(Age 18, 70th Hunger Games)
This is it, this is what I've been training my entire life for. The honour I'll bring to my district, it was too much to even think about. I could barely contain my nerves as my hands started to shake in pure excitement.
When my eyes adjusted to the glowing sun I took in my surroundings. The arena was mostly wood land with a huge mountain on one side and what looked like a dam connecting to both the mountain and forest. I didn't know much about survival, it was probably the only thing they don't bother to teach us in the academy. But my worries of lacking survival skills were erased when I took in the cornecopia. All our platforms were facing it, A large wooden lodge with piles and piles of weapons infront of it. The fact that it was a lodge caused my smirk to grow, we wouldn't even have to bother with tents this year.
"Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to 70th Annual Hunger Games!... And may the odds be ever in your favor"
The voice of Caesar had left my ears ringing and when I rose my head back to the cornecopia I saw a giant holographic countdown.
"60, 59, 58.."
My head whipped around me to meet the eyes of the girl from District 2. She winked at me while I smiled in return. This will be so much fun, the bloodbath was always the best part of the games. It'll be even easier now that Alyssia and I had been placed next to eachother.
"50, 49, 48..."
I looked to my right and sighed in disapointment. I couldn't see my district partner anywhere or the boy from Two. I'm guessing they're both around the other side of the lodge. The tribute next me is the girl from District Four. We'd decided early this year that the tributes from district four, dispite being from a career district wern't a threat. She had bright red hair and seemed scared out of her mind. Like the word terrfied came to mind. I smiled, she'd make an easy kill.
"30, 29, 28..."
I leant forward on my pedestal in preparation to run. My eyes were observing and jumping from weapon to weapon in a pursuit of finding my signiture. In the academy they teach you the basics with knifes and spears. But they make sure that every student has a signiture weapon, hence the name. I was gifted in using a machete. Being one or many, I'd practiced with it since the age of seven until whenever I picked it up, it would become an extension of my arm. As if it's become apart of me, another organ working with all the other parts of my body to create a living organism. And today would be the first time I'd use it to bring honour to my district. District One, who hasn't won a Hunger Games since Finnick Odair won five years ago. This year I'll beat District Two and win, reminding everyone in Panem why my district is the best.
"10, 9, 8.."
My eyes instantly snapped to the middle of the cornecopia where something metallic was shining at me. There it was, my machete!. I can do this. I was meant to, born to do this. Hell, I was meant to win this!
"3, 2, 1..."
Run.
I instantly ran as fast as I could towards the heart of the cornecopia. My eyes glued to the machete amoungst the many knifes, spears and swords. Alyssia was instantly by my side as we ran together, having my back while I had hers. A belt of knifes was on the ground half way towards the heart of the lodge. She instantly dove for them without hesitation. I stood next to her so she was covered before she had her first knife in her hand. She whipped her head around her before pointing the knife towards the heart of the cornecopia.
She giggled manically. "Run for it, I'll cover you from here".
I didn't need to be told twice. I ran past the other tributes and I heard the first scream but I didn't stop, I wasn't safe until it's in my hand. I stood in front of the machete and grabbed it just as the boy from Five grabbed a spear next to me. I heard him gasp and suddenly blood was trickling out the corner of his mouth. His body slumped to the ground and it was only once he stared lifless at the sky that I saw a knife wedged in his throat. BOOM.
I took a shaky breath, gripped my machete tighter and held it in a ready stance. In the corner of my eye I could see Alyssia coming towards me, together we stood back to back. Our job was to secure the supplies, the other tributes would be easier to pick off it they didn't have weapons of their own. I could hear Alyssia's panting and I'm sure my breaths matched hers.
I heard movment to my left and locked eyes with the district eight male. Alyssia's head snapped in the same direction while muttering "2, O'clock".
That was all I needed to whip my body to the leaft while swiping upwards. A large cut that had pierced his heart and lungs caused him to grunt while his body crumped down at my feet. BOOM.
