A/N: Okay! Thank you so much to everyone for being such wonderful beans and fantastic submitters, you're all honestly so amazing please help.
All of your tributes were so special and fantastic and I just boi... We loved each and everyone one of them, and I thank you all so much for submitting. Our first SYOT was so awesome because of you guys and your support and nice things.
I'm so sorry if we ended up offending anyone or something, or made anyone upset as that wasn't our intention, we just wanted a good, effective story with a nice story arc to it.
Love you guys so much and can't wait to start Daylight's End soon!
DISCLAIMER: We have no idea how to do epilogues so if this is an epic fail, I'm so sorry LOL
~ Anna ;D!
Bellamy Grey, 17
District 9 Victor
"Bellamy?"
I glance over my shoulder at the stylist. Then look back to the mirror, adjusting the gold bowtie.
"Stop that, it looks perfect the way it is, okay?"
She spins me around and adjusts a few things, then my hair but I stop her and take a step back. The stylist looks at me pleadingly, she's probably never had this opportunity before, to make her tribute look nice. The last time my district had a victor was a long time ago.
"The president likes things neat and orderly, you know!" she chirps and straightens my bowtie.
I pause and blink at her.
"Things?" I ask quietly.
The stylist gives me a small, apologetic smile and continues to adjust the suit.
That's when my escort, Edgar, interrupts and smiles brightly.
"Ah, and Victors. He likes his Victors neat and orderly, too."
I narrow my eyes slightly and watch her as she steps back and looks me over.
"You look wonderful, darling, wonderful! Way more presentable than before the Games, yes." she waves her hand and smiles. "Now don't be nervous, it's just an interview all you have to do is-"
I cut her off, using a tone that comes across as more aggressive than aggravated.
"I'm not nervous," I snap. "I know how to handle an interview."
The stylist squeaks and covers her mouth, looking offended. Edgar gives me a disapproving look but I only turn away, not missing the threatening glare from the Peacekeeper by the door. I stare at the doors that will lead me to the interview. I sigh, trying to calm myself, thinking of Mazie... my mother... I'll be home soon. I'll be able to see them.
Everything I was fighting for in the arena was because of them. It was for them. The thought gives me a sense of almost unfamiliar joy.
I hear the crowd, then give a half-hearted, almost mocking smile to Edgar then turn back around, subtly adjusting the bowtie the way I like it. Caesar's voice cuts through the cheering of the crowd and I feel a pang of nervousness, but it goes away as quickly as it came.
The doors slowly begin to slide open. They remind me of the tubes used to send us into the arena.
I step back.
Someone places their hand on my shoulder and gently pushes me forward. I look back quickly, seeing the Peacekeeper, then shrug him off, walking toward the doors myself. I take a deep breath and start to walk forward as Caesar announces my name.
The blinding lights make the screaming crowd appear to be only silhouettes in the distance. I blink a few times and notice the President himself, standing beside Caesar Flickerman. I hesitate, feeling the blood drain from my face. For a moment I fear I'll pass out right here, but something inside me urges me to continue. To walk right up to him, unafraid. After a moment, the fear is replaced with nothing. I'm numb to my own emotions.
Because I know if I show my true feelings, he won't be happy.
I approach slowly, and the President sticks out his hand slowly.
He's mocking me... he's mocking Kaleb...
I glare at his hand, not wanting to take it, but I do anyway. It's only for a brief moment and I start to pull away, but the President continues to grip my hand tightly and subtly pulls me forward a little.
"Congratulations, Mr. Grey." he says, almost hissing.
I can only stare at him, trying to keep my composure. I don't know whether to be afraid or angry.
"Thank you, sir.." I respond quietly.
"You don't seem to be too pleased." he continues, finally releasing my hand.
Who would be? How could I be happy...
"Just nervous of the crowd... sir.." I drawl.
Snow stares at me, but picks up the crown.
I don't want that... I don't deserve it.
I flinch, shifting away from it slightly, then Snow pauses. His icy stare makes me stop in my tracks and he places the crown on me. It feels unnaturally heavy. I'm instantly weighed down, as though any sense of freedom I had is gone.
The crowd applauds, but Snow glances at me unhappily as he starts to go back to his box above the stage. I catch on to his message and force a smile, giving a short wave to the Capitolites, who erupt into a frenzy of cheers. I glance at Snow carefully, feeling a pang of anger at the way he smiles smugly.
He thinks he can control us. I know he uses all his victors like they're puppets, forces them to do things they don't want to do. This isn't victory... it just isn't death.
I bite my lip and sit down in the unexpectedly comfortable chair across from Caesar.
