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Gina process anything until she arrives at the Capitol.
She can’t tell you what happened after her name was called during the reaping for the 66th Hunger Games. She remembers Ashlyn squeezing her hand and a choked out cry coming out of Ashlyn’s mouth. She remembers her legs walking like they had a mind of their own. She remembers the faint claps from the people of District 7. Some in relief it wasn’t them, others in sympathy.
She knows there were tearful goodbyes from her family. She knows Ashlyn clung to her, too stubborn to let her go. Gina didn’t cry—Gina couldn’t cry.
What’s the point in crying? The odds have never been in her favor. This world has never been in her favor.
She remembers the muffled words of encouragement from her parents, from Ashlyn…
Even the cheers of the Capitol people don’t startle her. Gina just straightens her posture, her face hardens, and she curtly waves at the cheering crowd.
This is all a game, and Gina has to play to win. Gina has to come home.
Once, just once, the odds can’t be against her.
…
Within moments of arriving, Gina’s being prepped for the tribute parade. The room smells of pine—almost like home. But it’s scented. It’s not real. Gina’s make up is in green and brown hues—her eyes accentuated with painted tree branches. Her shoes are brown sandals with tree branches wrapping around her legs. It’s so uncomfortable, it almost hurts. But Gina can’t feel pain yet, she has to turn it off. She needs to save this for later—she’ll need to save this pain for later.
The long, green dress is inventive. It resembles a willow tree—hanging down Gina’s curves lifelessly. But when it moves in the wind, it’s like it dances. It reminds Gina of herself—lifeless unless prompted.
Something prompts Gina to wake up, or someone. As they wait in their chariots, Gina catches a glance of a girl—meek and otherwise forgettable if it wasn’t for her outfit. It’s a long, black dress with bolts of white lightning that flashes every few moments. Her make up is shimmering and white, like her face is laid in snow. Across her neck, collarbones, and shoulders, bolts of glittering lightning shimmer in the dim lighting.
The girl made of lightning looks at her intensely, staring at Gina with her curious brown eyes. Like she’s taking Gina in. She moves her brown waves away from her face and turns her eyes away from Gina.
It’s the first time Gina feels present in the games.
…
Lightning Girl doesn’t stop looking at her after the tribute parade. It’s unsettling and uncomfortable. During training, she does nothing to intrigue potential sponsors—nothing to intimidate the rest of the tributes.
Gina does.
Gina swings her axe around impressively before throwing it to the designated targets with ease. Gina shows her strength by lifting things and throwing them across the room. Gina shows her swiftness by running without making noise. It impresses others, it throws Gina in the radar.
But Lightning Girl? Lightning Girl does a few survival training skills like starting fires and camouflaging, but mostly spends her time walking around observing other tributes and then scribbling in her journal. It makes Gina laugh, honestly.
What’s writing a journal going to do? Writing a book won’t save you from the upcoming bloodbath. Gina knows this girl will die within minutes. If Gina cared a little, she’d feel bad for her. But maybe it’s a good thing she dies first—she won’t endure the long-lasting pain of these games. And Gina’s not ready to feel pain yet because she’s saving it for the games.
As Lightning Girl scribbles in her journal and looks at Gina, Gina swings her axe around as she walks over to her. “Writing won’t get you far, you know.”
The brunette doesn’t break her stare. “And what will?”
“Something sharp, for starters.” Gina retorts.
“Words can sting,” she closes her journal. “Cut, sometimes. At least, the words written in here can.”
“Yeah, paper cuts maybe.” Gina says amusedly.
“Weapons can build weakness, but they don’t find weakness. And everyone here has a weakness.” She looks at Gina like she’s trying to solve a puzzle.
“Do they?”
Lightning Girl hums in response.
“What’s mine?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Gina shakes her head. “You’re wasting my time—I need to keep training.” Gina scoffs. “Have fun people-watching.”
Lightning Girl doesn’t respond as she opens her journal once more and continues looking around—looking at Gina.
It makes Gina feel something she can’t wrap her finger around.
…
After her interview with Cesar Flickerman, Gina stays back and watches Lightning Girl from the screen. Her training scores are the lowest compared to everyone else. Gina has a high rating—not as high as some of the careers, but high enough to get her at least one sponsor. An 8. She has a fighting chance with an 8. She can do more with an 8 than Lightning Girl’s 3.
But, shit, Lightning Girl needs to bring the charm if she wants a chance of lasting long enough in the games. Gina turned the charm on and knew when to be clever…when to be coy…when to have the people of the Capitol eating at the palm of her hand. She was the charming firecracker of District 7. There haven’t been too many winners from her district—she can probably count with one hand. But Gina’s the exception—she has to be. She has to come home. She can’t leave Ashlyn on their own. Her parents need her. They’re getting older, and Ashlyn can’t carry the sole burden.
Gina’s not good with feelings—she’s not sure she can even feel. The only thing she can feel is fire in her.
Is it sustainable? To live with fire in her? No, but as long as it keeps her alive, she doesn’t care. She can feel the pain from the fire later, but for now she’s going to let it guide her even if the fire tosses all morals away.
“Now, Nina…is that what you go by? I heard you have a nickname.” Cesar Flickerman speaks to Lightning Girl/Nina. Gina breaks from her thoughts to watch the interview unfold.
“I go by Nini, it actually comes from an old friend. He participated in the games last year—Ricky Bowen? He couldn’t pronounce the letter ‘a’ as a child and so Nina turned to Nini. I keep the name to honor him and his memory.” There’s some cooing from the audience. It’s heartfelt—these people eat it up every time. Gina gives her credit for that one. Cesar smiles warmly.
“That’s very sweet, Nini.” Cesar responds. “Now, I’m going to be honest with you,” he pauses. “People aren’t sure what to make of you—you have the lowest ranking out of all the tributes and inside sources told me you didn’t stand out during training.” Cesar smiles apologetically. “Tell me, why should we root for you?”
Gina watches the screen curiously, anticipating Nini’s answer. What will she say? What can she say to a question like that?
Nini straightens her posture and licks her lips before responding. “Nobody is encouraged to root for me,” there’s murmurs in the audience. “Matter of fact, I’m not asking anyone to. I’m just asking that you keep an eye on me. You never know, I can surprise you.”
“Are you saying you’re an underdog, Nini?”
“No,” Nini shakes her head. “I’m saying…I’m playing to lose.” Nini pauses as the audience murmur to one another. “I know I’m bound to not win—there’s loads of tributes with so much more potential than me—but I hope people will remember me as the girl who was underestimated. I’m not much about physical strength, but I have the brains. I’m from District 5—we’re known for power and electricity. So, yes, I don’t know how to be powerful…but I know where power comes from. And that can be as dangerous as a swinging axe.”
Cesar sits back in his chair and laughs that fake laugh of his. “Well, Nini…you certainly have us intrigued. We’ll definitely be watching you.”
And Gina is definitely going to be watching her.
…
Gina can’t sleep—it’s the night before the games. Gina finds herself wandering down the luxurious hallways, the floors shiny and white—as if they can’t handle a drop of red blood even if it spills elsewhere by their hands.
“Can’t sleep?” a voice speaks up behind her.
Gina turns around and sees Nini, clutching her journal to her chest. Gina shakes her head. “Not a wink.”
“Me too.” Nini agrees. “Can I walk with you?”
“You were planning to already.” Gina retorts.
Nini smiles and walks beside Gina. “Are you scared? About tomorrow?”
