blows gently in the breeze. A devilish grin planted on her lips and a cold look resting in her eyes. She's no longer the Ciara I knew a week ago, not at all.

"Come on, you want to get ready for the feast?"

"Not really," I admit.

She sighs and rolls her eyes tauntingly at me. "Fine, I'll get ready then."

"I don't want to go to the feast, honestly."

"Why?" Ciara snaps.

"I don't feel I am going to be able to kill anyone there."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to kill, not again."

"Fine, I'll kill. You can be my backup." Ciara sighs.

"I guess," I whisper, my voice raspy. I try and keep any pain from seeping through my words but I fail and my voice wavers. Ciara cocks her head to the left and gives me an interested yet prying smile.

"Alright then, let's get down to business then."

Elizabeth Oakseed, Day 8

Time: 1:51 AM (1:51)

Quadrant~ 1

My legs burn like fire from walking but I keep going, there's no point in stopping anyway. With only six people left, there's absolutely no time for rest. Rest shows a potential weakness for another tribute or tributes to sneak up on you. Rest is for losers, I can't stop. Not by myself, I can't.

When Sage and Cel were still here, we were able to sleep in shifts, not now though. As the numbers flicker closer and closer to one, I can't afford to show another tribute a weakness. Not now.

I have no idea where the careers went but I'm glad they got off my trail. That sprint was terrifying. I really thought I was dead meat but I guess not, I'm still here, aren't I? All I have to do is stay here until the feast.

Undoubtedly, there's gonna be some death at the feast so I don't plan to attend. I don't care about anything there, being a loner out here is hard enough and that's without alliances chasing after me. If I'm right, there are only two more alliances. Anne and Ciara being one and Kai and Misty being the other. With Sunna's death earlier this morning, I have a small feeling that older alliance is on shaky ground.

Hopefully, the other tributes are falling apart. Hopefully. The feast is the best chance at alliances running into each other so I just have to hope that they do. Sweat dribbles down my forehead, even in the cold weather. I quickly wipe it away with the sleeve of my hoodie. Sage's blood crusted on the dark sleeve, wearing against my skin.

I let out a sigh, picking at the dried blood with my fingernail. A willowing sharp wind picks up, howling like a wolf in my ears. My ears turned numb about three days ago and I still haven't figured out how to return feeling to them. I probably should but you know what? I'm going to get myself killed or kill and make it out sometime in the next few days so why even try and make it better?

That's selfish of me to think, isn't it? I can't afford to think like that, not necessarily at least. Of course I want to make it out of here alive but there's a small whispering part of me that's telling me I don't deserve it.

I don't, do I? Not when I didn't stop my allies' death, I just ran. I didn't save them when I could have. For that, I don't deserve to live. Their cannons booming was just another thing in my life I fucked up. Everything seems to get fucked up but whose fault is that? Mine. It's always-

"Attention tributes of the Twelfth Quarter Quell!" I hear a voice say, shattering like a mirror through my thoughts.

"What the hell?" I mumble to myself.

"Please give it up to the final seven- Abram Butcher from District Ten, Allegro June representing District Two, Anella Finch residing from Ten, Ciara Teal from District Eight, Elizabeth Oakseed originating from the forests of Seven, Kai Morgan from District Four, and Misty Weaver coming hailing from Four as well!" the booming voice of Thea Daxton shatters over the arena. "With the family interviews finished, the feast is ready to commence! Please make your way towards the giant bonfire of a cornucopia before tomorrow morning at day-switch. Which is six in the morning to be precise."

"I'm not going," I mumble.

"The small parcels floating down towards you are fireproof suits. There are more materials, supplies, and weapons in the fire itself. Good luck, and as always- may the odds be ever in your favor."

"Ever in my favor?" I laugh, "definitely not."

Quickly I glance up in the touch light darkness and spot the small metal box, not unlike the sponsor gifts. It parts through the smoky air towards me. Of course, it has the same interlocking light grey detailed flames. The package slices through the air, gliding towards me with great speed. I let out a sharp breath and reach my hands up to the sky. The parcel slides into my open arms, not any bigger than the sponsor gift I got a few days ago.

"Fireproof?" I ask, kneeling down in the ashes to twist open the halves. They break apart in my hand and out pops a thicker sweatshirt and matching pants. Neither look necessarily fire-proof. Fabric isn't fireproof, is it? It's got to be a trick, no way this is actually fireproof. Right? I know the capital can do magical things but I'm not sure if I believe this is one of them. Hopefully, none of the other tributes will catch on and trust the Capital, burning themselves up in the progress.

Am I just being paranoid? I can't be, right? I know the Capital can do amazing things so maybe? I'm not saying this isn't fireproof but I'm not sure if it is. Whatever. I'm not gonna test that theory out, hopefully, the other tributes will for me.

Allegro June, Day 8

Time: 3:27 AM (3:27)

Quadrant~ 4

"We need a plan," I say as Abram takes a small sip from his metal flask. Savoring the sweet liquid for a few moments before swallowing and turning back to face me.

"You're right." He nods and I inhale a deep towering breath.

"So we wanna wait for the others to go towards the fire before making our move?"

"That works, what about the careers?" he asks, lightly setting down the flask in the ashes.

"Let's hope we don't run into them but even if we do, there's only two of them."

