Day 3
Rory Eshler 16, District 2 Male
Oh blaze I have missed you.
I just watch the flame dancing on the wall sadly everything I have tried to burn is fireproof, the maze, the houses, the rocks, the gravestones, even a little flower I tried to burn didn't burn.
Flowers should be able to burn.
Yet Harley was able to shred it with his saw, it angers me this arena does not appreciate the art of fire but the art of watching it try to burn on the wall is almost comforting, it is the closest thing to fire.
Harley, just it's next to me sharpening Junior with a rocky luckily our mentors followed their promises and sponsored us our beloved children. People used to call me crazy when I used to call Blaze my child, my baby but he is. I would die for him like I would die for Harley but he is more of a brother than a child, not that I would ever have actual children. I don't think I would be allowed to father a child, I don't think I'm suitable to be a father either.
I was banned from going to the hospital after I killed about five babies, it's not that I wanted to but I had to kill the ones who had a dark soul. We don't need any more reapers in this world, I am the reaper slayer but some had to be out down before they even learn to talk
I was one of those babies, I was always born with an evil soul someone should have slit my throat when I was born, but I was nurtured, I was loved, Rosy was my guardian anger she protected me from getting possessed but sadly as always I was the chosen one. So now I need to ensure no more reapers get born, you can see it in their eyes, the cute innocent eyes of a newborn, their heart is so steady, and their breathing is so peaceful like a beautiful melody.
Killing them is even better, I feel this power like I'm the Grim Reaper it makes me feel so satisfied, killing, just feels so right to me.
"Time is ticking Rory, you two need to spill blood" Lucifer says, we had a rest day yesterday it's not normal that I go a day without killing but we had a plan not to hunt or kill every day that some days we need to lay low, plus we are in a maze. We aren't in District Two we can't just pick and choose who we want to slaughter, we have to hunt. I do like hunting but it's annoying when you are almost forced, we were both serene just camping out in the large graveyard and now we are just having peace in the morgue. I tried to burn this place down too, I want to burn something I'm getting itchy for blood, it's Wednesday after all I burn people alive on Wednesday.
"We need to spill blood today," I say. I don't even need to look at Harley for him to know I'm speaking to him we just have that connection, that bond, we made our own language in two it's so we can speak in peace without judgment, without outsiders believing, we are plotting world domination or slaughter it is nice to be able to speak freely without judgement. We know the other tributes started to catch whim of us hell that little girl I was with couldn't wait to bolt it was funny.
I don't know why, I just didn't feel like killing her, that isn't a compliment to her, she shouldn't be happy about that, sometimes I just don't feel like killing, she didn't scream out to me as a soul worth sacrificing plus in that moment I had my career brain on, get the bag, get out and get Harley even if I don't act like a career I was still raised as one, I know how to switch that mentality on.
We are the biggest threats, the strongest duos, and our want to not even win, is what will scare everyone, that's what makes us dangerous, we don't care about our lives it makes us ruthless. I'm not arrogant but I know I will be hard to beat, to fight me, you have to fight fire and fire is my best friend, fire is my superpower.
"Someone needs to be sent to a better place, make them burn," Harley says. I just smile at him staring at the flame, as I just stroke it slightly feeling my finger begin to sweat, almost begin to burn there is something beautiful and poetic about burnt flesh even feeling the heat makes my entire hand tingle, I just put blaze away.
We were given a tracker, of course, we were, they wanted us to hunt to pick tributes off one by one, the tributes are well scattered around. I don't like it, it's like the four main pairs are all in four different corners, and our direct targets the nines, they are the furthest away from us but if we plan our movements correctly we can pick a weakling then with one of the trio cut one and the other two will be rattled. It is simple really.
Do we think our end will be simple?
Not entirely but I'm not afraid of losing one of us, we won't be killed until we say so.
I may be invisible, the number of fires I survived, the smoke, the flames. I should really be dead maybe I am the devil I could also be a god, nah I'm not that delusional I know I'm evil, no there is nothing good inside me.
"Evil is good," Lucifer says
"Evil will run this world" I whisper
"Who should we target?" I ask. There is the pair from 6 a pair I forgot existed, we enjoy killing pairings together but we normally prefer male and female pairings as we like to torture the male by brutally killing the female first which is normally his girlfriend or younger sister, and I haven't killed a female in a while.
I really should have killed ten, she is literally my dream target.
And Harley called dibs on Aurelia she is his forever girl, I won't take that from him. I do hope I can have some of her leftovers, so I can at least burn it, she is very pretty. I want her ash as a souvenir to put in an locket then shove it down her brother's throat.
"The fours seem to be moving towards the pair from 6, a conflict between them sounds too early, they will spiral, they are playing a mental warfare with each other trying to act to hope that will throw the other one off, it will blow in one of their faces and he will attack then boom," Harley says
"You are right" I say
Stellan thinks everyone is falling for his clear I am an arrogant psychopath who wants to be a villain act. I don't fall for it for one second, he is trying to act like that so we believe that his real weakness is arrogance, he doesn't want us to find his weakness because he doesn't know his weakness.
And that is is his weakness, not knowing your true self and not understanding your vulnerabilities, shows weakness and unsureness in yourself. I know my weakness, it's my bond with Harley and my distance from reality. I'm too unstable I'm not afraid to admit that now. The mental stability of 0 is unfair, I would say I'm about an 8 but whatever they think. Lucifer thinks I'm very stable and that I am a good person.
It's nice hearing that "If the two rats don't eat each other alive we will cut the head off both" I say
"Then maybe we will put Stellan's head up like a trophy," Harley says
Stellan can think that walking around like some maniac holding a head would make him look insane, it just makes him look stupid that's not a way to treat you kills, kills should be worn like a badge of honour not humiliated like that.
