The morning of the seventh day was greeted by rainclouds sent by the game masters. The sun did not make an appearance; only more clouds. It soon began to rain heavily. Big drops of water that fell everywhere and made everything wet. The four remaining tributes were soon soaked.
Taehyung and Jennie had left the lake and instead searched for the remaining two elsewhere. Meanwhile Jungkook was on the hunt for Hoseok after the silent tribute had stolen some of his food supplies. Knowing he couldn't be too far ahead Jungkook searched for him high and low.
And as luck would have it Hoseok's movements had been restricted. It was raining far too heavily for him to be up in the trees jumping from branch to branch. Not only was it too slippery but he could hardly see two feet in front of his face. So instead Hoseok was on the ground like everyone else.
Jungkook chased him through the forest with a sword in each hand. He was having a very hard time trying to catch up as Hoseok had a good head start and was a skilled runner. He lunged through the forest at great leaps as Jungkook found it hard to keep up.
But with that much water it was only a matter of time. As Hoseok leapt forward he slipped in all that water and his body came crashing down. He hit the ground hard and his face landed in the mud. Spitting it out he turned over to see Jungkook had caught up to him and was mere feet away.
Hoseok threw one of his throwing knives he kept hidden in his shirt at Jungkook. It punctured his right shoulder. "Arggh!" Jungkook did not stop running but ripped the knife out of his shoulder with one hand as he ran.
As he came toward Hoseok the quiet boy pushed out with his upper body and kicked out with both legs. Both feet connected with Jungkook's stomach sending him hurtling backwards. He hit the ground with a thud a few feet away. Hoseok quickly pulled himself back to his feet and ran off.
Despite having the air knocked out of his lungs Jungkook was not about to give up. Trying to catch his breath he pulled himself to his feet. Tightening the grip on his swords he ran after the fleeing tribute.
Jungkook would've liked to throw something at Hoseok's back as he ran but dare not throw either of his swords. He still had a knife in his pocket but without being able to put one of his weapons down he didn't think he'd be able to throw it well enough to hit.
Hoseok was maybe twenty feet ahead of him now. He was no longer trying to lose his pursuer in the trees or trap him long enough to escape. Instead he was merely running straight ahead of him. Jungkook thought if he put all his energy into sprinting he might catch up to him. But just then Hoseok suddenly turned to the right into the trees and out of sight.
Surprised Jungkook kept running till he got to the same spot and turned right himself but right before he reached the trees Hoseok slashed at him with a knife. The weapon was parallel to his neck and it would surely cut his throat and kill him. But Jungkook had a split second to slip and chose to fall on his back rather than die.
Not prepared to miss Hoseok had to choose between fleeing and attacking again. He decided to redirect the knife and stab down at Jungkook's heart. However the seventh district tribute let go of his sword and grabbed Hoseok's wrist right before the knife cut him. Jungkook was inherently stronger than Hoseok and while he had him in his grasp he punched him in the face knocking him down.
Jungkook had expected a guy like Hoseok wouldn't be able to take a punch and thus was surprised when he quickly recovered and scampered away. Once again he had decided to flee rather than stay and fight. Jungkook was starting to get annoyed and without thinking hurled one of his swords at the teen.
The sword missed and as he ran to pick it up he almost lost sight of his target. Running in the general direction Jungkook wondered if Hoseok had managed to disappear somewhere in the rain when he found his way to the lake. Glancing around left and right he wondered if Hoseok had hidden himself in the water or something just as ridiculous.
Just then a throwing knife was hurled at him. Jungkook barely managed to block it with his swords before Hoseok appeared out of nowhere with two more. The first he flung straight at Jungkook's face. The dark haired teen only just turned his head to the side so the knife merely skimmed his ear; drawing blood.
But Jungkook had barely turned his head when Hoseok stabbed the second knife straight into his right knee. He would've tried to stab his chest but both swords were still blocking it. Jungkook screamed in pain and tried on reflex to slash at Hoseok. He quickly leapt back in time to avoid it.
Jungkook started to see double but continued to try to slash at Hoseok who was now weaponless. Even in his weakened state he got lucky and cut Hoseok on the left arm. It was a shallow cut but Hoseok seemed alarmed by it. He suddenly turned and flung himself into the lake.
Looking confused Jungkook stood there in the rain blinking as he saw Hoseok's head come up out of the water. "If you want to kill me," Hoseok spoke for the first time. "You'll have to come in here."
