District 12 Goodbyes

(Thana Miser and Gilbert Evans)

Thana Miser (17) - D12

The room is cold and dark. It smells like dead animals and mold. Tears drip into my lap, making wet marks on my white dress, which I had been so proud of. My breath is coming out in harsh gasps and sobs wrack my body.

Liam is the first to rush in. He pulls me up from the couch and into his arms. I have no words but instead, sob into Liam's chest. He just holds me tightly, tears falling into my hair, hands stroking my back.

The rest of his family comes in. Aven is sobbing along with Camellia. Spruce just watches us sadly. Liam releases me a bit so I can hug Aven.

"Why did they have to pick you?" He sobs.

"I don't know," I whisper in between hiccups.

Liam is still stroking my back and crying silently. I stand up to hug Camellia and Spruce.

"I have a chance of winning," I say once I've recovered enough.

"Of course you do," Liam kisses my forehead sweetly.

Camellia sighs. "You may have a chance, but say goodbye like it's the last time. Don't have any regrets."

I nod and first go to Spruce. He picks me up and holds me like a little girl.

"I love you," I whisper. "You understand me so well and I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for you."

Spruce's eyes fill with tears. "I love you to Thana. My little daughter."

He sets me down and I embrace Camellia. "Mama," I whisper, "Thank you for everything you've taught me. I love you so much."

"I love you to Thana." She says softly and kisses my cheek.

I turn to Aven and get on my knees. He hugs me tightly.

"You be good Aven," I say. "Obey your parents and Liam and don't get into mischief."

Aven sniffles and wipes away tears. "I love you," He hiccups out.

"I love you too," I ruffle his hair and turn to Liam, who is no longer trying to hold back his tears.

"We'll leave you two alone," Camellia says.

Spruce picks up Aven and my adoptive family leaves. I turn back to Liam.

He grabs me in his arms and kisses me. It's not passionate, but gentle and sweet. "I will miss you Thana," He says softly, running his fingers through my hair. "But you'll be back, and when you come back, I'll marry you and we can live in Victor's Village. Deal?"

"Deal." I choke out before he kisses me again.

Liam whispers encouragement and love in my ears until the peacekeeper calls to say that someone else is here to say goodbye. Liam and I break apart reluctantly.

"Goodbye," He says with a wave.

"Goodbye," I wave back and he's gone. Tears fill my eyes again. How can I go on without him? He was my sun, my moon, my warmth, my light. How would I manage?

I hardly register the fact that my father comes in until he clears his throat. I stand up quickly and back against the wall. His gray eyes bore into mine.

"Um, I wanted to give you this." He holds out a silver medallion with my mother's face in it.

My first reaction is revulsion, then when I see my father's eyes, I know that he's being sincere. I walk forward and snatch it away from him, stroking it in my fingers.

"Good luck," He says and is gone.

I blink at the door where he disappeared before looking back at the necklace. It's kind of weird, but it must be a token of good luck. I never met my mother, but the picture is beautiful. I put it around my neck and tuck it under my dress.

The peacekeeper marches in and grabs my arm. "Time's up." He says gruffly.

He drags me out of the room and onto the train platform where Gilbert is waiting. He looks focused and determined. That didn't matter to me. I was going home to Liam. It wouldn't matter how or what I did to get home, but I would be back. Alive.

Gilbert Evans (18) - D12

I sit nervously on the couch provided. I twiddle my thumbs and try to take deep breaths. I thought I would be ready to face my family, but I'm not.

Then, suddenly, my family is in front of me. I stand up, the world partially swimming around me.

Hawk steps forward, his eyes ablaze. "What have you done Gil?" He asks harshly. "How could you? We need you here. How could you do this to us?"

"If you couldn't tell, Hawk," I snap back with equal ferocity, "I did this for us. For our family. To have a chance at a better life. You always said that our family was worth dying for," I gesture around the room. "I'd say this counts."

