Porsche Romeo, District Six female (17)
When the gong sounded, I ran. More accurately, I limped. The lucky thing about limping, though- no one came after me. Why would you go after the gimp when you could attack someone with an actual chance at winning? So I made it to the plants without harassment and in a second the Cornucopia was lost to sight.
THUMP!
I rolled over onto my back, fists raised for a last stand at whoever had attacked me. I found myself face-to-face with the weird boy from Seven, who was looking at me like I was the one who'd tried to kill him. Before he could try again I scrambled to my feet and started hobbling away. It took him a minute longer to get up but once he did he went in the same direction. When he reached me he seemed to instinctively slow a little to match my pace. My only thought was that he was looking for any connection, even a random crippled girl.
"So, guess we're allies?"
Morty Sonym, District Twelve male (17)
Bess was on the other side of the Cornucopia to me. Since I was tucked in behind it, I ran around grabbing up supplies that hopefully she could use after I was gone. I knew I wasn't going to win this but Bess had a chance.
I wasn't even sure what she'd need in an Arena like this one. It was already warm and there was plenty of food, judging by all the fruit I could see on the trees. Water, probably- I could see running water through one of the glass doors but I didn't know how clean it was. I was reaching for a bottle of iodine pills when something yanked me back.
I'd always thought it would be a good death if I couldn't even see it coming. Just to be here one second and gone the next. Some people were scared of that but I knew there were far worse deaths. I didn't even know who'd grabbed me from behind. I just felt the tug on my shirt collar and then felt the arms around my neck. It didn't even hurt. It just felt like a pop.
Samantha Von Hindenburg, District Twelve female (13)
In the little shed between all the platforms there were all sorts of items. Surely I'd be able to continue my work with all that equipment. The girl kept telling me the others would try to kill me, but that was preposterous. What kind of ridiculous world would really have a "Hunger Games"? And what kind of ridiculous people would go along with it? Revolutions had started over far less than that.
I looked over the shed and started picking out anything that had any scientific use. Someone screamed behind me, which seemed excessive.
It's not excessive! That was Soleil and she screamed because a throwing star just flew by her head!
Why would that happen?
BECAUSE NAILAH THREW IT! GET OUT O-
My ears were ringing. The sky was shimmering above me. Had I fixed it? I fixed my machine? Or maybe a past version of me did and was just now catching up? That must be it. I was sliding out of this world, my body growing light around me as I no doubt slipped back into the timestream. I was going back home. At last I was going home.
Allure Beldam, District One female (18)
I never felt more beautiful than when I held a bow. As much as I liked to talk about appearances, sometimes form follows function. When I held my bow I wasn't just beautiful, I was deadly. Call me belladonna...
Who was it? Who was I going to wipe off this earth? The boy from Eight ran across my line of sight and I let him run off into the trees. He wasn't anything special. Someone else caught my eye. It's a wonderful thing to attract the attention of one so discerning as me. I didn't think Kjole would see it the same way, though.
Kjole Schmiecel, District Eight female (16)
It was like slow-motion watching Allure draw back her arrow. I could run a ball across the field without breaking a sweat, dodging in-between anyone trying to steal it, but I couldn't outrun an arrow. I saw her eyes fall on me and knew what was about to happen. I'd heard Allure talk about beautiful people and what she wanted to do with them. I hadn't really thought she'd count me among them. I guess I should have been flattered.
It wasn't fair. I could see the sword farther into the Cornucopia. I could see it was put there just for me. And it didn't even matter that I'd run in for it. Allure would have come for me either way. I was fast, I was strong, and I hadn't gotten a chance just because some stuck-up rich girl thought I was pretty.
Gigi Sampson, District Five female (16)
I wasn't a single step off the platform before Ceto came for me. I tried to throw her off by ducking behind the Cornucopia, hoping irrationally that she'd be distracted and go after Connor instead. What a horrible thing to hope, that a murderer would target someone else. But I didn't have to feel guilty about it, since she wasn't fooled. I came out around the other side of the Cornucopia, having passed by Anthony about to break Morty's neck, and scooped a dagger off the ground as Ceto gained on me. I turned around and waved it at her desperately. She smirked and rushed at me.
It was like trying to punch a tiger. Ceto effortlessly caught my arm and twisted it until I dropped the dagger and whimpered in pain. She picked up the knife and brought it up above my head. Her expression, triumphantly exultant, shifted for an instant and then I screamed as she fell heavily onto me.
I'm dead I'm dead she killed me I'm dead, I thought. My body heaved and I thought I was rising to heaven until I saw Dionysus had grabbed my arm and hauled me upright. He took off into the vegetation dragging me behind him.
Ceto Preston, District Four female (18)
He stabbed me in the back. Dionysus stabbed me in the back, I only fully realized as I saw him running away hauling Gigi with him, my blood still dripping from his spear. And I couldn't stand, and I couldn't breathe, and something inside me was all cut up. As I lay bleeding to death I wondered if this was how Uncle Gill felt as he died. Alone. Afraid. Thinking of people he'd never see again. Regretting all he never finished in life. Some people don't live like this. Some people have happy lives and don't have anyone to avenge or to die over. What a nice life that must be.
Bess Carver, District Ten female (17)
I didn't see Morty anywhere. I'd caught a single glimpse of him during the end of the countdown and then he was gone. He must have been behind the Cornucopia somewhere. I hoped he was able to get some supplies, or at least that he was trying to get away and wasn't just standing there and letting someone kill him. He thought his life wasn't worth anything but I knew better.
Well find each other, I told myself. And he'll have lots of supplies. We'll go out into one of those others rooms and find one with enough bushes and things that we can hide. By the time the Careers find us a few of them will have gotten killed in fights. Or maybe they'll even break up before they find us. We can get through this together.
