Three days after the party, the 73rd Hunger Games' finale began.
Titania had taken full advantage of Hermes' wound and gone off to kill tributes. When she came back, two other tributes were dead. That left one other and tension began to grow in the alliance. Titania made her first mistake right then. When she thought Gracelyn was off hunting, Titania bashed an immobilized Hermes' skull in. Mira was the next to go, but she put up a fight.
The two struggled, but Titania bit Mira's ear off and smashed her chest. That was when Gracelyn jumped down from the top of the Cornucopia and slammed her lethal weapon into the side of Titania's head.
The Final Frontier. Gracelyn doesn't seem as crazy or bloodthirsty as you.
Now there were two left in the arena. Gracelyn packed everything she needed into a backpack and left the Cornucopia in search for the boy from 9. He had somehow managed to survive the entire games by living on raw onions, water, and by never leaving his hiding spot. It was right next to the Cornucopia.
"Greetings, Tributes. There is a feast prepared at the Cornucopia. The Gamemakers have decided to provide various other types of weapons for the finale. May the odds be ever in your favor."
The boy from 9, Tasel, was the first to reach the table. He grabbed a sword and two knives.
Does he know how to use them? I don't think so.
The kid was about 12, and I watched as Gracelyn ran forward, something clenched into her fist. Mace in hand, she sprinted, backpack off, to meet her opponent. Eighteen year old, she dodged the knives sent towards her head and growled, throwing her mace.
Idiot.
Tasel reached for the table and fumbled for a lighter weapon. Sword in hand, he cautiously defended himself as Gracelyn flipped her long blonde hair and grabbed the first weapon she reached. A bow and arrow. Stringing the bow she let loose an arrow. Tasel flinched as the arrow came hurtling towards his face but blocked it with his sword. He backed up a few inches and that was when Gracelyn grabbed a sword.
She advanced and smiled, using the blade to mess with him. She tapped her sword against his a few times and Tasel charged. Gracelyn was playing with him and she dodged blow after blow.
"Come on, you know you're going to lose!" She exclaimed and knicked his calf. Tasel yelled in pain and Gracelyn slashed his thigh. Tasel cried out in pain and tried to aim for her neck. He tripped and placed a long gash on Gracelyn's left side. It was deep, and blood spurted from the wound and she screamed in pain. Ripping her shirt off, Gracelyn tied it securely around the affected area while Tasel tended to his weapons. Gracelyn took off her pants and tied them around herself as well.
Her anger had boiled to the top and before waiting for him to look up, Gracelyn stabbed his neck and pulled the sword down to his stomach.
Blood gushed from everywhere and the canon boomed. Gracelyn was coated from hair to toe in blood and guts.
The end. Another year come and gone. Now it's back to 12. You should visit your family.
I stood up and clicked my tongue. Why not?
The car ride was dull and eventful. Capitolites crowded the car, as per usual, and I greeted my father inside the house.
"Where's Juna?" I looked around and saw no sign of my little sister.
"Oh, she's in class with Lucilla. Cato... I hope you are well." He said and I nodded. We walked to the living room and sat.
"Father, I... How long am I to remain in 12?" I asked and he shook his head.
"I may know many things, but the answer to that is not within my grasp."
Great. Just great.
I nodded and looked at my watch.
"I'm leaving in a few minutes. I came to say good-bye." I stated and hugged my father.
"Good-bye, Cato." Father nodded and I walked back to the ground floor. The I frowned and took my seat in the back of the car.
"Drive. We're going to the train station." I growled and he nodded. I closed my eyes to the world and thought about how unfair everything was.
Katniss.
What?
Katniss. Wasn't she the girl from your dream? The one with the braid?
I dug into my memories and reclaimed the dream from nights before. It had been her!
What was she doing in your dream?
I had no idea.
"Sir, we've arrived." The driver stated and I got out of the car. Peacekeepers had set up a walkway for me to get to my train without getting bothered by pesky Capitolites. I never even glanced at one of them.
The train was close to silent on the way back to 12. Drunk kept to himself, Effie was in the Capitol, and I tried to piece my dream together. What did she mean by "The odds are never in our favor?"
Duh, the Hunger Games. 12 hasn't had a Victor since Haymitch.
But it was a battle cry. There was blood, people, and Juna.
Maybe she'll be a Victor? Maybe her kids will be Victors. Maybe she'll die in the arena, or maybe her kids will die in the arena.
It didn't make sense! Why was she in my dream and what was with the intricate bow and arrow? Her armor looked like it was made to fit her and her only, and she looked older.
Well, you'll just have to go to 12 and figure it out!
I looked out the window. The Games were never going to end.
Everything has a beginning and an end. Some things just take longer to close than others.
Staring at my reflection in the window, I took a deep breath and sighed. Why was it so hard to be a Victor? Sure, I didn't have to work, but so much pain came with the job. I had to watch 23 kids die every year from a personal standpoint.
~'~'~'~
At District 12, I walked off of the train and looked at the Seam. My first stop was the Hob. It was humming with activity and I walked unnoticed to Sae's bar.
"Well, you came back." She grunted and I nodded. "Same order or d'you have somethin' else in mind?" I shrugged.
"Just water." I looked around and found no sign of Katniss. "Has Katniss Everdeen been here lately?" I asked after thanking her for the water.
