Hope In Our Eyes #GoldStarAwards2017Winner

The Verge of Death (Hazel)

A few surprising, painful, frightening things have happened so far; I can even make a list in my head:

-Lavender, my escort, being my mother.

-Unintentionally spying on Alex's mauled corpse. He must've been taken away by a hovercraft now.

-The bizarre, terrifying, furry, snake-like mutt.

-Olive's death, and how she gave that family photo to Aspen. It didn't affect just him.

And now, I can add Lily suddenly appearing out of nowhere and screaming at us to run-which we are right now-with the Career pack chasing after us like a vicious pack of wolves. I hear shouts of, "Get them!", "Kill them!", and even the sound of weapons unsheathing. I sprint faster, heart pounding faster. Thank goodness I stole lots of knives at the Cornucopia, so the Careers can't throw them. 

After a few minutes, I find myself losing energy and look over my shoulder. The Careers are still chasing us, so I hurl two knives towards Ash and the girl from One-I think her name is Breanna? No, Britney's-direction. They both duck and roll over, then gets up again, slowing them down for a few seconds. 

We near a cave, which we stupidly run into, and stop for a couple seconds when we find out that it has two exits. "SPLIT!" Lily screams. She and Aspen take the left one, while Mackenzie, Eisley, and I take the right. 

However, we still have Britney and Ash on our heels. The floor of the cave clatters with the sound of our quick footsteps as we keep dashing. Now, I'm really losing my energy. 

Wait. There's a crack of sunlight above me. Hey, I can squeeze through. I scramble towards it, trying to find any cracks or edges I can step on. Come on, come on. I think. Just as Britney reaches me, I leap up and grab the edge of the crack, trying to pull myself up. The two female Careers grab at me, trying to drag me down again, and just as I'm about to kick them, my hand slips and I tumble to the floor, panting like a dog.

Ash grabs my throat, pinning me against a wall, smirking at my frightened trembles. "So this is how District Twelve's little sweetheart is gonna end. Aww, how sad. Do you want a strawberry ice cream cone to make you feel better? Maybe some apple juice?" Damn, she's got guts to say that; I'm not a six year old and I won't be treated like one. I manage a punch in Ash's face with my free hand, but she pushes me down again. "Hey sweetie, that was very rude. Apologize right now, dearie." 

Behind her, Britney is choking in laughter, though a bit hesitant. Ash turns to her. "What are you doing? Go get the others while I finish this one here." The girl from District One nods and starts running towards the end of the cave, ready to butcher Mackenzie and Eisley. But I know that those two won't go down without a fight.

Ash looks at me again. "You're so sweet, so precious, just a child. Too bad that you're goin' down, cutie." 

"I hate you," I manage to whisper, but I can't remember how to glare.

"Hate is a very strong word," She taunts. 

"Not strong enough for such a perverted murderer like you." I mumble.

"That's too bad." Ash shrugs. "Now sweetie, I want you to close your eyes and imagine this. You somehow beat me and actually come home to your little shack in District Twelve. You rejoice with your friends and family except-oh no-a week later, peacekeepers come to kill them all, making you a poor lone victor who's haunted by memories. Think about how much easier it would be if I, a Career tribute, won. That would be much easier, wouldn't it?"

"Shut up."

"Okay Twelve, that's the last straw, you're about as good as dead."

I put my hand in my pocket, trying to hide the fact of how wildly I'm shaking. Just as it digs into the soft fabric, a sharp object cuts my middle finger. Yes. A knife. I have one. Ash is still focused on my throat, where her machete is pointing to, so I quietly bring the knife to where she isn't looking. 

"Ready, child?" Ash asks. "Prepare for death, in the count of three. On one ... two ..."

I stab my knife into her chest, and she falls to the ground, freeing me. I scramble up to my feet.

"What the ... how ..." She gasps. "No, no. This can't be happening. It can't. I had a whole future ahead of me where I won and-" Ash coughs and raises a bloody finger to me accusingly. "IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! I HATE YOU! I wanted to-" Another gasp. Her voice becomes thinner. "I wanted to win. I spent my whole effing life training for that glorified moment when they announced me the victor, and it's all because of you!" Finally, she can barely breathe. "I'm gonna kill-" Ash doesn't get to finish her sentence before her eyes close and her heart stops beating.

It's all over. The girl that I have feared ever since I was reaped for these Games is gone. She can't get to me now. Ash is dead.

Or so I thought ...