I was still looking in every direction before I sighed in relief. Sparks, my district partner was running towards us like his life depened on it. Because it did. The boy from district Ten was on his heels and while they both didn't have weapons, anyone could see the boy from Ten would win a physical fight to the death.
I locked eyes with Alyssia before I yelled. "Cover me!". She nodded while I grabbed a sword from the pile behind us and started running. I was in front of him in minutes and the second his hand connected with the sword it was over for the boy from district Ten. BOOM.
Sparks gave me a dertermind nod and together we started making our way back to the middle. The boy from Two whose name was Mike, was now covering Alyssia. His own knifes strapped around his waist while Alyssia aimed at anything that moved.
Sparks grunted beside me as he casually stabbed the boy from District Three. BOOM. "They've got the middle Vel, let's take care of the stargglers".
I smiled back at him. "Sure thing".
I looked to my right and ran over to the boy from Twelve before slicing into him so deeply his intestine was visable. BOOM.
The boy looked up at me terrifed while he attempted to keep his insides in. Blood was pouring from his wound like a waterfall. For some reason I couldn't look away. BOOM.
I heard him gasp before blood was being spat out his mouth. I'd never killed before today. This isn't what I expected it to feel like, I didn't think I'd feel as if I was one chocking instead. I didn't think it took more then killing a bug, but it does. It feels like with every tear he sheds, every gasp, every pained whine...it felt like it was taking parts of my soul away. As if my soul had suddenly smashed into a thousand pieces and with every second this boy still clinged to life, it was like he was stealing what little was left of mine. BOOM.
His eyes were still staring into mine but they were devoid of life, it'd been his cannon that'd just fired.
BOOM.
I knew I supposed to move, to help my fellow careers but I couldn't tear my face away from the dead boy infront of me. Was he younger then me? What was his family going through right now?
This was wrong. Killing other children my age... it felt wrong! I swallowed and looked up, my eyes landing on Sparks. His blond hair shining in the sun while he cleanly stabbed the girl from District Nine. It played out in slow motion, her scream, his strike, her body on the ground, his satisfied smirk...BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
What's happening to me right now? I closed my eyes and told myself to snap out of it. It isn't time to re-think my entire view of the world. I'd trained for this moment my entire life. It's not wrong, it's right. I'm bringing honour to my district...but why didn't that feel so important anymore? Why I didn't feel anymore?!
I felt someone place their hand on my shoulder making me jump. I defiently felt that. Sparks was smiling down at me in amusment. "Alright there, Vel?"
I swallowed and nodded back at him causing him to smirk down at me. He nodded over towards Alyssia and Mike who were going over all the supplies. It then occured to me that the bloodbath was finally over. We stood before the lodge with countless bodies surrounding us. I sighed. "We should probably clear out before all the hovercrafts get here".
Sparks nodded. "Yeah, good idea". He then looked me up and down before he chuckled, bumping my arm playfully with his. "Cheer up, they'll be plenty others to kill later tonight".
I gave him a weak smile back, If only he knew the real reason I wasn't suddenly so excited to be here. Bringing honour to my district was now the furthesting thing from my idea of fun. And the worst part was, I had no idea what I'd signed up for.
That night we'd made a campfire outside our lodge. I'd found a bag of mashmallows amongst the food supplies. Together the four of us sat, roasting marshmallows while telling stories of our districts and our kills of the day.
The fallen had played only moments ago and I felt my stomach do flips when I saw the faces of the boys from Eight and Twelve. My kills. I'd killed two tributes. Two Children.
It dawned on me while the rest of the pack laughed at killing people, that I wasn't like them. I didn't fit in anymore. They could train us to fight, they could train us how to walk and talk for interviews but they can't train us for this. One one thing that's never mentioned at the academy... how do you overcome the guilt of killing someone?
There's a word for someone one that can't express emotions like guilt when killing someone. It's what they've been training us to be since I was seven. It's what I'm trained to be, what I thought I was...a psychopath. But the problem is unlike the three other careers around me, I felt everything.
