Ezra Arlington, 18
District One Male
Victor of the 75th Hunger Games
When I woke up, the room was empty aside from the small hum of the machines beside me. The room was dark and cold and nothing like the resting place of a victor. I pushed myself up on one arm and looked around, trying to see shapes through the frosted glass. Nothing.
My body was covered with a thin blanket and when I pulled free the fabric, I found my torso covered in bandages. As I looked at them, fresh and crisp, I tried to remember when I had become injured in that area. But when I saw that my arms were also covered, I assumed there was another reason.
I wasn't sure what I expected to see as a victor, and I must have been a victor. I for one expected to wake up to Paisley, but she was gone. At least a grander room, Avox ready to tend to my every need. Unless this was punishment, maybe I had achieved what I set out to do.
I smiled at the thought. They couldn't hurt me, I had no family left and as the only Victor, they would have to accept me. It seemed childish but It somewhat warmed my cold body.
However, my joy was short lived when the door burst open, allowing a group of Peacekeepers to flood in. Naked and vulnerable, I was forced to move away and recoil, pulling the covers over myself. At first, I thought they might execute me but when Snow arrived, I knew we would be talking terms.
The old man pulled the armchair that was beside my bed around to face me, displaying more strength from the man than I expected. Then he seated, crossing one leg over the other and looking deep into my eyes.
"You caused us a lot of trouble, Mr. Arlington." he sighed, shaking his head.
"Am I alone?" I asked, ignoring Snow's words. A smile spread across my face. "Did I win alone?"
Snow let out a small laugh, cocking his head to the side. "In here, yes. As a victor, no." my body sagged and I felt the energy leave my body. The feeling that everything I did, was for nothing. The fight so I would never have to devote my life to another person, futile. "We thought that, for her safety, it was best to place you in separate rooms."
"Her," I mumbled under my breath. It must have been Akhal then. Akhal was the only girl that could have made it out. It made it worse that she was a female, now I would have to do everything a loving couple was expected to. At least with a man, the children would be adopted.
Snow nodded. "When we arrived at your...mess, only Akhal and Frederick were breathing, clinging onto life. Frederick died on the way to the hospital, Akhal herself almost didn't make it. It was a shame, I planned to crown them the Victor's and have you made into an Avox. Then again, why not let you suffer from the thing you fought so hard to avoid."
"Are you here to lecture me?" I asked, glancing over to the man. A snake-like smile spread across his lips. "You might think you are invincible, Mr. Arlington like I can't touch you...but that is not true. I can give and take things away from you in the snap of my fingers. I can find the men who raped Paisley, the ones you missed and punish them, in a manner you agree with. Even if that is leaving you within a room with them-"
"And if I don't?"
"They say the walls can see within the Districts. We archive any footage we capture, including the moments of Paisleys...misfortune. I can publish that footage across Panem, to all the outcasts across our nation. I can make you watch it every day for the rest of your life. I can make Paisley been seen as nothing more than a sexualized woman. I can kill her family, I can kill Akhal's, I can even kill your future children in a dazzling array of ways. I can sell you both to whoever was willing to pay and then sell that footage until everyone knows you both as only the people in the adult films. And when all of that is done, I will leave you to live in District Ten with Akhal. The girl who you stole a family from, her dignity and her children. I wouldn't give it long until she took matters into her own hands while you slept."
The room fell silent and even a few Peacekeepers shifted awkwardly on the spot. Just the thought of his threats made my blood boil but raising a hand to the man would have to give him the motive to incite his threat.
"What do you want me to do?"
"You arrive at that interview in a few days time and you act like you have adored Akhal since the start. That once Paisley was gone, she was all you had. Don't worry about trying to kill her, just say how you were protecting her...how you needed to win with her. Then when that is done, you will get married to her without complaint, you will greet her family like the son-in-law you will be and that night, you will consummate the marriage. As soon as possible, you will both produce a child. You will say you love Akhal and any children you may have, saying how thankful you are to the Capitol of bringing you together until the day you die. Paisley, forgotten. From this day on, you are a victor, husband of Akhal Arlington and father to her children. You will not move back to District One or express a desire too. If you do these things to my standard. No harm will come to you, your family or Paisley's."
I bit my lip as I thought about my words, desperately trying to figure out a way to wiggle free. It was useless. Even Paisley would have told me that. She always knew, unlike me, when to step back from a fight. She was never close to her family but she wouldn't want to have seen them executed, neither would she have wanted her history to have been known. So with a grimace, I looked at the old man and agreed to his terms.
Two Days Later...
"Now remember, twenty-two other Tributes couldn't be here so you could, so make it worth it!" my escort sang as she struggled to keep up with me in her heels. I gave a grunt in response, tugging at the glossy, silver shirt they had placed me in for the interview. "Be all smiles and...be nice to the girl...I'm sure she is still shaken up after what you did to her in the finale."
