the hunger games: if it happened to me

Chapter 25

They can't do this. But they just did. Only one of us gets to win. This is exactly the type of cruelty and unfairness that our government gives to the states. Who is this fair to? Not to our families. Not to the people in the states. And surely not to me, nor to Ferny. Is this their way of punishing us? But Ferny has done nothing wrong. The Capitol doesn't hate Ferny. The Capitol hates me. He doesn't deserve this. I deserve this. I deserve to die. Ferny needs to live.
I look at Ferny. His eyes filled with tears. "Go ahead. Shoot me." He says. "No. I won't. I can't." I scream out while crying. "One of us has to die, they have to have their victor." Ferny says. I can't stand to see him this sad. All we been through in these games, all the sacrifices we made, all the innocent people we killed. We did so we could win, together. But now the government tought it be fun to change the rules and see 2 people that love each other fight until 1 dies? No. I don't think so. I grab my pockets and I feel something. It's the nightlock berries. What if me and Ferny both ate them? Or at least make the Capitol think we're gonna eat them? Then they wouldn't have a victor. This is our way of showing them that we aren't just a piece of their games. "No. They don't have to have their victor." I say, as I hand Ferny half of the berries, serious as I can be. No more tears. Just anger. "Iri? What no. We can't." He screams. "Trust me." I whisper. He nods and gives me what is supposed to be our last hug. "Together?" He asks. "Together." I answer.
"One." He calls out. "Two" I continue. We pause and he holds my hand. "Three." We both say. Just as the berries are about to reach our mouths, the announcer stops us. I knew it. I was right. This is why Ferny lets me make the plans. The announcement starts: "STOP. STOP. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you, the TWO victors of this year's hunger games."