Twelve tributes so far had died today. Half, that's considered quick. Not unheard of though. From memory it happened in the 22nd, 28th, 33rd, 39th, 47th, 50th, 62nd and I guess now the 70th. I know nothing but the hunger games, it's practically all we're taught in my district. Trades are taught after the age of eighteen. If your under eighteen then your 'job' is to bring honour to District One. Anyways it means apart from us there's only eight left. I don't know who suggested it but we decided to go hunt the rest down. I followed behind Sparks somewhat somberly before I remembered that this was a show.
Being broadcasted to the entire country. A country filled with sponsors watching my every move. I couldn't afford to be moaping around espcially since I may need a sponsor in the future. I had to be a typical career, I had to at least pretend I hadn't caught on to what was really at play here. So I skipped a little, as if I was happy to go children hunting and clapsed my hand tightly around Sparks' hand. Sparks' blue eyes lit up as he smiled at our joined hands before he winked at me.
Mike was leading the way, I don't know how it was decided. But it seems he's taken over the role of pack leader. Every year the career pack has a leader, we're encouraged to have one. But there was something about him that made me uneasy. Perhaps it was the fact I'd caught him staring at Alyssia's chest one too many times. Or it could be his smile. His smile was twisted and cruel, I'd personally hate be on the receiving end of it.
Alyssia seemed unware of all this and was fine with Mike. I thought Mike could easily take her down in her sleep if he really wanted to. That's how much she trusts him. I hoped for her sake she doesn't let that happen. Especially because she'd technically saved my life today.
The smell of smoke instantly filled my nostrils and I looked around, trying to find it's source. Mike stopped aswell and held his hand up for all of us to be quiet before he indicated to the right. Sparks was the first to spot her and he chuckled before tapping Mike's shoulder. Together they chased after the girl from five...she looks only fourteen.
Mike stabbed her in the shoulder and Sparks stabbed her side, more blood. At least she wasn't a screamer.
BOOM.
A joint kill to show inter district unity for both One and Two...that's rare. Alyssia sighed irritatedly beside me. "Next time we find someone, we're running for it! I don't want to make it out of here with only three kills because those two took them all".
I clicked my tongue in fake annoyance. "Couldn't agree more".
I'd let her have the kill if comes to that. I just needed to play the part incase I'm hurt and needed medicene or something.
The games ran pretty slowly after that. We continued to hunt them down but the arena was so big we'd only get a tribute every second day. With the mountains and the forest...there was too many places for them to hide and run. Not to mention we could only venture half way through the mountains or forest before we'd have to head back to the lodge before night fall. It's been a little over two weeks so far and we couldn't find the last three tributes anywhere. It was the girl from District Ten and both tributes from District Four. Who knows maybe District Four was a threat, too late to let them join now though.
We'd been walking through the forest, this time going up a different route. We'd been walking for three hours so far and decided to take a break. I was joking around with Sparks before I heard a gasp from behind me. BOOM.
I whipped around and stared at Alyssia's lifeless eyes. Those eyes that'd smiled with life, eyes that had been by my side since the very start. Sure, she was a total maniac but she was my friend. The one who'd braided my hair every night by the camp fire. I felt angry tears start to surface in my eyes while I glared down at the dart sticking out of her neck.
My breathing became ragged as I realised we were trapped. Sitting in a clearing while someone was hidden in the tree tops and able to pick us off one by one. Sparks instantly grabbed my wrist and dragged me towards the trees. Mike following quickly behind us, not at all phased like I was by Alyssia's death.
I heard whizzing around us and pulled Sparks hand back while Mike continued on. He glared at me and rose his eyebrows. I shook my head at him and held my finger against my lips. I pushed us against the trunk of a tree and we were able to watch where the darts were coming from as they flew down towards Mike.
Our eyes followed the path of a dart before I spotted the girl from Ten. She was bent over a branch, a pipe in her mouth that was aimed in Mike's direction. Mike who... Alyssia loved.
