A Tale of a Boy and His Flower

Grief

2 days had gone by without finding Jase. In those two days I hadn't encountered a single tribute and had walked from one end of the arena to the other. How I had not found Jase. I did not know. 

On happier news 4 more tributes had died. There were currently 6 other tributes left. From my deductions the tributes remaining were: both tributes from 1 and 2 making up the career pack, District 9 female tribute, District 11 female tribute, and of course me and Jase from District 10. 

Our games have been lasting almost a week now. If we don't start wrapping the game up the Capital will get bored and the Gamemakers will send something horrible to us. 

Boom! 

I jolted up. The Careers must be active. From my memory both tributes from District 9 and 11 had scored fairly low, and neither made a lasting impression on me during training. I hoped the Careers would finish them off before fighting among themselves. 

There had been many cannons in the past two days, so I had learned not to immedaitly panic that it was Jase. But I knew by the third day I needed to find him. He had no weapon to defend himself and with a bad hand he wouldn't be able to fight anyone off. 

Deep down I knew that that cannon could've been Jase, but I wouldn't let myself believe it was. I had seen him in just a day become a survivor. 

I ate the last of the berries I had scavenged across the arena and prepared to leave the cave for the final time. I had a feeling I wouldn't be returning so I took my last chance to gulp down as much water as I could. 

Today I will find Jase. I set off into the forest with my weapons in hand just in case a tribute appeared. I walked deeper into the forest until I was only a mile from the cornucopia. I knew I should play it safe and stay away from there, afraid I would find the Careers waiting for me. 

Just as I was about to turn and walk in the other direction I heard distant shouting. In confusion I walked in the direction it came from. As I was only a few hundred feet away I could make out the screaming. 

"Go ahead! Call her!" A voice taunted. Cry's ensued.  

"Amaryllis!" The voice cried out, "Amaryllis!" it screamed out in terror. My heart quickened and I was immediately sprinting. I had never run that fast in my life. 

"Jase!" I shouted after he went silent. He didn't respond. I felt hot tears spring to my eyes. I wasn't going to make it. The taunting voice I now recognized as one of the Careers. "Jase!" I shouted swilleving my head around to find him. 

"Amaryllis!" A weak voice said. I saw his body on the ground. I dropped my weapons immedaitly and knelt down next to him. His hands were covering his neck as blood flowed out. I glanced down at the bloodied knife on the ground. 

"No, no, no.." I shouted taking my hand and placing them over his. They had slit his throat. I saw two tears fall from his eyes. "Jase.. I'm so sorry.." I cried. He looked me in the eyes. We shared the same eye color. A beautiful green hazel to compliment our auburn hair. 

"Amaryllis.." He choked out as blood dripped over his clothes and onto his face. I wanted to tell him he would be okay and not to speak. But he only had minutes at most. "Thank you for coming here with me.." He said in between labored breaths. "..you are the best..sister..someone could ask for.." He coughed up blood. 

Hot burning tears flowed from my eyes. My breath quickened until I couldn't breathe. 

"I want..you to have... my necklace..." he said, he started breathing very quickly. His time was up. "please win.." he begged, "for me." I nodded quickly. 

"I'd do anything for you." 

He looked at me one last time and a sad smile appeared. 

"I love you Amaryllis." 

Boom!

"Jase?" I whispered. His body had gone limp his eyes wide open. I felt myself scream out in agony as I held his body close to mine. I don't know how long I sat there sobbing and stroking his face. 

The only thing that snapped me from my grief was when the female tribute from District 11 appeared. She must've heard me screaming. Before I could even register what I had done I grabbed the knife I had next to me and threw it straight into her. 

She looked at me with sympathetic eyes as she fell to the ground, impaled in the heart.  

Boom!

I finally placed Jase's body down and closed his eyes. I gently removed his golden locket and placed it around my neck. The necklace was still coated in his blood.

I glanced down at the knife that had killed Jase. 

It was an exact copy of Marvelous's. I felt a sudden switch in my mind. I longed to kill Marvelous and the rest of his Career pack. I would make them all suffer. 

"I'll kill them all." I whispered as I pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. "They will pay for what they did to you." 

--------------------

That night I sat below a tree looking at the sky. I watched as the fallen tributes appeared in the sky. 

The girl from 11. 

Jase. 

I watched as his picture disappeared from the sky. I felt two fresh tears stream down my face. They had taunted him and only killed him when I was near. They were playing with me. Jase had been defenseless and couldn't fight back with a burned and bruised hand. 

I had removed the pack of District 11's tribute as they had taken Jase's. Inside was a trap and rope, as well as a full canteen of water and a few berries. I drank the water re-hydrating from the tears I had shed. My throat was too raw to eat the berries, not that I would've anyway. Who knows if she had chosen poisonous ones. 

I eventually opened the locket and was finally able to see what was inside. I cried at what I saw. It was a picture from when we were 10. I shook with sobs as I looked at it. I had failed my one job. I was supposed to protect him. Not get him killed. 

I looked at the second picture frame. It was empty, except for a small folded piece of paper. He must've placed this here the night of our before I carefully extracted it and unfolded it. 

Dear Amaryllis

If you are reading this then I'm dead. I'm sorry you had to witness such an event and am forever sorry that I couldn't be stronger. I want you to keep this locket and win the games. I hope one day you can move on from the horrors you've seen and live a happy life. I wish for you to one day fill this empty picture frame with someone who makes you feel happy. 

Tell mom and dad to take care of themselves. I know they will be in safe hands with you.

Finally Amaryllis, I know you did everything you could to keep me safe. Please don't be hard on yourself and blame yourself. I know I seemed upset about you volunteering but I really did appreciate it and I don't think I could've survived without you. 

You have been the best part of my life. 

I love you - Jase 

I shook with sobs as I read the letter. He didn't deserve such a painful traumatic death. I could only imagine my parents reaction as they watched me fail to protect him. 

Wiping my tears I carefully folded the letter back up and placed it in my locket. 

Suddenly the sound of the cannon was no longer a fear. It was a pleasure. And I would make sure there were plenty of cannons. 

Tomorrow I would kill them all. Every single career will die, and I already had a plan. 

The careers were strong but idiots. They'd never know it was a trap. I smiled and gave a small manic laugh. 

I didn't care if I was going crazy, I will win for Jase. 

The remainder of the night I set up my calculated plan. 

If it worked, all four careers would die without ever seeing a thing coming. 

If it doesn't, I will make them suffer until my last breath.