Scars That Never Fade- A New Generation of Hunger Games

Chapter 23

No. No, no, no! This wasn't supposed to happen! Romy was dead, and it was all my fault. I shouldn't have told her to run when I did. I cried over Romy's body, hoping that maybe the cannon was for somebody else. Please, just let it be a mistake. I looked up at the sky angrily, for whoever was watching this sickening moment. That's when I noticed the camera.

It zoomed in on Romy's body and I, televising her death to all of Panem. I couldn't take it. I grabbed one of my arrows, and let it fly. Right into the lens of the camera, shattering it. Furious, I blew Romy one last kiss and went on my way. I knew what I had to do now.

But it was getting dark. I climbed a tree, like I had many times before and rest pitifully in one of its branches. I heard the anthem play, but I buried my face in my knees so I didn't have to see Romy and Wake's faces in the sky. I tried to sleep but I couldn't. Not after what had just happened today. Why did I have to win? How was that even possible? Now I was up against Epsilon, Ivo, Anaïs and Cassian, all stronger, more skilled. Nonetheless, I would try. I didn't feel compelled to save anyone any longer. All I felt was rage, and that rage lasted until the sun appeared over the snow capped peaks.

I hadn't eaten in two days, but I kept going, fueled by a force much powerful than any hunger. It was revenge. And I'd be getting mine today.

I hopped down from the tree. It was going to end today, I knew it. Like a martyr goes to the execution site, I felt like I was taking my last walk before everything ended. I had to go to the cornucopia.

But it looked like a few people had already beat me to it. Anaïs and Ivo, who were battling it out. I stood, watching in anticipation to see what would happen. Ivo here a punch at Anaïs, knocking her to the ground. He prepared to finish her off with his knife, but before he could get to it, Anaïs sprung from the ground, with her knife. With a flourish only a completely insane person could pull off, she lodged her knife into Ivo's throat, blood spraying everywhere. It was horrifying. I screamed. BOOM. Anaïs looked over at me, a disturbing, proud grin taking over her face. Like a lion stalks it's prey, she walked over, bloody knife in hand. Then she started running.

I had to. I had to. I took an arrow out, shooting it straight into her chest. BOOM. Was that my first kill? I panicked. I heard yelling from another direction. Could it be from behind the cornucopia? I walked over quietly to find out. I was right. Epsilon and Cassian were fighting, and it was getting bloody.

Epsilon skillfully swung his small axe at Cassian's enormous figure, slicing his arm. That didn't stop Cassian. He hit his sword with the axe, creating sparks everywhere. Epsilon yelled. Cassian dug his sword into the little boy's abdomen, sending him to the ground.

"No more, Cassian!" I yelled.

"Well if it isn't the little princess!" he said with false excitement.

"You killed Romy! How dare you?" I spat.

"Eh, I was just putting her out of her misery," he replied casually, "and now I'm going to do the same to you." He jogged over, his face and upper body stained with blood. I shakily grabbed an arrow, struggling to place it properly in my bow. He was getting closer. Closer. Finally, my arrow was in the right place. Keep your aim true. Time was running out. I let it fly.

BOOM.

Pain, pain, all I could remember was pain. I opened my eyes, but all I could see was a red and white, blurry mess. I must be dead. I must be. But I wasn't. A sword was lodged in my shoulder, Cassian's sword. I pulled it out, groaning from the unbearable pain. Cassian lay on the ground, dead. My arrow was sticking right through his massive chest. I looked around. What was happening?

My attention shifted to Epsilon, who was writhing and shaking still from his fatal wound. I ran over to him, as he struggled in pain.

"Fern," he said, "I just want to be able to clear the air before I'm gone." I nodded.

"Okay," I said, trying to keep him calm.

"I only volunteered to save my younger brother. He's sick, and I wanted to get him Capitol medicine to cure him. That's why I entered." He writhed in more pain.

"I'll get him that medicine," I said, "don't worry now. Don't worry."

He smiled. "Thanks. I love you, mom and dad! I love you, little brother. You're gonna walk again! You're gonna walk...again..." BOOM.

I paused as a crackling loudspeaker sounded throughout the arena, echoing.

"Congratulations, Fern Hawthorne from District 12, the victor of the new Hunger Games!" roared the announcer.

Could it be? Did I win? My heart leaped, but sank down when I realized what I had done. I had killed people, people who truly did not deserve to die. It should be Romy, or Wake, or Volker. Not me. Not me. A hovercraft loomed over me, and I knew what happened next. I collapsed.

Though I could barely lift my arm, my eyes were wide open, taking in everything that was happening. My half-dead body was lifted high off the ground, and instantly transferred to a hospital bed. One nursed jammed a needle into my forearm, another dressed my severe shoulder wound, numbing it. I could barely feel stitches, going in and out of my arm. My left arm, my good arm. I saw two blurry figures, one I instantly recognized as Lina, who was now donning bright blue hair. I was whisked away to a different room, where I was bathed, scrubbed down, my hair untangled and neatly cut.

I rested in an all white room, unable to sleep. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't do it. Finally, someone walked through the door. However, the smell of alcohol wasn't present.

"Haymitch," I managed to say.

"Nice job out there, sweetheart," he said. He grabbed a knife from his jacket, placing it on my bedside table.

"What's that for?" I asked groggily.

"I can't sleep without one." He left the room, without uttering another word. Finally, I shut my eyes. But the fear I had in the Games wasn't gone.

It would never fully go away.