Coutille Harrow, 15

District Eight Female

Coutille was not sure why she stuck by Belinda as they ran from the mutt. Every bone in her body told her to drive her sword into the girls back, get the final number to two and go from there. However, Coutille was smarter than that. Evelyn was still out there, she was stronger than her and Belinda. But both, together, at the same time? Well, her odds increased.

They rounded another corner and a hedge shot across their path, almost crushing Belinda. The curly haired girl stumbled backward, Coutille being the only thing that stopped her from falling to the floor.

"What is the point of Orienteering being my skill if the Arena keeps changing?" Belinda hissed to nobody in particular.

Coutille gave a sigh as her eagle guide landed on her shoulder. "They are trying to lead us somewhere."

"I know that," Belinda grumbled. "No doubt into Evelyn's sword, they want a show-"

"If that...thing doesn't take her out first," Coutille offered, trying to be positive about the situation. Belinda just shook her head.

"No, we have been walking for at least half an hour now, we haven't heard anything from the mutt...he kills to fast, they didn't train us for nothing." Coutille knew she was right, which frightened her. She knew she could take Belinda out but Evelyn, unless the odds were tipped in her favor, it would never happen.

Belinda turned back to the hedge and eyed it up like she was figuring out the best way to clamber up the foliage. After a few moments, she shook her head in defeat. "Just forget it, let's turn back-"

With a scream, the eagle flew off Coutille's shoulder. Only it didn't fly. Attached to the animal was a spear that had shattered through its body, killing it pretty much instantly; and leaving a large gash in Coutille's shoulder.

The girls spun around on their heels to see Evelyn racing towards them, her sword at the ready and her eyes mad.

With a grunt, Coutille quickly pulled the spear free and before Belinda could protest, threw the weapon at Evelyn. However, with her torn shoulder, her aim was off.

Evelyn Spires, 17

District Two Female

Evelyn's right leg almost gave way as the spear tore through her arm, thankfully, the arm she did not need for sword fighting but the pain was gut-wrenching either way. She had a few moments to pull the spear free, as Belinda charged. The wound was large and straight through and through. She had to end this as soon as possible before she bled out.

The moment Belinda was close enough, she swung her sword, Belinda dodging it by millimeters. The next one cut closer to home, leaving a shallow gash on her chest and tearing her chest armor.

With a grunt, Belinda brought her sword down on Evelyn but the blue eyes girl stopped the blade, inches from her throat. Both girls gritted their teeth as they put all their strength behind the sword. However, even with one arm, Evelyn found herself able to overpower her opponent.

"Go Coutille!" Belinda shouted as with one last large push, Evelyn knocked her to the down, her sword clattering to the ground.

Evelyn quickly spun around on her heel, thrusting her sword deep into Coutille's stomach.

Coutille Harrow, 15

District Eight Female

The moment the blade tore through the thin skin on Coutille's stomach, the world seemed to slow down. Yet her body became numb, she didn't feel a thing as Evelyn pulled the sword free. It was her own idea to get around Evelyn and attack her from behind. She knew the dangers. However, as she stumbled backward, slumping against a hedge, she found herself in a state of shock.

With a frustrated scream, Belinda leaped to her feet and raced towards Evelyn, holding the cross guard of her sword. Before the girl from Two could turn around to face her, Belinda smashed the tip of the hilt into the girls head with such force, there was a bone-shaking crack.

Still alive, Evelyn fell to the floor, her eyes teary but her face in a state of shock. As she tried to push herself to her feet, Belinda went in for another blow, bringing the hilt down onto the back of Evelyn's foot, shattering it underneath the force.

"Help!" Evelyn screamed like a frightened child, her face turning to Belinda. "Stop-" Belinda swung the fuller into her face, stopping the girl's pleas with a sickening snap of her neck.

Coutille watched as Evelyn's body smashed into the sandy ground, her cannon sounding a few seconds later.

Belinda turned to Coutille with sympathetic eyes as she raced to her side, removing her hand to look at the wound.

Coutille gripped her sword in her other hand, knowing that while she still had the strength, she should take an undefended Belinda out. She could still win. But the more she thought about it, the less she wanted to.

She took away her grip on the sword and placed it on Belinda's hand instead, looking in the girl's eyes. "What did they turn us into?" She asked the sobbing girl.

Belinda Herd, 16

District Ten Female

Belinda shook her head at the girl's question. "What do you mean by that?" She asked in a shaky voice.

Coutille gave a faint smile. "Even Evelyn wasn't cruel, she asked for help and mercy in her final moments. Same with Grover, and even those who didn't say it were thinking it. We are frightened children, all of us, yet they made us think we were killers. Really we just wanted to go home."

Belinda shuddered as she thought about Coutille's words. "I am not even sure what home is, the Capitol or Ten?"

