ＷＩＴＳ | ＭＡＲＶＥＬ ＨＵＮＧＥＲ ＧＡＭＥＳ ✅

ｔｗｅｎｔｙ

With the Girl on Fire up in the tree above and the sun gone, all the careers can do now is sit around the fire, waiting for her to fall from the tree. As they do so, Rybbon finds herself distracted, the bright fire keeping her focused while buzzing in her ear keeps her awake, wanting to know where it's coming from.

She hates the buzzing. It reminds her of the shock batons the peacekeepers would use on her district. She and the rest in the factories had just made bits and pieces for them recently. They were being tested on those in her district. She got stung once, leaving a mark. The thought makes Rye hold her side.

"How would you want to die, if you could pick?" Clove asks, gaining Rye's attention.

"Why do you ask that?"

"She's been asking everyone that since we started," Glimmer scoffs. She puts more wood into the fire before leaning towards Cato.

"I feel like it says a lot about people," Clove states. "You said you wanted to die in a bed full of rubies and diamonds," she points out.

"I want to be glamorous."

"How about we let Rye answer, huh?" Marvel says, hitting her gently with his arm. Rybbon clears her throat, giving the question a quick thought before answering.

"I want to die in someone's arms." Her words make the tributes raise their brows.

"And if you can't die in someone's arms, then what?" Marvel asks, the two making eye contact.

"If I can't I'd rather die watching a sunset," she says. She looks at the fire and then back at him before adding, "I want to hear my mom's melody one last time." There's a moment of silence before a scoff escapes Glimmer.

"Well, that's stupid."

"You're so stuck up," Marvel retorts.

"Well, why would she want to do that?"

"Do you want me to answer or no?" Glimmer stares angrily before pouting like a child. "It's the only thing that made me happiness before my brother showed up. I want to smile about something before I die." A long wave of silence follows the tributes deep in thought excluding Glimmer, who simply scowls at Rybbon.

"What's the melody about?" Cato speaks up, gaining everyone's attention. Rye blinks a few times before she speaks, her voice coming out soft.

"I-It's in a different language but my mom told me it's a song from our family line. A song about unconditional love." Her eyes slowly fall on Marvel, who stares at her with a certain look in his eyes. Her mind lingers, wondering what her brother is doing as she speaks. "It's about loving someone so much that you hope they love you back just as much if not more," she says, looking back at Cato. She glances at Glimmer, seeing the girl looking at him with an expression craving his attention, but it's all on Rybbon. "It's just about love," she concludes. "I sing it to my brother sometimes."

"Okay. Sing it." Rye's eyes widen.

"Wait, what?"

"C'mon, she's probably terrible," Glimmer comments.

"We got nothing to lose," he shrugs. "Besides what else is there to do?" She swallows roughly, forcing herself to get ready to sing. She looks at Marvel, a soft smile on his lips before staring at the fire. She takes a deep breath, remembering the lyrics that make her heart ache.

Je te laisserai des mots
En-dessous de ta porte
En-dessous de les murs qui chantent
Tout près de la place où tes pieds passent
Cachés dans les trous de ton divan
Et quand tu es seule pendant un instant

Ramasse-moi
Quand tu voudras

Embrasse-moi
Quand tu voudras

Ramasse-moi
Quand tu voudras

She was never able to figure out what the words meant, despite singing each one with all her heart. All she knows is the tone both her and her mother sing it at makes her hurt, like when she lost her mom. It feels like she lost someone important.

A quick moment of silence follows before Clove says, "You sounded squeaky." It breaks the silence, the careers laughing.

"Sounds like a nice song to die to at least," Cato shrugs, Marvel nodding his head in agreement. Their words make Rye flush, forcing her eyes back on the fire.

"Was she a singer or something? Your mom?" Marvel asks.

Rye looks up from the fire for a second before shaking her head. "Just worked in the factories like the rest of us."

"Factories?" Clove asks.

"Yeah. That's where most of us work. Making all the small gadgets that go into the bigger gadgets..." her voice trails, something going off in her head. "We make a good bit of pieces that go to your weapons at Two," she continues, waving at Cato and Clove, "and we make the machines that cut your gems," she elbows Marvel gently.

"How do you know that?" Glimmer snaps.

"Because whenever your districts or the Capitol need something important, they give a 'bonus' for whoever makes the most," she quotes 'bonus' as the reward did little to help anyone. "They don't do that for most districts unless it's a necessary. Besides, sometimes we have to put the machines together before sending them off on trains."

"Great. You put things together. How is that going to save you here?" Glimmer's words make Rye sigh, finding herself agitated. Her sigh makes Glimmer smirk, believing she has already won the conversation.

Rybbon pulls the wire from her pocket before stating, "I could electrocute the creek with this." A scoff leaves her lips. "I don't think your bow would save you from getting fried." Glimmer's grin drops immediately.

"So that's your plan when we get back?" Marvel asks. "To electrocute the creek?"

"No, it wouldn't be good in this area. It needs to be a more moist environment. I got something better. But we got a little bird above us though, so," she shrugs. Everyone except Glimmer look up, remembering why they're there. They all give a sound of agreement. "I think you'll like it, though."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I'm good at what I do, and I make something that is shit into something that is better shit."