Night 5

Shama Grasswhistle (13) D7F

The night was eerie by all means. There was a different kind of coldness that u couldn't quite place, but as Siobhan Ripple approached me, I knew I couldn't let her get me.

"Come on Siobhan," I said, loud and clear, "You won't really kill me, will you? I'm just a tiny little girl."

"I'm not here to kill you, Shama."

I frowned. What was she up to? I studied her face, trying to get something from it, but there was nothing.

"What do you want then?" I asked, holding the dagger steadily.

"I'm thirsty."

I nodded and threw the bottle I was drinking from at her. I didn't know why I was helping her in the final four, but if she wasn't going to attack me, then I would have the decency of not harming her either.

"Thanks."

"I want you to leave now," I said, "I don't want anyone at the cornucopia."

She smirked at that, but nodded. Turning around, she started walking away, when a low trembling sound alerted us of what was to happen.

I cried out in surprise as Siobhan backed away hastily, the ground in front of her opening up to form a chasm. It would lead to the maze below, I was sure, but without the protection of that web like thing, the fall would kill anyone.

My throat went dry when I realised why it had happened. The ground behind me was still intact, but that was because I hadn't left my place. It was getting hard to breathe now. It had taken so much, so much to get here and now...

I didn't even know when I started crying. I was not ready to fight, not right now, not with a Career.

"You can't be serious!" Siobhan cried out, her voice distressed and tearful. She was trembling and I knew she didn't want to fight me either. She didn't want to kill a kid.

I wiped away my tears fiercely. This wasn't the time, this wasn't the time. Only one person could go home only one.

And that would be me.

Siobhan Ripple (16) D2F

How could they do this?! Bring up a kid against me?! I-I didn't want to kill her... How could I kill her?! Wasn't it disgraceful? Why me? Why not someone else who could do it?

The truth was... I was in no mood to fight, to kill. I had volunteered to bring honour to my District by participating and winning the biggest competition in the country. But just as before, I wondered if it was worth it.

It didn't feel like it.

But looking at the gaping chasm, I couldn't help but let despair settle in my heart. Not because I was afraid or doubted myself but because of what I had become.

"You can't be serious!" I cried out, screaming as loudly as I could. Tears were flowing down my face, my fists clenched as I gazed at the giant chasm.

"Siobhan."

I wiped away my tears and turned around to face the girl. To my shock, she was very close to me.

"I'm sorry," she whispered and thrust the dagger towards me.

It caught me by surprise, and if it hadn't been for years of training she'd have had me. I pulled back just as she reached me, and I backhanded her across the face hard, sending her sprawling on the ground.

"We can team up against the boys Shama," I said, still not wanting to kill the little girl.

She laughed out, her high pitched voice devoid of humour.

"They won't let us, Siobhan," she said loudly as she stood up, a manic aura in her posture, "They won't let us."

And she ran at me with her dagger, her little body so fast that it took me a second to comprehend her speed. I stepped aside in the split second, missing the knife by a very small margin. She spun around and jumped at me, pushing me down. As she brought down the knife, I grabbed her wrist, and was surprised by how much force I had to use to keep her away. The madness in her eyes told me that she had become unhinged and their moistness told me she was gone beyond repair.

I kicked her away, sending her rolling away from me. She came at me again and I dodged once more before lifting her bodily and throwing her away.

I miscalculated the force I had applied.

She went through the chasm and I saw one tiny hand holding onto the edge. I ran over to the edge, and would have pulled her out, but the part of the rock she held broke away.

"AAHHHHHHH!"

And, just like that, her voice disappeared just like her body.

Aryton Masserats (18) D6M

Tybal and I had split up again after we had our fill in the Feast and got whatever weapons that we needed.

It did seem very weird to have no ally. Sure, we had split up before too, and it had felt just as weird.

I did not get much time to think about it.

I had retreated into the maze, and despite its weird lighting, I liked being there. There was nobody there near me at least, and I could finally relax, or so I thought.

Out of nowhere, that star like pink thing appeared, grinning like an idiot. I recalled vividly the fates of Casper and Dwayne at its hands, and in no time I was running through that tunnel, that thing chasing after me, blasting beams of light in random directions, vaporising entire walls. None of the attacks hit me though and I got why.

This thing was leading me somewhere.

