Chapter 35:

Day Four

Major Emerson-Ness, 18, District One

Major's eyes widen as he watches Odyssey's bloodstained face twist in anger as he throws the spear towards him before he has time to try and dodge it. But as he watches the path of it, the spear doesn't even make it halfway to him before weakly hitting the ground, making a laugh slip out of Major before he can help himself. This is the best District Two has to offer? Someone who can't even throw a spear to kill him? "Pathetic, really."

Time for Major to show these bitches how it's done.

Odyssey lets out what Major can only assume is a yell at his words before Major jumps into action, knowing fully well what a dangerous spot he is in surrounded by his former allies. Major shoves his right shoulder into Demarcus, sending him falling back hard towards the ground before quickly using his bow to bash Delta in the face, making her stumble back from him. He quickly grabs an arrow as Odyssey starts running towards him, not even wasting time to pick up his spear, and Major knows he'll only have time for one shot. He draws back the arrow as Odyssey gets closer, tracking the small opening in the armor on his neck and just as he's about to fire, Anastacia kicks at his legs, causing the arrow to go wide.

"Fuck you," Major yells at her as he uses the back of his hand to slap her across the face, watching in satisfaction as she steps back, hand held to her cheek and scowling at him. Major reaches for another arrow as he turns back to the biggest threat, and the smirk quickly fades from his face when Odyssey slams into him. Major gasps for air from the impact and from the heavy weight now on his chest. Major stares up at Odyssey as he grabs onto his toga, forcing him closer to his face as he yells something at him that falls on deaf ears. Major swings his fist at the side of Odyssey's head, watching as the boy from Two barely reacts to the blow, only narrowing his eyes in anger at him.

Fuck.

Odyssey slams Major's head back against the stone and Major groans in pain from the sharp crack, but before he has any time to try and fight back, Odyssey begins pummeling him in the face. Punch after punch strikes Major in the face, all while Odyssey screams something at him, but Major holds back the groans of pain he so badly wants to let slip, knowing it will only be letting Odyssey win. Major tries to punch back, but his arm is soon held down by Delta. At this, he finally lets out a yell of anger before trying to throw Odyssey off of him.

Major brings his legs up, all those years of dancing finally coming in to play, and gets his ankles locked in front of Odyssey's neck. He pushes back, forcing Odyssey back from destroying Major's face. But as Major tries to sit up, Odyssey grabs onto one of his ankles with both hands and with one quick movement, he snaps it and Major cries out sharply at the pain. Odyssey grabs onto the other ankle as Major's vision briefly blackens from the sudden pain and Major tries to brace himself for the pain of his other ankle getting broken, but it never comes.

Major blinks rapidly, finding Anastacia with her hand over Odyssey's, stopping him from breaking any more of Major's bones. She says something to the boy from Two and Major can only watch them, unable to hear a damn thing about what they have planned, but from the nasty looks they both give him, soon joined by Delta… He knows it can't be good.

Odyssey lets go of Major's ankle and soon he is being dragged to his feet by Delta who makes sure to kick at his broken ankle as she pulls his arms behind his back. He can feel his shoulders dangerously close to getting pulled out of their sockets as Odyssey leans closer to him. Major spits in his face since he can't flip him off, adding to the blood already there from Bell's death.

Odyssey scowls as he slowly wipes his face off before saying something to him that Major can clearly understand, even without his hearing. "Fuck you."

"I thought you wanted to fuck Misha, but if you insist," Major tells him with a shrug. "Geez, you sure move on fast after Bell's death."

Odyssey punches him again and Anastacia scrambles to hold him back as he curses at Major. "I…" Major starts to laugh at how much he has broken Odyssey but soon cuts off to cough up blood over himself. And if there's a chance he's not getting out of this alive…he's going to keep destroying him. "I'm glad…she's dead."

With that, Odyssey grabs onto one of his arms and Major cries out as his shoulder is popped out of place as Odyssey and Delta begin dragging him away towards the closest set of stairs out of the pit. "What- what are you doing?" Major asks quickly, looking around frantically as he tries to figure out what the hell they are doing with him. All of their weapons are behind them! "Demarcus! Help me!" Major calls, trying to get the one ally that is still on his side to help him out as they start to drag him away from there. He looks back over his shoulder, finding the boy from Four knocked out from when Major shoved him aside. "Shit," Major whispers, knowing he's alone and truly fucked.

