Spencer: District Eleven
I cannot help but keep fidgeting in the room I was forced into to stay calm. My last goodbyes. I will never see my family, my friends, or anyone else in District Eleven again if I die. I inhale a shaky breath.
The door creaks open and my first visitor slinks in, along with an accompanying Peacekeeper standing guard just outside. My older sister, Melissa Hastings, smiles warily at me.
For a grown woman out of school, most people would assume that she would have had already gotten married off and had children. But she claims that she's "waiting for the right man". I am surprised that she even came to visit me, despite the fact that I ruined her last relationship by kissing her boyfriend. I honestly didn't plan for it, it just happened. It wasn't just me, he wanted it too.
She sits on the matching velvet sofa parallel from the one I am sitting on. The Peacekeeper, in his white uniform, closes the door for our privacy. I imagine that I won't be receiving much of that in the week to come. Melissa stands up after the door closes and sits beside me. She embraces me tightly and murmurs in my ear.
"Oh, Spence, I am so sorry." She says it in a mournful tone. I refrain from crying and hold her close, grasping at her shirt. "I am really sorry for everything that has happened between us lately, Spencer." Melissa says. "But I have a piece of advice for you. Do whatever it takes to stay alive, Spencer, for me and mom and dad. Do it for us." Tears form in my eyes. Why is she suddenly being so forgiving?
"Melissa, listen, I am really sor-" She pulls away and holds my shoulders tightly.
"Don't do this to yourself, Spence. Please, I just want you to prevail. My relationship with you is more important than one with a guy. Especially that low life that cheated on me with you." I nod.
"I love you, Melissa." She nods, eyes bright with tears.
"I love you too, Spence. I know you can make it through this." She holds my face in her hands as tears stream down her cheeks. The Peacekeeper opens the door as Melissa's signal to leave. She stands and gives my shoulder a squeeze. "I believe in you." The Peacekeeper forcefully seizes Melissa's arm and leads her out. Just before the door closes I call out to her.
"I miss you already, Melissa!" And then I collapse onto the soft couch in agony.
The door is thrust open moments later and my mother and father burst in. They immediately gather me in an embrace.
"Oh, Spencer," my mother coos, "it will be okay." She strokes my hair lovingly like she did when I was younger and sobs. I know it won't be alright but I agree with her anyway.
"I know, mother. " I don't have a special talent that could assist me in the games. Unless, that is, I could tennis the other tributes to death. Although, I do not think that would help my case. My parents release me from their death grips and we all sit on one of the sofas.
"We both love you very much, Spencer." My father says, holding my hold.
"We love you so much. You are very talented and we know you can figure a way out of this." My mother agrees, taking a hold of my other hand. I nod vaguely.
"I'll try my best." I give them a tight smile. The Peacekeeper opens the door and my family has to leave.
It seems as though my parents were here to visit for a much shorter period than what I spent with Melissa. I sit for a long time, mostly numb and still not really believing this is all happening.
"This is all just a horrible nightmare." I breathe. Laughing hysterically, I bend over and place my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands. "All a nightmare…" I confirm. But as I attempt pinching my cheeks, I find that I cannot wake up.
The door is propelled open again when I thought all who cared had already visited. My head snaps up to find Melissa's ex-boyfriend, the one who kissed me, standing in front of the closed door. I am confused but I stand as he approaches me.
"Spencer."Wren breathes. He takes my hands in his own, massaging the spot between my thumb and forefinger in small circles.
"Why did you come to see me?"I ask, truly perplexed. It has been nearly two years since I sabotaged Melissa's relationship with him and we haven't done anything ever since then. So why would he come to see me now?
"Why? Because I will miss you, Spencer." He replies with a slight chuckle and a grin. "I wanted to come and tell you that I believe that you are strong enough to survive. You need to find what you are skilled in and acquire some allies and then go from there."
"I don't need you to tell me I'm strong. Or tell me what to do, for that matter." I shake my head, looking him up and down. "Why are you telling me this, anyway? Did Melissa make you come talk to me?"
"I came by on my own will, Spence. Your sister and I haven't spoken since we broke up."
"Because of me."
"It wasn't just your fault, Spencer, you know that. I am the one who acted first."
"I know, I remember." I answer quietly.
The silence envelopes us as we stand hand in hand. Wren leans in closer. My eyes travel from his eyes to his lips. And then he's kissing me and tugging me close. Wren wraps an arm around my waist as our bodies are pressed together in this intimate moment. He draws back too soon to momentarily move his lips to my ear.
"Spencer, I am in love with you."
"What?" I utter in surprise. I jerk back to get a good look at his face. He appears lustful but also a bit wounded by my retreat.
"I can't get you out of my mind, Spencer. Ever since our kiss. You drive me mad. I am in love with you." Again, I shake my head.
"Why tell me this now, Wren? I am not doing this again. Just because you give me puppy eyes does not mean I will fall for you again. "
"Because of Melissa, also, this may be my last chance to tell you how I feel for you." I wrench away from him, disgusted.
"You may as well tell me that you love me because I am going to die. Is that it? And what about Melissa, I thought you said that you have nothing to do with her anymore."
"It sounds ugly when you phrase it like that, Spence." He reaches for me again but I jerk away.
"Answer the question, Wren. Why does any of this have to do with Melissa?" The door opens and the Peacekeeper appears once again.
"Please don't leave us like this, Spence."
"There never was an us to begin with, and you know it." I growl. Betrayal flashes in Wren's eyes. But the Peacekeeper has already grabbed a hold of Wren's arm and roughly shoves him towards the door.
"Remember what I said, Spencer!" He shouts as the door slams shut behind him.
"Dammit!" I curse, banging my fist angrily at the wall. I'll never learn why Wren was telling me all that stuff because of Melissa. Maybe it is better that way, anyway. Was it to prove that he has no feelings for my sister?
Another Peacekeeper, different from the first, comes to collect me from that dreaded room and leads me to the front of the building. A car awaits my arrival along with another Peacekeeper and Darren Wilden. Darren Wilden is the other tribute representing District Eleven. I don't really know much about him, but he seems to be pretty determined. His Peacekeeper opens the car door and Darren gets in. He scoots to the furthest seat, looking pretty grim.
"Get in, tribute." My Peacekeeper commands loudly. He stabs me in the back with his gun and I stumble forward. Grumbling under my breath, I follow his order and get into the car. After I do, the door slams shut and the car propels forward. I cannot even see who or what is driving. Glancing over at Darren I see that his jaw is tense and eyes red and raw.
Minutes later the vehicle halts and someone opens the door closet to me. Light floods the interior of the car and I squint against it. More lights flash all around and obnoxious reporters shout questions at us. An outstretched hand reached into the car and I place my hand into that one. Then I am guided out into the bright lights.
I am at the train station.