"After interest in the Games drops to an all time low, President Snow is determined to regain the once amazing popularity. Twelve tributes. One 'arena.' And one game-changing twist. Welcome to the 80th Hunger Games, the Rebirth."

~ The Rebirth Games ~

Chapter Nineteen:

Ballerina

I look both directions down hall, but not a single soul is in sight. Cautiously, I pick up the small box and step back inside my room. I gently close the door and it shuts with a click. Sitting on the side of the bed, I look at the box from me every angle, trying to find any other secrets. With failure, I slowly pull on the ribbon, it unties itself and falls onto my knee. I carefully lift up the lid, and I'm shocked at what's inside.

It immediately starts playing a one-bell tinkling rhythm out into the quiet room. A small plastic ballerina comes to life, spinning around on a small disk inside. A music box. I had one before when I was a child. But that's not all that's in here. A small slip of paper rests by the base of the ballerina, and when I lift it up, it reveals a small keyhole.

Find the key and you find me. Where did you and I first encounter?

I feel like it's a trick, but I better go along with it. It can't be this easy, right? I stand up and turn to face straight to thee closet. I slowly walk forward, twist the doorknob and pull the door open. I'm ready for the Mockingjay to leap at me, kill me with one foul swipe of their knife, but that doesn't happen. Instead I see a key right in front of me, tied to a piece of string attached glued to the ceiling. I untie the knot and free the key, heading straight back to my bed.

I take a deep breath, jam the key in the hole and twist. I pull the lid up, and inside sits another note. I pick it up and read it to myself silently.

It seems like our past is certainly strong... But what about the other tributes and I? I await your arrival beside the place where it all began.

The place where it all began.. Where could that possibly be? I guess it could be talking about Mara... The bathroom! Bingo! I jump up from the bed and head straight out the door. I rush down the hallway, but before I go any further, I snatch a gun from the weapons room in the basement.

The bathroom. It's down the one hallway directly opposite the one where all the bedrooms are. I've only been down here very few times, there has been no point really. I walk up the stairs and take the sharp turn to the left. I hold up my gun, quietly moving forward and making little noise with every step. My breath gets heavy and I try to calm myself. Coax my brain that I'm going to be alright. The bathroom door sits to the left of me, but that's when the ajar door straight in front of me becomes apparent. Except this isn't made of wood and doesn't have a clear frame. Not even a handle. No. This one looks completely like a hole cut straight from the wall.

I pull the door back and slowly walk up the stairs. I'm in foreign land now. No knowledge of what is ahead or how to escape if anything goes badly. No knowledge of if this is a trap or not. The only thing that assures me is the gun that I'm ready to fire any second. At the top of the stairs is one more door. I push it open and instantly feel the blast of icy cold air. The snow is thick up here and up to about my heels. I know where I am instantly; the roof.

I walk out into the center and stare straight ahead at the figure. Their blade-like wings. The pointed beak casting a long shadow across the ground. The long cape blowing in the night breeze. I raise my gun and I pull my finger back so it gently rests on the trigger.

"Your mask. Take your mask off," I say calmly. The Mockingjay barely moves, not making even a flinch. They just continue to stare at me in a haunting manner, like they're completely dead inside.

"Take off your mask!" I yell, pointing my gun straight at them. "Take it off! Now!"

That's when I hear the footsteps. I spin around and watch as Fern bursts out the door, a load pistol in her hand, and she fires a bullet straight through the air. The screeching clatter pounds against my eardrums and I cover my ears in pain. I watch as the bullet spins over the Mockingjay's shoulder. They then reach their hand behind their back, and when the pull it back out, they also have a gun. They pull on the trigger and they fire a bullet, Fern barely dodging.

I press on the trigger and feel the vibration run through my body. My hand tosses itself back into the air from the pressure and the bullet flops down, straight into the snow. Why is Fern here? What is she doing?! I don't have time to ask any questions. She sprints forward, rapid firing at the Mockingjay while they fire at her, not making a single movement. She lets out a horrific yell of pain, and when she's literally just a meter away, her body falls flat on the ground as the sound of the bullets echo into the air.