He will burn so bad that's what happens to rats, we both stand up getting our supplies ready. I now only have my blowtorch and have throwing knives that are my secondary weapon and I sure as hell know, no one will see that once coming again serves the assholes right.
Both of us can remember the map, they definitely built this arena for the smarter tributes but it's obvious who they want to win, and our end game is to ensure the capitol don't win, killing that tribute ensures they don't get what they want. The best end game would be for one of us to win but we can't do that not without the other. Stellan if he wasn't such an admonition to humanity I would welcome that, so it's between the ones. Declan needs to pay for what Kaela did last year, luckily for Aurelia, she is Harley's soulmate so she avoids the wrath of the demons.
Am I jealous, a little bit but I killed my forever girl, he just has to kill his after having fun with her of course, he is a little more well what can I say sexually curious than me.
Everything is setting itself up perfectly but who the Victor is going to be. I don't know, it really is an unknown one, my money would be on Levin he is the obvious choice for Victor, stable, good-looking, good with weaponry, he is just that perfect.
But perfect doesn't win, since we will ensure either of the fours or nine wins that takes them out of the race-poor things.
Or could it be the underdog, the charming goofball who looks like he wouldn't harm a fly, I like him when I dropped my matches he handed them back to me he probably shit himself in the process but he won some brownie points with me, but he is a survivor and the ones who end up taking the punches, end up being stronger than the ones who dish them out. So he is a threat, and a concern but may play into our end game.
Then the dark horse, the quiet almost broody but friendly boy from ten could win, but once that little girl gets cut he will change. I actually am really regretting not killing her now I'm a bit upset I didn't oh the things I could have done to her, I lick my lips thinking about it
Little girls are my favourite types of victims I never understood why. I just enjoyed it sadly one little girl is already claimed, but I got to kill my forever girl, it's only right Harley can kill his maybe little Mabel will be back on my radar but right now Zev is the only thing on our radar.I just see our dots move closer I can't believe the capitol allowed the two most dangerous tributes to have a tracker it's like they want us to win but it's obvious what they want the last games have shown they tend to give the stronger and more dangerous tributes trackers.
They want deaths, they want bloody deaths and they will get one. We won't drag this kill out as much as the other one it is Wednesday after all and what's even better is that Everett sponsored the precious matches that spread on the body and rope. I like rope it's quite entertaining watching a tribute tied down struggling for their life and burning to nothing more than ash it's quite beautiful.
Zev wasn't even hiding in the maze, he is in our town, hiding in one of the houses. I'm tempted to set fire to the house but the smoke will show and I don't want the tributes to know, I'm setting fire just yet we have a plan for that, we need some of the stronger pairs to split four will self implode, Declan's growing insanity will push his baby sister away and the trio won't all survive that long.
The ones need a little let's say push to split up and isn't fire a man's best friend.
Harley and I nod to each other as we just storm into the house. Zev just jumps up absolute fear and terror on his face, he tries to run but I just bring a knife out throwing it straight into his spine. I just smirk as his body goes crashing down like a pile of bricks, Harley runs over to him, grabbing him he can't move he is paralysed, and now he needs our help.
"Please," he says
"And thank you," Harley mocks just tying his hands and feet together
"If you two freaks want to kill me please just do it quickly" he begs that's a bit rude calling us two freaks I'm quite offended by that to be honest, everyone is a freak in their own way.
I will enjoy burning him
"That's rude," I say as I pull out a match and Harley steps back next to me.
"Oh fuck please don't kill me like that, please anything but that." he yells. I nod to Harley who walks over to the boy shallowly slitting his throat as he begins to chock and I do the final honours by placing a flame right onto his collar, the fire swallows him alive it's quite majestic even watching it now, his skin chars straight away, the clothes nails and hair becoming nothing as it normally does as the cannon sounds and we walk away without glimpsing at the body. We don't know who has the final kill but it's both credited to us, we are the dream team after all.
I should be scared in case one of us dies first, we made a promise to each other that if that happens, if by some horrible nightmare one of us dies first the the other will stay alive, the other will avenge his fallen brother, it's the right thing to do with family.
"You should have been slower Rory" Lucifer says
"We don't have time for a show asshole," I say
"No but the capital, do you need to please them boy," he says
"They will be pleased believe me, where should we go next" I say directing the last bit to Harley who just looks at the tracker.
"No more deaths would happen today the boys from 4 are going towards the pair from 6 but they aren't close enough," he says
It's too predictable even last year all the hand chosen died first, it's like they are just filler characters in a story that the author uses that help develop the main characters, they don't matter in the story it's the characters with a story, a role am.
Am I pleased with being seen as unstable, fuck no I find that an insult, now yes I may have been called delusional but even if I tend to daydream I know what's reality.
I know what is real.
People say I talk to myself I just say I'm special, they are just jealous because I can see Lucifer and they can't and jealousy is an ugly emotion, just like love.
"What about a church," Harley says.
My eyes perk up, I like churches and there is a church high up on the mountain it's the perfect place to rest, the perfect place to plan our next move because our next kill won't be so nameless tribute in the capital's eyes it will be someone of importance.
Who?
We don't know that entirely but what we do know is whoever we kill will break one alliance to pieces cause a domino effect of kills.
