Roses Are Red: The Eigth Hunger Games Chapter 19: Day Five (Full Update)- 'It's Maddening', a hunger games fanfic

FULL UPDATE!:D

Heyy! I plan to make this a FULL, COMPLETE, AMAZING update for all of you:). Thanks for sticking with the story, and donating your ideas, once again, it really means a lot. I was at the beach the past week, so I couldn't update, however being unable to type for that long really made me eager to return, and I think it'll fuel my writing for a bit;). I have plans for the arena, plans I tell you! And a good idea for this chapter!:D It's mine, too! WhiteLightersEatCookies- you're idea will come soon… *evil laugh.* No, I seriously can do a wicked evil laugh. It scares my friends… So yeah, you see how I start to babble on for a while- eh, it isn't as bad as in the first few chapters. I had some pretttty long author's notes back in those days! (one-freaking-thousand words, I think. Actually, now I think it might be 400. Either way- ain't nobody got time for that. [except me] .)

THIS SONG IS CALLED "DEMONS" from Imagine Dragons. I suggest listening to it, if you have time. Also, I really think it portrays the character who dies in this chapter- let me know if you agree!:)

When the days are cold and the cards all fold
And the saints we *see* are all made of gold
When your dreams all fail
And the ones we hail, are the worst of all
And the blood's run stale
I want to hide the truth
I want to shelter you
But with the beast inside
There's nowhere we can hide

Raiden Brown

A Turn of Events

My feet snap small branches as I stomp around the forest. Am I afraid, you ask, of being caught? Murdered? Yeah, right. I'm untouchable. No one would dare approach the "Psycho." I can only think of one group of tributes who would, but last I saw, they split up! I'm pretty sure everyone could hear Lillith's rant, even the runaways.

Ahead of me a hushed whisper sounds from one of the many knotted trees. A smirk makes its way onto my face, for I have been bored out of my mind for the past few days and the rush of another puppet to play with is maddening. I hear another voice, more frantic than the last.

I ignore the hunger pulsing through me when I say, "Hello ladies," The voices in the tree immediately cease.

"No need to pretend you aren't in there. I already heard you. Now get down so I can kill you faster!" My voice sounds crazed, even I can admit that.

A sharp cry fills the air, and a muffled response hushes it. I make my way around the trunk of the old birch tree to find and angle in which I can see the girls in, to find out just who has become my prey. The twisted branches have kept them out of sight until now.

One girl has an average frame, with long and thin light brown hair. The other is smaller with shorter hair.

"Cassandra," I say to the former, and "Autumn," to the latter. "I didn't think I'd have to give you another warning. If I'm not mistaken, I believe we met before, in these conditions,"

Cassandra jumps down from the tree first, stumbling to her feet after the long drop. "Raiden. Please, let us go. We can kill too. You don't have to do this, you know!" The fear in her voice takes me by surprise. I thought Cassandra would have been braver. A moment later Autumn hops down from the tree, and somehow, sticks her landing with ease. Like the last time I met with the girls, her eyes dart from me, to Cassandra, to, any exits.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," I smile.

"W-we have w-weapons," Autumn stutters.

"Really? You mean that dagger? Luckily I stole little Autumn's."

"Don't call me 'little'," she says calmly.

"Wow. I'm impressed angel, I always thought you were a 'fraidy cat,"

"Shut up. Don't call me 'angel' either. It's Autumn or nothing."

I shrug, then turn my eyes to Cassandra. "How's it going? Any last words?"

"Can I just ask you something?"

"Well, you already have but another couldn't hurt."

"Have you actually… lost it? Are you truly mad?" her voice quivers.

I take a second to respond. "I don't know. Are you mad, Cassandra? I think we're all a bit off. I mean, we're here, aren't we?" I gesture to the arena.

"I suppose so, but did you really kill those kids at that school?"

"I'm going to tell you something Cassandra. It's the closest to the truth- I don't know."

