Children of The Games

by mrslukecastellan

There were 4 winners of the 74th Hunger Games. Cato, Clove, Katniss, and Peeta. It's been 14 years and they are married with kids. What happens when they meet? I made some story changes. Only read if you've read the books. *STARTED EDITING CHAPTERS TO MAKE THEM GRAMMATICALLY SOUND IN JANUARY 2020 AS A NOW ADULT, BUT FELL OFF THE WAGON. STARTING TO UPDATE AGAIN IN MARCH 2023!*

13. Decisions

A lot of people were saying they were happy Miklisho was dead in the last chapter? Were you? Or were you heartbroken and unable to read any more of this? Kidding, I don't think it's possible to not want to read this story after all the drama that's happened. I really hope this chapter isn't extremely boring and horrible. I am working really hard to not do that. But, you need to let me know what you thought of it if you want me to improve and make this story better! So leave me a review or send me a message and let me know what you are thinking. I would really love that. WARNING- THIS CHAPTER MIGHT GET A LITTLE GRAPHIC! THIS IS THE HUNGER GAMES! OK, Enjoy!

Chapter 13- Decisions

I feel amazing. Simply wonderful. Miklisho's blood stains my face, but even that can't make me upset. I just killed my first tribute. And the sponsors liked that, I'm sure. Especially the way I killed him. It was deceiving, sneaky, and extremely funny. The way he fell for my trick. The way he thought I wanted him. The way he thought I would ever leave Luke for him. It still brings a smirk to my face.

I trudge back to the cave, and I can't explain why I am so tired. I never knew killing people can make you exhausted. I never thought of it like that. My training paid off, because now there are 8 people dead, and everyone I care about really is alive. It makes me teary that every last person in that cave besides Luke will have to die so I can win. But there are so many more benefits to winning then losing the Games, and your life. I've reached the cave, and my fellow Careers are already bombarding me with questions. Did I kill Miklisho? Am I hurt? Is that his blood on my face? Do I need anything? Can they help in any way? "Shut up! Just for a second. Yes, I killed Miklisho. No, I'm not hurt physically. Yes, this is his blood on my face. I don't need anything." I reply.

I take my jacket sleeve and wipe my face off. That was a stupid move. "Here, I'll go wash that." Micheal says. I pull my jacket off and hand it over to him. He walks out of the cave and I guess to a stream or a pond or something. MaryAnn is looking at me with wide eyes. "Did he scream?" She asks. "No. He was kissing me when I stabbed him, and then he coughed up blood on my face and fell to his knees. I taunted him, and then it was over. He'll never be seen again. The Peacekeepers took him. His body I mean." She gasps. "That's…that's amazing." She swallows a lump in her throat. "Why did you volunteer?" I ask her. "My brother volunteered. We never do anything away from each other. So I came with him." She says. Tears run down her face.

"I never wanted to kill anyone. There's no chance in me winning. Someone will kill me soon, and all I'll say is I told you so." She continues. "I didn't want to kill anyone either. But if that's what it takes to get home again, then I will go and kill Katrina and Jarrica and every other person that isn't my ally. And then if I wasn't my parent's daughter, I would let one of my allies kill me to have a better chance at winning. But since their blood runs through my veins, I need to try to win this thing. My parents would be so disappointed if I didn't." I reply.

"Speaking of people, we need to work out a strategy. Marcus, Gilzira, MaryAnn, your coming with me. We're going tribute hunting. So get ready to fight." I say. Marcus is up and ready with a spear. MaryAnn picks up a spare sword we have laying around. Gilzira hesitates. "What kind of weapon do you want?" I ask. "I can't use any weapons. I've never used a weapon in my life." She replies, blushing. "Then you'll be our lookout. You'll stay behind the scenes so to speak and if we really need you, you'll fight." I pick up a good sized rock and hand It to her. Her small red eyes get brighter, if that's possible. "If you have to fight, slam this into someone's head. They'll be dead easy and it takes very little effort." I continue. She plasters a serious expression on her face and makes a salute.