Coutille smiled. "Try being me, everyone wants me to be the voice of the people, to save them from the Games. However, although I hate them, I can't help but understand them. They build off a primal instinct to survive. Anyone who enters no matter how against them will play the Game. It's not easy to lay down your life when offered the chance to live, no matter how slim, we take it."

Coutille winced as a large wave of pain shook her body, causing her to shiver and coat her mouth the coppery taste of blood.

"You are not a bad person-"

"I am," Coutille grumbled, blood trickling down her chin. "So are you. No one in here deserved to win but I would rather it was you...at least you will know what to do with yourself." By now, the only thing keeping her upright was Belinda and that took all the girls strength. Coutille never thought she would know when she was dying but as her body shivered, grew weaker and the pain started to fade, she knew it was coming. She glanced up at Belinda, craning her neck to look the girl in the eyes. "I'm frightened." She said breathlessly.

Belinda looked at the girl with watery eyes, shaking her head, a thousand thoughts racing through her mind. "I don't know what to do-"

"Just stay with me," Coutille mumbled as she buried her head into Coutilles chest and closed her eyes. Her breathing stopped a minute later but in her final moments, she thought about everything she had done in the Arena, the people she had hurt, the things she had thought about doing. Yet she didn't feel regret. She felt happiness for in those moments, she was not influenced by her rebel family or the Capitol. They may not have have been the right choices but they were hers. It was who she was. Turned out she wasn't a hero of the rebels or a killer, she was just like everyone else, a child.

When Coutille's cannon sounded, it made Belinda jump. Her breathing became shallow as she listened to the silence, only for it to be broken by the sound of the anthem.

"May I present our victor of the thirty-fifth Hunger Games and the Champion of all Warriors, Belinda Herd of District Ten!" A voice said, shattering the air, the sun rising far off in the

distance.

Belinda knew she should have been overjoyed. She had lived. She got to go home. To a District she hardly remembered, a family who knew hardly anything about her, never seeing her friends again and leaving behind her Warrior life. The only life she really ever knew.

Her sobbing became more violent as she buried her head into Coutille's hair. "I am sorry, Grover, Evelyn, Coutille, I don't know what to do," she sobbed. "I'm-i'm...frightened."

3rd Place- Evelyn Spires (D2)- Broken neck, caused by a blow to the head with a sword. Killed by Belinda Herd (D10).

Ahhh, here is where it gets funny. Evelyn was the victor of this story until a few chapters ago. Then I had second guesses. She was the strongest Warrior, she just got unlucky. I haven't got a real reason why she didn't win. The fact Atlas was from Two didn't help. I kinda wanted my first female victor to be an outlier. R.I.P Evelyn. Sorry to her submitter but hey, 3rd place is still good.

2nd Place- Coutille Harrow (D8)- Internal bleeding, caused by a stab to the stomach. Killed by Evelyn Spires (D2).

Even more surprises, Coutille was the victor until writing this chapter! It was her background of coming from a rebel family that sealed her fate in the end. She just wouldn't fit with the plans for the victor. You will see in the next few chapters what I mean. However, she was the character that made me question my choice of victor. It had been Evelyn for so long but when I started to see the development I happened to give her, I liked it. She was meant to be killed by Nero, then in the fire, then by Grover, None of them felt like the right time to kill her off. This felt like the right death for her. R.I.P Coutille. I feel really bad ripping away victory from her so close to the end but I am sure even her submitter will understand my reasons upon seeing the next chapter and what the plans for the victor are. I personally think Coutille would have struggled with Snow's plans.

Victor- Belinda Herd, District Ten Female.

And here we have my first female victor and second outie. She and Coutille drew (as of writing this) in the poll for victor (Evelyn was one vote behind) and she had a lot of support in the reviews, so I am sure she will be liked. Even though she was my last minute choice for victor, she is a worthy victor in my eyes and I am happy to have her. From the start, she was going to die in second place, then the last chapter, it was third. Now look where she is. I know that compared to Coutille, it may seem like she had little development within the Games but after Grover's death and Coutille's final moments, she will be a changed person. Congrats to Nevershout, Belinda is joining Lux and Atlas in the victors squad! She is also my first dark-haired victor!

It feels strange to be at the end of the Games. A lot has changed in my own life since starting this story and so has my writing. I will admit that a few times I did think about leaving the story when my life hits some bumps but I am proud that I pushed through. Sure, there are a few things I would change but this story has also taught me a lot.

So before this chapter ends, I have questions. Truthfully, what would you change about the story, who was your favorite character, has my writing improved and what was your favorite part?

Also, if you have time to spare, I have a SYOT that is struggling with Tributes. Atropos. I am still looking for more characters there :)

Thank you for reading the Game's chapters, I would say there is about three more chapters and this story is done!

Until next time.