Chapter 39

AN: Thanks for the reviews! I'm so sorry this is late, thing is, I pulled a Dave. And while recovering I watched all 144 episodes of Buffy the vampire slayer, which threw this off. Last games chapter, please Enjoy!

True Whittier D7

As soon as the other two arrive I let out a deep sigh, knowing the battle ahead would be difficult. I look at them quickly, to see if there are any injuries. There are on Clyde, but they're minor, it's annoying that I'm the most injured when these two idiots didn't even try to cut off the chain on their ankles. I guess karma wanted us to have a fair, honest to goodness fight, bitch. Jude's on my right, looking tired, while Clyde occupies the space to my left. We just look at each other; the tension could be cut with a banana, or a tissue. I can also cut it with my axe though, question is, who do I kill first?

Jude. I'm not going to be a coward, I'll fight the toughest opponent and still win, screw strategy. He's on my bad side, but I know I can still get him, or at least temporarily take him out. I don't want to make this a three-way fight; the two could easily gang up on me. I carefully take my aim, hoping that my bad hand can pull me through this, or I'm chopping it off myself if I win. He definitely doesn't expect it, another reason why I chose to strike him first. It hits him in the chest instead of the neck, but he's blown back into some bushes that definitely weren't there at the bloodbath. One down, for now. One to go.

Clyde walks up to me, considering that we could both kill each other at the distance I brace myself, instead I get a glare. Maybe he was trying to protect Jude, since his Allie freed him from the cage, it makes sense. At least now they can't gang up on me, and now I realize that they actually had a reason too. That it wasn't just desperation and paranoia; I actually can now justify my attack on Jude. Besides the lame: We're fighting to the death excuse, it makes the trick I'm about to play on Clyde much easier. Deception was never my best talent, but we've been in this arena so long I think I could manage. I take a knife and hold it in my right hand; Clyde reaches for my wrist and holds it.

"Why would you do that?" I ask as sweetly as possible, almost vomiting last nights dinner of what I think was a rabbit.

"I'm holding your dominate hand, after all, I don't feel like having a knife thrown at me." Bastard! The idiot thought that I was that lame! Well he's in for one hell of a surprise; I pretend to struggle from his grip. After a while I actually put effort, pulling him forward.

"I'm a lefty, I thought youought to know." and with those wonderful words I slammed my fist into his face, almost smiling at the satisfying crack that comes from his nose. I won't let that bastard even think about me being weak; I'll break his nose a thousand times to prove it.

He stumbles back, and takes out his sword, making me wonder how in the world this idiot got into the final three. His weapon should've been in his hand yesterday, not after I've broken his nose. Did he expect us to talk about our "feelings" before we sliced each other into pieces? The games affect us physically and mentally, even the victor doesn't escape the latter, and I'm fully aware of that. Unlike Clyde, who's probably here for a laugh, or because he was bored. I bet if he gets home he'll go to a bar and have a beer like twenty three other kids aren't living anymore. And won't be able to have the opportunity to drink.

I almost wish I threw the axe at Clyde; I would've easily hit his neck or head, possibly both. But now I'm stuck rolling out of the way of his sword, I'm not really sure what I would've preferred. I would be dodging a sword either way, since Jude also brought one to the party. I feel somewhat out of place, with my knives and axe, oh god. This is the one time in my life that I've ever worried about fitting in, what great timing I have. Clyde's slow with the stupid chain, he probably wants to stop fighting so he can cut the chain, but he knows that he'll also end up having his head cut off too.

I end up taking a hit under my ribs, I loose control and drop my knife, forgetting about it and I slide my nails into his arm instead. Why am I becoming a girl now? All I need is ten inch new-age stilettos so I can chuck them at his head. My nails are actually effective in hurting him, it's more of a distraction but I don't care right now. I grab the knife and stab it into the same arm my nail made a nest in, he growls and forgets about his sword (again). He lunges at me and I roll out of the way, almost landing in Jude's bush, I don't want to intrude on him. Clyde trips over the chain on his ankle, leading him to fall onto the metal ball. An object that obviously doesn't like him all too much.