“Not yet. I’m not letting it hit me yet.”
“Not letting it?”
“Some feelings should be saved for later.” Gina replies with a nod. “What’s the point in feeling nervous now?”
“I guess.” Nini shrugs. “I just…want to make it far enough.”
“Why try? You already know you’re going to die. You said it yourself.”
“You watched my interview?” an amused smile forms on Nini’s lips.
Gina looks away and blushes. “For a few moments.”
“Why do you try?” Nini asks as they turn the corner into another hallway, sitting down by a large window showing the hustle and bustle of the Capitol’s celebrations. “What’s your drive?”
“People need me. Back home. I’m kind of the crutch for everyone I care about.” Gina confesses.
“What else?”
“What do you mean?”
“People motivate you, but does anything else? What about you?”
“What about me?”
“What makes you want to take your next breath?”
“My lungs kinda need them,” Gina raises an eyebrow. “I don’t know what you’re getting at.”
“You know how to live, no doubt, in all the ways that are physical.” Nini tells her, hugging her knees. “But what are you going to do to stay alive after it all finishes?”
Gina sits back, stumped. She’s never had a chance to think about that. What makes her feel alive? Sure, keeping a roof above the heads of her loved ones is a driving force, but it’s more of an obligation. Gina has to help them live because she loves them and wants them to be safe. But what’s the thing that makes her feel? Gina never lets herself feel. She likes to save feelings for later. She likes to spare her feelings—keep them contained. She fears if she lets them out, she’ll let out a blaze. And right now? She can’t risk creating a blaze within her. She can’t have feelings at the games. It’ll cost her the chance to keep living, and maybe…one day…feel alive.
“I don’t know,” Gina takes a deep breath. “I never let myself think that far.”
“Oh.”
“What about you? What keeps you alive?”
Nini shakes her head. “I can’t tell you.”
Gina raises an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“The things that keep you alive also keep you weak.”
“You wanna elaborate on that?”
“It’s not a bad thing, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Nini chuckles, shaking her head. “Take me for example—I’ve spent my whole life studying. I love to learn. I read everything. From fairytales to philosophy to manuals. I’m definitely book smart. The textbook kind, even. It’s my strength…”
Gina looks at Nini, taking her in. There’s regret behind her eyes. Uncertainty. Fear. Nini’s painfully easy to read—she wears her heart on her sleeve. It would be commendable anywhere else, but not here—not at these games.
“I take it that it’s your weakness, too?”
Nini nods faintly.
“You just gave away your weakness.”
“It’s not my only weakness.”
“What else, then?”
Nini shakes her head. “That one will definitely get me killed.” She smiles.
Gina smiles back softly. “Hey, Nini?”
“Yeah?”
“I hope you make it long enough.”
Nini nods and smiles softly. “Thanks. You too. I think you have a chance at winning this thing.”
“Maybe…” Gina looks down at her feet. “Good luck out there.”
“May the odds be ever in your favor!” Nini retorts in a vague British accent.
Gina giggles. They share a laugh together.
“I tend to not have the odds in my favor, actually.” Gina scrunches her nose. “Life kinda sucks, I mean—” Gina gestures around her. “Look where I’m at.”
“Hey, even the tide has to turn…same for you.” Nini gets up, grabbing her journal. “See you tomorrow, Gina.”
“See you tomorrow,” Gina nods to her as Nini starts to walk away. “If I run into you during the games…I’ll consider sparing you. Just once.”
Nini turns around with a coy smile. “I thought you didn’t let yourself think that far.”
Gina’s heart races for a moment.
It reminds her she’s alive.
…
“10…9…” the speakers boom around the arena as everyone stands on their podiums, awaiting the eventual bloodbath from the Cornucopia. Gina takes a moment to observe everyone and take it all in.
The Careers from Districts 1 and 2 are E.J. Caswell, Val, Howie, and Lily. They’re strong, well-trained, and no hesitation to kill. Gina knows she’s in their radar of people they want to eliminate, but she hopes to trick them into a temporary alliance. Just enough to get her far.
Maddox and Jet Carter from District 3. They look smart—sharp. And know how to stay under the radar. Gina has to keep an eye out for them.
“8…7…”
Antoine and Madison from District 4 look athletic. They’ll make it far—possibly form an alliance with the Careers if they haven’t already. They look like they volunteered to be here.
Noah “Big Red” Redonovich and Nina Salazar-Roberts from District 5. Big Red looks scrawny. Gina still can’t understand why he volunteered to be here. She noticed him and Nini stuck together throughout training. She’s sure they’re working together. They’re done for. And Nini…Gina still can’t make up her mind about Nini. She’s smart, but smart can only get you so far…
Alex from District 6. She looks maybe 13—too young to be here. She looks terrified. Ready to cry. The bloodbath will get her, no doubt.
Emmy from District 8—another little girl who looks the same age as Alex. She knows they’ll form an alliance; they spent all their time together during training. It won’t get them very far. They’re both too weak, they won’t last. They’re nothing for Gina to worry about, sadly.
“6…5…”
Kourtney Greene from District 9—she’s smart and definitely strong, it’s a good combination to have. She’ll make it far enough—she was social the past two weeks. She knows that her and Carlos formed alliances.
Seb Matthew-Smith from District 10 has the kindest eyes Gina’s ever seen. It pains her to know they won’t make it far. Even as they wait, Seb still smiles politely at others who have nothing but death behind their eyes.
“4…3…”
Carlos Rodriguez from District 11 is someone to look out for—she’s cunning, sneaky, and lethal. They’re driven, she’ll give them that. Carlos sends glares to anyone who looks at her, intimidating everyone else.
Emily Pratt and another blonde boy from District 12. They look weak and frail—they’re done for. Most tributes from this District are done for.
“2…”
Gina looks across from her and sees Jack—the boy she came with. She hardly gave him the time of day no matter how hard he tried after the reaping. She knows he’s strong to maybe make it past the bloodbath, but he’s not getting out of here alive. He probably knows that, though.
Gina looks over at Nini who nods over to the table with the axe—Gina’s specialty weapon. Gina nods to her before looking away. She can’t let anyone get in her head—not now. Later—she’ll think of all of this later.
“…1.” The gongs go off and everyone takes off running. Gina goes straight for a backpack first, grabbing it as she runs and throwing it over her shoulder.
Gina sees Nini grabbing a backpack and take off running with the redhead boy. Gina should follow their lead, but she debates for a second getting the axe that’s only a few feet away—she needs it. Gina sees the boy from District 6 get massacred right in front of her by Howie who already has a spear in his hands. He looks right at her and smirks as the cannon goes off.
“Can’t resist the glory, huh?” Howie glares at her before throwing the spear towards her. Gina’s quick reflexes make her fall back and she feels warm liquid splatter her back. Gina turns around and the boy from District 8 chokes out blood as the spear is pierced in his chest. The cannon goes off and Gina takes that as her cue to run and grab the axe before taking off running into the woods.
“We’ll get to you eventually, Gina!” Howie calls after her. Gina keeps running. It’s all she can do for now—keep running.
…
The sky of the arena projects images of the fallen. Gina looks up at the sky and sees the images flash briefly.
Both tributes from District 6. Both tributes from District 8. Both tributes from District 12. And the female tribute of District 11. Panem’s anthem stops playing and Gina let’s out the breath she didn’t know she was holding in.
Why was she even holding it?
