In the End/as [He] Fades into the Night, (Curse Standalone)

”Just a reminder now that it’s the second day in the Arena that everything is pitch black. Those lucky enough to have a light source can see, and even then what happens when the light goes out?” Caesar Flickerman reminds the world as the cameras zoom in onto the starting of some fights.

“Because of this fact we have lightened the images you all you at home so that you can see the action just like any regular Games! Isn't it great?!” his tone the usual excited announcer that he is. During the interviews he manages to feign concern and interest for the tributes, and who knows, maybe he actually does care for them within the short three minutes. Curse has not had the chance to see and interact with Caesar in person, and who knows if he ever will. He cannot decide if that is a good think or not. Caesar still has the faux everything look of the Capitol, the only thing that is ever different about him is his color, this year a shimmering black that seems to move on its own. He could have at least done a smoky eye shadow to throw off the creepy and ominous look, but he guesses that the solid black is all part of the look. Either way Curse doesn't like it.

He remains planted on his couch, trying to make out anything from the almost complete darkness that is the Arena. Cave and caverns drenched in complete darkness with only flickering torches and faulty flashlights to guide them. Those lucky enough to grab their hands on night vision goggles were in what feels like the most power in the current situation. Yet Curse knows that there is no such thing as power in the Arena, even if you win the Wealth, there is only death. The Gamemakers control all the power, playing with Jay like he is a damn puppet. Curse could care less about the other tributes that are dancing among the shadows of flames and flickering lights. It is only Jay Kearns that he will only ever care about, though he was sad to see Zelphyr fall in the Bloodbath. She seemed to have a certain spunk about her.

The lights cast shadows upon the walls as the tributes wander along, having no clue as to where they are or where they are going. Many of the tributes end up going in circles, or staying just where they are. Which are what Jay and his gang appear to do. That strategy can be either really useful for them, or really bad for them. As in the 66th Games with the winner from District Nine, Colgate, there was one alliance that stayed at the beach for 3 days before they lost Colgate’s district partner to his own alliance. That seems like an issue of its own, only to have multiple members of each alliance fall to betrayal. Argo was killed by Ares who was in turn killed by Francesca, while Lyric was killed by Colgate. That Game was an interesting one for Curse in terms of the tribute dynamics.

He remembers the Reaping like it was only yesterday, in reality it was only about a week ago but Reapings are not usually the most exciting or glamorous things. Watching a bunch of corralled kids waiting in fear of their death sentence being signed, the eldest grasping onto their thin hope knowing that they only have to get through those treacherous ten minutes. The only times a Reaping is ever exciting is when there is a volunteer in the lower Districts. Or when the siblings of a previous tribute volunteer, just like fucking Jay. Curse threw his pillow at the wall hoping to distort the images of the carnage of the Games. Unfortunately they’re never off; once a Game has begun it never stops. Their reruns are now burned images into the citizen’s brains.

I don’t want to watch Jay die, not today not ever.

Curse’s brain repeats this as he attempts to move himself from the couch that he has surely by now imprinted. It has been now over a full day. The second day has started with no natural light, no fresh air, only the eternal darkness for Jay. He signed his death wish only to walk around in the death black of the caves, with everyone swinging their weapons, hoping to no hit one of their own, just for the moment at least. With the lights flickering and the torches being blown out by the swings of their holders it truly becomes a huge dog fight as people start to swing at random. Not knowing who is who anymore.

Curse barely throws himself off of the couch to go and scrounge his kitchen for some food. Anything that can really distract Curse at the moment will be helpful as the blood starts to flow and bones crunch. He was preparing one of his favorite dishes to get put him in a happier place, lobster carbonara, the thick creamy sauce and the juicy lobster can put Curse in a good mood no matter what the situation is, that is unless you are watching your ex-boyfriend get clobbered to death by his blind teammates.

Two cannon fires.

He runs to the screen, carrying his bowl of food therapy with him. The first shots are of the girl from 12 being devoured by the nocturnal snakes, which comes to no surprise to most who are watching. The past amount of Victors from Twelve has been a shock when two had one in a row, then when Heron had won even with her legs cut off. But the next shot is the one that will be forever imprinted into Curse’s brain.

Jay falling to the ground, the other tribute from Twelve, Jim, another volunteer, strikes him down by breaking his knee, forever silencing Jay Kearns.

All of the kisses, the hugs, the cuddle, the love making, none of it matters now as Jay's lifeless corpse drops onto the cave floor. All of the time he and Jay had spent together when Jay was nursing Curse and Curse was attempting to comfort Jay has been cut down to nothing. And that is all the Jay will ever be now, nothing but a memory.

The bowl drops and shatters, sending shards of ceramic and food flying all over the studio apartment floor.

And Curse goes down with it, plummeting further and further into his own darkness.