You guys are in for an intense chapter, if I do say so myself. But first, as usual, we must do what we always do: words to my awesome reviewers.
TheHungerGamesFan11: Good guess, but since you said only one name, I can't tell you if it's right or wrong. Sorry! But thanks for reviewing it, and here's the next chapter!
CloveandNiall: I can't tell you if it's Gale or not, but I say, he does have big involvement in this chapter. And about your question how this came to me, I had a writing assignment for class. So I took all of the kids in my class (a number only slightly higher than what they started with in this fic) and placed us in a mansion near an abandoned amusement park. First of all, our teacher/host gets murdered, and then slowly some of us start getting killed off until only about six or seven of us remained, not including the murderer. We then figure out who the murderer is. I can't believe it, but quite a few people requested being the murderer.
KarmaKnives: Good guess, but since it's a single person, I can't say! Sorry! Thanks for reviewing, and here's the much-anticipated chapter!
plaidprincess3000: I know I make it seem so darn obvious...sorry 'bout that! Anyway, good guess, but since it's a single person, I can't tell you! Sorry 'bout that, too! Here's the next chapter!
The Mockingjays Flames: Good views on how you're whittling down your murderer guesses! Those are very good guesses, and one of them plays a big part in this chapter!
drea29: Nah, I can tell you it's definitely one of them. ;)
Ivy Blackwell: Hmmm...I forgot the warning label. I'll do that now. WARNING: SassySunshine is not responsible for any nightmares/panic attacks/heart attacks/inabilities to sleep/etc. that may occur in reading her stories. Read at your own risk. I should've included that in the beginning, huh? Oh well, live and learn. Thank you, and those are good guesses for the murderer! I can't tell you who it is but you're doing great at guessing so far... Here's that update, sorry for the longer wait!
CloveDiedForYourSins: ...You have a very good imagination, I must say. No, it's definitely one of the characters in the mansion. President Snow doesn't like to bother with teens, really. Too hormone-crazed, in his opinion. Thanks for reviewing and here's the next chapter.
Guest1: Nah, I have a kid brother who reads some stuff. If it comes across as inappropriate I may get in big trouble with my mom. But that was a good idea and I nearly did that with Marvel! I put a spin on it, you'll see. Marvel names a show that's in my list of shows I like on my profile, with a name to make it seem more Panem-like. Thank you, and here's that chapter!
Loyal2Artemis: Sorry, I can't tell you! Sorry if the story is scary, but that's what happens! Oh well.
Arianna: Thank you! Here's the next chapter!
HogwartsDreamer113: I'm glad you like stories like this, because they're my favorite kind to write! Good suspects and good takes on why they're your suspects. You're very good at guessing, and I can't quite tell you if they're right or wrong! Sorry 'bout that. And I change a lot of things, too.
vampirepanda12: Okay, I'll answer that one question at a time. Thresh seemed to be the quiet type and not the party kind of guy. Rue, on the other hand, isn't a teen or twenty-something, and innocent, so you can imagine that maybe she's with Prim and Rory or something. As for Brutus and Enobaria, they aren't teens or twenty-somethings either, but in fact they are thirty-something and forty-something and would probably ruin a teen and twenty-something party. Delly's jealousy will be found out in later chapters. I didn't intentionally do the D4, D1, D1, D4, D1 pattern. I guess that just sort of came about by accident. As for Finnick's nickname "Sexy Boy" on the list, it could be either a boy or a girl. A girl, because, well, Finnick is a sexy guy any girl could date, and a boy to throw people off, and because Finnick is commonly known as sexy. As for handwriting, truth be told it could quite possibly be none of theirs, and they could be using their weak hand. The nicknames on the list is just to make it even more sick and twisted to kill them like that, and writing real names is too mainstream. It's okay about your rambling, I do it all of the time. Thanks for reviewing and here's the update!
Jk2: Thank you! Here's the next chapter!
icecream365: Good guess, and thanks for reviewing! Here's the next chapter!
Guest2: Thank you! Here's the next chapter!
Alright, I'll skip the recap since a lot happened. I'll just give you the death order.