Kylian Wilson 17, District 4 Male
I just watch the tracker being careful to make sure I put it away before Stellan comes, it's obvious the capitol wants me to play a more active role, a villain role, and even if being naturally evil is in my nature
Being a villain isn't, there is a different between being evil and being villain, I was born evil, I always had a mean and cold streak even as a little boy I use to push other little kids and hurt them and I just use to laugh seeing them cry it brought joy meant, when I grew older I became more distant with my emotions, the enjoyment became curiosity became I want to hurt people whether it's directly kill them or mentally destroy their lives it was never about the power, I never felt that and I could never give a answer why I became who I am, maybe the solitude, maybe the lack of paternal figures but yet again look at Stellan having a happy childhood with happy parents doesn't always mean you grow up to be citizen of the year
A villain goes out of their way, they want the power, they want the attention they want to make a legacy and be remembered at first I thought that was what Stellan wanted, his arrogant, stupid and just outright asshole it's a complete 180 from his calm and kind demeanour at 4 at first I thought the arrogant pig he is, was his true self but it isn't it's a act
His acting again hoping people will fool him I did at the start but I'm starting to see the cracks, his going out of his way, like what he did in the bloodbath and the obvious stupidity of walking in front of me without a weapon, it's like his challenging me to make a move, he expects it that's going to be his downfall the one second, the split little second he drops his guard I'm going to strike and I'm going to strike hard
He won't see it coming
Not one bit but it's about patience, I want this asshole dead but not yet, all the pairs are still together, the trio are still together, I am a little pissed off I didn't complete my goal in the bloodbath I normally never miss when I strike, maybe I underestimated the girl, maybe I did let my sadistic nature and want to physically torture someone get into my head, I know that's my weakness, I do go overboard, I do want the blood and gore, it makes me unstable but I have hidden that from everyone
It was nothing personal against Aurelia maybe a touch since she can level me when it comes to intelligence that does concern me because I know I won't be taken down easily, I will need to be outsmarted unless I get ambushed but even that will be hard I'm always on alert, always predicted moves I know this maze back to front I know every single path way, once I get rid of Stellan I'm going to stalk the maze sadly I still need him, his plotting my death, I'm plotting his
If he was such a flip flopped actor maybe I would have more respect for him but his getting to my last nerves by trying to hard, but being to insufferable, but he is expecting me to attack and I don't want to get into a fight with him I believe I can beat him but not one on one, fuck even Aurelia was able to get away from me and that's what angers me some little bitch from nine made me look like a fool, I definitely will make her regret it the next time I find her
And the twos as well, I need Stellan to help me kill them yet at the same time maybe I should hope someone else will, I'm not fearless I would never admit that I do get rattled, do I get scared?
I don't know, the unknown on dying concerns me, it is something I have always been worried about, I wanted to know what it felt like, what it's like, it's why I sue to drown people then try to revive them, ask them what death felt like sadly they were too out of it so I ended up killing them anyways
It's why I wanted to be the killer at least I knew I could run, try and avoid the fate, but now, anything can happen I can try to predict so many situations but at the end if the day nothing in these games are predictable, any one can die maybe not everyone can win, the good thing about this tracker it has ever changing statistics
Likelihood to win
Kylian Wilson 23%
Levin Huxley 20%
Stellan Moore 18%
Harley Tandley 15%
Rory Eshler 15%
Declan Callen 10%
Cedric Lenlen 8%
Aurelia Callen 8%
Winston Connors 2%
Others 0%
Mathematically that doesn't even add up, not that it matters this early there are still too many tributes alive to have a proper guess, it just means they still see me as threat and I don't want that I wanted to fly under the radar and be underestimated not seen as this target, this threat, but it's not like any one attacked me Harley might have if I kept trying to steal his girl or what ever she is too him, I was doing her a favour trying now she is going to regret not getting that help but that's street kids for you, they don't like help and it comes back to fight them eventually
Once we kill the sixes which may very well happen today them I need to plan my murder of Stellan, I can't take him anymore, and the more I'm around him the more I'm starting to well loose it, he needs to die and even if this might bite me in the ass I am a long ranger, it has always been me myself and I, I know I might need Stellan to back me up but I know how to fly under the radar, they want me to be the villain but that's not who I am I don't go out of my way to be evil, it just comes naturally and maybe I am scared about loosing control the power I felt and the want to torture I normally don't feel like that but having someone under you, vulnerable and begging for mercy it's a lot different then just picturing killing someone
I need to plan my next move after the sixes are dead and I need to determine for sure if Stellan is acting, during training he was a little dominant, a little arrogant but the second we got in here his been a maniac, walking around with a head, having a tantrum about not getting the first kills I would expect that from some elitist that thinks his the next big thing but not from a serial killer, not form someone who was so careful with his kills, was so smart about it, he doesn't know his weakness and it scares him I quickly put my tracker under my jacket
"Get up we need to start tracking the sixes again" he mumbles
I just nod we have barely spoken there is clear tension, we were never close, and unlike the nines who have that blood connection that makes them both ignore the tension we don't, there is no link to each other, no care, we aren't like the ones who have an island friendship, we are merely with each other for our best interests but even then that decision is now being questioned, loyalty was in neither of our bloods even if Stellan had friends he was Cleary just using them and me
I never had friends and I never will
"Do you know where they are" I say, I do, I know exactly where they are but he doesn't need to know that he will crack the shits knowing I got a tracker but at the end of the day I have a mentor and he technically doesn't and even if Adrian didn't seem too impressed with me not telling him he still has stuck by me
