Chapter 5: The Quell

It is so hard to say goodbye to Fallstreak and Wolfmark the next morning. And even harder to say goodbye to the Boynes by phone: especially Parry, and especially little Arliss. I might never hug his mulatto skin again, for that is what a child who has mixed-race parents is called in Eleven. A mulatto.

I really don't want to do this. Except for Haymitch's kids, I'm competing against people whom I've known for years. Friends. Maybe even family. We think that Parry Ogilby is somehow related to a Librae Olgivy, a Victor from District 4. And Savera Inchcape from District 8 is a distant cousin of Scorpii Inchcape, a Career Victor from District 1. Cecelia Sanchez from District 8 might have some family ties with Ivette Li-Sanchez of District 5. And how many other connections like this are there?

I emerge in a jungle, shored by a miniature sea. There's the Cornucopia, on a rocky island several yards ahead, with rocky spokes jutting out to create watery wedges. Two tribute pedestals are confined to each wedge. I am trapped in mine with the female from District 9, Marian Green.

When the gong goes off, she does not dive in. I do. I swim for the island with Haymitch's last words blaring in my head: Protect Katniss and Peeta's lives, Chaff. Even if you lose your own.

Between strokes, I keep my head above water, frantically searching. Katniss and Peeta... where are Katniss and Peeta?

I don't find them as the first tributes reach the island and chaos begins its reign. But I do find a scythe lying abandoned on the rocks as I approach shore. I don't even have to get out of the water as I swipe it and reverse course towards the beach.

Swimming was never easy with only one hand. But I finally haul myself up onto the beach and take off into the jungle.

Eight cannons are heard that first day.

The second day is slower. I hear cannons periodically, though never more than one every hour. Although there is one time when I hear three in a row, and know a big battle must have occurred. I hope the fallen were not Katniss and Peeta.

It is very hot and humid. I hunt among the trees and find food easily enough, but am desperate for water.

Evening finally comes, and eight more Victors appear in the sky.

Two days and we are already at the Final Eight. I know it was reached and then surpassed by the end of the first day thirty years ago, but this is ridiculous! I am in the Final Eight again, and like before, I didn't really need to work for it.

I go back through who still lives. District 2, Brutus and Enobaria. Beete Latier of District 3. Finnick Odair of District 4, who was crowned two decades after me. Johanna Mason of District 7. And Katniss and Peeta.

I know what my mission now is. I have to find District 12 before the Careers or anyone else does. Even if it kills me.

I search all through that night, and into the wee hours of the next morning. Day 3 of the arena now. At last, I hit paydirt.

"Chaff!" Peeta Mellark practically embraces me rather than draw a weapon. Katniss is nowhere to be seen, but I don't mind. She can't be too far away, knowing how tight she and Peeta are. Even if I'm not exactly a believer in their little love story. Maybe Peeta can lead me right to her!

Suddenly, someone else finds us. And it isn't Katniss. It's Brutus.

I throw Peeta behind me. "Stay back! This is my fight!"

And even though I have only one hand, whereas Brutus still has both appendages and is bigger than me, do he and I fight! I get a few slices in with my scythe, wounding him, but the bobybuilder Career finally pins me.

I don't even have time for any final advice for Peeta before Brutus snaps my neck. BOOM.

But just before I slide into nothingness, I hear another cannon - BOOM - and am joined by a shocked Brutus.

We watch from heaven as the last six Victors break out of the arena, halting the Games early. And soon, they are halted forever.