Jet Hope, D11
Jet didn't try to stop himself crying as his aunt led his siblings from the room. As they'd gone over to the door, she had told him that she would look after them. Jet's aunt was much better off than his own family. She couldn't spare much, but she gave them money each month. Everyone needed Candles for light and heat in the winter months, when the electricity would short out for days at a time. His aunt ran one of the largest candle shops in the Outer Villages of Eleven. She promised to give a little extra to Jet's parents while he was away, but once he got back, he would easily be able to support them for the rest of their lives.
Jet could only hope that he would survive. It'd been so long since a tribute from Eleven had won. The careers had been dominating in recent years, which made Jet believe that they'd beefed up their little Academies. They were dealer than ever, and Jet would have to face them in a battle to the death. Watching his younger sisters leave, he wondered if any of the tributes were in the younger groups. Thirteen, twelve. Too young to die. They'd be the first to go, too, unless someone protected them. Jet could do that. He could try to protect them.
Jet's parents were next. They looked aged, much older and sadder than they had looked that morning before they had all left for the square. His parents were only thirty-three, having had him at sixteen. But now they looked so much older than that. His mother was sobbing, and his father was keeping her on her feet. Jet half ran to them, taking his mother in his arms as she let her head sink into his shoulder.
"Jet. I'm so sorry, Jet!" She kept saying. Jet couldn't think of the words to console her. There were no words for something like this.
Joetta McKay, D11
Joetta was shaking. She was shaking so much, alone in her room, and waiting for her family to arrive. It felt as though she'd used up all her tears already. Her eyes were rubbed red, and dry as the dust in the fields. She heard the creak of floorboards by the doorway. Someone was outside.
The door opened, and Koda came running at her. Jo swept her little brother up in her arms, but then looked up. Where was Lucy and her mother? She was answered by a pleading voice in the hallway. Her mother's. She was begging Lucy to come say goodbye. Joetta couldn't blame her. She was only twelve, and goodbyes seemed hardest when it came to the Reapings. A few years ago, a boy in her neighborhood had to say goodbye to a friend. He'd been shaking when he got home that night. Would Lucy and Koda be shaking? How would they handle watching the games?
It took a minute, but Jo's mother was able to corral Lucy into the room. Lucy was crying, like Koda. She pulled herself up onto the couch next to Jo, and gripped her arm a bit too tight. Joetta didn't say anything. She dealt with it, for Lu.
"Look after them, okay?" She said to her mother. It was a stupid thing to say. Of course she would do it. But it was the only thing Jo could think of to break the silence.
"Look after yourself, please." Said Lucy, quietly. That hit Jo hard, but she tried not to let it show. She just nodded.
"I will."
Yola Avery, D12
Yola waited for her mother to show up to say goodbye. And waited, and waited. Where was she? Where was Zander, and Isa? Was no one coming to say goodbye? There was a muffled shouting through the tick wooden doors and walls of the Justice building, but Yola could make out the voices. It was her mom, and her friends. She ran to the door, and pounded against it. She swung the door wide open, and saw her mother and Zander fighting against a single Peacekeeper. Isa was on the floor, holding a hand to her cheek where Yola could only guess a Peacekeeper had hit her. Another one quickly jumped in front of Yola, blocking her view of her family, and pushed her back into the room.
"What is going on?" She shouted at the man. "Let me say goodbye!"
"No." He shouted back, sternly. The Peacekeeper pulled Yola's bag from behind his back, and dropped it on the ground. "Do you know what this is?"
"It's my bag!" Yola had no clue what he was going on about.
"And do you know what's in it?" He kicked it over, letting the plants and herbs fall out and onto the carpet. Yola didn't answer him, but rather just stared him down, not wanting to let him think he'd won.
"These are property of District Twelve. The Meadow is a public place, and is not meant to be scavenged by you Seam brats. We don't allow these privileges to those who break the rules. Think about that next time…if there is a next time, Miss Avery. Your friends will await their punishment while you board the train. Goodbye, and may the odds be ever in your favor," he said mockingly. The door closed. Yola heard one more muffled yell, and another thud of a body against the wooden floor. She collapsed to her knees, crying.
Benjamin Dixon, D12
Benjamin could hear the shouting coming from the hallway. What was going on out there? His family had already come to say their goodbyes, and now he was just waiting for Elba to come back and collect them for the train.
Ben pressed his ear against the wall. He still couldn't make out any words, but he could distinguish between a woman and a man he took to be a Peacekeeper. Was it someone related to the other tribute?
When the shouting finally died down, Benjamin herd the old click of Elba' sky high heels on the wooden floor. It was time. The door to his room opened, and she strode inside, beaming as she always did. The bright, horrifying smile at the thought of delivering two more kids to the slaughter in the Capitol. The girl, Yola, was with her, face puffy and reddened.
"Come along, dearie." Elba stretched her hand out to him, and ushered him out the door to the awaiting train for the Capitol.
The final goodbyes! I grouped the last two districts together, just because I wanted to finish with the goodbyes and move on with the story. I know they're a little short, but I was feeling particularly unmotivated today.
What did you think of these goodbyes? Please review. New poll on my profile. Go vote. Winner(s) might get some cover art.