#game33

Game 33 Round 07

Chilling.

Dove was waiting backstage for the second time, something that twenty-three others a year never got the opportunity to do. While he had been slightly nervous for his first interview this time he almost was excited for it. Scratch that, he was excited for it. If not for getting to finally be done with the games then for finally getting to return home. Home had been on his mind quite frequently while in the arena and during his recovery afterwards. His parents had already lost one son so he knew how hard it must have been watching every day knowing they were potentially going to lose another. His mind wandered back to the golden fields of Nine and he was lost for a moment somewhere between homesickness and tranquility when a sharp voice intruded on his thoughts.

A minute and counting until his appearance on stage and he could already hear the roars of the crowd welcoming their latest victor back to the Capitol. Dove played with the cuff of his suit while he waited; this time the suit was beige, with a striped brown tie and brown shoes. His hand traced along his cheek bone where only days ago there had been a ragged and healing cut. The skin now was flawlessly smooth, no reminders of what had happened other than the memories. A Capitol attendant appeared by his side to lead him on stage and Dove took a deep breath, ready to face all of Panem.

One step on stage and a deafening wall of noise greeted his ears. He completely missed them calling his name as the cheers from the crowd blocked out all other sound. He remembered watching the victor’s interviews on television and how loud they seemed then but that was nothing in comparison to the volume now. All he could do was smile and wave as he made his way over to where the chairs were set up, both twins standing and beaming at him. The last time he’d seen them they’d been on the rooftops of the arena just like he was, now they were both back in their Capitol attire and looking much less fearsome if not downright dashing. Dove shook both of their hands, exchanging some whispered pleasantries before the three turned to the crowd, waiting for the noise to die down so the interview could begin.

When it did finally cease, the boys all took their seats, the twins side by side and opposite Dove. “How come you don’t cheer that loudly for us?” Kardos asked the audience with a fake pout which earned him many laughs and a thunderous round of applause. “Thank you thank you, but really we aren’t the main attraction tonight. That honour belongs to Mr. Dove Carrington of District Nine!” The crowd boomed again and both twins had to shush the crowd so they could continue on. “Congratulations are in order Dove!” Kardos smiled at the boy from Nine.

“Thank you so Kardos, it really is incredible for me to be sitting here again.” Dove replied humbly.

“With a training score like that you didn’t think you had a chance to win?” Kastos asked.

“While I was thrilled with the score like I said before I was more worried it would put a target on my back.” Dove laughed and the crowd joined in.

Kardos interjected. “It seemed to do the opposite to another tribute even prompting you two to align. Can you tell us a little more about Eloise and what you were thinking when you allied with her? Because let’s be honest here, I don’t think she would be the first pick for most of us when thinking about alliances.”

If you weren’t watching closely you wouldn’t have noticed but Dove’s eyes seemed to glaze over a bit at the mention of Eloise as if he had retreated a little inwards but he answered the question without missing a beat. “Eloise was in a word brilliant. Probably too brilliant for her own good. We were in the same car for the bloodbath for those of you who remember and that was when I first paid her any attention. I’d planned to go the games solo but when I heard that tiny voice ask if I wanted to be her ally I knew there was no way I could say no. I knew she could be a liability potentially, I also knew only one of us could win and I’d most likely live to see her die but I accepted anyways. While obviously I’m grateful things turned out the way they did and I’m alive, what happened to Eloise is probably my biggest regret of the games.”

Kastos put a sympathetic hand on Dove shoulder and the younger boy looked up into his eyes filled with compassion. Dove blushed a little as Kastos began to speak. “We were right along with you when that happened, don’t be too hard on yourself. You couldn’t have known Rena was going to ambush her when you left and there was no way you could have stopped it.”

Just like the fire. Just like with Sandro.

Kastos continued. “What did you think of the twist where all the tributes had to fight past victors?” On the word victors Kardos gave a little flex for the crowd and they totally ate it up.

