I do not own Hunger Games, only the characters that I have invented.

The peacekeepers lead me up the stone stairs of the Justice building and through a large wooden door to a large room decorated with nothing but two leather chairs with purple cushions and a table with a vase of white roses on top of it. I sit down on one of the chairs and quickly undo the plaits in my hair. Tears begin to spring from my eyes and I bring my knees to my chest, awaiting the peacekeepers. Nothing in the room reflects District Eleven one bit, it all reflects the Capitol and Snow himself. Are they trying to take us away our Districts before we've even left? I imagine the train with the escort, mentor, Thresh. None of them shall even try to help me win for they know that a tribute as young as me has no chance. I notice a bowl of fresh fruit next to the flowers, much fresher than anything we are given in Eleven, for although we provide the crops for all of Panem, but barely any we can keep for ourselves. I do consider it, eating a ripened apple, or a succulent orange, but taking the fruit would be out of the question... How could this have happened? How could I have been chosen for The Hunger Games when my family needs me so much? They won't be able to survive and Willow won't be able to earn money for years and by then she'll be eligible for Reaping and ... I have to remain calm, throughout this whole experience I can't let my nerves get the best of me otherwise I'll die for certain.

Things have changed so much since this morning when I was calmly waiting for this to begin. Then, I had no idea that I would be Reaped, no idea that Thresh would volunteer no idea that I would have to leave District Eleven forever. District Eleven has been my home since I was born but it has never acted as a home to me. If the Capitol wasn't in power, then maybe my family would have had a chance at a better life here and maybe one day, it could be the home mother and Willow deserve.

After a while, I hear three knocks quietly on the door and almost immediately, my mother bursts into the room and throws her arms around me in a desperate

way,

"Oh Rue!" she cries, her eyes welling up with painful gasps and tears, "Why did it have to be you, it could have been anyone else but it to be you my flower! Oh Rue I shall miss you so much"

"Calm down," I tell her, desperately trying to her a scrap of hope, "I can win this, just believe in me please!" she pulls back and stares at me, her eyes now stronger and for the first time since father died, she seems almost capable to look after Willow and for a second, her eyes light up for she is almost happy for me. Even though she knows that this is the last time she will ever see me. She believes. Now I am crying too for there is no way to hold back my tears and she hugs me again, before a peacekeeper enters the room and pulls her away,

"Stay safe! stay strong! you'll survive! I am certain my sweet flower!"

I am sure that I can still hear her pleads and cries outside of the door as she leaves me unwillingly. Forever. As I return to the seat, Willow bursts into the room,

"Rue, where are you going?"

Her voice is soft, sweet and she is scared, I can see it in her eyes,

"Willow! Oh Willow I'll miss you so much! Willow, I have to go for a while but I promise I'll come back for you someday. Don't forget me Willow,"

She stares at me for a moment, her pale face is sad and he blue eyes are filled with tears,

"I got you a present,"

She places a small silver chain into my palm and i stare at it, suddenly I realise,

"Willow, your necklace?"

"Yes, for luck," she tells me.

I take her tiny hands and look at her, a sad smile is brought to my face and I wipe a tear from my eye. Her hair is tossed messily around her face, her dress is colourful with patchwork and string and she just looks so free. I hope that one day she will be free and I hope that Willow shall never have to be reaped and that she won't have to live her childhood in fear of death. I can't hope for anything anymore, there is no hope in Panem,

"Willow,"

I am crying now and so is she, I hug her tight and wipe her eyes,

"'You have to go now, I'm going to miss you so much,"

I see a peacekeeper at the door and gently let go of her frail hands. She runs away slowly and her necklace remains in my sweaty palm, the silver emblem casting light towards the door in the tint of sunlight through the shutters on the large window. It is now only a matter of time before I am taken to the platform to board the train that will take me from my district forever. I must stop thinking about it like that, I promised Willow that I would come back to her and I will, for she is my sister and I cannot break that promise. I must win The Hunger Games for Willow.

Suddenly, the door again creaks open but it is not a peacekeeper who walks in. It is Juniper,

"Rue my dear!" she cries and rushes towards me. She takes my hands,

"Oh Rue dear, do not be afraid, Thresh shall look after you he shall help you through this oh-"

"It's ok Juniper, I'm sorry you have to lose Thresh,"

"Don't worry about me, I shall be fine," her eyes are teary and her face seems even older with the sadness in her heart,

"You can change Panem for me Rue change it to what it was before,"

With that she leaves me, confused and scared. What does she mean Thresh will help me, he always seemed so sad and lonely. I guess I'll find out soon. This time when the door opens, it is two peacekeepers walking into the room, they escort me from the Justice building and I feel so frail. It is beyond terrifying as I enter the station and see my family behind the bars on the platform to separate us forever. I feel like crying now, but I can't. I look at mother and Willow and step onto the train remembering their saddened faces clearly. I clench the necklace in my hand and the train begins to move slowly. I feel my heart has been torn in half forever as I finally say Goodbye to District Eleven.

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