“You surprised me,” Gina admits aloud. “You made it.”
Gina holds the axe close to her as she falls asleep.
She’s awoken merely a few hours later to a blade pressed against her throat. “Give us a reason not to kill you right now.” A deep voice speaks. Gina’s eyes spring open as she’s surrounded by the Careers—E.J., Val, Lily, and Howie.
“And add some begging, if you can!” Lily giggles in a way that sends chills down Gina’s spine.
Gina wants to panic. Gina wants to scream. Gina wants to plead for mercy—but she buries those feelings. She has to. She can’t die this way. Not this…pathetic.
“Considering you need a reason to kill me is a reason you need me.” Gina retorts as she flinches when E.J. presses the blade deeper, undoubtedly making Gina bleed.
“Think cleverness is going to save you?” E.J. asks.
“You haven’t sliced my throat open, so yes.” Gina feigns cockiness. “You have been looking for me, and it’s not to kill me. Not yet, at least.”
“She’s playing you, E.J.” Val says. “Just kill her! One less person to worry about!”
“Hold on!” E.J. growls.
“You want to win, E.J.? It won’t be with them. I know it’s natural for you four to immediately buddy up in an alliance, but they’re worried. I worry them. Isn’t that a little bit concerning for you?” Gina questions with a smirk. “People on your team worry. You can’t have worriers on your team. People who second-guess will fuck you over.”
“And what are you?” E.J. scoffs.
“Someone who doesn’t let herself worry. I do what I need to do to live. All of you are hesitating to kill me because you worry you might actually need me. And you do. Because I act, not just think. And I don’t show weakness.” Gina wraps her hand around the blade despite the fact that it pierces her skin, and she bleeds. Gina refuses to flinch as she looks at E.J. “Do I look weak to you right now, E.J.?”
“What the fuck?” Howie mumbles, shaking his head in both disgust and disbelief.
Gina lets go of the blade. “Make your choice.” Gina wipes her cut hand on E.J.’s shirt, staining it red. “There’s more where that came from.”
E.J. moves the blade away from Gina’s neck. “Someone wrap her fucking hand.” He orders as he walks away. Gina lets out an internal sigh of relief.
Val begrudgingly wraps Gina’s hand in gauze, tightening it to make Gina cry out in pain. Gina holds it in. “Congratulations, you just signed your death wish.”
“Or you signed yours.” Gina bites back.
“Hey, 7!” Gina looks away from Val and she’s faced with Jack kneeled to the ground by Howie. “Let’s prove that lack of weakness right now.” Howie kicks Jack forward as Jack’s body shakes in fear. “Kill him.”
“What?” Gina’s heart races as she looks at Jack whose eyes widen.
“Act, don’t think.” Howie smiles in a way that feels menacing. “That’s what you said, right?” Howie pushes Gina’s axe into her hands. “Kill him. You do what you need to do to live, right?”
“Yes.” Gina says, her voice unwavering. “But I don’t see how Jack will show for anything.”
“Gina, please.” Jack’s eyes well up with tears.
“Prove we need you, Gina.” Lily says behind Howie. “Prove it!”
“The more you hesitate, the more we know you were bullshitting us. And we don’t just kill him, we kill you—” Val doesn’t even finish her sentence when Gina swings her axe and pierces right down Jack’s left shoulder. Blood splatters on Gina’s face and the cannon goes off only seconds later. Jack’s lifeless body lies there, bleeding out.
The Careers fall into a long silence.
Gina wipes the blood off of her axe. “If you’ll excuse me,” Gina breaks the silence. “I’m going to go clean myself off over at the stream. Unless you have any more tests for me to go through.” Gina looks at Val and Howie. “Because I’ll swing those two with even more gumption.” She says before walking away to the stream, immediately covering her face in water to camouflage the tears streaming down her face.
She killed someone. She killed Jack. She killed someone who didn’t deserve it. She—
“We need you.” E.J. says behind her.
Gina sniffs the air, wiping her wet face with her shirt. “Took you long enough. Now my shirt’s dirty.” She says with a coy smile as she walks past him to get her bag. She takes off with the Careers.
Everything is going according to plan.
…
There’s more blood on Gina’s hands. She kills the boy from District 9, the girl from District 10, and Madison from District 4. She knows she’s doing the dirty work for them—but she needs them to believe she’s loyal. Even if her hands are stained red no matter how much she scrubs them in the streams.
This doesn’t make Gina feel alive. It just keeps her living in a state of numbness.
“How many are left?” Gina overhears E.J. ask Val. They’re a few feet away behind a tree. Idiots—don’t they realize there’s no way to keep secrets in a place like this?
“Besides us five? Kourtney from District 9. Carlos from District 11. I hear they’re working together,” Val begins to list. “Antoine from District 4—he’ll be easy to get rid of. The strongest of the two was Madison and Gina killed her. Seb from District 10—they’re alive by a miracle, but they won’t last. Maddox and Jet from District 3—who knows where they’re hiding. They’ve always worked well together. And then we have both tributes from District 5, Nini and Big Red. No sign of them anywhere, too.”
“Should be easy enough—do you think we still need her?” E.J. asks. Gina grips her axe. “She already killed four for us. We can handle the rest.”
“But how? She’s strong—stronger than we imagined. Maybe have her get rid of Antoine and Seb? We can handle the rest.”
“Good plan, I’ll let Howie and Lily know.” E.J. walks away from Val. Gina pretends to be walking back from the stream. “I was looking for you,” E.J. looks at Gina. “Think you can get Antoine and Seb?”
Gina nods. “Sure,” Gina agrees. Before E.J. can walk away, Gina stops him. “Careful, E.J.” E.J. gives her a confused look. “I’ve been doing all the killing lately. And the cameras are watching—wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re weak.”
“Watch who you’re talking to.” E.J. growls.
“Watch who you listen to.” Gina retorts before walking away. Gina has a target on her back, but they still think she’s loyal to them. She can still be an element of surprise.
Tonight.
It has to be tonight.
…
“Gina, we have a surprise for you!” Lily sings as she pulls over Antoine from District 4. He’s bruised and battered, but still alive despite the several cuts and bruises on his body. “I say you go for a head chop. Off with his head!” Lily laughs.
Gina swings her axe. “I can do that,” she smiles at Lily while E.J., Howie, and Val finish eating their food. “Count to three for me, Lily?”
Lily grins. “1…” Gina grips the axe. “2…” Lily wiggles her eyebrows in excitement. “3!” Lily’s piercing blue eyes widen—shifting from excitement to horror when the axe swings towards her. She screams as Gina swings the axe and her body falls to the floor, her head rolling towards E.J., Howie, and Val.
Gina cuts Antoine free. “Run.” She tells him as he takes off running.
“Gina, what the fuck?!” Howie yells as he stands over Lily’s decapitated corpse as the cannon goes off.
“Kill her.” Val glares at her as she takes out her blades and throws one towards Gina but misses as Gina dodges it.
Howie grabs his spear while E.J. grabs his sword. Gina knows it’s the end for her, but at least she has some dignity left to her. Besides, not the worst way to go in front of the cameras. Gina’s forgotten they’re there. Cameras on you are the least of Gina’s worries—especially now.
“You crazy bitch!” E.J. growls as they begin to chase after her. Gina takes off running. “You think you can escape us?!”