“Brilliant. Terrifying. Brilliantly terrifying. When HGM Matt revealed what it was those marbles meant and what we were going to have to do I almost lost all hope there. Those victors standing up there, I’d grown up watching their games and their victories. I knew that they were all fierce, intelligent, and incredibly deadly. So to put it simply I almost passed out when I found out.” The crowd chuckled at Dove’s lighthearted joke.

“Do you think you could walk us through your final battle? What was going on in your mind as Yolanda pulled out that bow?” Kardos asked.

“To be honest I thought that might be the end of me. I had my knives but nothing that could compare with her weapons. Then I thought maybe I could use Amaryllis as a distraction but she went down so fast and next thing I knew there was an arrow sticking out of my leg. I tried my best to push and fight through it but I couldn’t make it all the way over to her. She aimed her bow at me just as I realized that I still had one last trick to try. I grabbed my flash grenade and well you all know the rest. Really, just the shift in knowing you are going to die and accepting that fate to watching the tables turn and the final tribute fall is just.. well I don’t even know how to describe it.”

“Was it hard for you to use fire as a weapon against Yolanda given your history with it?” Kastos asked.

Dove winced a little at the question. He knew it was coming but he still wasn’t ready for it. “To be perfectly honest I was mortified even thinking of using it. If it wouldn’t have been my best chance at winning I would have never used it. I don’t know if there will ever be a point when I’ll feel comfortable around it.”

The crowd let of sighs of sympathy for the boy. “Something like that is hard to get over indeed. No one faults you for still harbouring fear.” Kardos said with a sympathetic glance. “Now that the games are over though, what are you planning on doing?”

“RIght now I really just want to see my parents. It must have been hell for them watching with the thought they could lose their second son at any moment. After that, move into my new house and just try and figure out life from there. Help out around the district, try and bring home as many victors to Nine as I can.” Dove said simply.

“One final question before we start the recap Dove. Now that your life has been extended indefinitely, is there a special someone waiting for you back home? If not I’m sure that we could find you one here in the Capitol.” A chorus of cheers and wolf whistles sounded from the audience getting the twins to laugh and Dove to blush immensely.

“There is someone actually, not from Nine though. We’ve only met a few times and I’m not sure how they really feel, but from what I know of them they’re pretty amazing.” Dove was practically staring at the ground at this point.

“Are you talking about someone you met in the Capitol?” Kastos asked genuine curiosity in his voice.

Kardos gave a booming laugh and slapped his brother on the back. “I’m pretty sure he’s talking about you Kas.” He shot his brother a wink. A look of shock dawned on Kastos’ face before it was his turn to blush. Luckily for the both of them the lights started to fade at that moment as a screen rolled down to reveal Dove standing on stage at the reaping in Nine.

After the recap the twins concluded the interview and Dove got a resounding final round of applause as he left the stage, promising to be back soon. He descended the staircase backstage and wiped the sweat from his brow. He’d forgotten how hot those spotlights. “Dove?” The voice was much softer when not amplified by a microphone. Dove turned to find Kastos standing a few feet away, hands pressed together in front of him. “If you wanted someone to show you around Two when you’re on your tour I’d be more than happy to.”

Congratulations are in order, first of all.

Now that you've been declared, you have two things you need to do

Write your Final Interview with Kardos and Kastos

Write me a three paragraph bio that contains what your life was like before, during, and after the Games! In third person, as always. : ))

Again, congrats on your win, you deserved it. For all of those who didn't make it, I love you guys and hope you play in the future for another chance to the Victor of the 34th Annual Hunger Games!

This is due ASAP as we can't start the next Games without it! : ))

With love to all

Yolanda, Dove, and Amaryllis stood on the final platform, all injured in one form or another. Yolanda had a broken wrist and leg, Dove was torn to shreds from Midnight's Samehada, and Amaryllis was pretty much blind. The three of them watched as the holographic timer lighted up the darkening sky.  All three of them tried to ignore their pain as the final seconds ticked down. Dove bowed his head to the two ladies, who didn't acknowledge him. It seems now was not the time for good sportsmanship. The three tributes got into position as the clock hit the final ten digits.

