CHARADE | Glimmer (THG)

Chapter Seventeen

Trigger warnings: Blood, Death, Gore

As I stand waiting to go into the arena, it strikes me that I should be terrified. Instead, I feel strangely excited. Arion sits by the uneaten food, and I feel their eyes on me as I walk around the room, swinging my arms.

"Tributes, please stand in the tubes," A bored voice says over a speaker.

Arion gets to their feet, "This is it."

I outstretch my arms, "One last hug?"

They embrace me gently, "Not last," They correct, "One of many. I'll see you on the other side."

"Yeah," I murmur. My eyes land on Arion's cloak as it settles around them. I reach out to touch one of the pieces of fabric and Arion stiffens. "Hey, remember when you told me to appreciate the good things in life? Or something like that?"

Arion pulls away from me, held tilted, "Yes."

"Well," I nod at the cloak, "You aren't all your failings either."

Arion stares at their cloak, brushing the fabric softly, "It's important to remember."

"Yes," I agree, "But, Arion, you've done so many amazing things too. I know I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you." Arion's eyes widen, and I smile at them, "Why don't you make a cloak of all your successes too?"

Arion doesn't respond. As they stand speechless, the voices comes again, reminding me to get into my tube. 

"Start with me," I urge, "Put my name on your new cloak. Even if I don't win, then do it because you helped me. You tried."

"You will win, Glimmer," Arion says fiercely, and then their face drops to the floor, hesitant, "But if you don't...then yes," They raise their eyes, "I'll do it."

A smile spreads across my face, "See you on the other side."

"Tributes," The voice intones, more displeased now than bored, "Please step into your tubes."

"Okay, okay, I'm going," I mutter. I throw Arion a wink as I step into the tube and steel myself as the glass descends, encasing me. Arion meets my gaze and nods. The plate lurches beneath my feet, lifting me up. Arion disappears to be replaced by blank walls.

There's a quiet humming noise as the walls move past, indistinguishable aside from smudges and cuts. Then sunlight. The glass walls slide down and I'm in the arena. It's exactly as Finch described it. There's the large lake, shimmering by the woods. And the wheat field, stretching downwards on the other side. The Cornucopia looms large in the centre, with weapons, food and equipment strewn around the golden shell.

"Ladies and Gentleman," It's the booming voice of Claudius Templesmith, the announcer of the Hunger Games, "Let the 74th Hunger Games begin- and may the odds be ever in your favour!"

I glance around at the other tributes. I don't see Finch anywhere. She must be hidden on the other side of the horn, but Marvel is only a few places away, as is Clove. She meets my gaze and gestures to some knives lying at the base of the Cornucopia.

Mine, She mouths.

I resist rolling my eyes. I know. I wasn't planning on taking them.

Weapons and important items are normally closest to the Cornucopia. I see a silver bow and a quiver of arrows lying beside a mace. That's interesting. With my shooting, I wasn't sure if I was going to be deemed worthy of a weapon in the arena.

The gong sounds. I race towards the centre. There's a metal kunai lying on the ground. I grab it and step aside just as Talon, the boy from District Ten, races past me with a yellow backpack. As I turn away, Railey appears in front of me. The girl from District Six is grinning, holding a mace in her hand. She swings at me, and I step aside, my hand chopping to the back of her neck. She falls to the ground unconscious and I run her through with my kanai.