"My, my, you certainly won our hearts in that arena, didn't you!" Caesar laughs and glances at the crowd. "Am I right?"
The crowd cheers and I try a gentle smile, but it probably looks like I'm in some sort of pain.
"That's good?" I joke.
The crowd loves it, laughing hysterically. Geez, they laugh at everything. It wasn't even funny. Caesar gives a hardy chuckle and nods.
"Well I should say it is!" he continues. "You showed some real courage..."
His mood shifts and I fear what he's going to ask next.
Don't say it... please don't say it...
"Now um... I know you had a very close relationship with one of the tributes..." he says.
I flinch as the crowd murmurs sadly and I see some of them lean forward.
"Yes.." I choke out, trying not to sound annoyed with him. "Her name was Juniper."
Caesar smiles sympathetically and nods. The pang of agony and guilt hurts more than the fact that I'm not able to share anymore time with Juniper. No more joking about how stupid the Capitol is, no more talking about how much we miss home, no more complaining about how much we want Snow gone. Nothing.
"Of course, she was a favorite here in the Capitol too," he continues. "I think we were all very touched about she did for you."
The crowd offers some applause for Juniper, but I don't react.
Caesar notices this and shifts slightly.
"Why don't we move on and talk about some of the highlights of the Games, instead?" he beams.
The Capitolites cheer loudly and a screen flickers on behind me. I glance at it fearfully as it replays the Bloodbath. My breath catches in my throat as I continue to watch. I desperately try to hold back tears as cannons fire, seemingly louder than they were in the arena. I want to turn away, but it feels like I can't. The faces of the tributes appear...
Little Corinth from Six... Eleanor from Twelve... Dye from Eight defending Wren from Five, but being struck down by Nathaniel. Kaleb saves Grace from Hera's axe, just in time, Whale kills Burton...
As the Bloodbath ends, Caesar begins to comment on some of his favorite parts. On what he believes are good strategies. Occasionally the video will play clips of Juniper and I, laughing and joking.
My chest tightens painfully and that's when I look away. I feel like I can't breathe. I don't know if I can handle this.. I thought it would just be questions, not this. I hear Juniper laugh and that's when I look back up.
We're talking about the people who annoy us most in our district. She mentions some Blake kid, I only tell of my sister's arch enemy Etta Queen. A smile begins to creep across my face as I watch. The conversation is unconventionally light for the Games. Normally it's about strategies, killing, the best way to get someone out of the way.
But nope, here we are talking about the people that get on our nerves.
The scene is short-lived, and barely even gets into the whole conversation. It cuts out the parts when we talk about how horrible life can be in Nine. No wonder, they probably don't want people to hear all that.
No, instead they play the clip of Juniper and I fighting off the vicious girl from Seven with the long nails. Then it turns to us running for our lives from the careers. The crowd laughs as we tease the careers from the top of the cliff, as we almost kill them when we throw their own weapons at them.
The light moments are instantly replaced with terrible dark ones. A flash, and Juniper is dangling off the side of the cliff, held up only by me. I turn away, trying to block out the conversation, but Juniper's words cut right through me.
A wave off lightheadedness rushes through me and I screw my eyes shut. I loved her too. But there's no room for love in Panem. Not here...
The clip ends with a cannon then cuts to the final three... I still feel the pain of Hera's dagger and I absentmindedly grip my stomach as I watch the replay of the attack. It looks terribly violent, I never even realized the gravity of the situation until now.
Hera was fighting for fame and glory, I was fighting for my life and for my family. It really showed in the way we fought.
Kaleb attacks Hera and she disappears into the sinkhole. Then it's just the two of us.
The hand shake... the names...
I'll never forget those names. Not just Kaleb's names. But the other names... I won't forget them either.
Hera.
Nathaniel.
Oscar.
Alenia.
Velnor.
Techalea.
Andy.
Michael.
Damion.
Corinth.
Grace..
Mirabelle.
Dominic..
Jordia.
Alastair.
Eleanor.
Dye.
Burton.
Alexa.
Wren...
Whale...
Kaleb...
Juniper...
Names I will never forget. That I will be unable to forget.
I stare blankly at their pictures displayed on the screen. The realization... they're gone... all of them... there's only me left...
Each picture... each name.. brings me an unbearable pain...
But then there are other names... Ones I don't know... but want to know...
Tabitha... Dara... Carl... Drake.
Even just thinking of the names fills me with unexpected warmth. I would have thought they'd be painful to remember. But they're not. They're calming.
Just like Kaleb said, they do help. I don't know who they are. But the names he spoke belong to people he loved. People he didn't want to forget.
