"Goodbyes are the worst part of the games. It takes everything out of you."
Ana's pov
When the peacekeepers take me into the room of no return, I bite my silky brown hair and tear up, "Oh, god." I say, swallowing hard with a lump in my throat.
I weap by myself for a minute or two,then my family barges in. My family wasn't very big. It was just me, my mother and my sister.
"Oh, Ana! Please come home! Please..." My sister cries while she embraces me. I muttered out while choking on my tears,"I-I'll try." My mother was crying while she had my hand on my shoulder. "I love you sweetheart. I couldn't bear to lose you..."
My sister finally let go of me. I put my hands on her cheeks, "Lacey. Mother. I love you both and I will try my damnest to come home. Don't ever forget that."
The peacekeepers barge into the room and drag my mother and sister away. They both kick and scream, but to no avail. I just try to wipe the tears away, but they still fall.
Phillip's pov
I didn't care I thought. A hundred lashes so what, this is for Jute. I went crazy and punched each peacekeeper, until they finally took me down. They put me in the square and it's the reason why I damn near passed out. They whipped me so hard, my back was dripping with dark red blood.
I lay on this table now, my mother cursing me and crying at the same time. My father doing the same. It was worth it though, no matter the horrible pain I feel. I'm never going to see Jute anymore, I wasn't even allowed to say goodbye. Mama and papa weren't even allowed to either.
You may wonder why I didn't volunteer, Jute wouldn't want me to do that. He'd probably kill me himself before those other kids did it. This means war. I was always sort of rebellious, but this pushed me over the edge.
What am I doing...I'm talking to myself. I'm delirious.. Ouch! I groan and moan because of my mothers familiar touch. I hear several people rush in, I hear my girlfriend scream and yell. Suddenly, alcohol pours on my back. It's enough to knock me out cold.
Jute's pov
Where is everybody? Why didn't my friends and family come to see me? I choke on my tears, "I wasn't even able to say goodbye.." I immediately start balling, I'm on the floor curled up and wallowing in my own sorrow.
Soon two big peacekeepers grab me roughly, I have the nerve to ask them, "Where's my family?" They say cruely, "Your stupid ass brother should have been shot along with your family, but we're feeling merciful today." My eyes widen, but before I know it I'm thrown onto a train."
I see Ana already sitting down and she runs to embrace me, but that can't even cure my sadness.
Soon a man walks up to me, he looks slightly dissaopinted and sad, "I'm your mentor. I have to teach you how to survive when the shit hits the fan." I just nod, not knowing what to say. He dosent even ask me why my eyes are red, he must be use to it.
Soon a very pretty lady walks up to Ana and they go away while talking, Ana waves goodbye to me quickly but turns back around.
My mentor sits down and I sit across from him, "So I'm guessing you know that girl personally?" "Yes... She's my best friend." "Son, there are no best friends in the games." Sunshine nods, "It happens so often that friends betray eachother in the games. It's very entertaining." I look down and start to think. Me and Ana are different, she'd never do that to me. I wouldn't do it to her either. Never.
"Ana isn't like that." My mentor snickers "Suree.. Well Jute, you better be willing to do anything to win. Or you'll be gone in a second. Do you know how I won my games?" I look at him in the eyes, "You killed all your Allies in there sleep." "Exactly, you can't trust anybody and I was just doing it before they did it to me."
I sigh and cross my arms, I didn't want to admit it but he was right. But that still dosent mean I had to kill her. "There's only been two winners a few times. They've all ended in tragedy.. anyways, you hungry kid? You looked like me when I was a kid. Poor, small and beat up."
I nod feriously. This lady is ordered to bring us food. I look at her, why is she so quiet? Is she mute? I don't wanna be rude. I look at my mentor and try not to be loud, "What's her name?" "Oh her? She's just an avox... that's what we all call them." "But why dosent she talk?" He swiftly changes the subject and I'm left confused. "Anyways, seeking of names, I'm Twill Wheelbarrow." He smirks, the first time I've seen him do that.
I'm soon distracted by the avox lady, bring a whole tray of delicous food. Food I havent even seen my whole life. Ana comes back in and she sits next to me. We both dig in and gobble down our food like we are starving. I mean, we were. Sunshine looks in disgust like we were lower lifeforms, "Ugh, I can't wait until I get promoted to a better district."
Me and Ana look at eachother and roll our eyes, Ana mumbles under her breath "Bitch." I chuckle and smile for the first time since the goodbyes. Sunshine looks offended and crosses her arms. Twill laughs, I think even the avox would laugh if she could.
After that, me and Ana separate again, apparently our mentors wanted to talk with us about our strategies separately.
Twill lights a cigarette and I watch him until he finally says something, "What are you good at kiddo?" I think about it for a second, "Well I can sew." I shrug. He sighs and puffs smoke in the air. I was use to it so it didn't bother me, "So you have any survival skills? Do you know how to fight? Can you run fast?" I sink in my chair, "Well I am told by my brother that I run like a bat straight outta hell." I feel a tinge of sadness when I mention him.
"Mmm, we can work with that. Now let's talk about the real important stuff. Don't do stupid things." I raise my eyebrow, "What do you mean by that?" I sit up straight and put my arms on the table, "Well son, for one don't run towards a damn bloodbath." "But what about the supp-" "Dammit, most district 8 tributes die from the bloodbath or the night of it. It's too dangerous, maybe you can make it sense you're fast but I doubt it."
I frown slightly, "Ooh... but won't I die of hunger or thirst if I don't get supplies? What if I get cold?" Twill puts the cigarette out, "Well alot of that depends on the Arena. But, you could steal supplies when the tributes are asleep." I nod, "Oh. But what if they wakeup or the careers find me?" "Run like hell or you are dead meat for sure. The careers are way too strong for most tributes to take on, and most tributes will probably be older then you." I move uncomfortably in my seat, I was starting to feel like I was really going to die. Like I had a zero percent chance. "So you're basically saying I don't have that good of a chance." "No, everyone has a good enough of a chance."
Twill gets up, "Remember this Jute, the biggest and baddest tribute dosent always win." Ana and her mentor walk in. I stand up and walk towards Ana, we hold hands.
I see a bunch of people with awful hair and weird sense of stye waving and yelling at us. I just try to smile back and wave, "Ana be friendly, we don't want them to resent us." Ana sighs and starts to wave, she lifts mine and her hand up for all to see.
"You guys are naturals already."
