Day 9:

Zilla Odbody, 16
District 6 Female

When Zilla woke up on the ninth day of the 9th Hunger Games, she felt something.

A feeling she couldn't quite explain.

But it was there. She'd be a fool to deny its existence or state anything otherwise. And it was strange because she couldn't at all describe it. Maybe she was too exhausted or just currently lacked the words. She assumed it had to do with the fact that she was now one of seven tributes left. She was very close to victory but realistically, still had ways to go.

So maybe that's what the feeling was. Not so much of a feeling as it was knowing. Just knowing the obvious. Even if the obvious didn't quite hang in the air. It was a winner-take-all situation and why would Zilla want that to be her?

That meant getting rid of Red. Eventually.

Not to say that he had outlived his usefulness or whatever. She liked having Red around. He didn't judge her, didn't talk down to her, didn't treat her like she was something different just because she didn't think the same way he did. If she had to go through the arena alone, that probably wouldn't have scared her at all. But with Red...

There would be no hard feelings once she had to walk away, right? He'd understand. It was either that, or she kill him.

Zilla didn't know if she could kill someone.

She didn't have the best weapons to make a quick, fatal injury. And of course she'd be leaving herself unprotected for any potential defence Red put up. So Zilla put that plan on the backburner. That didn't mean it wasn't an option.

If she did kill someone, how guilty would it feel?

If she felt nothing, was she truly a monster?

Red gave her a little nudge. "Hey. You doing alright?"
"Yes. I'm fine. Just thinking."
"About what?"

Zilla decided not to answer that.

"About home?" Red asked her. "Like...your mom and your sister?"
"Yes." Sure. Let him assume that. It was better than to tell the truth.

"Well I miss my parents and siblings. I can't wait to get back to them. I hope I get back to them." Red sighed. "I'm really nervous. What happens now?"

That was a very good question. Zilla had done her best to keep track of everyone left so far. Well, there was her and Red. The boy from 11 and the girl from 7. Someone from 8 and 12 were left, she couldn't quite remember which tribute but she was sure both districts were still in the game. And...someone else. Either from 1 or 2. Darn, who was it again...

The feeling came back again. And Zilla wondered just how stiff her competition was. Obviously the tributes were all taking one another out. There wasn't really any other fatal forces in the arena and you'd just have to be plain stupid to fall off the edge. Of course, starvation and thirst was an option and her and Red's supplies were dwindling, but that didn't feel as likely.

No. The Capitol wanted blood. Blood they would receive.

One way or another, blood would be spilled.

"I think we're out of food." Red's voice snapped her from her thoughts. He handed her the last dried tuna pack they had. "That's it."
"Really?" Zilla asked him. "I didn't think we would run out so quickly. How about water?"
"Um, we still have a bit of that left."

It would be real nice of the sponsors for a flurry of gifts to come piling on top of them, but Zilla had a feeling that they were at the end of the rope. If the other tributes didn't get to them first, nature would take its course.

To Zilla, it was the sign of a fast approaching end. And she needed to be ready for it.

"Red. I think we need to start looking for other tributes."
Red laughed nervously. "Do we have to?"
"I think that's what they want out of us."

Red didn't argue. Instead they split the tuna pack between the two of them, packed up, and were soon on their way. Zilla walked ahead of Red, carrying a spear with her. And as if right on cue, the dark clouds came rolling in. Clearly, the Gamemakers wanted to give them a little push.

It didn't surprise Zilla to see the silhouettes. Red gasped. She didn't react at all. In a way, she had a feeling it would be coming soon. The forms of the boy from 11 and the girl from 7, Weller and Darra if she remembered correctly. Not exactly the tribute she wanted to run into today, but did she have a choice?

That's when Weller came slamming into her. And Darra swung an axe around her head as she practically jumped at Red. Zilla eyed her ally, but she couldn't see what was happening to him. Because she was sliding across the stone. The clouds had caught with her and the rain fell, making an even more dangerous surface. The spear slipped from her fingers and disappeared into the sky.

Zilla was suddenly falling.

Weller Worthen, 18
District 11 Male

He watched as Zilla's hand grabbed onto a small bit of rock that pointed out, her fingers clawing desperately in attempt to save her own life.

Weller was tempted to push her off.

He leaned forward and grabbed Zilla's wrist. One simple flick from his hand, and there would be one less tribute for him to deal with. She'd be dead and no doubt that Darra could take on Red. Then, they'd be down by two and-

Suddenly, Zilla's nails were digging into his skin. Weller winced as she pulled her hand off his, then grabbed the rock again. He pulled out his shiv, raised it up over his head, and prepared for what could be a fatal blow-

Then something smacked him in the back of the head. The sharp pain made Weller lose focus and he dropped his shiv. Red's elbow came flying forward to punch Darra in the face. She ducked and tackled the younger boy's legs, sending them both crashing to the ground.

Zilla was now back on the surface, fumbling through her bag until she pulled out some brass knuckles. She slipped them on. Those weren't going to be any match against a shiv and the throwing knives Weller had on him. But seeing the absolute lack of emotion on Zilla's face made him hesitate a little. Was she not afraid of him?

Darra pinned Red against the ground, one hand clamped tightly on his throat. The gasping noises he made were scary. Darra's other hand had her axe perfectly positioned, ready for a swift chop that would no doubt end in a bloody, gory mess.

