Tesla Mason, District Five Male, 17 years old
To think I'm in the top six is surreal to me. Eighteen people have died for me to be here and only five more need to in order for me to go home. I didn't anticipate coming this far; I didn't think the Careers would let me ally with them. That's definitely helped me in these Games - without them I might've met a similar fate to Victoria; seemingly vicious and powerful but med an untimely death. My friends at home would disagree, I think. They'd say I'd be top six, maybe top three if I put my mind to it. The thought gives me comfort and causes me to smile as Brock and myself walk through the arena to tribute hunt.
We're aiming for Candella, Ellie or Dion, really. We won't say no to killing Calloway but he was decent when he left us - he deserves a least one chance, right? It's not pleasant to think how our primary targets are who I assume are the only two girls left in the arena but I can't disagree with Brock's reasoning; they could be dangerous. From the reapings and how far she's gotten, Ellie's the most robust fourteen year old I've ever met and Candella's been hiding in the trees the entire time. And she killed two bear mutts. That's a thing too.
We decide to go the tribute hot spot; the lake. Loads of tributes have been seen there, made camp there and died there. If you didn't die at the Cornucopia there's a high chance you died at the lake. The arena feels even more eerily quiet than usual, maybe because it's dawned on me how many have actually died. Before you could hear the thumps of footsteps, the echoes of distant voices that were too far for you to navigate your way towards and the cracks of fires. There's none of that tonight and part of me's quite glad that I'm with someone; I wouldn't want to be out here on my own.
As we get closer to the lake we see a figure standing idly. Perhaps they're thinking, mapping out their next moves? Brock turns to me and raises a finger to his lips and I nod. We both creep towards the figure and take it from either side.
It turns before we can get to it and, given the posture, I thought it to be Candella - on the shorter side. But no, instead stands Buckingham. A muttattion like her, but Buckingham. She looks no different, the only variable I can see being that her face is completely emotionless, perfect like a porcelain doll, but emotionless. She glances at me and then Brock before lunging at him.
It takes him by surprise as he falls backwards, hands flying around his waste to find the sickle that hands from his belt. The muttattion wields a sword with ease, as if it's another limb. Brock puts up a good fight though, mostly blocking it's attacks. He shouts at me for help when he's push against a tree and I raise a spear to throw directly in the back of the mutt when I see Dion.
He looks like a deer in headlights as he sees I can see him and he looks at the situation before me before his gaze snaps back. I pitifully throw a spear in his direction, missing massively, as Brock screams again. Dion runs off and I waste no time in turning back to Brock and throwing a spear in the centre of the muttation's back. The body crumples to the floor and Brock's deep breathing is the only thing we can hear.
"What did you see?" He asks me, moving slowly to look back where I was looking.
"Dion," I reply, picking up the spear from the body.
"Did you get him?"
I shook my head, "Missed."
He sighs and we make the mutual agreement to return to the cabin. Clearly the night's too dangerous at the moment for us.
Ellie Rosebush, District Eleven Female, 14 years old
Allying with Calloway is a strange feeling. The big Calloway from District Two that possesses a deadly charm. If you told me after the chariot parade that I'd ally with him I'd laugh in your face. It's not an ideal situation - I want to be with Dion, the true ally I've had since the Games have began.
The painkillers are working though, I'll give Calloway that. Clearly the Careers snagged all the good medicine before the rest of us had the chance. Smart move. I'm surprised he knows how to use the medicine. I'll give him his dues - I don't know how to use them either, if I'm honest - but I took him to be the brawn and his sister to be the brains, turns out to be the opposite. I think all of us expected Calamity to do better, typical when you see the rare brother-sister duo enter the arena together, but spending the evening talking to Calloway has made me realised he's more of a threat than any of us could've imagined; more than the average District Two Male. He knows how to heal himself and he knows how to be tactical. If he wanted to be, he could be a basically indestructible killing machine. He told me how his true dream is to be a doctor so I guess that answers why he isn't killing as recklessly as he could afford to do.
I look over at him now. He's sleeping soundly and peacefully and the sympathetic part of me tries to talk the other part of me out of it. It being the desire to kill him. I can do it, he's asleep. By the time I've slit his neck or stabbed him in the heart he won't be able to react fast enough. If he kills me? Fine, but he'll die soon after. Nobody can survive multiple stabs to the heart surely.
I actually raise my knife and I walk a little closer to him. Thanks to the painkillers I'm able to move a bit quicker; that and Calloway wrapped the bandage around me in such a way that I don't need to be holding onto it as much. I can confidently hold my knife in my hand and truly contemplate what allying with has in terms of benefits. I know the entire nation'll be watching me. The girl from Eleven had the chance to kill the boy from Two. That doesn't happen often and I know everyone'll be waiting on bated breath to see what'll happen. Eleven'll want me to do it but I know there'll be repercussions. It's all well me killing him but I want to be positive that I can make it all the way. After speaking to him and having a deep conversation with him? I wouldn't be mad if he won - not that I'd be around to care enough anyway.
I bring the knife so close to his neck I can basically smell his blood already. But I stop. I move back to my spot in the room and get back in the sleeping bag as if nothing happened. I need him more than he needs me, at the end of the day. Killing him leaves me with medical supplies which is great, don't get me wrong, but without knowledge on how to use them means I could be taking poisonous pills and I'll be as good as dead.
I know the one thing I really want is for Dion to return. The fire might've driven us apart but it doesn't mean we can't find each other again.
Candella Cartwright, District Seven Female, 15 years old
For the first time in ages I've moved purposefully away from the Careers cabin. For one there's little point staying there; the one Career tribute left is roaming about and following him in the trees will be just as dangerous as if I did it by foot. But most importantly I'm anticipating the feast. There's only six of us left so a feast naturally has to occur. I want to get closer to the Cornucopia so I can jump down, get my item and book it. The longer I stay on that clearing makes the likelihood of me perishing greater and greater.
As I wrap myself up to a tree that overlooks the clearing of the Cornucopia the death sequence commences and I look up, expecting two tributes in particular.
The first is Delta from District Three.
I watched as Brock killed her and I saw her mental breakdown almost. She went into a frenzy and I think if she had been a bit more controlled then maybe she would've killed him before he had the chance to kill her. She surprised most people, I think, by surviving this long. I think many tributes just disregarded her as a Bloodbath death and that was that, not expecting her to be such a threat.
The second is Laurel from District Nine.
I didn't see how she died but I can only assume either Brock, Tesla or Calloway got to her. Part of me feels bad; if I hadn't launched the seed then chances are they wouldn't have died and the faces in the sky would be Brock and Tesla instead. To think me and her went from potential allies to me indirectly causing her death is a chilling thought but they don't call it Games for any reason; we have to play it.
I sigh as I rest my head back against the trunk as the arena goes quiet once more. I need sleep tonight; tomorrow will be a draining day and I don't think being tired will be the best thing.
Eulogies:
N/A
Tributes Remaining:
Calloway, District Two
Tesla, District Five
Candella, District Seven
Dion, District Ten
Brock, District Eleven
Ellie, District Eleven
Alliances:
Calloway & Ellie
Tesla & Brock
Solo Tributes:
Candella
Dion
We're so close! Next chapter'll be the Feast and there'll be a shocking death or two!
As I said before it's bittersweet seeing this SYOT come to an end but it has to happen eventually!
As always, reviews make me happy~!
-Oli