A/N: Sorry I haven't updated my Fanfiction in a while; I have been working on my novels. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this chapter and find it error free.

Chapter Three: Farewells and Welcomes

As soon as I was placed in my separate room, I sat down robotically on the couch and began to cry.

Surely the Peacekeepers found out about me and my meadow! The Hunger Games must be rigged, and that is probably why Thresh got chosen as well. I could have been showing a sign of rebellion when I stole the glasses and ate the fruit, and most certainly Thresh was. How could I have been so stupid? Now my family will have to pay for my mistakes, and I know that my death is imminent.

My death is imminent.

If death is imminent, why try? Why not just hit a Peacekeeper and get shot before I can even board the train to the Capitol? No, I could never do that. That would be brave, and I most certainly am not brave. That would also require another tribute to be chosen and I don't want someone else to suffer too; the Capitol will receive a tribute no matter who it is. It would make my death worthless, and I don't want to be considered worthless.

Drowning in self-pity, I stopped. My family can never see me like this. God will take care of me, and there is still a little bit of hope. Maybe I can run away from the Bloodbath and I can find shelter. I know how to find shelter, and I am small and fast. There is still hope.

While I was thinking about the idea of hope, my family walked in.

My mother had obviously been crying, and she quickly ran up to me and hugged me. My younger siblings were wailing behind her, but I stayed strong. I know that they can tell that I was crying, but I need to show them that there is hope and that I can help be an example for all of them.

My father patted my back, and my mother stroked my hair, fitting it into a beautiful pattern. My youngest sibling sat on my lap while the others sat at our feet, and we all began to hum the lullaby.

I will miss this harmony and peace while I am fighting for my life in an arena.

I am the first to speak. "You guys, I will do all in my power to not give up and to always hold hope. I love each and every one of you, and will make a stand for each of you in turn. We all know I probably won't come back," my lower lip quivers and my voice lowers. "I will most likely die in the arena. Even if I am left with only one other person in the arena, strength always ends up winning and I have none of that; my chances are slim.

"Please promise me that you will continue life without me. I want you all to work your hardest, and don't take any Tesserae. Life can go on, and my blessing to you is that I will work hard so that you may receive further blessings in the future. Never give up hope-" My voice cracks, "I love all of you, and I always have. Please move on, it is for the best." Silent tears began to fall again, but I quickly wiped them away.

I don't know where this sudden bravery came from.

"I promise," my father said, "to work my hardest and always honor my eldest daughter Rue. You are the bravest and most beautiful girl I know, and you will always be remembered and have a place in my heart."

My mother sobbed and all of us pulled in closer into a large hug. I kissed every one of my family members and held my parent's hands. I needed a bit of their strength right now. My eyes were burning a bit in the back and my vision was going fuzzy, but I refused to let my tears fall; I needed to prove to them that I had hope.

My youngest sibling, Daisy, smiled at me. "Why are you sad, Rue?" She asked pointing at my old tear tracks. "You will only be gone a little while and then we can be happy again and together, just like now." I only nodded at her and kissed her forehead. She doesn't understand yet.

Mommy began to sing again, and this time with a newfound strength. I let every word sink in and put her voice in my memory. I listened as the Mockingjays outside took up her song and then stopped halfway through. Her voice was shaking, yet it was still beautiful.

"Here is the place where I love you." I looked at her and smiled as she finished the song, and she rubbed my good luck charm. "I believe in you, don't forget the song, don't forget your family and our love, and don't forget about prayer." I looked at her and gave her a firm hug and I squeezed her hand tighter.

"I can never forget."

Then the Peacekeepers came in and grabbed my family. My mother was still grasping for my hand with tears in her eyes as she gave me a look of faith. She believed in me. She was crying and a part in my heart broke; she might have already been mourning my death, and I will never see her again.

"Rue, you are my bravest little flower!" And that was the last time I ever heard and saw my mother as she lost her grasp and was pulled away from me and out the door. I heard my sibling's cries in the hallway still, but soon that faded and I heard a giant slam as the main doors closed.