Jungkook gritted his teeth and cursed. Gripping the knife he pulled it out of his flesh and winced. He knew with his hurt leg he'd never be able to swim out there. And with no projectile weapons to aid him Hoseok was safe for now.
It was then that Jungkook noticed something for the first time since they had reached the lake. The rain that had been coming down so heavily was replaced with hail. The hail was heavy and it came down just as hard as the rain if not more so. A thought crossed his mind and Jungkook burst out laughing.
"Ah ha ha ha!" He laughed clutching at his sides. "Ha ha! Go ahead and stay in there Hoseok!" He yelled out toward the lake. "I don't even need to kill you anymore. You've seen to that!"
And with that final laugh Jungkook slowly walked off. Heading toward the cornucopia he did not bother to look back.
Less than an hour later the hail had turned to snow. Jennie and Taehyung now tried to push through it in their attempt to find the last two tributes. Neither of the two of them were dressed for this kind of weather. Both wrapped their arms around their sides and shivered frightfully.
"-Jennie," Taehyung sniveled. "We need to find someplace where it isn't snowing! We're going to freeze to death!"
"I doubt there is a place where it isn't snowing." Jennie answered. "This is obviously the game masters trying to kill us all off!"
"I-I don't think they'd do that." Taehyung shook his head. "They want us to kill each other."
"Then maybe..." Jennie looked thoughtful. "Maybe they're trying to herd us somewhere. Maybe there's one place that it isn't snowing and that's where they want us to fight. That way we won't have to look for each other."
"But where?" Taehyung asked.
"Hmm...I'm not sure." She pondered for a moment. "This would be a lot easier if the arena was circular and there was a tower or something in the middle."
"Well there sure isn't a tower here." Realization hit Taehyung. "But there is the cornucopia! What about that?"
"That must be it!" Jennie nodded. "It's the only actual manmade structure that we've seen. I'd bet my life that's where the other two will be."
"Let's hope you don't have to," the blonde frowned.
The two quickly made a turn in the opposite direction and headed toward the cornucopia. It wasn't too far from their current location but with the snow and howling wind it seemed miles and miles away.
They hadn't been walking long when they heard the sound of a cannon going off. They barely heard it over the storm but there was no mistaking the familiar sound. "Who do you think that was?" Taehyung asked.
"I don't know," Jennie said trying to push herself forward. "Let's just hope it was the stronger of the two. Maybe we'll get lucky and whoever is left is badly wounded." But what neither Jennie nor Taehyung knew was that it was Hoseok who had died. He had frozen to death soon after it started snowing. He got out of the lake but it was too late and he didn't manage to warm up in time. Instead his corpse lay frozen in the snow.
Jennie even briefly hoped they'd soon hear the sound of another cannon going off but didn't get her wish. They kept walking but heard nothing but the wind against their frozen ears. When they got close to the cornucopia the two got out their weapons. Jennie had the two knives while Taehyung was using the axe that Jackson had used to kill Jisoo.
Their assumption had been correct as the area around the cornucopia was clear of snow or any weather at all. There wasn't a cloud in the sky despite a storm raging mere feet away. It was truly an amazing sight to behold. Once they got under the warmth of the sun they could not help but feel relieved as warmth once again spread through their bodies.
"This feels wonderful!" Jennie said rubbing her frozen hands together.
Meanwhile Taehyung was looking around. "I don't see anyone. Do you reckon we beat the last tribute here?"
"They might be hiding," Jennie reckoned. "We need to be careful."
But just then Taehyung's foot caught a wire. The trap wrapped itself around his ankle before pulling him forward. It slammed him right up against the cornucopia with quite a lot of force and held him there.
"Taehyung!" Jennie called out. "Are you—mmm?" Her sentence was cut off in the middle as a hand wrapped itself over her mouth. The hand was there to muffle the scream as a sword was thrust through her back to come out of her stomach on the other side.
Jennie's eyes grew wide as pain racked her body. Blood poured out of the wound and down the length of her body. Despite having her mouth covered the sounds that did escape were horrifying to listen to. She struggled to escape his grasp but was restrained. Her struggles soon became twitches at which time the sword was quickly pulled out of her body.
A cannon went off.
