Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games.

A/n: Last one. Hope you enjoy :)

4) Late Man

You know, it's funny. Even though I hate the victors from District 12, I feel sorry for them. The Quarter Quell was cruel: the idea of going in the arena once scares the hell out of me. I reckon going in twice would have driven me mad. No one deserves that. Course, I feel way sorrier for our district's victors. Beetee and Wiress are old – they have no chance of winning.

Quell's only been going on for a few days but there're hardly any of them left. We're watching but the only thing I can think of is that it's nearly a year since Liev died. Was killed. Murdered. This year has been complete torture. Every day, I see something which reminds me of my brother. Something to tell me I really screwed up this time.

And, of course, there's the rest of my family. Maybe some families stick together in times of need but not ours. It's not just that my parents can't look at me in the same way but they barely know what to say to each other. Hell, we were never close but what we had with Liev was better than what we have now. Hours of silence. Geez, I spend as much time as I can working in the factory just so I don't have to go back. And Dad's been doing it too. And Mom. Anything to avoid facing each other.

So, things in the district have also gotten pretty tense. You can see it wherever you are. We already had a few clashes with the Peacekeepers. Not me personally but people. I haven't done anything yet. I will – course I will – but it hasn't been the right time. Or been the right place. Or maybe I haven't run out of ways to lie to myself about what a coward I am. But all these clashes and executions ... something's gonna happen. Something which is gonna annoy the Capitol. And if I can, I'm going to be in the middle of it.

Sure. One day, I'm going to stop lying to myself. Maybe when I stop thinking about Liev.

Anyway, I been hearing the familiar rumbles since the Quell started. People getting mad about what the Capitol have done to us. Beetee and Wiress were signs that we can escape the crap they call our lives and now they're telling us we got no escape. But today it's getting really loud. Almost like it's unbearable. I wonder how long it can last for.

Suddenly, there's this bang outside and Dad shouts for us to get down as the window smashes. My heart's thumping like it's trying to leave my chest. What's going on? I look round, checking my parents are alright. They look as surprised as I feel.

"What the fu-"

"Emre, language," Dad interrupts. I think it's automatic – if there was ever a time to be less than polite, it's now.

"Well, what's going on?" I ask again.

"How should I know?" he snaps. I roll my eyes and stand up carefully. Mom grabs at my ankle but I shake her off. One of us needs to find out what the hell's going on. If they won't, I will. I look round. There's people outside, yelling and waving things. Gunshots. The window is smashed and some of the wall is crumbling.

We need to get out. Now.

I turn back to my parents. "Come on," I shout. "They're causing hell out there and if we stay here, the next explosion's gonna kill us." My parents look at me dumbly. "Come on!"

Warily, they stand up and we run for the door. Once we're outside, we're greeted by more chaos. Everywhere, people are destroying things. Peacekeepers are shooting at us. I almost regret making us leave the building when another explosion takes out our wall and the house next to us.

I hope Pictor and his daughter got out OK...

Dad grabs my arm and begins to drag me away but we're stopped by two burly guys with guns.

"Who are you fighting for?" shouts the guy on the left.

"No one," my dad replies firmly.

"So you're on the Capitol's side."

"No. We're on no one's side."

I look at them. This is it. A rebellion. Hell, it looks better than the ones before – we have guns! Maybe...

"Come on, Emre."

"I can't let you just go," one of the men says. My dad tries to square up to him but it doesn't work.

"We're not going to help the Capitol," he says. "We've already lost one son. We just want to be safe."

We've already lost one son...

Isn't this what I always said? Revenge. I need to avenge Liev. Sure, I say I'm waiting for the right time but I know I'll never find it. They lost one son. And we have to make them that caused it pay.

"I'll let your wife go-"

"You'll let us all go."

"I'll stay," I say. "Let my parents go. I'll stay and fight."

"No, Emre. You are coming with us."

"If the lad wants to fight-"

"He's only doing it because you're making him."

"No, Dad. I'm staying. I got to. I got to get revenge for Liev. I want to help." I turn to the men. "Let them go and I'll come."

"Cabel, let 'em go," the other man says. "We haven't got time for this. Just keep the lad."

Cabel scowls but nods. I turn to my parents. "See you soon."

"Emre, don't do this."

"I got to. For Liev. I got to make them pay."

Cabel grabs my shoulder and makes me run before my parents can do anything else. I don't look back. Guess we ended on some type of family love. Whatever the hell kind. Maybe Dad will say he lost both sons now but truth is, they lost me when Liev died. Or I lost them. Either way, I'm doing what has to be done. And if I die, it don't matter: I'm making everyone who killed Liev pay. The Capitol. Cato's already dead. And then it's me or Katniss. But probably me.

Cabel gives me a gun and shouts orders at me. I run towards the nearest Peacekeepers. This is it. This is what I should have done for Liev a long time ago. This is the brother I should have been.

Better late than never.

Fin