The 73rd Annual Hunger Games

Chapter 24- Nowhere Left.

I look around frantically for an escape plan. Cyrus is already back in the building and the female and male are blocking my only escape. I could jump off of the balcony, but of course, that's a very long fall.

I have nothing to do. I have nothing that I can do. These people are going to tell everyone who I am and President Snow will kill me. Finnick and Cherry have no idea that I'm here. Cyrus doesn't know what's happening. My family is most likely dead. I'm stuck.

"So?" The Capitol woman asks. "Are you willingly coming with us or should we force you to?" The woman is wearing a sleek black dress and a black masquerade mask. She pulls out a silver old-timey pistol like the ones that we see in our history textbooks. As far as I remember, it can kill a person brutally with one bullet. Those old weapons are so less precise than the ones of today.

"I know what you're thinking. You want to know why we have such old weapons," the man says, also brandishing a silver pistol. "We prefer them because they're more brutal. More of a blunt end. Today, people are contained in inescapable prisons or exposed to silent noxious gas. Quick and clean to deal with. These are mostly slow and painful unless we take a brain shot. Care to join us?" He motions to the sky. A sleek and futuristic hovercraft is descending. It has no Capitol insignia.

"Wh--" I clear my throat. "Who are you? Who are you with? Who are you working for?"

"All you need to know is that we're a bit of a secret service. Keeping things clean and working for the society." The woman says, smirking. "And you, my dear, are a chink in the armor of society. And you're coming with us to be removed."

"Why me?" I ask, knowing the answer.

"Because there's nowhere else to go, Caspia," she smiles. There's almost a thud in my brain. There's nowhere left to run or hide. My family is no more. I can't live with Finnick and endanger him. Or Cyrus.

By doing this, I'm saving them.

The man and women both grab and arm of mine and lug me to the ladder. I numbingly climb. I'm senseless.

Nothing matters anymore. I will die, and life will go on. Sure, Finnick, Cherry, and Cyrus will grieve. They'll move on.

Oh Cyrus. Sweet, gentle, naïve Cyrus.

I get in the hovercraft and sit on the bench they've provided for me. It's all mechanical and beeping, with harsh lights and tempting buttons. There's even a plank jutting out of a doorway on the hovercraft, in case I want to walk off of it.

I get and almost foreshadowing feeling looking at it.

There are about five people in the hovercraft, all wearing black PVC outfits. They all have weapons and ammo. I count three women and two burly men.

If there was a window, I'd like to stare out of it, enjoy one last view of the world before being secluded from it forever. I don't know if I'll die or be imprisoned.

The woman that I met at first is talking, but I hear nothing more than a distant mumble. My ears are ringing as I stare off.

Caspia Thetis is no more. I quit.

President Snow promised me what he'd make my life, "a living H*ll," but I don't think I'll let him.

"We're here," the woman days, jerking me out of my reverie. She opens the door and the ladder drop down to outside.

I numbingly get up, not caring. I trudge to the ladder and slowly climb down.

It's only when I get to the bottom when I realize I'm in District 4.

"We'll be waiting when you're ready," the woman calls down, leaving the ladder down.

Ready? She's leaving me in my home district and thinks I'll leave with her? Ha! She's mad!

I laugh, smiling. I'm free, I can live without the Capitol or pressure, Finnick and Cherry will be back shortly and we'll visit Cyrus! Our families will combine and have a huge festival! I skip through town, waving at everyone. They all give me looks of disbelief. I abandoned my high heels long ago and I'm going barefoot.

I make it to my house, and stare at the door.

I sigh. It's great to be back.

I knock on the door a few times, then let myself in.

I immediately know something's wrong.

The air is musty, as if it hasn't been stirred in a few days. The lights are all off except for the kitchen, which no one is in.

"Dad?" I ask. "Daddy?"

I run through the house, looking in all of the rooms. I kick open doors to find the nothingness that is my house staring back at me.

Maybe he's at the market, I think. I know he's not.

I finally make it to his room and open the door. What I behold makes me drop to my knees.

I'm sure I should spare you the details. It's gruesome.

I let out a loud sob and run to his side. He's lying in the bed, as if asleep. The fatal wound on him tells me that he's not. I hold his hand and sob into the sheets.

This is it.

I let go of his hand, hating the coldness.

I become numb again, hearing nothing, feeling nothing.

I leave my house, not believing it.

My next stop is at Ray's.

The whole family, including the young children-dead.

I go to my mom's house. My evil mom and sister are too dead.

My last stop stares up at me.

She knew I'd be returning.

I make my ascent up the latter. There's nothing left for me. Nothing to live for.

The woman smiles at me and shuts the door behind me. The hovercraft speeds up and I almost lose my balance.

I look at the woman and almost see pity on her face. I drop the black, dirty wig off of my head. Tired.

Then, she's looking at something behind me. I turn and see the plank again, leading into open air. It's wide enough for two of me to lay down side-by-side on, and long enough for two of me to lay toe-to-toe on.

I'm done.

The people in the hovercraft all momentarily look at me.

"Are you sure, Cass?" The woman asks me, finally someone uses my nickname. I'm not sure if I like it.

I turn and walk out to the plank. A tricky thing it is, keeping my balance on it while the hovercraft is zooming on and the air is pushing me fiercely.

I have nothing left to live for.

I step.

They'll grieve, but move on. Cyrus will grieve but find another girl just like me.

I step.

Who knows what these people will do to me if I don't?

I step again.

President Snow and the Capitol won't control my life. I have nothing left. Nowhere left to run.

My toes find the end of the plank and I look down.

My last act of rebellion. I am free.

I grab my shark tooth necklace tightly, reminding me of who I am. No matter what these people do, they'll never change me again. I am not Ophelia Rose. I am not Ms. Odair. I am not a pawn and I am not the winner of the 74th annual Hunger Games. And most importantly: "My name is Caspia," I answer.

I smile.

And with the bravery, courage, and finality of a young bird about to take flight, of a caged bird breaking free, I spread my arms and, with reckless abandon, fall.

Finally.