I was shaking on the couch, feeling utterly alone. I refused to let more tears out, and I held my aching sides. How could say good bye ever be this hard?

In about two minutes, Peacekeepers opened the doors again but this time led me outside of the building. I didn't really have any friends, but there wasn't a way to contact them even if they wanted to say goodbye; they were too far away. All I got the privilege of saying goodbye to was my family.

I was completely surrounded by Peacekeepers and the cruel one from earlier was prodding my back with his gun, but I kept my head held high. No more showing weakness from now on. They led me to the train that was waiting for us, and they sneered as the hauled me aboard. Once I had my feet firmly planted inside, they sealed the door shut and I was staring blankly at the faces of people who showed pity. People who probably have already accepted the fact that I will die.

There were cameras flashing and it hurt my eyes, but I didn't look away. I heard Pepper climb aboard on another section, and the train started forward with a jolt, and instantly the District was a blur.

"Oh, isn't this exciting?" Came a voice from behind me. "We will arrive in the Capitol by morning, and then you can be prepped for slaughter! You look absolutely darling, I am sure that you will get sponsors and they should be able to work with you."

I stared at Pepper with utter hatred. This was all a game? This is just for fun. She doesn't care.

"Are they stuffing you up to eat as a roast?" Asks Thresh before I could say something back to her. I didn't even hear Thresh enter the room.

She made a huffing noise and made her lips stick out more as she set her jaw. "That was so rude of you, young man. You better behave yourself or I will leave in bad word with the Gamemakers when we get to the Capitol." Thresh didn't look too concerned, so she continued speaking. "No wonder all the tributes from this district are selected based on attitude and rebellious activity." She gave us venomous looks of distaste and stalked out of the room.

I wanted to curl up in a ball, but Thresh started digging in on this buffet that I didn't notice earlier. "Don't let her bug you," he said. "She is just some idiot they pulled out of the Capitol that is completely brainwashed. If you let her get to your head, she wins. Don't let her win."

He threw me a roll.

"Eating will help build your strength and stamina before we get into the arena, so I suggest you start building now. I will go find our mentors," and he walked out of the room without looking back as I stared at him in shock.

The roll looked foreign to me, so I bit it cautiously. It was warm and butter melted in my mouth. My mouth was screaming in pleasure and my stomach was growling for more. Quickly, I stuffed the rest of the roll into my mouth.

Turning back to the table, I looked at some of the dishes and had a hard time deciding on what to eat. I chose something with a meat sauce and long noodles that was delicious. My plate was messy from the sauce after I ate all of the noodles, so I grabbed another roll and soaked in the sauce with my roll and ate that as well. I ate some berries that I had found in my Meadow, but they tasted a bit different and not quite as fresh.

I then moved on to put milk in a bowl and poured in something from a box into it; one of the silent servants in the corner showed me how to do it. I bit into it and it gave a satisfying crunch and I soon drained the whole bowl.

Craving more meat, I picked up a thin cooked slice of beef, and chewed on that until my stomach was full and the rest of our party joined me.

I have never been full in my life.

After everyone else ate platters of food, the silent severs-Pepper told us they were called Avox's and that they were criminals that are being punished-brought out something that had very delicate designs on it. It looked so beautiful, but they cut it up and inside it looked like some kind of bread with a frost over it.

"Cake!" Said one of the victors happily. I took a bite and its sweetness made my belly ache, but I ate it all.

Feeling a bit tired from the day's events, I excused myself from the table and had an Avox escort me out to my room.

If I thought that the abandoned kitchen was huge, then I was mistaken.

I didn't even glance around. I just went to the dresser and grabbed some pajamas, and got out of my dress. My head barely hit the pillow as my dreams took me under.

A/N: So please tell me what you think! This is the end of this chapter, and Rue gets to the Capitol tomorrow. Review please, because there are only two or three more chapters before the Games start, and I want to know what you think. I almost choked up myself while writing her farewells, which is funny considering the fact that I only cried the first time while watching the movie when Rue died. Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter :)