We were shuffled into the tall Justice building in the middle of district 12. I walked into a room where other past tributes have be stuffed to say good-bye before they get shipped to the capital for four days until they are ready to fight.
The first to walk into the room is of course Chad. His expression is torn and it's looks as if he has been crying. He sits beside me on the plush red couch and pulls me into a tight hug. "Promise me you'll come back alive. If you don't, I'm thinking of just grabbing you and making a run for it."
I had to laugh at that, but realization hit me hard. Here I was, about to be forced on a train and shipped to the capital like a piece of cargo. "Don't worry. I have good aim. Remember when we were in second grade and I blew a spitball right in your eye?" My voice cracked a few times, because I tried not to show Chad how scared I really was.
He glared at me. "I couldn't see for a week." Chad looked at me and then held out his pinky. "Promise me you'll come back." I stared at his little finger and thought about saying that probably won't happen, but the look on his face told me he wouldn't leave until I did.
Sighing I clamped my pinky around his and nodded my head. "What will I get if I come back?"
"Well you'll not only get a house in the winner neighborhood and all the money you can think of, but I'll give you something too."
"What?"
"Don't die and you'll find out." Chad laughed and outside the door I heard the peacekeeper clear his throat, clearly getting impatient, which meant we probably only had about five minuets left. Supposedly, Chad had figured it out too, cause he started fishing in his pocket. When he found what he was looking for he pulled it out and held in his palm in front of me.
It was a silver necklace with a bright green emerald. Silver metal Vines of a flower wrapped around to keep it's hold on my neck and to finish it off ring hang off of the chain. The ring was just as beautiful as the necklace and resembled it a lot. Another green jewel sat in the middle of silver vines wrapping around to make the actual ring.
Chad leaned over and put it around my neck. "It can be your district token." I was gonna miss Chad, he's always been a good friend to me and I didn't want to loose him now. But there is no way I'm coming back alive so I held out my arms and gave him a big hug. "What's this for?" Chad asked.
"Just incase." I replied and gave him one more squeeze before I let go.
"Don't talk like that. You already promised that you'd come home alive." The peacekeeper opened the door and I turned to tell Chad good-bye. I turned my head and found Chad's lips pressed rough fully against my own. "See you when you come back."
I was left in the room alone to gather my thoughts. Poor Eddie. I'd promised her this morning I'd come back. Hopefully she won't have to see me die. I'll try to hold out just until her bedtime, so she wouldn't see. I had two more people visit me that night, Chad's dad and poor little Eddie. She was in hysterics by the time the peacekeepers tried to make her leave. Maybe I'd try to hold out, just for her and Chad. I mean, how hard could it be?
Copyrighted 2012 210 Murdoch