Chapter 30:
Night Four
Asha Kader, 18, District Nine
It didn't take long for the ever present doubts to start trickling back into her mind. With the growing shadows from the setting sun, it's as if the shadows directly brought the darkness back to mind. Why is it that every time Asha finally starts to get a grip on happiness for herself, someone has to take it away from her? Is there something in her preventing her from ever being happy with doing things for herself?
She tried so hard to go through the feast without losing control. She doesn't want to be a vicious killer again like what she did to Margaery. And she succeeded! She could have killed Jenny so easily and the woman wouldn't have stood a chance. But instead she got their food and left unharmed.
For most of the afternoon, there was pride filling her. She did something strong as Asha, not as Slash. When was the last time she could say that? She doesn't even know the answer…if there ever was a time. For too long she has gotten her worth from controlling others as Slash or bending over backwards to please the people around her. This time, she did it for herself.
Yet why does it seem like Sissel is disappointed in her for that?
She thought maybe he was just tired after the feast and that's why he was quiet. After all, they did run quite a bit and he still has healing injuries. But when that kept up into the evening and she tried in vain to keep up the conversation only to get shrugs and grumbles in response, the doubts started to crush down on her.
She doesn't get it. She did what she was supposed to do in the feast. She got food and water for him – and not the shitty nuts and jerky they've been surviving on, fresh food still steaming hot. She didn't even get hurt. She survived. Shouldn't that be enough? Why isn't it enough to make him happy with her?
Why are they never happy with what she does for them?
"Did I do something wrong?" Asha finally asks him, knowing if she has to sit through one more minute of uncomfortable silence, she's going to go insane. And as much as she hates the thought of knowing she did something wrong…she has to know at this point. She's so tired of doing everything she can for them to never be happy.
And yet, Sissel can only give a non-committal shrug at her question, causing Asha to give him a confused and hurt look. "Depends on who you asked."
"I don't understand," Asha says, all the years of frustration starting to bubble up and being directed at him, despite being the source of only a small percentage of it. "I ran into the feast and I got us supplies – supplies you've had no problem eating today. What is wrong with that?"
"You could have done more," Sissel says calmly, barely batting an eye at her outburst, while she can feel her hands shaking with the urge to reach for her whip. But she stays put, knowing she will do this as Asha, not Slash. She is stronger than Slash.
But also, she doesn't need this. She doesn't need him anymore.
"I have done so much for this alliance!" Asha snaps at him, her voice raising and eyes blurring with tears of frustration, but there's no holding it back anymore. "I went out and I found a weapon and supplies – and killed someone. I got us supplies at the feast and we both made it out unscathed. If you're still holding a grudge for me clamming up in the bloodbath, then I don't know what to tell you aside from I've tried over and over to prove my worth to this alliance."
She finally gets an actual answer from him at this as he sets aside the bottle of water in his lap, resting his hand nonchalantly on the greatsword at his side. "You didn't kill anyone," Sissel answers with another shrug and she doesn't understand how he can be so calm and casual right now.
That's what he's upset with her about? The fact that she didn't kill someone at the feast?! She gets it, she will have to kill again eventually to get out of this arena. But there were six deaths today. Can't he cut her a little bit of slack?!
"Well what have you even done?" she snaps back at him, ignoring the jab at her lack of killing at the feast. "Let's see… You got attacked by a mutt trying to just use the bathroom," she starts tallying on her fingers the few things that Sissel has done, realizing it's not much compared to her, or at least nothing good. "You only got a weapon that the Gamemakers all but told you to go get. You didn't get any supplies at the feast. And you haven't made any kills!"
"See that's where you're wrong," Sissel says with a low laugh, standing up slowly, picking up his greatsword and letting it hang casually at his side. Asha scrambles to her feet, holding her whip in front of her protectively, and despite her outburst of anger and frustration, some fear still manages to find its way into her. No, she will not be afraid of him! She has done way more than he has in this arena!
"I have, in fact, killed," Sissel finishes, letting out a whistle as he tilts his head to the side, studying Asha curiously.
"Who did you kill?" Asha asks, confused by that. She's been with him almost the whole time! And why wouldn't he say something to her about it? "How? And why wouldn't you tell me?"
"I don't share my secrets," Sissel answers as there's a screech in the dark sky above them. He starts smirking at the sound and Asha grips her whip tighter, completely unsettled at his shift in mood. "Thank you for getting supplies at the feast, it was very useful and will get me to the end. But now, you'll be the next I kill."
"Like hell you will," Asha responds but she doesn't quite feel that conviction completely. But she has to do this. She can do this. Yet there's only one way she can, as scared as she is…Slash is just a part of her. A power hungry part of her that thrives for control and takes it. And she hates admitting it, but she loves that power rush. She's been so afraid to admit it to herself… But if it helps her get out of this arena, she'll embrace her dark side and won't let it consume her. She's going to win for herself.