I wasn't a killer, well not anymore... but she'd killed Alyssia. A girl who'd saved my life. A girl who was my friend. She derserves it, if the girl from Ten can can take Alyssia's life then I should take hers. At least that's what I told myself as I kissed Sparks' cheek before quietly climbing up her tree. The girl from Ten was still distracted with Mike, she didn't even realise that we were still here and not infront of her.
I climbed all the way up. I'm petite. Not starved my whole life kind of petite like the girl from District Ten. But petite enough to not break the branches. I edged myself closer until I was on the base of her branch while she sat further along it.
I had two options. I could push her out, or I could slice at her and watch her body drop. I could feel the angry tears pool down my cheeks. Because of what she did, she doesn't enjoy the mercy of my machete. I want to hear her scream when she falls. I want her to know what it feels like to have her life flash before her eyes. I want her to feel the pain of hitting the forest floor before she finally dies.
It was over with one kick. One kick was all it took for her to gasp in suprise before she fell, screaming her lungs out. The scream instantly stopped with a sickening crack below me.
BOOM.
My breaths were heavy as I leaned my body forward on the branch. I could just make out a figure at the bottom, lying motionless with her neck bent at an odd angle. I gulped, closed my eyes and chanted in my head that she deserves it, for Alyssia, I owed it to Alyssia. It didn't make me feel any better infact I felt worse. In that moment, up fifty feet in a tree I vowed to not kill anymore tributes...wish I'd stuck to it.
Once I regained and composed myself I started making my way down the tree with shaky arms and legs...One down, two to go.
It was quiet that night, we hadn't found anyone else and without Alyssia to keep the conversation going it was boarder line depressing. Mike contiually shapened his kinfes at the opposite end of the fire while Spaks sat almost too close to me. I wasn't an idiot, I knew why we wern't talking.
We're down to the final five. This is the start, the start of breaking off the alliance. Tomorrow would most likely be the last day of the games. Tomorrow we'd hunt District Four and once we kill them we'll cut our ties. Annnd...well you get the picture.
I felt Spark's hand encase mine. He leand his mouth against my ear and whispered. "Until the very end. You and Me. If it comes down to it, you walk one way and I'll walk the other. We'll let the gamemakers decide the victor".
I looked up into his pretty crystal blue eyes. They seemed sincere but could I trust him?. We'd always been taught how to break off the alliance, this wasn't the normal way to go. This is going against what our mentors and instructors teach us. The Capitol people expect the final two to fight it out, always. It's our duty to give them that show. I looked apprehensively at Mike who was ignoring us. I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him. There's no way I'm sleeping tonight.
I nodded at Sparks and held his hand tighter. "Until the very end. You and Me".
Both Sparks and I had pulled an all nighter. Neither one of us contempt with Mike still with us now that it's down to five. But we'd all collectivly agreed to hunt all the tributes down before breaking off this alliance. Of course, that was yesterday when Alyssia was still alive.
Mike was still leading us, something I'm now greatful for. I couldn't imagine what'd be like to have him trailing behind Sparks and I. Especially with all the knifes on his belt.
Today we were hiking up the mountain, we took it in turns of searching the forest and mountain each day. We were all extra alert because it's the last day. Shit always happens on the last day. We knew if District Four are in the forest then the game makers would get us to somehow meet up to fight it out. That normally meant Mutts. So, I prayed they were hiding in the mountains with us. Cause if they're not up the mountain...then we're in for a nasty surprise.
A perfect view of the dam and forest was easily visable from up here. I sighed, this place was plagued by death and would probbably haunt me for the rest of my life if I win. But I had to admit the view was beautiful. More beautiful then anything we could make back home.
Sometimes Mike would aim a knife at a particular bug or bird on our way up the mountain. I didn't mind so much becuase he was using up his knifes. The less knifes he had, the less of a threat he was. He mentioned something about impressing sponsors which I guess, but everything would cost so much on the last day that no one would even bother sending anything anyways. Of course I didn't tell him that. I still had a selfish hope that deep down either myself or Sparks could win.
