Goodbyes
District 1
Muscira
The justice building is amazing. The chairs are as red as blood and the walls are a soft peach. I wait in the justice building for my friends and family. The door opens and I stand up, my best friend Charlet rushing in and hugging me. Then she starts crying, no words escaping her lips.
"Charlet, it's going to be fine, I will come back!" I re-assure her. She nods her head quickly, and sits on the couch with me telling me that everything will be fine. When she leaves, my family comes in. My older sister Johanna comes in and hugs me, whispering how sorry she is that she couldn't volunteer. She sits on the couch next to me, clutching my hand. Her twin brother Brad just stands in the background, and when our eyes meet he gives me a sad smile. They both leave and my Dad comes in, telling me strategies and who to trust and that I'll be fine. I hug him so tight I'm afraid I'll break him, but when the peacekeeper comes in to tell us to leave I clutch on to him tighter.
District 2
Augustus
My father comes in first. He doesn't say goodbye, or even goodluck. He tells me to stay alive, then leaves. My little sister, Tatiana comes in next. She is the most caring, lovely, amazing person I have ever met but Father tells me that love is bad, so I try not to show how much I care for her. But as soon as she walks into the room, I cant help it. I run up to her and twirl her around, I just want her to know I care.
"You're going to come back, aren't you Augustus?" She asks.
"I'm going to try, with every fibre of my body." I reply. Then she leaves, and my mother comes in, lips trembling.
"Why'd you do it Augustus!" She crys. She runs up to me and flings her arms around my neck, sobbing into my shoulder. I reassure her that I'll come home, that Tatiana will be fine. She looks up at me then and says,
"I'm going to divorce your father, if you don't come home he'll force his anger on us Augustus, I can't let that happen." I nod my head. I don't want Tatiana going through what I went through either.
District 3
Julian
Lottie comes in to visit me first. She gave me advice when I was dating Olivia. I dated her once, but my parents forced me to break up with her too. She comes in and hugs me and I hug her back just as hard. Then she does something that surprises me, she kisses me.
"Lottie," I start to say but she interrupts me by her lips touching mine. I'd forgotten how good a kisser she was.
"Jules, I still love you. You will be my first true love forever." At this she leaves, me standing dumbstruck in the middle of the room. Then my Father comes in with my brother, both of them taking very different approaches on how they say goodbye. My brother just hugs me, then moves away as my father grabs his shoulder and shoves him back.
"Now Julian, don't let feelings get in the way. You're not good enough, but you might make it through the bloodbath if you're as smart as Benny here." Then he just leaves, no words of wisdom or emotions of any kind. Benny stays back for a moment, smiling at me, not a cruel smile, a generally nice smile.
"Good luck." He says. Then he's gone to. After this my mother comes in. I don't really wanna talk about what she said.
District 4
Demir
"Demir! My brave, beautiful boy!" My mother cries. I hug her, and look at my dad, who is standing behind us both. He doesn't look sad at all, almost impressed. He pries my mother off me and shakes my hand.
"Remember son, you can take care of yourself if you remember," he begins
"Violence can fix anything, yes dad that's all you've taught me since I was 3." I finish.
"We just wanted you to survive." My mother adds. They should've been kicked out already, so we just stand there awkwardly. Then my mother does the worst thing she could possibly do, and starts crying. At that moment a peacekeeper tells them that times up, and his body language tells me he doesn't care how long we're here for, as long as we're quiet.
District 5
Stephanie
The justice building is nothing special. I've been on so many trips to the capitol, and it makes this place look like a shack. My disco ball dress fits right in. I feel something bang softly against my chest, and look down. It's Max's locket. My eyes start to fill with tears, but I blink them back. Just as I'm about to open the locket, the door to my room opens, my older brother Ryan walks in. I run up and hug him, and because I know three minutes isn't enough, I tell him the important things.
"Don't mess up my bedroom, don't give Max a hard time when he starts dating other people and most importantly. Try to make up with Dad?" I ask him. Once again, my eyes fill with tears as I remember the last time they talked. It had been right after the divorce, and it was horrible. Dad hasn't looked at me the same since, as I took Ryan's side over his.
"Hey, hey. I promise. We'll be the best of friends!" He says. This makes me laugh, because they have never been best friends. Then he leaves, and my father walks in. We stand there awkwardly for a while, until he breaks the silence, saying,
"Just listen to your mentor, will you?"
"Of course I will." I say.
"I'll make sure to send you some gifts." He finishes. Thanks Dad. As soon as he leaves I creep behind the door, my boyfriend rushing in. He looks around frantically for me, until I finally come out and jump on his back. We laugh and crash down to the floor, laying on the carpet that's as soft as the grass we laid on this morning.
"Have you thought about your token?" Max asks. I realise that I haven't, not at all. Then something bangs against my chest, and I realise what I want to take.
"Yes I have." I answer. We lay there for a while. Then he leaves me waiting for a mother that never comes.
District 6
Lieke
The justice building is the most amazing place I've ever been.It's all a bit over thetop for me, but whoever has enough money for THIS has enough money to feed me whole district. Reyna would love it here. I hear the door open, and expect to see Reyna, but the people who walk in are two older people, with tear stained faces.
"Mum." I choke out. I run towards her and wrap my arms around her, feeling her familiar embrace.
"Lieke, you have to know that Lyn and I love you like our own daughter. You have been nothing less than the perfect child." My foster Mum says. My biological parents both died when I was 3. My foster parents are very poor, and my foster Dad was cajbgbhjchyjkhjnmnnjnught stealing. He is being held in jail by the district until he pays off his debt, that we will never have enough money to pay. Unless I win these games.