For Asha, no one else.
Sissel Wetherburn, 17, District Ten
Asha has no idea what she has done by accusing him of doing nothing. With only five of them left, it's time for this alliance to end. She has certainly proven useful, but she's clearly a loose cannon that he can't predict. He's not going to risk losing his sanctuary and birds because he miscalculated her.
"You really want to know how I killed Rodrick?" he asks her as he hears the screech of Katsu getting closer to them. His smirk grows at the bewildered look on her face at the suggestion that he killed a career, and it's soon replaced by fear. Excellent, she knows that she's the prey here. He hefts his greatsword in front of him, gripping it with both hands to act as a buffer between them. "I'll show you. Katsu, come!"
Sissel doesn't turn his focus away from her, knowing so many predators just wait until their back is turned to attack, but he can feel the wind from Katsu's wings as the bird lands behind him. Katsu lets out a loud screech and Asha takes a step of fear back from them. Sissel spares a quick glance over his shoulder to see Katsu standing at his full height and wings outstretched. He falters for a moment, shocked at the pure…beauty of the bird and forgets what's happening around him.
"What the hell is that?!" Asha yells, her voice raising in pitch from fear at the sight of Katsu.
Sissel slowly turns back to her, letting out a laugh as he watches the fear on her face. "This is Katsu. And he is how I killed Rodrick and will now kill you." He lets out a low whistle, knowing Katsu will be focused on his next command, still staring Asha down as she grips her whip so tightly in front of her and trying not to be terrified. "Kill Asha."
Katsu lets out a screech that has Asha flinching before taking off into the air. Asha follows his movements with wide fearful eyes before starting to lunge towards Sissel, raising her whip to attack him. He raises his greatsword to swing back at her, but Katsu swoops down before she can touch him.
Asha lets out a shriek at getting pulled up into the air and Sissel starts laughing at her inescapable death. But he soon cuts off when Katsu lets out an awful pained shriek as Asha whips up at the bird. "NO!" Sissel shrieks as he watches the two fall to the ground from twenty feet up in the air. Asha lands hard on her ankle and cries out in pain from it, but Sissel can't focus on her, not when he watches Katsu try to land but instead he crashes into the ground, crying out in pain from the bleeding wound on his chest. Sissel runs towards the bird, shaking his head in disbelief that she hurt him, refusing to let his friend die. "No, no, no!" he screams as he drops beside the bird, pressing his hand gently to the bleeding wound. When he pulls his hand back, it's coated in blood, but thankfully the wound doesn't seem deep enough to kill Katsu.
He slowly turns back towards Asha, red hot rage coursing through him that she would even dare to hurt Katsu. She's struggling to stand on her ankle as she watches him, the fear growing at the cold look in his eyes. He stands up, gripping his greatsword in front of him, unable to think straight through his rage. "You will pay for hurting Katsu," he says quietly, afraid to speak louder and hear the waver of rage in his voice. But as he watches her looking pleased at saving herself from death at the hands of Katsu – and from hurting his bird – he can't help but scream at her. "I'll fucking kill you!"
Sissel swings his greatsword around to get it above his head as he runs towards Asha, letting out a scream full of rage. She crossed the damn line by daring to hurt Katsu and he will make sure she never has a chance to do it again. Anyone that hurts people he cares about dies, usually at the hands of a thunderbird, but he will gladly take her life instead.
Asha's eyes widen in surprise at him charging towards her and she tries to take a step back before crying out in pain from her ankle. But she has an air of determination as she faces him down, whip slowly swinging in her hand, tracking his movements. He cries out in anger as he brings his greatsword down, ready to end her life, and there's a crack in the air, followed by intense pain in his stomach. The pain falters his swing and his greatsword lands deep in her shoulder, making her scream out in pain as well. He drops the weapon, stepping back from her as he clutches his burning stomach. He glances down in shock, finding blood pouring through his fingers from the deep cuts made from her whip ripping through his skin.
Fuck.
But he isn't the only one bleeding from a bad wound. The greatsword comes loose from Asha's shoulder and blood pours out of it. She tries in vain to press her hand to it to stop the bleeding, her damaged arm hanging uselessly at her side.
They stare each other down for a few seconds, both full of anger towards the other for what they did, and fighting back the pain of their injuries. "Good luck-" Asha cuts off with a wince of pain and she drops down to her knees as Sissel feels his head spinning from pain and knows he can't stay upright for much longer either. "Living with that."
"Oh fuck you," Sissel tells her as he drops down to the ground, sitting pathetically as he holds his bleeding stomach together. "You aren't living either."
Asha lets out a harsh laugh followed by a wince as the motion jostles her wound. "So, which one of us is dying first then?"