Deaths in order: Annie, Cashmere, Gloss, Finnick, Glimmer, (Probably Delly)
Night of No End
by SassySunshine
Confrontations
It's like ice water has been dumped into my veins, replacing the warm blood I once possessed. That sickening shriek can only mean Delly is as good as dead now. Who is it that's killing her now, chopping off her head, or stabbing her in the heart? It doesn't matter now, all it matters is that I get to her in time. You have a flashlight, Peeta is with you. You are safe, Katniss. You must make sure Delly is safe, and all will go on as normal. I hate this so much. Whoever started this nightmare better be caught, and a nice arrow through the heart could end it for all of us survivors. I could be the one to shoot it. Gale hasn't had any of the emotional distress both Peeta and I have had. Therefore, I will be shooting the arrow. It can sail into the murderer's head. Yes. That sounds just about right. And then the rest of us go home, to our families, and hole up until we're all emotionally stable again. Perfect, is it not?
Katniss rolls her eyes at her own demented thinking and continues running down the hallways, Peeta by her side as they each call Delly Cartwright's name. They can hear faint moaning coming from somewhere, and a few delicate strains of Delly's dying voice resound from off of the walls. Katniss turns a corner to see Delly, barely breathing, blood everywhere, a slash on her chest, one on her abdomen, and two good cuts on both thighs.
"Delly…," Katniss whispers, stumbling backwards into Peeta's arms at the sight. Delly weakly smiles and she says nothing. Peeta is aware that Delly barely is breathing. And then Delly presses her three middle fingers on her left hand to her lips, holding it out to the two of them. And then the life is gone out of her. Delly Cartwright is now dead.
"Oh no," a voice says.
Johanna walks up to Katniss and Peeta and drops her axe to her side to get a look at Delly, mangled and bloody to no end. She shakes her head sorrowfully. Katniss starts to cry, while Peeta holds on to her tightly.
"What a shame," Johanna says.
"She was one of us. She was from Twelve, just like us," Peeta whispers.
One more hour passes, so far, nobody else has died. Katniss hasn't spoken since Delly was killed off, and now she refuses to even sit near anyone. She rests in the corner, knees drawn up to her chest. Peeta looks at her longingly. Marvel fingers his spear as he looks around the room, trying to find suspects for the killer. Foxface sits alone, her face buried in her hands as she sobs over Delly. Madge sits in a corner, also crying. Johanna brings out a cooler full of sodas and more chips to keep her mind off of things. Clove tries to get some more sleep, a knife clutched in her hand. Cato tries to watch the TV, but is continually getting distracted by the tension. Gale looks around the room for suspects, just as Marvel is.
"So, who do you suspect is going to die next?" he asks everyone in the room. Peeta looks to Katniss in remembrance.
"The list!" Katniss shouts, the first thing she's said since her blonde friend's death.
"What?" Johanna asks in curiosity.
"Peeta and I…we found a list with all of the party guests in order, but it got cut off at number eight. Everyone has a nickname. Delly's was Single District 12, since she's the only one of us District Twelve kids not in a relationship. The next name on the list is Spearhead, which Peeta and I suspect to be Marvel," Katniss explains.
"What?! But I like the district I'm in! I am NOT going on District Swap!" Marvel shouts.
"Marvel! It's a death list! This means you're next to die!" Katniss shouts at him. Marvel drops his spear in shock.
"I'm next to DIE?! And the murderer made a LIST?! Alright, which one of you sickos made a freakin' list?!" Marvel screeches. Cato puts a hand on Marvel's shoulder.
"Whoa, dude. Calm down, Marvel," he says.
"Someone better 'fess up, because Gale looks like he's about to start going accuse-crazy again," Johanna says. Everyone that's awake looks at Gale, whose fingers are twitching, and he is muttering to himself. He looks up at the mention of his name with a wild look in his eyes. It is the eyes of a madman, a lunatic.
"It was Mellark. I just know it! That boy is always suspicious! I bet he's getting close to Katniss so he can get her trust! He lies all the time! I bet Katniss will be his next victim, and showing everyone the list was a huge mistake! Now we don't know who's dying next! It's all Peeta Mellark's fault! HE'S THE MURDERER!" Gale screams at everyone. He lunges for Peeta, and both boys are suddenly wrestling on the floor.
"Peeta!" Katniss shouts.
