Chapter Nine.
Goodbyes Part Two.


Brooke Devoir; 16 years old.
District Eight Female.


It was storming like a bitch.

Brooke could almost laugh at the irony, now that she was completely alone, sitting on the velvet couch. District Eight wasn't known for being too rainy, it was either sunny or dark, just like Brooke. That was probably a part of why Brooke was sad about leaving District Eight. It was her home, yes, but it was so much more than that. It used to be awful, but there came a time when people started to leave her alone. Not care about her, but they left her alone to do whatever she wanted. It wasn't much, but it was surely a start.

If people could grow to care about her, they would give her approval for what she did. Not that Brooke really needed it to live, but it was nice to have someone to watch your back. And if this had to happen, why didn't it happen earlier? When she didn't have anyone, and had to fight to survive all by herself. Right now, her life was finally going somewhere. She had gotten an internship as a manager of a factory. She had an apartement, and people were finally starting to see her for who she really was. Not like the daughter of a whore. More like Brooke Devoir, the girl who could get somewhere in life.

Brooke wanted that. There was a time in her life, when she was about nine or ten, and she used to sit at the window of the orphanage, watching family after family taking away every friend that she made and with every passing year, they also took away her chances. She wanted that, no, she craved it. If the others deserved to have a family, someone that would guide them to a better future, why didn't see? Just because her mother happened to be a whore? It wasn't fair.

Brooke was fourteen when she decided that she had enough. That she was willing to do anything to get out, but if she wanted to do it and be someone else, she had to do it while she still had a chance. In the orphanage, that window was always her way of escaping the world. Of pretending to be somewhere else, being someone else. That was Brooke's biggest strenght. She always found a way to escape, no matter where she was or what she was doing.

But by then, Brooke had decided that she had enough of escaping. She did some many things, some that she would rather not talk about ever again, but it got her where she was now. She was an A student in school. Teachers claimed that she had a promising future, and that someone like her deserved nothing but the best. But they didn't know, none of them had any idea of who the real Brooke Devoir was. Of what she had done to get where she was now, of who she had thrown out of her way to be great.

Some day, she might come to regret it, regret all the bad things that she had done. If there was any God, like many people around the district believed, then she would pay for them one day. But right now, Brooke couldn't prouder of herself. Each day to their own, and right now, she had more trouble to focus on than what she had done to get here. The Hunger Games.

Brooke wasn't a good person. She was very aware of it, and in the streets, where every night could be her last, that was the best thing that anyone could have. If you know who you are, so will your enemies. Brooke lived by that until this very same day, and she was sure that she would continue to follow it, wherever this Games took her. She had stopped hating her flaws long ago, when she realized that they wouldn't get her anywhere. She had made a name for herself, and she had surrounded herself with others to cover up what she can't. They had what she didn't, and that made her happy.

The weak people didn't matter to Brooke. The weak people were her mother, who had the guts to abandon a baby who couldn't even defend herself and her father, who she didn't have a clue about. The weak people were cowards who didn't have the strenght to face who they truly were. Brooke hated them. They didn't do anything to survive, unlike the others. Brooke loved to get them done. To do everything she could to make them see who they truly were. Cowards, without a purpose in life.

They didn't deserve her respect. The strong ones, the people who fought with everything they had even if it wasn't much, those were the ones that Brooke respected. The ones that she wanted to be like. People didn't earn Brooke's respect by having too much money, or being popular. Sure, those were nice people that she liked to surrender herself with, but they didn't mean a thing to her. They didn't have her respect.

She respected the survivors. People who did everything to survive, just like she had. Brooke was glad that she had gotten over it a long time ago, or she wouldn't stand a chance in the place that she was going to right now. Maybe she didn't. Maybe the Careers would strick her down in the Bloodbath, and everything would be over soon. But she refused to believe it. She refused to not try to fight, because if Brooke Devoir was going down, she would go down fighting.

No matter what. No matter what she had to do, no matter who she had to manipulate. Brooke Devoir was going to give her best, and if she was going down, she would fight until the end. Brooke glanced at the clock in the wall ahead of her. Five minutes left. Five minutes, and then everything would go to hell. She would fight, or she could cry. Live or die. Fight or flight. It was all about choices in the end, no matter what anyone else thought.

Like the choice her mother just made when she decided to not show up. She had a few friends visiting her, but Brooke hoped for someone. Her mother. Brooke already knew, but there was a part of her, a tiny part that was filled with hope, that her mother would come to see her, just this once. After all, she was going to a death match, one that she might never come back from. Was it so wrong to want a hug from her mother, in what could be the first and also last time?