Major whimpers as his broken ankle is dragged against the ground, partially in pain and partially in hope that they will put some pity on him. All he needs is just one moment of them putting their guard down…one moment to get free from them and change the outcome of this fight. His brain is running wild with thoughts as they get to the upper level and soon start dragging him down the stairs. "Please, don't do this," Major begs them, dragging his good foot and trying to slow them down as they lead him to wherever they have in mind. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

This earns him a kick to his broken ankle by Delta and Major gasps in pain, stumbling and only staying upright from the sharp grips of Delta and Odyssey holding him. He can feel their nails digging into his arm as they reach the lower floor and Anastacia begins trying each door they come across, some locked by the Gamemakers and some not what the three are searching for.

Major is running out of time. He can't fucking fail.

This is what his parents have been training him for his entire life. He was supposed to win the Games for both of his parents and live out the legacy they never got to achieve. If he dies…he'll have failed them. Training him for the Games was the one thing that they were always so proud of him for doing. It was all they wanted him to do…

And if he doesn't win…are they going to push his baby sister to do the same thing? He can't see her die…

Major starts shoving against Odyssey and Delta as Anastacia opens another door, ready to fight them off with everything in him. He screams in anger as he tries to slam his head into Delta's but she quickly shoves his face with her hand. He turns and bites down hard on her fingers, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth as Delta rips her hand back, making the wounds deeper. Major spits out the blood on the ground as Odyssey grabs onto the back of his hair, yanking his head back hard. "Oh, kinky, you like hair pulling. You hear that Misha?"

Odyssey might have said something to him as he shoves Major into a room and Major laughs a little at his taunt to him, but it soon trails away when Major is pushed onto his knees and Odyssey holds back both arms, letting Delta step towards the blazing forge in the room. "What are you doing?" Major asks as he watches the girl from Four take a small pot with metal ingots in it and set it over the blaze, the metal quickly beginning to melt as Anastacia stands in front of him, looking smug as fuck. He looks back at what Delta is doing and a sinking pit starts to form in his stomach, growing suspicious of just what the three of them have planned.

"Please don't do this," Major begs them, growing petrified of the death they have planned for him. He doesn't deserve to die this way. He would take anything over this! A stab wound, head crushed, his intestines spilled out, anything else. "Please!"

Anastacia steps closer to him, not looking exactly at him, and Major knows his fate is sealed when a grin slowly begins to form on her face as she shakes her head at him. "No."

Delta Zale, 17, District Four

"It's almost ready." Delta uses one of the tools nearby to poke at the semi-liquid metal, smirk of satisfaction on her face as Major pleads in the background for his life. She can't wait to watch the asshole burn for everything he's done. "Can't we gag him or something?"

"No," Anastacia responds quickly, much to Delta's disappointment. "I'm enjoying hearing him beg for his life. Turns out he does have a heart and can feel something. I thought he was just cold hearted."

"I wouldn't call it having a heart," Odyssey says bitterly as Major keeps squirming in his grasp. "I'd call it him realizing he fucked up and got caught in his lies. Is that done yet?"

Delta gives him an annoyed look over her shoulder at the impatience in his tone. "Yes, let me just speed up the rate at that this melts. You'll get back at him for Bell, just chill."

"He also has to pay for what he did to Pad," Anastacia says quietly, crossing her arms as she glares at Major. She keeps talking to him, even though he can't hear a thing she's saying – which is a damn shame. "You thought you could get away with this, didn't you? You thought you could lie and cheat the people around you to get here. Well guess what? You're not getting away with this."

"I can't believe I didn't see this," Odyssey tells them, angrily staring down at Major in front of him. The boy is in rough shape from his fight with Bell and this…this has just been the icing on the cake of shitting things happening to him. "Fell right into his tricks. Bell knew…"

"You weren't the only one," Anastacia reassures him, but it only makes his scowl grow deeper.

"It's ready," Delta calls back to them, turning to give them a thumbs up so Major can see that his death has come. "Time for the bastard to burn."

"I'm sorry!" Major pleads with them as Delta picks up the pot of hot liquid metal, desperately attempting to save his life. "I'm sorry for whatever I did!"