Clyde Fenix D2

the fall that Larry caused almost ended in my death, instead I ended up falling butt-first into it. I'm sure that the major bruising on my butt is a small compared to death but it still makes me end up in a compromising condition. I expect True to be on top of me with a knife, all I end up getting is a measly one thrown into my stomach. After all the other pains I'm going through this doesn't even make me flinch, I slowly stand up, wondering where True went. Turns out that she ditched me for a bush, jeez, and I thought I was special, she didn't throw and axe at me. The bush rustles wildly and I can't help but wonder what she's doing in there, maybe she's taking a potty break?

I hear a yell and I realize that Jude's in the bush too, and so is True's axe. I groan knowing that she'll now have her best weapon, and that she won't be slowed down by the stupid metal thing. How in the world did she get rid of it? They won't make it as simple as cutting it off with a weapon, then again I never tried. Considering that the idea is too simple to work, I'm not going to look stupid even trying it. I finally get to work, I take out the knife buried inside my stomach, and then I take aim at the bush. I don't know where exactly to hit, since both my competitors are concealed within the annoying bush.

I throw and hit the center of the bush, instead of a females cries I hear a males. I obviously hit Jude instead of True, normally I'd be happy to hit anyone at all but I can't directly kill Jude. I'm still trying to keep Evans promise, and I think I broke it when I lodged a knife somewhere in Jude. The poor guy has no chance of victory; the axe in his body is like a time-bomb, add my knife and things don't look good for him. I don't want him on my kill list though, and I am now I'm going to be blamed for his death, since I'm the last one that hit him. I hear footsteps and I turn to face True, who must have snuck around me when I was aiming the knife.

I curse myself when I see the axe in her hand; my only advantage was her not having her best weapon. I can beat her both ways; it's just that I'll have an easier time if I don't have to worry about an axe in my neck. I get in close so she won't be able to throw her axe at me; the downside is that her giant axe can hit me normally. Sparks fly as I block one of her swings with the flat part of my sword, taking up a good amount of my strength. I then duck, waiting for her to strike down, at the last second I roll over. When I get up I see that I'm no longer attached to Larry, I think I'll never see a better day. Even if I do die.

True bites her lip when Larry's cut off, does she think she can beat me if the fields are level? Nope. She knocks her elbow into my side and then attacks, I'm caught off guard but I manage to deflect her axe. I step in, jabbing at her stomach, when she turns I aim for her injured back. I don't bother in making a deep cut in her back, since it doesn't hurt as much as a shallow cut. It's not what you think, I'm doing this so she'll cringe, and then I get to my real attack. My swords aimed at her neck, I'm hoping that I won't behead her but it's "accidentally" happened before, so no biggy. I hit and I know she's as good as good, what I didn't know right then is that there was an axe in my chest.

I drop to the ground, wondering how she managed to fit her axe in the space between us. I hesitantly pull out the axe, my other hand reaching into my pocket. My hand finds nothing; before I panic I reach into my other pocket, scarred of what I might find. It's not there, I take a slow deep breath before I let myself panic. I painfully take off my jacket, shaking it because my guaranteed victory is in trouble. Over the bush I hear snickering, and it's pretty obvious that Jude somehow got the pill. He must have previously rolled out of his bush, his face with several bruises and long cuts, I'm betting the pill that those are from True.

"Looking for something?"

The place where the axe was on his body mirrors my cut; it's scary how similar they are. He's smiling, and meekly holds up one of his hands, and inside his fist is the package I used to store the pill. A wave of panic hits me; I can't even remember when I lost it. I growl, my chance of winning can't be gone, I've come so far. I killed for this, and now I'm going to die because Jude thieved from me. He's now dramatically opening the pocket, torturing me by doing it slowly, like there's no rush. I really don't know how to stop him from taking the pill, unless I become the career stereo-type. I guess I know my plan.

"It's poison"

Jude Herra D6

I wish I was part of the fight, but now all I can feel is pain. I try to pull the axe out of my chest, but it's too deep in and I'd probably loose all my blood after it's out. Clyde and True are literally mauling each other, knowing that the victor of that fight wins the games. If they can manage to kill me, though it can't be that hard. When I killed Koal I felt terrible, but what I was surprised about was that it was strangely easy. Physically. I don't think any of the three of us have gotten here without killing someone. How hard can it be to take someone injured like me out? And if they can't finish me why is Clyde even here? He volunteered for this, unlike True and I we were forced too.

