Chapter Twenty-Three.
Day Five.
Unlike what many tributes thought, the compass and the map weren't received by everyone, only specific tributes. Some thought they were chosen by the Gamemakers in purpose, in order to give the audience a good fight, and others simply thought that it was just random. Like the reaping, it was supposed to be random, but everything they did had a purpose behind it. And what this one was became very clear, as five tributes followed their maps, all of them leading to a simple destination.
Preston, Oliver, Amaryllis and Katarina stumbled into the cave at the same time. In the middle of the table stood a small table, with 5 backpacks on the top. District Six, District Nine, District Twelve and Five. Some went for the supplies, thinking that it could be their way to Victory, and some went only for the kills. Either way, they had been chosen by the Gamemakers. Now, it was time to give the audience the show it wanted.
11th: Amaryllis Carmellia.
Amaryllis, stumbling further and further into the path of insanity, was relieved as soon as the parachute got to her. It meant that she had been doing this right and that the Capitol didn't gave up on her. And if she had pleased them enough for them to sponsor her, she wasn't far away from the Victory that she had always wanted. When she reached the cave, and saw who her fellow tributes were, Amaryllis couldn't be happier. The Gamemakers could have sent the Careers or worse, a mutt, after her but instead they choosed to send 3 other outer-district tributes.
None of them was prepared, like she was. None of them knew what was the price of Victory. When she sprinted for the table, Amaryllis knew that she was getting closer and closer to the victory path.
That was her fatal mistake.
Katarina, finally recovered from her wrist and thirsty for revenge, moved in for the kill. When she grabbed Amaryllis' neck and snapped it, no one moved. Unlike the girl from Twelve, whose body fell to the ground moments later, they knew better. Oliver and Preston knew what Katarina could do and when she left, backpack in one hand and Amy's knife in the other one, they didn't do anything to stop her. Oliver followed suit, grabbing his backpack and moving out, leaving Preston alone in the dark.
If he had died, Ryella would have died with him. His life wasn't the only one at risk, not anymore.
Later, they would fight. Later, one of both of them would die.
Day Six.
10th: Tyson Moretta, District Twelve.
He didn't have anywhere to go. Stumbling across the arena, Tyson wished that someone would find him. If someone found him, it could finally be over. He would die or he would kill, and then move on. Anything to take his mind of her.
If he hadn't left, if he hadn't given up to insanity, Amaryllis might still be alive.
If he died, then he deserved it. When Oliver found him, Tyson couldn't help it but smile. Oliver, armed with a new pair of golden swords, didn't want to fight. He had lost his only friend and even if he still wanted to win, he wasn't the boy that left District Nine. The best of the best. The one that would have glown with the opportunity to get this kill and shine, getting the Capitol's attention.
Not anymore. Coulter had changed him for the better and if he was going to win, he was going to do it for his friend. His sword went through Tyson's back after a few seconds of an easy fight, and when the boy fell, Oliver slit his throat right there, ending his pain.
A mercy kill.
9th: Alexa Cadwell, District One.
She knew it wouldn't last much longer. Sadie was back on her feet, stronger than ever, and Tiena and Alexa were back to being the puppies that they always were. Alexa wanted out. But for reason, Tiena wanted to stay with Sadie.
Just a little longer, Alexa told herself. Just a little longer and she would be free from all that mess. The Games, Sadie, killing.
When they walked, Sadie on the front line, Alexa made a plan. She would for the kill, right there, and it would all be over. She and Tiena could finish what they started and then, have a fair fight between each other. Just like it was always meant to be.
When she launched herself at Sadie, axe in hand, the other girl didn't put up much of a fight. She was still weak, while Alexa was strong and prepared, and ready to finish what she started. When the spear burried itself in her neck, Alexa didn't understand. She and Tiena were friends. How could she?
It was only when she sae Tiena standing over her, tears falling down her cheeks, that she understood.
She had choosed survival over friendship. And Alexa was okay with that.
8th: Tiena Pensiere, District Four.
You choosed to do it.
That was what she told herself. It was the right thing to do. Being with Sadie would get her to the finale, unlike that friendship with Alexa. There were no places for friendships in the Hunger Games. She did the right thing.
They were in the final eight. Alexa's death was one step closer to going home.
When they stumbled across the pair from District Six and the girl from Ten, Tiena wasn't even suprised. That fight had been something that had to happen, since they were two of the only alliances left in the arena. However, when Leila simply shrugged and took her own knife out, Tiena remembered. She had killed her ally in the bloodbath, that brown-haired girl from Seven.
"She's my kill." Leila said, and lunged herself at her. She was no Career and nothing but a simple girl from District Ten, but still, she was so much more. Hatred and revenge were the fuel to her fire, one that would only end with Tiena's death.
And like they say, revenge is best served cold. When her own spear fell to the ground, Tiena knew that it was too late to stop the bleeding in her arm. Like Aidan, she knew that it was too late, but she had to keep fighting.
It was the only thing that she could give to those back home. To Damian, to her family. She knew what it meant to be nothing once and had gotten out of it, with much effort on her part. If she was going to die, she would die on her feet, fighting for her own life.
