Shine
Chapter 30
Day Six
A/N: Thirty chapters already… can you believe it? Neither can I. Anyway, we're almost done. This will be a short day. Time for our warnings…
Warning: This chapter contains descriptions of violence and death. I do not own the idea of brutally slaughtering children in an Arena competition (also known as the Hunger Games), that belongs to Suzanne Collins. Now, without further ado…
Giselle Serpentine POV
I wake up in the morning, eat some more food, and try to push away the ghosts troubling me. I keep walking in the same direction I've been walking for the past few days, hoping to finally find my targets. By my count, I'm the only non-allied Tribute left. After an hour, my walking finally pays off as I come across three targets. Three boys sitting around a fire. One of them spots me, and the fight is on.
Kayne Lytch POV
Can we have a significant period of time without almost being killed? Who am I kidding, this is the Hunger Games. I spot the career first. The girl from Two, the one who probably killed the rest of her allies.
"Career!" I shout as a warning to the other boys, reaching for my bow and flattening myself to the ground in case she has a ranged weapon. No, she has a sword and that seems to be it. Will, who knows what's in that big backpack. I grab my bow and nock an arrow. Emery grabs his sword and charges, blocking my shot. Stupid Emery.
Emery Colt POV
At Kayne's warning, I look behind me. The girl from Two. I grab my sword and rush forward to meet her. Our swords clash in mid-air. I strike. She parries. She strikes. I parry. I stab. She forces the sword up. She strikes, I step back. She strikes, I parry. She strikes, I parry. Now I'm on the defensive. I manage to strike again. She parries. She's good. Probably better than me. I hear a shout from behind me.
"Emery! You're in the way!" I turn to look at the voice. Crap. I manage to parry her strike, though just barely. She forces me back towards the fire. Kayne has a point, I'm in his way. I don't know if I can manage to win or not against her. So I step to the side to give Kayne a clean shot. I miscalculate and the girl's sword slashes across my chest. I stumble from the pain and feel another pain across my throat.
Giselle Serpentine POV
One down, two to go, I think as the boy's cannon fires. I push his body down to look for – and feel a stabbing pain in my chest. I look down in shock, to see an arrow sticking out of my heart. I fall back onto the ground.
Tontu Heinburg –18- -D11- POV
The girl's cannon goes off. Emery is dead. I can't believe it. Maybe if I had just been a little faster – I had been trying to sneak around and spear the girl from the side. Oh well. No use wondering about what-ifs. I walk over to Emery's body and close his eyes, placing his hands over his chest before the hovercraft comes.
"I'm sorry, Mia," Kayne says to the air. "We couldn't protect him. I'm so sorry. But – if I, or Tontu, if we win, we'll… we'll make sure you're alright, and he's remembered. I'm so sorry." I walk over to Kayne and pat him on the back.
Then I write, It's not your fault, Kayne. It's not mine, either. We did our best. But I do feel bad for him. He deserved better.
"We all do," Kayne says.
Yes, I say. Then a bugle plays. A bugle.
"Attention, Tributes!" Caesar's voice booms from the sky. "Five Tributes now remain, divided into two alliances. This has been a wonderful Games so far. Tomorrow, there will be a feast at the Cornucopia. Attendance is not optional. Take today to prepare and rest, for tomorrow, four of you will meet your fate. May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor!" I almost laugh at his affected accent wishing us good luck in a deathmatch organized by the Capitol.
Kayne and I tidy up our stuff and prepare for travel for the rest of the day, then eat, drink, and both sleep, trying to get the most sleep possible. After all, the Capitol wants us to fight tomorrow, so no one will attack us in our sleep. We hope.
Vallory 'Val' Stensland –16- -D7- POV
Today was the definition of boring up until the Capitol's announcement. After that, we got all of the weapons and food packed up, Serena checked on my cut, now almost just a scar, again, and Andrew made sure his leg brace was in full functioning. At the end of the night, we watch the sky for the two Tributes who died.
"Finally. The last career," I say.
Serena nods. "Good riddance."
"And the boy from Five," Andrew comments. "Wait, Serena, that's your District."
"That's sad," Serena says. "He was a good kid. He was nice and he had that beautiful voice. Do you remember?" I and Andrew both nod, remembering the beautiful singing during the interviews.
"Yeah," I say. "It is sad." Andrew nods.
Serena Holden –16- -D5- POV
Emery is gone. I didn't really know him, but he seemed nice enough. It is sad. He could have been a good friend, had circumstances been different. But now he's gone. Oh well. One less obstacle for me. I curl up on the floor of the cabin with Andrew again for the last time, one way or another.
Andrew Spayler –16- -D6- POV
As I fall asleep with Serena, I wonder what tomorrow will hold. Certainly only one of us will be alive by then. But who will it be? And can I let it be me?
Giselle: She was a fun character, but I don't feel bad that she's dead. She had plenty of regrets, yes, but she also would have been a terrible Victor because she had so many regrets that she was essentially crazy. She was fun, especially with Ares, but in the end, she had to die. RIP Giselle.
Emery: Now Emery on the other hand… he was fun, and I feel bad for him. He had so much to live for (not as much as some, but still a lot), and it was sad to see him die. Sadly, as the one to use a melee weapon and take on Giselle… will, she's a career who survived longer than anyone else for a reason. He was a great character and will be missed. RIP Emery. (Also, if you have a piano, try playing the notes of Clear's song. Go down, not up for the D. If you've seen the movies, you might know what it is.)
A/N: This was short and sad, with our beloved Emery gone. Tomorrow will be the finale, and only one Tribute out of five will make it out alive. Place your bets now, people. You have a twenty percent chance of being right, and the betting in the Capitol is going wild. :) See you guys soon in the finale. Once again, a friendly reminder to stay safe, stay home, read Shine, and not get COVID-19. :) See you soon. – JStar14H