She felt the tears making her eyes sting, but now wasn't the time. Now, it was the time to focus on what she needed to do. She needed to survive. It was probably a good thing that Brooke was already a survivor. It had to be.


Fabian Tanaka; 17 years old.
District Eight Male.


Fabian didn't know what to say.

He guessed that this was how people reacted when something bad happened to them. Quiet, looking for a good choice of words. Some didn't care at all, because they had absolutely nothing to lose. But most had a family. Someone to come back to, someome that wouldn't be able to stand watching them die. Fabian knew that most tributes liked to leave everything in order before they went to the Games. Something that could be able to take away the pain of their loved ones when their death came. That was a sure thing.

No one from District Eight ever came out of the Games. There was Woof and his daughter, and Carley Everatt won a few years ago, but there was it. People from their District weren't made to be in the Games. And if some of the strongest people that District Eight ever saw couldn't make it out, how could he?

Fabian was just a teenage boy. He wasn't much, and he didn't have much, but he was just trying to survive in the streets. He had never hurt anyone in his entire life, and Fabian wasn't sure if he could ever do it. But yet, bad things always seemed to find their way back to him. People had joked when he was reaped. They had laughed, and some of them had sighed with relief, because they were safe for another year. Their family and friends were safe. Nobody cared about some boy from the streets who didn't have a place that he could call home. The streets were Fabian's home.

But still, it seemed like the future had saved many things for him today. When his sister ran off, four years ago, Fabian always hoped that he would see her again. He didn't blame her. There was a part of him that was always angry, for leaving him with their mother alone, but he couldn't bring himself to blame her. That girl had done more for him that anyone ever had. they were family, after all. She had raised him like her own son while their mother couldn't, when she was just a teenager.

Someone that should be having fun, not someone that should be working to put food on the table for her mother and baby brother. He didn't blame her for running away when she found true love. Fabian wished that he could do the same thing, pack and leave everything behind his back, and be a teenage boy for once. But he couldn't. Fabian had once made a promise to Harper, his sister, when they were both small children. He promised her that he would never hurt anyone. Not physically or with words, he wouldn't.

He couldn't break a promise to her. But now, she was back. Well, she wasn't really back yet, but Fabian had seen her at the reaping. She was so different from what she used to be, but it was still her. It was still his sister. Fabian doubted that she knew that he and their mother were still alive. Hell, he didn't even knew if she cared about it. About them. But he was willing to give it a try. Because, all of this time, everything that Fabian wanted was a family. A real family. Like the other children around the District had. A father, a mother, and his sister.

But instead, he got what no one wanted. A drug-addicted mother, who couldn't even get out of bed. He never knew his father, and neither did Harper. Then he had a sister, who might or might not still care about him. He guessed that he would learn it today, the answer to the question that he has had for so many years. A knock in the door brought him back to reality. A Peacekeeper walked in, helmet under his arm. Fabian lifted an eyebrow.

What was a Peacekeeper doing there? Had he done something wrong already? Something that would ruin him in the Games? "Mr. Tanaka. Your Supervisor, Mr. Isaac Tremaine is currently in the hospital, but it was his wish that you have good luck in the Hunger Games."

Fabian nodded. "Thank you." He tried to find more words, something that he could tell this Peacekeeper and let Isaac know, but he didn't. Fabian was never good with words in the first place. He just said what was necessary. Nothing more. Nodding, the Peacekeeper put his helmet back on, and seconds later, she came in.

Fabian wasn't sure of how time could change a person so much. His sister, who used to be a small girl for her age, was now probably even taller than what he already was. Her brown hair was short, but there was something new about her. She finally looked her age. She looked happy, without a care in the world. Fabian had never envied someone that much as he did in that moment.

He was to scream at her. Ask why she left them. Tell her that it wasn't fair, but instead, all he did was stay quiet. Like always, Fabian didn't have the courage to do what was necessary. Harper crossed the room in a few seconds, and brought him into her arms. "I-I'm so-sorry. I had to, Fabian, I'm so sorry. And now you're going there and I-I... I'm sorry."

At least she cared about him. Fabian was expecting someone else, a girl that couldn't care less about him. But this was still his sister. Maybe there was still hope for him, after all. "It's okay. We don't have much time and you're here now. That's all that matters."

"I wished I could have done something," She whispered. "Maybe I still can."

Fabian nodded. "Take care of mom for me. That's all you can do right now. I'll have to do the rest myself." He lied. He couldn't do anything. If the odds were right, he wouldn't make it back. Fabian was willing to try and beat the odds, just this time.


Nerinea Aravis; 18 years old.
District Three Female.