I pulled a face at the memory, he screams in pain as each arrow I shot Frederick with hit her in turn. The way her jaw shattered when my arrow hit her face. I didn't feel bad for her, I felt bad for me. I had to now pretend that I loved her, that my feelings ran deep. That she was all I had ever wanted. The girl I showered with arrows, the girl who would never be able to look me in the eye. My concerns were not calmed when I saw her standing at the stairs to the stage, steering me down.
She was dressed in silver and blue, like me but her once, dark blonde hair was now dyed a shimmering silver. Her face had changed as well. Her jaw has been altered, shortening her long, solemn looking face into a short, round feminin one. Her large, hooked nose had been shortened into a cute one with a slight curve at the end, even her eyes were wider and now ice blue. She looked far prettier than before, which in turn, made her less attractive to me. Any unique features had vanished, replaced by something generic and un-interesting. Then again, if bland was the beauty standered, that is how I must have looked as they did nothing to alter my face, aside from a tan. Most of the work was placed upon my body, making it more muscular. I wasn't even sure how much was earned and what they just placed inside of me.
"Your dress looks nice," I said, trying to avoid the topic of physical appearance. Akhal recoiled slightly, turning away from me as she mumbled her thanks.
"You liked it during the ball too," she sighed, looking down at the diamonds that glittered under the spotlights. As I looked at the dress, I felt like a idiot for not noticing before. It was the same dress I had complimented her on almost two months ago. Back then, I was just trying to start a conversation, but it was a nice dress.
"Do you think that's why they chose it?" I asked, crossing my arms across my chest.
"I assume so," she said turning to look at me, tears in her eyes. "To give us a reason to be in love," she spat the last two words with sarcasm. It angered me, my efforts to be polite shot down but it was my job to grovel, I was the one that put us both at risk.
"So you met with Snow too?"
"Of course, he threaten your family too if we don't convince them of our love?" She asked.
I shrugged. "I don't have a family but he did threaten me, yes-"
"I'm sorry," she said, her face softening slightly. For a moment, I relaxed, the first time someone had ever aproached my lack of family in a kind manner, aside from Paisley. Then the rage hit.
"Don't pity me," I snapped. "Just do what the old fart says so neither of us dies, alright?"
The girl just gave a slow nod as she turned away from me, looking back towards the stage. Ceaser jumped around, running over the events of the Games briefly before starting to introduce myself and Akhal.
"Now, we all had lots of pairs we wanted to go home, some in love, some just friends but sometimes, the love was more hidden than we thought and sometimes that secretive love is what prevails. So may I present to you our victors of the 75th Hunger Games, Ezra Arlington, and Akhal Breker!" As the crowd cheered, the two of us were pushed onto the stage. The stage had a very similar set up to our Tribute interviews although this time, the screens behind us were adorned in the sigals from District One and Ten.
Ceaser gestured to a set of seats, side by side and we took our place, the fakest smiles upon our faces.
"So," Caesar began as he sat in front of us, "I hear the Ezra has already popped the question?" my smile dropped as I looked over to Akhal. The girl seemed to understand as with a smile, she showed Ceaser her hand, a large diamond set in silver on her finger. The crowd gasped and Ceaser clapped his hands in delight.
"It's beautiful, isn't it," Akhal mused but I could see in her eyes she hated this as much as I did.
"Ezra, my boy!" Ceaser exclaimed, turning to me. "You really do have an eye, I must say."
"Of course I do," I said, cleaning my throat. "I've from the District of Luxury!" I said to the crowd and earing a few cheers. Hopefully saving myself from the clear shock when I saw the ring.
"And can we expect a wedding ring off as much grandeur?" The crowd seemed to lean in close, itching for any form of information about our big day. Truth was, I hadn't even thought about the wedding and even if I had, I found it unlikely I would ever have a choice on what ring I gave her.
"Well I hope so," I said through a voice crack. "Anything for the girl I love," I said through a grin that was starting to hurt my cheeks. The crowd cooed and Ceaser laughed, leaning forward and slapping me on my knee.
"Watch out fellas!" He roared to the crowd, bearly visible from my position thanks for the bright lights. "Every woman in town will want a man like Ezra before the night is done!"
I hope not. I thought. Marrying Akhal is more than enough.
"Now, before we get carried away with your love today, I think we should go back and look at how this all started?" The crowd started to cheer loudly and Ceaser let out a laugh. "Of course you do, let's start the showreel!" I watched as the screens re-positioned to make one large screen and in a flash, the lights in the room dimmed. There was a squeak of leather as Ceaser leaned in towards me and Akhal. "You might want to hold hands for this bit, it's a real tear jerker!" He said with a laugh but I knew it was more of a request. There was only so much Ceaser could work with, he needed us to do the rest. So, without more forth question, I took Akhal's hand and we started to watch the overview of the Games. The trials I knew all to well even though they seemed like a lifetime ago. It only really hit me when the bloodbath was announced and I knew what I would have to see. But first, I had to watch my kill of Stefan and then the humiliation of Nicholas stealing my bow and arrow. When it cut back to camp, I shut my eyes, unable to stand seeing Hyacinth and Invidia hurt Paisley. The thing was, neither of them was to be seen. The camera focusing on Akhal and her alliance. Then, when Akhal was attacked by Paisley, the pieces started to fall into place. I watched as the girls faught and when Frederick pulled the trigger on his crossbow to save Akhal. I tightened my grip around Akhal's hand, digging my nails into the skin. When Invidia taunted Paisley, I felt happy I shot an arrow into her body. Yet, I still looked over to Akhal my eyes cold and unforgiving. She didn't seem frightened, instead she looked back with the same hatred. As if I didn't already know, I was soon shown why.