I'm district fours best chance, maybe the best chance we had in years yet even if I don't want to die I couldn't really care less at the end of the day what happens to me, it's not like I have anything to get back to and it's not like I can get back to my old life but maybe if I do live through this I can actually determine what I really do want to do with life because deep down I am confused and unsure
"No but you might, you seem to know this arena at the back of your head" he says
We saw two sets of footsteps yesterday in the mud male footsteps but the foot souls has six lines, representing district six they are the only random draw tributes beside the child alive and it's clear the Capitol want all of them dead early, there was already a cannon today we don't know who it was
"You seem concerned about that" I say
"You gave me dumb blonde vibes, so" he lingers
"Coming from a blonde, they wanted us to track them since the footprints are still here" I say fuck I hate this guy but I don't show it, I don't show emotions in general it's why I'm so hard to read maybe the games are getting to him, I know even if it's been three days it's getting to me I'm itching for blood, I wanted that kill of Aurelia so bad, I wanted to be the one to kill the hero, the sweetheart I wanted to stick it in their sorry asses sadly we can't always get what we want
"Oh yeah I knew that" he says the arena is somewhat creative there is a forest, maintain ranges, quite a few buildings we knew it was safer to hide our in a house, I know by the way he always has a hand in his pocket his holding a weapon, we are both paranoid if the other bit I moods I need a more sneaky way of killing him, I have a idea I just hope Adrian and the capitol saw the note I wrote and will give me the equipment I need
Killing one of the villains early it will be a shock yet even myself I feel like we are both just faded in the background the two fuck head freaks taking the spotlight and I'm happy for it
I just grab Stellan's arms as I just duck a swing of his fist "Shit sorry I just panicked" he says
"Stellan if I wanted you dead you would be dead" I shrug
He just stares at me for an moment grumbling to himself "Alright boy wonder why did you stop me" he says
"They are in that house" I shrug
He just looks at the ground seeing the footprints I know the footsteps were to help us find six it was for me to know here everyone else is, the pair from two are in the same town as the trio and the pair from nine aren't to far from that town, not that Harley would kill his beloved yet anyway, fucking freak
"So let's storm in and murder them, you have one, I have one" he says
"Wouldn't it be more satisfying to jump out if no where when they are at there mist paranoid they will be able to head us break the door down, or pick the lock they won't be as stupid to leave the doors unlocked and the door is locked" I say
"You can see that from here" he says
"Yes the locks are a certain way when they are locked and unlocked, they will hear us trying to barge in and either prepare themselves or try to win but if you want to do that be my guest" I say, I'm sick of playing boss to him not that I have been I have been more blunt them anything
"No you have a point" he says I just nod to him
"But what if we are just waiting here all day" he says
"It's about patience plus if we were to well startle then make it sound like someone is around" I say just walking to the next house opening the door slamming jr just then walking back over "They will get ready to move worried they aren't the only ones here, the towns are pretty large and they have thrown in a few random things like castles and stadiums" I say and a lathe mountain I would mind throwing Stellan off that mountain and as much as I want to torture him I need to do it quicker, my sadistic want to torture can be kept for one of the more likeable tributes they want a villain they will get one
I just smirk when I hear the sound of the door opening "Told you" I whisper in Stellan's ear he can try to underestimate as much as he wants but at the end of the say I know what I'm talking about I'm see as a genius for a reason
I don't know if I should drag this kill out but as I finger the knife in my hand I don't really feel like showing a weakness of my in front of Stellan if he sees I loose control that I enjoy the power he will use that against me, I know his weakness, he doesn't know mine so as one of the boys from 6 steps out I just let my knife fly from my hand as it lodges right into the head
BOOM
Even Stellan looks a little stunned that I did it that quick was his quick to take out his whip and wrap it around the boys form 6 leg as he screams in shock I just walk over to my kill just pulling the knife out and using his top to wipe the blood off
As I keep an eye on Stellan as he has the boy on the ground, just wrapping the whip around his neck as I just stand by the side, even his not killing slowly so clearly me not doing what I normally do has made him plan jos next move, his smarty I will give him that it's why I need to cut him loose as soon as possible
Aurelia Callen 16, District 9 Female
"I don't think we should be camping out like this" Declan says I just look up at him.
"This was your idea" I mumble
This has been the story of our games, I recommended something, but he wants the opposite, I try to use logic to change his mind he then starts to either raise his voice at me or approach me in a violent manner that forces me to just back out and say yes, then after a few hours he makes it seem like it was a bad idea like it was my bad idea. Yet we have had moments that we have connected, we have bonded, it's just a roller coaster with him, it's hard to really read his mood, really read where his head is at.
He wanted to camp out at the corner of one of the mazes why, I have no fucking clue. He said just for the day, that it will look like we are trying to hunt down tributes or something, I didn't really understand his logic all I knew was that waiting at the dead end of a maze is the most idiotic plan I have ever heard but I need to keep him happy.
I have thankfully sponsored two new maps yesterday. Brayen said in the note that they were only allowing two well-known killers, to get trackers to help cut down the numbers but one map he gave me has it marked where everyone is so at least I know where we are now, wasn't close to where anyone was, but I don't know what Declan expects us to do if like a Rory and Harley come.
They have a tracker, there is no doubt about it and that's what scares me. I want to run and hide, make sure they can't catch us not just hang here like sitting ducks.
"You agreed to it," he says
"You gave me no choice" I mumble
"You have a choice, you could have said no. I'm not going to hurt you, Aurelia," he says gently. He clearly forgot smashing his hammer into my leg this morning that's when I let him have his way, it still hurts I haven't wanted to open the sponsor gift I had to quickly grab it without him knowing since he has been opening my sponsor gifts like he is worried Brayen will send me poison to kill him or something.
I came in wanting to form a bond with my brother. I know I have a real chance of dying maybe deep down I want to die, even if I will be free from the outsiders when I win, all the mental scars will stick, and add the trauma of the games. I don't know if I can handle it.