The smile never left Nerinea's face.

People came and went, but Nerinea remained exactly the same. Sitting on the couch next to the door, she greated all of them with a warm smile. She was calm, and she was relaxed. Some people thought she was being brave, putting on a good face for the cameras. Trying to prove them that she really stood a chance, but Nerinea could see behind the mask that they put on. People thought that she had absolutely no chance in the Games, but they never knew the real Nerinea Aravis.

They knew the harmless, caring Nerinea who loved being around people. Oh, they couldn't be more wrong. But this would be good, now that she had fallen into this situation. In the Hunger Games, nothing would be considered too much. In a few days, her family and friends would go from seeing her as an angel to a killer. A murderer. someone who did everything she could to survive. Someone people would call it murderer, but Nerinea called it survival of the fittest.

Those that weren't willing to everything that was needed, ended up dying. Most people thought that it was a battle between the weak and the strong. Nerinea considered that it was simply a struggle between those that were willing to do whatever it took and those that weren't. And to be able to do whatever was necessary, you couldn't care about what other people thought. Hell, what was killing a few people compared to the fact that she would be able to owe her own life, for the first time in forever?

She would be able to be the owner of her own life. In everything that she went throught in her life, Nerinea had lost herself. She didn't know who she was, but she was trying to get that back, piece by piece. She always figured that she would have more time. More time to figure out who she truly was, and where she truly belonged. But then, the Hunger Games appeared in front of her future, possibly blocking everything that Nerinea could have buil for herself in the future.

She wouldn't mind killing. It wouldn't be hard at all, because Nerinea had something that most people didn't. She wasn't bothered by the fact that she would have to kill other fellow teenagers, like herself. One hit, one slash, and another one would be down. She would be one step closer to being home. And who knows, maybe she would never have to go back to her job again. Not that she minded it that much. It could be fun, after a time.

Well, there were times when some clients were a bit more rude than they were supposed to be, but it was worth it. The bruises in her body healed after a few days. But the money, it was completely worth it. She was able to help her foster parents and help them with keeping food on the table, while she could still save a lot of Money. Dresses, shoes, she could buy it all. And the best thing was that no one had a clue of what she did during the night.

Not her brother, not their parents, not her friends. All they saw was harmless Nerinea, the one that wouldn't be able to hurt a fly. It was so funny how people didn't know what was in front of them, even if the truth was right there, staring them right in the face. As her parents left, hanging to each other for support, Nerinea waved them away with a smile.

That was probably what did it. Who would expect that a person who always had a smile on her face was hiding someone else? When Terran came in, seconds after their parents had left, Nerinea felt herself relax. Whatever love was, she was sure that she felt it for Terran. It was only when Nerinea noticed Mabel walking behind him that her smile almost disappeared. Almost.

"Neri', damn, I can't imagine how that must have felt like. Being reaped. In front of the whole District." Nerinea giggled a bit. Yes, it was a good feeling. But most of all, she was suprised at how calm she was. She didn't cry. She wasn't shaking. Same couldn't be said for her sorry excuse of a district partner.

"Oh, you know. I can see now why they describe this as one of the best feelings on the world. It certantly felt like it." Terran laughed, and Nerinea quickly followed him. He wasn't worried for her, but then, why would he be? More than anyone in the world, he knew what she was capable of. But then, so did that annoying little sister of is.

When came to him that night, covered in her father's blood, they were both there. Terran made Mabel promise that she would never ever tell their parents, and gave the bed to Nerinea, after she was clean. Nerinea didn't regret it. In fact, she was completely calm, just like she was now. She had lost herself because of him and that night, she snapped.

She lost her humanity because of him. Maybe it would be a good thing right now. "It can't be so hard for you, Nerinea. I mean, you have killed before. You surely won't mind doing it again, would you?" Mabel was so annoying. Nerinea wouldn't mind killing her right there. In fact, she would kill Terran if it meant that she would get to live. That was just who she was. Her life was what mattered the most.

"I'll be perfectly fine, Mabel. None of you have anything to worry about." She giggled. With a hand on Mabel's shoulder, Terran used the other to caress Nerinea's face and smirked. "You'll be just fine, so there's not point in wishing you good luck." He was absolutely right. There was no point in doing that. After all that she had been throught, Nerinea didn't need luck. She was a survivor and that was all she needed to get out of the Games.


Kaneki Idris; 16 years old.
District Five Male.


He wasn't sure if they would come.

Kaneki waited, enjoying the silence while it lasted. When they came, the silence would be replaced with the noise. His peace would be replaced with chaos, and that was something that Kaneki couldn't really enjoy. But still, there was a part that didn't want them to come. If they didn't come, then he could die at peace. Kaneki had made his peace with his death, the moment that the escort called his name.

