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Audric Lavier
District One Male, 18 Years Old
Day Eight: Pt. I
"Are you sure this is the way?"
From ahead of me, Ceres nods her head, and as I look down at her feet, she's struggling with this land too. It's all mushy, and with every step, our feet sink down even further. It's a mixture of all mud, water, and soggy grass. It's nasty, really, but Ceres is confident that this is the way back to the tree.
We figure that they have had to replenish the supplies there. Besides, there really isn't anywhere else to go, so there's no harm with trying. And if we do come across someone on the way – whether Katcia, Damaris, or Alamar – so be it. With only five, you should expect that encountering another tribute is more likely.
The Games are coming to an end.
"If you say so," I say back to her, trying to keep my pace to speed with her.
Before speaking what else is on my mind, I shut my mouth. Now isn't the time to ask her about her plans for after we get to the tree. Whether or not she'll stick around with me, up until the Finale. With Ceres, I can never predict what she's thinking or what she wants. She always tells you, and even then, it's limited. She's usually kept to herself.
And maybe that's why I went with her over Constance and Alamar.
She isn't as overbearing and intrusive.
Yet, I still want to know what will happen to the two of us. Will she kill me at the tree? Will she divvy up the supplies and then go her own way? I don't know, I really don't. I just have to wait and see.
But, if I had to pick which one I'd prefer to go through with, it'd be to still have her as an ally. We're just better off to be with someone that won't betray, someone with a common enemy – Alamar. I suspect that after Alamar is taken care off, we'll go our separate ways, but until then, there's no saying what will happen.
"Take a left," Ceres says, taking a quick left, not walking over the land in front of us. As I look closer, it doesn't look like the normal grass that we're on right now. I don't question it, and as I walk behind her some more, I can't help but think of what will happen to us. I never really gave it much thought, since I was in an alliance with five other tributes. Now that it's down to only one other person, it feels different.
I feel like I have to worry more.
"Where do you think Alamar is?" I ask, not wanting to be too upfront with my questioning. I wait for an answer, and even though Ceres is quiet for a few seconds, I expect this from her. She always pauses before answering a question or commenting on something.
Ceres shrugs. "Could be anywhere."
"And what if we do come across him?"
"Yeah, Ceres. What will happen when you come across him?"
The two of us freeze.
How did… How did he follow us without us knowing?
Ceres turns around slowly, but the look on her face shows me that I shouldn't move. It's an astonished look, one with an edge to it. From the voice, I can tell it's Alamar, and even though I want to turn around, I can't. I don't know where he is or what he'll do if I do. Ceres grips her machete, and as I reach for my own sword, she shakes her head.
"Alamar," she says, her voice calm and collected. "I knew it was only a matter of time."
And that's when I see what's Ceres' is doing. She's going for a throwing knife from the back of her belt, and by her talking she's only stalling Alamar from doing anything. Alamar laughs from behind me, his voice seeming deeper than usual. The thought of Constance rushes into my mind, someone who I haven't thought much about before this.
Was he the one who killed Constance?
Who else could have? A trap? A muttation?
Ceres holds the knife behind her back, and as we lock eye-contact with one another, I brace myself to drop to the ground. My legs begin to shake, and once Ceres raises her arm, it all happens so quickly. I drop to the ground, my chin slamming right down onto the grass, a sudden rush of pain erupting from that area.
I groan, but as I look over my shoulder, I can see the knife didn't even make it to Alamar. He moved out of the way, his own spear ready to go. Flipping myself over, I push myself back, wanting to get near Ceres. If I manage to stand by Ceres, he can't take us both on.
He wouldn't be stupid enough.
Standing up slowly, I leave the backpack on the ground, only going for my sword. Alamar readies his spear, and from his stance, I can tell he's ready to fight. When he lunges forward, I stumble backwards, not being fully back on my feet. He swipes his spear at me, but I dodge it, bringing down my sword where his foot.
He leaps to the side, right in front of Ceres. Ceres' machete clashes against his spear, and once I hear that sound, I know that this is for real. This is the closest I've been to a fight yet, even during the Bloodbath. Killing isn't something I ever put much thought into, but now that Alamar is here… Now that he's here, it all changes.
"Cute," Alamar spits out, his voice shakey. "How cute."
Alamar swings the spear suddenly, clashing into Ceres' machete again. Ceres takes a few steps back, both us watching Alamar swing his spear erratically. But, what I didn't notice is that Alamar had a strategy of his own. Now, he has a knife in his other hand, and before I know it, it's being thrown at me too.
I jump to the side, but he anticipated my move. Alamar is already where I land, his spear nearly slicing my knee. Before I can regain my composure, Alamar sends the spear shaft right into my foot, a punch to my neck following it. I cripple over, expecting Ceres to join before he can get me again.
