Day 18
I'm just gonna come right out and say it. Day 19 is going to be the final day; I've planned a huge finale full of fireworks and ice cream and also, neither of those things. There's a poll on my profile for you to pick who you want to be victor but whatever you do DON'T GO ON IT NOW! Seriously, unless you like huge spoilers just don't do it. Enjoy the Chapter and May the Odds be Ever in Your Favour!
Annaliese Slate POV
It feels great to be back; killing that district 9 girl really gave me the rush. Plus it's one less thing that can hurt Ruby. Just because I get a thrill out of killing other tributes doesn't mean it's selfish. I'm sure when the time comes she'll be the victor. I'm a little hard on her but I'd never actually hurt her or put her in danger.
"Right, what I think we should do next is go after the Whittier; she's the biggest threat of them all. Kill her and we've got this in the bag" I smile over at her but she's curled up in a little ball, facing away from me.
"I don't want to" she says.
"Don't you understand? You could win if we just get her out of the way."
"No I couldn't."
"Course you could; I wouldn't hurt you."
Ruby turns around and sits up.
"You didn't have any problem killing the district 9 girl" she says flatly.
"She killed Dani."
"But you didn't have to kill her; she wasn't thinking straight. She wasn't a threat to us."
"Look we don't have time for this; let's go."
"No."
"Ruby!"
"No!"
"You'll do as you're told!"
I grab her hair and pull her up. I keep hold of it as we walk. Eventually I let go and she follows anyway. I use my free hand to fan myself; did it get hotter?
Whittier lies in the largest clearing, a sword in either hand; she's arrogant enough to sunbathe without being afraid of a threat. I give Ruby a push. She starts running and Whittier's eyes flicker open. She smirks at Ruby and jumps up. I hurl a knife at her leg, but she just rips it out and keeps running as if nothing happened. She's getting closer to Ruby. I run towards the two of them; both are fast but Ruby is slightly faster. God what the hell was I thinking? As Whittier prepares to lunge her sword I pounce on her but no before one sword pierces my stomach. Ruby still thinks she's being chased so climbs into a tree. She looks back just before Whittier stabs me in the neck.
"I'm sorry!" I call to her.
"Annaliese!" she screams.
BOOM
Santana Wolf POV
I don't think I've ever felt more crap in my life. You know, I didn't even care about winning; I would have been perfectly happy to let Ares or Scout win it though if it had been Whittier I would have took that bitch down regardless. Then, Laila has to go and make one of those warm loving family speeches. She's pretty naïve if she thinks things will be ok with our parents or us, to be totally honest. Although now that god damn seed has been planted in my brain, I can't help but think "Well it would be nice to have someone who gives a shit about me." Jesus what happened to the days when all I had to worry about which sitcom scene Whittier and Lupus would re-enact? Actually I know the answer to that; Lupus died most likely trying to get into Whittier's pants and I'd assume Whittier is torturing Scout over what a coward he is.
"Santana?" Scout calls.
Oh damn. This is what I get for choosing to stay in some Santana size cave. I thought I was so smart, especially since some dope left their supplies here. Maybe if I crawl out slowly I can make a run for it. Slowly I start crawling and I run almost instantly into two pairs of feet; double damn.
"What are you doing?" says another male voice.
"Ares?" I cautiously get myself up and see the two of them looking pretty concerned "What the heck do you two bozos want?"
"We want you to ally with us" Scout says.
"Oh no; I'm not allying with your psychopathic girlfriend again. Ares why are you here?"
"Basically, the heartbreak kid here left Whittier and asked to ally with me" Ares explains.
"The confusion as to why you said yes aside, what does this have to do with me?"
"Last I checked you hate Whittier?"
"Pfft, do I need a sign on my head proclaiming it or will you settle for my word?"
"Look we need your help to kill her."
"You must be 50 shades of crazy to think I owe you anything."
"This isn't about owing each other; just old fashioned revenge."
"I'm in."
