Deleted Scenes: From the Mentor's Room

Gian’s hands were clammy as he stared at the screen. There had been so many countless days and nights of sleep. He felt terrible in every sense of the word. He was nervous, paranoid, and hadn’t gotten a proper night’s sleep in weeks. Since winning, he had never had a tribute make it this far. Usually by the finale, he was over the pain of losing his tribute early (or, as over it as he would ever be) and he was just waiting to go home.

How the stakes have changed for Gian Mariani.

Now, he finally had a tribute in the final three. But that still meant that two had to die. Gian tried to settle his stomach, but it was just impossible. He thought nothing would be worse than losing both tributes early, but this was, in a way, far worse. Because now, his fear was trumped by something much, much stronger.

Hope.

He had killed already. A tribute that was somewhat of a threat, as well. And now all he had to do was kill two more. Just two more for him to overpower and he would be coming home.

Gian swallowed hard as he rubbed sand out of his tired eyes and looked at the other two mentors with tributes remaining. Port was sitting alone, sleeping on the table. He looked peaceful. He knew that his tribute was trained, and had a good shot. And he also knew he did everything possible to do to ensure his Victory. Gian wished he had that level of confidence.

He quickly looked away and towards the District Nine station, where Vale was sitting awake. He was wide awake, and Gian could hear the quiet sounds of him drawing with his pencil while he waited for action to begin. There was nothing left to do but watch now. Prentice, the other District Nine mentor, had barely left his partner’s side. He’d even kept watch while Vale went into the small bedroom provided for the victors while they were mentoring to get some sleep. Gian wished Prentice would have been there when he needed him. Where was his loyalty when Gian needed him? Gian needed someone now, but he couldn’t trust anybody. He had to see what was going on. He had to know what was going on.

You knew it was finale time when the other Victors were awakened and escorted into the mentor room. One by one, the Victors that had lost their tributes filed in, all of them looking a different brand of exhausted. Gian watched as they each filed to different parts of the room, some of them greeting the Victors of their choice. The escorts of the final three came in, and Gian jumped a little when Jovia put her hand on his shoulder gently. “It’s time,” she said quietly. “Soon we’ll be on a hovercraft.”

Gian was having trouble breathing. But what if they wouldn’t be?

He looked over when he heard Blushina laughing, obviously pumped to watch her tribute win. He really did have the best chance at it. Gian glanced nervously over at Vale, who was talking quietly with Demetrius before the escort sat in between Vale and Prentice in front of June’s screen.

Gian started when someone sat beside him, but relaxed when he saw that it was just Anakyn.

“I know you don’t want me to ask you how you are,” Anakyn said. “But are you alright?”

Gian took a deep breath. For once in his life, the Victor was honest. “No,” he said.

“I don’t blame you,” he said quietly, sighing.

“He’s so close, I can’t help but hope, but… Hope isn’t good for anything. I have to be realistic,” Gian said, his eyes filling with tears. “I really want him to come home,” he said, taking a tissue from Jovia thankfully.

“Maybe hope isn’t so bad,” Anakyn said. “It’s a feeling you shouldn’t push away.”

“I wish,” Gian said. “I told him I wouldn’t get close because he could die, but… Well, our hearts don’t always listen to our brains, do they?”

“Gian… What are you saying?”

Gian swallowed hard, as if saying it out loud would be taboo and cause him to die right there. “I really, really like him.” It was the first time he’d said it out loud. He felt half terrified, half relieved.

Anakyn’s eyes widened. “Wait… You mean…” he looked around suspiciously. “You don’t think that they got you, did they? With the steroid?!”

Gian laughed, somewhat bitterly. Why couldn’t he just have stayed away? “No, they didn’t touch me. Pathetic, isn’t it?”

Anakyn’s face softened. “You said it best. Sometimes, the heart does what it wants. Even if it defies all logic. Even if the feelings aren’t returned.” His eyes went to Helen across the room.

“I just want him to come home,” Gian said quietly, blowing his nose again.

“He will,” Jovia said. “I know he will.”

Suddenly, the small screens the mentors had to watch their tributes in shut off. It was time for the finale. The big screen in the center of the room lit up with a high-definition view of the action, and the mentors all stood up or turned their chairs to see.

Jovia reached over and took his hand, which Gian squeezed tightly. He could do nothing now but watch. He felt so helpless as the mutts chased him straight to Nerio. Gian’s stomach twisted when he saw the realization on Riggs’s face that his next opponent would be the one he had been searching for so long.

