final girl | 6th hunger games finale

I can tell, even from the top of the rushing train, that everyone in the crowd is silent. I feel it, a thrum of my heart beating in my chest once, twice. I fall to my knees, face frozen in suspense as I wait for the train to clear where the beast's body will be. Come on, come on, come on. Let her be fucking dead, let this be finished. Please. Please. I'm so tired. Please. The train's caboose straightens out of the curve, and there she is. I think for a terrible moment that I see her stir, because it is somehow impossible, even now, to imagine the girl as a corpse, as anything other than the person who would have won this whole thing if my ass wasn't afraid to play dirty.

I might be dirty, but I'm fucking alive. And she isn't. I point at her and squeal with joy. My fist slams into the top of the train with glee.

"She's dead! Dead!" She’s dead. She’s dead. I keep staring at her in disbelief that it’s the truth. She’s dead!

I won.

"I win!"

I stand again- it takes some time to do, believe me, and I spread my arms out by my sides. The wind whips my tulle cape behind me and the crowd's cheers lift me up so high I could be flying. They're chanting my name now, over and over again: De-li-a! De-li-a!

I won. I actually did it. I mean, don't get me wrong, I was pretty sure I had it from the start but... Holy shit. I won. I am no one's shadow anymore, I'm a sun. And I get to burn, and burn, and burn, and it's okay because it's my nature. I don't realize that I'm going to cry until it's far, far too late. My mascara runs down my face in streaks, smeared by the force of the wind. I won. Me. I was the best, undeniably. I killed the beast! I killed- I, I killed... I killed. Five? No- I killed six-

Humans.

Targets?

People.

Was it worth it?

My hands squeeze themselves into fists as I remember: I'm not finished yet. This was a battle won, not a war. I can't truly say I've won until I know what Terra Montague's fading pulse feels like as I squeeze it out of her throat. My head snaps up to her, a primal snarl of electric blue eyes, and wicked sharp steel. Let me make it perfectly clear for her, I think. My smile is as cruel as a bite, and I hold my thumb up to my throat and make a slicing motion before I let her break eye contact from me.

The train comes to a stop and I see the guards coming through the gates, three of em: armored and armed. Oh. They have plans of their own, it seems. I got places I gotta be, and they wanna try and stop me? Ha. Good luck trying. I duck inside the train car with a laugh, swinging through the sun roof by my hands. I fudge the landing but, to be fair, I am kind of dying at the moment. My knees give out and I topple over, right into a booth seat. But I quickly right myself as I feel the train beginning to slow to a stop. Game time, baby.

"Come out of the train car, Cordelia!"

"It's Delia!" I scream back. I hear the impact of someone coming aboard and I laugh.

"Come and get me, boys!"

The first one is easy enough, a jab to the ribs and an elbow to the nose. By the time the second one has time to react, I've smacked his gun out of his hands and planted my foot directly in the center of his chest. The third, however, learns quick, and fires a tranquilizer dart from across the car. Catches me right in the fuckin tit, too. I scoff in disapproval.

"Cheater."

Like calls to like. Gotta respect it, at the fiery least.

The effects are almost immediate: I feel groggy, and sleepy, and loopy. I think I hear air hissing somewhere in this distance, or chimes ringing, and then I’m at my grandma’s house during the summer and she’s teaching me how to roll quarters while the tea kettle boils. She smells like soap and flowery perfume and cigarettes, and she puts her hand on my head and I feel happy. I feel safe. I blink again and the third guard is closing in on me. I swing, lazily— much too wide, and he deflects it.

"Take me to her. Please. "

I collapse into his arms and he grunts with the weight of me.

"Can’t. You’re about to pass out."

"No I’m not!"

I totally am, though. I think I was five or six that night with my grandma. Her floorboards used to be so creaky and she made coffee before sunrise every day. and she liked to feed the hummingbirds and sit on her porch and listen to her wind chimes. She died that night. Right after I went to sleep. Mom was off on a bender and so no one found us for two days. I thought she was sleeping, but I was just a stupid kid then.

I guess I’m a still just a stupid kid now.

"I got her," the guard says into his radio. He’s right— I’m done. I can actively see the corners of my vision fading to black even as I stare into his eyes. The last thing I register before the darkness takes me is, again, the chanting of my name, over and over: De-li-a! De-li-a!

"I won," I whisper.

thank you!

Lalia, Sidney, Arx -
Thank you guys so much for running this games! I loved the creativity and the freedom you guys really gave us as writers this games, and for creating such a positive, friendly, inviting atmosphere for the tributes! The arena was sick, JJ was sick, you guys were always willing to lend a helping hand or a listening ear, you answered all of our questions and just UGH!!!!!!!! You guys were amazing, and it was an honor to participate in your games.

Kaitlin -
Finale partners for life, yeah? I love you so much, and I love Juno so much, (even if she genuinely terrifies me,) and I couldn't have asked for a better finale. Thank you for choosing me every day, thank you for everything you do, other gay things u know whateva thanks 4 kissin me and stuff

Lyss -
Our fight was so much fun to write! I loved getting to read Wynn's story, and thank you so much for allowing Delia and I to be a part of it! I'm so happy you came back when you did, because these games wouldn't have been the same without her!

Aya, Kay, Tristen, Jess, Kaplan, Celestials -
Best games EVER!!!!!!!! I loved literally every one of your characters, and promise to uphold their iconicness to the best of my ability for as long as Delia shall live (so like until probably like the 50's but that's still a long time okay give a girl a break)

Everyone who supported me - u know who u are. i love u. shampoo for my real friends, real poo for my sham friends.

okay we out.

- end -