Peeta is slammed against the wall by Gale. Madge grabs onto Gale while Katniss kneels down in front of Peeta. Gale thrashes about.
"Gale, what's gotten into you?!" Madge cries, wrestling him to the floor. She straddles him and forces his hands behind his back. Katniss helps Peeta up and they both look around the room.
"Guys," Katniss says uneasily, looking at the can of soda next to Gale's side of the couch. There is blue ground dust next to it.
"I think someone put something in Gale's drink."
Foxface walks over and nods.
"Yep. This is some sort of poison that doesn't kill. It drives people crazy and has the tiniest bit of tracker-jacker venom," she says.
"That explains it. But who would drive Gale mad?" Cato pipes up.
"I don't know, but whoever it is sure wants to seem innocent," Marvel says.
"What if…what if it is Peeta?" Madge mutters, looking toward the blonde boy.
"Madge! You've got to believe me, I'm innocent!" Peeta says.
"No he's not! He's a liar!" Gale shouts.
"Gale, down!" Madge snaps, slapping Gale.
"Guys, stop it!" Clove screams, jumping up from her sleeping position.
"Clove, just how long were you awake?" Johanna questions.
"Since Gale started accusing Peeta, and then he tackled him," Clove answers.
"Gale, stop it! Shut up Gale!" Madge yelps, drawing all attention to her.
"It's Mellark! Let me at him! Let me sic him!" Gale yells.
"No! No! Gale, stop fighting me! This is not you!" Madge yells at him, hitting him on the back of the head repeatedly. Gale thrashes about and finally manages to get Madge knocked off of him. She falls to the floor in shock as Gale lunges for Peeta. Katniss jumps in the way at the last minute and falls onto her back, Gale on top of her. Madge stands up and covers her mouth. Peeta grimaces at the thud. Gale glares at Katniss.
"Hey, Everdeen, gonna ever realize your boyfriend is gonna kill ya?" Gale snarls.
"Gale, stop it!" Katniss shouts, slapping him across the face. Gale shakes his head at her with a malicious grin and turns toward Peeta. He uses Katniss as a launch pad and tackles Peeta to the floor once more. The Seam boy puts the merchant boy in a choke-hold. Peeta struggles to get air to his lungs. Johanna yanks Gale off of Peeta and shoves him into one of the chairs. Peeta falls against the wood one more time before falling out of consciousness. Katniss kneels down beside him.
"Oh, Peeta…he doesn't mean it."
"I mean it alright! He's guilty!" Gale screeches as Johanna ties him to the chair.
"It's for caution," she says with a shrug.
"Let me go! Mellark is gonna kill us all!"
"Gale, he's unconscious! And you did it to him, so SHUT UP!" Katniss shouts at him.
"HE'S GONNA KILL US ALL!" Gale screams.
Half an hour more passes. Peeta has woken up in that time. Gale still has not calmed down and is still tied to the chair to be restrained. Peeta sits on the chair with Katniss furthest away from the raging Gale.
"You guys have to believe me! I'm innocent!" Peeta pleads.
"I dunno, Marvel had a point. Maybe you're trying to seem innocent by putting that poison into Gale's drink, so he would turn against you and make you seem like the innocent one," Cato says to Peeta.
"B-But…what? I would never! I didn't even know what that poison was! None of us did until…until Farrah identified it," Peeta says, looking over at the red-headed Foxface. Foxface gasps at him.
"It was not ME!" Foxface snaps at him.
"Guys, any of us could be lying. So what's the point in trying to convince the others? Any of us could be guilty, any of us could be innocent," Cato explains to everyone, "So therefore, let's drop the subject."
"I still think it was Peeta," Marvel says.
"It wasn't me!" Peeta tries with Marvel.
It wasn't me. It can't be me. They have to believe I'm innocent!
It's almost two hours later when they hear someone get up in the middle of the night. Katniss's eyes, still not fully adjusted to the dark room, try to make out who got up. She looks around and can see other dark, fuzzy blobs around the room sit up and look around for the source of the noise. Katniss feels Peeta's arms wrap around her as they search the room.
"Who just got up?" Madge whispers in the dark room.
"I dunno," Gale responds.
