Alyssa of Nine (Reimagining the Hunger Games)

Chapter Twenty: Matthew's Sacrifice

Matthew and I had not had to worry about the crumbling floors or the sandstorm, since we had hurried right after Marina's death toward the West of the Pyramid. I was also certain that the Gamemakers had decided to shorten these trials, since they and the President probably wanted the Games to be over as soon as possible so they can crown their victor and claim yet another slave to the Capitol. We both discovered that the girl from District Five had also perished, possibly from the second or third trial or even at the hands of Adonis or the big guy from Eleven whose name is Bruno, we don't know. But we heard the cannon and saw her picture along with her name and district projected above us at some point in the passing hours. "Well, looks like it's just you, me, the big lug from Eleven, and the Career sleaze Adonis. Quite the little party, don't you think Alyssa?" Matthew asks me, smirking.

"I don't know how you can take this so lightly Matthew, especially now. I don't know about what the guy from Eleven is capable of but Adonis is my main concern as far as the others who are left. As for you, you can either stay or you can go your own way. In the end, only one of us will be walking out of this arena." I say in reply.

"Yeah, no kidding Alyssa of Nine. But as far as the options you handed me, I have to say that you're still a little too compassionate. I came from a pretty bad situation back home. My father walked out on my mother as soon as we realized she was sick and left me alone to look after her. Now she has no one. Because of that deadbeat and these stupid Games, she's going to die alone!" Matthew yelled in anger. He sat with his head in his dirty, calloused hands.

I sat next to Matthew. "Hey. Keep it together. We only have each other to depend on. And the Games are still not over. Any one of us could be this year's victor." I say to Matthew.

"You said it. Too bad though the victor won't be either one of you." A sneering voice says. We both turn to see Adonis advancing on us. Matthew picks up his ax and I hold out my golden dagger.

"Are you really sure you want to try anything Adonis? Think about it. The girl from Nine has a dagger and I have an ax, something that I've spent years learning to use. And one of my mentors is quite the renowned murderess. I managed to pick up at least a few deadly tricks from her. And Alyssa of Nine has already taken care of your District Two partner pretty damn well." Matthew says.

"I don't give a damn about Emerald or the others. They're dead now. But you lumber boy, are going down, because I still have one more trick of my own." But just before Adonis can send his spear through Matthew, I hear the sound of reptilian snapping and growling. We are suddenly surrounded on all sides by---"

"Mutts!" I gasp, now truly afraid that this could be it. These Mutts are grotesque, hideous, Capitol engineered versions of crocodiles. They are several pounds larger than true crocodiles, and they are a hundred times more predatory and deadly. I counted five of them, and at least two of them are still carrying the sickening, gory remains of torn off limbs. And the cannon thundered and we discovered that District Eleven's Bruno was dead. He died a horrific death from the looks of things, I don't envy anyone who gets ripped apart. I would probably be sick if I weren't so frozen in terror. And it was just about to get worse.

Four other Mutts appeared to join them, and they were like rotted corpses wrapped in yellowed, ancient bandages. They were like mummies that had arisen from the dead, zombielike in their movements, with the faces of Jayden, Marina, and the features almost of another man and woman, who I recognized as being my parents.

My parents were killed by orders of Snow, and now the Gamemakers had "recreated" them in a monstrous form to kill us, to kill me, while the people in the Capitol made sport of our deaths. It was a disturbing, sick joke. Adonis was nowhere in sight.

"Alyssa, get out of here!" Matthew yelled at me as the Mutts came closer to us. "Run!" He screamed, just as the Mutts charged after us and we both began running for our lives. I ran the fastest I probably ever had, not caring about what was behind me, or what lay ahead, only that I was running to stay alive.

***
I came upon a vast chamber of the Pyramid which had at its center a large gold icon of a mighty falcon, and there also appeared the symbol of Panem at its heart. I gasped for breath, stopping as the cannon thundered again, and I realized by one glance at the projection in front of me that Matthew is gone, too. This was why he told me to run, so he could sacrifice himself by letting the Mutts take him instead. And I realized something else.

I was at the center of the maze, at the heart of the Pyramid. It was just me and Adonis left.

The Games are almost over.