Falling Apart (Marauders Day 4 Leisure)

[Cato]

My entire body aches, it's hard to focus, hard to keep myself going when all I want to do is lay down and sleep, but I know I can't sleep. It's a bad idea right now because I don't think I would wake up, and that is terrifying to think of. Death has called for me twice, and both times I've walked away from its grim embrace. I don't know when it will try to snatch me again, but I do know that I need to be prepared, and I need to make sure that I can still escape death's arms. I know that my body is starting to fail me though, and I know that it's just a matter of time before my body falls into this eternal rest. It's not something I'm prepared for, but it's something I have accepted.

I look at Mav and Dyno. They're both standing strong, but they've yet to feel the same brute force that I have. They've yet to suffer the loss I have, and maybe it makes me weak, but I am stronger than them. I've survived more than they have. I've suffered a lot of blood loss over the last two days, yet I'm still strong, I'm still carrying on, and I know I'm capable of succeeding. I already have a kill, and that's all that I need. "Death keeps knocking. I'll have to answer him sooner rather than later it seems." It's hard to say these words, but there's so much truth to them. Look at what has happened to me. Look at where I am. They have to know that I'm not going to be with them much longer.

My heart is slightly heavy, but I refuse to let anyone see that. I refuse to let anyone see inside my soul because showing them how weak I am means that they can take full advantage of me, and I don't want that. I've yearned for this moment, and I'm not prepared for it to end much sooner than I imagined. But what can I do? People are afraid of me it seems. Why else would they attack me over these two? What have I done that deserves this? It's because I'm stronger than them, and that is what keeps me going. I've built up this persona for myself, and now I'm prepared to hold onto it forever. I look at Mav. He's from home, and I want him to succeed. "Hope you and Dyno have a plan for when I'm gone." If I can't win, I want district four to bring it home, but I'm not going to tell him that. I then look at Dyno. "It's an honor being allied with you." It's all I can manage to say.

[Tom]

A water damaged page is what he's found.

Steele Cassidy; her name wasn't high on his list. A death he had subconsciously not wanted to be the cause of. One needed the best odds at the crown. Only now does the death fill his head. Plot twists. Always the unexpected to come. Dyno Moreno wasn't meant to kill her. Rene did. Four taking down a One. Just as they've done in the games already by being the stronger of the career districts. Built a name for themselves in the most recent years. A sort of dark feeling fills his gut as he think about Steele Cassidy. Would there be others to mourn her? Who was she in One? Should he even care? As he stares to the blank page, he crosses out the name. Using a drop of the blood from his wound; smearing red to white. A reminder. Another death. Closer to the crown that was meant to be his and only his.

Rene and Maverick are around somewhere close. He'd been looking for them. Feet in the shallow waters of the stream as he cools off from the sweat filled day. Cleaning his wound to the best of his abilities as he lets the cool sense of water ease his muscles. The tightened feeling of Yael and Steele bubbling through him. Washing away the grime of the past couple of hours. There's a peacefulness to the way he stands there. Watching without a care in the world, he knew there'd be no one to stop him now. The careers who stand before him are the fours, who are on his side, and the last one left. Pierce Littleton. Oh, Dyno really wanted to take him off the board. Maverick and Rene he could handle. Pierce had shown to be a little bit more tricky.

Intelligent and dangerous.

Dyno was desperate to see him.

Crumble whatever would be left of Pierce.

Instead, Dyno lets his mind wander to the rest of the legacies left. Haizea, Svetlana, and Dorothy were still out there. Dorothy would be his kill. Stealing Duke away from him would be the last thing she does. Svetlana was a problem, but not in a deadly way. No, more like the annoying pestering mutt that still follows him. A pest. A nuisance. She'll die soon enough. Haizea was a mystery. Izars were known to be survivors. A family who pushed themselves to stay together, to be strong, and to prosper. Except, they were traitors to the capitol. Someone needed to tell Vasco to shut up. It's why the Izars keep getting their names pulled. Dyno smiles at the thought of seeing her. What stories could be written if they had?

Once he lets himself wander, he moves away to find Rene and Maverick. Looking the two of them up, he can see Maverick is just as fine as the day before. No one really seemed to care about the blonde guy. Was he just not that threatening? He didn't get the kill after all. Rene was different. Looking as if death's reapers had visited her, he can't help but smile. A dark feeling in his chest as he speaks teasingly. "Got your first kill after all Rene. Took my advice, though it seems to have costed you an arm and a leg." Glancing to her now missing leg, he laughs.

Oh he was going to have so much fun.

Rene truly had a leg up on the competition now. Dyno Moreno would easily be able to take her now. Maverick on the other hand, well he's still trying to come up with a plan for him. If Maverick was to attack him now, Dyno didn't have a plan. Except, he's not worried about that. No, instead he's watching them with a genuine smile. That faint feeling in his chest coming back as he leans on Yael's glaive to keep him up. Better to be ready than to not be.

Still doesn't mean his story can't have some side characters in it.

Except, Rene's words feel hollow. Unblinking, he watches her carefully.

"I told you... I'll fight death before that happens."