"You don't know?" she pauses, "How do you not know if you murdered before?!"

"Enough questions," I snarl and take a step closer to Autumn. I can actually see her shivering. It only increases my confidence. I know what I have to do. It won't be easy. It won't be fun. But it will show the Capitol that I'm not average. They can't simply pull my strings make me kill anyone. I'm not doing this for them, for their silly entertainment. I'm doing this for me. Since I know what's going to happen next, I think I might want to tell you some things. Things that have, changed me. Things you don't know and will never if I don't inform you now.

My brother, my identical twin brother killed those kids at school. He shot them without any regret- it was almost as if he'd been hypnotized. It scared me, what I saw that day. But part of me honestly didn't understand. What was his motive? Was he simply mad? I guess I'll never know. He committed suicide the day the police came to arrest him. I said to Cassandra that I didn't know if I killed the kids, and that's the truth. I could have done something to set my brother off. Anyways, the police came, they thought I was him, so I was arrested. I didn't want to go to jail. No. I couldn't bring myself to that, so I pretended to be mad. But now, looking back on it I have to wonder- was I pretending? And so, I leave you with this question- as I plunge my own dagger into my own chest, like my brother had years ago- Am I insane? Because I don't even know anymore.

BOOM!

Ivy Kluge

Roses, Roses, Everywhere

Matthias and I have been doing alright in the arena so far. Since the Valentine's Day special, we've both been more wary than before. But I'm guessing every alliance is feeling the same way. As of now, Mattie is hunting for food. I've agreed to stay back and defend our site in case someone decides to try to rob us.

While I wait in boredom, I try to make shapes out of the clouds I see above. The dead branches make it difficult to see. The first cloud I see looks like a twisted circle, with veins showing the blue sky running through it like rings. I can't decide what it is, maybe a sponge? No, it's not a sponge at all. I don't know, I can't place it. A line trails behind it with smaller parts of the cloud jutting out the sides. Almost like a stem… with thorns… It's a rose. So is the next cloud, and the one after that. Every single cloud is a rose, most with a stem drifting behind them. How could I have not noticed sooner?

A few minutes later, Matthias comes back with two birds.

"What are they?" I ask.

"I don't know… they weren't bright colors so they probably aren't poisonous,"

"Probably?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Well, that's the best I could do. If you want, I can eat yours for you," He smiles softly.

"No! I can eat it, I just want to make sure,"

"I'll try first, sacrifice myself the Princess Ivy," He jokes. I playfully slap his arm, laughing.

"But first, let's cook them,"

"Okay, we need to wait for nightfall then," he looks up to the sky.

"Did you know that they're roses? The clouds?" I watch his face for a response.

"No. I didn't. I also didn't know you could warp clouds into shapes,"

"It's probably made of acid or something," I joke, but Matthias nods, taking me seriously.

"It's sick. They have to control everything. 'Can't even leave the clouds alone," He shakes his head. Normally, I'd advise him not to insult the Capitol while on air, but Mattie's an exception. Everything he loves has been taken away from him by them.

"I know," I reply.

Calico Weft

Forgotten, Never Forgiven

Nightfall is always treacherous. It marks uncertainty. And today, it means revealing who has been killed. I heard one cannon today, which I suppose is good, but I'm afraid of what the Capitol will do to hurry up the Games. Lani, Morgan and I all plop down on the crinkly dead grass when the anthem sounds. Just seeing them next to me makes me smile, they aren't gone. Lani snuggles against my arm, cold from the blasting winds that have been here the last few days. Morgan looks sadly into the sky, watching the Capitol seal flash before our eyes. Followed by the seal is the face of the boy I loathe the most. He killed my friends. My friends are dead because of him. Raiden Brown.

"Thank you," I mumble under my breath, directing it at his killer. I don't mean to be cruel, but I can't forgive him. Every time I try, I see the chaos. I hear the distant screams. And I just can't bring myself to forgive him. And now I never will. And I'm not sorry. He deserved everything he got.