From where he had been trapped Taehyung had watched it all. "NO!" He screamed. "No! Jennie!" He sliced at the wire holding him up. After a few tries it cut through and he fell to the ground. The axe had fallen from his hands and lie on the ground a few feet away.
Jungkook watched Taehyung escape from his trap and then fall. Knowing he had to attack before the blonde could reclaim his weapon Jungkook rushed forward both swords ready to strike.
Taehyung fumbled on the ground. Hands groping for his weapon he scrambled forward sensing Jungkook's immediate approach. Suddenly his hands felt cold metal rather than grass. Realizing it was his weapon he quickly gripped it in his hands and without a moment's thought or hesitation he brought it up as fast as he could in a slashing motion.
The axe cut deeply into Jungkook's lower left stomach. He had just been about to strike Taehyung with both his swords when the axe had shot up and cut through him like paper before freeing itself of his flesh.
Jungkook gasped; the scream caught in his throat. Blood poured out of his wound and he suddenly felt too weak to stand. He fell to his knees just as Taehyung scrambled to his feet. The swords in his hand felt heavy and the strength to carry them seemed to have left him.
Once he realized Jungkook was no longer a threat Taehyung had run past him without a second glance. He ran to Jennie and held her head up with his arm. "Jennie? Jennie!" He shook her slightly. "No please..." He gulped as fresh tears lit his cheeks. "Don't be dead! Don't leave me here. Don't leave me all alone..."
Meanwhile Jungkook glared angrily at the blonde. His thoughts were frantic and filled with panic. No! This can't be it! I didn't come this far just to get second place and die! I still have to kill my brother and avenge my family!
His left hand desperately reached for his sword handle. His grip was unsteady as he barely managed to hold onto his sword. Get up! He told himself. Get up and fight damn it!
Taehyung had laid Jennie's head back down on the grass before turning toward Jungkook. He glared angrily at the weakened tribute. His hand gripped the axe as hard as he could before he brought it up to strike. Jungkook was helpless to defend himself and Taehyung could see that. It would be easy. Kill him and it would all be over.
Taehyung lowered the axe suddenly down to his waist. "I...don't care." He said.
Jungkook looked at him confused. He had no idea what was going on or what he was doing. Why wasn't he attacking? "I don't give a shit about this game." He explained.
"I could win...but then what? It wouldn't do me any good. I'd still be alone. Jisoo's dead, Jennie's dead, everybody else is dead! I don't want to be alone. I don't want to play their game anymore." He dropped the axe onto the grass.
"I want them to know that they can't control me." His voice was full of conviction as he said this. "That they do NOT own me! I am Taehyung!" he shouted. "And I will stay Taehyung. So you win."
Jungkook looked back and forth from Taehyung to the axe lying untouched on the ground. He didn't believe it. But despite the precious seconds that passed nothing happened. There was no trick. It was real. Jungkook realized this.
While one of his hands held his wound closed the other gripped his sword. Using the last of his strength he stood up and slashed the blade across Taehyung's throat. A quart of blood spilled out onto Jungkook and the grass and then Taehyung's body fell to the ground.
A cannon went off. Followed closely by trumpets coming from all sides. Jungkook recognized it as the music that was played when someone won the hunger games. Falling back down to his knees he realized he had won. The sound of a helicopter filled the air behind him and he knew they were coming to take him back.
But just then Jungkook spotted something shiny. Lying on the ground was a small coin that had fallen out of Taehyung's pocket when he died. There was a crow on the silver coin and Jungkook wondered what it meant. He closed his fingers around the coin and saw the men come to take him away. But before they could take him away he had already fallen unconscious.
Three days later Jungkook stood in the very center of the capital. The country's best doctors had worked extensively on him making sure he not only survived but was back to full health as quickly as possible. He now stood on a platform where thousands of people watched him receive his award. It was a great honor and he was congratulated for his success. No one mentioned how close he came to losing or that he had been given the win.
Jungkook himself was not sure how to feel about the mercy he had been given. He was glad he won but had always intended to do it alone. Never had he thought he would be shown pity by an opponent and allowed to win. So instead of worrying about it he tried to think of his goal. He was now one step closing to killing his brother.
As a speech in his honor was given Jungkook found himself paying less and less attention. Now he didn't hear the speech at all; instead he focused on the sound of his own heartbeat. Digging into his pockets he pulled out a strand of red hair from one and a coin with a crow on it from the other.
He felt oddly sad.
THE END×