When the Capitol pits Elliot Peterson against Natalie Peterson, they know there is no return.
"Together?" Elliot asks, weak and raspy and dying of the poisonous arena waters.
"Together," Natalie agrees, eyes hard and determined, despite the cut on her thigh oozing blood and pus.
They tip the poison berries into each other's hands, hold on tight for a moment.
"It was an honor to have you as a sister," Elliot says, staring into his sister's eyes.
"Goddess, you dork. Until the very end you are fucking embarrassing me."
"Nat, I love you."
"Yeah, sure, Goddess, whatever. Don't tell anyone, but I love you too, you fuckin' nerd." But Natalie is smiling through her tears.
"I'll take it to my death," he promises gravely, and she laughs. Gallows fuckin' humor.
"Countoff to three?" Natalie asks.
"One."
"Two."
"Three."
"No!" their mother screams, somewhere in the districts. But twin cannons fire and the hovercraft screeches in much too late, much too late for Elliot and Natalie.
That was the year of no victor.
(The Capitol never airs it on reruns. It would be…incendiary.)
look who cut class and decided to upload a new chapter of harvest games after months of radio silence.