Xander is barely handling it and no doubt if Brayen didn't win last year we would have lost him, yet when my life was on the line, I didn't want to die but if I had someone willing to kill me quickly, would I allow them?
I don't know, the scary thing is the one who can get to me first won't. I don't know what he wants, Harley isn't with reality, for some reason he thinks I'm his soul mate, that if we were in district two we would have I don't even know. I mean you look at him and he is good-looking, he doesn't seem like a manic freak that believes he is some angel of death but it's not about the looks, it's about what is on the inside of a person and nothing inside him is good.
And Let's not get started on his buddy.
"Is this not hurting me?" I say signalling to my leg.
I hope what Brayen sent was medicine but ever since we have been sitting here, Declan hasn't moved away it's like he needs to be right next to me. I am worried about him, Xander was worried too he went through trauma that made him a monster, that made him torture a girl for no reason, he sees the red flags with Declan.
I see them too, I'm his anchor, I'm the only thing keeping him from floating and I have that pressure of keeping him afloat, if he was kind and cared for me more often than not I would do everything to help me, but all it takes is one mistake and my own brother could end up being my killer or I might end up defending myself and killing him.
I couldn't live with myself if I did that, he just touches my leg and I just flinch.
"I didn't mean it Aurelia, I just fuck I can't even explain it right now," he says
"You are scared I get it," I say
"I'm not scared I'm confused okay I just wish you didn't have to come back into my life" he yells and there it is the complete 180, and that comment hurts like a stab to the heart. I just look away not wanting him to see my hurt, it will show him, I'm weak and he doesn't like weakness.
"You know the one thing that kept me waking up each morning, that kept me from fighting was the small glimmer of hope you were alive. I just had the feeling deep in my heart that I knew you were alive, I wish I didn't have my hopes up like that" I say having a sibling argument isn't the best thing to do right now, but as much as I want to get up and walk away I don't have the heart too. I fell asleep last night even if it was my watch.
I just was too tired, lucky he didn't find out but I was so tempted to walk out, we are poison for each other but at the same time, we need each other.
I just flinch as he grabs me by the end of my top just forcing me against the wall, his face being inches from me. I'm used to this, being hurt. I was a prisoner after all, even if I was more at the mercy of the two leaders, there wasn't a day they didn't hurt me.
Ryley was a lot more angry and aggressive I would even make a face he didn't like and I was punished and normally it was very physical and aggressive.
Dalton was more gentle yet he enjoyed using my body more than what Ryley did. He used me more for sexual pleasure which was more than twice a day, Ryley only assaulted me to punish me and get me into submission.
Now I have that freedom over my body, not having to wake up knowing I would be getting exploited, it's a nice break yet my brother has laid a hand on me more than once and I didn't want that from him.
We just stare at each other for a moment, I have a knife in my pocket, everyone right now would be screaming at me to kill him but it's easier said them done. I was selfish to even think we would come into these games and things would be fine because it isn't. I'm a broken soul who is weak and pathetic and he is a broken confused person stuck between two sides. It was never going to be easy, it was never going to be a happy family reunion.
"Just do it please," I say he just stares at me but instead of lashing out at me or stabbing me he just wraps his arms around me. I'm so shocked by his actions that I stay frozen but then I just return the favour as I just melt into his arms I needed this.
I think he did as well, there is silence between us but at the end of the day we need each other, we need emotional support because I know our fates won't be good.
Especially mine.
Our time is becoming limited I know that and it terrifies me because I know Harley wants me, he has this sick and twisted crush on me that, I would rather not happen, like I wish he would fall in love with someone else and leave me the hell alone alone but sadly I was born with a target on my back.
"Thank you," Declan says pulling back.
"For what," I say
"For not leaving. I know I shouldn't expect you to stay, I could have gotten you killed yesterday and I blamed you for it" he says. I want to tell him that apologising all the time, and admitting that it was his fault is a little late after he berated me for it, but what was I meant to do. I was shocked that Declan acted like that, how he kept attacking Levin. someone who I wouldn't want to mess with, Declan had this fire in his eyes that really didn't sit well with me and before I could even react I had a knife pressed up against my throat.
I know Cedric didn't want to kill me, he kept rambling nonsense in my ear about it but I got worried that Declan didn't care, he almost looked like he wanted to challenge, the young boy from one and if he did I would have been dead.
"We are both to blame," I say. I could have reacted sooner to ensure I didn't get in the position, I have been close to death twice and both times I almost didn't fight, with Kylian for one brief second I almost wanted him to kill me but after he wanted to torture me, that made me snap out of it, he has this evil nature about him that deep day terrifies me.
"There is this feeling inside me like this bloodlust that I can't control. I'm scared that the second, I kill someone I won't be able to control it, that I will just keep killing" he admits I just stare at him, that's why he wanted to wait out here, in case a harmless tribute wanders past so he could attack them.
I can see it in his eyes he wants to kill someone, but killing someone at home is a lot different than killing someone here but maybe that won't affect him. I wish I could help him, but he doesn't want my help, in his eyes I'm the little sister, I'm just a little girl, I am the one who needs protecting, who needs babying but even if he read my journal, he doesn't know half of what I went through, half of what I saw.
" That's why I wanted to get far away," I say
"Or because you are scared of getting hurt," he says. I don't know if that's malice or genuine.