Not that Whittier's directly done anything to me other than be a total asshole bitch but I suppose I can give her some payback for everyone else she's killed. I flick a speck off of the cave and I feel a string. A red blister has appeared on my index finger. I look on the top of the cave. It's gone bright orange and it's cracking.
"Hit the deck!" I push both of them over as the crack begins to spew lava.
I hear a second crack and then the whole cave explodes.
Whittier Lear POV
I've got her now; I won't be outsmarted by this cutesy little girl. She thought I'd let her take her little ally's knives? Did she think I'd go easy on her because she's young? Please, I let my emotions stop me killing Scout; it won't happen again. As I get close, I yank her pony tail and she falls. I lean over her with my swords but before I can make the fatal blow pain rushes through my leg and I jump back. The ground is cracking; a river of lava divides us. I could jump it easily if my leg wasn't messed up. I follow the narrow path back to the clearing where I killed the poor Lisey. I smirk as the lava takes her body; the girl from 10 sniffs. I see the other 3 tributes following similar paths, all of us heading towards the centre; some kind of stone plate. So we're starting a new Bloodbath; well this won't take me long. I limp as fast as I can towards it but some stone wall with random cracks in it falls in front of my feet.
Ares Tower POV
We got split up soon after the explosion; me and Scout either side with Santana in the middle. This is a weird kind of feast. A light shines by the stone wall as I walk towards it and soon it becomes a figure.
"Angel" I whisper.
Scout Parker POV
As Angel appears in front of Ares I know who I'm about to see and I back away until the lava starts to burn my shoes. Juliette stares right through me.
"Hello tributes" she says monotone "Welcome to this year's feast."
Ruby Rodriguez POV
The girl from 6 pauses and then Annaliese's eyes spring open.
"Each of us has been affiliated with one of you in some way" she continues from where Juliette left off.
Santana Wolf POV
I've got Aurora; I guess technically speaking she's the person I got closest to here that died.
"Friend or foe you must kill the person in front of you; only the first three can get to the first stone plate. Inside are three backpacks, each smaller than the last" Aurora's body stays stiff as she speaks, like she's still dead.
Whittier Lear POV
I can't believe they've put Lupus in front of me; even with only one leg working properly I'll kick his ass.
"The remaining two will be engulfed by the lava; how much are you willing to sacrifice for victory tributes?" his eyes seem more full of hate than the rest; pity.
Ares Tower POV
Angel and the others snap out of their trance.
"Ares!" she runs up to me and her lips meet mine; for a moment everything slows down.
"I missed you so much" I go to kiss her again and without warning she steps back.
Then she pulls out her bow and arrow and takes aim.
"I'm programmed to attack; they thought I'd resist" her fingers begin to leave the bow string.
I put my hands up to soften the blow; I watch as the arrow flies through the air narrowly missing me. Angel lowers her bow and breathes out in relief.
"Thanks Johnny" she looks up at the sky and blows a kiss.
Santana Wolf POV
"This is nothing personal Aurora" I say to her.
"I know, but I have to try" she says "They have my sister."
She runs up to me and rams her spear into my shoulder. I slice her cheek with a throwing knife. Aurora tries for my neck but I trip her and she falls face first, landing up to her torso in lava. I stab her as deep as I can with several of my throwing knives; she doesn't deserve to suffer.
"Good game Auri" I stab a final one in her back and run through the gate, grabbing the largest backpack.
Scout Parker POV
"I'm sorry Juliette" I try to come close to her but she pushes me to the floor "You can kill me; if anyone should it's you."
"Shut up! Just shut up; for once someone is gonna listen to me" she yells "You're a coward Scout Parker and I wish I'd never loved you!"
It hurts more than any fatal wound. Juliette sits down by my side with her legs crossed. She takes my hand and squeezes it.
"I also wish I still didn't" she sighs "One day, years after you've won, we'll meet again and maybe I'll forgive you."
"I don't wanna wait" I sit up.
"So what does that mean?"
I kiss her softly on the lips and then I put my arms around her.