"I love you Mum." I say, then we both stand there hugging, tears streaming down her face, me trying to stay strong. A peacekeeper comes in and tells her it's time to go, and she glares at him with such a passion I wouldn't be surprised if he dropped dead, right there. I wait for Reyna to come, and she never does. I'm left alone in the worst room ever.
District 7
Mica
I didn't take note of the justice building. I wish I did. Everyone says it's the most amazing place, but all I could think about was my family and friends. First to come in are my friends Jemna and Danla. Jemna looks horrible, her face just as blotchy as when I was first reaped, although she's obviously stopped crying. She runs up to me as soon as the peacekeeper has left. Danla is standing in the background, trying to give me a smile. It's obviously forced and very weak, but at least she's trying. After lots of good lucks and hugs, they leave. I'm surprised by my next visitor. I barely know her, because she lives in the victors village. It's my aunty.
"Listen Mica, we don't have much time. DO NOT participate in the blood bath, I know it's tempting, but it works out in the end. Usually. Make alliances, but never leave yourself un-guarded. You've seen what allies do to each other. Try and get in with the careers, but if not make a big group of other tough tributes." She rushes. A peacekeeper comes in and tells her it's time to leave, and she looks at me and winks,
"See you in the village." She says. My parents come in next, both silent with grief. It was the saddest I've ever seen them, and it killed me. It was almost a relief to see them go. Almost.
District 8
Sevina
The justice building is a blur. Only a few images stand out. My mum's tear stained face, my sister's lips trembling as she tries to be brave. But I remember every single word they said.
"We love you with all of our hearts Sevina."
"Please try to come home."
"When you come back you could be a famous fashion designer!" I laugh at this, because designing fashion for the capitol is not my idea of fun.
"Make sure you get allies!" Then they're gone. Swept away by a tide of white uniforms. Leaving me in this bright, overstuffed room. Alone.
District 9
Drey
In the justice room, I count to 36127 before my first guests arrive. My little brother and sister run in, a brown box in their hands. So for three minutes, Aura, Mallax and I play the game my mother bought the day before. For those three minutes, I forget about the hunger games, and that I was reaped. When the peacekeeper comes in and tells Aura and Mallax to go, they get up and beckon me to come with them. I walk up to them and kiss them both on the forehead, telling them how much I love them, and that they have to go. I just hope they remember me.
My mum comes in next, a grim smile on her face. The first thing she does is hand me a picture. It's one with her, Mallax and Aura out in the fields, next to my favourite tree.
"I want this to be your token." She says. That's all she says, other than 'I love you,' over and over again into my hair.
District 10
Zach
"ZACH!" Danny squeals, "why did you do that? We're going to starve now, and I'm not going to have you!" He throws his arms around me, sobbing into my shoulder.
"Hey, you won't starve. That's why I did this! So you won't." I say. Rubbing his back. My mind flashes back to Arena's last few days, but I push those thoughts out of my mind quickly. My mum walks in next, holding a brown envelope in her hand.
"Is that dad's latest letter?" I ask her.
"No, but it's from Dad, and there's one from me in there to. She sits with me while I read it, fighting back tears.
Dear Zach,
If you're reading this, it means you've been reaped. I'm so sorry, and I wish I could come home right now and be with you in that building. I'm sorry for leaving you and Danny. I'm sorry I just left. I hope you known that I love you with all of my heart, and I never wanted it to be this way. I'll be rooting for you the whole way, and I know you'll make it. If you want it, all you've got to do is grab it. I wish we could've talked more about Arena's death, but I know it's a painful subject. I know you probably hate me, because I let you all down. Especially Arena. I loved her to. Don't be rash. Good luck.
Love always,
Daniel.
District 11
Anris
On the way here, Tryssa told me about her little sister. I hope someone helps them. I've promised myself I'll protect her. I've got a soft spot for damsels in distress.
"Anris. Will you take me with you? Smuggle me in a luggage bag and we can sneak out, explore the capitol!" I look up and see my sister, Pelia, smiling at me from the doorway. I open my arms and she runs into them, hugging me as tight as she can. My dad and brother come in afterwards, not many words exchanged. Then Niall comes into my room.
"Now remember, I'm not going to be there to keep you safe." He says
"Like I need you anyway!" I reply. He plonks down next to me, and we just joke around. Like none of this is happening. That's why he's my bestfriend.
"Now, I saw your mother walking home after the reaoing, and it didn't look like she was coming back. But don't you worry, I'll leave a little something special for her tomorrow." He tells me. Mi can just imagine a snake in her bed, slithering up her exposed leg at night. A bucket of jelly falling on her head just as she's about to go to work, and a huge smile spreads across my face. I wish I could see it.
District 12
Alynna
My sister dies in the hunger games. Her name was Yasmin. She was my best friend, she was my only friend. I will get my revenge. I will make sure that district 11 doesn't win. Then I'll join her. I miss her so much. There's always an ache in my stomach. It's unbearable. Her favourite place was my dad's shop, and every day I go down there after school to help out. Keep her happy. When she died I trained a little bit, knowing that one day my time would come. I ran every day, the distance getting longer, but my time the same. I secretly worked with a sword a little more each day, improving each time. I could slice three heads off in one swing. But I won't, I'll only slice off one. The reason Yasmin died was because she didn't kill anyone. I'll try.