It wasn't until we heard another bird that Mike's knife instinctly shot at it. It dropped at our feet and we all froze. It was different. Different from the seven other birds before it. It was black like all the others, however where a beak should be were two razor sharp knifes that resembled scissors.
I inhaled in fear before whispering "...Mutts"
This confirmired that it's the last day. It's been two weeks. The people of the Capitol are restless, they want a new Victor. The gamemakers are eager for a show. If a Mutt is here in the mountains it means the tributes from District Four are excellent hiders and in the forest. Instead of sending them Mutts to fight off we've been send them. After all it's easier to get at least one kill if your aiming at three children instead of two...Let the real games begin.
We were off, as if someone had shot a gun instead of a bird. We ran, as fast as we could. Behind us was a giant black cloud only it wasn't a cloud...it was a swarm of killer birds with kinifes to literally slice and dice us. I had my grip firmly around my machete and Mike was throwing all his knifes at any birds that got too close for comfort.
I could see in the distance another cloud was coming from the forest. So I'd been wrong and we'd both been sent the mutts. The lodge! That's the middle. They want us all to fight at the cornecopia!
I heard a grunt and whiped my head towards Mike in alarm. "I'm out of knifes!"
Fuck.
Sparks was by side and he gripped my hand tightly and dragged me with a bit more strength so I'd be infront. He held his sword above his head and together we swatted while Mike ran for the hills. Sparks with his his sword and me with my machete. It was hard work, slice left, slice right, sice above my head and repeat. Doing all that while running to the cornecopia. I had mutiple slices in my arms and a scratch on my cheek. Apart from that I was fine, Sparks was the same, all our training with a signiture weapon since the age of seven had come in handy for the both of us.
We entered the clearing together hand in hand. Mike was bent over, hands on his knees while trying to regain his breath. We ran over to him and did the same. I lifted my head in panic only to find there was no more birds, they'd disapeared. That meant District Four were about to arrive any second.
And I was right, they entered the clearing as soon as the thought left my mind. The boy looked the worst. Multiple slices covered his arms and legs but it didn't stop him from pulling the girl along with him. He's obviously the strongest of the two. They stopped short when they noticed us waiting for them.
The girl already had tears in her green eyes. When they connected with my blue ones I could see the pure fear she had. The boy stood tall but he didn't have a weapon, no one had a weapon but Sparks and I. Technically we could win it. What better advantage was there than all the other tributes not having weapons?
Mike and Sparks were on either side of me. Sparks was still bent over panting and I could tell from the way Mike's eyes grew two sizes that he'd figured out what I had.I instantly went to grab Sparks' sword that was laying by his feet but I was too slow. Mike's eyes shot to mine and he gave me a warning look before he struttered towards the two tributes from Four, sword in hand.
I grabbed Spark's shoulder and stood protectivly infront of him, while he glared at Mike. I saw Sparks' foot take a step and I held out my arm with machete out to block his path.
His crystal eyes met mine and I shook my head at him. "This is the one time to not be an arrogant idiot. You don't have a weapon and he went to the academy too. He'd know how to use a sword even if it's not his weapon of choice. He could easily finish you".
Sparks sighed and nodded before taking a ready stance. As soon as Mike kills the two of them then it's just us two. Two tributes against one, It's still better odds.
The boy from Four literally pushed his district partner to the ground and faced Mike. He held up his fists because it's all he has. I just wanted it to be over. The girl quickly rolled over and we made eye contact again. She went to stand and I pointed my machete in her direction causing her to still her movements.
Everyone's attention was then on Mike and the boy from District Four. He was quick and able to dodge a few hits. But then Mike swang the sword and the boy from Four, who thought Mike would've swipped up, moved his body so quickly, in such an odd way...it happened so fast.