"It means I'm not going to leave you again."
Ares Tower POV
Angel puts her hand on my shoulder.
"Ares, you have to kill me" she says but I shake her hand off "Listen, you'll die regardless. We can never be together."
"We'll find a way out."
"No we won't. But you can live on; for me."
I cover my face so she won't see me cry. I'm not ashamed to cry in mourning but I am ashamed for being weak.
"Was it true what Cersai said? Are you from district 13?" I say quietly.
A tear appears in her eye and she nods. She pulls me close and slips an arrow into my hand.
"Do it" she smiles sadly.
"No" I try to move away but she doesn't let me; instead, she pulls me into another kiss and when I pull away, her t-shirt is bloody.
I look down at the arrow and see the red. The wall moves as Angel falls.
"Run" she says "Run you clever boy."
Whittier Lear POV
"Missed me babe?" Lupus goes straight for my bad leg but I block it with one my swords.
"Yeah, I missed my sexually frustrated man slave" I grin; he knocks the sword out of my hands "Son of a bitch."
"You know the Capitol's promoting me as the hot guy with a vengeance but am I bitter?"
He stomps down on my toe and pounces on me.
"Damn right I'm bitter."
Ruby Rodriguez POV
"I don't want to fight" I sob "I can't."
"Stop being such a whiny little kid; didn't I teach you anything?" Annaliese growls.
I curl into a ball on the floor.
"I can't-" I drop my knives.
Whittier Lear POV
"Why don't start with those all seeing eyes" he puts his sword near my eyelid but I nudge his arm so it leaves a scratch on my forehead instead "Or those tempting whore lips maybe?"
Ruby Rodriguez POV
"You can't do anything! You're such a waste of-"she groans and clutches the throwing knives I've hurled in her stomach.
"I'm so sorry" I run towards her "I got angry and-"
"Well done" she chuckles, the blood bubbling in her mouth "I knew you were a fighter."
As she grows limp, I almost throw up but I hold it back.
Whittier Lear POV
I see the district 10 girl approach the stone plate.
"No!" I kick Lupus in the ribs and hear a crack.
I cut his head off and hurl it at the wall. It doesn't move so I run up to it and spring off my working foot. The lava rises up to take me but I'm over the wall before it gets the chance. The stone plate starts to rise.
Scout Parker POV
Juliette and I clutch each other tighter; out of the corner of my eye Ares salutes me.
BOOM
Ruby Rodriguez POV
The girl from 4 helps me onto the plate but I lose my balance when she's barged out of the way by Whittier.
"You thought you could get away; foolish little girl" she cackles manically before pushing me to my death.
Santana Wolf POV
BOOM
"Oh that does it" I pull out my throwing knives "Ares, let's do this. Ares?"
"Your boyfriend's not gonna help you; he's too depressed over his lost love" Whittier gushes mockingly.
"I've been waiting to do this ever since the moment you opened your mouth."
I line up my throwing knife.
"Tributes, you may not injure or kill each other until you are commanded otherwise; that is all" a voice says.
I put the knives away and Whittier smirks. The stone plate rises higher until we're up in the clouds. I hear something come out under the stone plate. It moves away from us but we don't fall. The clouds somehow keep us up.
"Welcome to Mount Olympus!" says the voice.
Death List
27th- Lewis Simmons: I had no problem with him but I thought one of the alliances should have a loss plus I think following Ruby is the kind of thing Lewis would do. I will miss him though; he was all cheery.
26th- Mai Moonheart: I always felt so sad when I was writing for her; I had no idea what to do with her character. I thought it'd be best if I just ended her pain.
25th- Coal Hartcell: I felt kind of bad killing him because he's been pretty popular but I struggled to write for him.
24th- Terrian Demetrius: I'm sorry to his creator but he was one of the hardest characters for me to write for. I have no idea why. Plus, he was all bitchy towards Cersai and I'm thinking "this girl has enough issues without you targeting her".
