Hunger Games: All-Stars

Chapter 11

Jean Roberts POV

I thought death was the end of everything. When I realized it was coming for me, I thought there was nothing scarier. Now I'd gone through it and come out the other end. It wasn't anything after all, not if it wasn't permanent. Life was fragile and death was meaningless. What really mattered then?

"Who won my Games?" I asked one of the doctors. I hoped desperately and prepared myself for heartbreak.

"Peppermint Wilson," came the reply. I knew she wasn't heartless enough to win. I'd hoped maybe virtue had come through.

"What happened to Celestial Yeager?" I asked. Please not Venus, I thought.

"She was second," the doctor said.

"Peppermint killed her?" I asked. Before, Peppermint was neutral to me when the Games began. Now if I saw her again I knew one of us would bleed.

"No, Venus stabbed her. What happened next was beautiful. Peppermint held her hand and stayed with her until she died," the man said. He wiped his eye dramatically. It wasn't enough for me, and I still resented Peppermint for winning when Celestial died because of it. I found new respect for the Victor, but I'd never see her without pain.

"You were her sweetheart, weren't you?" the man said as he perked up. "It'll be so exciting to see you two reunite."

"Reunite? You mean, she's back?" I asked. We'd never found out what might have been. Now we had another chance.

"Oh, this is so romantic!" the man sighed. She was back. Celestial was alive. I knew what mattered in this new Games. It wasn't my life or my death. It was her.

Bree Maeberry POV

Everything was nice and safe. When something started tugging me down, away from it all, terror overtook me. Was I too evil to stay? Where was I going? I screamed behind closed eyes as I waited for fire or pain or whatever was coming. Then everything was warm again. I peeked open one eye. I wasn't in fire or darkness. It was just a tank.

"Is this hell? I'm sorry I was bad," I said to the things around me. One of them took my hand.

"No, sweetie. This is the Capitol. You're alive," she said.

"What?" I asked.

"This is the All-Stars Games. We brought you back," she said. "I know it's hard to understand."

"You're going to make me die again? I'm really sorry I was a pickpocket. You don't need to make me die twice. Please let me go back to heaven. I'm sorry," I said.

"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll do fine. If the worst does happen, someone as cute as you is definitely allowed in heaven," the woman said. I was glad she said so, but being in heaven was the easy part. Getting there was scary. I'd already done it once. Why did they make me do it again?

Felix Veaux POV

Tillo's face took shape in front of me. I reached out for her.

"Tillo? You too? It's okay. We're together," I said. Whatever came next it was better with her.

"I've missed you," she said. So much didn't make sense, like why I was wet or why she was wearing clothes, but none of that mattered.

"How long did it take before you died?" I asked. She smiled.

"I won, Felix," she said.

"What? That's wonderful," I said. I was happier than I'd ever been, but it didn't make sense. "Then why are you dead?"

"I'm not, and neither are you. You're back to fight again. It's enough for the Capitol to murder a child once," she said.

I was alive? It was a triumph and a tragedy. I was alive, but I was facing death again. Tillo was alive and she'd won. I didn't have to worry about her dying in the Games, but I wouldn't have her next to me. We could be together again, but only if I won. Everyone wanted to win because they wanted to live, but I had something even more valuable.

Starling Heights POV

I was dumbfounded when they told me I was back by choice. I was Starling Heights, the gutter trash of Ten. No one wanted me. The only one who tolerated me was Cash.

Cash. The thought of him took away every scrap of happiness I got from being chosen and replaced it with heartbreak. He wouldn't recognize me after all this time. I'd be different. Seeing me would only upset him. Even if I won, I had to prepare myself for the fact that he might never accept me.

"What happened to my brother?" I asked. Maybe a miracle happened and a nice Capitol family adopted him.

"Cornflower thought you'd ask that," one of the women said. "She said to tell you she set him up with a nurse at your old house." Bless her. That was perfect. He was safe and happy. That was all I needed to be happy. I'd probably die again soon, but Cash would grow up safe and secure. I did something good with my life, and it would live on.

Mouse Parentii POV

I opened my mouth and tried to scream, but liquid rushed into me. It's my blood, I thought, and I spat and coughed as I clawed at the space around me. I heard shouting and someone picked me up into cold air. I clawed at the arms and curled up on the floor when they let go.

"It's all right, Mouse. You're safe," a man said.

"Mist," I said. I looked around, but she wasn't anywhere. There was a man next to me and I was inside.

"Mist is dead," he said. "She can't hurt you." She already did.

"I was dead too," I said. "Did you fix me?"

"Yes, you could say that. You're going back into the Arena," the man said. At first I was just scared. Then I was terrified.

"Did you fix Mist too?" I asked.

"No, she wasn't selected," the man said. I went limp in relief and the man draped a gown over me.

"You and the others have been chosen to compete again in an All-Stars Games," the man said. He continued explaining, but I didn't listen. I knew what I needed to. I was going back, but Mist was gone forever. If she wasn't there, the Arena had nothing I couldn't handle.

Calvary Warsaw POV

I shoved back at the peace and tranquility around me and tried to claw my way back to life. I wasn't about to lose to that mouse Tillo. I knew Dustin was at home urging me on. I was going to make him proud.

"She's awake," someone said far above me. Was I back at the Capitol? They must have thought I died. They had another think coming. I forced my eyes open and sat up.

"I'm still alive," I said. This was quite a quandary. Whoever took me out had healed my wounds. It wouldn't be a fair fight anymore. Not my problem.

"You certainly look ready to go," one of the doctors said. She came over and handed me a gown as I picked myself up out of the tank.

"Are you going to send me back in?" I asked.

"Hold on! We still have to do the parade and the interviews," she said.

"What? We already did those," I said. She c****d her head at me.

"Oh, you don't know. This is the All-Stars Games. You died," she said. I did not! I argued mentally.

"What Games is this?" I asked.

"The thirty-third," she said. Okay, maybe I did die. But I was only barely dead. Tillo won? Great.

"Whatever. That's not important. You're going to make me do it again, right? Let's get this over with."

Here we have a mixed bag of reactions, from fear to annoyance. Next chapter should prove emotional.