{Hollow Headstones* [Navy vs Empusaes - Day 6]

The anthem booms and three faces appear. The girl from 12 and the boys I was with just a day ago appear in the sky and then disappear and the anthem cuts out, leaving me alone again in the dark. My heartbeat seems to be beating against the back of my eyeballs and in my lips. I hurts to touch move my shoulder and the heel of my foot shoots pain all the way up my leg every time I take a step. Everything hurts. The queen has fallen and broken her crown even before climbing the hill. I keep my head down, watching my feet continue on some unknown path to a place where maybe it gets better and things don't hurt so much. Or they could be taking me somewhere where it all aches 10 times more painfully. But whichever it is, I couldn't care less. Her majesty is ready to hand over her kingdom. The queen is tired. I watch the breath from my nostrils billow out in front of me in elegant clouds. Back in six I can remember building snowmen in this kind of weather. If only it would snow - then I could create whoever I wanted from sparkling white flakes from the heavens and not the ashes that have risen up from hell.

Suddenly, I walk face first into something. I stumble backwards and moan as my head begins to thud again, my brain pounding achingly against my skull. Shut up girl! I told you to keep your mouth shut! I shake my head to try and clear it of fuzz, but instead it only makes me dizzy and I find myself leaning against a rock to steady myself. Dad, I am shut up! God, my lips are fucking sewed shut!! Just for you, Daddy. Only for you. I hold my eyes closed for a moment until I feel snakes crawling up my legs and then I have to open them to make sure nothing is there. Nothing is ever there - I've officially gone delusional. I raise my head and find myself staring into a pair of eyes. I turn again to see my hand on a shoulder. I rip it away, and whip back around to the eyes, waving my weapon around, threatening my attackers. But they don't move. They stand in a frozen state, glaring with dead eyes like stone at me. I lower my weapon back down to my side and stare back. I recognize this person - both these people. It's a queen's job to know the subjects of other kingdoms.

But they aren't staring at me. They are staring at each other. I take a step back out of their way, feeling like I intruded on something I shouldn't have. I remember when District 6 got so close with this boy, only to get beat out by the kid from 10. I feel like I should pray to him to help get me through if only because we represented the same district, but instead I only turn away. Her majesty doesn't kiss the feet of the could've-been-kings. And the I turn to see more. Tribute after tribute. Rows of killing and yelling and weapons flailing and cold stares and death - so much death. I walk past tributes from the 54th, to the 58th, all the way to the 61st. Kids from my district, people I never really bothered about before now stand before me. I twirl around and weave through row after row of headstones. I'm waking through a graveyard - not of bodies, but of memories. Memories so cold that the air around me seems to have frozen.

I'm stunned when I trip backwards over something on the ground and splash ion a puddle of icy cold water. I scramble back up and shiver at the chill the water sends through my bones. I turn to look at a boy lying in water, reaching for something that isn't there. My heart stops beating and the world goes completely silent. No, no, no, no, no. Then I walk around the boy on the ground, my feet freezing as they hit the water. Then I look straight into his eyes, and reach for his hand, missing his touch by just inches. Tears roll down my cheeks and I rake my hands through my hair and force air through the tiny opening in my lips, trying to grab for air. I thought this shit was over. I thought I was done. I crumple to the ground and I realize I can't even sob because the stitches in my lips won't allow it. The quiet continues and I think my heart has frozen solid.

I crawl back around and find myself crawling on top of him and curling up in a ball. I'm sorry, so sorry. Please, I'm sorry ... Then I close my eyes and drift away against the cold stone who reaches for my impending statue.

I wake to the sound of screeching and flapping wings. I scan the skies and then my eyes come to rest on a creature sitting on top of Kiera's statue. Then another appears near Atlas. And because it has become instinct, I pick up my weapon and charge silently as another screech scrapes against my ears.