Gian watched Riggs freeze and saw the words cross his lips. “For Joule. For SYCA!” Gian squeezed his eyes shut. It was hard to watch. The boy from District Four was fighting hard, but Riggs was agile and fast. Gian felt exhausted just watching him. He had been through hell. He couldn’t just die here.

The trident caught the fabric of Gian’s shirt and he felt like a palm was pushing straight into his heart. He couldn’t handle this. But he couldn’t look away. He watched Riggs’s eyes light up with an idea when he saw a knife on the ground. While dodging, he slowly made his way towards it. This could be it.

Please, Gian pleaded. Please.

Riggs lunged for the knife, but was brought to the ground by Nerio. Gian felt like he, too, had been tackled, squeezing Jovia’s hand. Tears prickled out of his eyes.

Please.

“You know I don’t want to do this Riggs,” Nerio said. Port grumbled something under his breath, but Gian didn’t want to hear him.

Please Riggs. Please. Please don’t leave me… A tear rolled down Gian’s cheek. Hoping had done him wrong.

“I’m so sorry Syca,” Riggs choked out. He was giving out. He was saying his last words. Gian could feel the snot dripping out of his nose as he let out a sob. “Please no,” he said, out loud. Ani and Jovia put their arms around him.

“I’m sorry too,” Nerio said quietly.

“No,” Gian murmured. “No!”

“No!” Riggs yelled. “Don’t you say that!” Gian looked up as a new fire appeared in Riggs’s eyes. “FOR GIAN!” he yelled, throwing his weight to the side. The tears started to pour out of Gian’s eyes. He never stopped thinking about him.

“I’m so sorry Riggs,” Nerio said.

Gian watched him send the trident forward in horror. “No!” he yelled, jumping up to reach towards the screen, as if that would save him, that would do anything for him.

Through vision blurred by tears, he saw the District Four boy freeze up. When he wiped his eyes, he saw the arrow through his shoulder.

“Atta girl!!” Vale shouted, clapping his hands.

Gian watched Riggs throw the shocked boy off of him and, before he could steel himself for more fighting, stab him in the chest with his dagger. The cannon cracked and Gian’s heart pounded harder. He was in the final 2! But it wasn’t good news, because his opponent obviously had the higher ground.

“Don’t doddle,” Gian said quietly. He had to know how this was going to turn out. Riggs just stared at the body, his eyes looking shocked, his face gaunt and sad. Gian’s heart broke for him. Riggs slowly bent to the ground and picked up the teal flower that was lying there. Gian balled his fists. Of course he had to be a sweetheart like that. He watched a single tear escape Riggs’s eye and land on the ground, sprouting a beautiful flower. He slowly put the flower in his pocket.

“I can’t say I forgive you. But I will say that I’m going to fight for you.” Gian swallowed hard as the cameras panned to the girl in the tree, who was smiling. Gian looked desperately at her hands, but she wasn’t holding the string. She was holding her bow.

Gian’s heart hit his stomach. After all this.

“Very touching,” she said on the screen. “Aren’t you just the picture of moral purity?”

Gian felt sick. “Please,” he said, to no one.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Gian wished he could smile and comment about how cute that was. But not here.