I think about my parents. What were they doing right now? Were there people who wanted to sponsor me? Were they proud of me? Happy with me killing Miklisho? Disappointed that I did it like that? I snap out of my daydreaming and lead our formation out of the cave. Micheal is at the river. My jacket sits on a rock behind him, drying. "Micheal? Get over here." I hiss. He scurries over. I quickly tell him my plan and tell him to stay behind with Luke. He doesn't protest. He tosses me my jacket and goes back to the cave. "Make a fire and collect some supplies from around the cave." I instruct. He salutes and sprints off.

I gather my army and walk down the path into the woods. I look behind me, my finger pressed against my lips in a signal to be quiet. I point at my feet and keep my finger over my lips, telling them to step lightly. They listen amazingly to my instructions, spoken and silent.

I peek out of a bush, seeing one of the camps of the other tributes. I know there are more camps, but this one is a good place to start. I turn to my allies behind me. "You stay here. I'll go in. If you see me struggling, then you Marcus, MaryAnn, you can come. And if we all need help, then Gilzira, you can come. Or if you can run fast enough, go get Micheal and Luke. But that is for an emergency only."

I look closer at the people beyond the bushes. This camp belongs to Alice, Katrina, Phillipe, Jarrica and Turnfina. Poor Phillipe, the only boy at this camp. And he won't die fighting like a boy either. I have the element of surprise on my side. I push myself soundlessly through the bushes. Turnfina is on guard duty, it looks like, and everyone else is asleep. Perfect. I can kill them in their sleep. I raise my knife and walk toward Turnfina, step by step.

It's the perfect strategy, until I step on a stick with a crack. She turns around and jumps up with something long and leather in her hands. A whip. I jump back a good 5 feet, waiting to get flicked with pain. She snaps it, and it lands about a foot away from her feet. I smirk. She has no idea how to use that whip. She goes to flick it again, and I grab it in midair. While she's reacting, I wrap it around her arms quickly, intertwining her in it tightly. She struggles and moans. She yells once, but nobody gets up to investigate. "Make it quick." She pleads.

I take a look at her, weighing out my options. I could kill her now, or I could keep her alive, make her fear last longer. Go harder. She's 18, but yet she's smaller than most of the other tributes, even the 12 year olds. And she has really pretty emerald green eyes that I would hate to have close forever, never to be seen again. Dang it, I'm going soft! "I don't intend to. With all the noise your making, I'm thinking I'll let you bleed to death slowly and agonizingly painfully. And I'll let you watch your allies die too." I reply, almost hissing at her. I look in Miklisho's backpack. I see a black bandana. It will work. I push Turnfina's mouth open, fastening the bandana between her lips and around the back of her head, acting like a gag. She can't speak now.

I walk over to where Phillipe is sleeping. I'm ashamed of him for not learning by now that I will kill him if he sleeps. And in broad daylight too. Oh well, makes my job easier. I raise my knife and stab it into his stomach, and then I pull it out. There's blood squirting around, but none of it gets on me. I hear him scream. I'm guessing he's awake now, and everyone else wakes up. Jarrica sees Turnfina and charges at me. I think she's going after me, but she goes to Turnfina with a sword and slits her wrist. Then she sucks the blood out like a vampire. A cannon fires. Then two more. Only two people were killed here. So, another death must have happened somewhere else. I turn around just in time to see Jarrica lunge toward me. Before she can get me, an arrow shoots through her throat. A Peacekeeper. I remember there's a rule in the Arena- no eating other tributes. I guess Jarrica broke the rule, and now the Gamemakers had gotten her back for it. The cannon fires again signaling Jarrica's death. Alice retreats away, and I'm somewhat glad I didn't kill her. Luke might get upset if I did.

Katrina is still here in the camp. She has my knife in her hand and is walking toward me, smiling wickedly. With one swift movement, she kicks me onto my back and kneels on my shoulders. "Aww. Is this your knife? And…am I doing exactly what your mom did to Katniss Everdeen? I guess you're not the only one that has watched those Games, princess!" She sneers. I want to kill her. I would if she didn't have my knife, and if she wasn't on top of me. "My mom didn't kill Rue. I swear. Rue was killed by the boy from District 1 in those Games. His name was Marvel."