The blade that Mike was using had power in it. Power, becuase he was frustrated. Mike was angry because he was losing. He knows it'll come down to two against one after killing off District Four. He was using that anger, fuelling it into his swings.
The boy from Four was getting sloppy. Sloppy because he was losing blood from all the deep cuts on his arms and legs. So his movements were hindered, quick but not what they should be. So when Mike swang the sword angrily with all his might, The boy from Four rose his head to dodge it...but because he was tired he'd missed.
The blade in one swing sliced through the boy's neck, dislodging his head until it flew into the air. All our heads rose up and followed the path of the flying head as it leaked a river in a beautiful red arch of blood. It rained down over us like a shower. Before hitting the ground with a awful dull thud and rolled directly in front of the girl from four.
BOOM.
Silence, ringing and well... what else is there after you see something like that?
No one moved, No one breathed.
Mike instantly dropped the sword. But the damage was done. I took a step back and lowered my machete down. Infact it dropped from my hand in horror. Sparks was brething heavily beside me. The girl from Four hadn't made a sound until a slient tear fell from her cheek. Then she screamed. I didn't even know where to look.
The grass was stained red. A body faced me and I could see a spinal cord sticking out of what was once a neck. I couldn't not look at ... the piece of bone sticking out, like a snake. That's all we are...a bit of blood and skin. It really hits you how fragile our bodies are...our insides so, red. All I can see is red. I found myself chocking out a sob. The girl's screams continued but none of us moved. We couldn't...
The head was still infront of her and leaked out so much blood that the girl was covered in it from head to toe. But still none of us moved.
Shock. All four of us were in shock. I was wrong, wrong about the Hunger Games. This isn't a game. This isn't about honour. It's about touture, the Capitol's ability to touture us while we reamain powerless. That's what the games are really about.
Wish I'd known that before I volunteered. I wish I never killed those boys, or that girl. I wished I'd never been sent to an acadmey at age seven. I wished I wasn't from District One. But above everything else I wished I let those birds cut me to death. Because there's no coming back from this. Standing here, in this forest with a screaming girl. Standing with two other killers now scared to death of what they've become.
I couldn't even tell the difference between the blood or the colour of her hair. It was all just red. Her screams were over powering my eardrums and the pain, I could hear and feel it. And then I realised why it so was painful...I was screaming with her.
A death so shocking had never happened in the arena, I know because I've watched and studied every games obsessivly. There was a canabil one year but he was quickly killed off, but this?!
This had all of us dropping our weapons. This had gone too far. We're all the same really, all blood and skin...all from a district opressed by the Capitol. Mike sniffed and I could see his tears while Sparks sobbed beside me. Even then, even now I doubted it was proper behaviour for a tribute from District One and Two to express. But if you stood there with us, I doubt you'd be doing anything but.
I was still screaming with the girl from Four, our screams provided inter district unity. District One, the district all others hate, the one that never befriends anyone that isn't from District Two. The district most loyal and doted on by the Capitol. My screams showed we were capable of expressing hate for the Capitol. It showed that even the one district that the Capitol thought would always have their back was capable of not only recognising their own powerlessness, but could also join the other distrcits to unite against them.
But to the rebels?, Who as a scared eighteen year old I knew knowthing about?, To the current game maker of The 70th Hunger Games, Plutrich Heavensbee? It showed him that a revolution could work. Because, if District One of all people can scream vengfully at the capitol, then anything is possible.
We'd all stood there for an hour. An hour of nothing but screming and sobbing children. Three careers who'd literally dropped their weapons in difiance to the Capitol. A first. And every second of it boradcasted live to Panem.
Mike had been hovering over the boy's body while muttering things.
He kept slapping his head. "Get me out...I want to go home...I didn't know...It's what we're taught...it's what we're taught!"
I'd stopped screaming then and Mike's head whipped towards me with a glare. His eyes met mine and he indicated to the machete at my feet. "Don't pick it up, Don't let them have it!"
