Revenge is colder than the sea // Septys vs. Tyler

In a moment quicker than that of the cataclysmic spark of lightning I felt my body tense. Of all the people in the entire arena it would be Tyler Westbrook who dared to show his face to me. Who the hell did he think he was? After he had stolen everything from me. After he had eclipsed the goddess of the Sun and plunged my world into a desolate cold darkness. It was Tyler Westbrook who plunged his blade into the skin of Ruth. It was him who had made myself truly Ruthless. For that, I would never forgive him.

"Where is Heather? Did you just choose to leave her once you stole the brightest light in my solar system. Perhaps it was for the better because now we can handle this like men." 

Even now as my voice carried to him I couldn't bare it. He didn't deserve to hear, to see, or breathe for even a moment when she wasn't. Sure she would have stolen his just as quickly along with myself but that wasn't what happened. Instead he claimed the prize of her sacred life and littered it to the wind to be forgotten. Well, for every gain in life their comes a price.

I could feel my body tumbling with the tremors of my inner thunder. I had never felt so passionately since the night I first felt Ruth's tender lips lock with mine. Yet now they would greet my welcome no longer. However I found a new opportunity in the bloom of her death. At least now I could avenge her and give her life true purpose for the tribute before me was he vanquisher and I was suppose to be her knight. 

A soft breath eased its way from my lips as I let my gaze fall scornfully upon him. His hair was bolstering with blonde brilliance and his eyes glared with the intent to survive but right now was more than survival. Right now Septys didn't care who he was or how proud of him his district was. Right now all he could see was the searing scarlet blood of Ruth staining his body. All he could hear was he plea for him to strive to victory, and for her he had to try. 

Cold shifted across my body as a chilling wind turned through the battlefield. I felt my voice drop low as my fingers clutched my scythe.

"It's just you and me now Tyler. No Heather for you to fight beside or to call for help. No Ruth for me to do the same. In the end all hearts bonded in love amidst these games are crushed by reality aren't they? Such a shame we can't love in the dark."

As my words slipped away into the air I felt my body explode forward as my dark cloak took flight with me. I could feel my blade driving towards him but all I could do was look into the concave of his eyes. All I could see was a stolen soul that belonged to Ruth. 

Silence gripped the air compressing all forms of communication as I thirsted for the one who brutally murderer my lover's answer. However as the time continued to tick onward not a single sound beside the bellowing of the breeze reached my ears. Why was the blonde tribute before him so adamant to stay within the shackles of the speechless. In fact, what right did he have to remain silent when I called upon him with cruel calls of justice. Of all the people still dwelling in this life anchored to the beating of their hearts. How dare he ignore my words. 

I could begin to feel the pressure of rage brewing within the confines of my mind as my fingers turned white clutching my weapon. How would Tyler have felt if his own heart had been ripped out by me and fed to werewolves? How could he dare defy the other boy whose heart he ripped to shreds in acts of sheer survival. Perhaps it was because he did not know why he was trying to survive. Perhaps it was because he was simply choosing to kill. Perhaps he had no purpose within him at all. If that were the case he was even worse than a career such as myself.

"Not very talkative I see. Well I won't accept that." I say with my voice as chilled as the icy breeze. "You should at least explain to me why your life was so much more valuable than Ruth's. No. You should tell me why the love you and Heather shared was so much more indispensable than that of mine and Ruth's. I will settle for nothing less, if her death was merely a simply obstacle in your way of survival then I will never find a way to look past it. Then again I will never forgive you for something you cannot return."

Once again the silence fills my ears but this time I let it. I let my rage seep out of my skin and let it radiate off into the arena. I have been trained better, I have been trained to never let my emotions take control of my blade. The scythe I hold in my hands is my own to wield not anger or regret or even grief. For Ruth's forgiveness and the achievement of her wish I must use it in the way a career would. I must prove to her that she didn't love a useless man.

Yet there is no lie that the blank face betwixted across Tyler's face makes me feel even more comfortable with my actions. I may no longer be able to spare Ruth her journey into the realm of the next, but now I could live for her. Through our time together she taught me love, compassion, however most importantly she taught me how to be strongest in the face of the things we would rather not face.

So as the winter winds once again spin and dance through the sand covered shores I let my body fall into position. Memories of Ruth and of our time together mix with the scent of her metallic blood. I hear the cries of a raven high above the black buffs and in the middle of this serenity I move quickly as a strike ready to add to the sort of chaotic symphony exposed in this moment. 

Success. A grin pierced my solemn face as I watched Tyler fall into a pit of rage. His words were spewing with pointless venom that I was all but numb to. Even though he managed to nick my shoulder I just watched as his thoughts unfurled. Already Tyler was letting his emotions devour his conscience just as I had been craving. However I can't help but find his excuses for murder rather pathetic. Killing was a very big deal, just because someone else started something doesn't justify the ends. Yet the show Tyler was giving me now made my sputtering of phrases quite worth while. 

