Hyacinth Rodgers, 17
District 12 Male
Paired with Qanom Harklee, District 5 Male
Me and Qanom were the first to arrive at the feast, or at least it seemed that way. It took place where our camp once was, half of it circled by trees and the other half backing onto an endless sea of space. On the floor in the centre were multiple bags, numbered with each pair. It was a strange concept to grasp but the pairs had no doubt changed a lot since we were last saw everyone together. Neither of us had bothered to keep count which might have been out first mistake. We had no clue who was paired with who. Thus, who we could trust.
"At least Noelani won't be after us," Qanom grumbled. He took relief in her death more than anything. I took pride. We outlived her and thus won her bet. It was looking up for us two. Now in the final ten, there were six living male including us and only five girls. It was close, but it was positive nonetheless.
"The longer we wait, the more likely we are to be attacked," I offered after moments of silence.
"We don't know that-"
"I'll run if you like, it's not that far, I could be there and back before someone even had the chance to move." It was an idea that made my stomach turn but I knew one of us would have to step out and get a pack at some point. I pulled back from the area with a silent nod, unable to look my partner in the eye. He smiled at me but I was unable to return it.
"Wish me luck," he mumbled before leaping out from the tree line and towards the bags. Meanwhile, I watched on from the sidelines, anxious and uneasy as he made his way to the bags.
It felt like a lifetime watching it but in reality it was a few seconds. When only feet away, Cerulean burst out from the undergrowth, picking up as many bags as possible, including the one numbered for us. When she saw Qanom, she raced around him hoping to dodge her. When he picked up the bag labeled number five and swung at her head, knocking her to the ground.
The girl scrambled to her feet in a blind panic but Qanom was swift and quickly brought his foot down on her face, shattering the bone underneath. I wanted him to finish his kill and knock another competitor out. However, flustered and stressed, he dropped the number five backpack, picked up ours and started to run back to me.
He was so close that I could hear his frantic breath under his voice. So close that when the spear flew through the air, lodging in his chest, the blood hit my face. So close I could just reach out and grab the bag from his dying hands.
Although it cut me deep, I ran the moment the bag was mine, leaving my partner to bleed out. The spear could have only come from a Career and grief would have only made me a sitting duck.
Invidia Aurel, 18
District 2 Female
Paired with Fredrick Loophole, District Ten Male
I wasn't one to feel bad about a kill, it wasn't in my nature. However, I felt bad when I was wrong. In the heat of the moment, I was sure Qanom had taken my backpack, labeled number five. It was only when Hyacinth raced back into the woods I saw it was really his own. When I walked past Cerulean who was still coming two after Qanom's kick, I noticed my pack by her feet. I had anticipated someone trying to steal my pack, but I expected Frederick, who I had recently been paired up with or Ezra in revenge for Paisley. Cerulean was the last person I would have expected. It angered me enough to have no remorse about hitting the girl while she was down. I pulled free the spear from the body of Qanom and walked over to the girl who was trying to stand and most likely could not even see my through her closed, swollen eyes. I assumed she couldn't as no protest escaped from her lips as I charged at her, thrusting my sword into her chest and through her heart. I admired her, stronger than most from her District. However, all that earned with me was a quick death.
Not wanting to be out in the open too long, I picked up my pack and ran back into the forest, catching a glimpse of Frederick and Akhal hiding in the undergrowth. They would have been easy kills but there was no way of knowing where Ezra was. I also had no interest in pairing with Frederick. Beckham was the only guy worth winning with. Now he was gone, there was little to no reason to win with anyone else. This year, I was going to be the only victor.
Frederick Loophole, 16
District 10 Male
Paired with Invidia Aurel, District Two Female
I watched Invidia vanish into the darkness and felt my stomach drop. No doubt she had out pack and had no idea of sharing. Akhal followed my gaze, only relaxing once she had gone.
"What do you think was inside?" she asked. I shrugged.
"Bread, maybe? I have mentioned it a lot...what about you?"
"Food as well, unless...Niko has asked for anything else." She looked out towards the bags again. We truly were the first ones here, here before the bags had even been placed. Or at least in the area. Yet, she didn't want to move until Niko emerged to pick up their pack. She worried if she took it, Niko would not come out of hiding. She was the reason I had not made a break for my own pack. Although, that might have been for the best. Seeing Invidia slaughter Qanom and Cerulean, I had no doubt she would have done the same for me.
"We should go, it's getting dark-"
"Niko?" Akhal whispered, edging forward as the blonde boy burst through the undergrowth, brandishing a bow and quiver. He was quickly followed by June and Mikeo who picked up their packs and whatever was left on the ground. Six's backpack for June and Ceruleans for Mikeo.
As Akhal moved to stand, I quickly pulled her back to the ground, gripping her arm tightly.
"There is no telling if they will accept us again," I growled. Yet Akhal said nothing In reply. It felt like a crushing weight but I could tell she wasn't concerned about my thoughts. So with a nod, I pulled my hand free and allowed her to run towards the clearing.
I stayed silent for a moment, watching as she emerged from the darkness. I expected Niko to put and arrow through his head but instead the two hugged. June and Mikeo greeted her. As Niko held her close, I caught a glimpse of a smile that I thought was unique for my company.
