A/N This is another chapter that I am writing based on the first Hunger Games as a request :3
Games: 1
District 4 female tribute – Age seventeen - Haydence Gillenwater
Keyword: Betrayal
The blade slides across my skin once more, as he adds to my never ending list of injuries. The fine blade stings, but it is the rivers of betrayal that run deep that hurt more than anything else. I put my trust in him, but as I look up into his clear blue eyes all I see is bloodlust. So many lies flowed freely from the delicate curve of his lips and I believed every single one. Never once would I think my course in life would lead me to this moment. To be tortured to death by the one boy who I thought actually cared about me for all of Panem to pay witness to.
No one can quite understand how betrayal hurts more than any of the many cuts that run deep across my body. To think that one cares then have them turn around and stab you in the back is something that will blindside you and tear you down until there is nothing left. Betrayal will leave an unseen scar that holds no chance of ever healing.
I close my eyes lightly, as Glare continues to remove my flesh from my body. Everything begins to feel cold, as if all the warmth in the world has been sucked away into nothing, but a black hole. I long to be back home in District 4 with the sounds of the waves surrounding me. I can almost feel the caress of the sweet waves washing over my skin, but I know in reality that sensation is nothing, but the slick metallic blood snaking its way across my mangled body.
I keep my eyes closed, as my mind begins to edge away towards the darkness that beckons me forward like a Siren's song, but still I cling onto this precious thing we call life. Images begin to swirl their way across my mind; the images of the memories that led me to this moment. What brought me here were my own foolish decisions, but it is the betrayal that would force me to meet my untimely demise. I wanted to win; to return home, but now I know that is nothing, but a foolish fantasy. Fantasies never come true; I can never have my own happily ever after. The boy who I thought would be my prince turned out to be the evil being in my tale. My tale is one of pain and betrayal; it is something no one should ever have to live through on their own.
The memory of the moment I first laid my eyes upon Glare begins to intertwine its way into my mind. I was sitting on an elaborate couch on the train ride towards the Capitol with my knees drawn up to my chest. I was anxious about being presented in front of everyone to see, as I never imagined once I would be one of the first twenty four to partake in these wicked games. None of us wanted to truly be here, but later some would realize this is where they wanted to be all along.
I glanced over towards my District partner Sayer; I recognized him from school, but never before had our paths crossed, that is until this moment. We were instructed to watch the rest of the reapings to pay witness to who our competition would be. We both knew our greatest threats would lie in District 1 and District 2, as they were the other two Districts that were better off than most. The screen flickered to life, as the image of District 1 came into view.
People lined the streets, as children were herded like cattle into small roped off areas. Many held a fear that I knew was reflected in my own features during my reapings. Never once in my life had I been so afraid. To hear your name being called out for all to hear holds an effect on the one that owns that name that no one would ever be able to understand. With the sound of my name drifting along the gentle breeze I felt, as if all the air in my lungs had vanished. I could not breathe and I was not able to formulate one single thought. Tears readily dripped down my face, as I was forced to walk towards the stage.
I shook my head lightly pushing those thoughts away, as I kept my eyes transfixed on the screen before me. "Welcome District 1 to the first ever Annual Hunger Games! Today we will be choosing one brave young man and one courageous young lady to partake in this year's Games to bring honour to their families and their District!" The sound of their escort echoed through the screen in a thick of static.
"There is no honor in this," I heard Sayer mutter beneath his breath and I knew that he was right. No honor would be brought towards the first victor who would emerge from the arena with their hands stained in scarlet. We all want to return home, but in order to do so we must steal the life away from those who don't want to let go of their life that easily. I would never be able to kill this I knew, but that would not stop me from trying to return to my family.
Sayer and I watched intently, as the escort of District 1 allowed our history to spill from her lips before she walked towards the clear crystal bowl that contained the names of all the females. Her fingernails clicked loudly against the smooth of the glass, as she pulled out the name of the first contender who would be forced into playing these games. "The female tribute from District 1 is Garnet Lancaster!" I watched, as a tall girl with long blonde hair emerged from the sixteen year old section. She held her head high, but even she could not hide the fear that she held.
