Huzah more chapters! I will really have to work on my being lazy, and work really hard on these now. Anyway, enjoy!
ShusI'maReaderInBed: Okay! Here have a Matthew POV! Sorry if it's not what you expected I tried!
Hurricaneclaw: I know, I'm making me sad too T^T
Professional Tsundere: Nuuu! Not Lichtenstein!
Matthew bit his lip and stared anxiously at the screen. He wished he could talk to his brother, give him advice. But he was stuck here staring at a tiny projection as his brother's life was at risk. He hugged his pillow, it was lonely without Arthur here. He glanced at the screen as Alfred laughed over enthusiastically at Arthur, who looked more than a little bit irked at the younger man's behaviour. The corners of Matthew's lips lifted into a sad smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He frowned when the camera did a close up on Kiku's face. He was pale, paler than usual, and you could see his eyes moving beneath his eyelids. Matthew hated the way that the games focused on the pain and misery of the tributes competing in the games, he wished he could do something to stop it. He thought about the sheer horror and grief that had appeared on Vash's face when Erika had died, he remembered him clinging to her body, Ludwig unable to do anything but stand and watch.
They had changed over to Alfred then, Matthew presumed that Vash had probably tried to stop them from taking Erika's body away, and he knew that the capitol wouldn't appreciate any show of resistance. Matthew sighed and glanced out the window. There weren't many people out and about at the moment, most were either at school or watching the games. His eyes wandered, until they finally settled on the forest. He thought about Francis, alone in district four. He wished there was someway of communicating with him. Someone shouted outside, and there was a bang. Matthew startled, then looked in the direction of the commotion. Some men were attempting to keep a tree from falling on the fence that separated the district from the woods. It teetered and feel, there was a crack of electricity as the electric wire on the fence short circuited, as the tree fell heavily upon the fence.
Matthew watched as people ran about in a panic to shut of the electricity to the fence. Matthew smiled to himself. Maybe there was a way to communicate with Francis after all.
He left the house as inconspicuously as possible, which wasn't hard for him. People had never noticed him before, and they weren't going to notice him now. He snuck over to the fence, and smiled when he noted the lack of buzzing that the electricity in the fence usually emitted. He placed a hand gingerly on the fence, then looked around to see if anyone was looking, there wasn't. Everyone was concentrated on the place where the tree had fallen.
He clambered over the fence with relative ease, and landed with an 'oompf' on the other side.
Just as he landed on the other side, he caught a young man staring at him. He paused, unsure how to react. The young man just watched him quietly, then did something Matthew did not expect. He raised a hand and saluted him. Matthew nodded at the man, then did something, entirely out of impulse. He picked up a stick and carved a number into the bark of a tree.
He stood back and allowed the young man to see it. There, on the tree, was the number thirteen. The man nodded, and ran off back into the district. Matthew shook his head, he was unsure as to why he had just done what he did, but he felt it was important.
He took one last glance at his district, then set off into the woods.
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Antonio hadn't spoken since Lovino's face had appeared in the sky. Elizabeth had tried talking to him, but to no avail. He had become an empty shell of grief, barely noticing the world around him. Eventually, even she had given up trying to speak to him, and left him alone. He sat up the back of the cornucopia with Ivan, who was still a little too woozy from Tracker Jacker stings for Elizbeth to trust him entirely.
Antonio sat, legs up against his chest, staring out the entrance to the cornucopia. Ivan regarded him with his violet eyes. An almost childish curiosity on his face.
"You are sad because your friend is dead, angry that he was taken from you, da?" he asked, Antonio did not reply.
"Panem has taken much from you, and you are content to sit here like this and give up?" Ivan continued.
Antonio flinched, and slowly turned to Ivan.
"I don't fight because there is nothing left for me to fight for," he mumbled, avoiding eye contact with Ivan.
Ivan looked at his hands, then held them out to Antonio.
"I killed my own sister with these hands, for the entertainment of a dying nation," he said simply, "but I am still alive despite what I have been forced to do and what has been taken from me."
Antonio tilted his head, "I'm still alive."
"Really? If Lovino were here, and I asked him if you were really alive, would he say yes?" Ivan caught Antonio's gaze and held it, "you're nothing but an empty shell, da."