Memories of District One rose to the forefront of my mind as I remember using this same tactic on a vast number of opponents. Watching people wreath in wrath and shudder with anger only revealed their inner turmoil. When an opponent allows themselves to become riddled with the insecurities of anger then opportunities for victory come forth. Even now I could hear Ruth whispering softly into my ear with songs of encouragement. As long as she believed in me, and as long as she put her faith in me I would continue to fight.

Every passing second that I have gone through since her departure has served as a reminder. All of it led to this very apex, to this ultimate confrontation. For a career victorship is what they crave, what I crave. Yet now surviving in order to preserve Ruth in eternity was essential. However right now the Game Makers were creating my path. They were testing my strength and my will. Whether I would bend or break. For Ruth I would become as hard as platinum.

Waves continue to hammer at the sand as their salty roars add to the melody of war. In a land so immersed in beauty peace seemed like a Swan's Song. To many lands were naturally gentle and kind but I knew otherwise. This whole place no matter how lovely or surreal was a land of death and blood. Scarlet rivers lined its forests and drenched its shores. Songs of banshees hung high over it cliffs and could be heard on its hills. If anything this place was hell itself.

As my gaze shifts back to the tormented Tyler I can feel my blade lifted with the heart of Ruth. I could feel her love and her passion seeping through its blade. I could even hear the gentle calls of her caring nature. Yet it was all just a reminder, a reminder about what he took. Some things just aren't meant to be stolen. 

Blood. Thick warm scarlet liquid leaps forth from the edge of my scythe. Slowly the liquid invades my hands covering them in crimson gloves. My face remains unchanged but my heart beat quickens rapidly. Ruth's voice bolsters in my head louder than any canon could tear me apart. Her approval and her satisfaction was all I could ever need in my life. All I craved was to make her proud. I want to do even now is show her how strong I am. To show her that I was worthy to hold her love in my heart. 

Across from me I see the pain whip across Tyler's skeptical face. Bits of disbelief seem to appear deep in the depths of his eyes. I let my gaze continue to rest upon him as I rub my fingers gently together. His warm blood allows them to slip across one another in a manor so odd but so familiar. Flashes of Ruth drowning in a pool of her own scarlet life turns away any thoughts I have of being sympathetic.

Tyler Westbrook.

He was half of the reason Ruth was slaughtered the day she was. Tyler had leaped at her with his teeth bared and fire spewing from his blade. His vicious strikes laid siege to her body just like the one I had just dealt. Ruth was thrown through the unstoppable whirlpool of fire driven pain until she was finally swallowed by the void for eternity. Tyler had cast the curse to send her there. I want him to be the first to greet her, but in order to do so I would need to extinguish his flame. 

For many death was a fearsome subject left to the tolls of people's imagination, yet in this world it was as real and frequent as the air I breathed. Career or non-Career none of that mattered any longer. Not even kill or be killed sent shrills through my mind. All I drove to do. The only thing left that I could full myself through this hell to achieve is granting Ruth's wish. I am a man, I was her man, and she deserves to know how much I care even in the deep slumber of death. 

Once again I find myself pulled back to the tribute before me. No matter what I do or what I try it all just falls back to him. All the good memories the love that coursed through my veins fell like leaves off an autumn tree. All because he came and shook the tree to the ground. Ruth was my savior and my lover, she was my light in the dark. Even now as I let my weapon drive again I feel her with me. I feel her within my Scythe and I can hear her finally wish constantly playing on repeat.

"Septys you have to win."

Scarlet filled my visions as pain swarmed into my forehead. Finally it would appear Tyler had struck him with the will to survive. In fact as the red sheet blanketed my face I could see the look in his eyes. All throughout my life it is a look I have been told about, trained around. It was crazed like that of a wild animal. This fight was bringing out Tyler's internal turmoil as he fought for every last breath. Even I could feel my heart beating quickly as our war climaxed. Things were clearly heating up.

Through the metallic screams that seared both of our skins I could hear Ruth's cries of confidence. Even when the werewolves drove us to our knees. Even when I believed that death had come to make me his. She lifted my spirits to levels that others could not dream of reaching. Her support gave me reason to carry on and even now as I am swept up within this frenzy of blood I find myself turning to her words for guidance. Yet one thing will forever remain unchanged. It was his fault.

For constant hours I wailed and wondered how I failed her and what I could do to honor her, but now I had the opportunity. Tyler had always been the one who killed her, it was never my actions. Although I was weak and couldn't aid her when the roof of death collapsed. I never drove my sword against her's, I never left her like Tyler left Heather. Our love is true, and our love is eternal. For us death does not do us part. 

Questions squirm through my mind as I watch Tyler closer through the raining blood. Does he even feel love for Heather? Was it all a hoax to continue on just another day longer? Does he even deserve to be able to say he knows what love feels like? No. A true man would have stayed with his lover until the very last breath. The tribute before me is no man, he is a user and it makes my love for Ruth only stronger.

I feel my body lurching forward just as Ruth lurches with me. I can feel her blade within mine as our strength and our hearts combine. Even if she lay waiting as a corpse no matter what anyone did she would live on within my own heart. For as I swing I do not just swing for myself. I strike for Ruth Foster as well, my real true love.