A/N: Thanks to Oxenstierna D. Yuki-Rin, beauthg, richards25, Kiliflower and RealFiction for reviewing the last chapter!
Here's another victor from 'Catching Fire'. I'm sure that you all remember her :)
I hope you enjoy today's chapter :)
"Could you sense a tragedy?
Because I saw it on the BBC
There's a panel on that channel
Could you walk a narrow line?
I need to know I'll serve my time
With some use."
- Rick Witter, 1996.
The 62nd Annual Hunger Games
Enobaria Blake (17), District 2 Female
Shed Seven - On Standby (1996)
After twelve days, it all comes down to this.
Three of us remain, and all of us have been through hell and back to get here.
First is Topaz, the girl from District 1. She's strong, but has nothing on me. She's armed, as she has been all through the Games, with her trusty bow. But now, for the first time, her supply of arrows is running low. I'd usually have expected a girl with her good looks to have more support from the sponsors, but instead they have been directed towards the boy on my right.
Martin, the boy from District 4, stands on my right. For a Career male, he's quite small, and was reaped rather than volunteering for himself. I doubt he was ever trained for these Games, but he's clever, and managed to make a name for himself within the old Career Alliance before we split three days ago.
Having never had the girl from Four in our alliance, the five of us had stuck in a pack for the early phases, whittling down the numbers. Twelve after three days. Then nine. Then seven.
Eventually, my district partner and the boy from District 1 turned on us, but the numbers were in our favour, and we killed them. Topaz and Martin even let me have the pleasure of killing my own district partner.
After that, the three of us went our own ways. I don't know who killed off the boy from District 5. All I know is that he was dead by the following evening. The day after that, I found the girl from District 11, and killed her mercilessly with my throwing knives, which have been my weapon of choice for years. I never ever miss. Ever.
And now, on the twelfth day of the Games, all three survivors are together once again at the cornucopia, which is situated in a clearing among the dense deciduous woodland that makes up the arena.
"Let's not waste any time," Topaz says as Martin approaches, who is the last to arrive. "This needs to be over."
Instinctively, both myself and the boy from District 4 duck as Topaz shoots an arrow, which happens to soar way over Martin's head. Topaz swears as she reaches into her quiver again to find that she has one arrow remaining.
It's luck that saves Topaz at first, as the first of my three knives flies harmlessly over her shoulder. I blame myself for it; I threw whilst I was off-balance, and my accuracy suffered for it. She's distracted by my throw, and Martin sees his chance to charge at the girl from One, holding his sword ready to swing. She turns at the last moment with an arrow ready, but doesn't have time to shoot before Martin's sword scythes through her, and she collapses into the grass.
Martin stands over her, looking shaken but strong, and I throw a knife when he stays still for just a moment too long.
At least, I had thought it to be a moment too long. Somehow he managed to leap to the side. He's far more agile than I gave him credit for. With only one knife left, I can't risk throwing again. His weapon may be larger and stronger than mine, but it's still blade vs blade. I'm stronger than he is, anyway, and I match him for height. I'm undoubtedly better trained than he is, judging by the way that he wields his weapon, and I'm not afraid to tackle him head on.
As I lunge at him, I can see that for all his offensive strength, he knows nothing of how to defend in proper combat. His reflexes are very good, and he dodges my attacks rather than parrying them, and I make sure that he has no time to strike out himself. Slowly I back him towards the cornucopia until he has nowhere left to run. I suddenly charge at him, knocking the sword from his hands. He stands backed against the cornucopia as I pick up his fallen weapon and throw it thirty yards behind me. There is only one weapon left in this fight, and it's in my hands.
It's over. I've won.
I take my time before throwing my knife at the still target of Martin, but he manages to duck at the last moment and my knife embeds itself up to the handle in the golden metal behind him. Before I can do anything, he charges at me, knocking me to the floor.
So, this is what it has come down to. An unarmed fight to the death.
Brilliant.
I know exactly how to win these; I've had so much practice in the Training Centre back home.
The boy is light, and I easily throw him off of me. He finds a way to get to his feet, but I am ready for him. Two quick punches to the side of his head leave him unstable, and a hook my legs around his ankles, dropping him to the floor. He lands hard, and I'm instantly on top of him, applying pressure holds that I could do in my sleep to keep him from striking back.
This was too easy.
I should have had more of a fight. Made more of a spectacle of this. My mentor, Lyme, will want me to keep pressure applied and slowly drag Martin with me until I reach a weapon that I can use to finish the job.
But then suddenly another idea plants itself in my head.
I flip Martin onto his back, yank his head back and lunge at his bare neck, my teeth exposed.
A/N: There's no need for a summary here, I'm sure you all know what happens next ;)
If you enjoyed this chapter, please review! Constructive criticism is welcomed :)