The entire District fell quiet, as she climbed up the steps of the stage, the sounds echoing off the surrounding buildings. "Now the male tribute is Glare Lancaster!" The realization that these two tributes were related began to dawn on me that is until I saw him. He walked out of the eighteen year old section, his golden hair shimmering in the paling morning sun. I held my breath, as he walked towards the stage with his head held high. I wasn't sure what it is I felt in that moment, but I knew I wanted to get to know this boy.
"He looks like a threat," The sound of Sayer's voice drew me back into my reality. I knew this boy was my competition and that for him to make it home I would have to die, but I couldn't help feeling drawn towards the boy with the breath taking clear blue eyes.
My eyes flutter back open, as the pain coursing through my body begins to readily increase to an almost unbearable level. I look into those clear blue eyes now, but they appear to be tinged in scarlet. They broke him this I know; the horrors he paid witness to warped his mind into something no would ever think was possible. He was never the same after the incident with the girl from District 2, but it is only now that I really see just how far over the edge he has gone.
"I thought you cared," I say barely above a whisper, but all he does is laugh coldly in response.
"You really thought I cared Haydence? You're an idiot for thinking so," He sits cross legged next to me and allows his eyes to sweep across my body; admiring the havoc he has created. The skin has been neatly removed from my legs and my deep crimson blood has soaked into the earth beneath us. I can no longer move, as even the smallest of sensations such as breathing sends bone shattering pain riveting throughout my entire being. A single tear cascades down my cheek, as fear continues to intertwine its way through my veins. All I want is for him to end my suffering, but I know he will never do so. He now enjoys inflicting pain towards those he sees as weak and he will not stop until his bloodlust has been satisfied.
He brings his hand down and smashes it hard across my face at the sight of my tears. "Don't bother wasting your tears with me; they will gain you no sympathy," He says through his teeth, as I whimper quietly. My mind falls to my family and I realize they must be feeling just as much pain as I am in this moment. They are being forced into watching me being tortured to death, but there is nothing they can do about it. There is nothing anyone could possibly do to stop this; there is nothing nobody can do to stop him. He is now beyond control and will forever be nothing more than a pawn in the Capitol's games to control us all.
My eyes fall close once more, as I allow myself to get lost amongst my memories. Perhaps here is where I can find a single once of strength that I will cling onto desperately. I want to be brave, as I pass into the next world, but I cannot find the strength to feel this way.
I only joined with the careers because Glare thought the smartest decision would be for the stronger of the Districts to stick together. He was the first to propose the idea of the career pack; something that would be continued in the many years to follow. I allowed myself to get wrapped up into his lies, but I thought every word that spilt from his lips were sincere. Never once did the thought that he was just using me cross my mind, but I see now that was all he was doing all along.
The training hall begins to sprout into view, as my memories come crashing down on me once more. I was at the spear station, as I tried to pick up on any skills that would help me in my quest for survival. I was beginning to grow frustrated with myself, as all off my shots were off center. I breathed out slowly trying to focus all my thoughts, until I felt a pair of steady arms wrap their way around me. I glanced up at Glare who placed his hands across mine, fixing my stance. The feel of his body against mine was an entirely new sensation to me, as I had never been this close to another human being before.
I had always been nervous towards my fellow human being and normally chose to be on my own, but this boy had me hooked on all these new sensations I had never experienced before. I would now blindly follow all his orders without much of a second thought. I believed he knew exactly what it was that was best for all of us, but in reality the only thing he really cared about was himself.
"You just need to fix your stance a little bit, and then your shots should be a little straighter," His voice was smoother than honey, as it swarmed the air surrounding me. I nodded once still fully aware of how every little movement that I made caused my hips to brush against the flesh of his body. I wanted to prove myself to him; I wanted to show him that I was worth protecting. The spear left my clutches faster than the blink of an eye and embedded itself into the flesh of a dummies neck. A small dainty smile graced my lips at the sight of my work. "I knew there was a good reason, as to why I wanted you in my alliance," Glare whispered into my ear, which caused a rivet of chills to spiral through my spine.
The only reason he really wanted me to be a part of his alliance was he knew I would follow him blindly, even into the dark. It was clear to see that Glare needed control; which is why he made himself the leader, which is why he was so furious the night Garnet and Sayer disappeared into the night. He did not like the concept that he was losing control of the people he needed to use to propel himself further to the top.