But what choice did I have but to do as was arranged by the wretched game makers?

And so I ran and ran until I reached a room with the ladder and I hastily started climbing it up, wanting to get away from that strange creature.

However when I was out, trying to catch my breath, I saw that, at the cornucopia, there were two figures battling. And then suddenly one of them lifted the entire, small thing and threw her across, into a chasm I just noticed. The other person hastily ran over to the edge, probably to help the other girl, Shama I thought, when a loud scream threatened to tear open my chest. My insides churned, even when the scream stopped abruptly.

The cannon rang.

This was the final three.

I held onto my sabre, ready to face the Career. I saw her jog over to the Cornucopia but her movements just showed how broken she was. I took in a deep breath. This was the best chance to strike.

I stealthily crept up to her as rummaged for a weapon. Her back was turned towards me and I struck.

Her reflexes were faster than lightning.

Her sword clashed against mine, and her eyes burned the way my heart did with all that had been going on.

Neither of us said a word as we struck at each other, deflecting the other's attack. Striking. Dodging.

She found an opening and thrust her sword. I jumped back but my reaction was slow and her sword left a deep gash in my stomach.

I screamed out profanities in anguish, the pain was too hard for me to bear. However, I could still see her sword approaching and I ducked, yelling again in pain.

I pushed her legs, making her trip and fall on her back.

This was my chance. I had to kill her. I had to.

I struck down hard at her, and although she rolled away, I cut through her side

"AAAHHHHH!" she screamed out, her voice strangled, her eyes shut as tears squeezed out.

I had inflicted a fatal wound on her, I knew that. The wound was bleeding continuously and her breathing had turned shallow.

I saw Tybal arriving at the scene, bewildered, from the corner of my eye. He looked exhausted and some fresh wounds.

I had taken only a second to look at him, but in that one second Siobhan stabbed at the wound in my leg.

I dropped my sabre with a cry as excruciating pain coursed through my body. And then, I felt something sharp went through my chest.

My breath exploded as I saw the sword sticking out of my chest. Siobhan, who had stood up to strike, fell back down due to her wound.

I couldn't believe what had happened, and I couldn't not show my surprise.

"What the..."

Boom!

Tybal Marran (17) D9M

While in the maze underground, the tunnels had immediately started caving in all of a sudden.

It was so abrupt that it took me a second to understand what was happening. I was running, even as rubble fell all around me. I ran and ran, but I wasn't able to find any crater room. My heart threatened to jump out of the rib cage.

And then a rock fell from overhead.

I jumped aside to avoid it, but it was too late.

It fell down on my left arm and side, the pain was unbearable. Blood dripped from the open wound on my arm and my side. But I couldn't stop.

I was unable to run very fast however hard I tried. However, the pace of the accumulation of debris had reduced.

By the time I reached a ladder, I wanted to give up. How hard would it be? Wise men always talked about embracing death. Why shouldn't I do it? I would be freed of slavery, freed of a life lived in terror.

Tybal go on!

I couldn't give up... Not now. Not now. One person was already dead, there were only two more to go.

When I finally got out the hole, I fell down, exhausted. Climbing that ladder had been the most torturous moment of my life. It had made me want to die instead.

But I couldn't be weak, not when I had come so far. I tore of the arena shirt and tied it around my side, hoping to slow the bleeding. And then I walked, walked as my body begged me to stop. Walked as my soul told me to stop. The vision was blurry, and I could barely move, forget about running.

I had even lost the mace I had retrieved at the feast, because I couldn't climb the ladder with it. Unarmed, I walked till they came in view.

The girl screamed as I approached them slowly. I caught Aryton's eye but then she attacked him. And then her sword went through his chest.

"What the..."

And he slumped backwards as the cannon exploded.

I didn't know why I was crying. These were the Games! People had to die! But - but-

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you Ary," I whispered, my eyes closed, "I'm sorry."

It was the cough from the girl that snapped me out of my grief. Dragging myself, I dropped to my knees beside her.

"Hey Tybal," she smiled, "How does it feel to be here?"

"Weird," I replied as I dropped down beside her. The wound from earlier had opened again, and I knew my breaths were numbered. And so were hers.

"Can y-you move, T-Tybal?"

"I d-don't know."