When Leila's knife went through her throat, Tiena couldn't help it but feel sorry for that girl. She and her allies were Careers, trained to fight and kill, but the others weren't. They were just people trying to survive. And that kind of people were exactly the ones that changed the most in the Games.
Right before her vision turned black, and Tiena saw no more, she could swear that she saw Sadie run away.
So much for loyalty.
Day Seven.
Sadie had to admit that it was getting lonely. Tiena could get on her nerves, sometimes, but it felt nice having someone by her side. Someone that she could trust, no matter what happened. Someone that she knew would get the job done, no matter the consequences. And now, she was alone. Again.
Get over yourself, Sadie.
She wanted to forget it. To just let it go. But since she had nearly died, something had changed in Sadie. She realized that she could die, at any moment or any second, if she understimated her fellow tributes, just like she did with Jasko.
But somehow, she felt even more confident, now that she watched her own back. Now, there was no one to drag her down.
On the other side of the arena, however, things weren't going so well. Leila was scared. But for the first time since she had walked into the arena, Leila was scared of herself. Ryella was in that state because of her. She didn't do what was necessary, and when her friend needed her the most, Leila had failed her. All because self-preservation had kicked in, and Leila had thought about letting her friend die. She had killed a girl, who had family and friends, waiting for her back at home.
That was scaring her. The Leila she had been would never do that. Maybe it was time to be someone new, she told herself.
Maybe the Games would change her into someone better. Braver, stronger. Someone that would be able to go back to District Ten, and be the girlfriend that Sadie deserved. The friend that her friends deserved. Maybe, the daughter that she had never been.
All she had to do to get that was to be willing to give up her humanity. Could she do it?
Next to her, Ryella was feeling worse and worse, with each passing second. The Capitol medicine had healed any possible injuries that she could have, but it wasn't capable of healing anything else. Before, she had thought of Preston and Leila as her allies. Her friends, even. But right now, every cell on her body begged her to leave them. She had always been better on her own, anyway.
She was a loner, by nature. Which change now? When she was so close to getting home? No, they weren't her friends, she realized. The closer she got to home, the more she realized it. And, with anger burning through her veins, Ryella finally made a plan. Soon.
For now, they all needed some peace.
Day Eight.
7th: Preston Hewitt, District Six.
When they woke up the next day, Ryella was gone. Preston quickly got up, picking up his bow and arrow, wanting to look for her. But Leila, with a calm voice, realized what had been there all along. "She's gone, Preston. She's not coming back."
Ryella was gone. The idea didn't seem to settle in Preston's brain, instead, it made his head hurt. The girl he had fought for, killed for, was gone. Like that, in the blink of an eye. No, that couldn't be right. Leila was lying, she had to be. Ryella couldn't leave him like that. Before he knew what he was doing, Preston notched an arrow in his bow, and aimed for Leila's heart. It was all her fault.
It was simply mere luck that Leila's knife, aimed for his heart, met its mark before Preston's arrow and his body fell to the ground, while the cannon sounded. Another falling, victim to the arena
Leila was tired. So, so tired.
On the other side of the arena, Ryella came to an understanding with Oliver. Two unlikely allies, but more alike than they could ever imagine. "You're strong and you've made it this far." She said, but Oliver wasn't truly sure.
His last alliance had ended badly. Why should this one be any different? Seeing his expression, Ryella sighed. "Look, think of this as an understanding. We finish of the girls from Eight and Five, and the Career, and then we split up."
It could go well. It could be his only chance of fighting those girls and winning, and getting away with this life. With a nod, Oliver shaked her hand.
"We have a deal."
Day Nine.
With the alliance between Oliver and Ryella, the Gamemakers had the promised of blood and entertainment. Right now, all they had to do was lead them towards the right path. To Katarina and Brooke.
Once they found each other, the public was shaking with the promise of blood. Oliver, armed with his golden swords, made the first move. And by then, everything went right to hell.
6th: Brooke Devoir, District Eight.
It was an easy fight. Ryella and Oliver had the audience's favor behind them, and the sponsors, unlike Katarina and Brooke. But two girls that had made it this far, two survivors could win. Or could they?
Katarina was sparing with Oliver, sword meeting sword, when it happened. Ryella's falchion went through her back, and through one of her lungs, and that was it. Brooke collapsed, blood falling from her mouth, and the knife right next to her body.
In a way, she wasn't too sad. She had made it this far, which was quite rare, for a girl from District Eight.
Somewhere back in District Eight, miles and miles away from the arena, a mother wept, hating herself for never giving her child the attention that she deserved.
Brooke wasn't known as the whore's daughter, anymore. Right there, she was so much more.
5th: Oliver Craddocks, District Nine.
As soon as Brooke fell, Katarina ran, not even looking back once. Oliver should have felt happy. That was what he signed up for, when he allied with the girl from Six, that seemed to be as capable as she claimed to be. He should be happy that it was one more tribute of the way.
Yet, he felt only sorrow. Why? Oliver wasn't sure. Hell, since he had walked into the arena, he had lost everything that he had ever taken for granted, back in District Nine. The memory of the life he had; of his mothers, of his friends and of Ethan seemed nothing but a distant memory. All that mattered was his new reality, and the tributes that wanted his blood.