I watched as I plunged one of his own arrows into Nicholas, taunting the boy as he screamed. Now it was Akhal's turn to dig her much longer nails into my palm. However, as we expected to see my attempts to murder her after Laura was shot, the footage was not we had lived.
Now, as I ran, Frederick quickly pulled free a dagger and held it towards Akhal's throat. Frederick then ranted about how they knew I would come after Akhal after confessing my feelings for her, how he and he alone planned to win with Akhal but wanted to kill her as she loved me. It was masterfully done but clearly fabricated. Yet, the crowd ate it up, cheering on the death of Frederick and cheating when, with a single arrow, I shot it into his eye. I then got down on one knee, confessed my love for Akhal and we embraced as the hovercraft arrived, smiling and waving at the camera.
Just say you were protecting her. Akhal struggled to keep a smile on her face after the footage, her eyes cast on the floor and the grip against my hand so hard it was drawing blood. I allowed her a pass as the pain was the only thing keeping my anger in.
Caesar noticed Akhal crying and his face softened turning to the girl. "Oh don't cry, darling-"
"It's just very traumatic for her...for both of us," I said through gritted teeth, trying my best to smile and make up for Akhal's lapse. The crowd erupted in a chorus of sympathy for the girl as Caesar lent forward and placed a hand on her lap.
"You don't have to worry anymore, Frederick is gone," This stung the girl as her eyes shut tightly. "I wouldn't let you leave this stage with anyone less than Ezra...you have a man who loves you and a new family within the Capitol...you don't have to be frightened anymore."
Akhal fell silent as she looked out into the crowd, trying to catch her breath. I, meanwhile, started to squeeze her hand, begging her to speak to at least not do anything stupid. Finally, she spoke although her voice was broken and breathless.
"It's all I could ask for."
Ten years later…
Ezra and Akhal stuck to their promise to Snow and acted in love, even through out their wedding. They first and only slip up came during their victory tour when both confessed their feelings for Nicholas and Paisley. In Four, Akhal was gifted the lion ring of Nicholas which she wore as her wedding ring.
Back in Ten, Ezra never gained a warm reception from the people there due to his murder of Frederick. Akhal meanwhile helped Frederick's parents with money and funded the opening of a Cattle farm in Frederick's honour.
During their victory tour, the pair found out about Akhal's pregnancy. They were warned not to name the child after Paisley or Nicholas so named the little boy Sterling Arlington. A blonde and blue eyed boy who took after Akhal.
Four years later, the pair also had their first daughter, Opal Arlington. A girl with tight, blonde ringlets and grey eyes who was a double of Ezra. She was the first time Ezra softened towards a child. The pair were very close and Ezra warmed to the girls love for weapons.
Five years later, they had their second son, a boy named Lloyd with curly blonde hair and dark eyes, named after Akhal's father who died a few months before his birth.
Ezra still kept his cold streak but warmed to his life with Akhal, her family and was a good father to his children. It was even safe to say he loved his sons and most of all his daughter. And although he never found the will to love Akhal, the pair became friends, Allies in the world of victors. They even learned to enjoy each others company. They even learned to find enjoyment in more intimate moments. Even if Akhal was at the end of his rage most days.
Ten years on from their victory as they watched a new victor crowned, the pair are expecting their fourth child. At the age of twenty-eight, the Games seem like a lifetime away from the events of the 75th Hunger Games.
In the future, Ezra and Akhal would go on to have one more daughter, Aura and Opal Arlington would go on to win the 96th Hunger Games.
5th Place: Invidia Aurel, District 2 Female. Bled to death through wound in chest.
4th Place: Nicholas Davenport, District 4 Male. Bled out from wound in stomach.
3rd Place: Frederick Loophole, District 10 Male. Died from wounds after knocking Ezra out.
Victors: Ezra Arlington, District One Male and Akhal Brekker, District Ten Female.
Ezra and Akhal were my Victor's from the very start. I hint at them a few times throughout the story. Their conversation at the ball when Ezra told Akhal he would make her death quick as she wasn't a bad person. When Akhal said she would choose Ezra before Frederick. And a few times she notes him as attractive. I did think about changing the Victor's later in the story but for this compact ending, I decided to go with my original plan.
So congratulations to their submitters, if they are still reading. Thank you to everyone who submitted and continued to read. I'm sorry they couldn't all win and pretty much everyone was a victor at some point in this story.