"I'm scared of both of us getting hurt, what if it's Rory and Harley ha, they won't be like the ones, they won't just let us go and our deaths won't be so quick either," I say
"The nutcase let you go," he says
"That's because you would have attacked him, he didn't want a fight, Rory and Harley they aren't fighters, they aren't hunters they don't want their endgame to be put at risk by fighting, they just want peace, I can respect that, at the end of the day that is all I want" I say
"If it's Rory and Harley, we run" he shrugs.
I want to argue again but we had a nice moment, I don't want to ruin it too quickly, he must be in a really good mood right now because when he stands up, he gives me a hand helping me up and instead of quickly letting go, walking away as he use to when we accidentally brushed hands, he moves it to my wrist keeping hold onto like the safety blanket I am for him, I never had affection so I didn't long for it even if I have wanted. Brayen gave me all the support. I needed that I needed, he was always by my side so being thrown in here without him was a struggle.
Why couldn't he be my district partner then at the end of the day it would have been the same story both of us can't win, plus I doubt he would be the same with me if he was my district partner rather then the one mentoring me and I'm slightly nervous about what will happen to Declan and I.
Maybe me leaving him early will be the best solution, or I stay with him and hope nothing happens because I'm not Victor material, not even close, how will I know what I will do under pressure, I have never killed anyone either. it's why I want to avoid tributes, the trio of Dash, Winston and Mabel they aren't too far from us. I don't want to bump into them because I know the two boys will attack us and no I doubt I know what Declan would do target the weakest link, and sadly that weakest link is a 14 year old girl.
I can't live my self if I let my brother kill a little girl but at the end of the day this is the Hunger Games 17 need to die.
"Everything sounds so easy doesn't it" I say
He just smiles at me, fuck he is even smiling, did my brother hit his head or something, this is the longest he has been nice to me, or maybe when he saw he actually hurt me it hit him hard. I just jump when I hear a cannon, he just grabs my hand, as another sounds shortly after and he quickly lets go going back to holding my wrist.
"A pair," he says
"Probably 6," I say
I hope it could be the pair from 2 or 4 since I have no hatred towards the pair from one. I don't know I have this real urge, this real want to speak to Cedric more, his whole personality is cute and endearing and maybe I could grow a minor crush on him, or maybe I already have one but this is the Hunger Games, there is no place for love, love is a poisonous emotion, whether it's romantic love or family love like the love I have for Declan.
I shouldn't love him, he should be a stranger to me but as kids we were inseparable, it was us against the world. That is why I can understand the bond between Rory and Harley it's like the bond Declan and I had as kids beside the fact both of us weren't crazy maniacs but our parents were always so busy, it was always us and being child of an engineer, of an important person on nine it was hard to make friends.
Everyone either tried to suck up to you or hated you, there was never a chance for a genuine friendship.
"The games are too predictable again like last year" Declan says
"Did you think Brayen had it in the bag?" I ask, even if I was a prisoner I was still able to watch the games. It was mandatory even if we were all thrown into the dark region and even if there were barely any peacekeeper patrols they made sure we were all herded to watch the games but we never saw the outlaws, the region was split in two it was impossible.
"Oh fuck no, that I didn't guess but I mean everything leading to that," he says
From the top 8, I knew Brayen would win. I just had this weird feeling, I have always been spot on when it comes to guessing Victor I don't know why. I knew Everett would from the beginning he was the typical career but he had a heart that was just too strong for everyone else.
Aden I knew that from around the top 12, he has this thing about him that I knew he could become a killer, that revenge would lead him to become the biggest threat.
Xander? I didn't guess that until his allies died until he snapped and became a different person then I knew it was his game to loose.
Maverick? That one was a little harder to guess but I always had a feeling a crazy would win, even Alistair I guessed.
If I had to guess now?
It's a tough one, it really depends on how long the Pyscho brothers last if they are still together by the final 6, my guess is, Levin is the obvious choice, Stellan is too erratic and Kylian has no real purpose or goal if makes him vulnerable but if one of that pair dies early.
I will say Cedric it only takes one moment to become something, Aden only has two kills, so he doesn't need to become a contender until the final 3, something about Cedric shows determination.
I know I have no hope, I'm physically weak, I can barely use a sword and even if I think my brain can get me far I have two things holding me back my brother and my freak of an admirer, with that tracker that boy could be stalking me for all I know. Declan I think he has a chance but as cruel and harsh as this sounds if he takes the dark route like Xander I don't want him to win, I don't want him to suffer what Xander has, and if he loses me, sometimes I think it will destroy him other times it seems like he won't care but I can't run away I'm too scared to be alone, I'm not used to being alone.
Even if I was locked in a room alone a lot there was always someone by the door, he didn't speak to me but he was watching me from outside, then when I had to go out to build things or try to con someone I always had someone watch me, plus I would have always spend at least 8 hours a day with Ryley or Dalton I was never alone
How can I handle being alone in the hunger games.
Levin Huxley 18, District 1 Male
"Oh man I'm in love"
I just snap out of my little daydream as I just look next to me to see Cedric staring at me, I look at the photos in his hands quickly snatching them from him, trying to hide in a chuckle.
"Where the fuck did you find those and naughty you are too young for that content" I laugh. We had an eventful morning, to say the least ran into the two freakazoids, well we almost did luckily I was able to stop Cedric from slipping over. I found out with the little fella that he tends to slip over when he is stressed, so when we heard a male talk about I repeat 'burning the souls in the black ocean then the other male saying then we watch the king of the sea shred them to pieces'
We knew it was those two and man did we bolt, we bolted so quick, even I fell over a few times which made Cedric full over me, which made him somehow break one of his boots, so then we had to run a little bit with him only having one shoe on until he got sick of that, so the genius threw his boots away, so we had to get into the closest building and hope he would get sponsored shoes, which we didn't realise was a club called, club X.