Gina keeps running, not thinking about what direction she’s going. Gina pants as she runs, tripping over some rocks and rolling down a hill. Gina reaches the bottom and her head rings as she lifts her head up. E.J., Howie, and Val are coming down the hill without a single scratch on them. E.J. grabs Gina by her shirt, her axe falling out of her hands.
“I trusted you!”
“Did you?” Gina manages to choke out, spitting out blood from her mouth at E.J. “Some trust when you planned to kill me once I finished doing your dirty work.”
“I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, Gina.” E.J. drops Gina and Val grabs her.
“Spill out her guts, E.J!” Val exclaims. “Make it hurt.”
E.J. grips his sword and nods. Just as E.J. starts piercing through Gina’s skin, birds cry out from above their heads. All four of them look up and some pink, large-beaked birds fly above them in circles. “What the fuck is that?” E.J. asks.
They soon get their answer when one of the birds dives down and tackles Howie. Howie screams in agony and fear as the bird begins to pick at him, ripping out pieces of his skin. “Help me! E.J.! Val!” he shrieks.
Val drops Gina, backing away with E.J. “We have to go! Now!” Val exclaims as she starts running. E.J. stays behind. “E.J!”
“Wait,” E.J. slides his sword down Gina’s thigh, Gina cries out in pain. “Good game, Gina.” He smirks before taking off running. Gina has no way to run from the birds who are all preoccupied eating Howie’s intestines. A cannon goes off, signifying Howie’s end.
Gina knows she’s losing blood and drags herself, gripping onto the dirt as she tries to get away from the carnivorous birds. She starts feeling weaker. A bird lands right in front of her, a clicking noise coming out of its mouth as its beak opens. Gina succumbs to her fate, laying still. She feels herself losing consciousness as the bird is breathing on her face, leaning closer to begin pecking at her. She hears two voices behind her, feeling the heat of a blazing torch of fire. The pink bird screeches and backs away, seemingly afraid of the fire.
The flock of birds fly away, and Gina feels a soft hand touch her neck.
“She’s got a pulse!” the familiar voice exclaims.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Gina passes out as they lift her from the ground, and it all fades to black.
…
Gina springs up as she wakes up, gasping for air. Gina groans when her leg stings and her body aches, falling back to the dirt. “Relax, you’re safe.” A voice speaks up. Gina turns her head and sees Nini kneeled next to her, checking her bandages.
“You’re alive.” Gina chokes out, her mouth feeling dry.
Nini nods. “Told you not to underestimate me.” She smiles.
“Why are you helping me?”
Nini’s about to respond when Big Red walks over to them, carrying two dead birds. “I got dinner—oh, she’s awake!” he smiles. How can they smile during times like this? “How’s the leg?”
“It’s healing. I told you mixing those leaves into a paste would work.” Nini nudges him playfully.
“You shouldn’t trust me—you should’ve left me to die.” Gina says, looking away.
“I voted on it, but Nini insisted.” Big Red replies as Nini shushes him.
“Why?” Gina shakes her head. “I don’t get it…”
“I want to buy myself time,” Nini says. “I don’t want to die at the hands of just any tribute. I know you can keep me alive for at least…a few more days.”
“Why do you want more time?” Gina asks.
Nini shrugs and smiles faintly. “Because I’m human.”
Gina looks at Big Red. “What about you? Need me to be your babysitter, too?”
Big Red shakes his head. “I don’t ask for favors. I’m just here because…” It’s the first time Gina sees Big Red’s face darken. “My best friend died here last year. Ricky Bowen…” Big Red looks down at his hands as he plucks off the feathers of the bird. “And Nini was selected…I didn’t want her to go alone like he did. I volunteered to be here.”
Weirdly enough, Gina can understand his reasoning. She’d do the same if it was her sister Ashlyn.
“Come on, drink some water. You need to heal that leg as much as we’re able to. We’re good at hiding, so we can buy you some time.” Nini says as she gives Gina some water from a cannister. Gina drinks it, maintaining eye contact with Nini as she does. It makes Nini’s face turn crimson.
“I killed people, Nini.” Gina blurts out. She doesn’t know why—but she can’t find it in her to lie to Nini.
Nini nods in understanding. “We do what we can to live,” Nini squeezes Gina’s shoulder. “Just stay alive.”
“I don’t know how to do that.” Gina sighs.
“You will.” Nini smiles softly. “I know you will.”
“It’s dangerous to believe in someone this much, you know. Especially given our circumstances.”
“I know,” Nini shakes her head and shrugs. “I can’t help it.”
…
“Okay, here’s how we’ll stay alive…” Nini reveals her tattered journal. “This.”
Gina chuckles. “What? You’re gonna whack someone to death with it?” she teases.
Nini scrunches up her nose and rolls her eyes. “No…I have every single tribute’s strength and weaknesses on here.”
“Including mine?”
“No, just your strengths. Still figuring out your weaknesses.” Nini replies.
“How did you figure out everyone else’s?” Gina asks.
“I observed them every day during training. How they moved, what they willingly chose to train in versus where they hesitate, how they interact with others…I got it all down.” Nini taps the notebook. “This is how we win.”
“We? Only one of us can get out of here.” Gina reminds her.
“Right…” Nini shakes her head. “We’ll figure out logistics later. Right now, let’s choose who we’re going to take out.”
Big Red sits beside them as Nini opens her journal. “You know, Nini…having this…you can win this thing.” Big Red says and Nini dismisses him with a wave of her hand. “What? You can!”
“I don’t have the physical attributes to win. My brains can get me far, but not far enough.” Nini argues.
“What are you thinking?” Gina asks.
“Carlos, Kourtney, and Seb next,” Nini says, flipping through her notebook. “Carlos’s flaws are that she is fiery—she acts on impulse. And while it makes us think we don’t know her next move, we do. Carlos always aims for the head, which helps when fighting. They can fight, but they don’t know how to use weaponry. That’s another way we can get her.”
“What about Kourtney?”
“Kourtney’s smart, but she second-guesses. That’s why she formed an alliance with Carlos who is impulsive,” Nini explains. “She hesitates even in battle—that half-second of hesitation will end her.”
“And Seb?” Gina asks.
Nini looks guilty as she reads off her journal. “Their kindness.”
“How is kindness their weakness?”
“They don’t know when to stop giving it out. They’ll give it to anyone—even now.” Nini closes her journal. “Can we give them a kind death? One less painful?”
Gina nods. “You have my word.”
“Thank you.” Nini smiles softly.
“Do you have a plan for Kourtney and Carlos?” Big Red asks.
Nini nods. “It involves traps.” She opens her journal once more.
…
Gina watches as Nini gathers branches and creates a type of trap with wire Nini wrapped with thorns she found nearby. Nini’s hands were full of cuts, but Gina’s never seen her so concentrated.
“I never would have thought of this.” Gina says in disbelief as Big Red comes back with more thorns.
Nini looks up momentarily, smiling. “Well, good thing you have me, right?”
Gina feels her face flush and she looks away. “Good thing.” She mumbles.
“This is going to work.” Nini assures as Gina tries to get up. “Stop, you need to heal!”
“I need to help!” Gina retorts. “Let me gather branches to start the fire to signal to Carlos and Kourtney to come here.” Nini gives her a pointed look. “I can take care of myself, you know.”
“I know,” Nini looks back down at her makeshift trap. “I just think you need to feel how it is to be cared for. At least once.”