"They could take us out in an instant," Abram says and I gravely nod.

"You're not wrong but we just have to hope we don't run into them."

"Yeah, what about Anne and Ciara?"

"They're strong but hopefully they're falling apart with Zach and Sunna's deaths." I say, trying to convince myself we actually have a shot. It's not like we don't, it's just there are still other pairs out there that could be a lot more deadly.

"I can't kill Anne though," Abram mutters and I cock my head slightly to the left.

"Why?"

"She's my district partner, we made a pact." He whispers into the howling wind.

"That's fine, I understand that so if we run into them, I can take Anne out if you get Ciara. That way you don't have to kill her and we knock out targets."

"That works." Abram nods and I shoot a small smile in his direction. He lets out a short cheeky laugh before his eyes shatter. His facial expression turns back to stoic and gaunt. "What about the girl from Seven?"

"Elizabeth?" I ask.

"Yeah, she's only thirteen so she'd be an easy kill." Abram nods and I let out a sigh.

"I don't think she's gonna come to the feast, being alone and all."

"That makes sense," Abram says and I swallow the lump resting in my throat. Kinnik had talked about his district partner before, how they bonded over their terrible mentor. Kinnik had liked Elizabeth and the pair had gotten along quite well, but I guess this is a game for one, isn't it?

"I'm just really curious what quadrants the other tributes are in."

"Quadrants?" Abram asks.

"Yeah." I nod, "you don't know?"

"Know what? Quadrants? You're making no sense." Abram says and I let out a small sigh.

"The arena's divided into four quadrants."

"What the heck?"

"Yeah." I nod, "Kinnik and I had explored around before, well, he, um, died." I say and Abram gives me a sadly knowing look. I bite my lower lip to keep from letting out a cry, the taste of iron slowly seeping into my mouth.

"I'm sorry," Abram replies.

"Why are you sorry?"

"About Kinnik, I'm sorry he had to die."

"Oh," I say, "he was the one who was supposed to live, not me." I blurt and Abram narrows his eyes. He looks at me, a twisted and broken gaze in his eyes.

"Ain't that the truth."

"You wanted to protect Lily?" I ask, my stomach churning at my raspy words.

"Not just protect, save." He whispers into the breeze, sending shivers down my spine.

"Exactly." I nod, slowly picking up the metal flask. I look at Abram, my eyes asking for permission to have a drink of his water. He nods kindly and I unscrew the cap. I let the sweet liquid fall onto my parched, cracked lips. I let the water sit on my tongue for a second before swallowing, trying to swallow the lump squeezing my throat.

"What was Kinnik like? I mean I knew him but I wasn't close like you two were." He asks after I slowly set the flask between us.

"You're talking like he's been dead for ten years." I let out a small chuckle. "But yeah, well." I start but my chest burns, clawing deep into my chest.

"I'm sorry, nevermind." Abram sighs, obviously seeing the pain flashing across my features.

"No, whatever, it's fine."

"It's not fine but if you don't wanna talk that's cool."

"Thank you." I nod and he returns my small wispy smile. "Do you wanna talk about Lily?" I ask him but he just stares blankly at the wall behind me.

"Not really, I was just wondering what he was like."

"That's fine." I say and Abram inhales deeply, "do you think we can actually survive the feast?"

"I hope so." I nod, "just no careers."

"Weren't you a career?" he asks and I sigh.

"Well, I was. I trained at the academy and volunteered like a normal career but after my district partner, Liz, left the pack, I did as well. I guess I wanted to ally with her instead of the rest of the careers. But she didn't want to ally with me and left me ally-less. I didn't dare ask for my spot in the careers back, that'd be too fucking hectic."

"Oh wow."

"Yeah and then I met a broken boy from Seven on an elevator ride and well, might have fallen for him."

"Elevator? That's where I met Lily too."

"Oh my." I chuckle, "that's actually really cool."


Alliances-

What's Left of The Bread Queens: Anne and Ciara

The Newest Iconic Duo: Kai and Misty

Broken Boys: Allegro and Abram

Sub-alliances-

Hospital Gang That Abram Seems to Have no Allegiance To: Abram and Ciara

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

Loners-

The Smol Lizard Breath Herself: Elizabeth


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)

Arena: 2 (D8M, D9F)

A/N: STABOOM another chapter! One more closer to the finale ahhhhh! I'm sorry no deaths this chapter but the feast will certainly bring some! I'm really excited and I'm sorry these chapter couldn't get out sooner. I've had a hard time dealing with my mental health and trying to balance a ton of subs on top of ashes but I'm currently working on it. I've been trying for so long to meet a deadline I set for myself but after talking to my twin and internet older sister I've decided to try and finish these subs and try and fix my mental health. Not grinding to finish out ashes. Yes, we're so close (after the feast is the finale so yay) but I have to at least try and better my mental health. Of course, I'll still be writing because I love ashes with my whole heart but the next few chapters might take some time. Also- the mission zero prolouge will still be coming out on the 31st as planned and subs will start then.

With that being said, thoughts on the chapter? I know it's not the best quality but it was really freaking hard and I'm glad I managed to post. So who do you think dies next? What three die and what four make it to the finale? Guess you'll have to see. And yeah, that's all I got to say- as always, have a good day/night/afternoon.

Bye for now,

Maire.