I never even knew Nailah's throwing star was coming at the back of my head.
RJ Macready, District Six male (16)
It was stupid of me to be so angry. I should have been focused on survival but I couldn't help it. I was angry at the Gamemakers and angry at the Careers. I swept my gaze over the Bloodbath, trying to find Kjole and Oberon. I saw Pell run by, narrowly evading Nero's sweeping arms, and my mouth curled in contempt that someone his size had just tried to kill a little boy. He slipped into the woods and I couldn't help but smile to myself.
When I saw Kjole she wasn't looking back at me. She was standing tall and staring into the center of the Cornucopia with a mournful and somewhat resigned expression. I didn't understand why until the arrow went through her skull. My legs tensed to run to her aid but I already knew it was too late. Allure had cut her down without a shred of either fairness or regret. She just saw something she could kill and she did. I turned and ran, catching sight of Oberon just before the plants swallowed him up.
Oberon was fast. It wasn't until he lost his breath and finally slowed to a quick jog that I caught up to him.
"Hey," I said, trying to be loud enough to get his attention but not loud enough that the Careers would hear.
Oberon whirled around, his eyes darting for a branch to defend himself with. He saw it was me and sagged in relief.
"Where's Kjole?" he asked.
"She's gone," I said heavily.
"What? She was right behind me." Oberon craned his neck in case I might be in the way.
"She's gone."
Desiree Redwood, District Seven female (17)
I didn't dare go far into the Bloodbath. I scooped up a canteen and looked around for some water purification tablets. When I didn't see any in a few seconds I stopped trying. I didn't have time to keep looking.
The paths around the Cornucopia led toward several doors in the glass walls that made up the greenhouse of the Arena. Through one I could see a ton of flowers all nicely arranged and surrounding a sunken pool of water. The water was tempting but I didn't see many places to hide. Through the door half-hidden behind the Cornucopia I saw a thicker jungle-looking room with plenty of cover, but it was far enough away that I was afraid to risk it. I turned around and ran back out of the ring of platforms toward a path whose ending I couldn't see.
Screams filled the air as I fled, along with the incongruously lovely sound of a single tropical songbird. I never would have heard it if I hadn't been in the Games. If I hadn't been in the Hunger Games, I never would have known what sound that unseen bird made. What a strange thing to think about at a time like this.
The greenery had almost swallowed me up when I turned my head back to see if anyone was chasing me. Far behind me, still standing in the Cornucopia, Allure was looking at me. Her arrow was already halfway to my face.
Deaths are a little out of order since I did the POVs in the most dramatic order but some deaths would go faster than others. If anyone wants specific slots I can rearrange the order pretty easily.
24th place: Samantha Von Hindenburg (and Edward Von Hindenburg)- clubbed by Anthony with a shovel
This wasn't because I didn't like Samantha. I actually killed her quickly because she was such a sad character I didn't want to prolong her suffering. A little girl with DID from child abuse has gone through enough pain so I quickly let her go. I predict she'll have lots more fun and quirky adventures in other stories where authors picked a less depressing interpretation. Sorry about that Demon but I do think I've heard some authors say they plan to have her last longer.
23rd place: Morty Sonym- Neck broken by Nero
Yikes, RIP Twelve. This one was because Willuna sent Morty in as a last-minute pinch-submission and I know she cares about Nailah much more. Morty had pretty much a soul-crushingly terrible life so I paired him with Bess just so he could have a few shreds of happiness. He went out trying to make a better life for her, proving his own kindness and the kind of life he could have had if any one thing had ever gone right for him. Thanks for the fill-in Willuna and Nailah is still going strong.
22nd place: Bess Carver- killed by Nailah with a throwing star
Bess was mine so I killed her LOL. She would have been first but Morty and Samantha both had good reasons to go, plus they all happened pretty much at the same time anyway. I'm a sucker for a strong buff lady but far be it from me to take other people's spotlights by hogging them with my own character. RIP my girl Bess.
21st place: Kjole Schmiecel- Shot by Allure
This one's the only real hard one of the Bloodbath. Kjole deserved better, period. It was every bit as unfair as she said. Allure thought she was pretty (and a threat) and Allure had a ranged weapon. I'm trying not to metagame but just as like a silver lining, other authors have mentioned they have lots of plans for Kjole. I anticipate this is probably the only time she'll die in the Bloodbath. Kjole was awesome, queenoffunerals, and I'm really sorry she was the one who got hit with the realism bullet.
20th place: Desiree Redwood- Also shot by Allure
I'm sure this is the biggest shock of the Games. Tinks, this is going to make sense, I promise. There is a super good reason I did this and you're going to be happy when you hear it. I don't want to spoil it but suffice to say there is more to come.
19th place: Ceto Preston- Backstabbed by Dionysus (bleeding to death takes a while so she's the last death)
Well well well it seems Dionysus has some surprises. Ceto had a severe case of tunnel vision and like her form said, it did her in. Her form also called for a different death but I wasn't very excited about a trained Career being overpowered by an untrained outlier so I tried to incorporate some of her form while adding some different elements. Had Dionysus not so rudely interrupted, Ceto definitely would have accomplished her goal. But had Ceto not been so heckin BIGOTED she wouldn't have had this problem. I saw more sadness in Ceto than some people and tried to give that some respect, but I do allow people to nerf their Tributes at will and her form called for her to die in the Bloodbath. So thanks Sparky and I hope this wasn't too far off.
Hmm, bigger Bloodbath than usual for me (though smaller than usual for most authors LOL). It remains to be seen what the rest of the Arena looks like, since we've only seen one room...
