I look at Paris.
"What are we going to do?" He asks.
"Attack. We attack Mason and Finn, and if we both live, we separate and wait each other out. Agreed?"
"Agreed" Paris confirms as I shake his hand. We split our things between us, and put away our weapons. I grab a nearby stick and draw out a map on the soil. I plot our mountain, the old camp, the Cornucopia and the wood. I draw two crosses at the camp and two circles at the mountain.
"If you go around that side, take someone out with a dagger, and leave one left, we'll be able to take them down, that sound like a plan?" I say.
"Yes, and a good one at that."
"Let's go. Grab your food and medication. We might need it."
OoO
Mason and Finn are chatting, with their backs turned to our places. Paris is at the side, I am at the front. I catch a little part of their conversation.
"... I'll get her from the side, you get him from the back!" Exclaims Mason.
"It's a little late for that!" I yell, throwing the knife.
It cuts right through his neck, and he crumples at the floor. Canon.
Finn rounds on me, his fists clenched. He doesn't have any weapons on him, but I know he could knock me out cold with a finger.
"Hey! Get away from her!" Paris screams at him.
"I'll get you then!" Finn grabs the bloody knife out of Mason's body. He throws it stiffly, but it still lands in Paris' chest, sticking out painfully.
"I'm sorry, Flicker..." He whispers, falling to the ground. I feel a tear fall from my left eye , and as I wipe it away, I'm filled with rage. My breathing is heavy and fast, my cheeks are blazing like coals. Finn charges at me, but I dodge him as he runs into a tree. Shakily, he regains himself, before grabbing a spear out of my pocket. He stabs me in the side, enough to cause bleeding, but nowhere near any of my organs. I punch him in the jaw and throw a knife at his neck. It misses because of my blurry vision, but hits him in the eye. He yells out in pain as I smack him over the head with a log. He kicks me in the ribs. I hear a crack. Some of them have shattered. I sway on the spot, but snap back into reality as he aims punches at my face. I miss four of them, but the fifth one makes my nose bleed. I grab a knife out of my pocket before plunging it into his heart. He groans in pain and he collapses. He is dead. I am victorious. A Capitol hovercraft comes almost instantly, like it was waiting for me. They lower a ladder down, but I shake my head and point at my ribs and bleeding hip. Two men come down and transport me onto the hovercraft.
"We're going to give you a pill now, Flicker. It will knock you out, giving us enough time to fix your wounds and the like. We will also give you a list of the injuries and health matters." One of the men, the tallest, says to me. He hands me a purple capsule. I swallow it. Blackness engulfs me.
OoO
I wake up in my bed in the training centre. An Avox, a girl with black hair, sits beside me. When she notices my open eyes, she helps me sit up.
"Do you have the list?" I ask. I want to know what was wrong with me in the arena. The girl nods. She hands me a thick booklet, titled "67th Hunger Games Injury List." It must have every tribute from my games in there.
"Am I aloud to read everyone's?"
The girl nods again. I turn the first page.
OooooO
Pearl Gloss. District one. Place: 7th. Death: stabbed in the stomach by Enya Reece. Injuries: mild scratches on torso, lack of nutrition and protein. Possible dehydration.
Paris Cross. District one. Place: 3rd. Death: fatal wound in neck, administered by Finn Gossamer. Injuries: bruises and cuts, from trees and bloodbath. Lack of protein.
Valerie Mann. District two. Place: 6th. Death: stabbed in the neck and back by Enya Reece. Injuries: cut on head. Bruises. Malnutrition. Dehydration.
Mason Adams. District Two. Place: 4th. Death: neck cut by Flicker Aura. Injuries: nettle stings, malnutrition.
Enya Reece. District Three. Place: 5th. Death: Stabbed by Finn Gossamer. Injuries: starvation, mild scratches, poison ivy, dehydration.
Bolt Ryan. District Three. Place: 24th. Death: hit by Oak May's flying axe. Injuries: axe wound. Died first in bloodbath.
Sirena Leeche. District Four. Place: 14th. Death: tricked by Flicker Aura into eating MoonShadow berries. Injuries: Sprained ankle, slight dehydration.
Finn Gossamer. District Four. Place: 2nd. Death: Stabbed by Flicker Aura. Injuries: lost eye, brain injury, broken jaw, broken wrist, malnutrition.
Flicker Aura. District Five. Victor. Injuries: Broken nose, three broken ribs, stab wound, dehydration, sprained wrist, blood loss.
Sam Beam. District Five. Place: 10th. Death: Dehydration. Injuries: wasp stings, dehydration.
Pippa Flo. District 6. Place: 20th. Death: died at bloodbath. Injuries: hit over the head with a rock.
Trim Grey. District 6. Place: 22nd. Death: died at bloodbath. Injuries: stabbed heart, by Sirena Leeche.
Eve Jones. District 7. Place: 8th. Death: snake bite. Injuries: snake bite, malnutrition.
Oak May. District 7. Place: 21. Death: Shot in the head with a bow and arrow, by Valerie Mann.
Bobbi Rimms. District 8. Place: 11th. Death: dart thrown at head by Paris Cross. Injuries: blood loss.
Crease Tweed. District 8. Place: 18th. Death: trampled by tributes running to the Cornucopia.
Baylee Rone. District 9. Place: 12. Death: fell down mountain. Injuries: cracked ribs, broken skull, eternal bleeding.
Rye Link. District 9. Place: 16th. Death: stabbed by both District Two tributes.
Rhona Sayfe. District 10. place: 19th. Death: strangled with rope by Sam Beam at Bloodbath.
Buckley Milo. District 10. Place: 13th. Death: fought and stabbed in the back by Flicker Aura. Injuries: lost teeth, cracked jaw, stab wound, bruises.
