By now, Brady has started shrieking and is being led away by some Peacekeepers. Damien and I are then hustled off of the stage and into the Justice Building.
I've been here, once before, and the splendor remains the same plush carpet, gold-paneled walls, intricately carved ceiling patterns. I hug Damien briefly before we are separated and sent to different rooms. I haven't gotten much time for emotions so far, and they are still all bottled up inside me. I wait for a while, and then Dad and Isabelle walk in. Izy immediately runs and launches herself at me, and I grab her and hug her tightly. She is quiet, but tears are pouring down her face. Dad comes over too, and we sit together hugging each other and for some reason the tears still don't come.
Eventually, Dad pulls away. "You have to try. I know, if you put your mind to it, you can win the Games," he says, looking me in the eyes. Izy hiccoughs.
"I know, Dad. I'll try. I promise," I reply quietly.
"You have to, Anna," Izy chimes in. "I—I—I'd miss you too much if you were gone." She bows her head, but then lights up as she pulls something from her sweater. It's my book. I have just enough time to thank her and hug them both one last time before the Peacekeepers escort them away.
Brady comes in next. It is clear that she has been crying, but she still manages to sit down and say hello.
"Have you already seen Damien?" I ask quietly. She nods.
"I don't want to think about it. Two of the people I love most could be dead in two weeks," she says, looking at the floor.
"Don't think about it like that," I say, but I don't know how else to think of it. We sit in silence until she has calmed down.
"Remember when we first met?" she asks, cocking her head at me.
"Yes" I reply to her tear-stained face. "We were about six, and we were walking to school, and it had just rained."
"And I was splashing in the mud, and I got mud on you new skirt," she says, smiling.
"And you said that you would splash mud on your own new skirt, and we would start a trend," I finish, laughing half-heartedly.
She smiles, and the Peacekeeper comes in to escort her out.
"I'll look after Isabelle," she says, and then she is gone.
I wait a bit more, my hands fingering the pages of my book. My place is marked by a bookmark Isabelle bought me when she was 8: a little cross-stitch of a magnifying glass that says Every new book is a mystery. I stroke the tassel, remembering the memory. I decide to wait until I am at least on the train to read it. Finally, I am told that I need to go. I stand and walk out, the book clutched tightly in my hands. I meet Damien, and he looks worn and pale.
Since the train station isn't far from the Justice Building, we don't drive; instead we walk the precious few feet. When we get there, we are practically jumped on by reporters. Damien and I make our way through the crowd, his arm around my shoulder carefully guiding me through the throngs. We make it onto the train with Lignus and Diana—there is still no sign of our male mentor. As the train speeds off, I look out the window and see my home, my whole life rushing away from me, and the blood and tears rush to my face and I break down, sobbing, Damien's arm still wrapped around me.
AN: Whee! More Annalise for you to drool over! I drew a picture of Anna, Brady and Damien and out it on my deviantart, mypatronusisacat. It's called Friends before the Change. Feel free to check that out for visuals. :D Also I might not post as often, because I am BETAing for my friend Arcticmist, AKA Danielle, so I am really busy with that. Ok, Cheers!
