Day 14: Late Afternoon to Night

Caden Miller, D2

"Why didn't the cannon sound yet?" Kleo asks in frustration. It has been two days since Kleo and Caden destroyed Predator, leaving him a bloody mess to catch an infection. He could not be lasting this long with all those open wounds. Kleo picks up a desert rock and chucks it at the crushed Cornucopia, where the Games began two weeks ago. Her nails were caked with dirt and her hair was a greasy mess. Maripos would be disgusted at the state her tribute is in. Kai would also be in horror. Caden had dirt all over him, had bags under his eyes, and his hair was in more of a mess than Kleo's, if that was even possible. Kleo lays on her back and looks to the sun heading for the setting position.

Caden was a lost for words too. The instructors always told them that an infection could spread in your body by opens wounds, and that should take up to a day. The infection itself could kill with in a matter of hours if it is strong enough. Maybe the instructors didn't know what they were talking about; Predator has been alive for two days and he may not even have an infection in his body. Caden lays beside his sister and stays silent. They used to do this at the Academy back home. During their lunch break, they'd lay on the grass and stare into the sky. They'd joke around at the new recruits the Academy signed on and they would just talk about the silly stuff. So much has changed since they entered the Hunger Games together. Would either of them come out?

The siblings stayed silent as they watched the sun move to the horizon. The arena seemed quieter as they layed there in silence. They both were thinking the same thought; when will Predator give up? Kleo closed one eye and used her thumb to cover up the sun. She sometimes did that to see what it would be like with no sun. Obviously, that would never happen. Maybe in the Dark Days, but not now in the stronger-than-ever nation. Caden lifted his head to watch his younger sister covering up the sun. He would never know the reason she does that, but he found it very adorable when she did. It reminded him of when she was seven and she was just enrolled in the Training Academy. A lot of things changed over the years, and now they were fighting for their lives, the thing they were taught to do since they were young.

"When do you think he'll die?" Kleo asked, breaking the silence. Caden sits up and looks down to his sister. He took only a moment to think about it before he came back with his answer.

"Maybe in a few hours." He guesses. "We roughed him up pretty badly and he probably couldn't last anymore than a few hours." Kleo smiles slowly and Caden realizes why she is smiling at him. There is a possibility that they'll return home together. They didn't need words to express that thought. Kleo sat up and hugged her brother, holding on tightly and never wanting to let go. Hope is restored in their hearts and there is a chance they'll escape with their lives. Tears blotted the sides of Kleo's eyes, threatening to fall on her brother's shoulder. They could go home.

She hugged Caden tighter as the sun began to set. They only had to last in the arena a few more days and they would be home, safe and sound. Kleo dared not let go of her brother, her only sibling she has ever known. She was so close to the victor title, she could almost taste it. Just a few more days.

Sheila Carwell, D7

The sun was dimming and Sheila watched as Predator closed his eyes and snapped them open, trying to stay alive. No parachutes came for them nor did Sheila have any medical experience to help her 'ally'. Predator's blood had stopped flowing and he was losing more blood than Sheila could stop it. She watched as he looked around with his eyes, trying to take in where he would rest in peace soon. Was there anything to do to keep him alive for a few more days? Did Sheila do the right thing by staying with him? It kept the Careers off her trail for a while, but she had to watch Predator die slowly and probably by infection. What could she even say to him? 'Nice job in the Games, but you need to die now'? Like Sheila could ever say something like that.

Her sword layed in her lap and resting on her skinny legs, her legs that have lost a ton of weight since the Hunger Games began. Sheila would have to eat tons of Capitol food to restore her original weight before she would ever be showed off to the Capitol citizens again. Not that she'd be back in the Capitol; one of the siblings would probably take her spot. They'd get the glory and escape with their lives. How happy for them. Sheila looked down at her weapon one more time. The District 7 seal was showing at her face and she realized how badly the sponsors wanted her to win. She looked at the seal and tried to breathe deeply. 'Don't think that you'll die. What did that girl say during the interviews?' She remembered the girl from 5 who said that she believed that she wouldn't die, but that turned out very well. She died sometime after the avalanche happened.

A low groaning was heard to Sheila's left. Predator has tried to fight the pain since Kleo and Caden roughed him up, but he was losing his battle. He may not ever make it back to District 4 to see Paige. While Sheila was trying to keep Predator's mind away from the pain, she asked what his life in his district was like. He told her about the way the air smelled, the Training Academy which was based on tridents and swimming, the way the took midnight swims during the summer, and the way he looked at Paige Tamar when he saw her. As he talked about the 'love of his life', Sheila began to realize that ruthless Careers have a heart deep down inside. He really loved Paige, especially by the way he talked about her. She asked him what he would do if he came home as victor, but Predator replied 'You know I won't win. Chances are that you will go home'. He's the first person to ever say that to her.

Another groan came from Predator as he fought the pain away. She looked to him and saw the expression of pain glimmer across his face. It was hard to believe that only two weeks ago, he looked like a merman at the Tribute Parade and he scored a ten in training. Sheila has earned only half of his score, and she would make it farther than him. Predator looked to Sheila, to her weapon, and back to her. He took a sharp intake of breath and words began to spill from his mouth. "Please, can you please just kill me now? I won't make it past the sunset. Please?" Sheila's eyes welled with tears. How was she supposed to kill him, the boy she spent all yesterday talking to about his home life and the girl he desperately loved?

He looked to her and scooted closer. "Sheila, I want you to do this. I also want you to do one thing for me." Sheila nodded, holding back the tears she dreaded to let free. "When you win and you are on your Victory Tour, I want you to tell Paige that I will be waiting for her. Please?" The District 7 girl nodded and watched as Predator layed on his back, ready to accept his fate. Sheila clutched her weapon, looking at the bloodied boy who beared no resemblance to his former self, the Career determined to win. Was this a pity death? Sheila took a deep breath and plunged the golden sword into Predator's heart, tears streaming down her face as the cannon echoed in her ears. His words stayed in her mind. When you win... He had so much confidence in her. She wiped her useless tears away and looked to his lifeless body. I will win for you, Predator.

The Fallen:

Predator Fazaysia, District 4: Mangled by Kleo and Caden, mercy killed by Sheila

A/N: We say good-bye to Predator in this short chapter, and we are almost to the end of the Games. Kleo and Caden may just have to fight Sheila on this one. Who do you think will come out on top? Only time will tell. I am so happy that I got to write this story and I enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you all the readers and the tribute creaters for making my first SYOT possible and successful. :)