I wanted to leave again but my younger district partner seemed fascinated by the poles and the photos on the wall, so I just let him have a little look around, he didn't seem to care he doesn't have shoes at the moment his little naive head getting excited by what we uncovered but there was a sponsor gift for him.
I was puffed, normally we don't run, but we have shown we run from fights, with the nines, we had too.
I was well shocked by Declan, in that split moment he overpowered me, I was so close to dying I would have died if Cedric didn't take Aurelia to knife point, I'm proud of him, he really surprised me these games, a part of me expected him to do something stupid and die in the bloodbath, to fall off his pedestal. I'm shocked he didn't and I am relieved.
I mean I love the kid but he has to have like two left feet or be part blind or something and he clearly doesn't know what duck means, he is taller than me for hell sake and even I almost bump my head but what he did in that moment, it saved us both.
I could have snapped out of it and killed Declan then we would have had to kill Aurelia and in that moment I didn't want to kill the nines, it is way to early but what if Declan killed me, then we would both be dead.
Cedric did the right thing, and not once was I worried he wanted to kill her, he knew his role, and although he looked like he was about to collapse since he was holding a girl, his innocence is the cutest thing about him which is why I burst out laughing when he saw the content of this place, then he started screaming then he just ran into the office and now came out with photos like a little kid who found a jewel for the first time, I didn't realise they were nude photos but he is distracting me from the games.
"The draw dude, there are so many of Damn I didn't know that's what a female body looks like, can I keep one," he says
"No" I chuckle just throwing the photos away not before having a brief look as he just smirks at me.
"Hey I saw that look in your eyes" he says punching my shoulder
"Bro we are boys, it's a natural reaction," I say
"You looked like you haven't seen a naked body either," he says
I can't believe we are having this conversation in front of everyone but to be honest it's distracting me from what is really going on.
"Of course I didn't, I was a hitman, and my main focus was killing not to sleep with girls or stalk a girl every day at a cafe," I say raising an eyebrow.
"I was having coffee with my best friend every day," he shrugs.
"I thought that was your grandfather," I say
"I was a loser, no one wanted to be my friend, the rich hated me, and even if the poor were nice, they just wanted to steal from me, and once you're blacklisted by the teenage elitist, no one in the middle class would get seen with you, you become a pariah," he says
"I didn't know, it was that bad," I say
"You get special privileges because your parents have money and it makes you hated when you don't deserve it, doesn't matter not like I am going to win anyways," he says
"You never know that you survived three days already, not many people can say that," I say. I mean look three days isn't the hardest thing to survive, but he needs some positivity, I am a little worried though if he doesn't die any time soon then my morals will cloud me. I never had a friend and Cedric is the only friend I have ever had, I can't lose him yet. I have almost set myself up for it, but the fact is if he keeps surviving and we make the final 2?
Could I really kill him?
I can say yes now but things will changed, I haven't been challenged morally yet, I wasn't the one to hold the knife to Aurelia's throat, I haven't had to bump into the little girl from ten I haven't been put in a situation where I would need to test my morals yet.
"Three days that's nothing, we got lucky, we have ran too much when will they get sick of it," he says.
He is right I have two kills but we did let the nines go, we bolted from the twos like a bunch of cowards, I may be brave, and I may be fearless but I'm not stupid, they may have let us go but it wasn't worth the risk. I didn't understand a word of what Harley was trying to tell me, it sounded like you are all good, we won't target you but there is a love triangle going on, and Harley noticed that. I saw the look he gave Cedric when he gawked at Aurelia, Cedric is cute in that way his so naive when it comes to girls, I don't think he ever truly liked that Sarah girl it's because she spoke to him, she had to be nice to him.
Aurelia I don't know she has given him looks that make it seem like she might even think the same as him.
Young love, sadly this isn't the place for it, Harley knows Cedric is a threat to stealing whatever she is to him, we can't bump into them not yet, preferably not ever but they need to die eventually, how?
That is the thing that concerns me, they need to be split but how we do that I don't know yet, they won't just split up as the other pairings would, and neither want to win, they will stay together until the end.
If Cedric and I decided we would be fine killing each other then we would do that too but I know that won't happen and even if it would be smart for me to stay with him, to take him to the end knowing I can probably beat him.
Jasper said I can easily beat him, yet even if I had to save that kid a few times I have seen him fight, he can fight, and he can kick ass too but some days he just takes the punches, but if I beat him.
I have to kill him, and I don't know if I can mentally do that, I remember the day I killed that boy with my bare hands I always remember that day like it is a constant stamp in my brain.
"The sixes are dead, which means Mabel is the only random draw, we will get led to someone and we need to be ready for that," I say it's not time to talk about splitting, not with the fours and twos alive maybe after that but who am I kidding.
The four and twos won't die this early, maybe one of the fours, no doubt would turn against each other but not the twos, and I can't underestimate Dash and Winston, Street kids do anything to survive and the nines?
Declan is the Xander of this year, I saw it in his eyes his close to flipping and if he does we have a new villain, we have a new contender and that is a situation I don't want.
Hell that boy is a lot stronger than I thought, his sister is keeping him together, it's why I couldn't let Cedric kill her I almost told him too, it would have been the smartest thing to do get rid of someone who can become an issue later one and selfishly ensure some else kills her, but then Declan would have flipped I was nervous I couldn't beat him plus I didn't want to force Cedric to deal with the backlash.
Aurelia is like her mentor, she may not be a killer yet but it takes one moment and once you end a life it changes you, changes you forever.
"The twos seemed like they were following someone or at least knew where they were going," he says he is right they did seem to know where they were going thankfully it wasn't us they were hunting.
