Epilogue ending 2 (aka the one that I wanted to do but doesn't really make sense) (Alternate ending)

1 week after arriving back in District 8

Jia Yang 15 District 8

"Move on," is what they say. That's what everyone said. But how can one move on? After everything I saw how can I move on?! I thought seeing my parents again would help… it didn't, they almost as naïve as I was before I left here. It's the faces you see, they keep flashing before my eyes, their smiles, their cries, their anger. Ryker stood in front of Kirin for me, he gave me the last bit of hope I needed, Wrenna gave up her endless time loops so that I could keep going. I don't even need to mention what Pat did but all I can think of were his last words and how he was not ready to die, and he died for me. I can never let that go… it's not right! Even Emmy, I have thought more about her since getting back. Although I can never forgive what she did to Wrenna, she was only a girl, a girl the same age as me and fighting for survival like everyone else. She had a family just like me, a sister named Moon… I knew that much. And I took her from them in an act of vengeance, I bet her loved ones feel sick with even the mention of my name. Kirin was the real one to blame, he manipulated her and so he's the only death I don't feel sad for even though I caused it…

It's funny how quickly the people in my district I called "friends" abandoned me so quickly. They're not really interested in your struggles. They just want the old Jia back, the Jia they were friends with before she was reaped but she's gone and she's never coming back. So whoever I am now is no good to them I guess.

I want to be alone anyway, it's the only way I can cope. Near my house is the only bit of nature allowed to exist in District 8. It is a lake, surrounded by greenery, I have been going there for the past couple of days to be by myself because no one else can seem to understand what I've been through even if they try. I know it's not their fault. Also the lake is away from all the big crowds of the district and crowds massively stress me out now, something that didn't used to happen to me before the games. The other thing that stresses me out now is small, tight spaces. I understand that one. After spending all those days underground in that dark maze, feeling like there was no hope that I would ever get out at times. So at the moment I spend as much time outside as I can, something my parents are also struggling to understand.

After crossing a bridge, I perch myself on the bank of the lake against the soft breezy grass. As I look around the sun beaten water I see paths that go around the lake. Insects are ignited by the sunshine and are darting between people causing my attention to turn to the people. In particular, the few couples holding hands, they have everything I don't. They have what was taken from me so quickly. Nobody could ever love me like Pat did again I know that as a fact. Yes, I'm thinking about him again, I managed to go all of 5 minutes without doing so but it's hard. How could I not think about him? How could he not be with me for the rest of my life? Although I didn't know it at the time, those days spent on the train and in the training rooms with him were some of the best of my life. Even protecting and looking out for each other in the arena. I can't forget, I can't move on especially after his last words to me.

I reach into my pocket and feel a collection of metal objects inside, in my palm I find the pieces of the key that Pat gave to me before he died and that Wrenna smashed not long after. I snuck the pieces back home with me as some kind of remembrance of him I guess. His face flashes before my eyes again after staring at the pieces, if only I could have been quicker and taken him to day 12. Then we could have decided properly who lived and who died!

Finally, I feel the tears flooding down my face. I can't stop them, they just keep coming but I am at last able to cry over him again… the first time I have done so since his death…the tears are blocking out my eyes, I can't really see clearly out into the lake anymore, only the light from the sun glistening off my tears.

It is only when I wipe away the tears from my eyes I have the biggest eureka moment of my entire life staring up at me from the palm of my hand! At the broken pieces of the key!

Without a moment's hesitation I shoot off across the bridge and back towards the town, there is a locksmith that used to do favours for my parents sometimes! Pat saved my life so the least I could do is save his in return!

Sprinting up the street towards his shop some people try to get in my way.

"Hey it's her! The victor!"

"Can I have your autograph?"

"No time right now sorry!" I respond!

I barge into the locksmith's shop and dump the pieces of the key on his desk!

"Jia? What are you playing at?" The man questions, his confusion peering down over his glasses.

"I need you to fix this! Whatever price you want I don't care!" I demand, panting heavily!

He inspects the remains of the key then the fear and realization dawn on his face.

"I know what this is!" He exclaims, pushing the pieces back across the desk.

"Please can you help me? My parents shop has brought you so many customers over the years," I beg.

His eyes go back down to the pieces of the key then to me, he has some empathy in his eyes for what I've been through and it must be outweighing his logical instincts.

"Fine… but one rule and this is important, this stays between us understand? No one else can know."

"Agreed," I blurt, offering out my hand.

He hesitantly shakes it.

5 months later

Fixing that key proved to be a much harder task than he had initially thought but after 5 months he finally put the last fractured piece of the key in place. Colour is returned in replace of the dull grey colour… it worked! I have a time machine in my hands!

"Now, this cog here seems to control the number on the front," he explains.

"What it's purpose is… I don't wanna know."

"No you don't," I say assuredly.

After thanking him and paying the kind man, I leave his shop with the key tucked in my pocket. Immediately I head to my school even though it's now the evening, I have this theory you see, a theory that has to be right. The doors in the arena were just a red herring, the key is the true time machine and the mechanism is turning it in a lock. So in practice it should work on any door!

I'm now stood outside the main door to my school with the darkness rapidly encroaching around me… but I don't care. What I'm about to do is insane and I don't even know if it's gonna work! With a deep breath I turn the cog to set the numbers right, a little over 6 months before now and at 12 noon. Then with a gulp I slowly push the key into the door and turn… please work, please, please, please!

There is a brief moment where nothing happens and I think that my theory was wrong but then a flash of light!

I find myself in my school hall! It's sunny outside and students are walking about everywhere just leaving class to go on lunch break it seems! It… worked!

I don't have time to be surprised or speechless. All the other times it worked like a yo-yo and you were brought back to when you came from after not long at all! Pat! I need to find Pat! He's here! I know it!

I rush through the corridors pushing past students… where is he!

"Jia!" A voice cries out.

It's my friend Emma.

"It's the reaping's in two days! How do you feel?" She asks.

"Not now!" I respond, turning my head only briefly to see her and continuing on my way!

So this is the right day, this is the day I first met him!

Then it clicks! I know where he is!

I take a sharp right past the library, and then…I spot his curly hair. I freeze in an extremely vivid, shocked excitement! He is holding his books against his chest nervously! I almost yell his name at the top of my lungs but then I remember that would look weird because he doesn't even know me yet!

Instead I practically crash into him, causing him to almost drop his books as I take him by his hand. I can feel his hands trembling but I know it's gonna be ok…

Before we know it a flash of light has already taken us back to where I left… 6 months in the future…

We land with a roll across the ground bursting outside the front door, in the evening… just when I left…

Together we slowly recover to our feet. When he is finished dusting himself off he raises his head to face me and… there he is…his scared dark brown eyes are exactly the same. Is this really happening? I saved him!

His eyes turn to confusion as he notices his surroundings and how it's suddenly dark. He's still holding his books in his arms.

"What's going on?" He stutters, turning back to me.

"Who are you?" He asks.

"I guess I have some explaining to do…" I laugh.

Well there you have it! Which ending did you prefer? There is no right or wrong answer and whichever one you prefer can be the true one for you I guess. I wanted this one to be an option because I wanted a happy ending for once especially with so much sadness going on in the world. I'm a bit sad this is over now but I hope you've enjoyed this crazy ride for those that are still reading! A few of you definitely carried this story and I wouldn't have finished it without you (you know who you are). Thank you for reading – Jay.

Here are some questions to top it off

Who's was favourite character?

What was the death?

What was the biggest shock moment?