Gina bites her lip before getting up, letting out a groan before limping over to gather branches and leaves to start a fire. Gina’s leg still hurts, but she can move—not the same as before, but she has something. She’ll probably never be the same again both physically and mentally. What’s the point of living if Gina won’t be the same—
Gina shakes the thoughts out of her head as she keeps collecting branches while Big Red and Nini finish their trap. “All right…when do you want to do this, Gina?” Nini asks.
“Now.”
Big Red shakes his head. “But your leg—”
“Now.” Gina repeats.
Nini and Big Red exchange a look as Gina picks up her axe. Big Red starts the fire and the three of them move out of sight to trap them.
Minutes later, the trio hear Kourtney and Carlos’s voices nearing closer, appearing to be bickering.
“They’re right here! Come on!” Carlos exclaims as they run down the direction where the trap is, two thick branches holding up thorned wire.
“Can you do me a favor?” Gina whispers to Nini and Big Red.
“Yeah?” Nini whispers back.
“Can you both close your eyes when I go over there?” Gina frowns. “I don’t want you to see me…” Gina looks away.
Nini responds by squeezing Gina’s hand. Gina lets out a sigh of relief. Their thoughts are interrupted when Carlos lets out a cry in agony as they trip over the thorned wire trap, their ankles sliced open and bleeding profusely.
“Carlos!” Kourtney sees Carlos and takes a step back, eyes wide.
“Kourtney! Help me!” Carlos pleads as Kourtney’s lower lip trembles.
Gina takes a deep breath and sees Nini and Big Red close their eyes. It’s a blur. Gina attacks Kourtney first. As Nini predicted, Kourtney hesitates to throw the blade for half a second. It’s all Gina needs to take her. The cannon goes off and Carlos pleads for his life as Gina swings her axe at him. The second cannon goes off. Gina lets out a shaky breath as blood is splattered across her face.
“You did it!” Big Red exclaims.
Gina stays silent. Big Red and Nini exchange looks and Big Red nods. “I’m gonna go put out the fire. We should start finding camp somewhere else soon.” Nini nods to him before her and Gina are left alone.
“Let’s clean you up.” Nini pulls Gina down to the ground to sit as she rips out a piece of her t-shirt that she wets with water. Gina lets Nini wipe the wet cloth across her bloodied face. “I don’t judge you, you know. You’re doing what I can’t.”
“I’m killing people.” Gina says barely above a whisper.
“We have to.” Nini takes Gina’s hands and wipes off the blood from Gina’s knuckles. “I know it hurts, but it shows you’re a good person. You’re not like E.J. and Val who kill for fun—they kill because they like it. We do it because we need to live. They do it because it makes them feel alive in all the wrong ways.”
“We…” Gina trails off.
Nini frowns and takes Gina’s other bloodied hand rubs it with hers, staining her hands with blood.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to help you carry the burden.”
Gina shakes her head. “I don’t…where did you come from?”
Nini smiles. “Can I hug you?”
“Promise not to stab me?” Gina teases.
“I could never.” Nini chuckles before pulling Gina in for a hug. “I got you, okay?” Nini whispers in her ear.
Gina squeezes Nini a little tighter. “Okay.”
…
They get to Seb next. They spare them by slipping nightlock in their food when they ask to join Seb in their camp for the night. Seb dies instantly—it’s painless. Nini is the one that gives them the poison, her eyes ridden with guilt.
Then, the cannon goes off. Maybe it’s a good thing to have Seb die this way. There was no pain, and they still believed that people can be good. Even here. They died without losing trust, faith, or hope. They stopped living, but Gina gets it now. Seb’s still alive in all the ways that matter. All the things they cared about, they got to keep even in death.
“Four left,” Big Red speaks up as they’re walking. “Maddox, Jet, E.J., and Val.”
“What about Antoine?” Gina asks. “I spared him.”
“He was killed…probably by Val and E.J.” Nini gives Gina an apologetic smile. “It happened when you were passed out.”
Gina nods slowly. “What are their weaknesses?”
Nini opens her journal. “For Maddox and Jet, their strengths are knowing how to stay hidden. Most likely they’re using camouflage. They’re smart because they’re playing the long game of trying to outlast all the tributes. However, this means they’re not good at combat. We find them, and they’re goners,” Nini explains. “But I know their hiding methods.”
Gina looks at Nini expectantly.
“They hide in plain sight—it’s a psychology trick. A clever one, too,” Nini tells them. “We expect them to hide really well, so we look in all the crevices of this arena and not anywhere else.”
“What are you saying?” Big Red asks.
“They’re hiding in the Cornucopia.” Nini concludes.
“How do you know?” Big Red continues.
“Because that’s hiding in plain sight—right at the center of the arena. The place where everyone is told not to be in because it’s dangerous. They’ve been there the whole time.” Nini explains.
“You’re too smart for your own good, Nini.” Gina shakes her head in disbelief.
Nini smiles. “Thank you,” she pauses. “Now, don’t think they’re just in the Cornucopia hiding in plain sight—there’s traps. They used the bombs on our pedestals and placed them around them as a safety measure. But...there’s another way we can kill them.”
Big Red nods. “How do we do that?”
Nini flips a page in her journal, showing her idea. “We electrocute them with water and copper wire by detonating one of their bombs.”
…
As Gina watches Nini wrap copper wire Nini speaks up without pulling concentration. “I can feel your eyes on me.” Nini smiles.
Gina averts her eyes and blushes. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize,” Nini looks at Gina for a moment. “I like it.”
“You just…surprise me.”
“How so?”
“It surprises me how…alive you are.” Gina and Nini have a shared look. “How do you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Stay alive?”
“If I tell you, do you promise not to use it against me?” Nini continues wrapping the copper wire.
“Depends.” Gina teases.
Nini chuckles and puts down the copper wire. “Love,” Nini says softly. “Love is what keeps me alive. It’s also my biggest weakness.”
Gina blinks, not expecting that answer. “Love?” Nini nods. “How does that keep you alive?”
“It was the first thing I didn’t just want to learn about—I wanted to experience it. I’ve spent my life looking for it in any way I can get it. Familial love…platonic love…” Nini trails off. “I’ve found those. And they’re beautiful…I’d do anything for the people I love…”
Gina nods. “What about romantic love?”
Nini blushes and shakes her head. “Not much luck there—the only thing I learned from it is from romance novels,” Nini chuckles. “No one wants to date a brainiac…”
“I would.” Gina says without thinking, feeling her face heat up.
Nini smiles at Gina. “You’d be into a smart girl like me?”
Gina shrugs. “You’ve kept me entertained this long…and alive.”
Nini chuckles and goes back to wrapping the wire. “If it weren’t for these games…maybe I’d ask you on a date.”
“And maybe I’d say yes.” Gina picks a nearby wildflower and places it behind Nini’s ear.
“I’d take you on a picnic, and I’d be so nervous,” Nini looks over at Gina again. “And…I’d ramble about something geeky.”
“I’d find it cute, don’t worry.” Gina can’t help but play into it. Can anything even come from this? Of course not. They’re in the Hunger Games—only one comes out alive. Nothing can come from this…but Gina can’t help but imagine it.
“You would? Even if I’m rambling about all the plants surrounding us?” Nini tilts her head.
“Even then. I’d be too nervous to speak, so I’m glad one of us can do the talking. I’d just smile at you.”
“Like you’re doing right now?” Nini teases.
Gina chuckles and nods. “Maybe even bigger.”
Nini puts down the wire. “Would you let me kiss you at the end of our date?”
