Beyond The Pale

by Sleepstar of Shadowclan

"Future Generations will name them Tributes 69-92, but I'll never forget them" Long before The Hunger Games became the spectacle in Katniss' era, 17-year-old farmhand Horsa Georges would expect to live out his life on the family ranch. But when he is Reaped to represent District 10 in the 4th Hunger Games, he isn't sure of his chances. Can he return home or will he end up in a box?

21. Epilogue

Beyond The Pale Epilogue

Author's Note: I do not own The Hunger Games

Horsa Georges. 60th Hunger Games

Fifty-Six Years. That's how long ago my Games was. Fifty-Five Years. That was how long Bessie has been dead for. Fifty-Three Years. The amount of time that has elasped since Chive Carmichael won her Games. Fifty-Two Years, it has been since Samson Wilson won his Games. Fifty Years. That is how long the City Arena has been abandoned for. Forty Nine Years. That was how long it was since I got in contact with Mmseyone Musk. Forty-One Years. The amount of time that have passed since Imogen Roosa and Hector Aldrin entered the Hunger Games Arena for District 6. Imogen would come out as a Victor, while Hector would return home in a wooden box. Sadly, Imogen died a few years ago, killed by an assassin. Thirty-Six Years. That was how long it was since Huyen Le Duc managed to outrun the Cassowary Mutts to win the Games for District 3. Thirty-Five Years. That long since the First Quarter Quell, and the brutal death of Nghia Le Duc. Poor Nghia was just twelve years old, and I couldn't imagine what poor Huyen felt when she saw her brother die, powerless to save him. Eric Vega, a boy from District 9, won those Games; like Imogen, he too was killed by an assassin a few years back. Thirty-Three Years since a pair of cousins was Reaped for District 3. Edwina Thompson returned in a box, but her cousin and District Partner Rheneas lived to tell the tale. Thirty-Two Years since my son, Taliesin, was Reaped. Thankfully, he survived. Thirty-One Years since Rheneas' younger brother survived the Games. That year was the year Taliesin Mentored, as well as the year of "The Partially Destroyed Arena"; I believe the Victor is related to Billy from my Games. The girl from District 8, Goldenrod, was Emily's cousin. Like Emily, Goldenrod was killed at the hands of a female Tribute from District 2. Twenty Years. That was how long ago since District 6 came close to gaining a Victor with their female Tribute. The girl, nicknamed "Tangie" by her District Partner and her Mentor, was unlucky to come second. Her death mirrored Harold's, and the events prior to that mirrored my own Games, with "Tangie" taking down the District 2 girl after she killed her ally, the boy from 7. Joshua. She died, like Harold, an arrow to the chest. Ten Years since Haymitch Abernathy won the Hunger Games for District 12. Five Years since Mink Waxler returned home to District 10. One Year since Cecelia Garland won for District 8, and the same amount of time since the Arena for the 29th Hunger Games was declared "Off Limits" after a Capitol visitor died after falling into a cavern named after the Victor; the Arena had been rendered unstable since the Games thirty-one years ago. Now, Mink and Taliesin had managed to bring back Hektor Spidell back to District 10, despite the fact Taliesin's own Tribute, Dolly, was killed in the Bloodbath, a spear to the chest. Hektor formed an alliance with the Districts 9 and 7 Tributes, and in the final fight, he killed the District 1 female who had killed his ally, the boy from 9. Even the pattern of deaths before Hektor's Victory reminds me of my own Games, I thought.

This illness is getting terrible, I thought as I sat in my bed. Hektor, Mink and Taliesin are travelling across Panem. As I turned towards the door of my bedroom, I could see the ghostly form of a small girl. I immediately recognised who it is. "Riko?" I muttered, remembering the girl from District 3 who was struck down in the early stages. Behind her, a boy emerged from the shadows. Taliesin Searson, I thought, as another boy caught up to him. "Set?" I whispered to the ghostly District 5 boy. Set stared at me with unblinking eyes before nodding as yet another figure emerged from the shadows. "Alicia?" I stammered, baffled as to why the deceased Tributes from the Fourth Hunger Games was coming to see me. "It's near" A voice echoed as I saw Billy Thompson, Riko's District Partner, approach me. "What's near?" I asked. "Your time is coming to an end" I heard Deborah reply. Confused to what the long-dead girl in a red dress said to me I saw a small girl sprint between the two. Emily, as yet another small girl followed behind. "Claire" I gasped as I saw my ally. It's been fifty-six years, I thought as Gordon, Deborah's District Partner, approach. A girl, her hair in pigtails, waved at Set. Sophie. I vaguely remembered the girl from District 5 as a boy from District 4 came closer. James. James made his way to Danae, chattering with her as two more Tributes joined them. "Wheat and Ginger" I muttered in a low voice as the two District 9 Tributes walked towards the bed. "Horsa" A voice called, and Swift soon emerged into view. Behind him was my District Partner, Barbara. "I'm sorry Barbara" I muttered to my District Partner. Barbara looked at me. "It's not your fault Horsa" she whispered as Denis appeared. This is the order everyone died in, I realised as a tall Tribute from District 1 appeared. "I'm sorry Jack". Jack looked up at me. "It's not your fault" he muttered. "Horsa?" I saw Oliver from District 2 appear, and behind him, I saw the form of Flora appear. The last time I saw her, she was lying dead in a pool of blood. I cried at the sight of my long-dead ally, as the District 11 girl signalled to a girl from District 1. Amethyst, I recalled, remembering the final day of the Games. What is she doing here? As I pondered the question the shape of the District 12 male appeared behind her, and tears ran down my face. Brave, kind, bubbly Harold, I remembered my ally and the best friend I made in the Arena. Fifty-six years later, and I still cannot forget his death, even if the rest of Panem have. "Horsa? Are you ready?" I looked up to see Ursula, the Tribute I ended up having to kill. Taliesin, Mink and Hektor will be fine, and so will District 10. Smiling, I muttered "Yes. I'm ready". I turned towards Harold, and the District 12 boy replied "Great storms are coming, Horsa. District 10 must be prepared." But I won't be around to witness it. Taliesin might be alive. Mink and Hektor can step up the Mentoring. One day the Games will end. All it needs is a spark. Smiling, I closed my eyes. My Games have been long forgotten, and so has the stories of the other twenty-three Tributes that died in the Fourth Hunger Games. In another time period, all of us could have been good friends. Mmseyone should receive my letter soon. Only she and I knew what Lachlan Hennessey's last words were. The name of his brother. One day, people will learn about the Fourth Hunger Games. My name was Horsa Georges, District 10 Male Tribute in the Fourth Hunger Games. Victor of the Fourth Hunger Games, and this was my story.

The End.

So here we are, the end of Horsa's story. It would take another three decades before Mercedes Vonheli would start writing a history book about The Games, and it would take another few years after that before Harold can rest in peace. So even though Horsa's story has ended, it's only the beginning.