I nodded. How I was able to even move my neck and at all had me chocking out a sob. The girl was still screaming. I knew what he meant. I think everyone in the districts would be astounded that tributes from Two and One weren't fighting.
'Don't let them have it' meaning don't let the Capitol have our kills, don't let them have us, our lives! We aren't powerless. Except that's all we are, becuase now we're what? trapped in an arena and refusing to kill eachother?
Again, an absoulte first in the games. I'd heard stories of victors being punished for their games. Haymitcth Abernathy comes to mind. He out smarted the Capitol by using a forcefield to kill a tribute and his whole family paid the price. But this? What would be the price for winning the 70th Hunger Games?
What fits the punishment of refusing to kill eachother, to actually say the words 'don't let them have it' and refuse to par-take? To mourn collectivly, ritch and poor over our joint opression from the Capitol. What's the punishment of being this years victor?
A lonely scared thought entered my head. One I was suprised I even shared. I cleared my throat and everyone stared up at me. All with sorrow but none with mallaice, we wern't going to kill eachother or leave the forest. We couldn't have the people not see, people couldn't not see how awful the Capitol really is! How bad the culture of being a career really is!. How it's possible to stand up. I sighed. "We can't stay here forever. It needs to end right? So let's give them a show!"
I bent down and picked up my machete with shaky hands. Mike and Sparks shared a look as I placed the blade against my throat. It's time to end it, all of it!
All of them nodded back at me. Even the girl from Four who'd been holding her hands over her ears. I should've known that the gamemakers wouldn't like that. We'd been pushing it by still breathing after crying in the forest for over an hour. A suicide pack would be the ultimate cherry on the top. The question is, why didn't they kill us instantly? Why did Heavnsbee let this go on for as long as it has?
BANG
At first I thought I'd been shot right there and then for attempting to kill myself. But then I heard rushing water along with hundreds of tree trunks snapping at the same time. I gasped as a giant wall of water poured out of the dam and started coming our way. We all stood and watched it happen, waited with baited breaths. We can't outrun this wave, It's too big.
Just as I felt the first dropletes hit my face, a hand firmly clasped mine. Sparks looked down at me with his own terrified smile before he winked at me. Together we faced the giant wave.
It blasted us backwards painfully. But he never let go, the current was so strong and it sickened me to think that somewhere in this water would be a floating head.
My body was being flung to the right and I could feel Sparks being flung to the left. We were taught to swim in the academy but not how to out swim a current, espcially one this strong. I felt his hand disconnect from mine and I was left powerless as our hands reached for eachother only to be swept away out of sight.
I tumbled and pushed myself in that direction but it was no use. I felt my body rising before the water pushed me on the edge of the moutain top. The water pooled down the mountain and I realised I had to grab on otherwise I'd drown or fall to my death.
My fingers scraped along the mountain with the lowering water until I felt a rock sticking out which I held onto for deer life. The water was below me now and I was alone left clinging to the side of the mountain while chocking up half a lung of water. I rested my head against the cool rock before looking up. Well shit. I had to climb about ten meters to get safely onto the mountain top and below me was a fifty foot drop...
I don't know why I decided to climb up instead of falling to my death. I had every reason to let go. Yet I continued to rock climb, refused to quit. They won't kill me. I wouldn't let them.
When my hand found the flat surface of the mountain top I smiled before using all my strength to pull my body up. I landed with my stomach over the cliff and my legs dangling below, yet I continued to keep pushing and rolled onto the saftey of the mountain. It was then that I looked up and started chocking on the air I was desperatly inhaling
Mike stood towering over Sparks, a rock in his hand. The girl from Four was next to me and once she saw me, she started screaming and hitting herself. It dawned on me then that she'd gone mad, mad with truama. We'd agreed hadn't we? This couldn't be happening! Not him, Not Sparks!
I knew I was too far away, I knew I wouldn't make in time. Powerless. I was powerless when the rock connected to his head. Powerless when I heard Mike drop the rock and rise his read in relief. Poweless when I heard...BOOM.