The gong sounded.

Yolanda pulled out a bow she received from the corpse of Aspen Versailles, the girl from District 2. She had been holding on to it just in case a moment like this came to light. Luckily for her, it did. As Amaryllis ran towards her with her spiked club, she knocked back an arrow into the drawstring. She pulled the cord back and let the arrow fly. It sprouted from her chest, puncturing one of her lungs. If Yolanda hadn't been both in pain and been woozy from injury, she would've gotten the girl's heart. Amaryllis lay on the ground, her breathing shrill and occurred in brief spurts. A trickle of blood dribbled down her lips as she took her last breath, despite how short it was.

A cannon fired.

It was down to two.

Dove clenched his torn jaw and narrowed his eyes. He was at a severe disadvantage at the moment. She had a long distance weapon and he was at a long distance. He watched Yolanda carefully, his eyes focused on the bow. Then, it hit him. The only way to beat a long distance fighter was the close the distance between the two. He got into position and timed his take off carefully.

Yolanda knocked back another arrow, she didn't know what those Victors were always whining about. This final battle was child's play and all she had to do was kill another to add to her list of three people-and one of them wasn't even real to begin with. She smirked as she aimed for her next target-a sweet, innocent, Dove.

Dove took off just as the arrow flew from the girl's bow. Thankfully, his instincts told him to swerve a little to the left and the arrow lodged itself in his right calf. He fell to the ground, trying to push himself up. It was pointless, he was still weak from his battle with Midnight. He watched as the girl knocked back another arrow, her smile wide. It was the smile of a girl who thought she had won. He coyly pulled out his grenade and water gun and pulled the pin on the grenade. He chucked it at the girl who shot at it with her arrow. It exploded mid-air, leaving both tribute unharmed aside from a little deaf.

"Please, that won't work on me." Yolanda laughed, loading another arrow into her bow.

"It wasn't supposed to," Dove smirked as he held out a lit match.

"What is that for? Are you going on a candelight date with Death?" Yolanda sneered, the pain of her injuries turning her into a snide little girl.

Dove just smiled as Yolanda stared at him confused. Then, she saw her drenched clothes and the trail of gasoline leading from it to Dove's water gun. The girl's eyes widened. "How did you? When did you?"

"When you were blasting away my grenade," Dove explicated, his torn smile strong.

"You wouldn't..."Yolanda started, her eyes beginning to tear up.

Dove soundlessly dropped the match onto the trail of gasoline and watched as it snaked its way to a horrified Yolanda in a matter of seconds. There was a look on her face, one he'd seen many times while watching the Games. It was the look of someone who just realized they lost the Game.

Dove watched as she rolled on the floor desperately trying to put out the flames that were burning her alive, transfixed in a mixture of fascination and complete fear. Yolanda was no longer her beautiful, seductive self and instead Sandro, rolling to put out the flames in the fields and letting out the same unearthly screams. Dove felt a pang of sympathy for the girl and got up and limped over to her. He quickly shoved his unused katana through her chest.

Her cannon fired, ending the Thirty-Third Annual Hunger Games once and for all.

She stopped rolling on the ground and Dove had to turn away from her charred remains. He took a step, a second, then collapsed as the loss of blood started to get to him. Fading out of consciousness with his face pressed against the rooftop, Dove swore he could see Sandro smiling and waving at him as the trumpets celebrated his Victory. He used the last of his strength to grab onto the ladder that took him up to the hovercraft above.

The Six Buildings smush together to make one big fighting platform. The three final tributes are instructed not to start until the gong sounds, much like in their battles against the so-called Victors. They have all harbored injuries and will not be healed for the upcoming match. Three tributes, all from odd numbered outlying Districts. Who will come out on top and be the next Victor to join the rank of select few who beat the odds?

Find out later this week!

So, you guys know what to do by now. Tell me how you off the other two and be super detailed and planned out! That's how you stay alive!

This Task is due Wednesday, July 25th at 10 pm EST

Especially things regarding your Task submissions