Marina POV

The colorful announcer grabbed us both by the arms and scurried us into the Justice Building, not letting me talk to Kai. The door slammed shut leaving me in a mahogany filled room with a couch and blurred windows. It felt like hours before my mother, father, and brother came through the door. They all smothered me with hugs before they started to weep. I could feel my heart breaking and tears swimming in my eyes but I swallowed my tears to be strong for my little brother.

We all stayed huddled together until one of the peacekeepers came in "Time." He hissed letting us know that my family needs to go.

My little brother gripped himself around my waist squeezing me tight. "You have to win." I felt his tears dampen my shirt.

"I will. I promise." The peacekeeper pushes them out of the room and my heart aches knowing this might be the last time ever seeing them again. Before I know it we are in a car on the way to the train. The colorful lady that announced she is Amey wedges herself between me and Kai, but when I look over at him I see nothing but pain on his face. His eyes and nose red from crying and I knew in this moment that I will do everything in my power to make sure Kai wins, I can't bare the thought of winning and not having Kai with me. Amey talks to us the entire way but I'm in too much shock to realize what she is saying. When the car comes to a stop a peacekeeper opens my door and yanks me out. He pushes me onto the platform in front of the train and a bunch of people crowd around, once Amey and Kai reach the platform. The crowd snaps a bunch of photos the flashes blinding me. I feel someone grab me again and I'm on the train. I feel the jolt of the train and arms wrap around me and I feel safe. Once the flash stained in my eyes fades away I realize that Kai is hugging me. We stay like that for what feels like minutes, Hours, Days.

We don't let go of each other till Amey clears her throat "I'll go get Jaymen." Once she left the room Kai quickly grabs me again for a tighter hug.

Tears finally slip from my eyes. "Why ... Why did you volunteer?" He hand glides up and down my back to try and comfort me.

"Because I will do anything in my power to make sure you win." No. No. I say to myself as I push him away. I care for him to much and him for me, he will try and make us the last two standing victors and then kill himself.

"Marina whats the matter?" He takes a step towards me but I immediately take a step back. Tears prick in his eyes and it makes my heart clench. "Marina talk to me."

"Kai I-" Jaymen our mentor startles us when the sliding door swooshes open.

He holds out his hand to Kai and they shake hands "Congrats." Jaymen turns to me and repeats the process. He sits down at one of the leather seats and waves his hand at the two across from him telling us to come and sit. "You must be so excited to be in the arena this year." I look down at my fingers in disgust. Why would I be excited to kill innocent people and when the time comes kill myself. "Is something wrong darling?" I look up to see Jaymen is talking to me.

"I think this whole thing is wrong, no one should ever have to do what I'm being force to do."

"Your not the only one who is being forced to do something they don't want to do!" Jaymen snaps at me. He quickly stand up "I'm going to need a drink."

When he leaves I look towards Kai and he shakes his head and I quickly look away. "Marina I don't know why you're mad at me but we need Jaymen to help us if we want to win." He grabs my hand and rubs his thumb over my knuckles, he use his other hand to grab me from my chin so I'm forced to keep eye contact with his big beautiful brown eyes. "You're going to win and I'll make sure of that." ... I don't want to win if it means not having Kai with me. We wait an hour to see if Jaymen was going to come back but he never did. Amey sent us up to our little rooms to get ready for dinner since we were going to be on the train overnight. Even when we all sat down to eat Jaymen didn't come so we sat in silence the only thing we hear are forks clinking against our plates. When we are sent to our rooms, I turn on the TV to see that they have reruns of old games playing. I turn it off and lay down sleep took over me.

I'm running as I look back I can see someone running after me, I'm in a weird outfit with my district number. Suddenly I'm on the ground and the person running after me reaches me. As they get closer I can see a knife in his hand. His face is covered by a shadow, but as he leans in I see his evil smirk and his burning blue eyes. I start to scream and kick but he stabs me in the chest. It hurts. I can feel the blood lurking up my throat and into my mouth. I'm bleeding out and choking on my blood before all the lights go out he whispers my name "Marina."

I feel someone shaking me "Marina please wake up!" It's Kai shaking me. My eyes shoot open and he pulls me in a tight hug. "I heard you scream all the way from my room." He pulls away to wipe away the tears I didn't notice streaming down my face. "Did you have a nightmare?" I nodded my head hoping he would take it as I really don't want to talk about it. "Do you want me to get water?"

He starts to get up but I quickly grab him "Please don't leave me!" I plead.

"Okay I'll just-" he tried pulling up a chair. But I moved over on the bed and patted at the spot next to me. He walks to the other side and lays down. I curl on my side facing away from him.

When I wake up I'm curled up in Kai's chest his arms wrapped around me. I look up from his chest and he us still sleeping. A little smile forms on his lips probably from a good dream but that's when I know that I love him.