We made eye contact and I started yelling at him. "What've you done?!"
Mike started to walk towards me and stopped just short of my crumpled figure. He tusked down at me. "I decided in the water that they're gonna kill us anyways right? I don't want to die Velvet, I want to go home".
He closed his eyes and rose his head towards the sky and whispered. "I just want to go home".
I glared angrily back at him. "You killed him!"
That was all it took for Mike to reach for me while I started pulling on his arm and yelling at him hysterically.
I pointed out to Spark's body and stared up at Mike's emotionless face. "Please you have to...please you have to trust me. We can't I w-we promised".
Just as I said that a wave, a manufactured artificial wave splashed on top of the mountain. The water spread around us, covering up to our ankles. The water came to a halt right next to my arm that wasn't being held in Mike's iron grip.
Shimmering in the water just below my hand was my machete. As I stared at my signiture the water started evaporting as if the wave had never came. The gamemakers are so eager for us to end it now that one of us is willing. Sending us a weapon to get they're final fight. Classic move, this is the final battle. Not that field but here, on the mountain top. This will decide the Victor.
Our eyes instantly snapped to the machete. Mike dove for it but I was quicker and closer. It was in my hand in seconds. Instead of defying the Capitol, all thoughts of defiance is drowned out when Spark's lifeless body is lying in front of me a few feet away. It was supposed to be me and him!...he was going to let them choose. I looked down at the weapon in my hand and smirked, I guess the gamemakers did choose afterall.
I stood and Mike took an aprhensive step back when he saw my smirk. He's dead. I glared at him and yelled. "You killed him!"
Fulled by rage. I started swinging, slicing and hacking. He gave me the odd shove here and there but let's be real, he was weaponless and well...it's my signiture for a reason.
In one slice, Like the boy from twelve, Mike's intestines dropped from his stomach. His cold eyes turned lifeless and his body slowly slumped to the ground.
BOOM.
Alliances don't last forever and whatever moment or silly childish thoughts we'd shared in the forest was gone. Gone the moment he'd killed Sparks!
I bent down and pulled out my machete from his body with a grunt.
I spat in his face and looked up to the sky with a smirk. "For District One! Let's end our five year losing streak!".
I know that line would save me if I'm ever to return home. Not sure about the Capitol but to the districts it would show I'm still a Career, still a tribute from District One. Still against any thought of a revoultion. I stared down at his body with a statisfied smirk on my face until a sob broke my train of thought. I instantly snapped my head up towards the sound. My eyes connecting with a pair of scared sea green ones.
She looked a mess. The girl I'd cried with for over an hour after seeing something so horrible. But I wasn't feeling now. Perhaps, if Sparks' body wasn't still on the mountain top with us then I'd be able to show empathy. But I was trained not to. Trained to focus on that anger and let it guide you. So I calmly walked over to her, bloody machete in hand while she started singing and rocking back and forth.
I didn't recognise the tune so it must be a song from District Four. I listened for a while. She knew I was standing behind her now. I don't know why but I started stroking her hair with my bloody hand. We'd both seen something we'd never recover from. Who knows, if I hadn't pointed my machete at her she wouldn't of been sitting directly in front of it. It's a kindness, who wants to live with the memory of seeing it, over and over again. This arena would forever haunt me. Bodies surrounded us and yet these ones didn't scare me. Spark's bashed in skull and Mike's intestines leaking out of his stomach doesn't even come close to watching it roll...
I took a deep breath before I giggled down at her in amusment. I gave her mercy.
I literally stabbed her in the back. I stabbed her so strongly I could feel the blade pierce her heart.
BOOM.
Once the singing stopped I knew it was all over and I'd never be the same again. I don't think I'll ever feel like me again. Trumpets blared around me, like an illusion from a distant memory, a distant world.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the Victor of this year's 70th annual Hunger Games!...Velvet Watts of District One!"
Would you believe me if I told you I was sorry?
...yeah, me neither.