"Yeah. She came by just a few days ago with some game. Probably be here t'day or t'morrow. Why?" She asked, tying her scraggly hair into a bandana.
"Just wondering." She grinned, showing her gray teeth.
"Don't tell me you have something for her. She's got a hunting partner y'know. Gale Hawthorne. He's about your age. You're what, 18?" She asked.
Katniss has a new hunting partner? Interesting.
"I'm 19. Turning 20 in a bit." I said and Sae pursed her lips.
"Well, if Katniss-" The doors creaked open. "Speak of the devil. There she is." Sae chuckled. Katniss had three turkeys and a bag full of greens in her grasp. I watched as she peddled her goods and walked over to the bar.
Deja vu much?
"Hi. I have a few turkeys for you." She said and tossed a game bag onto the bar. Sae traded the bag for a few coins and a bowl of soup. Katniss sat and began to eat.
"I see you still haven't developed manners." I muttered dryly and she looked up at me. Her scowl melted and she smirked.
"I see you're still alive. How are you?" She asked and I shrugged.
"Been better. And you?" I asked and actually turned to face her.
"Been better." Katniss sipped her stew and munched on a chunk of potato. "Thank you." She muttered. I looked behind me. Who was she thanking? Sae?
She's thanking you, idiot!
"For what?"
"For the food. I wouldn't have been able to keep my family alive for long, but you made it happen." I grinned.
"Well, I like girls with pink cheeks and rosy lips." Katniss rolled her eyes at me and I poked her arm. She finished her stew and stood up.
"You know, you're not half bad, Two." I smirked at her comment.
"Right back at you... Twelve." She nodded and swallowed more stew.
"Have you ever been to the woods before?" She asked and I shook my head.
"Can't say I have, why?" Katniss shrugged and took another spoonful of stew.
"I could take you. You're from one of the rich districts, so there's obviously not much to do here compared to there."
The truth. She sees it. This place is a boring hellhole.
"Alright. Let's go into the woods." I stated and she nodded. We walked far into the back of the distrct where the fence met the Seam. Katniss listened and then climbed through a small hole in the fence. I listened to the fence and touched it. A small jolt of electricity pulsed through me.
It's not completely on. The Peacekeepers must really like her game.
Katniss raised an eyebrow as I placed my hand onto the fence. The electricity seemed to flow through my entire body and I pulled away and climbed through.
We walked for a while and sat down by a brook. Katniss picked at the grass underneath and looked at me.
"So tell me about yourself." I said and she shook her head.
"No."
Deja vu. I'm telling you, this girl is super predictable.
"Fine. I'm twenty and I have a little sister that's about to turn nine. She loves frilly dresses and always has at least one shade of pink on." I stated and Katniss had a faint smile on her face.
"My sister loves pink."
Ah, the statue speaks!
"Oh really? I'll have to get her something." I stated and she looked up.
"Why? Why are you so kind to us? I expected you to be a stuck up Capitol lapdog, but why are you like this?" She asked and I frowned.
"Is it a crime to be nice?"
Seriously.
"No, but you're from District 2. Shouldn't you be gloating and wasting money on things like tattoos and hair dye? Why are you so... so-"
"So what? Normal? Nice? Not everything is as it seems."
"But you're a murderer. Your District is full of killers that kiss the Capitol's ass and walk hand in hand. There are twelve year olds dying every year!"
Wow. So that's how they see you.
I flopped down onto the grass and pulled my hands behind my head to keep it off of the ground.
"You see me as the murderer? I'm just doing my job. How many twelve year olds have died from 12? A hell of a lot. How many volunteered for them? Hm?" She was silent. "Zero."
"What does that have to-"
"Now ask me how many twelve year old have been killed from District 2." She gave me a suspicious look.
"How many twelve year olds have been killed in District 2?"
"Glad you asked. Zero. Why? Because someone older and more experienced will volunteer for them. That twelve year old will live and the older one will fight to live. So what if we kiss the Capitol's ass? If it means heated homes, doctors, running water, and full bellies every night, then we do it. How many twelve-year-olds have died from starvation in District 12? Freezing to death? Malnutrition?" Katniss remained silent and huffed. I knew my point had carried itself across. She was silent for a while.
"You're still weird."
You smell funny.
"I'll take that as a compliment. So you come out here every day?" I asked and she nodded.
"Right after school, I change into something dirty and come out here. It's my safe zone."
Why is she telling you all this?
"That's nice. So, you have a sister?" Katniss nodded. "Tell me about her." Katniss looked across the brook and sighed, crunching a few garnet leaves in her hand.
"Her name's Prim. Short for Primrose. She had my mom's looks and doesn't look like she belongs in the Seam. I look like my father."
"Does he work in the mines?" I asked and she took a sharp breath.
"Not... not anymore." I raised an eyebrow. "There was an explosion in the mines a few year back. He died in it." I nodded.
You know your mother died in that same mine explosion. She was visiting 12 with your father. You were there too. Juna was just a baby, but remember how your father heard the explosion and ran out the door?
"I understand how you feel." I stated and she shook her head.
"How? How can you feel the same way?"
"Because my mother died in the same accident. We were visiting and she decided to walk through the Seam. She got too close to the entrance of the mines." Katniss looked over with watery eyes and I felt mine prickle.
She placed a hand on my shoulder and I felt strange and new sense of comfort.
"I'm sorry."