"They could have been hinting the trio, both seem to like playing with little girls," I say
He makes a face "Not that sort of play, get that out of your head little dude," I chuckle
"Hey man we are in a strip club of course that is the first thing that would come into my head, can we move actually this place is creepy, but I get what you mean" he says
"Yeah let's move, we will keep moving for now and I will work out our next target," I say.
I wouldn't be shocked if the twos are chasing the trio, which means there are only two other pairs left, is it worth trying to find the nines?
They are a concern at the back of my head, last year everyone let Brayen become a second thought and he won, no one seemed to consider Xander or Alistair a threat and they won. I have so much to lose, so I can't afford to make any mistakes yesterday wasn't the right time maybe we need to think about them sooner rather then later.
7 tributes are dead in three days, that is a massive drop in tributes everyone pretty much dropping like flies at the moment, will that stream continue or will it go quiet.
Cedric nods as we pack our backs, he opens his sponsor gift a new pair of boots, if we at least look like we are targeting someone it might give us some time.
Jasper had to teach me in a short amount of time what every career does. I know how to be a killer, how to show the capital I am willing to play their game and that could buy us time.
The fours might be an option to hunt and plot their demise but I don't know if they are a good idea. I can't get the head literally out of my head it shows Stellan is fucked up and Kylian is a closed book. I might be able to take Stellan but Cedric can't take Kylian and I can't lose him yet.
Can I lose him in general?
A few days ago I would have said yes but how I don't really know, that's the scary thing it's only been a few days and I don't think I can kill the kid, yet I don't want to distance myself either.
Unless the trio don't lose a number tomorrow, I know who we need to target, it's the only option.
"Would you be willing to kill your girlfriend?" I say when we walk out.
"Bro, I don't even have a girlfriend, fuck I wish I had a girlfriend." he says
"You know who I am talking about out, yesterday wasn't the day but next time is" I say, he just bites his lip.
"What about the trio, easier targets, less consequences if we kill them" He says
"I have my money on the brothers of destruction getting their psychotic hands on a least one of them," I say
He just stares out into the town. I shouldn't put him in this situation, crush or no crush, this boy hasn't killed anyone, killing someone who deserves to die, is a lot different than killing someone innocent and harmless, even I would struggle with the guilt with Aurelia.
But if we are in a fight, I can't just target her, it wouldn't be fair on my partner, I can easily beat her, easily kill her but Cedric is no match against Declan.
Cedric may be the tallest here alongside Saw Freak at 6'6 but Declan and I are 6'4 ourselves, Cedric is lanky he doesn't have much muscle, hell even if the boy is 17, his voice still pitches a lot like he hasn't hit puberty.
I can't let him take on Declan because he will die yet if he kills Aurelia, three things can happen, he may A move on, B the guilt will be too much for him and he breaks down or C he becomes a monster.
And after everything that kid has been through he isn't mentally unscarred, it is a double-edged sword really but if we both make it out of a life I can help him for as long as I can.
"I mean if we attack them you can keep her occupied until I hopefully kill Declan," I say.
Perfect world he kills her quickly and we both fight Declan, we need to target the nines there are no ifs or buts anymore.
Myles and Devin made that mistake last year and even if they attacked them, one got killed, we know how to do it differently. Well I do Cedric really has no idea what's going on half the time, it's why I adore him.
He is like another little brother, so innocent and naive but so strong at the same time.
"It's okay you are right, we may not be careers-" I cut him off "You are a career," I say
"Yeah right, I might have the pretty boy District One looks but I'm not even close, we are from District One, the pair from Nine they are dangerous because they are the most stable pair, well one of them is. Brayen did it last year who says Aurelia can't, a female will have to win eventually. I know how to fight like a street kid, I have had to do fight a few times, they are desperate and erratic. I can't promise I can beat her but if I have to kill her as much as I would rather it not be her. I'm not ready to die, and if I don't kill her then we don't have a chance of beating them, I can move on plus if I kill her it helps you" he says
"Fuck I want to hug you sometimes," I say
"I don't even know how to hug man," he says. I just ruffle his hair as we just stop under a tree and look at the map.
"The town the twos might be going to is a small maze away from another bordering town, the nines went east yesterday, we went south, so they wouldn't be too far from us," I say
"Do you think them or anyone has a tracker?" he says.
Fuck I didn't even think of that, what if the two's have a tracker, if Harley sees we are tracking Aurelia, he may come to her aid, be her knight in shining armour it's all some fantasy for him anyways but at the same time, we can't just go off what-ifs, anything can and will happen, we need to make a shot before it's too late.
"Let's hope not, we can't worry about that, we will try to find them if not that's okay, don't stress okay, I have your back no matter what," I say
He just looks up at me smiling "It's funny how a hitman can be the nicest person to me," he says
"I wouldn't call myself nice you are lucky you are on my good side" I say smiling, I'm not an openly rude or nasty person but I don't go out of my way to be nice to outsiders either I keep to myself.
"What happens after, like if by some miracle I make it further then well everyone thinks," he says
"We will think about that when it happens," I say
I just pray it doesn't
It can't, can't it?
This awkward klutzy 17-year-old can't be Victor can he?
A few days ago I would have said no chance.
Now I'm really not sure.
14th: Zev Gomez, District 5 Male- Killed By Rory Eshler, District 2 Male and Harley Tandley, District 2 Male
13th: Kian Neo, District 6 Male- Killed By Stellan Moore, District 4 Male
12th: Lorenzo Rogers, District 6 Male- Killed By Kylian Wilson, District 4 Male