Author Games: The Final War

Finals: Epping Collin

I rolled onto my side, my arm hitting the tree. I grumbled out a sigh and sat up. "Oh, look, he's awake," Cassidy gleamed. 

"Yes, now come on. We need to get moving otherwise the others might find us," I told Cassidy, getting up from my sitting position. Cassidy quickly followed. 

"Where are we going to go?" He asked. 

"Somewhere secluded," I replied, but Cassidy was no longer paying attention. 

"Cassidy?" I called in a questioning voice.

"I hear voices," he responded, and as he said this a group of people crowded around us. I gripped on my sword that was in my hand. They were all the remaining competitors. The girl; Amphi launched herself at Cassidy while Randy launched at me. I shoved him off me. I lit my fire up, pushing it on his face. He screamed out in pain. Then, I heard another scream of pain. It was Cassidy. His body laid on the ground, blood spurting from the newly formed wound.

"Cassidy!" I screamed, but he was already dead.

+++

I was the only person left. Nobody else was here. I couldn't believe it. I won. Blood was smeared across my forehead from a fresh wound. Scratches and bruises were scattered across my body. My stomach ached and growled angrily at me in demand for food. One of my wrists ached with a tinging pain. There was a cut on my lip, blood dripping slowly down my chin. My hair was dishevelled and full of dirt, as well as grease. 

There were sounds of cutting, like scissors, but louder. The next minute I knew a stringed ladder was being shoved in my face. I eyed it, disorientated. An arm gripped my wrist, hauling me up the helicopter.  "Welcome Epping Collin. Let's get you cleaned up before we take you home to see your family," a lady's voice boomed through my head. "Ayla," was all I managed to say. 

+++

When I woke up I was in a soft bed in a room full of white. I sat up, my eyes searching the room. I didn't recognise it. My hand was wrapped in a bandage, and when I touched my forehead, I could feel a lump of stitches. I threw my legs out of the bed, and stood up.

"Epping, good morning. It's time for you to meet back up with your family," a lady smiles at me crookedly. I nod my head, an excited feeling welled up in the pit of my stomach. 

"Thank you," I responded. The girl who had blonde hair that fell in waves, smiled at me once more.

"Here's a change of clothes, and I suggest you get ready for your speech. Drystan and Makenna want to meet with you when you're dressed," she informed me.

"Okay, thank you."

Once the girl left I hastily pulled the new pair of pants on before chucking on the white shirt over my battered body. Now that I'd taken my shirt off, I saw that there was a bandage pulled around my stomach to cover the claw marks on either side. The bruises and small cuts were still there.

I turned to my right where I noticed a mirror extending upwards so that it showed me from the head to toe. My hair was a mess and my bits of blue were beginning to fade. At least my hair was no longer greasy. They must have cleaned it when they fixed all my injuries. 

Satisfied that I looked okay, I exited the room and walked down the hallway in search for Makenna and Drystan. I spotted the two in a room, sitting at a table with food spread over it. They smiled at me. 

"Epping. Congratulations on winning. Do you have a speech in your mind?" Makenna asked. I nodded my head.

"Yes, I do. When do I get to see Ayla and my dad?" I ask in return.

"In an hour. We are going to eat first. You need your strength." Makenna shoots me a smile. 

I sat down across the table, looking at the food in front of me, not sure if I could stomach it. There was a piece of steak sitting on my plate with mashed potato, broccoli, carrots, corn and cauliflower. I picked up my fork hastily, and stabbed it into the stalk of the broccoli, not even sure if I was going to eat it. 

Once everyone had finished up, Makenna spoke up.

"Now, Epping. It's time for you to go home. See your family. Make that speech."

+++

"Ayla! Dad!" I yelled as I spotted the two in the crowd that had gathered in the area. This is where I would make my speech. 

"Epping!" The two yelled, excitement running through my girlfriends voice. I smiled, watching as she and my dad raced towards me. Ayla's arms wrapped around my waist. 

"I missed you," I whispered in her ear, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"I missed you too," she whispered back, letting go of me. 

"Hey dad," I said to him. He smiled, his black hair flopping in front of his face. 

"I think your fans want your speech, son. We'll be here when you're done," my dad said with a smile. I looked at the stage where I was suppose to make my speech, and nodded.

"Okay. I'll see you later dad, Ayla," I told them before pushing my way through the crowd, and up in the stage where I begun my speech.

"I'm not very good with speeches, but I'm going to have to get better at it. When I went into the arena, I didn't expect to make friends. But Cassidy and I, I'd like to think we were close allies. Enough about Cassidy, though. I'd just like to say I'm not going to babble on about how I'm going to sort everything out here. That's not what I'm about. Since going into the Arena, I feel like my opinions have changed. My mother isn't who I thought she was, but that's okay, it doesn't change the fact that I want to lead the place. I'm not even going to ask for harmony anymore. I just ask of you to realise that everyone is equal. Everyone is different, but, then, we are all the same too. So I'd just like to finish of this speech with a tribute to those who have fallen, and those families who are suffering the loss of the friends or families. Rest in peace."