“Only if you walk me to the door.” Gina smiles.
“I’m a proper lady, so I would.” Nini insists, looking down at Gina’s lips. Gina notices, it makes her heart race.
“You’d be too nervous to initiate it, so I would. I’m more of a woman of action anyways.” Gina scoots closer to Nini.
“Are you?” Gina nods. “Show me.” Nini whispers.
Gina leans in, but they hear Big Red’s footsteps approaching and both of them pull away. “I brought as much water as I could fit in these three cannisters!” Big Red exclaims.
Nini nods. “That…that should be enough.” She clears her throat.
Gina nods. “Thanks, Big Red.”
Big Red eyes them suspiciously. “Did I interrupt something?”
“Nope…just finishing wrapping the wire!” Nini exclaims with a smile.
“Oh, okay!” Big Red says as he goes to start a fire. “Cute flower, by the way.” He says to Nini with a smirk.
Gina and Nini fall into an awkward silence. Gina helps Nini with the wire.
“I don’t think it’s weak, you know.” Gina speaks up.
Nini looks over at her. “What’s not weak?”
“To love,” Gina clarifies. “If that’s your weakness, then you’re probably the most incredible person alive.”
Nini smiles softly and lets out a sigh. “If only…” Nini shakes her head. “If only we weren’t here.”
…
“How are you going to get the wire to, like, turn on?” Gina asks as the trio walk to the Cornucopia.
“By lighting it with fire. We need to place the wire into damp soil for it to work. Hence, the water.” Nini explains. It would be more ideal if there were rain…but this will work…I hope.”
Moments later, it begins to rain. Big Red chuckles. “Looks like they want you to go through with this plan, Neens,” Nini chuckles. “You got this.”
“You two have to be far away. You can’t be near when I detonate the wire. It’ll electrocute you both.”
Gina stops walking. “What about you?” Nini ignores her and Gina grabs her arm. “Nini, what about you?”
“Thank you for keeping me alive these past few days. This is how I’ll repay you,” Is all Nini says to her before Nini looks at Big Red. “Do it.”
“Nini, you can’t—" Gina gasps as Big Red whacks her head with one of the cannisters. Hard. Gina feels lightheaded as Nini takes off running towards the Cornucopia. “Nini!” she exclaims despite the ringing in her head. “Nini!”
It’s all a blur, but Gina semi-sees from a distance as the rain grows heavier, Nini works more diligently, sneakily placing the long wire around the Cornucopia.
“I don’t know what it is about you…” Big Red sounds muffled as he holds onto Gina. “I tried to talk her out of it…but she’s stubborn. She says you deserve to know what it is to be alive. She wants you to win, and I don’t know why—actually I do.”
Gina’s ears are ringing as she hears yells coming from Maddox and Jet—or are they pleads?
Big Red’s voice sounds shaky, as if he’s about to cry. He knows what’s coming next.
“The moment you two made eye contact, Nini got this look in her eye the way I used to look at Ricky. Eyes full of curiosity…eyes full of admiration.”
Gina grips the dirt.
“Nini will do anything for the people she loves…do you know what I mean by that?”
“Yes,” Gina chokes out as she strikes a punch to Big Red’s face. “and I need her to stay alive.”
Gina gets up with wobbly legs, her head still ringing as she stumbles over to the Cornucopia. “Nini!” Gina calls out as it rains harder. Big Red calls behind her.
Gina gets it now. She gets why she can’t let Nini do this.
Because Nini keeps Gina alive, too.
They both keep each other alive.
It all happens so fast—Gina sees a bright flash and then all the bombs detonate and Nini flies backwards as jolts of electricity reel through the wet dirt. Gina’s ears ring from the explosion, hearing faint cannons in the background to symbolize the end of Maddox and Jet’s lives.
“Nini…” Gina slips in the muddy dirt, but she still drags herself over to Nini’s still body. Smoke comes out of Nini’s body, her body covered in soot. The closer Gina gets, the more her body wakes up. Gina crawls over to Nini. “You’re not leaving me—” Gina springs into action, pressing against Nini’s chest and then breathing into her mouth. “Stay with me…please.” Gina keeps pressing into Nini’s chest as Nini doesn’t respond. “C’mon…fight!” Gina exclaims as she repeats pressing into Nini’s chest and breathing into her mouth.
Big Red falls to his knees next to Gina. “Do you really think…Gina she’s—”
“She’s Lightning Girl, she’s going to wake up.” Gina insists as she presses into Nini’s chest one more time. “She will…you said she does anything for the people she loves…she’s going to wake up for me.” Gina breathes into Nini’s mouth one more time and then pulls back, looking at Nini expectantly. “Please, please, please…”
Nini’s body lies still for several moments.
Big Red starts to cry and Gina keeps her eyes on Nini’s still body.
Suddenly, Nini gasps for air and her eyes spring open. Gina smiles and lets out a breath she didn’t even realize she’s holding in. “There we go…” Gina rubs Nini’s cheek. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me.”
“Did it blow up?” Nini chokes out.
Big Red chuckles through his tears. “The biggest fucking explosion I’ve ever seen…you got ‘em, Neens.”
“Good,” Nini nods as she looks at Gina. “I had to…you never would have let me.”
“You’re damn right I wouldn’t have,” She pushes Nini’s shoulder playfully and Nini groans but laughs. “Sorry…you just scared me.”
“I had to keep you alive.” Nini argues.
Gina shakes her head. “I’ll show you what keeps me alive,” Gina leans down and captures Nini’s lips with her own. Nini kisses her back, gripping onto Gina’s shirt to steady herself. Gina pulls away slightly, their lips still touching. “You do. You keep me alive.”
…
“There’s two left, and Val and E.J. are the toughest to beat,” Big Red says as they walk through the woods. “What’re their weaknesses?”
Nini reaches into her journal and flips through it. “Val is a master of manipulation. I can tell she’s got a background in psychology. While she’s a strong fighter, her technique in manipulation is even stronger. While it seems E.J. is the leader, it’s Val pulling all the strings.” Nini explains.
Gina nods. “I can attest to that.”
Nini smiles softly at Gina before continuing. “What makes Val weak, though, is loss of control. When she no longer has the upper hand in a situation, she acts irrationally. When things don’t go her way, she panics. I saw it happen many times during training when she made mistakes. She shuts down and acts in ways that can get her killed.”
“And E.J.?” Big Red asks.
“He’s a strong fighter, but he seeks validation from others. He needs other people to praise him—to feel like they need him. It’s how Val manipulates him. Kill Val, and E.J. will crumble.” Nini says.
“So, we have to kill Val first?” Gina asks and Nini nods. “What do you suggest?”
“We need to provide them with the illusion that they have the upper hand. Make them think we’re at their will—that they’re in control of the situation. To do that…one of us has to be their hostage.”
Gina shakes her head. “Nini…”
“She’s right,” Big Red speaks up. “We can’t appear to be a powerhouse to them—they have big egos because they’re part of the Careers, so we need to feed into their ego. But when the hostage outsmarts them, then they’ll be thrown off because the power dynamics are shifting.”
“Exactly! Thank you!” Nini smiles. “That’s why I think I should be the one to—”
“No,” Big Red cuts in. “I will be the hostage.”
Nini’s face grows pale. “Reddie—”
“You can’t stop me,” Big Red shakes his head. “I have to do this.