Willow Crest. District 11. Place: 15th. Death: Froze to death. Injuries: campfire burns, scratches.
Blake Brooke. District 11. Place: 23rd. Death: head severed by Sam Beam at bloodbath.
Cherish Michael. District 12. Place: 9th death: Starved and dehydrated. Injuries: nettle stings, dehydration, malnutrition, starvation.
Marlin James. District 12. Place: 17th. Death: spear thrown at by Flicker Aura.
OooooO
So that's how everyone placed and died? They must keep a record on who kills who. I ask the Avox to leave while I dress. She follows my order, gently shutting the door behind her. I dress in black trousers and a green top. I walk, well, it was more of a stumble, into the sitting area, where Maple, Carmen, Fia, Etan and even Caesar and President Snow are all sitting on the couch in deep conversation.
"Here she is!" Exclaims Caesar. "Our little Flickering Light!" He moves along a little, so that I am seated on the end, next to him. He shows me his hand, where a shimmering, yellow-stoned ring is on his index finger. "See this ring? This is the ring I wore when you won the games." I nod slowly, not taking much in.
"How long was I there?" I whisper.
"You were in the Arena for three weeks and one day. You've been unconscious for about a week." President Snow explains.
"I read the death book." I blurt out. "I asked the avox if I was aloud to read it and she nodded, so I..."
"That's fine, Love. Maple and another Capitol Stylist have your interview and parade outfits ready. Now rest yourself." Etan says.
OoO
I'm shaken awake by the Avox boy who helped me sleep before the games. I sit up and he hands me a soft, blue robe. He leaves and I begin undressing down to my underwear, then put the robe on. I know the way to do it. Maple knocks on my door, followed by Fia and a tall, muscular, handsome man. He has tanned skin, wavy, brown hair and a tattoo on his left hand. It is a rose, winding around his fingers.
"Flicker, this is Griff. He's the other stylist I told you about. He will be helping to get you ready and has designed some of your outfits."
Griff shakes my hand gently.
"I saw your interview with Caesar. I think you'll like your costumes, Flicker." He says thoughtfully.
They lead me into the styling room. Three chairs, a counter of hair and make up products, and a clothes rail stand in the polished room. I sit down at one of the chairs. Carmen walks into the room. She curls my hair in a matter of minutes. She clips one side up and back, leaving the other side free and loose.
"Close your eyes until we get your outfit on, dear." Says Maple.
They slip me into a lightweight, loose dress. I feel a hand zip up the back.
"And... Open!" I open my eyes. The mirror in front of me pictures me in a lavender shaded dress, with two straps. The back is a little longer than the front, and the inside is a darker shade of pink. My shoes are silver flat sandals. The clip my hair is pulled back with is a silver swirl of gems. Griff has done my makeup so that I have light pink lips, silver and pink blended eyeshadow and light blush. I am ready for my interview.
OoO
Caesar and I both walk on the stage at the same time. My arm is linked in his, and I walk with my head held as high as I can manage. We both sit down as the music stops. I cross my ankles in the ladylike manner Fia taught me five weeks ago.
Caesar begins.
"Well! I don't think any of us thought you would be joining us again tonight, Flicker!" The people of the Capitol roar at my name.
"The element of surprise is always a good thing, Caesar." I say smiling.
"Now, Flicker, The Capitol have sent in their questions for you to answer. Are you ready?"
"Yes! I'm pretty sure I'll be able to answer them!"
The crowd screams. It takes Caesar several attempts to read these first question.
"Ok, question one! How did you get to the Cornucopia first, and what was going through your mind?" He asks, reading off a little piece of paper.
"Well, I suppose everyone else was sort of zoned out, and I was thinking: 'get what you need to survive!'" I answer truthfully.
"Question Two! What was the end fight like?"
I take a moment to think about this.
"Well, it felt like I was charged on adrenaline, and I didn't really know what I was doing. I just thought 'I'm not going to die.' Over and over."
"Ok, final question of the night. What was going on between you and Paris?"
I feel my cheeks heat up at this question.
"Oh, uh, well... We were allies, but then I think he maybe... You get the picture, right?"
"Yes, yes I do. Did you know that he kissed you when you were asleep?"
"Did he? Oh, well. That's, uh..." I stutter like crazy. "I visit One on a week or so, so I'll be paying my respects to everyone."
"That sounds like a plan. I bet the Capitol can't wait to see your outfits!"
The crowd shouts yells of agreement.
"Flicker Aura. Thirteen years old. District Five. Victor of the 67th Hunger games! You are now a mentor!"
I can't help but grin as the curtain falls and Caesar leads me back. He tosses his pink hair out of his face. He has a smile like none I've seen before.
OoO
"Fia?" I ask shyly. She is talking with Etan.
"Yes?"
"When will I be seeing my family? I think my mother might have had her baby."
She checks a little notebook.
"Tomorrow, you go back to Five. You have been moved into the Victor houses. Then, the day after, we'll be off to Twelve to start your tour."
OoO
When I knock on the door to our new house, my mother opens it. She has a tiny bundle in her arms.
"Hello, Flicker." She whispers, trying not to wake my sibling. "Meet little Ray Aura." She hands me the bundle. I am met with the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. He has long lashes and tufts of my dark brown hair. He opens his eyes wide. They are an ocean blue, alas deep as the sea. I rock him in my arms a bit. He leans in and burrows his head in my chest, like I did to Paris. Tears threaten to escape, but I shake my head and hold them back.
"Hey, little Ray. I'm your big sister, Flicker. Have you been good for mum?" He looks at me strangely. "When was he born?" I ask.
"A week after the Games started. We wanted to send you something, but it was way more expensive than we expected." Says my mum.
"I'm not staying very long here. Tomorrow I'm in Twelve to start the Tour. I'll be back soon, though. Promise."
OOO