fates written in blood // demented fight, day 5

Blade digs into flesh, tears between shoulder blades down a trembling spine - a wound not even Ezen, with whatever limited Career training he possesses, could endure with a stoic face and a calm heart.

BOOM goes the cannon, but it's not the one that belongs to her wayward district partner, but that of Staite, as claws from the giant beast head his way instead of the gas. Heart ripples in surprise - that the Gamemakers would actively try and kill a Career, even on the verge of death, does not bode well.

But maybe it's a warning, as another round of gas envelops Hayden just as the first wave wears off. Four becomes three becomes two becomes-

BOOM goes a second cannon, and this time it is Ezen that falls. But her blade is not the culprit, her swing not the one to snap the string of life, and-

The boy from Six had no business stealing her kill. She was the one that was supposed to kill Ezen, not Teddy Ursa's sole remaining protegee-

And she stops, for now is not the time to let anger course through her veins. Fire burns, all right, but it burns and burns and hollows out until there is nothing but a burnt shell remaining.

So instead, she turns to steel. Steel veins with a quiet determination burning from within, a determination that she must do what is necessary.

She turns from the corpse of her fallen ally, gaze resting on where the boy from Eleven is stabbing towards a prone Atlas. That'll do.

She advances, sword swinging, not particularly caring which one her blade makes contact with - for it's a win-win situation either way.

walking in my sleep
like the naked trees
will they wake up again?
do they sleep, do they dream?

Ezen Moreno falls to the ground, blood pouring from his stomach. He gasps for air; his entire body must be beginning to shut down with all of the blood he's lost. Crimson glistens all over the ground and Jacinta knows that it is because of her, because his debt must be paid in blood. There is no other way that could satisfy her.

"Finally," she says, heaving in near exhaustion. She wants to go to sleep again, curl up with Clementa and look at the everlasting moon and stars before she closes her eyes. But even after this is all over, there will be no Ment to hold at night.

"I'm guessing you recognize this weapon, Ezen. It was Alice's," says a voice from somewhere beside Jacinta. Ansel — Quillon's killer. Her axe is raised and she ignores the sound of his voice; her heart is beating hard against her chest, pounding, and she looks into Ezen's eyes one more time. She has him exactly where she wants him; Clementa will be avenged at her hand.

At least he'll die in one piece, she thinks. A kindness he didn't bother to show Clementa. Jacinta may seek revenge, but she is not without mercy.

"Told you it was time for you to go —" Jacinta almost begins to gloat to the dying boy, adrenaline, pride, and fear all swelling within her at once. Fear of the weight of the murder, but pride for finally getting what she dreamed of since Ment died.

Her words are interrupted by that voice again — by the boy from District Six.

"If you find them, I hope they find it within themselves to forgive you," Ansel continues. She looks to her side, where he is now standing, poised to strike at Ezen. Before she can react in time, Ansel Kiev interjects moments before Jacinta can make the final blow, finishing off her kill for her.

Her eyes widen as Ezen's blood spatters onto the ground; his canon fires and it's music to her ears. She feels a weight lift right off of her shoulders. Jacinta is not completely free of her survivor's guilt; Ezen Moreno may be dead but so is Clementa. And Tobias. And Quill. But perhaps she will never be free of it; there is freedom in death but never for the survivors.

If she is the last one standing after the rest of them are dead, she wonders if she will live the rest of her life with that excruciating weight. There has to be some kind of remedy — if she is crowned Victor of these games, she will have to find it before she is consumed.

Shortly after Ezen's canon fires, another one follows. From the side of her vision, she watches the Demented take down the boy from District Eight. He is gone so quickly, in just the blink of an eye.

"Are you some kind of sadist?" she asks Ansel. It is a genuine question rather than a sarcastic one; Jacinta's tone is serious and inquisitive. "Every time I see you, you're killing someone." She tries to count them all in her head — Serena, Alice, Quillon, Mila, and now Ezen. Five people in five days, and he could have more that Jacinta doesn't know about.

"Maybe I should thank you for finishing off Ezen. But that was supposed to be my kill — he killed Clementa Lowe," she almost growls, more irritated than angry.

If she were more impulsive, she would have struck at Ansel, tried to cut into his chest right then and there. But a Salazar is calculating; they make their moves carefully and logically. She decides that no matter her negative feelings towards Ansel, no matter how much of a threat he is, it would be unwise to try to kill him now. He is not a weak link yet, and there are easier targets.

Jacinta's eyes narrow, spotting Sirrah Birnam from the corner of her eye. Behind her, she thinks she can hear Hayden recovering from her paralysis at last.

She has been in the Arena long enough to know when someone is fading. Jacinta could see it in Ezen Moreno, too, when he was still alive. Not just in the way his blood was pooling on the ground, but in the pallor of his face, the dullness in his eyes. Sirrah Birnam is already a walking ghost; he just needs one or two blows to push him over the edge.

"That one," she tells her allies quietly, nodding her head in Sirrah's direction. "We can finish him off quickly."

The Gamemakers want death, and if she hopes to survive, she will have to give it to them.

And then maybe we can all go home this can all be over.

[Jacinta attacks Sirrah Birnam; axe]
CEpXi6ACaxe
[11149 -- Shallow Cut on Back of Head -- 4.5 damage]



feel it as the wind strokes my skin
i am moved by the chill
hear the winter bird sing
my tears are always frozen