But, when I raise my head, I see Alamar's face right in front of me. Both of his hands are on the spear, and as he swings it upwards, the end part of the shaft knocks right into my jaw. I fall to the ground, my sword rolling to the side, the mushy ground submerging it. I grab onto Alamar's ankle, desperately trying to fight back, but he weighs too much for me to pull him down.
And then he sends the spear down into my hand.
I let out a shout, wanting to call Ceres' name, but I can't. The pain in my hand is unbearable, the burning and stinging feel of it making me nauseous. When Alamar rips it out of my hand, I let out another shout, the pain blurring my vision. With my other hand, I press it on top of it, pushing down to stop the bleeding. The blood seeps through the spaces in between my fingers, the sight being gruesome.
When I look back up, I see Alamar standing above me, Ceres off to the side.
"Pathetic," Alamar says, his words not hurting as much as the pain in my hand. My hand feels numb now, but the blood is still making me gag, the pain still hurting. "Should've stayed with Constance and I, Ceres."
"Would you have betrayed me too, then?" Ceres snaps, and as she distracts him, I think of ways to attack Alamar. I can't pull him down, I have no weapon… I can't do anything. I can't do a single thing.
"Betrayed?" Alamar asks, the tip of his spear edging closer to my face. "I would've gotten Constance to do it."
"Enough," Ceres deadpans, not looking at me for even a second. She stares at Alamar, whose spear is pressed right up against my nose. I look at my hand, seeing the grass surrounding it all a maroon color, the ground feeling more saturated than usual.
The blood… Seeing it makes me want to fight back. After looking at my hand, I get a sudden rush of adrenaline, even though I know there's nothing I can do. But, I remember that there was a knife in my boot, and with my other hand, I reach for it. I feel the handle of it, the rest happening so quickly.
I thrust the knife forward, but before it can pierce Alamar, Alamar sends his foot into my face. There's a crunching sound, the pain making my neck stiffen up. I groan, shoving my face down into my hands.
And when I feel the spear in my back, I let out another screech.
This time, it hurts more than ever. I'm not even sure if it went through all the way, but my body is too stiff to move. I just lay there, letting the pain make its way throughout my whole body.
The pain…
The blood…
It's all too much.
The pain. The blood. My death.
This wasn't… This wasn't supposed to happen.
Volunteering…
Volunteering wasn't worth it.
Damaris Ponte
District Nine Female, 18 Years Old
Day Eight: Pt. II
The rag doll sits on the ground in front of me, the hair all knotty and the dress splattered with mud.
It's the doll my sister, Sharice, gave to me during the good-byes. Seeing the doll doesn't make anything better, yet it should. It should make me feel grateful that I'm still alive, that I'm not dead… That I'm not a doll of the Capitol. But, it does nothing.
It makes me feel worse.
It reminds me of what I used to have back in District Nine. The family and friends I left behind. The life I abandoned to come into the Hunger Games, to be in the arena that stripped me of everything I am.
The arena that my friends were killed in.
Halley. Silas.
My friends.
My chest feels heavy, and as I grab the doll, I feel myself getting angry. Staring at the doll, the tears blur my vision, the sound of Katcia's voice drowning from my sobs. I throw the doll, watching the mud and water splash as it lands on the ground. I turn my head, stand up, and wipe my eyes.
"Damaris, come on," Katcia says, her gentle voice not soothing me like it used to. I used to find solace in her voice, enjoying the stories she'd tell me about District Seven and what it was like. But, now… It means nothing.
Reluctantly, Katcia pulls me up, her grip around my arm making me grit my teeth. I pull away from her, and when I look at her, she has a frown on her face. I don't mean to act this way around her, but after everything I've seen… After everything I've been through.
I just don't want to lose her too.
"We have to go," she says, her voice shaky. "Damaris."
Katcia backs up, still looking at me. As I turn to walk behind her, she walks slowly, occasionally looking over her shoulder at me. I drag myself along, the backpack sliding across the ground with the strap in between my fingertips. She insisted to carry a weapon with me, but I can't… I can't touch a knife.
It doesn't feel right.
"What's that?" Katcia asks, and as I look up, I see what she's talking about. There seems to be a block of stone ahead of us, and even though there's writing on it, I can't see it. It can be another trap. It can be another trap like the one that killed Silas.
The one that killed my ally.
The one that killed my friend.
Katcia kneels down in front of me the stone, blocking my view. I can't see anything she says, but as she presses her hands against the front of it, I want to see what it says. As I approach Katcia from behind, I lean over her, but she broadens her back, really not letting me see.
