Daniel Mondins POV
There wasn't any mercy anymore. There was no joy, no love, no remorse, no pain. There was only rage.
I ran toward Sarla and watched the knife hone in on her. I was a step away when it cut into her. She fell without a sound. When I reached her, the life was gone from her. I held her for an instant and felt everything drain away.
I threw myself at Venus and hit her as she drew back another knife. She landed on her back and I dug my hands into her throat. Her coughs and struggles ended in a crunch and a final gurgle. Her allies, who had seen the whole thing, didn't even react. They took one look and turned away.
It was the same after that. Every time I saw another Tribute I saw someone living when Sarla wasn't. I chased them down and crushed the life out of four of them. The Careers took out another six before they turned on each other. I took care of the survivor. They boy from One was too battered to fight back.
Every time I killed one I relived Sarla's death. It was like lancing a boil and feeling the poison seep away. I hoped I'd find peace eventually, but there was always more pain. Maybe when they were all gone I could rest. The pain would settle inside somewhere and I could go on.
I saw the last girl hiding in a tree far above me. A twig cracked and I peered upward. The girl covered her mouth and scooted as far up the tree as she could go. She screamed and begged for mercy as I followed her up. The branches grew thin and there was nowhere for her to go. She held out her hands and backed out over open air.
She seemed to blur, and Sarla took her place. I saw my sister, pleading uselessly as death approached. I knew whatever Career would have been in my place wouldn't have hesitated. At last I understood how they felt. They resented the very idea of life where so many had already died. I took Sarla's last killer by the throat and bent her until she broke. I dropped her body and listened to it crash through the branches.
Sarla was gone. I was the only one alive. I would have given anything to be dead instead of her.
If Daniel and Sarla were the last two he'd kill himself. That passion meant this was the only way. Also, the last girl Daniel killed was Heidi.