But right, he was so tired of death. Of all of that. Nobody else deserved to die. Being with Coulter, and knowing what real friendship was like, had changed him. He was no longer cocky Oliver Craddocks, the best of the best. He was only Oliver, a boy from District Nine, doing his best to try and stay alive. But still, he was special in his own way. He was himself.
And he could do it. He could win. He was sure of it now. For Coulter. For himself.
Out of pure irony when Oliver turned around, smiling like a dork, it was when Ryella sank her falchion into his heart, making it a clean death. Oliver died with a smile on his face, finally knowing who he truly was, after all those years.
In his last moments, he was happy. All thanks to Coulter, who had helped him see who he truly was.
He was going to see his real friend now.
4th: Sadie Ariste, District Two.
After Katarina ran out of the cave, furious, she stumbled into a confused Sadie. Oh, what a twist. The Capitol was cheering, and making bets for who would be the Victor of that little fight. The two mean girls of the 72nd Annual Hunger Games, finally placed against each other.
What a twist.
For Sadie and Kat, it was simply another fight. Both of them were strong, and both were prepared, but Katarina was stronger. Sadie was still weak from the injury that had nearly killed her, and Katarina only wanted to end that quickly. Her sickle cut deep into the girl from Two's throat, and ended the last Career, once and for all.
Sadie thought that no one would miss her. She was wrong. Back in District Two, a father cried about the loss of his oldest daughter, and a girl made a promise to never forget her best friend.
In the arena, the real Game was only starting.
Let the finale begin.
The Final Three- Katarina Morellee (D5), Ryella Duval (D6) and Leila Rorie. (D10).
Three girls.
Three survivors.
So different, yet so alike.
Who would win?
Once Leila saw Ryella, standing there, she could only feel relief. But after that, came the other feelings. The ones that back in District Ten, she had done her best to ignore. The ones that could ruin her life, and stop from making the best out of it.
Fear. Anger. Sadness.
Once Ryella saw Leila, however, she had another idea. They were allies. Or, at least, they used to be. So why couldn't they ally one more time, in order to destroy a common enemy? Then, they could settle it up between the two of them. May the best win.
Ryella looked at Leila, and arched an eyebrow. All it took was one look and one nod, and they were moving.
3rd: Katarina Morellee, District Five.
Once they looked at each other, Katarina knew it was all over. She might have had a chance against one of them, but never against the two of them together. All that she could do was to keep fighting, and hope that she would be able to die with some dignity.
Once Ryella got near her, Katarina sent her fist flying into her chest, but Ryella was stronger. She quickly twisted her arm, just like Oliver had done, what seemed like ages ago. Once she turned around, ready to fight the other girl, Leila's knife went through the back of her head.
It was over in seconds. Katarina felt nothing.
2nd: Leila Rorie, District Ten.
In the end, it was only a small difference, between who lived and who died. A matter of who was willing to do what was necessary to survive, and who wasn't. They fought, sword against a knife but in the end, it was humanity that decided the Victor.
Leila couldn't kill her friend. She never wanted to change, in the first place.
"Friends, right?" Leila whispered, when Ryella leaned down, to give her the final blow. Ready to end it all, and finally go home. A few days ago, Ryella had been so angry with them for not having her back, but no, she felt only sadness.
Yes, they were friends. The three of them.
And that's why she had to live, in order to make their deaths mean something.
"Friends. Always." She slashed Leila's throat as quickly as she could, tears falling down her face, when she realized that she was still holding Leila's hand. Still caught up in all the sadness, and all the death that surronded them.
Victor: Ryella Duval, District Six.
The girl who realized that she cared too late.
Once the cannon sounded, and she was proclaimed Victor, Ryella couldn't move. She thought of home; of Camryn, and Lyric and even her father, and everything she had, but never really realized it. She was the only one willing to do everything, because her desire to go back home was bigger than anything.
Bigger than anyone.
But still, she couldn't let go. Of Leila, of Preston, of everything.
She would never be able to let go. All that she could do was live, and make sure that she would never forget them.
Her friends. Always.
Yeah, I suppose many people already expected this. The summer was great for me, and I managed to write most of this story in it. But then, school arrived, and I realized that this wasn't what I wanted to be doing. School, my friends and family, they are the ones that I need to dedicate my time to. When I tried to write a chapter, over and over again, I ended up with a blank page. School took my time away and I'm sorry to say, but it also took my motivation to write this story.
I could have waited until Christmas to try and write again, but it would be a waste of time. Writing isn't what I want to be doing. Don't get me wrong, I love FF, but I don't really have time for it anymore. Or maybe I don't love it as much as I used to. I don't know. I'll still be here, submitting and reading, but I'm done with writing. And no, I'm not coming back. I have no time, and the little I have I wanted to dedicate to school. Even if I do decide to keep writing, it will be original stuff and not fanfiction.
Congrats to Nate and Ryella. She wasn't my Victor pick from the start, but I'm glad I decided on her. She deserved it.
Goodbye TOOM!