They get their answer in the form of a quiet screech from Katsu and looks over as the bird starts walking over to Asha, his sharp eyes focus on Asha. A laugh slowly bubbles up and out of Sissel as he watches the fear on her face as she tries to scramble away from Katsu, but even injured, the bird is still going to kill her. "One thing you should know about him," Sissel tells her, watching her gaze flick over to him briefly before focusing back on Katsu. "Once he chooses a person, he will protect him no matter what."
"Please, no," Asha pleads to Katsu, but it's too late. It's been too late ever since Sissel gave the bird the command to kill her. "I don't want to die!"
"Do it," Sissel tells Katsu when the bird hovers over her, looking back at him for the command. Katsu lets out a cry of understanding before swiftly reaching out and slicing through her throat with his talons. Asha gurgles through the blood pouring out of her throat, reaching up to the wound, but within seconds her hand drops to the side, the life leaving her quickly.
Boom.
"Fuck you!" Sissel yells at her dead body through a laugh, but soon starts wheezing in pain. "You hurt my loved ones and you pay," he says quietly to her, eyes burning in rage as he watches Katsu hobble over to him, clearly in pain from the injury she gave him – an injury just like she gave him. "She got us good, huh?"
Katsu lets out a soft coo as he leans over, nudging Sissel's face with his own. He reaches up and scratches Katsu's head, slowly starting to smile as he feels the rage slipping away from him and being replaced with gratitude towards the bird. "You did well. I'm sorry I couldn't stop her from hurting you."
The bird lets out a cry at that, making Sissel's eyes start burning with tears at the thought of Katsu being in pain. He can suffer through pain himself – it's not the first time he's been hurt. But seeing the bird hurting? Absolutely heartwrenching. "Come here, let me see if I can patch you up."
Sissel tries to reach for his bag but cries out in pain. The world spins around him and he collapses back, gasping for air. Shit…this can't be good. Katsu lets out a noise of concern and tucks himself beside Sissel, bringing him a bit of comfort in what very well might be his last moments. "Maybe I need to patch myself up…" he says quietly, shaking his head in disappointment that he let her kill him. He reaches up to pat the top of Katsu's head, giving himself a little comfort, "You did well, friend."
Katsu lets out a sad sound at that and they stay in silence, Katsu giving him comfort as he bleeds out. So this is it. Bleeding out and waiting for death… Time to think about his failure and know that the sanctuary is now going to suffer without him. Who is going to take care of them? His father can't do that, and Sissel doesn't even know if he'll be able to take the loss of his second child.
Jules…at least in his death, he might get to see his sister again after she was taken too soon from them. And his grandmother…so maybe dying isn't all bad.
Katsu suddenly lets out a screech and Sissel looks at the bird, startled by his sudden movement. Katsu sits up, his body stiff as he stares down at him, with eyes that are unrecognizable to Sissel. Gone is the calculating, yet loving look that Katsu gave him before, replaced with an empty stare.
No…this isn't right.
But Sissel can't protest the bird's change in demeanor, too weak from his injury to try to stop him. Not that he really could do anything to stop Katsu as he brings down his beak, slamming it into his head and sending him into blackness.
Surprise one day early update because I'm excited and didn't want to wait one more day to post lol XD Are you happy asking for this early now, Legend? XD The time has finally come for this...and it needed to be the focus of it's own chapter. And it's a chapter I procrastinated writing because I didn't want to say goodbye to either of these two great characters!
Eulogies:
5th - Asha Kader [9], Killed by Sissel [10]/Thunderbird: I know everyone probably anticipated this coming soon since Asha was doomed from the start, but I wasn't ready lol. Asha was one of those nuanced characters that could really go in two different directions in the Games and for a while, I thought she was going to turn to Slash and let that dark side out. But as I wrote more and more of her, I knew I needed her to do things for herself and start to accept that Slash is a part of her. And I'm very happy with how her story ended (well, I'm sad she's dead but alas, she was doomed so not much that could be done there). This was one of the deaths I've had planned for so long and I always knew that she was going to take out one of the major competitors as she went down, so her death was not in vain. Thank you so much for her, Celtic! RIP Asha.
4th - Sissel Wetherburn [10], Killed by Asha [9]/Thunderbird: Ah, the birb boy. Another who I wasn't ready for lol. He's been such a fun concept right from the start, with his seemingly good bird boy demeanor covering up a much darker side to him that's been so much fun to explore! And fun fact, the thunderbird is probably the most expensive sponsor item I've ever had in one of my stories XD But so worth it to have it in the arena because it added so much to it! Sissel was a great character but I knew the Capitol wouldn't take the risk of him being victor with the research knowledge he has, so unfortunately his time in the Games has come to an end. Thank you so much for him, Legend! RIP Sissel.
And with that, we have our final three: Marian, Abel, and Iroha. Next chapter will be one final check in with all three of them and then the following will be the finale! Gotta get in those last minute ~reflections~ lol. Can't wait to get there!
RQ #30: Predictions will be next chapter so... I got nothing lol XD Put whatever you want here for the RQ lol.
Alrighty, see you on Friday!