"Cali, wasn't that your District partner?" Morgan asks softly, unaware of how I'll react.

"Yes. The murderer who killed my friends,"

"Oh, I didn't know that they were your friends, I'm sorry," He reaches over and pats my back. I smile a little.

"There's something I haven't told you guys, about Raiden," I cringe when I say his name.

"What Cali!? What haven't you told us?" Lani shoots up.

"Raiden and I were friends. His twin was my friend too," I gulp. Morgan continues to comfort me while Lani shrieks.

"How could he have betrayed you!? He was you friend!? And you trusted him!"

"I don't know. I don't know why I ever looked at that idiot,"

"It's okay though. Now you have me, and Lani and we would never hurt you," Morgan says calmly.

Yes, but at least two of us will be dead soon, I can't help but think.

"Yeah. Don't worry," Lani reaches over to hug me.

…

24 Tar Armat- He was my tribute, so I felt like it was only right to have him die in the Bloodbath, although I truly loved writing him. However, I think he died the best way he could. We'll miss you Tar!

23 Rye Thicket- I'm afraid her creator abandoned her. That, and she was slightly too much like Katniss and I wasn't sure how to portray her. 'Bye Rye!

22 Nina Rane- I enjoyed Nina and thought she had an interesting backstory. I didn't want to kill her, but her creator only reviewed once or twice in the beginning. Wish you wouldn't have left, Nina!

21 Luckas Seon- Man, there goes one alliance already (Rye and Luckas's) I loved Luckas too, but yet again, his creator didn't review. Have a nice afterlife Luckas.

20 Morgan Adams- I loved Morgan, but someone had to go! He was a brilliant, bright character who I know we will all miss! ;(

19 Glass Morgans- Woah, two 'Morgan(s)' died today… Anyways, Glass was, I know, a favorite of mine and my lovely reviewers. I wish his author reviewed. I think he would have gone far. Also I wanted some more Lillith and Skye drama, which is really what will come out of this. 'Bye Glassy pooh!

18 Rendwick Ambrosia- Oh my God, I can't even tell you guys how much I didn't want to kill him! I loved Rendwick! His wonderful author didn't review last chapter and everyone else had and- UGH! I feel so (enter swear word of your choice here)ing guilty! I mean, I loved this boy and his author! I can't say that enough… Love you Rendwick, I have to say though, your dream/imaginary Alice was wrong about you going to hell. And the real Alice will miss you! Stay tuned for the funerals… Love you Rendwick!:(

17 Evan Keers- Aw. Little guy was too gullible:(. I'm sad to see him go, but I was thinking of all of the characters, and I decided for Ash to be crazed made the most sense, and who would she take it out on other than poor Evan? He was kind of a background character for most of the story, but a beautiful character either way! Bye Evan!

16- Raiden Brown- I loved Raiden. He was so much fun to write, and definitely (spelt that right, no big deal :O ) a dynamic and whole character. I hope I didn't rush his death scene too much, I just wanted to make it perfect. Raiden's death was result of the poll.

The Fighters:

Skye Emerald of District 1
Both tributes from District 2
Frankie Verna of District 3
Both tributes from District 4
Lani Baldova of District 5
Both tributes from District 6
Calico Weft of District 8
Both tributes from District 10
Ivy Kluge from District 11
Both tributes from District 12

I can't really blame Cali for not forgiving Raiden, I mean, could you? Even though she doesn't know the truth… if what Raiden said was the truth. (dun dun dun dun!) And also, those of you who sensed a little bit of a Harry Potter moment when Cali was talking about Raiden… good job…

Those of you who have never seen Harry Potter *gasps* in the third one Harry's like, "HE WAS THEIR FRIEND!"

Please review my new poem, "Ashes Ashes, We All Fall Down." And follow it too:). If ya' want…