Ember Steiner- District Two female
I want to see the sun. Only one of us will see the sun again.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
Pain in my legs pain in my lungs pain in my throat pain in my back
Ember Steiner- District Two female
Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Daddy.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
It's all me this time. No weapons, no sponsors, no training. I determine if I live or die.
Ember Steiner- District Two female
My father's face in my mind. My mother's face. Shui's face. This isn't about me at all.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
Someone was screaming. I didn't know if it was me or Ember.
Ember Steiner- District Two female
What's worse than wanting nothing else in the world more than death? Not being able to die.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
We all had lives. Every one of our dead competitors had someone screaming for them to keep going.
Ember Steiner- District Two female
Not another step please I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't I can't
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
The fates held two threads stretched tight. Neither of knew when the scissors would close.
Ember Steiner- District Two female
Everyone says love bears everything. No one knows how much pain there can be.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
Mama, why did you bear me? Why did you give me a life I'm bound to cling to?
Ember Steiner- District Two female
I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die. I don't want to die.
Ember Steiner- District Two female
I screamed.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
Never never never I will not stop one more person I will not let her
Ember Steiner- District Two female
How can it hurt this much. Why can it hurt this much.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
Bone ground on bone. Bits of me snapped apart in my legs.
Ember Steiner- District Two female
It wasn't slobber it was blood.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
I don't need a reason to want to stay alive.
Ember Steiner- District Two
I love my father. I love my mother. I love Shui.
Elara Angelo- District Twelve female
The Reaper caught me as I fell.
Ember Steiner- District Two female
Titian was walking toward me. I ran from him. I ran until they threw me to the ground. I fought until I couldn't move. It was a blessing to be still.
2nd place: Elara Angelo- died
I didn't expect Elara to be such an effective red herring. A lot of people wanted her to win and I will keep that in mind for future resurrection stories. Elara DOES deserve a win. There are just a lot more deserving winners than there are stories.
Victor: Ember Steiner
I was kind of rooting for Ember in Child's Play and it was unfortunate she couldn't get her full due because it was a voting Games. Her story improved her chances further in future attempts because each one added to Crag's loss. All Tributes DO have families but Crag is visible in every story and thus got more attention. Once I decided I wanted Ember to win I had the idea for this story and decided I'd make her earn it like no one ever has before. Not everyone might have been rooting for her but that's one thing we can agree on. Ember has at last bought with her blood a happy ending for herself and her father. Ember and her family have become part of the mythos of this universe and it's time she finally completed her story. And this will remove her from future Games where my favoritism might have colored other Tributes' chances.
There will be more than the normal amount of pre-Games chapters in this story. Ember has a lot to deal with from previous Games with her father and this is one recovery that won't be the softened ideal version I usually give to Victors.