Chapter 32:
Roxanne Nells, District Two, Age 18
Victor of the 107th Hunger Games
Roxanne works diligently, tying strong knots together into a net that she knows won't break under the weight. Dusk is falling quickly, and she doesn't want to still be working on this when the statues come to life. But she can't help the nerves that are coursing through her. There's only one other career left. It had been so easy to trap the others. But Roxanne had been dreading the day they have to trap Gustav, her District partner and someone she's known for years.
"Are you okay?" Luana asks gently, and Roxanne pauses from her work to smile up at her. For a brief moment, she forgets that she's in the arena, feeling so comfortable with the girl sitting with her and working on the other end of the net. A girl who reminded her so much of her friend back home but is so much better.
Roxanne can feel her cheeks heating up and quickly turns back to her work, trying to force herself from thinking about the budding feelings inside of her. She can't, not when winning means Luana will die. She knows it must happen, but she doesn't want to make it even harder for herself. "Just getting a little worried about it getting close to sunset."
"Well stop that. If you keep worrying, you'll have wrinkles before you even leave the arena," Luana counters, voice full of humor and Roxanne laughs lightly at this, but stops when she looks up and sees Luana's face. The girl didn't even seem to question that Roxanne would be the one to win and as much as Roxanne doesn't want these feelings, that thought slowly crushes her heart. "Oh don't give me that look. We both know only one of us is getting out and it's going to be you."
"I know," Roxanne sighs as she turns back to the knot in her hands, momentarily losing her motivation to keep going. "I just wish it wasn't that way." She looks back at Luana, the girl still looking beautiful despite them going on six days in the arena. The dirt just makes her look tougher and honestly, Roxanne loves it. "You've become my friend and it's going to fucking hurt to lose you."
Luana reaches over to grab Roxanne's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze, and Roxanne is thankful for the near darkness to cover up her flushing face. "I know but that's a problem for later."
The anthem starts to play and Roxanne turns up to the sky, "Shit," she mutters as she watches the face of the boy from Eight appear. "We were supposed to be done by now."
Roxanne turns back to Luana, almost ready to just wait for tomorrow to finish this trap instead of facing the risk of the statues coming to life and attacking them. The anthem stops and is replaced by the sound of a gong, signifying the start of another night of terror. Luana's face almost mirrors the fear in Roxanne and she tries to stay calm for her ally. "It's okay, we'll get Gustav tomorrow."
"No, you won't," a voice says from the darkness behind Luana, a voice that Roxanne recognizes and sends a chill down her spine.
"No!" She shouts as she tries to pull out her sword, getting caught in the net around her. But Gustav is too quick as he steps out of the jungle, sliding a knife across Luana's throat before Roxanne could ever hope to stop him. Blood pours out of the wound as he drops Luana to the ground.
Roxanne jumps to her feet, eyes starting to blur as she swings her sword out at Gustav. His face shows surprise at her action and he tries to throw up a hand to block her sword, only causing her to slice of some of his fingers before the sword reaches his neck. The blade doesn't go fully through and gets stuck for a moment, but Roxanne rips out the sword and swings again and again, even as he falls to the ground.
Boom.
The cannon stops Roxanne from continuing to swing her sword in anger and she stares down at Gustav, neck almost completely severed. She drops her bloody sword to the ground and falls to her knees, turning to look at Luana. She presses bloody hands against her throat in a desperate attempt to keep her friend alive. "No, Luana, don't you dare die on me!"
But she gets no response from Luana and the girl's eyes are staring up at her as she gasps from the wound.
Boom.
"No," Roxanne whispers and moves her hands to clutch the jacket Luana wears. She starts shaking the girl as tears start blurring her vision. "Damn it, no! You're not supposed to leave me yet."
Roxanne falls over, head resting against Luana's shoulder as her body starts to shake with loud sobs. She doesn't care who might be around to hear. Let them come. She'll destroy them like she did Gustav.
She picks her head up at the thought of her District partner, anger coursing through her as she stares at his body. "You did this," she shouts as she punches his chest. "I hate you!"
A rumble in the distance makes her stop yelling and sobbing, and she stares into the woods. She will not die at the hands of some mutt created by the Gamemakers. She will not die at the hands of some tribute in this arena. She will win these games and die at a nice old age, back in District Two.
But I will be alone and not with Luana.
Roxanne pushes the thought away as she stands up, anger and determination coursing through her. She picks up her bloody sword, staring down at Gustav's body for a moment before spitting on him. "Fuck you, Gustav. You were never going to be the victor. I am."
Roxanne grabs her bag along with Luana's, but leaves the rope behind. She has no more need for it to make traps, not when she's the last career remaining. But something stops her from leaving the bloody spot behind. Well, someone.
Even though she knows she shouldn't, her eyes turn towards Luana's body. If she ignores the bloody slit open neck, Roxanne can almost pretend that Luana is just staring up at the stars.
But she isn't. Luana is dead and now Roxanne must finish this on her own. She stubbornly wipes away a tear falling down her cheek, knowing she's probably covering her face in blood but just not caring. She takes a deep breath, willing herself to forget her feelings and leave them behind with Luana's body.
Roxanne finally turns away and walks straight into the forest, not turning back, not even when she can hear the wind of a hovercraft appearing to take their bodies away. She can't look back because if she does, she's not sure if she will be able to stay strong and not sob over Luana's body. Instead, she trudges through the forest, determined to find the five remaining tributes so she can leave this place and the memories behind.
I'm going to win, Luana. I won't let you have died for nothing.
Another week, another Memoirs! This week, Roxanne Nells! Should be a fun little treat for those that read my FQQ stories since we heard this story then, but now get to see exactly what went down. If you haven't read them, well, still fun to have an unconventional career lol.
Next week, one of the three victors who has been a mentor in all five of my SYOTs!