Antonio flinched and looked away again, guilt shown clearly in his eyes. Ivan placed a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Maybe it doesn't have to be like this," Ivan said softly, "Panem may try and kill me for this, but I do not plan on fighting the others anymore. However, this does not mean I do not plan on fighting."
Ivan held out his other hand to Antonio, "You and I, we're alike, da? Let's fight together as brothers."
Antonio looked up mournfully at Ivan, but his eyes were bright.
"As brothers" he agreed, and took Ivan's hand firmly in his own.
From her watching point outside the cornucopia, Elizabeth smiled. It had hurt to see Antonio so down after all he had done to help her during her time in the district. She knew Ivan was planning to overthrow the games, and that he probably knew that she had the same idea.
She looked out into the woods, where she had sent Gilbert and Irunya to search for clues about the others whereabouts. Gilbert had been fast to pick up on her motive too, and had been eager enough to search for the others. She was feeling confident now, if she could gather the others…
But even if they gathered, what could they do then?
She frowned and looked back out at the woods. She hoped Gilbert and Irunya would return soon.
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Ludwig pulled Vash to his feet, and supported him as he stood, staring shakily at the ground still stained with Erika's blood. In his hand, he held a blue ribbon, which he held close to his chest. Ludwig looked at him, at a loss for words.
"She died bravely," Vash stated, gripping the ribbon tightly, "I won't let her be forgotten…"
He turned on Ludwig, "You won't forget her!"
Ludwig just nodded sadly, Vash glared at him and pulled at his arm like a lost child. It was depressing to see Vash like this. All his confidence and bravado was gone.
"Come on, we need to find Feli and Kiku…" Ludwig walked off, Vash following close behind him, to afraid to look back.
They stumbled through the forest for hours, unsure as to where it was they were going, or what they were going to do if they did get somewhere. It was Vash who fell to his knees first. Weighed down by guilt and grief, he collapsed and lay panting of the ground. Ludwig sighed at sat down heavily beside him. He too was exhausted from the day's events. He cursed himself for dropping his pack when the beast attacked. Vash rolled over onto his back and stared up at the sky. They stayed there in silence for a while.
"Kese… No sign of them…" Ludwig twitched as he recognised the voice.
"I hope Elizabeth isn't upset we couldn't find them…" another voice, this one was female.
"Gilbert…" Ludwig croaked, trying to get his brother's attention.
"Hey, Irunya did you hear something?" Gilbert asked.
"Gilbert!" Ludwig exclaimed a little more forceful this time.
"West!" Gilbert came crashing through the woods towards Ludwig, almost tripping over Vash as he did so.
Irunya appeared behind him looking worried. Gilbert regained his composure, and checked if Vash was alright. Vash turned his head away glumly, so Gilbert left him to Irunya, and went over to his brother, who was sitting with his back propped up against a tree.
"Are you okay West?" he asked upon reaching Ludwig.
Ludwig shook his head, "No injuries, but we're exhausted and we haven't eaten much except for a few biscuits when the games begun. That and…" Ludwig trailed off, and indicated Vash with a wave of his hand, then beckoned Gilbert closer.
"Erika died…" he whispered, not wanting to upset Vash anymore then he already was.
Gilbert took a shocked step back, then sat with his head in his hands.
"Damn, I knew… I should have… I didn't vant to believe it but..." He muttered Gilbert shook his head regretfully.
Ludwig was confused, but he didn't press the matter. Gilbert looked up glumly.
"I came to look for you.. But even the awesome me can't change fate," he sighed and stood up, " I need to get you back to the cornucopia. We've got water and a small amount of food there."
He offered Ludwig his hand, and Ludwig took it. Irunya was helping Vash to his feet.
"Come, the cornucopia shouldn't be to far," Gilbert said, Ludwig nodded, looking over his shoulder to check on Vash. He was stumbling on with an unreadable expression on his face. Irunya was supporting him, but she was having trouble dragging him along. Ludwig sighed and continued walking, following Gilbert.
He wished these games would just end...
Thanks to everyone who reviewed/followed/faved this. It really means a lot to me! I'll try my hardest to update quicker!