Hunger Games: All-Stars

Chapter 30

Asper Fin POV

My allies and I met together before bed to discuss strategy. When we were done, I went back to my room to pretend to get some rest. I tossed around in bed until someone knocked at the door. I expected to find Jay or maybe one of my other allies. And it was, sort of.

"Sky?" I asked when I saw her at the door.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

"Sure," I said. We sat on the bed and she fiddled with her fingers.

"It's weird. We've been through this before, but this time I only have to worry about you," she said.

"Yeah. I hope you don't think I'm mad you won or anything. I'm happy for you," I said.

"That's why I won. I'm not nice like you. You're strong enough to win, but I'm afraid anyway," she said.

"I don't know what I'd do if I was in the final two," I said. "I'd probably wait until the Gamemakers sent mutts or something and see who lived longer," I said. I knew Sky was thinking of what happened in the Arena. I'd avoided watching the rest of the tape, partially out of respect. We weren't what the Games made us, and it didn't matter what Sky did.

"It's okay you won. You don't have to feel guilty," I said.

"How can I not feel guilty when I killed so many people? We used to hate the Careers, but I killed as many as they did," Sky said.

"People do what they have to to survive," I said.

"I wasn't just surviving. I volunteered," she said.

"You didn't understand," I said.

"Maybe," she said. I held her hand, a gesture that normally would seem overly intimate but here just seemed necessary.

"We all put ourselves first. It's human nature," I said.

"But you won't," she said. We'd find out.

Timber Jones POV

Daniel glared down at me as he lectured.

"If you make too much noise I'll ditch you. If you get Sarla in trouble I'll kill you myself. If we run low on supplies you're on your own. You're on your own at the Bloodbath, too. If you find your way to us you can stick close, but I'm protecting Sarla, not you..."

I knew he was just being a big brother. I could put up with his bluster. I was happy to be with Sarla again.

Daniel finally finished his speech and was about to let me go when Sarla came into the room.

"Can I sleep in he- oh, hi Timber," she said. Immediately Daniel's face shifted and he looked like the sweetest mother you'd ever seen.

"Of course. Let's make a fort. That always help you not be scared," he said. They started ripping the blankets off the bed and stretching them to make a tent. Since Daniel hadn't actually told me to leave and Sarla and I used to make forts too, I went with it and helped them out. Daniel tolerated my presence and sent a few wary glares my way.

When the fort was done Sarla ducked inside and started arranging the blankets. Daniel looked at me pointedly.

"I guess I should get to bed," I said. Daniel turned away and went into the fort after Sarla. I heard her whispering and his harsher voice joined in. Then there was a sigh, and Sarla squealed.

"Daniel says you can come too if you want," she said as she poked her head out of the fort. She didn't have to ask me twice.

Chantal Ivingin POV

How did I get into this mess? Chantal Ivingin, allied with a sexist and her toadies. I told myself it wouldn't last long. Without Haber it would be tolerable. The others were probably as ready for me to leave as I was. I just wished the whole thing would start already and we'd be through with this waiting.

Last time around I wanted to prove that I was as good as the other girls. None of them volunteered in the years after I died. Score one for me, although at least none of them died. This time, I had no illusions. I just wanted to live. All the others did too, and in my book that made us all fair targets. It wasn't cruel to try to survive. We were all doing it to each other. I wasn't here to kill like Gordon or for glory like Rapture. I'd had enough of all that. If I got through, it would be because I wanted to live.

But what if I did win? All I knew was fighting. I'd win a life of ease and laziness. I would be the trophy in my victory, paraded around for the Capitol to admire. I didn't even know what I wanted to do with my life. Not that it mattered. I wouldn't have a profession. Being a Victor is a profession. Everything I trained for was intended to win a prize that would guarantee I would never again use my skills. How did I get into this mess?

Bree Maeberry POV

A lot of people were going to die tomorrow. Maybe more people would die in the Bloodbath than had died in entire Games in the past. Most likely I'd be one of them. I'd had such a short life. It wasn't fair the Gamemakers lived for decades and I only got one. What did I ever do? Nothing, because I died before I could do it.

I lived before. Then I was gone. Then I was back. Soon I'd be gone again, probably forever. Panem would go on without me. My friends would forget me. It would be like I never was. Not if I had anything to say about it.

I hopped off my bed and grabbed a pen from my nightstand. The bed was just far enough off the ground for me to wiggle underneath it. That meant it probably never got cleaned, since most grownups couldn't fit. After all they'd done to me, a little graffiti was forgivable. All I was going to do was write my name on the wall. I squinted to see the dark wall and saw something was already there.

Balee was here

How long ago did Balee write that? Was she my age? Did she die in the Bloodbath too? Sometime, years ago, another girl just like me was in this very spot, thinking the same things. As I thought of her, I realized she left her mark. Years and years after she died, there was still a piece of her, and someone was still thinking of her. I pressed my pen next to her name.

Bree was too

Whyte Roberts POV

That was some good strategy Frankie and Vera came up with. Sure, the sponsors would all pick a side, but they'd both try to outdo each other. We'd have more gifts than we knew what to do with. I shouldn't have been so dismissive of Frankie. And there was no need to be jealous. Vera and Frankie would never work. He was cold and awkward and selfish. She couldn't possibly be attracted to him. And if she was, that was her business. I had a girlfriend. Vera could do whatever she wanted. We were just friends. Really close friends, so close "friends" didn't seem right. But we weren't romantic either. I didn't know what we were. Frankie better treat her right, though. There's not a man on Earth who deserves Vera.

Frankie Disney POV

My mother was on television. It must have been an old clip, since they were gathered around my grave. There were flowers everywhere.

"I don't know why they're so sad. They voted for me," I said to Vera, who was sitting next to me. Vera smiled.

"You don't even seem to care you died. I was pretty shaken up, especially since me and Whyte were right next to each other," she said. After a pause, she continued. "Guilt is stronger than gratitude."

"Mrs. Disney has been rescued from attempted suicide nine times since her son's death," the announcer said. My ears perked up and I leaned in.

"You all right?" Vera asked.

"I'm glad I don't feel. Then I don't have to kill myself," I said.

"I'm sorry," Vera said.

"It's all right. I only watched to see if Mom was sad or not, or if she was even still alive. We should go," I said. I held the door for Vera as we left. That's what you're supposed to do.

I can't wait any longer. I'm already working on the tubes chapter.