"Tybal, if we-we stay th-this way, we'll b-both die," she said and I could sense how much effort each word took, "I k-killed Aryton b-because I f-felt I could s-survive his wound. But th-that's not the case."

She reached out for my hand and squeezed it, and that was enough for to know what she was saying.

With all my might, with all my strength and with all my will I got up to my knees. Her face was blurry in front of my eyes. My hands groped around the ground around me, trying to get hold of something. And I did.

Lifting Aryton's sword, I brought it down on her body, even as she smiled at me, her eyes full of tears.

The cannon exploded immediately.

"Ladies and gentlemen! We present to you the Victor of the Ninety First Games! TYBAL MARRAN!"

I had won... I had won...

I reached out for Aryton's hand even as the hovercraft appeared in the sky.

I had won...

And I promptly collapsed.

Hi guys! So um, I'm sorry for a very badly written finale. Like, I know it's horrible, but I wrote it on my phone and I was so confused. My top three. I saw them all as Victors, and I thought they all deserved it equally. They gave each other tough competition in the voting too and I ultimately decided I'll place exactly in proportion to their votes, except for one tribute.

Eulogies:

4th- Shama Grasswhistle: Shama was, surprisingly, the highest vote gainer of the polls I've done for this story. She was a wonderful character and one of the true survivors of this story. She was smart and selfish, she was real. However, I just could not see her as my Victor. I'm sorry Shama. Sally, you always send the best kids, and I'm really sorry for this, but I hope you understand. Rest in peace, you'll be missed a lot.

3rd- Aryton Masserats: Aryton and Siobhan tied in the polls, and the only reason he died third was because I couldn't really see Tybal killing him. Aryton was the character for me to write in this story, and one of the hardest I've ever received. But I loved him through and through and his nature was just so different and he was so genuine. Writing him always made me smile and I'm upset that you had to go. Hopefully, I didn't mess his character too much. If I did, I apologise for that Hopps. Rest in peace Aryton, you'll be missed.

2nd- Siobhan Ripple: I'll be honest with you. Initially, I was pretty neutral towards Siobhan. I mean I liked her but there were many others whom I liked more. However, as the story continued, Siobhan really grew on me to the point I loved her. I think she changed in the story a lot and I'll be honest with you, I really enjoyed writing her. I didn't know when I started loving her so much, but it happened and I'm glad it did. Thanks for submitting her Goldie and hopefully I didn't disappoint you. Rest in peace dear Siobhan, you'll be missed.

1st- Tybal Marran: How many of you thought he'll win? Tybal was, without a doubt, one of the most interesting characters in this story. He was not evil but he played for himself. However, he was a human, a human that many of us can could connect to. I saw Tybal as a Victor along with Ary and Siobhan, and you guys gave him the maximum votes after Shama, even if it was by a very small margin. But I was confused and I stuck with the results. I'm glad I did, because I simply love Tybal. I've been seeing him as a Victor since the day I received his form. He just has that personality that I love and I can't thank you enough for submitting him to me. Congratulations Tybal and congratulations Nemris. You both deserved it.

Okay guys now that the Games are over, what did you think of the story? I understand that it wasn't good because I was gone for a year and I kind of lost the link. But still, I want to know your thoughts. Also, let me know exactly how bad this finale was.

I want to thank everyone who read this story, who submitted and who stuck with me. I'm especially grateful to those who read this despite my absence and the gap that resulted from it. If I messed up your characters, I'm really sorry for that, and I hope you can forgive me.

And now...

Death List:

Horatio (blew up)

Lanai (killed by Jordan)

Mickayla (killed by Ayton)

Emeline (killed by Jordan and Aryton)

Wesley (killed by Teddy)

Maurice (killed by Dwayne)

Tapicca (killed by Jordan)

Liya (killed by Everette)

Lily (killed by Tybal)

Vis (killed by Andrei, Shama and Canon)

Ivory (killed by Ari)

Ari (killed by Siobhan)

Andrei (crushed under the cave's ceiling)

Dwayne (killed by Clefairy mutt)

Casper (killed by Clefairy mutt)

Teddy (killed by Saunder)

Saunder (killed by Tybal)

Canon (killed by Jordan)

Everette (killed by Jordan)

Jordan (killed by Aryton)

Shama (dead by falling into chasm)

Aryton (killed by Siobhan)

Siobhan (killed by Tybal)

Have a great day!