Let the 25th Hunger Games Begin

The End

She's gone.
Dead.
Gone.
All for me.
I hit the rock wall with my hand, bloody and raw. I let out a roar of fury, only to end in a low sob. I hugged the stone bolder I sat on, a part of the rock hill, the only thing surviving after the last DUMB.
The DUMB that killed Madeline.
I remember seeing her fight, pinning down Cydney, using all her strength in battle.
I remember sprinting for Cydney, attacking her, only to be milliseconds away from her axe.
I remember Madeline pinning her down, knocking her over the head repetedly, keeping her down to the ground each time she tried to get up.
I remember seeing the floor lower, scrambling to sit on the boulder and leaning over the side.
I remember Cydney drowning, Madeline staring up at me with her piercing blue eyes and freckled face, her sad smile as she gazed up at me in her final moments.

I felt tears prick up in my eyes and wipe them, only to leave trails of blood over my face. Her last words echoed in my head.
'I'm sorry,' she had whispered bravely, as the water covered her head while she stood there, gazing to the heavens. I had screamed for her, called for her, cried for her.

Yet I knew she would never come back.
If only I had abandoned the fight with Keil, took out Cydney eariler, then maybe, just maybe...
No.

There was no use in dwelling over the past. What's done is done, and I can't change that. I can only admit I did wrong in oh so many little variables, so insignificant at the time, yet so important in the long run. Regret cannot fill my mind; I won't let it. I take in panicking gulps, hiccuping and swallowing tears. I could only control what I could control, I reminded myself, nodding at my own advice. I don't know how long I sat there, kneeling at the rippling waters edge, grieving for my lost friend. Memories of her swarmed my head as the harsh reality of the games set in. Weakly, I stood with my frail legs barley holding me. I brought my hand to my lips, then raise my hands in the two fingered symbol that Madeline had created for us. Little did we know, the future of Panem would use a version of this symbol, with three fingers, as a sign of rebellion to reflect on the ending of this very Games, and what was about to happen. With my faithful spear in my hand, the thoughts of my lost friend in my mind and determination in my heart, I rose to defeat Keil, to finally end this.

A rumbling alerted me as a vibrating sensation racked through the hill. I clenched the wall, keeping my close to it, puzzled. What was happening? I hear a slight groan before a large stone close to my head gives way and falls, and I barley dodge out of the way, and watch it clonk into the water below as I stared, my eyes angry and watering. I knew something extreme was about to happen, and that I had to be prepared, but I still had to look. I turned and saw the wisps of golden hair reaching the surface, accept the past and continue.

A much louder groaning sound from above is brought to my attention, and when I look up I gasp. The large, once glorious Cornacopia was changing. No, not changing- moulding. The immobile edges were slowly bending, folding in towards the center. I squeeze my eyes shut and press my head against the rocky wall, trying to block out the sound. I hear a cry of discomfort from Keil, who was on the opposite side of the hill a safe and unreachable distance away. I looked up once again to see a large clump of metal, the reduced remains of the Cornacopia. I gasped and gazed in awe. No doubt the audience would like the new revelations. But what came next they would definitely love. After more groaning sounds, the metal mess lowered, and was replaced by a platform, with a single object placed on top.

An axe.

The weapon could defeat either of us, depending on who it was given too. Whoever possessed it would win for sure. But although the platform had risen, the hill was still shaking.

No- could the 5th DUMB already be happening?

Yes, it was, much slower this time. And this time, it served two purposes. To drown us and to shift the rocks, making them fall and attack us- two deadly obstacles preventing us from reaching the top. I began scrambling, reaching up for the largest rock. Placing both hands on it, I jump up and pull myself onto it. I hear groans from Keil, and know that he too is moving fast. I was close, but not close enough. I placed my foot on a small, sharp stone and search for another one. I spot a long, flat one and place both hands onto it, when a crunching sound comes from above. I look up to see a boulder bouncing down, destroying rocks, and heading straight for me. I gasp and hug the wall, rocks piercing my skin. I cry in pain but stay there, until I hear the boulder miss my head. I am relieved, until a crunch from below sends pain searing throughout my entire body. It had hit my foot.