He didn't have it in him. He was weak, and how could he ever survive against twenty four other teenagers? Some were much stronger than him. If he couldn't even survive without it, then how could he survive in an arena where what he did could possibly be considered a crime? Kaneki had no idea. So, if his family decided to appear, it could already be considered his funeral. The others were much stronger. His district partner, for exemple. He had seen her around in the district, mostly in school. Who could say that didn't hear of Katarina Morellee? Certantly not someone that lived in District Five.

The girl was twice as bigger as he was. All it would took was a knife to the gut, and he would be free. Maybe it was for the best. He could finally be free from what he did everyday, and his family wouldn't have to deal with someone like him. They would be free from the gossip that everyone did about him, and he wouldn't have to suffer anymore. The scars and bruises on Kaneki's arms proved that. Maybe, maybe, he could make some sort of deal with the Careers. All they cared about was to have an extra kill. He would give them that, and they would take him out.

But as much as he wanted to be free, there was a small part of him that wanted to live. A part that was begging him to fight, to not give up before he had reached the Capitol. Maybe that part of him knew what the other refused acknowledge. That some people would miss him when he died, and actually cry for him. Mourn him. And that part, even if he fought it every day, was much bigger than the other one. His life was a countdown that would probably reach zero soon enough.

Maybe he didn't have a choice in the matter. And here he was, trying to decide if he wanted to live or die, when fate probably already made that choice long ago. Maybe he didn't deserve to live. He wasn't a human anymore, after all, was he? He never wanted to let it come to this.

This didn't make him human. It made him a monster, or something probably even worse than that. With pale skin like his, Kaneki was almost sure that people didn't consider him human anymore. Some kind of freak. Maybe not even that.

Kaneki tried. He tried to fight it everyday, he wanted to stay human so much... Not only for himself, but also for the people that still cared about him a bit. He wanted to remain himself... but he couldn't. He was weak. He didn't have the strenght to fight the lust for it... It was too much. He wouldn't try be suprised if his family decided to not show up. Not that it wouldn't break his heart to pieces, but Kaneki would deal with it. He always had. Pain wasn't anything new to Kaneki.

He knew how to enjoy it, but he also knew how to hate it. That was the thing about pain. It demanded to be felt, one way or another. Some people choosed to love it, which could probably be the best choice. Others hated it with everything they had. Kaneki had been in both sides, and he had done it all. But to that day, he still couldn't decide which one was better. If any of them was better at all. A knock on the door almost made him fall of the chair that he was currently in.

His parents... could it be them? Of course it was them. He didn't have anyone else that would care about visiting him. Only his beloved parents, who had already suffered so much because of him. His father was a small man, but probably the person that Kaneki respected the most in the entire world. He was not a powerful man, but he loved his children very much. So it wasn't that much of a suprisse when he was the only that came to visit him.

"Son," Kaneki could see that he was about to cry, but it wasn't worth it. He didn't want anyone crying because of him, because honestly, it wasn't worth it. He didn't deserve it. "I'm so sorry that this had to happen to you. You didn't deserve it."

Maybe I do. I was the one that picked up that knife up in the first place, and made the first one.

"Thank you, father. It had to happen to someone, right? Please... don't miss me too much. It's not worth it." He hoped that he and the rest of their family would take his advice, and move on. A few years later, they would forget him. They would forget all of the pain, and would finally be free from his ghost. And then, Kaneki Idris would be just a name on a rock, forgotten forever.

"You're a good boy, Kaneki. Hold on to that."

A good boy. Did good people do what he did? Probably not. But it was so strong... It brought Kaneki down to his knees. The craving... right now, it was all he wanted. To get a knife, and just do it. It would surely calm him down. But he couldn't do it... not there. Maybe in the Capitol, but not here, where everyone could see him.

He would have time for that. It was the only thing that he truly knew how to do.


A/N: And... here where are! I can't believe this is done. Next up, the Capitol! Okay, okay, I have a few things to say this time. Now that we're done with the pre-reaping stuff and that you've seen all 24 of our lovely tributes, there's a poll on my profile, asking for your favorites! ;) Go on and vote, please. It helps. 8/9 chapters for the Capitol, where you'll everyone else one more time and then we're off to the arena!

Oh God, I can't wait. I have so much planned. ;)

Anyways, please vote on the poll. Enjoy your weekend. I'll see you next week with the Train Rides! Oh, and reviews are very much appreciated! xD Even more now that we are going into the fun stuff!