Chapter 7
Two cannons sound one after another, two more shimmering stars in the sky, two tributes dead, and one less girl in District 12. I am suddenly aware of how I'm shaking with rage. A hovercraft materializes overhead and picks up Violet's body. Another appears as the other vanishes, picking up Alice's dead body from the bloodstained grass.
"Of course, Violet wasn't the only one who knew about the bomb," Marco sneers.
"You don't care that your ally just dropped dead? You don't feel any sadness?" Amaranth shouts at the boy from 1, "Well I know that I would care if he," she points to me, "were to die right now!"
Marco squints menacingly at Amaranth, and says, "I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Just so you know, there can only be one victor of the hunger games, so even if I die, you'll still have to look forward to killing your friend there."
"Ah, alliances," I give a half smile, "So quickly made, so easily broken."
"To get back to what I was saying before," Marco cuts me off with a rude gesture, "The girl from 4, Tara, she knew about it too. She also knew that since were so few remaining tributes, to set off the bomb would be suicide. The capitol was planning that the tributes would use it when there was a great amount of people still, because after calculations, she figured the explosion would only cover the area of the inner circle."
"May I ask how you know all of this?" Amaranth says through clenched teeth.
Marco smiles proudly, "Let's just say that they really do make excellent electric devices in District 3, and with the proper tweaking they double as torture devices."
"You got into District 3?" Amaranth gasps.
Neither Amaranth nor I had known of this move made by the careers. Amaranth gropes at her belt for her knife, but then remembers that she had dropped it in the mines below. She curses under her breath and Marco begins to laugh.
"District 1 won't have a victor this year," I tell Marco coldly.
Marco looks over me, and looks slightly alarmed when he realizes I have no injuries. I haven't for this whole game. In truth, I have been one of the best players this year.
"They want the game to end," Amaranth suddenly whispers, staring up at the sky.
I follow her gaze, and see a silver capsule floating down from the sky on a parachute. The sky has turned the brilliant color of sunset, also signaling that by the night, if we haven't killed each other off, the capitol will ensure that there is a victor.
The parcel lands in my hands, and I see a small note attached. My fingers fumble with the paper, and I get choked up when I read the message.
Thank you –H
From my hunger games mentor, my best friend, and my savior, Haymitch Abernathy. I open the capsule to find one single black arrow so elegantly designed with delicate white swirls and patterns. The arrowhead is bright white, and I notice all of the tributes names etched in black on its smooth, deadly surface. Marco, Alice, Garrett, Linda, Drake, Amaranth, Talon, Tara, C.J., Cara, Fred, Sheena, Pluto, Saffron, Zephyr, Andrea, Jake, Mila, Chiron, Sandra, Fidelius, Flora, and finally, surrounded by delicate drawings of flowers, Violet.
The white designs all along the arrow form the number 12 when I look closely. I know how I will use this arrow. This arrow, signaling my victory. Signaling hope. My name is the only one that is not on the arrow, which tells me that I am the only one who defies the capitols rules. The single rebel of 24 tributes.
I am Leon Everdeen.
Amaranth smiles when she sees my gift. She nods as if to confirm my plan.
Marco stares down at us, "Oh, you got a present from your mentor? Well I hope you know it's not going to help you win!"
I gaze at the arrow, and then finally turn my eyes to the final remaining career, "No, maybe it won't help me win, but it will help me finish you."
The District 12 arrow is in his chest before he can shout a nasty response. Marco looks down at the weapon protruding from his body, and laughs a pained laugh.
"So this is how you want to end it, huh?" he chokes out.
Amaranth and I stare at him, unfeeling, unsympathetic.
"Well, I didn't die a terrible death," Marco slowly says, "I made it this far."
He nods, tears now quietly streaming down his pale face, "Well, District 1, you didn't have a total loss. I made it this far," he repeats.
"You did great, as a piece in the capitol's games," Amaranth quietly says.
Marco nods, closing his eyes, "I was nothing more than a piece, but you two aren't. Show them…" his voice falters, "Show them…"
He shakes on his unsteady legs, "Show them I was, no we all were… more…"
Marco falls to the ground, the ghost of a smile etched on his dead face. His blond hair gently blows in the new wind. The wind of death.
A cannon sounds, and I face the sky, my face bitter.
"See what you are, Panem? Thieves, rouges, bloodthirsty fiends who would do this," I gesture to Marco's body, "To the people who support you, help you, keep you from starving." I smile mockingly, "This is what you call The Hunger Games."
Amaranth kisses me on the mouth, then gently pulls away. I wonder how Sarah takes this back home, but I know it doesn't mean anything. It is goodbye.
"Thank you, Leon," she whispers, and then pulls the arrow from Marco's bleeding chest.
I wait for a moment, and then take the arrow. I put it in my bow, and walk towards the cornucopia. Amaranth and I both know what I am doing, and she walks with me, side by side.
The capitol will have no victor this year. No one to shower with gifts, no one to make famous. No one to show that the hunger games can benefit the lives of people. No, the capitol won't have Amaranth or I to crown champion.
That is why I aim my arrow, the symbol of hope, at the black, demonic box that will obliterate both the girl from 3 and the boy from 12.
The arrow leaves my bow, and as it's white tip enters the bomb and fire explodes everywhere, silencing the whole nation, I whisper,
"You're welcome, and may the odds be ever in your favor."