22nd- Dusty Abernez: In short, I thought I should have another death and believe me, choosing who to kill off was pretty bloody hard. In the end I chose Dusty, just because I thought he'd fallen under Whittier's spell the most and was therefore most likely to do something stupid.
21st- Ruby Rachel Rodriguez: I literally chose the first person who I could think of a death for; it was the only way.
20th- Annaliese Slate: Pretty much the same reason as Ruby but also because I didn't want her death end up too cliché.
19th- Jayden Williams: He wasn't as popular as some other tributes and I thought he'd run his course.
18th- Reedman Phelps: Like Jayden, he wasn't overly popular but I did like him quite a bit; at least he died a good man.
17th- Jenneth Myra Speare: She was actually reasonably popular but I just wasn't feeling her storyline anymore; also, I unfortunately left her in an awkward position what with her critical injuries and all.
16th- Clio Slate: I just couldn't think of much more to write about him and I thought he should go out before his storyline got boring. Also, selfish as it is, I kind of felt like his death will somewhat do Annaliese good.
15th- Nicole Jade Smith: I just felt like- "You know what, she's done enough." Also, it was a crazy on crazy meet up so… WHAT THE HECK DID YOU THINK WAS GONNA HAPPEN?
14th- Luke Matthew Pond: I've always considered him a pretty smart character, the type that looks at things from a logical point of view so it's the not that surprising the whole Ruby thing freaked him the crap out. To be honest, I did think about him winning at some point, but after Jenneth got stabbed I was just like, this isn't gonna happen really is it? Still, an awesome character and I'm sorry to get rid of him.
13th- Angel West: Call me self centred, but I love writing for my own characters. However, Angel's story had to come to an end because I've been writing it like that I guess. Plus, love has to end in tragedy in the games. It's a shame really because I loved her and Ares as a couple.
23rd/12th- Riddell Thicket (first time): After not giving him an alliance, I didn't know what to do with him. Sorry to everyone who supported him.
(second time): I quite liked him and like I said I probably could have given him more storyline but ultimately while he was a good character, he was one of the harder to write for characters.
11th- Aurora Felici: Poor thing was basically just another victim in Cersai's little riot; I always liked her but I just never really thought of much storyline other than the one at the last minute.
10th- Dandelion Wildflee: Loved her; loved her a lot. She has always been one of those character who actually cares about a lot of people. She never went crazy but she had a cowardly moment and I dunno, I just feel like, after a while, she got lost in the crowd.
9th- Juliette Ryde: Ok I'm gonna level with you guys; when I kill someone off I'm not entirely honest in why I kill them off. A lot of the time I love the character but I just find a way that their death will fit for a good story and I'm afraid this was the case for Juliette.
8th- Lupus Cobaine: He was killed by popular demand basically; you guys were saying one of the evil people had to die soon and frankly he was starting to piss me off so I imagined Whittier's patience would probably ware thinner than my own thus no more Lupus.
7th- Cersai Grace Helms: I guess I decided to have a 2 for 1 sale on killing off the bad people. But honestly, in one of my personal brain rambles I thought "Seriously Ellesse this girl is just too crazy and she's not going to get that back in the like few days left of the games." Plus I just thought her time was up in general and I wasn't sure how else I could write for her.
20th/6th- Annaliese Slate: I built up to killing her; from the whole, being a bitch, being nice, reverting to her originally bitchy ways but ultimately after death, combining the two and being a bitchy for a good cause.
5th- Scout Parker: Here's the thing, I thought to myself "At least one of them would totally refuse to kill but who?" I thought it was Scout's kind of gesture to be brave and apologise to Juliette and you know.
21st/4th- Ruby Rachel Rodriguez: I interpreted my decision of who to bring to the final 3 out of her and Whittier in the story; I loved Ruby but ultimately I prefer Santana and Ares and without a villain in the top 3 I just- it just doesn't work for me.
Remaining Tributes
Whittier Lear of District 1
Santana Wolf of District 4
Ares Tower of District 6