His furious screams tore through the night air, as he smashed his fist across the trunk of a tree. All that remained of our alliance at that point was Glare, Jasmine, and myself, as the boy from District 2 perished after only a few nights into the Games due to making a foolish mistake of eating berries that turned out to be poisonous. I pulled my knees up to my chest, as I watched him lose his temper with wide eyes. Never before had I paid witness to Glare losing control such as this, never before did I think anything could push him to this state.
My eyes snap open once more, as Glare roughly grabs a hold of my face. "Open your god damn eyes and stop playing dead with me," He snarls as he releases his rough hold on me. My head lands back against the soft green grass and I long to be able to dissolve back into the earth; at least that way he wouldn't be able to cause me any more harm.
"I'm not playing dead," My words are weak sounding, as I am losing all my strength. I know it is now only a matter of time before I lose my hold on reality and my cannon goes off announcing my demise. I will soon be added to the collection of faces that have been shown in the night sky; just another face that will soon be forgotten. The victors will become a part of our history, but those of us who lost our lives to their hands will remain lost to the rest of the world. We were not the ones who were strong, but we were the weak; the ones who have been cast to the side.
I glance over at Glare who goes about cleaning his knife; wiping my scarlet blood across his torn clothing. I wonder if the Capitol knew the arena may destroy some of us this way; creating us into monsters who were never meant to roam the earth. "Do you remember our final night in the Capitol?" I whisper, as the very thought of this memory causes more tears to slide off my cheeks. He pretends, as if he hasn't heard me, but I know he has. We both find ourselves getting lost in the final moments where he was still human.
I could not sleep, as fear had taken a hold of my entire being. I hugged my arms around myself, as I quietly snuck out of my room; my intentions on being going to see Glare. I made my way to his room without being caught and quietly knocked on the door. He opened the door only moments later and one could easily tell he could not sleep either. That night I remained in his arms and cried myself to sleep, as he whispered false promises to me. He ran his hand through my light brown hair, as I clung onto him like a final lifeline. I didn't want to let go because in that moment I believed that if I did I would lose him. If only I knew I would lose him to his bloodlust either way.
"I'm going to protect you in the arena Haydence," He whispered softly into my ear, as he held me close to him.
"What about your sister?" I asked after a few moments of silence.
"I will cross that bridge when we get there," With those words hanging in the air around us was I finally able to pass on into a sleep tinged state.
I breathe in sharply, as Glare's knife comes into contact with my skin once again. I begin to cry softly, as he goes about removing the skin from the rest of my body. Never before have I been exposed to such a pain and I begin to wish for death to come and claim me. One can only take so much and I had past my breaking point a long time ago.
Glare's cold laughter bounces off the trees surrounding us, as he is enjoying what it was he is doing to me. I can see it in his eyes that he wants to hear me scream and I am close to giving in to what it was he wants. More than anything I want to hate this boy for doing this to me, but no matter what I can't bring myself to feel that emotion against him. I would never have the time to understand why that is, but perhaps it is better that way if I never did know.
As the blade slices down across the satin skin of my stomach a blood curdling scream escapes my lips. My body begins to shake violently, as I no longer can take any of this. A cruel smile tugs at Glare's lips, as he watches my withering form. I am close to death this I know, but still I hold on for a few more moments.
I open my mouth to say my final words, but Glare even steals those from me. He thrusts the ruby tainted point of the blade down my throat and my eyes grow wide at this sensation. I can feel warm blood swarming my throat and burning down towards my lungs. Only seconds after my cannon tears through the arena, but Glare does not feel an ounce of remorse for his actions. He left what remained of my body behind without as much as a second glance.
He fed me false promises, but in the end all that was left was betrayal. Betrayal would not be a new art in these twisted games, as many tributes to follow in our footsteps would carry out similar plans of deceit. Betrayal is what forced me to meet my end and never once did I see it coming. I never read the signs that would have showed the plans that ran rampant across Glare's mind. No game can ever compare to the ones betrayal brings forth. Betrayal is something the Capitol would feed off of and tributes would lose their lives to. I was one of those tributes that fell into this twisted web, never to be set free again.