I'm pleading now. I know my parents would be mad at me, but this wasn't something that was in my training. I had never planned for this. I had never thought about me losing a fight at all. But this time, it seemed like a definite possibility. "You're saying my cousin wasn't killed by your mom?" Katrina says. Her voice cracks a little. I shake my head. "I would offer to help you kill the people from District 1, but they're both dead." I say. "And my mom felt really bad about Rue's death. So much in fact that she made my middle name Rue." I continue, still pleading.

"Can we be allies?" Katrina asks. "Of course we can. " I say, faking it completely. She gets off me and hands me my knife. That's when I stab her through her thigh. Hard. She falls down onto the ground and mumbles "Bitch." into the ground. Then the cannon fires and she's dead.

I go over to the bushes and find my army all standing around talking. "I bet I could whack someone pretty hard with this rock." Gilzira says with a smile. "You probably could." MaryAnn says. "What kind of freak doesn't train with weapons? You're a Career, and you're supposed to know how to use a simple weapon by the time you get here." Marcus exclaims. "It's illegal to train before the Games." Gilzira says simply. We walk back toward our cave and when we get there, Luke and Micheal are waiting, dinner made and fire blazing. Luke comes and kisses me on the cheek. "Well, aren't you the most amazing boyfriend ever?" I exclaim. We go and sit together and are intimate, kissing and me sitting in his lap. "Would you marry me? Like, if I asked you?" He asks. "I would. You're the best boyfriend I've ever had. And you would make an excellent husband." I reply.

This is TV gold. I'm sure people are eating this up at home. I French kiss Luke a little more, and Micheal runs in with something silver in his hand. A parachute to be exact. I look up at him and raise my eyebrows, waiting for an explanation. He says nothing. "Do you have a reason for interrupting me?" I ask. "I found this outside the cave. It says it's for you." He replies. He hands me the parachute. It feels slightly heavy. I open it and find a few things. First, a tube of vanilla lip gloss. My favorite.

There's a not attached- Keep up the good work. The romance is sweet and the violence is making you stand out. Expect more parachutes in the next few days.

I smile at the note. My parents wrote this. Only they would know that I loved vanilla lip gloss. The next thing says it's for Luke. He smiles at the gift, a bottle of pills. "What are they?" I ask. "Sleep syrup pills. They can knock you out for hours with a little. A lot could keep you in a coma." He replies with a laugh. "Your mom used some on your dad." I say. Luke nods. The last thing says it's for both of us. A pair of beautiful pins, gold with a bird through the middle. I know this as a Mocking jay, a mockingbird crossed with a blue jay by the Capitol. They can copy voices and repeat back messages to people and each other. They were used as spies when the far happened, before District 13 faked its demise, only to really be existing in secret. There is a note attached to them too. One has my name on it, the other has Luke's.

The note says: I hope these will give you confidence and make you stronger. Sorry, only one is the original. Luke, you have the new one. Katniss thought it would be fun to give the original to Elizabeth since their both girls. Luke that gives your pin a brand new history to make. –Peeta

"This is your mom's pin. Oh my god, this is so beautiful." I examine it closer. It's perfect. I attach it to my jacket and then dump Miklisho's backpack into mine. "Need a backpack?" I ask. "Nope. I just need you." Luke replies, kissing me. Then we hear the yelling and the screaming. "Uh, what now!" I exclaim. I jump up with Luke in tow. "Get ready to see me get into war mode." I whisper. We exchange a smile and then I'm off and in the zone.

"Hey! Would you mind telling me why you're all yelling like a bunch of banshees? Do you want us to be found? Hmmm." I exclaim. Gilzira sits on the wall. Micheal and MaryAnn look ready to kill Marcus, and Marcus is glaring at Gilzira. "No. We were all just venting a little. There's a lot of tension here." MaryAnn says. "Well, don't let me stop you. Just keep it down. I don't want to be able to hear you." I snap. "You're a freak! With your red eyes and your lack of training. You're a freak!" Marcus is saying to Gilzira. "I don't like that you're calling me that. It's not like I can control my eyes. It's because of a genetic mutation. I have no control over it. And if you don't stop, you'll regret it." Gilzira seethes in fury. "Oh, I'm so scared of the little girl that can't even use a weapon." Marcus laughs. Gilzira picks up a spear and aims it at Marcus. What comes next still gives me nightmares.