"You're not sorry!" Anastacia yells at him, her own anger finally reaching a boiling point. She points accusingly at him, "You're just sorry that you got caught! You're not sorry that you tried to manipulate all of us, or that you abused Shard, or that you- you-" Anastacia cuts of as she takes a shaky breath and blinks a couple times, fighting back tears. When she continues, her voice is low as she steps closer to Major who has fallen quiet, staring at her with wide eyes. "Give me that pot."

"Gladly," Delta answers as she carefully steps over to Anastacia. Major stares up at them, actually crying tears of fear as Anastacia holds her hands out for the pot of metal. His split lip quivers as he pleads with them as Anastacia crouches down to be closer to his face level.

"Burn in hell, asshole," Anastacia quietly says in Major's face before standing up straight, the corners of her lips pulling up into a smug smile as she flips him off with both hands. She then holds out her hands to Delta, who carefully hands her the hot pot of liquid metal.

"No!" Major screams as he frantically starts squirming in Odyssey's grip. He kicks around and tries to lunge forward as Anastacia starts pouring the metal, dragging Odyssey with him and the boy from Two only has time to get one hand clear before two screams sound in the room. Delta can only stand back and watch as metal is poured over Major by Anastacia, the girl looking completely unforgiving as she kills her District partner. Major's screams are ear piercing as his head and face is burned by the metal pouring down before suddenly cutting off from metal covering his airways. His body convulses in pain as the metal solidifies around him, until he slumps to the ground with a loud clink of the metal hitting the stone.

Boom.

The only sound left in the room is Odyssey's screams as he clutches his right hand to his chest. Delta stares at the hand encased in metal from him not getting back in time to avoid it, frozen in place and useless. Tears pour down his cheeks as he curls up on the floor, pain overwhelming him the seared skin under the metal. Delta cringes a little at the injury, only able to imagine how badly that must hurt, before her attention is brought back to the dead tribute in front of them.

Anastacia starts slowly laughing, building in volume until it's a full out cackle. She leans over, hands on her knees as she points over at Major. "Fuck you, Major!"

But her laughter soon cuts off as Odyssey cries out in pain. "Someone," he grits his teeth through the pain, clearly struggling to focus on anything other than the pain to form words. "Fucking…help me!"

Delta and Anastacia both turn their attention over to him and Delta lets out a sigh, feeling…pity as she watches him writhe on the floor in pain, clutching a hand that will no longer work. And also…understanding? She's not used to this feeling… Sadness? Fuck it, she doesn't know what. All she knows is that she feels pity for him in pain, both physical and mental from the loss of Bell.

"What happened to him?" Anastacia asks, unaware of the injury she unknowingly contributed towards from her focus purely on Major.

"Metal got on his hand," Delta tells her, frowning as she stares down at Odyssey who looks up at them with tear stained eyes. She stares at his hand, the way it's curled into a fist and coated in silver metal. "There's no way we're getting that off…"

"Oh…" Anastacia says quietly, frowning for just a moment, but her excitement at Major's death doesn't keep her frowning for long. She tries to look in Odyssey's direction and gives an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that, kind of blind. I didn't mean it."

Delta takes a couple steps closer to Odyssey and at seeing her face, he scrambles on the floor away from her, whimpering in pain and fear. "Get back!" He tells her as she crouches down in front of her, even though he's weaponless.

She should just kill him now…bring herself one step closer to victory. Not like he's going to get very far now when his dominant hand his damaged beyond use, removing any possibility of him using a bow anymore. And yet she stays still, staring down at the sad boy. "I'm sorry," she tells him. Not because she's going to kill him. But…

Because she knows what he's feeling. She knows what kind of loss he's feeling right now from Bell's death. She just went through that a year ago with her father… She knows the burning hot rage he felt that led them here that will soon turn to soul crushing sadness, a deep pit that feels inescapable. Then the feeling of needing to do something to fill the void…yet the void hasn't been filled for her. She's killed rebels…yet still feels so empty.

Delta shakes her head as she reaches for the belt of knives around her waist. She removes one and gently tosses it to him, pity stopping her from leaving him with absolutely nothing. And, well…he did help them out with killing Major. "I'm sorry about Bell, really. I…good luck out there."

Odyssey nods his head as he whimpers in pain once more, reaching out with his good hand to shakily pick up the knife before holding it defensively in front of him, clearly not trusting her completely. And he shouldn't…maybe he'll be alright on his own.

"Come on, Anastacia," Delta calls to the girl from One who is still looking over in Odyssey's direction.

