Chapter 2
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I never thought about the afterlife, but maybe it is time. Maybe I will see my mother soon.
I walk towards my death sentence and go up the stage trying to hold back my tears. Dobley greets me and gives me a hug, I try to find Andreev in the crowd and when I finally spot him, he avoids my gaze, trying to figure out what is happening.
"Congratulations, Johanna Mason! We have a beautiful girl in the games this year, right District 7? Now it's the moment you've all been waiting for, the boys!" Dobley says.
At least they can't pick Andreev, but I'm too numb right now to feel anything or think of which boy will die with me.
"Donnie Ostroff!" he announces.
I tune out of the rest of the announcement and what they have to say and shake hands with the thirteen-year-old. Do I know Donnie Ostroff? I don't know. I don't listen to the anthem, I don't listen to the Treaty of Treason. I just fiddle with the necklace Andreev gave me just last night. All my thoughts about our future, marriage, and the rest of our lives are gone. The good thing is he can surely find someone else, someone who he can give this necklace to. My dad and Nole have been well off since Nole turned 18 last year. They would surely survive without my berries and occasional rabbits that make good soup.
The peacekeepers guide me to my room in the Justice Building, where I say my final words. My dad and Nole rush in and embrace me. Their eyes are puffy and red, I feel horrible as if I've done this to them. But I have, or have I? I give instructions on how and when to wash their clothes, how to clean the dishes without breaking them, and where they can get the cheapest meat, vegetables, and grain. Before I finish, Nole interrupts.
``Don't give up Jo, you're excellent at fighting, you said so yourself and I've seen you. Give that attitude you always had right there, you can win! '' Nole says.
I nod emotionlessly and doubtfully. There's never even been a female victor from District 7.
Knowing there is not much more they can say, they just embrace me again and we sit there silently for our last minute together. The Peacekeepers come and announce time is up. They walk slowly towards the door, my father turns around at the doormat outside.
"Be strong, Jo" my father says before the door closes.
I cling on to those words. It must be awful for my father, losing my mother, then me. This might be worst because I remind him of my mother so much, it's like losing both of us at the same time.
I lay down on the couch and I hear the door open. The sight of Andreev rushing in makes me run up to him and collapse in his arms. He kisses me on the forehead and whispers something I cannot quite hear. There is one thing I have to do before time is up.
"Here's the necklace, give it to someone who can spend the rest of her life with you." I say.
I look in his eyes and see betrayal and anger. Maybe he can get over it though, maybe not this year, but next year, or the year after…
"Johanna, listen to me, you can't just give up now. For you, for your family, for us. You can't give up. You have amazing combat skills and you can throw axs and knifes with such force. All that stuff I taught you over the years, it can come to use. Do you understand me? You can win!" he says.
"How can I win, Andreev? How can I win? All those Careers from the wealthier districts probably got something better in hand and they're always grouped together, every year! I can't deal with all of them," I say, discouraged.
" You know what? You're right... Your strategy is going to have to be to act weak. Don't let anyone take notice of you. Survive in the arena and once there's only a few of you left, the pack will turn against each other. It happens every year. Once they start acting on their own, show them what you got," he says.
"I have to act weak? Even in training?" I ask.
"Yes, everywhere, we've watched these games all our lives, Jo. You can do it, I know you… I believe in you," he says.
"I've never killed anyone… it might be difficult," I say.
"Remember that time when we… and you took it down…? It's the same thing, if you don't kill it, it will kill you. Just remember that." He says.
I know what he's saying, there's only that one time when we went up to the mountains and encountered a wild dog. I took it down with Andreev's ax within seconds. This conversation is surely being monitered so I'm glad he's smart enough not to mention it. The Peacekeepers come to take him away and he kisses me on the forehead one last time and says "I love you". I watch him take every step towards the door, and he turns around to say his last words.
"Pretend they're the people who made you end up there," he says as he walks out the door.
I have to stop to think about the conversation we just had. First, I still have the necklace. Second, I have to act weak. Third, this is the first time he said "I love you". And lastly, what did he mean when he said to pretend they're the people who made me end up there? Does he mean Dobley Stewart because he picked out my name? No, he's just doing his job. This can only mean one thing. To think of the tributes as the people of the Capitol.
