I sat on a plush, velvet couch, staring at the floor. What had just happened? I looked up as the door opened, revealing Mom, Caroline, and Harry. Mom ran to me and hugged me, shaking with sobs. Harry and Caroline hugged both of us, Caroline crying as well.
As we broke apart, Harry spoke first, "Why did you do that?" I looked up at him, refusing to cry, being tough like him, even if he looked like he was going to cry at the moment.
"Brooke can't go in the games. I'm going, and I'll win, like Daddy," I said simply, though it wasn't simple at all.
"Lucia, you're thirteen! With no training!" Caroline said through her tears, and I hugged my older sister again. I disliked seeing her like this.
"You'll see. I'll come back. I'll be a victor like Daddy," I repeated. I looked up at Mom, who's trying to stop crying for my sake. She embraced me again.
"Please come home. I can't lose you. Not like Robin," she whispered in my ear. I nodded, and then the door opened again. Peacekeepers took my family from me, and Brooke, Amber, and Bella walked in. We all hugged, all of my friends crying. We didn't say a word, though I could hear them whispering my name, telling me to come back. I almost lost control; I almost cried, but I didn't. I refused to look like a fool in front of the cameras. Too soon, they were taken from me as well. I sat there, not expecting anyone else. To my surprise, the door opened again, revealing Lukas.
"Lukas," I said, looking at him in surprise. He smiled slightly, then came and gave me a quick hug.
"Lucia, you gotta come home," he said, sitting beside me, "Listen, if you don't come home, this world wouldn't be worth living in." I stare at my brother's best friend, astonished and confused at his words.
"Lukas, I am coming home. I hope," I say, but I then throw up my hands, "Who am I kidding? I can't-" I am cut off by Lukas's hand across my mouth.
"You are coming home," Lukas stated. I nod, and he takes his hand off my mouth. I hug him, but then a Peacekeeper comes in.
"Time to go," he says in a gruff voice. He started dragging Lukas dragged away from me, but I grab Lukas's hand.
"Take care of my family!" I tell him. Lukas nods, and gives my hand a quick kiss. I stare at him, but a moment later he is gone. Another Peacekeeper leads me out of the building toward the train. We're joined by George, Violet, and another Peacekeeper, and as we reached the train, I look back and see that the crowd is still there. They all have their hands in fists on their hearts, and when they see me, then push their fingers out and nod at me. That was the district's way of greeting a hero. George looks down at me.
"Well, looks like you're their favorite," he said in a deep voice, and I look up at him, "Lucia Warwick, future youngest victor in the history of the Hunger Games. Pleasure knowing you." And with that, we boarded the train, and the door slammed, shutting my home away from me.