"We're just leaving him?" Anastacia asks curiously, raising one eyebrow as she turns in Delta's direction. "Why?"

Delta just shrugs, really not having a good explanation for why she is just leaving him. She should kill him now, bring their numbers down to eight remaining, but she can't. "The career pack is done," Delta says, avoiding the topic.

"What about Demarcus?" Anastacia asks her as Delta leaves the room and the whimpering Odyssey behind, hating this feeling in her of pity for him. So she does the only thing she knows: put it behind her and try to pretend it doesn't exist.

"Forget him," Delta responds, briefly glancing back over her shoulder to make sure that Anastacia is following her. "He supported Major."

"I don't think he knew better," Anastacia tries to reason with her, but it's useless.

Delta shakes her head as she heads towards the nearest staircase, "Doesn't matter. He's on his own now. We get supplies and move on."

"Move on to what?"

Delta stops, putting out her hand to stop Anastacia from walking right into her. She stares at her last remaining ally for a moment, the smile lingering there from finally getting her revenge against Major. If she was smart…she should leave her behind. Yet…part of her, for some unknown reason that confuses her just as much as the feeling towards Odyssey, keeps her from leaving Anastacia behind. "Move on to victory."

Night Four

Anastacia Astoria, 18, District One

A deep sense of fulfillment fills Anastacia as she puts her arms behind her head and lays back, facing the open night sky above them from the top level of the arena. Any minute now, the anthem should be playing and showing the last glimpse of the bastard that was her District partner.

Part of her was worried that killing him wouldn't change anything and leaving her feeling emptier. But if anything…it gave her a bigger drive. She actually did something to stop someone who was abusing people. She killed an abuser, and not just anyone. Anastacia Astoria did that.

It…might have been too late for Pad… But she got justice for them. For years and years, she wondered why them. Why did those things have to happen to them? Was there something she could have done differently? It took a long time, but she finally got that answer and she made the changes she could now… And she knows that they are surely looking down on her now and proud of where she is. Now…now she can help other people that are in situations like Pad or Shard, or like Beryl last year, and get them in a better place. Get them out of the abusive households and in a safe place. She's one step closer to reaching the goal she's had for years. Only eight more people stand in her way now…

And most importantly, Major will never have another chance to be a manipulative snake. He got what he deserved…he finally got burned for all the people he lied and manipulated over the years. She knows his death was brutal and yet…she's not apologizing for it. Why shouldn't he suffer in his last moments after he made people suffer?

The anthem begins to play, bringing a smile to her face as tears start to form. "It was all for you, Pad…" Anastacia says softly and tries to discretely wipe away her tears, even though Delta surely must see her doing so. It's an odd feeling in her, this satisfaction at Major's death mixed with the lingering guilt that if she would have known sooner, maybe she could have stopped Pad's death…

But their death happened so long ago… As much as she wishes she could change it, there's nothing else she can do now except keeping moving forward. Keep moving forward and do her best to protect others at risk and vulnerable like Pad.

"There he is, the smug bastard," Delta tells her as Major's face appears. "He got what was coming to him, that's for sure. I hate liars and cheaters."

"I wish I could have seen his face," Anastacia responds, shaking her head at her lack of sight. If there is anything she wishes she could see in this world…first it would be Pad still alive. But second would be that snake begging her for forgiveness that he will never get from her.

"So do I," Delta tells her from where she lays next to her, surprisingly subdued all evening. "I've never seen him look that petrified. And Odyssey beat him up good."

"Sounded like it," Anastacia answers quietly as the anthem stops and they fall into silence for a few minutes, letting Anastacia think about their former ally. She didn't mean to hurt him while killing Major, but also at this point in the Games, everyone is just doing what's necessary. Except… "Hey Delta?"

"Hmm?" Delta says next to her and Anastacia hears some rustling as Delta moves around, trying to find a more comfortable spot to lay on the cold hard ground.

"Why didn't you kill Odyssey?" Anastacia asks curiously, turning her head to face Delta. When her ally stays quiet for a while, she keeps talking, unable to know what kind of unspoken thing she's saying. "He seemed weak and…vulnerable. We could have been at the final eight now…"

"I…" Delta gives a heavy sigh and falls quiet once more, and Anastacia lets her be, knowing by now that she'll talk if she wants and no one can change that. "I don't really know… Poor guy just seemed broken…" Delta clears her throat before changing the topic away from her, "But how do you feel now that he's gone?"