I'll remember them for him.
I'll hug Juniper's mother, tell her Juniper loved her.
I'll remember all of them.
Their faces disappear and the screen goes black.
1 Day After the Interview
I haven't moved from my spot near the window, we're closer to home. I'm finally leaving the Captiol. I'm going to see Mazie, my mother, Harvey!
Edgar taps my shoulder.
"Come on, we're almost there." he smiles.
I glance at him, then out the window at the approaching fields of golden wheat. I've never been so happy to see the whole bunch of nothing that is my district. I allow myself to feel happy for once. It won't hurt, I know that once everything dies down, I probably won't be happy for a while. Not if I'm forced to be Snow's puppet.
Edgar leads me to the door as the train slows, I barely even glance at the two mentors seated in the comfortable chairs. My heart soars as I grab my jacket and stand beside him, practically bouncing on my toes to get off. I'm giddy with child-like excitement, a grin plastered on my face.
For just one day I can be happy. Even if it's just one day. Because I'm home. I'm home, home, I'm home!
The doors slowly slide open to reveal a large crowd of people, cheering and clapping. They're smiling faces encouraging me as I walk out of the train. Tears spring to my eyes, but this time, they're not because of sadness, or pain, or anger. I'm filled with joy.
I scan the crowd for the familiar faces, but I don't see them. I walk straight into the crowd of people.
Someone shakes my hand.
"Bellamy, good job!"
A hug from a stranger.
"Welcome home!"
Another handshake.
"You're amazing!"
I smile, trying to be friendly, but I just want to see my family.
Someone grabs my shoulder.
I turn, ready to give another smile and a quick hug. But I find myself staring into the shocking, tearful green eyes of a worn looking woman. For a moment I'm stunned, she's so familiar for some reason. She looks hurt, but a gentle smile crosses her face and she pulls me into a hug.
A tight, genuine hug.
I'm inclined to hug her back with the same emotion. And I do once I realize who this woman is.
"Ms. Bow.." I begin slowly.
She pulls away from me and smiles, shaking her head.
"We can talk later Bellamy, your family is waiting for you."
With that she takes my hand like a mother would with her child, and weaves through the crowd of people. I follow her, but catch sight of a familiar face.
"Bellamy, Bellamy!" My teary eyed sister rushes toward me.
Ms. Bow lets go of me and I dart forward, meeting Mazie halfway. She practically throws herself into my arms and I hug her tightly, feeling that if I let go she'll disappear forever.
"I thought you were gone for good... I thought you wouldn't come back..." she sobs happily.
I pull away from her and smile, ruffling her hair like I always do. Then hesitate.
"Well..." I begin slowly. "I thought so too."
She laughs through her tears and hugs me again. Another pair of arms wraps around me and I quickly grin and hug my mother as well.
"Thank God... Oh thank God... Bellamy..." my mother clings to me as tightly as I did with Mazie.
I embrace the both of them tightly, then see Harvey standing off to the side, leaning against a building. I glance at my mother and Mazie, then let go of them.
"Just one second," I say.
My mother nods, then simply hugs Mazie, as if unsure what to do with all her joy. Harvey smirks and shakes his head as I walk toward him, sticking out his hand.
"Well you-"
He stops when I slap his hand away and hug him quickly. I glance at him, entirely grateful.
"You watched out for them." I say.
Harvey, still a little dazed, nods.
"Well, of course." he scoffs. "I thought it was your dying wish."
I roll my eyes.
"It was."
"Does that mean you're dead?"
We both break into a relieved laughter, overwhelmed with joy.
"Go spend time with your family, Bellam." my best friend laughs.
I just shake my head and stick my hands in the pockets of my jacket.
"You could come too, I think I've got a big enough house now..."
Harvey whacks my arm and scowls, but quickly smiles again.
"Then sure."
I smile, then quickly hurry back to my family, bombarded with another set of hugs. My mother puts her arm around me as we walk away from the cheering crowd, toward the Victor's Village. It seems wrong not turning on to the beaten down path that leads to our old house. Part of me wants to, but I know I shouldn't. Not if I want to start healing. I shouldn't try to continue living in the past.
We pass through the gate and stop in front of my new house.
"It's pretty big..." I say thoughtfully.
I wonder if I'll learn to like it, or if it'll feel like a stranger's home. I notice Mazie's worried look and quickly smile at her.
"But you know what?" I ask.
"What?"
"It's way better than Etta Queen's house."
Mazie laughs and my mother smiles tearfully, leading me up the stairs. I open the door carefully and step inside, looking around. The floor is a beautiful polished wood, the walls are carved into eccentric patterns, what looks like a crystal chandelier hangs above a small spiral staircase. Mazie wastes no time in bounding up the stairs to examine her new home.