Nini frowns, but Gina squeezes Nini’s shoulder to comfort her. Nini grabs Gina’s hand and leans into it. “Let him do this, Neens.”
Nini closes her eyes for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”
Big Red smiles softly. “So, how do we find them?” Big Red asks.
“We don’t need to,” Nini opens her eyes. “They’ve been watching us this whole time. They were waiting for it to be just us to kill us. Reddie, you need to walk off alone. That’s what they’re waiting for. They’re waiting for one of us to be alone to spring into action.”
“Tonight…we do this tonight,” Big Red squeezes Nini’s arm. “Whatever happens…thank you for being my best friend.” Big Red looks at Gina and pulls her into a hug before whispering in Gina’s ear. “Keep Nini alive. Until the very end…keep her alive.”
Gina nods. “I promise.”
…
Big Red is captured by E.J. and Val, just like Nini predicted they would. They leave a note to Nini and Gina to meet them at the Cornucopia.
“How are we outsmarting them?” Gina asks. “I don’t really get the whole hostage thing—”
“He knows he’s going to die.” Nini cuts in, her eyes watery. “He knows that they’ll kill him as soon as they see us to further make them think they’re in control of the situation.”
Gina gulps. “Nini, I’m sorry—”
“It’s okay… that’s what he wants. He’s not really dying; he’s going to feel alive knowing that he gets to be with Ricky again.”
“It’s love, isn’t it? The thing that keeps us alive?”
Nini nods. “Love is everything—it’s how we win. It’s also how we lose. It’s all-consuming…it heals us, it breaks us. It makes us weak…it makes us strong.”
Gina pulls Nini in for a kiss. “You keep me alive.”
Nini smiles into the kiss and cups Gina’s face. “We keep each other alive,” Nini leans her forehead against Gina’s and then pulls away. “There’s one more thing we have to do before we go to them.”
“What’s that?”
“We have to pretend you’re dead. We have to make a cannon go off. They’re around here. We have to set it off, so they think one of us died. It’ll make them feel like they got even more of an upper hand because they think Big Red and I are weak. You’re the strong one here. When they just see me approach them, they won’t see you coming.”
Gina shakes her head in disbelief before grinning. “You are…incredible.” Nini shrugs with a smile before Gina peppers her face with kisses and makes her laugh.
“C’mon! We gotta go find a cannon!” Nini giggles as Gina pulls away. Nini intertwines her fingers with Gina’s as she pulls Gina towards a direction. “They can’t be too far away—I did the math as I heard the cannons. They always were heard this direction,” Nini points towards a cave. “They must shoot them from here.”
Gina nods as they enter the cave. “I don’t see any cannons…”
“That’s because they’re discreet,” Nini explains. “We’re not supposed to find them.”
“But you got them beat,” Gina chuckles. “Where are they?”
“Did you ever notice how there’s a rumbling noise when the cannons go off?” Gina shakes her head. “Of course you didn’t, I’m just the weirdo who notices everything.” Nini chuckles.
“In our case, it’s a great thing.” Gina argues.
Nini smiles at her. “We have to find where there’s rubble.” Gina nods as they look around before Gina finally sees a gaping hole with rubble surrounding it.
“Here! It’s here!” Gina exclaims as she rushes over to it. “How do we set it off? It only goes off when a tribute dies.”
“It’s not automatically set off, though. Someone has to detonate it. One of the gamekeepers, I’m sure. There’s probably an emergency trigger on this. There has to be. Because nothing is fool proof. I just have to find it.” Nini begins to search around the area, running her fingers over the rocks before she feels something loose. Nini furrows her eyebrows as she nudges the loose rock and then it springs open, revealing a keypad.
“Fuck, it needs a code.” Gina sighs.
Nini purses her lips as she presses four digits, and a beeping sound is heard as the keypad lowers itself back into the rock.
“What was it?” Gina asks, shaking her head.
“6624—it’s the 66th Hunger Games and there are 24 tributes—it was a lucky guess,” Nini shrugs. “Now, cover your ears.” The two of them cover their ears as the cannon goes off.
“I guess I’m dead now.” Gina says.
Nini nods. “This is where we have to go our separate ways. For now.”
Gina pulls Nini towards her and kisses her. Nini holds Gina a little tighter.
“I’ll see you soon, okay?” Gina says as she pecks Nini’s lips before willing herself to pull away.
“See you soon.” Nini smiles softly as Nini walks off, heading to the Cornucopia. In that moment, Gina decides that she will do everything in her power to make sure Nini is the victor of the Hunger Games.
Gina is going to keep Nini alive, no matter what.
…
Gina watches from afar as Nini approaches E.J. and Val at the Cornucopia, a battered and bruised Big Red laying at their feet. Gina grips her axe tighter.
“No way…” Val speaks up with an incredulous laugh. “Gina died?!”
Nini nods. “I tricked her into falling in love with me and killed her when she let her guard down.”
“I always knew there was something weak about her,” Val chuckles. “But there’s something weak about you, too. Lots of weak, actually,” She kicks Big Red towards Nini. “You’re doomed, you know that, right?”
“I’ve made it this far, haven’t I?” Nini retorts.
Val chuckles and looks at E.J. “E.J., I don’t think Nini is getting it. Show her exactly how doomed she is, won’t you?”
E.J. grins menacingly as he grips his sword.
Big Red looks up at Nini with teary eyes. “Thank you for being my best friend,” He manages to say as Nini’s eyes tear up. “I’d do this all over again—” Big Red doesn’t finish his sentence as E.J. stabs Big Red’s throat and blood splatters out of his mouth and onto Nini. Nini’s lip quivers as E.J. pulls out his sword and wipes it clean with his hand.
The cannon goes off, signaling the end of Big Red’s life.
“Do you get it now, Nini?” Val smirks. “People like you never win.”
Gina approaches them quietly, standing feet away from Val and E.J.
Nini wipes away Big Red’s blood from her face. “I’m not playing to win,” Nini retorts. “I’m playing to lose, but it won’t be by your hands.”
Val laughs as Gina grips her axe. “Oh yeah? Then by who else?”
Gina throws her axe, the axe flying before it hits Val’s head and splits her skull open. Val falls to her knees and falls to the ground. The cannon goes off only seconds later.
E.J. turns around and Gina smirks. “Miss me?”
“How—you’re dead! I heard the cannon!” E.J. exclaims as he grips his sword.
“Yeah…I decided being dead wasn’t it for me,” Gina fakes a sigh as Nini pulls the axe out of Val’s head. “Let’s see how it suits you, though.”
E.J. flares his nostrils as he swings his sword towards Nini who screams and barely stops him with the base of the axe. Gina tackles him and he falls to the ground with her, dropping his sword. The two begin swinging punches at each other, E.J. eventually pinning Gina to the ground.
“I,” E.J. punches Gina’s bloodied face. “Refuse,” Punch. “To lose!” E.J. throws another hard punch to Gina’s face, Gina hearing a crunching sound coming from her jaw.
“You just did.” Nini swings the axe and hits him in the back—she slices through him enough not to kill him, but definitely weaken him. E.J. screams and falls to the ground as Gina slowly gets up as blood drips down her face.
Gina grabs E.J.’s sword and holds it up in the air.
E.J. coughs out blood. “You know you’ll have to kill her, right?” he laughs. “Both of you can’t live!”
Gina swings the sword down and stabs E.J. in the stomach as more blood comes out of his mouth.
“Love,” E.J. says through gargling blood. “Is weak.”