I gasp, watching as she barely twitches her hand, looking at me dead in the eyes.

"Fern!"

The Mockingjay looks down at her, hovering over her body. This is the moment. This is my time to strike.

I sprint forward just like she did, firing my gun like mad. Of course, I'm no expert. They all miss. I grit my teeth, feeling the adrenaline pump through my body. The Mockingjay looks at me and them jumps up, standing on the ledge of the roof. I don't stop. I won't stop. I pass Fern's body, I reach my hands out and I shove them as hard as I can. They drop off the side of the roof, and when I look over, I manage to catch them clash with the snowy ground beneath.

"Danix.."

I turn around and stare at Fern, completely covered in blood, multiple red dots covering her clothes. She's been shot way too many times. I collapse to my knees beside her body and prop her head up onto my knee as she chokes out her final words.

"The Mockingjay.. is..."

FOR THE FINAL TIME ON 'THE REBIRTH GAMES:'

"This is the end.." I say. "I can feel it."

The SHOCKING...

I flick the switch, powering up rows of lights and illuminating the long tunnel.

The TWISTED...

"This time, I'm certain I know who the Mockingjay is.." Celia says calmly, unusual for her.

...FINALE is here!

The Mockingjay's cape blows in the stormy night wind as they aim their bow and arrow.

No more secrets.

Are slams the door shut and the sharp knife bursts through the wood right beside his cheek.

No more games.

The explosion sends me flying backwards and flames engulf the snow.

NOTHING

The Mockingjay slices their axe through the air and I duck just before it reaches my head.

CAN PREPARE YOU

"I'm here, just like you wanted!" I yell.

FOR THE END!

Their hand slowly grabs onto their feathery mask and they pull it completely off their head. And finally, I get to see their face.

Author's Note:

ARE YOU READY FOR THE INSANE FINALE!?"!?.RF,MREJWNREKOWDMEFKWKODJSN. Omg. I can't even right now.

Well hello everybody... Yes, I did say that chapter 22 would be the final 'regular chapter...' Not anymore. THIS was the final regular chapter. OH MY GOSH! Are you excited?! From now until we LEAVE the arena, these chapters will be the biggest ones yet, the best of the best. Secrets will be revealed, questions will be answered, and most importantly, YOU WILL KNOW WHO THE HECK THE MOCKINGJAY IS!

So... who do you think it is? ;)

This is your time for your FINAL guesses! It's all just too exciting! I'm going to create a brand new poll on my profile for you to vote on, so even if you have voted, you can vote again and change your mind! You'll be able to vote for two people because deciding on just one may be a bit too difficult. And I'm going to keep Fern in the vote because TECHNICALLY she isn't dead yet.

Let me know what you thought of this chapter in a review below! Also, leave me your ULTIMATE PREDICTIONS! Remember, there are two ways that the Games could end: the Mockingjay survives alongside one tribute who is the last survivor or the Mockingjay dies and the remaining tributes are all victors!

What way do you think it's gonna go?! Who do you think will survive?!

"But MockingClove! This stupid mystery has been going on since November and there are still no answers! Forget the Mockingjay, there was still a big mystery BEFORE we even got to the Games!"

Not at ALL! Guys and gals, THIS IS IT! All your questions will be answered. Even this chapter had some craziness involving Fern. I'm not just throwing characters like Fern into these situations so that 'Danix can be saved' or so that I can change how the scene will go. NOPE! There's a reason for these things. :)

There's no more time wasting. From now on, if a chapter does not include an answer, I will have something in it that pushes the plot forward significantly... Okay? And there may be just one or two of those chapters. Remember: my 'finale' shall last for a few chapters, not just one. And we all know that finales are supposed to go out with a bang. ;)

So there we have it.. After this, it all starts to end. Are you ready for the big reveal?! ;)

Thank you all so much for reading, byeeeee! :D