It was like a light switch flipped on.

One minute, Zilla was staring Weller down with a blank expression as cold as ice.

Then her eyes widened and her jaw dropped open.

"RED!"

Zilla shoved Weller to the side, just as Darra sliced into Red's stomach. She yanked the axe back out, pulling bits of flesh and drops of blood with her. Red's hands were torn between grabbing his slightly bruised throat or clutching at his mangled insides. Darra swung the axe back down a second time, messily chopping through Red's fingers and burying the blade in his abdomen. Red gurgled and moaned, his eyes becoming vacant.

Darra pulled the axe back out of the corpse again, until it suddenly fell from her grip, the handle landing on her foot. Zilla punched Darra in the back of the head, sending the girl from 7 to the ground. Zilla jumped on top of her and continued to strike, screaming as she did.

Darra shrieked in between each punch to the face. "Weller! WELLER! HELP! HELP ME PLEASE!"

Oh shit.

Weller lunged forward and grabbed Zilla by the back of her neck, pulling her off hi bleeding ally. Zilla swung her fists blindly at him, her hair flying around in her face with bits of blood mixed in it. Her free hand felt like a light nick and Weller turned his head sharply to avoid the brass knuckles, just in time to see Zilla's arm fly past him.

He didn't let go of her. Instead, he rammed the shiv into her chest as hard as he could.

Zilla stopped fighting back. She stared numbly down at the bloody shiv, as if all emotion had been drained away as quickly as it had come. Then she slumped over and slammed hard against the ground. Weller bent down, wrestling to pull the shiv out of her, a stream of blood leaking out as he did.

He stabbed her in the head again, for good measure.

The two cannons fired.

Weller glanced back down at Darra, stumbling to pull herself onto her arms and knees. But her hands gave out underneath her and she was too weak to get back up. No doubt Zilla had broken something. Darra had no time to recover. No chance to regain her strength.

Gently, Weller took Darra's hand and carefully pulled her into his lap. Carrying her the same way he had carried Charles a week ago. He didn't really want to cry, but the tears were spilling now and he couldn't stop them. The ever strong and resilient Weller Worthen, reduced to a blubbery mess.

"Darra. I am so so sorry..."
"N-no..." Darra's voice wavered. "I'm sorry. Jonah..."
"Who?"

"Jonah," Darra whispered. "I...if he saw...I was gonna win...for him, cause...can't let them take me too..." She coughed, then curled up. Just a few minutes ago, Darra had been standing as strong and defiant and stubborn as usual, but now...

"Fucking...I failed my family...Weller, I failed them..."

Weller sniffed as Darra grabbed at his clothes, pulling him so close that their foreheads smacked together. Darra sobbed in pain. And Weller realized what she wanted him to do. So he silently reached for his shiv. Darra watched him, but didn't say a word.

He felt stiff. Robotic. Like a soldier with no face and no name. Soldiers always follow their orders.

When the third cannon fired, Weller finally stood up. He surveyed the bodies around him. He then looked down at the bloody shiv in his hands. And he threw it. he threw it as hard as he could, watching it sail over the edge of the arena, until it was little more than a single speck in the sunset. Then it was gone.

Weller was alone.

7th place: Red Belmont, District 10. Stomach ripped open by Darra.

Red is a really interesting case. I originally planned for him to just be another Bloodbath, but then I realized he had quite some potential to go really far. Then came his alliance with Zilla and honestly, I absolutely loved their dynamic. Red was just so wholesome and positive and optimistic and he really brought out the best in his ally. I consider him one of the few angels left in this arena and sadly, he flies off into the afterlife. Thank you so much for him, districtfours!

6th place: Zilla Odbody, District 6. Stabbed in the chest and head by Weller.

Man, what a tribute. Zilla was just so much fun to write for and honestly, I considered her as a potential Victor. Then I considered her as a runner-up, but decided against that because that would be cruel to her submitter. Then my plans changed some more and I decided for her story to conclude her. A girl who started out feeling nothing experiences a rainbow of emotions at the end of her life when she avenges someone she never expected to get so close to. Thank you so much for her, Shiro!

5th place: Darra Delaney, District 7. Put out of misery by Weller.

Darra, Darra, Darra. For the longest time during the pre-Games, she was my Victor. Up until she wasn't. Darra had such an arc as a dominant force in the Games, out to win what her brother couldn't and give some good old snark while she was at it. But she falls short. Just short of the end. And her death actually hurt to write. I'll miss her and the impact she had on this story. If you're reading this, recklessinparadise, thank you so much for her.

FINAL FOUR: Elise Starbright, Twill Chintz, Weller Worthen, Clair Ivory

Congrats to the four tributes who made it to the finale! But we're nowhere near the end quite yet.

I have decided that the finale will be going up SATURDAY MARCH 6TH, TIME TBD. I know it's really far away, and honestly, it's me putting things off a little lol. Writing this finale is gonna be tough and I don't want to rush it. I want it to be something everyone is going to enjoy.

Sponsoring for TMH is now closed. Thanks to everyone who sent in a gift.

For the submitters of the Final 4, the check-in from last chapter still stands. If you have yet to submit yours, please do so. If you've sent yours in last chapter, thanks for the participation and you don't have to do it again.

I will see you all in the next chapter,

-Vr