Scars That Never Fade- A New Generation of Hunger Games

Chapter 25

Flooded with confusing emotions, I stepped back onto District 12 territory for the first time since the Reaping. Immediately I knew it was different. I looked around, horrified, at the many starving people. Several buildings were decimated, and the cries of children could be heard. What had happened while I was gone?

I looked directly in front of me. It was Quin. But, like everything else since the Games, she was different. Dark circles enveloped her eyes, her skin was chaffed and almost bleeding.

"What happened?"

Quin didn't reply. Instead she just stood there, shaking her head, tears falling down her face.

•We were placed in a circle for the world to see

23 other young children and me

Some came for stardom attention and wealth

Some wanted to bring their families back to health

Linden, Merrick, Ettore and Paloma

Dashiell, Nydia and Finola

7 brave souls met the earliest wrath

Killed without a thought in the bloodbath

Blaise, plagued by an addiction and strife

Was trapped by Ivo then finished with his knife

Timid Mayara who had little hope

Was lost when I couldn't get her the rope

Althea did it for attention and fame

But didn't look out when the time came

Kav from Eight was ruthless and strong

But when you underestimate, you can be quite wrong

Volker, my friend saved me twice

But a roaring avalanche sent by the Capitol took his life

Quince, the cunning and Dilwyn the true

Were lost to the Capitol's avalanche too

Shep was weak, injured and alone

Now his body is with his family back home

Phoebe always wanted to be a star

Now she is- a shining constellation afar

Wake volunteered to make sure I was safe

I wanted to save him but I was too late

Hilaria always wanted to have the last laugh

Too bad those hyena mutts chewed her in half

Romy, my sweet friend, her life was too brief

I tried to save her, now I'm plagued by this grief

Ivo a genius who fought till the end

Lost his life trying to defend

Anaïs was a career with skill

I didn't want to, I had no choice but to kill

Cassian wanted to bring his family wealth

I killed him and will spend forever hating myself

Epsilon was just trying to help another

They'll be getting that help, but not their older brother

23 dead and one left- that's me

I left the arena but I'll never be free

I have enough money to swim in, it's all in a heap

But I can never recover, I never will sleep

Because another 24 they will reap

23 more graves to dig down deep

It's been said before, and I'll say it again,

Nobody decent ever wins. •

THE END OF BOOK ONE