"It's me. Doing my business, if you must know. So just go back to sleep," Johanna says, clicking on a flashlight and pointing it at all of the curious faces. Katniss relaxes and falls back into Peeta's arms.
It's around one o'clock in the morning when a loud scream sounds from one of the sleeping figures. Everyone bolts up from their spots to see Foxface on the ground, dead. Her neck is bleeding with a large slash in it. Clove looks up from her spot on the recliner and gasps, motioning the others to gather around her. Katniss is silent as she stares down at the body of a girl who once was so full of life, and was so cunning. Katniss was sure she would have made it out alive, if any of them that weren't the murderer. A numb feeling takes over as she gazes at the sight of the bleeding girl. Peeta puts a hand on her shoulder. Madge's mouth falls agape. Marvel looks at the body in utter shock. Gale covers his mouth. Johanna looks around the room, eyes narrowed. Cato has an arm around Clove, and Clove, for the first time, doesn't shrug it off.
"Farrah is dead. There are eight of us left at this party. There's me, there's Peeta, there's Cato, then we have Clove, Marvel, Johanna, Gale, and Madge. One of us is the killer," Katniss says slowly to the others. They all look at one another.
"I don't know if you guys want to, but I'm going to go off on my own for a while," Peeta says, taking his sword with him. They all watch him walk off by himself, venturing in to the darkness the mansion has to offer. A flashlight sticks out of his back pocket, relieving Katniss as she watches him go. She slinks off to the chair to think as Peeta ascends the stairs. Gale grabs his bow and arrow.
"I'm going, too. For the same reason. I need to be alone," Gale says, walking up the stairs as well. Katniss and Madge glance at each other and decide to sit next to each other. Clove and Johanna join them on the couch. Cato and Marvel both occupy recliners, and they switch the TV back on for background noise, just so they don't feel as alone in the mansion. Katniss looks at the stairs every few minutes, waiting for them to come back down. Worry floods her veins as she hears their footsteps from upstairs.
"They'll be fine, Katniss. They're Peeta and Gale," Johanna says.
"Yeah, but they really don't like each other no matter how much they try to convince us otherwise. And I don't think all of that poison has gone out of Gale's system just yet. Gale could kill Peeta at any given, time thinking it's for self-defense when in reality it was just another pointless murder," Katniss tells Johanna. Johanna nods in understanding. Katniss sighs and gets up.
"Should I go look for them?" she asks.
"No, girl. But bring out some sodas," Johanna says. Katniss rolls her eyes and heads off toward the kitchen.
"I'm worried about her. She's been through a lot, here and back in Twelve. Tonight she's worried about Peeta and the rest of us from Twelve, she almost got choked to death, Delly died, and she's a nervous wreck. Back in Twelve, her dad died when she was eleven. Her mom shut down on her and Prim and Katniss had to take care of them all by going hunting each week. She was forced to grow up too fast, and then the incident with the bread came on top of it all," Madge says to the others in the room as soon as Katniss is out of earshot.
"And your point is?" Cato asks.
"We need to make sure she doesn't go berserk over this and end up getting herself killed, or kill everyone else just because she doesn't know who the murderer is," Madge says, glaring at the blonde District 2 boy. Cato rolls his eyes.
"She'll be fine, Madge."
"And who's to say she won't be?" Johanna responds.
"That makes me think you're the murderer, Johanna," Clove says, pointing the tip of her knife at Johanna as she wipes it clean, "you keep going on and on about the murderer, and saying things just like you said now. Heck, you weren't even in the room for half the murders. That's suspicious, Jo. All too suspicious."
"Please, I'm not the murderer. In fact, I think Katniss is," Johanna says.
"And why would you suppose Katniss is the murderer?" Madge asks.
"Maybe she's just acting like she isn't. She's all sad over Delly's death, but maybe that's just a ploy to get us to believe her. I looked at that paper…that's none of our handwriting. That means someone is using their wrong hand. Even more than that, it was covered in blood, so it must have been written after someone died while that person was still with the dead person. I really do believe Katniss is the murderer. She's got Peeta as a boyfriend. Peeta can manipulate people. Maybe Katniss is finally learning from him and playing us all," Johanna replies.