“No,” Gina pulls the sword out. “it’s alive.” Gina stabs him one more time and E.J.’s eyes roll back. The cannon goes off and Gina falls back. Nini catches her.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. I got you,” Nini assures her, kissing her head. “I got you.”
Gina allows herself a few more moments of peace as she lets Nini hold her. Right now, it’s just the girl she loves holding her. Gina can pretend Nini’s just holding her for the sake of holding her. Gina imagines they’re not in the games. Instead, they’re in that imaginary date her and Nini came up with days ago. They’re at a picnic, and Nini’s holding Gina as they look up at the clear, blue sky. They’re smiling. They’re laughing. They’re full of joy. They’re alive.
Gina could stay there forever.
But it’s not real.
They’re here, instead. They’re covered in blood that’s partly their own, and partly belongs to other fallen tributes. They’re doomed. They’re bruised. They’re broken. They’re crying. They’re alive—
They’re alive.
At least they still have that to hold onto.
Gina’s eyes well up with tears. “You have to kill me.” She says just above a whisper.
Nini shakes her head. “No—”
“You have to win—”
“No!” Nini holds Gina tighter and cries. “I can’t.”
“Hey, look at me,” Nini wills herself to look at Gina. “It’s okay.” Gina assures as she kisses Nini’s forehead. “If we don’t decide now, they’ll decide for us. And I rather us be in control of who dies.”
Nini scoffs. “Gina…we’ve never had control.”
“Just…pretend,” Gina pulls away from Nini’s hold and takes out the blade from Val’s pocket. “It’s just us. No one else.” Gina stands in front of Nini.
“Just us.” Nini nods.
Gina smiles sadly as she makes Nini grab the blade despite Nini’s hesitance. “It’s okay,” she assures with a nod. “I love you,” tears spill out of Gina’s eyes as she holds Nini’s shaking hands. “Wow…I love you.” she wipes away tears with her free hand.
Nini smiles with tears streaming down her face. “I love you, too,” Nini takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
It all happens in an instant.
As Gina holds the blade with Nini, Nini turns the blade towards herself and plunges it into her stomach. Gina screams. “No!”
Nini’s eyes widen for a moment and then they soften, as if she’s at peace with the situation. Gina starts to cry as Nini pulls out the blade and they drop it. Nini falls back and Gina catches her.
“What did you do?!” Gina sobs as she cradles Nini in her arms. “What did you do, Nini?!”
The color drains from Nini’s face as she turns to look at Gina. “Giving you the chance to make it out alive.” she manages to say.
Gina shakes her head as she holds Nini close to her while blood slowly gushes out of Nini’s abdomen. “I don’t want to be alive without you.” Gina whimpers.
“You have to,” Nini places one of her hands on top of Gina’s. “Do you know why I couldn’t figure out your weakness?”
“Why?” Gina squeezes Nini’s hand.
Blood comes out from the sides of Nini’s mouth. “Because I didn’t want to. I don’t need to. You’re going to do so many amazing things in your life, Gina. Stay alive for me and enjoy it completely, okay? Never stop staying alive.”
Gina shakes her head and keeps crying. All the pain Gina’s saved for later is coming out like a blaze—the pain, the regret, the guilt, the fear, the grief…it’s like a blazing fire consuming every bit of Gina. It hurts Gina more than anything in the world.
The love of her life is dying in her arms, and everything hurts.
“You have to go back home, Gina,” Nini’s breaths become shakier, a wheezing sound coming out of her mouth every few seconds. “The games are over,” Gina keeps shaking her head. “I’m okay, really, I am,” she assures. “Make something good out of this. One day, love will be stronger than these games.”
Gina places her head on top of Nini’s before pressing her lips against Nini’s. “I love you, Nini.”
Nini smiles and grabs Gina’s face. Her hand slowly falls to her side, and the light leaves her eyes. Gina sobs into Nini’s dead body.
Gina has won the Hunger Games, but at the same time has lost everything.
…
Gina can’t process anything after being declared the winner of the 66th Hunger Games. The rest is a numbing blur—being tended for her wounds, the cheering crowds who celebrate her return to the Capitol, the interview with Cesar Flickerman, the celebration at the Capitol with President Snow…Gina hardly feels anything.
The only thing that truly wakes her up for just a moment is the mention of Nini during Cesar Flickerman’s interview.
“Something different happened these games. Something both tragic and beautiful—our victor fell in love with someone during the games!” Cesar announces as the crowd cheers while scenes are replayed of Nini and Gina kissing and holding each other during the games. “Tell me, Gina, how did this happen?”
Gina keeps watching the videos of her and Nini replaying, her eyes welling up with tears. Gina misses Nini so much, she’d volunteer to go back into these horrid games if it means she gets another moment with her.
“Gina?” Gina finally faces Cesar. “How did this tragic love story unfold?”
“I just looked at her, and she looked at me…and the rest hurts to think about,” Gina says. “But I guess these are the things that reminds you that you’re…alive.” Gina purses her lips.
Cesar gives her a sympathetic look. “Knowing what you know now…would you still make the same decisions you made?” Cesar asks.
Gina nods without hesitation. “I’d go back in those games if it means I get to hold her for just one more minute.”
Cesar nods and smiles. “Right…” he turns to the crowd. “This just shows how much these games can give to these tributes…not just glory, but love!” Cesar laughs as the people of the Capitol cheer in ways that make Gina’s blood boil. “A love story for the ages, everyone!”
Gina is no longer living or alive in the ways that matter—she doesn’t think she can ever get that back no matter what Nini said to her. She’s gone. The reason to stay alive is gone.
Gina is the pride and joy of District 7, all of them celebrating her return. Her parents are elated, Ashlyn cries tears of joy, and Gina can’t feel any of it. She can’t enjoy any of it—she can’t celebrate the fact that she’s still living and Nini isn’t here to remind her that she’s alive. Not even the abundance of riches could fill the gaping hole in Gina’s chest. She is a shell of herself, and she knows it. She’s just living, but she’s not alive.
When the time comes for the victory tour where Gina visits all the districts to make her way to the Capitol, Gina doesn’t feel anything until she arrives in District 5. Suddenly, her body wakes up and Gina is more present than she’s been since the games.
This is Nini’s home—this is where Nini was living and alive. This is the last Gina has of her.
Gina holds the cards in front of her as the image of Big Red and Nini are projected on large screens in front of her. Nini’s smile…the light in her eyes…Gina can almost pretend she’s alive, but it’s all just in her head.
“Thank you District 5 for allowing me to be here with you all to celebrate the Hunger Games…” Gina looks back at the moving image of Nini, smiling back at her. Gina gulps down the knot that forms in her throat and puts the cards down. “You know, out of all the districts…this is the one I wanted to come to because the tributes from here impacted my victory in the games. They kept me living, but, most of all, they kept me human.” Gina smiles softly, holding back tears as she makes eye contact with Big Red and Nini’s families. “They deserved more time. We all deserved more time with them. You all should be so proud of Nini and Big Red, because they were a force to be reckoned with…Nini was a force to be reckoned with.”
Gina wipes away the tears falling from her eyes. “I love her—I love Nini. How I fell in love with Nini during something as brutal as the games, I can’t tell you. All I know is that she struck me like lightning, and I’ll never be the same…but that’s not even a fraction of it,” Gina pauses. “Because of Nini, I am alive.” Gina smiles in spite of her tears. “I am alive.”