"Five minutes" I hear a peacekeeper say

I turn around expecting to see my sister but instead I see my friend Tyler.

Tyler is tall. He has brown hair and brown eyes like most of the people in the lower level.

Except for a few like myself and my sister. We have the standard District 4 look blonde hair, green eyes, and tanned skin. I think our could've originally been from the middle level before the dark days

I have known Tyler my whole life. He is almost a brother. Him and his familt were close to my parents. When they died they made sure we were alright. They couldnt really give us food but did occasionally. Tyler has a sister and brother they are 13 and 14. His parents never want there names in more than it has to be. This is Tyler's last year we both know his brother will be putting his name in.

"Hi." I tell him like it is a casual day.

"Hi?" He says confused. "Listen I know you think you're going to die."

"I am going to die." I tell him in a dead pan voice.

"Why must you be so blunt?"

"Accepting reality doesn't make me blunt. I don't have the skills you need to win this thing." I tell him

"Well you shouldn't just lie down and die. You should at least try."

I roll my eyes "Of course I'm going to try. I want to live but I am accepting reality."

"Well whatever. It was nice being your friend" He smiles

"So sincere." I tease

"Look after her." I'm referring to my sister. She should be alright if I die. But our family does have a history of depression. I don't want her to kill herself.

"Don't worry I've never taken my eyes off of her." He smiles.

He has always had a thing for my sister. He has never done anything about it. I wouldn't care if he did. The heart wants what it wants.

"I'm being serious Tyler. "

"I know. I will make sure she doesn't do anything crazy. Plus with you out of the way I might actually have a shot with Emily."

"I have never been in your way. Besides she usually doesn't go for guys like you."

"What she one of those girls that marry for money" he says sarcastically.

"She has more dignity than that."

If you are really desperate people marry people with money. It doesn't matter how old or young. If you find someone with money who is interested in you, you will stay with them like a leech does to skin.

"I know and I will look after her." He smiles

"Times up." The peacekeeper says

"Bye Dylan." He says and is escorted out of the room.

A minute passes and another peacekeeper comes in and tells me I have five minutes. This time it is Emily. She walks over and hugs me.

"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll be alright." She says but I can tell she is lying.

"Are you lying for your befit or mine?" I tell her

"Both maybe." She smiles a broken smile. I can see tears forming in her eyes

"Don't cry. I'm not going to give up. I am smart."

"That usually isn't enough." She whispers

She thinks I'm going to die and has accepted it too.

"Look away from the screen when you think I will die."

"Dylan." She says surprised

"I don't want you to be emotionally scarred by seeing me getting murdered. Just look away and pretend I died doing something else."

"I won't be able to pretend." She says

"Well then promise you'll look away."

"I…"

I can tell she is going to say no.

"Emily I say angrily "Please look away." I beg

"Alright. How would you know I did?"

"I wouldn't but I'm hoping your word is good enough. I don't want your last memory of me to me getting murdered."

"Okay." She says and a few tears trickle out of her eyes.

"Don't worry you'll be fine." I tell her

"Shouldn't I be the one telling you that?"she says

"Why? We both know I'm going to die."

"It's sounds like you've already given up." She says angrily

"I don't want to die. I think we both know my chances of dying are high. I'm not going to give."

"Good." She can here the peacekeeper moving towards the door

She hugs me tightly. "I love you." She whispers in my ear

"Love you." I tell her. She kisses my cheek and the peacekeeper comes in to take her away.

I sit there for the rest of the hour in silence. I don't have many friends and some of them died last year when a hurricane came. It knocked down a decent amount of houses.

I don't think anyone else will be coming. Why can't I just spend my leftover time with the people who visited me.

I get escorted to the train station by two peacekeepes. They probably think I'll try to run away. I don't understand when people do that. They are just going to come and drag you back.

I get put on the train and can see Julius with the two victors. Mags and Marina are here this year. I wonder how they decide who goes.

Marina is talking with the Elena. They definitely know on another.

"These will be your mentors Mags and Marina. It seems like you will be getting Mags, Dylan." Julius says and walks to another train car.

Mags comes and walks over to me. "Hi, Dylan. How do you feel?"

I shrug "Alright I guess. I really want to get this over with."

She probably isn't going to take it the way I mean it. I want to get this agony over with so I can die.

"You shouldn't be so cocky kid. You don't look strong enough to physically attack anyone." Marina says.

"I know. I just want to get all of this over with. I don't want to jump through all of these hoops when I know I'm going to die."

The girl starts crying when I say this. I guess I should know better. I should put my cynical feelings on the back burner when she is around. I don't want to scare her more than she already is.

"It's alright Elena. Let's go to the dining car." Marina says kindly but, glares at me when she leaves.

Mags looks like she is going to say something but before she does.

"I know, I will tone it down when she is around."

Mags smiles at me "Good. Are you even going to try?"

"Of course. I just know the possibility of me dying is high. Just like the chance of my name getting called were high."

It is silent

"Do they know each other. Marina and Elena?" I ask

Mags nods sadly. "Yes. That's her niece."

"Must be hard. Mentoring the person you love who has a 1 in 24 shot of living." I say glumly.

"Yes, I imagine it would be."

"I should help her."

"Marina? I don't think that would be wise. She already doesn't like you."

"I figured that one out myself. I was talking about Elena. She deserves to win more than I do."

Mags smiles at me "I'll talk to Marina. Why don't we head to the dining car."

We leave the room and head to the dining car. I get inside and I am surprised. There is a long table that occupies most of the room and the whole table is covered with food. This is more food than I have seen in my entire life. This meal could probably feed everyone in the lower level and all of this was made for just five people. That is crazy to me and I know we won't consume all of it. It's sad to see how distorted the views of the people of The Capitol are.

"You might want to slow down eating. Unless you want to choke and die. That would mean one less person to kill. So I guess it doesn't matter." Marina says

I'm used to consuming my meals quickly. It's because our parents told us not to let other people see us have food. They thought people would come and steal it. I think they were just paranoid. Emily and I got used to it so we still do it. I don't even notice anymore.

"Sorry." I tell her.

"So what happens when we get to The Capitol." I ask wanting to change the subject.

"You get ready for the opening ceremonies. It is very exciting but, we have another day on the train." Julius smiles

"So what do we do in the mean time?" I ask

"We will watch the recaps tomorrow." Mags says

"Get to see the competition." I mutter

Elena looks like she might cry again.

"I'm sure it will be alright." I smile at her.

"What would you know. You just want to kill me" She shouts.

"I don't want to kill you. I don't want to kill anyone." I tell her it isn't a lie. I don't want to.

"Don't fill her heads with lies." Marina says

"He's telling the truth. He said he wanted to help her. He said she deserved to live not him." Mags says.

Marina looks at me strangely. "If that is the case I want to speak with you privately later." She smiles slightly.

Elena starts crying and runs out of the room. Marina quickly follows behind her.

"Why do you think she wants to see me privately?"

"She wants to make her judgement about you one on one. If she trusts you she will probably start asking you about your skills, she might strike some sort of deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"I don't know. It will work differently because this is her niece. If she offers a deal it will probably involve you dying." She says

"Well, she deserves to live more than I do. She is only thirteen, she deserves to live longer." I say

Mags smiles "You're a good person Dylan."

"Thanks." I tell her.

She heads to her room and I do as well. I do feel that she deserves to live. I am willing to die for that girl just to prolong her life, even if it is only for a few days. She deserves to live longer than I do.