The clang of soda cans crashing to the floor rings out right after Johanna finishes. Everyone turns to see Katniss standing there, jaw dropped and an obvious look of hurt on her face. Johanna puts her hand on her mouth.
"Katniss, she didn't mean it! You know Johanna never thinks before she talks!" Madge says.
"Forget it. You all think I'm the murderer, don't you? You all think the evidence is stacked against me. It's stacked against all of us! And just why would I kill Delly? When I had the flu, she and Madge helped look after Prim while my mom helped me. So why would you assume I would kill someone who helped my little sister, who I love to pieces?" Katniss exclaims, grabbing her bow and arrow and storming up the stairs.
"So…I suppose Katniss won't be talking to me any time soon," Johanna says.
"If she ever talks to you again," Cato adds.
"Cato, that is not helping. Alright Pretty Boy? Just keep your mouth shut," Clove says.
"It's times like this that make me glad I tune you people out half the time," Marvel says.
Peeta rounds another corner in the mansion, looking around for any sign of the murderer. All he finds is another empty hallway. He sighs and slumps down against the wall, fatigue trying to take over his being. His blue eyes scan the room one more time and finally shut as he tries to drift off into a nice sleep. And then a bang sounds, jolting him.
"Hello?" he calls around the empty corridor. The only sound is heavy breathing. Peeta jumps up from his spot and holds his sword out in front of him.
"Who are you? I have a sword and I'm not afraid to use it," Peeta shouts. There's chuckling in the darkness, and Peeta's muscles tense as he hears someone step forward a few steps.
"Peeta, Peeta, Peeta…"
"Gale," Peeta says with a glare as the Seam boy steps into the light. Gale has an arrow strung on his bow, and a crazed look sits in his eyes. It's a look only tracker-jacker venom can produce. Peeta's confident demeanor wavers and quickly diminishes. Gale smirks at the boy and storms over to him, smashing his back into the wall. Peeta grimaces at the connection his body and the wood make, and pain shoots throughout his body. Gale's breathing begins to run ragged.
"So we meet again, Mellark. Are you here to finish me off? Where are the others? Did you finish them off, too?" Gale hisses, positioning his arrow in front of Peeta's heart. Peeta dares to look Gale in the eyes.
"It's not real, Gale. You have tracker-jacker venom in you. Not real Gale. It's not real," Peeta tries to reason with him. Gale glares at him and gets a grip around Peeta's neck. Peeta glares at him and raises his sword, making a swipe at Gale's abdomen. Gale jumps back, letting go of Peeta. Peeta takes the opportunity, turns, and runs. Gale runs after him, starting to shoot arrows at him. Peeta is quick on his feet with the knowledge of Gale, though a skilled hunter, like Katniss, not as good as the girl. Each one of Gale's arrows miss Peeta, until one strikes him in the arm. Peeta rips it out, and blood cascades down his jacket. He turns around and throws the arrow back. The arrow clatters to the floor and Gale clumsily grabs it.
"You can't get away from me forever, Bread Boy! You'll have to face me sometime!" Gale screeches, launching another arrow that strikes Peeta in the shoulder this time. Peeta also yanks that one out and throws it over his should, not looking back this time. Gale leaves it on the floor, running after Peeta.
I'm almost safe. I'm almost safe. I'm almost to the next set of stairs where I can run up and then ride the banister back down. I can escape to the lower level with everyone else and save myself from the death that Gale wants me to have.
And then he crashes to the floor. Gale is on top of him, snarling viciously. The tracker-jacker venom at its finest. Peeta tries to reach for his sword, which had fallen from his hand, but it is too far away. Gale laughs at him wickedly. Peeta's blue eyes are filled with fear as Gale's longer arms reach for the silvery, shining sword. Peeta braces himself for the blow, and feels a long cut being made on his right arm, from top to bottom. Peeta suppresses a scream as Gale goes deeper the further along the line goes.
"There's none of your little Katniss to help you now. You killed her," Gale whispers to him. Peeta grunts.
"I did not!"