"I mean, you picked up that rose and you even got the one dramatic tear there. Really, straight out of a movie." June kissed her fingers and opened them to the air, and Gian was starting to wonder. He couldn’t help but hope "So dramatic. So spicy."
"You want to talk about dramatic?” Riggs asked, his arms still crossed and his face still pouting up at her. “How about you, waiting until I was about to die to help me out?"
June shrugged, and Gian wanted to wring her neck for waiting so long. "I like a little dramatic flair."
"Why didn't you take me out?" Riggs asked nervously. Gian felt sick to his stomach.
"And risk that jack winning? Nah. He deserved to get third. Rest in piss bub." That was one thing they could agree on.
Riggs looked like he was going to laugh, but steeled his face. He remembered where they were. Gian’s eyes filled with tears realizing he was going to get into another fight. Last one, Gian thought. If he survives.
"I assume you're not coming down from there?" Riggs asked, his confidence from before wavering.
"Not until I win,” she said simply. Gian swallowed hard, more tears forming in his eyes. That was it, then. No string. No hope.
"Then I'll have to get creative." Riggs said, his voice wavering as he started running towards the tree. Gian clenched his fists hard. This was the last one.
"No, need." June smirked. Gian watched in horror as she pulled back her bowstring and shot it straight towards him.
“Riggs!” Gian said desperately, reaching towards the TV.
But then something weird happened. The cameras only showed June’s smirking face as she whispered, “Boom.”
Gian’s heart skipped a beat. What was that supposed to mean!?
"Why the hell did you say boom?! You missed me!" came the voice from below, and Gian’s heart soared. He was still living! He was alive! Gian wanted to see him so badly, but the camera only showed her face, smiling slowly.
"I didn't miss actually."
The camera showed the arrow, which had the red string of fate tied to the end. Riggs’s eyes widened at the sight. That means… That means!!
Gian immediately let out a sob he was holding back as Vale screamed and jumped out of his chair. Jovia jumped up out of her seat and swept him up in a tight hug. They were both Victors! Jovia was squealing with delight as Gian turned around and crashed into Ani’s arms, who was smiling sadly. He definitely wished it could have been Syca, but he was still happy for Gian.
Gian bounded across the room to hug Vale, feeling so overwhelmed with happiness it just kept bursting out of him. The two mentors hugged for a while, both of them crying so much they couldn’t even talk.
Riggs and June were talking on the screen, but Gian couldn’t hear what they were saying. He couldn’t keep it in. Prentice was beaming, and Gian was so excited he hugged him, too. He was sobbing and overjoyed, and he couldn’t stop crying. Riggs was a Victor now. He was coming home.
He hurried back to the screen, where Jovia put her arm around his waist. The District Nine team stood beside him, the three of them holding hands. With Jovia’s arm around him, Gian reached out and took Vale’s hand, and together the District teams watched as their tributes tied the red string of fate to each of their fingers.
Suddenly, they were enveloped in beautiful red light, and the specters of the fallen appeared, swirling around the tributes. Seeing Riggs smiling made Gian start crying again, so relieved and happy that he was safe, and overwhelmed with happiness. He watched as Riggs teared up seeing his allies, and felt nothing but relief. The camera showed June and Riggs interacting with the specters of light and showed her running over to Attila’s ghost and flipping it off.
“Atta girl,” Vale said quietly, sniffling.
Then it was the moment of truth.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you… The Victors of the 125^th Hunger Games… Riggs Fidler of District Six, and June Fisher of District Nine!” Vale squeezed his hand as Gian let out a happy yell of Victory. June crumbled to her knees on the screen and Gian could barely see through his tears but he just knew that District Six had a Victor and it was Riggs!
“Right this way, District teams,” the Peacekeeper said, and Gian ran to join them, on the way to the hovercraft that would be picking up the tributes. The teams loaded in and Gian’s heart fluttered with anticipation, still crying. Jovia handed him a tissue.
“I had these just in case, but I’m so glad to use them for happy tears.”
“Me too,” Gian said, feeling slightly calmer. Now he was just filled with anticipation. Soon, the announcement came that the tributes were being loaded in. Prentice swayed anxiously as the ladders finished bringing them both up. Prentice ran to June, and there he was.
Riggs ran faster than Gian had ever seen him go and crashed into his arms.
“Shit, I was so afraid,” Gian said. There was no way he could hold him tight enough. God, he was never letting him go again.
“It’s okay, I made it.” He was hugging Gian so tightly, but he would not have it any other way.
“Riggs Fidler, I’m never letting you go again,” Gian said, the tears quickly returning to his eyes, and pouring out when he saw how teary Riggs’s eyes got.
“Gian, it’s okay if you don’t feel the same. I just want-“
Gian didn’t wait for him to finish, grabbing his face and kissing him quickly. Riggs looked shocked, tears dripping down his dirty face.
“Being away from you made me realize that I don’t want to be without you. You stole my heart Riggs.”
Riggs looked shocked, but tears started pouring out of his eyes too. He wasn’t sure what to say, so through his tears he just said, “Dude, I haven’t brushed my teeth in thirteen days.”
“Honestly, neither have I.” Gian said, sniffling a little as they both laughed. Without another word, Riggs had his hand on the back of Gian’s head and kissed him again, both of them still crying a little bit. Gian didn’t care if they were both disgusting, all he cared about was that he was here, and in Gian’s arms, and Gian would never have to let go of him again.
“Congratulations, Riggs,” Jovia said, as they brought out the hospital bed that would take Riggs back to heal his injuries. “I’m so happy to see you home.”
“I couldn’t have done it without Gian,” he said, grinning and sniffling as he got in the bed.
“I’ll see you soon,” Gian said quietly.
“See you soon,” Riggs said. He took Gian’s hand and kissed it softly, giving a trademark Riggs grin as he waved to Jovia on his way to the operating room. Gian sniffled and Jovia handed him another tissue, gently patting his back as they rolled June away. Then, he glanced at Prentice, who gave him a small smile and wave. It was time to talk to him. Gian just knew it was.
He blew his nose one last time, and together, he and Jovia went to talk to the District Nine team.
Even as the hovercraft landed on the ground, Gian’s heart was still soaring.