The Capital Games (a writer games)

Kasia Fane

I've done it. I'm in the finals. I have a chance. I can win. I need to win. The crowd cheers us on screaming for their favourites... Xaveren... Maybe it was better this way... I already have to kill Torao... Look on the bright side Rarity might get to him first. NO! It's either a swift death caused by my little hack saw sliding across his throat or a painful one at Rarity's hands... Oooh why's the world pink? Why has Ravea put a gas mask on? Not that I care, I've never felt so happy in my entire- THUD!

When I wake up, I'm in a room much like the one I was placed in before being lifted into the arena. Fifi my stylist is there fussing over a small pastery delight well that's until she notices I'm staring at her Ivy green waist length hair. She dyed it... when I last saw it, it was a vile candy floss pink colour. And her eyes! She is wearing lilac contacts...

"Ta-Dah" She shouts in her accent "You like? I did it to show my support for you"

So I said the first thing that pops into my head "Uh... Yeah... It's very... Green?"

"Oui child. It's a tribute to your highlights" She laughs at her choice of words but quickly sobers up when I shoot her my death glare.

"Out of the room" Another voice commands. I spin around to see Ravea walk in removing her gas mask and throwing it at Fifi "Hurry up I don't have all day" Fifi shuffles out quickly refusing to look at the younger woman. I shiver involuntarily. "This will be your hardest challenge. Two will win. Chose who you kill wisely. The decision will affect the rest of your life"

I nod lamely "Uh... any advice?"

"Choose wisely, read the words carefully and have fun" She winks and skips out the room again. That was a quick visit. Has she visited anyone else? Or am I the lucky one? Fifi gingerly steps back into the room sighing in relief when she see Ravea has gone.

"What did she want?" She asks confused. I shrug in reply still unsure myself.

"Just a routine visit" I tell her still shocked "A briefing"

"Ooooh do you know what going to happen?"

I shake my head "She wouldn't say, she just told be a load of rubbish about reading the words"

"Words? What words-" She's cut off by a new voice.

"10 seconds 'til launch" a robotic voice says from one of the speakers in the corner of the room.

"Good luck darling" Fifi takes my hands as she kisses my cheek. "I expect you to come visit me after you've won" If I win... Glass encases me blocking me off from my stylist. I hadn't even realised she had lead me over to my plate. It starts to rise and with a last wave Fifi disappears. Where could we be going? What will the new arena be like? A room?! I stop in a small room with white walls, white floors and four pieces of paper in the mouth of the Cornucopia. Well this is it. The finals. Our fate, I assume rest on the pieces of paper.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

BOOM! I set of in a sprint towards the cornucopia. Rarity is hot on my heels as all four of us race for the paper. I reach it first grabbing the piece of paper with my name written on it in one swift motion. Still sprinting I retreat to a far corner to read it. Knowing full well that the words are going to change my life. Never did I expect to read the horrors I do.

Kasia,

You're sister has been caught causing trouble. The stupid idiot seems to think that she can barge into my mansion and beg for your life. To top it off she decided to pull out a gun and threaten me! Desperate people take desperate measures and your sister as it appears is very, very desperate. She has been sentenced to Death. Should you win you shall be the one to pull the trigger. Should you lose she will face a horrible painful death. If you do win, and you refuse to end her meaningless life the consequences shall be disastrous for your family. That's right Kasia, you have three choices. You win and you kill Cressida. You lose and Cressida loses her life. You win and you're whole family loses their life, each and every one of them. Choose wisely for your decision affects the rest of your pitiful life.

The President.

I have to reread it. Over and over again the image of me shooting Cressida plays in my head. Anger, Hatred and Sorrow are some of the emotions that run through my veins as I read the words, along with a sense of hopelessness. How can I kill my sister? But if I don't my whole family dies. I can never win even if I earn the title 'Victor' I will be a loser. What can I do?

Spitha comes up behind me her face streaky with tears. Unlike her, I can't afford to cry. I can't show the President that he owns me. I need to be strong. The avox lets out a weary battle cry as she charges. I guess the President is right in some cases. Desperate people really do take desperate measures. Swinging my body around as Spitha takes a swipe with her weapon. She stumbles into the empty space I was just standing allowing me to easily push her to the floor.

What the President failed to mention is that it's at the first signs of weakness that desperation takes over. Cressida's weakness was love and it has led to her demise by the one she loves the most... Me. Spitha with a mouthful of mud struggles to her feet but I'm ready for her with my hacksaw. With a swift kick she's back on the floor. "I'm going to do this really quickly, so you don't feel a thing" I mutter in her ear. Somewhere to my left I hear a groan in pain. Torao's in trouble... Why does nothing in my life ever turn out good? Silent tears roll down Spitha's cheeks as I press the hacksaws blade to her throat. I can't do it. I can't kill anymore. Another groan of pain from Torao. Rarity is really is making cat food out of him.

The girl underneath me struggles to get out of my grasp and nearly succeeds. With one swift motion her eyes go blank and the white surrounding her neck turns a deep red. I'm tempted to pocket her piece of paper that's still in her grasp but that would be an invasion of her privacy. She deserves that even in death. I already killed her on camera, I don't want to tarnish her beautiful name by seeing the cruel words on that paper that made her cry. Torao feebly yelps in pain as Rarity pieces his left shoulder with her sword. He falls to the floor panting from pain and exhaustion

"You want to have the honour?" Rarity asks looking up from the fallen Torao. I don't have a choice. Torao is going to die. The reality of the situation hits me. I could attack Rarity but she's a lot older and stronger than I am and she would easily overcome me or I can end Torao's suffering because either way he will be dead before me or Rarity dies. I nod silently looking at where I think the camera is. Pleading with my eyes for his family to forgive me, for my family to forgive me, for the world to forgive me. I am a monster... My ally is dying and I can only think of myself! I truly do not deserve any forgiveness.

Torao smiles kindly up at me as I press the hacksaw to his throat. I can only hope to make his passing into the afterlife as easy as possible. "Do it!" he whispers "I have nothing to live for anyway"

My hands start shaking at his words "I... I can't. You're like a brother to me"

"Which is why you must kill me" He voice falters as he winces in pain. His hand meets the hand that I'm holding my weapon in and he moves it across his neck. Blood pours out of the wound he just made. "Well done, Victor. I'll meet you on the other side" His final words bounce around my brain as his beautiful cat's eyes glass over.

I scream at the events that just unfurled. How can he do this to me? How could I have done that to him? Tears form in my eyes and I willingly let them fall. Yet they do nothing to free me from my torment. Torao... my wonderful amazing ally. You were the bravest out of all the tributes... How can I live without you?

"AND I give you this year's victors. Rarity Snow and Kasia Fane!!!" Ravea's voice announces. Dead. That's how I feel hearing them words. Dead. I don't deserve the title victor. Nobody does. We're all losers in this fight. Me. Rarity. Everyone. We're all losers.