"You sure about that, Bread Boy?" Gale murmurs, pulling the bloody blade away from the blonde boy. Peeta looks toward his right arm to see a lot of blood on it. He turns back to face Gale, still struggling to get up. Gale senses Peeta's movement and gets off of him, yanking Peeta by the bloody arm and smashing him into the wall again. Peeta falls to the ground in immense pain as Gale delivers a kick to the chest. Peeta writhes in pain and watches defenselessly as Gale loads up another arrow. Peeta is too weak and tired even to move as he watches Gale aim the projectile at his head, an obvious death blow.
"Don't you dare fire that arrow."
Peeta's eyes trail to the end of the hallway. There's a figure, bathed in shadows, but Peeta knows that voice anywhere.
"Katniss…" His voice cracks. Gale smirks at Katniss.
"So, Bread Boy here didn't kill you? Too bad, he's probably killed all of the others. So I've got to finish him off so he's not a threat to us anymore. Stay out of it, Katniss. Then you and I can go back home to District 12, and spend the rest of our days hunting, getting married, raising children," he warns.
"If you kill Peeta, I'll never forgive you. I'll kill you. Heck, I'll kill myself. Leave. Peeta. Alone," Katniss snaps, aiming an arrow at Gale.
"You actually think I'm intimidated by you, huh Katniss?" Gale asks, dropping his bow and arrow to the side, "You're a funny little girl, Kat. Listen, why don't you just run along, and I'll take care of things from here on out, 'kay?" Katniss also drops her bow and arrow down to her side and stands straight as she faces Gale.
"I'm not backing down. Madge is waiting for you downstairs. Now why don't you head on down so she can make you right in the head?" she retorts.
"You don't seem to know what the term 'stay out of it' means, do you?" Gale snaps at her, now aiming his bow and arrow at Katniss. Peeta looks at the two of them fighting, coming out of his hunched armadillo position and reaching for his sword. Gale spots this out of the corner of his eye and without looking kicks the weapon backwards, sending it skidding across the hallway and into the dark. Peeta fearfully retracts his arm.
"I'm not going to let you kill Peeta. I'm just not," Katniss says, trying to stand her ground. Peeta can see her demeanor waver just a bit, not as much as his had done earlier. Gale shakes his head at Katniss.
"I don't see why you want to save him. Think about us, Katniss. We'll have served justice to the rest that have been killed tonight by killing Peeta. Then you and I can go back home to District 12 together. We'll get married and get a house. We can have a mini Gale and a mini Katniss running around the house, maybe more mini versions of us. Katniss, don't you see?" Gale says.
"Gale, someone poisoned your drink with something that had tracker-jacker venom in it! You're freaking hijacked, for crying out loud! You're dating Madge, I'm dating Peeta, and I can guarantee you Peeta is not the murderer!" Katniss yells at Gale. Gale glares at her and catches her off-guard, sending them both crashing to the floor. Peeta watches in terror as Gale tries to choke the life out of Katniss, just as he did to him. Body aflame with pain, Peeta runs into the shadows to find the sword, leaving Katniss to think he is abandoning her at the most crucial time.
"Peeta!" Katniss chokes as she struggles for air, "Peeta, please!" Peeta comes back into the light with his gleaming sword in his hand.
"Leave Katniss alone, Gale! What has she ever done to you?" Peeta shouts. Gale turns, the wild look still in his eye as he turns to face Peeta, with his recovered sword.
"Humph, you're right. Have you decided to let me finally finish you off, Bread Boy?" Gale snarls, grabbing his bow and arrows. Peeta shakes his head.
"You won't be finishing anyone off, Hunter Dude. You can leave me and Katniss alone. You have two options…get out of here, or I'll be forced to do some major damage," Peeta snaps at him.
"Little Mellark here still hasn't learned, has he?" Gale asks, lunging for him. Peeta holds the sword out in front of him as Gale tries to attack, giving Gale a rather large slash on his right forearm. Gale cringes and falls to the ground in pain, but not before launching an arrow into Peeta's abdomen. Both boys crumble into the fetal position, leaving Katniss standing there, open-mouthed.
"What…just…happened…?"
Deaths in order: Annie, Cashmere, Gloss, Finnick, Glimmer, Delly, Foxface
Intense, was it not? Poor Peeta and poor Gale! Poor Katniss, having to watch the two of them fight! What do you think of this chapter? Sorry it took me a while, I've been working on my other THG fics as well! I hope to have another update up soon! See you guys all in the next chapter!