Anastacia rolls with the change, not wanting to start anything with her right now. Not when she's the only ally she has left. "Good," Anastacia answers honestly as she sits up. She feels around for one of the blankets they took when gathering supplies from the cornucopia and smushes it up in a ball to use as a pillow as she lays back down. "Satisfied, really. I didn't know what he was up to until the Games but…it feels good to get vengeance for what he did to my friend years ago… Cheaters and abusers don't deserve to get away unpunished. I suppose it feels like I accomplished a big goal, you know?"

"Not really," Delta mutters, so quiet Anastacia isn't really certain if she fully heard her. But rustling down below gives Delta something else to focus on. Anastacia can hear Delta moving around to peer down below to their old camp. "Demarcus is waking up."

"I feel kind of bad…" Anastacia says quietly as she hears Demarcus calling out for them and hearing no response. She can imagine exactly what he's feeling right now, being blind and waking up from getting knocked out to find all of his allies are gone…

But it's the Hunger Games. She shouldn't be feeling bad for one of the tributes that's her competition. Not when she's getting so much closer to achieving her life goals.

"He got the bag we left," Delta tells her and Anastacia nods her head. That was the least they could do for him since they were leaving him behind. They could have been a lot worse and killed him while he was unconscious. She thinks Delta even bandaged up his head for him… "He's…heading towards the stairs."

"No point staying out there alone," Anastacia says with a shrug before adjusting her makeshift pillow again. "Maybe he'll find Odyssey down below. Either way, better off for him that he wasn't involved in everything earlier. He might have done something stupid because of Major."

Delta scoffs at this and actually chuckles a little. "I'm sure he would have. He's not bad, just…"

"Competition?" Anastacia offers. "Your biggest threat to not being the one returning home to Four?"

"Yeah," Delta agrees, the laughter dying from her voice. She lets out a sigh and Anastacia hears rustling next to her as Delta gets comfortable next to her, laying close as they haven't started a fire up here. It just feels…dangerous, going from six to two in 24 hours. "I think it would be easier to have someone like Major as your District partner."

Anastacia snorts at this and shakes her head, really not believing that anyone would ever want Major as their District partner. She's ashamed to have him as her own and she's glad to now be District One's shot at victory. "You don't want that."

"You're right, I don't," Delta laughs once more. "But it would be a little easier if I could just hate Demarcus. But…what can you do? Anyways… You go ahead and get some sleep," Delta tells her through a yawn. Anastacia gives her a confused look, not understanding her tone…but decides it's best not to question now. "I'll take first watch. You've earned some rest after today."

"I suppose," Anastacia answers softly, even if her mind still feels alert from the adrenaline of the day, with the Trial by Combat and then Major's death. So much has changed in just a few hours today. But she can feel the exhaustion in her body, so at the very least she can just rest…

And for the first time since entering the arena, she's not afraid to fall asleep and be vulnerable around her allies. She no longer has to worry about her District partner trying to take her down.

All that's left for her to worry about is getting back home to One.

Eulogies:

Major Emerson-Ness [1], Ranked 10th, Killed by Anastacia [1]:

We all knew this has been coming for a long time now. I knew it, you knew it, we were all waiting for it from the start of his manipulation. But woo boy what a wild ride this cold hearted snake has been! I really couldn't imagine having this story without Major as part of it and I'm genuinely sad that I will no longer get to write him, but it was his time. He played with fire and he got burned - quite literally. He was so much more than just a villain and had such a sad reason for being the way he is. Doesn't excuse him, but does make you understand him a bit more. If he hadn't been doomed by Clark, he honestly would have had a good shot at becoming the victor. Thank you so much for sending this absolutely delightful villain for me to write, Celtic! RIP Major.

And now...now we enter a new chapter of the Games, one with a fractured career pack and no more snakes in the arena. I'm actually really sad Major won't be around anymore, even though I've been very hyped to reach this point as his death was the first thing I planned for the arena! We will get back to our regularly scheduled non-career drama next chapter, but these two events just needed to be the sole focus of the chapters. And we only have one death to go until we reach our final 8 interviews, so who will it be?

Well everyone, this will be the last Senseless update for 2019 (and what a chapter to end the year on XD) so happy new years and I will see you all in 2020.