I however, stay where I am, feeling too stunned to move. It seems very much like the Capitol and my initial happiness begins to fade. My mother slowly walks in front of me, taking my hands in hers.
"Bellamy, I know this is hard..." she says. "I know you'll need to talk... don't feel like you need to put on an act for us.. not this time."
I glance up at her, wanting to protest, but I don't. Instead I only smile and nod.
"It's okay for us to be here for you now." she continues.
Without another word she pulls me into another tight hug.
"The baker left us a wonderful basket for us... I'll make a nice dinner tonight, do you want something special?"
I try to listen to my mother, but I stare out the window toward a wooden building. She seems confused for a moment, but I quickly turn away from her and walk toward the door.
"I'll be back in a little bit." I say.
"Bellamy- um.. well okay.."
I don't even give her any time to respond before I walk out the door and close it quietly. I take a deep breath of the fresh air, filled with the scent of wheat, mixed with the distant smell of smoke from the factories.
After a brief moment, I walk down the steps of the house and down a worn, dirt path toward the wooden building I saw from my house. There's still a lingering crowd at the square, but I largely ignore them, heading toward the building.
When I get there, I look around, then spot who I was looking for from the window. Without so much as a pause, I walk up to the door and knock gently.
There's a moment, then a woman comes to the door.
"Ms. Bow." I say quickly.
The woman smiles at me warmly, but there's a deep hurt in her eyes.
"You should be with your family." she says quietly.
I shake my head.
"Is it okay to talk now?"
Ms. Bow tries to smile again, but looks around, looking a little exasperated.
"Here? Well I suppose.."
"No. At my house. With my family." I say it quicker than I intended. "I want you there too."
Ms. Bow pauses, but then nods gratefully, seemingly holding back tears. I turn and begin leading her down the path toward my house, occasionally glancing back to make sure she's keeping up. She seems to be sick in some way. But now I know I'll be able to help if that's the case, I have money to help her.
I'm going to do what Juniper wanted. Juniper. Whenever her name crossed my mind, I could barely even stand the thought of her, it would devastate me. But now... it's not so bad. I know this happiness will be short lived... but at least I'm able to feel it. I'm alive... I'm with my family.
As we approach the house, Mazie sticks her hand out the window and waves optimistically at me. My mother's smiling, joyful face watches as we come down the path. I glance over my shoulder at Ms. Bow, who stops, the smile gone from her face. Her eyes tired and tearful and I quickly stop, turning to face her. I barely notice my own vision become blurry with tears, but I smile through them.
"She was amazing." I say.
"Truly.. my incredible little girl.." Ms. Bow whispers.
I quickly hug her, like she hugged me.
"Can we talk now?" I sit down on the steps.
Ms. Bow stares at me as if kindness is foreign to her.
"Are you sure?" she asks. "Are you ready for that?"
I pause as she sits down beside me.
"I'm not sure... but I'll find out."
She smiles, but I'm unsure. It'll be fine though... it's just talking. And I'm talking about the one I love. When you talk about that... it's easy.
The only hard part is figuring out where you should start.
A/N: Ah... I wanted a happy ending, even if it was a little cheesy... and not really all that happy... I still wanted it to be there.
We decided not to do a victory tour thing in this one because we'd honestly probably mess it up so RIP. But yeah, this is the official ending to Elements, aside from the Eulogy list which will be in the next chapter, listing all the tributes and our thoughts on them. :)
Again thank you all for submitting, sticking with the story, reading it all the way through. You're all my heroes, yay!
Congratulations to CDinga22 for sending in Bellamy ;D! Below are the final placements.
Can't wait to start Daylight's End with some of you guys, Love you all!
~ Anna ;D
Placements
[24th] Corinth Lopez
[23rd] Damion Baskerville
[22nd] Burton Meloro
[21st] Dye Rollins
[20th] Alastair Brindley
[19th] Eleanor Brightwood
[18th] Dominic Waters
[17th] Micheal Comstock
[16th] Mirabelle Crimmond
[15th] Alexa Satin
[14th] Velnor Essex
[13th] Grace Urlwin
[12th] Andromeda Whitmore
[11th] Jordia Pine
[10th] Oscar James
[9th] Techalea Rose Cable
[8th] Juniper Bow
[7th] Alenia Duprix
[6th] Nathaniel Silver
[5th] Wren Kieling
[4th] Whale Isaacson
[3rd] Hera Dansen
[2nd] Kaleb Darton
Victor: Bellamy Grey