"No," she says, leaning her head down on the stone. "Damaris, no…"
Pushing Katcia out of the way, I look down at the stone, the words hitting me right in the stomach. I feel my heart drop, and as I drop to my knees, I begin to weep. It's not just any stone – it's a tombstone. A tombstone to remember both of my allies… Both of my friends.
Silas Braxto of District Seven.
Halley Carradine of District Ten.
May they rest in peace.
The tears drip down onto the inscription, filling up the indents of the words. I push myself off of it, just seeing the names of them making me feel guilty… Making me feel like I had something to do with this. That I didn't do enough to protect them. That I could've done more to help them.
That I… That I let them die.
Katcia tries to speak to me, but I push past her, wanting to run back to where we were before. I sprint forward, keeping my face pressed into the palms of my hands, ignoring Katcia's screams. I can't… I can't stay with her anymore.
I'll let her die too.
I'll let her die with the rest of my friends. Silas. Halley. Katcia will join them.
Nothing is going my way.
"Damaris!" Katcia screams, her voice piercing. When Katcia screams again, though, the pain in her voice makes my body feel like there's a pit in my stomach. Her voice is strained, her raspy sound coming from a dry throat. "Damaris, watch out!"
Before I can understand what she means, two arms are wrapped around me. They pin my arms down to my side, but I don't try to squirm myself out of their grip. I look up, seeing that the person is taller than me, and then I see who it is… It's Alamar.
The boy who killed Halley.
"You killed her," I mumble, seeing a wicked smirk form on his face. I stare up at him, and as he presses my arm against my side with more pressure, I still don't do anything to help it. He killed her… He's the one I did nothing to stop.
Maybe I deserve this.
Maybe I deserve to die.
"You're even prettier up close," he says, no words being able to come out of my mouth. My body is shaking uncontrollably now, and with his grip, I can't move. My chest feels too constrained to even breathe, and when he flips me over to face forward, it only helps a little. "Face your ally."
"Let her go," Katcia says, her knife to her side. She can't kill him; he's too strong. He's a Career, he's the one that can win this. I never could, and neither can Katcia. He was made for the Games, not us. "I'm warning you."
"What are you going to die, Seven?" He spits, the sight of Katcia becoming a little blurry. I can't breathe in or out as much since he's putting too much on both of my sides, and as Katcia sees me struggling, she takes a step forward. "Do something, Seven. Save your ally – don't let her die like the other one did."
The other one.
Halley.
He killed her.
Katcia tries to speak again, but I stop her. I open my mouth, the gesture making her stop talking. Alamar squeeze my arms some more, making me choke on the little air I'm taking in.
"Don't," I say, my voice hushed. "Don't… Katcia… Run."
"Listen to her, Seven. There's nothing you can do."
And there's nothing I want her to do.
I don't want her to save me.
I don't want her to risk her own life to save me.
I didn't risk my life for my allies, so why should she? I don't deserve it.
Alamar lets go of one of my arms, reaching down into his belt. He draws a knife, and as he presses it against my throat, I just want to close my eyes. I just want to close my eyes, let him kill me. I was never going to win.
I never had it in me.
He might as well do it.
"Run," he barks, and when Katcia begins to back up, it doesn't surprise me. Even if she did fight, she wouldn't win. Both of us would end up dead, so it wouldn't be worth it. Two lives isn't worth it – she should save herself. She should do exactly what I did to Halley and Silas, run and save my own life.
I should be treated how I treated my friends.
Katcia really runs away now. She looks over shoulder once, her voice too far to see any expression on it. This is it, then. It's always been leading to this moment, the moment I die… The moment I always had coming. The inevitable part of the Games.
The cold metal is on my throat, the smell of Alamar's arm making this seem that more real. That I'm really going to die, that this is the last moment I'll have. The last moment where District Nine will see me alive, where my family will see their daughter for the last time.
I'm sorry, mom.
I'm sorry, Sharice.
This was a mistake.
District One, Audric Lavier – Placed 5th
District Nine, Damaris Ponte – Placed 4th
Author's Note:
Audric Lavier: Jake, I think you know me by now to know that I like a character if they make it this far. At first, I wasn't sure what to do with Audric, since he wasn't as stand-out as the other Careers. He fell into the background, but I think there were more opportunities with him when in the arena. So, here he is, placing 5th. Not too shabby, eh? But, anyway, I did enjoy him as a character and I think that without him, the Careers wouldn't have had the same outcome as they did. Good job with Audric, yeah.
Damaris Ponte:
And that's the end of Day Eight!
Just three more, woah. This story went quickly.
Okay, so, questions:
Who do you think will be victor?
Who do you want to be victor?
And a personal one:
If you were to be in the Hunger Games, which canon victor would you want to be your mentor?