It's kind of sad that when they're fighting to the death I'm thinking "why me?" it's despicable and lame. I should be doing something, not hiding behind a bush in time-out. It's sad how greedy I'm getting, I haven't even thought of Zombie and Evan since the stupid climbing wall. They didn't volunteer either, and they died because I couldn't do something. With Evan I wasn't able to kill Fuscous myself, and with Zombie I didn't use my brain. I guess seeing her like that made me loose it, it's funny actually, Zombie made me loose my brain. Ok. Now I'm wondering if True put loopy juice in her axe. I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult for Zombie to make loopy juice…

Fun, now my "friends" are killing each other while I'm thinking about loopy juice, can I honestly get more pathetic? Well I think Clyde beat me to it, he tripped on his own metal ball thing. Just through the bush I can see True not wasting her time with stabbing him. After one stab she leaves though, and walks toward the bush that I call home. Her axe! Before she even gets here I start squirming, knowing the pain of removing the axe from my chest. Plus, it's kind of comforting; it's my last friend in the games left. And I thought I worked out all the pathetic mess out of me…

She tries to get her axe the easy way, but I don't let her. She ends up punching me a few times; I know I'll have bruises soon. It's sad because I actually wanted to look nice for the cameras… not really. But I don't want to look miserable in front of my family and friends. She ruthlessly pulls it out, and before she leaves she gives me a quick kick in the shins. I moan a manly moan loudly; if Clyde's conscious he'll be laughing his head off. Maybe that way I can pull off second place, then again, if people could die from laughter I'd have already won the games. In my next life, I'll train instead of being funny.

I roll out of my bush, tired and sweating buckets. I'm sure all the ladies at home find me even more attractive than I was before the games, note the sarcasm. I'm actually afraid that Clyde and True are going to set this place aflame, with all the sparks you'd think Evan's spirit was trying to conjure one last fire. Alas… none of the small sparks go through with it, I always knew that they were the 'burn out while you're ahead' type of sparks. True almost hits Clyde's side, but he spasms out of the way just in time. I'd be booing him right now if True didn't just beat the crap out of me.

Out of his spasm comes a gift, straight from the pocket of his jacket. It's a small package, and it lands right next to me, I guess my birthday came early. Maybe my next gift will be that this is all a dream… more likely a nightmare. I grab it, restraining myself when the pain comes in. I guess without the axe reminding me I forgot it was even in my chest. The sound comes out as a strangled gasp, and True hears it, as she quickly turns her head she looses focus.

That's what ends True, I can see this in slow motion, she turns back, her axe defending her body instead of her neck. Clyde's blow is a little far off his mark, so he steps closer. His swing hits her neck, True's dead, but she managed to injure Clyde. He forgot about her weapon and stepped right into it, he got too caught up in the kill. He hits the ground, just like I did a few minutes ago, he's obviously confused. I don't blame him; after all, he now has a chance of loosing. I'm as good as dead, so when he reaches into his pocket to look for something, I decide to tease him a little.

"Looking for something?" I just love his face right now, horror struck. I start opening the package, wrapped around paper is a small pill. I do this slowly, I know I don't have time to do that, but it makes me feel better. I take out the pill and wave it around as much as I can without feeling pain.

"It's poison" he's breathing heavily now, I look at the pill. I believe him, what else would this thing do? I'm about to throw it out when I think about the games. I'm going to die first, and Clyde's going to win, he's already talking to a camera as I'm thinking. He'd be the first solo career to win, and many might follow. That means a smaller career pack, so if I die I'm doing a favor for the poor districts. So yeah, I'm taking the pill, I'll die, but I'll also die on my own terms. This wound won't matter, Clyde won't matter, and this will all be over. I pop it in my mouth and swallow; it's hard to get it past the giant lump in my throat. I wish I had some water to drain it down with, I slowly wait for death. It doesn't come; Clyde's getting weaker, while I feel stronger. His eyes are closed, and the whole area around his body is filled with blood. But not mine, I feel my wound under my shirt and it's just a cool scar. I can't believe it, trying to commit suicide made me win the games, stupid irony.