The applause died down slowly and Perisa's grip on my shoulder tightened as she steered me inside the Justice Building, closely followed by Sinnia, the Victors and Mayor Prentiss. The corridors of the Justice Building were freezing, as though they repelled the heat of the day; as my Grandmother used to say: it was as cold as a tomb.

We reached the end of the long corridor, pausing in front of two doors a few metres apart. Perisa lead me into a room filled with most extravagant furnishings I'd ever seen: velvets and silks, maple and ivory. Perisa left, chirping something I couldn't hear, and shut the heavy oak door behind her with a resounding thud, leaving me to my thoughts.

I didn't dare to sit down on the pristine couch so I stayed standing, gazing out the small window at the small part of the market I could see from here. A pleasant sort of numbness settled over me, giving me what might be my last few moments of peace before the Games… or indeed ever.

There was a knock on the door, and I turned to see Elsa and my grandmother stood in the door way, flanked by two peacekeepers. I moved my lips to form the words of a greeting but my voice came out in an inaudible croak.

Elsa took a tentative step inside, taking my grandmothers hand and leading her inside the room too. She gripped Elsa's hand tightly- I could see the blood rush turn pink from across the room. Elsa seemed lost for words, her smile forced, and Elsa was always smiling- perpetually cheerful.

My grandmother's gaze darted round the room, taking in her surroundings. Her senility meant new locations were confusing for her and she could no doubt tell something was wrong; she was still perceptive, even after losing half her mind. She let go of Elsa's hand and hobbled forwards, leaning on the wooden cane she always had with her, and came to a halt right in front of me. Her normally vacant eyes were full of a life I hadn't seen in them for months.

"Thresh." She murmured, her voice the strongest It'd been for years. I nodded, and pulled her frail hand into mine. Her hand was smaller than my palm alone.

"I'm here, Granna." I replied, using my childhood name for her.

"You have to come back." She said- no, commanded. I could see a shadow of the regal woman she'd once been, and that woman commanded. I didn't reply; what would I say? Saying yes would be a lie, and saying no would break her heart. Instead I settled for just a smile. Granna raised her gaze to meet mine, her expression stone hard.

"You have to. No matter what."

"…I'll try." I muttered. Granna sighed and hobbled away again, leaving me with a terrible sense of emptiness. She'd offered no kind words, no reassurances- only an order.

Elsa didn't bother with words. She simply waited until Granna had retreated to the other side of the room and ran over and flung her arms around me, sobbing. I returned the embrace, letting Elsa rest her head on my shoulder despite her being only a few inches shorter than me.

We stood like this for a minute or more, neither of us saying a word. With so little time left to me I didn't want to waste the hours I had on empty promises. Instead I simply etched Elsa's face into my memory, storing it away in the place in my thoughts I reserved for my family.

Finally, Elsa pulled away, her face streaked with tears. The one of the two peacekeepers who'd stood inactive in the doorway for the past three minutes straightened up and strode towards her, putting a hand on her shoulder and steering her out the door. His companion escorted my grandma out, shut the heavy door behind him with a thud that resonated through my head, marking what might be my last moments in the place I'd called home all my life.

Thanks again to my betas, AndItsGonnaBeTotallyAwesome and .Dauntless.

Also thanks to you lovely reviewing people :3

I'd hug y'all, but that might scare you.

Au revoir,

Queen Of Loonland, Cat xx