Upon seeing this, I rose into view of the group and offered a small wave. They offered one back but Niko looked uneasy to see me, his grip loosening on Akhal. But after a few silent words from Akhal, the three seemed to relax and Niko even offered a smile in return.
The four started to move towards me when something raced out from behind them, knocking Mikeo to the ground. Akhal and Niko wasted little time in running away, but June watched in horror for a few seconds as Ezra drove his knife into the eye socket of Mikeo, killing him instantly. Then she ran after us, not looking back at her fallen partner.
Ezra Arlington, 18
District One Male
Paired with Cerulean Westwood, District Eight Female
The group was gone by the time I was finished with Mikeo and I had little interest in chasing after them. Even as a Career, just me with a knife against four people, two of which had weapons, the odds were not in my favour. Instead, I grabbed my pack out of Mikeo's hands along with Laura's and headed back to the place I had told her to hide.
I slung both packs over my shoulders and grabbed Laura by her curly hair, dragging her away from the feast. It was a few minutes before we made it to a sheltered place where I threw her on the floor and sat down. I picked both of our packs up and emptied the contents on the ground for us both to see. I had been given a thermal top over the weapon I needed and Laura had been given a canister of water and bread roll. Attached to eat of our items was a not that Laura, without persuasion tore off and started to read from.
Frederick Loophole, 16
District 10 Male
Paired with Invidia Aurel, District Two Female
"By dawn tomorrow, all Tributes must be united with their partner by the meadow, your way will be guided."
No one said anything after Niko spoke, June looked lost as she thought about his words. It had been announced a few hours before that she had been paired with Ezra who was the last person she wanted to be with. Even if she didn't make her fear known to the alliance. I myself was still paired with Invidia. Not Akhal. And unless Niko fell within the next few hours, I never would be.
"Do you think it is the final?" Akhal asked the group. I assumed it was another event to pass the time but we were down to the final four pairs now. Most finals took place when it was the final four Tributes.
"I think so," I sighed, running my finger over the head of my arrows.
"That means that by midday, all but two of us will be dead," June whimpered, her gaze towards the ground. "For six people, tonight is their last night on earth-"
"Then we all need to act like it is," Akhal snapped, agitated by the situation. "Moping around won't get us anywhere, we need to live." As she said this, she glanced over to Niko who gave a small nod.
Nicholas Davenport, 16
District Four Male
Paired with Akhal Brekker, District Ten Female
After Akhal's words, June decided she wanted to climb and gaze at the night sky. Frederick offered to keep watch, leaving me and Akhal at camp by ourselves.
I sat down opposite the girl on the ground, the fire burning away behind me and looked into her eyes. It seemed weeks since I last looked at her this way. Even after being reunited, Mikeo's death had given either of us a real chance to talk.
"Are you going to kill Frederick now?" She asked with unease. "Now he no longer has Althea?" I thought back to our conversation the night before the Arena, when I vowed to kill Frederick the moment he stopped being useful.
"We need him, he is the only other person with a weapon...I also owe him for protecting you."
"I don't think he was doing it on your behalf," Akhal sighed. "He still wants to go home. But, if he wanted to kill you, I know he would have done it by now." I thought about her words and smiled. I guess he was using me as much as I was using him.
"Tell me honestly, did anything happen in the days when you were alone with him?" I asked. The girls face became white.
"No," she said bluntly. "He admitted he liked me but I never replied...I wasn't interested." She paused, looking at me with confusion. "Now, you tell me honestly, do you truly like me?" I threw my head back at these words, trying to find the right thing to say. Trouble was, I had always found it hard to lie.
"I like you, I like you a lot. But as much as it seems now, I am not sure." this seemed to hurt Akhal's feelings as she removed her gaze from me and back to the ground. So I quickly grabbed her hands in mind and pulled her closer. "What I am trying to say is that we will still have work to do on the outside. They mess with our emotions in here, they make us feel in love and I am worried we will feel different if we win."
"But do you still want to win with me-" I offered a smile.
"Of course, there is no one else. And I truly believe we can have a future." Akhal seemed to brighten up but the sadness never left her eyes. "I promise," the words left my lips as I leaned forward and planted a kiss on hers.
Frederick Loophole, 16
District 10 Male
Paired with Invidia Aurel, District Two Female
I stood with my back to the tree June was in, crossbow loaded and my eyes straining to see something in the dark. There were strange noises coming from the camp that told me I wasn't welcome and June wasn't being very talkative from up in the tree.
The temperature had started to drop and my breath was freezing before my eyes. I had become somewhat distracted by the smoke like breath that when a figure appeared next to me, I had little time to react.
I turned my crossbow towards them, only to have it knocked out of my hand and a spear head placed against my neck. As my eyes adjusted, the figure turned out to be Invidia with a pair of night vision goggles on. She pulled them off and smiled, a wide, toothy grin.
"So," she asked. "Are we gonna win this thing or do I have to kill you too?"
11th Place: Qanom Harklee, District 5 Male10th Place: Cerulean Westwood, District 8 Female9th Place: Mikeo Nuez, District 8 Male