The Spark

Epilogue

I stared at the screen, on the edge of my seat. Trilly's hand clutched mine as I stared, watching Mako and Terrek on the television. I watched my Little Spark pull out knives, and I can feel their fear.

Trilly turned away from the screen. I put a hand against her head, wanting to comfort her but unable to look away.

"What's going to happen?" I whispered to Cinna, who was sitting on my other side.

"They're threatening to kill themselves, my guess is they hope the Capitol will want a victor and realize that they either get both or none. The only question now is will it work," he said silently, also hoping for their plan to succeed and the rebellion to begin.

I watched as Mako and Terrek placed the knives on their throats and started to cut. I started to tremble, waiting for the announcer. Waiting for them to be told to stop.

More blood flowed. I got off the couch and took a step toward the television, kneeling down in front of it. I watch my Little Spark collapse to the ground, their blood spilling out on the snow.

When the two cannon shots go off, I stood up sharply.

"They just let them die... What are they going to do? They have no victor," Cinna said, in complete shock at what we'd just witnessed.

Trilly spoke next. "The Capitol and Districts will be in outrage with no victor."

"I'll give them a victor," I growled, grabbing a knife from the kitchen and storming toward the door.

"Azul, don't." Cinna went stern. "If you do that, the Peacekeepers will arrest you and we'll have no chance at starting this rebellion. You're our mastermind here."

I whirled and lifted my knife slightly. I grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall, setting the tip of the knife on his throat.

"Don't tell me what to do," I hissed, my voice hardly above a whisper.

"You need to calm down. What would Mako say if they saw you like this?"

A few tears spilled over and dripped down my cheeks. I just stare at him in angry silence, the voices prompting me to just stab him and be done with it. I have a little bit of self-control left, and chose to ignore the voices.

"I know that they were extremely important to you, but we have to start again, find a new spark."

Trilly set a hand over mine and slowly lowered it. She took the knife from me and set it aside, taking my hand in hers.

"Neither of you get it," I said, my gaze flicking between the two of them. Tears made my voice crack. "I failed."

"No, you didn't. None of us could expect the Gamemakers to allow this to happen," Trilly said softly, rubbing small circles on my hand. "This isn't your fault."

I broke down, hanging my head. My Little Spark. My Little Spark... No... I'm so sorry. This is all my fault, Little Spark. I'm so... so sorry...

"Don't give up. Don't let their sacrifices go to waste. This isn't the end, we need to rethink this and try again." Cinna attempted to focus back to the whole reason we did this. To free everyone from the corruption of the Capitol.

My gaze snapped to his, anger becoming a wildfire in my mind. "How are you so heartless? Innocent children just died! Just like they do every single damn year! And you just want me to walk away and focus on the damn project?"

"That isn't what I'm saying and you know that!" He had become tired of staying calm. "To stop them from killing more children we need this to work! I'm not saying to forget about them—in fact, keep their deaths forever on repeat in your mind! 

"What I'm saying is that we need to find another chance to end this, to stop the pointless death. And that won't happen if we get stuck grieving over them! Don't forget them; remember them and let that grief from their death and hatred towards the Capitol for killing them fuel the fire of the rebellion. We can't stop here."

"Don't start shoving the rebellion in my face, Cinna," I snapped. "Not after I've had to witness all of that."

"Then don't think of it as a rebellion. Think of it as revenge for killing Mako and Terrek. For killing everyone."

"Fine," I replied, my voice taut.

Trilly kept rubbing little circles on my hand. "We just need some time to grieve."

I lowered my gaze again.

"Then we wait, and we take our time." Cinna had calmed down a bit.

"In the meantime, I'm sure Azul would be more than happy to help you along with your stylist career," Trilly said, forcing her voice to sound cheery.

I just nodded numbly.

I watched the screen and the chariots zoom down Tribute Way. I had an arm around Trilly as we watched, waiting for Cinna's tributes.

And suddenly, there they were. Their outfits burned like fire and embers, and soon the cameras were directly on them.

"Our sparks," Trilly murmured, resting her head on my shoulder.

I watched the two of them on that chariot. Watched the way they acted with each other. I felt my heart wrench as they clasped hands and held them up together. It was just like my Little Spark, all those years ago.

I allowed myself the tiniest of smiles. Katniss would succeed. She didn't know it yet, but she would. With the guidance of Cinna, she would survive.

The Capitol's reign of terror will end soon enough.

The stones have been struck, the spark will pass through the coal, and the fire will fuel the rebellion.