Marcus isn't expecting Gilzira to do anything. This is why it is so unexpected when she stabs it into his stomach. He collapses to the ground and I know for sure this is not going to be a quick death. He's going to bleed for a little. He has 10 minutes at the most. "Liz." He croaks. I go and kneel by his body. "What is it Marcus?" I say softly. "I want you to know that you have to win this thing. For our district. For your parents. And for my family. They said if I couldn't win, they want you to." He gasps out. "I will Marcus. I promise, I'll try as hard as I can." I reply.

I can't help crying. The boy that always joked a little too seriously about killing me got killed himself. And tears roll down my face. "And I want you to know that I love you. I always have. And I want you to come out of here alive, and remember me as I was- a strong and brave person, not this asshole that threatened you and made fun of people were different." He says. He starts crying too. "I will Marcus." I say. "I have one last request." He says. "What is it Marcus?" I ask. "Kiss me. A good kiss from the girl I always loved." He replies.

I look at Luke, who's kneeling beside me. "Do it. We have plenty of time to kiss. He'll only have a few minutes. Give him a good kiss he'll remember." Luke says. Marcus manages to pull himself up to a sitting position. I take his face in my hands, and our lips meet. I kiss him for a good 10 seconds, and then I stop. Don't want to make this over intimate. "I have a request too" I say. "Whatever it is, I say yes." Marcus replies. "Watch over me in heaven. And put in a good word for me, because I'm pretty sure I'm going straight to hell." I say.

He smiles at me and kisses my cheek. I look at his white shirt, stained partially with blood. I lean over to Luke. "Can we heal him?" I ask. "It might be too much damage." He replies. "Just hand me your canteen!" I say. He gives me his canteen and I uncap it, taking off Marcus's shirt and pouring water over the wound.

Maybe Marcus can live through this. I can heal him. Make him better. The blood is gone, but the puncture from the spear is huge. I have no idea how I can heal that. I pull out my first aid kit and pull out the bandages and disinfectant. With trembling hands, I rub some disinfectant around, trying really hard not to be stupid. I am rubbing things into his skin, but as a nurse and a healer and a friend, not as his enemy. I wrap bandages around his body, behind his back around the wound, around the back, over the wound. I've done everything I can. I have no romantic feelings for him, but I really hope he'll live through this. I can't get through this part of the Games without him. He pushes me to stay on guard. Be alert. Because if I'm not, he'll be the one stabbing me, and not the other way around. "Marcus, I'm sorry that I told you to go to hell on the bus. I really am. And, I- I just…" I whimper. He presses his fingers to my lips. "Stop apologizing. I could never be mad at you. Everything happens for a reason, and if God meant for me to die, than I will die. You've done everything you can, and I could never ask for any more than that." He whispers. Then he lays down. He closes his eyes, and the cannon fires. He's dead.

The Anthem of Panem plays. It's time to see how many of us are alive now. We look up into the sky and I'm still crying. Its different then watching someone you don't like die, but Marcus was an ally. A friend almost. And I couldn't be more upset over his death. I see Turnfina flicking her whip at Marvin, hitting him square in the face, making him bleed. He doesn't die right away, and he was the other cannon I heard when Phillipe and Jarrica died I see myself killing Phillipe with my knife. I see Jarrica lunge at me and slice Turnfina. I watch as the Gamemakers shoot Jarrica with an arrow. I see myself stabbing Katrina when she gives me my knife back. And then at the end, the clip of Gilzira stabbing Marcus comes. His face will join the many others of the dead.

My brain isn't functioning properly. I am using something my parents said helps lessen confusion. Start listing the simple facts, then work your way up to the more complex details. We have been in the Arena 2 days. There are 11 people alive. 13 people have died. That's all I care to know.

So, what did you think? Was it as shocking as the last chapter? Did I do everything right? Please, leave me a review or a message and let me know! I love hearing from you! As Elizabeth and Luke would say, Delicious Love, MrsLukeCastellan. And may the odds be ever in your favor.