Hawk walks in a circle holding his head in his hands. "The rest of them are on their way up." He mutters.

Mother bursts into the room, tears cascading down her face. "Gilbert, oh my boy. Why? Why?" She wraps her arms around me, sobbing. I look away with tears in my eyes to face Gaia, Todd, and Lucy.

"Look, guys," I pull my mother away from me. "I did this for us. I have a chance at winning and if I win, we'll never have to worry about food or money again." I put a note of hopefulness into my voice, hoping to convince mother that I know what I'm doing.

"Goodbye, my son." She says and kisses me on the cheek. Then she beckons to my siblings. "Come and say goodbye."

"You'll be back, right?" Todd asks his expression a mix of uncertainty, fear, and hope.

I nod then embrace all of my little siblings in a hug. Lucy tugs on my hair. "We'll see you again soon, right?" She looks so hopeful.

"I hope so Lucy," I say and ruffle her curly hair.

Mother beckons for them to leave. They all wave and leave me and Hawk alone again.

I turn to my brother, pain filling my chest. "I'm sorry," I whisper and look down, tears falling from my eyes. I stayed strong for my mother, for the kids. I wished I could be as strong around my big brother.

"Just come back home alright?" He looks me dead in the eye.

I nod and hug him. "Love you," I whisper.

"Love you too." He ruffles my hair and leaves.

I can feel my knees weakening. I don't know how much more of this I can take.

Ashton comes in. "What the heck happened out there?" He asks the moment he comes in.

"It's for my family Ash," I say with a slight grin. "I have to do something to help them."

"Well, dying wouldn't be my first choice," Ashton says with an eye roll.

"So you don't think I can win?"

Ashton clears his throat, uncomfortable. "Well, not particularly. Unless you have some hidden skill that I'm unaware of."

I look at the ground. His words hurt more than Hawks. He doesn't think I'll come home.

"I'll be back Ashton," I say confidently.

Ashton nods, but I can see the skepticism in his eyes. "Bye."

"Goodbye."

Ashton leaves me feeling like I just died on the inside. The peacekeeper comes and ushers me to the train platform. We wait for Thana, who is dragged in before we go to the train.

Thana has a look of deep concentration on her face. Her lips are tightened and her fists clench and unclench. I would like to be her ally, give me and her a better chance at coming home. Everyone knows Thana's story and I feel bad for her. If it came down to it, I wouldn't mind having her come home instead of me.

We board the train and are led by our escort to two doors with our names on them. Our escort turns around, focusing her pitch-black eyes on us. "These are your rooms," She says curtly. "Get changed if you wish. Clean yourselves up and meet us out here." She beckons with her head to the hallway behind her.

"Thank you, Miss…" I pause, forgetting her name.

She rolls her eyes. "My name is Miss Sutcliff to you."

"Ok," I say politely. "Thank you, Miss Sutcliff."

She turns around and glides away on black heels.

Thana turns and goes into her room silently. I open the door to my room. It's rather small and painted in forest-y shades of green and brown. I stroke the soft bed coverlet and imagine how comfortable the bed must be. I hear a long whistle and the floor under me jolts. The train is on its way, carrying me to the Hunger Games and possibly, my death.

Thana Miser (17) - D12

I go into my room and close the door. I want to be alone. I can't believe that I'm going to the Hunger Games. I shake my head roughly. It didn't matter though. I was coming home to Liam, Aven, Camellia, and Spruce. I would be back in District 12.

I browse the drawers in the room and find some comfortable clothes to put on. It's a pair of soft black pants, a gray t-shirt, and a jacket lined with faux fur. I keep my shoes on and pull my hair into a low ponytail.

I look in the full-length mirror in the bathroom. It had been years since I'd last seen my true reflection. I have lots of freckles and grey-brown eyes. I look skinny and underfed, with shallow cheekbones and skinny limbs. My nose is still crooked and my left eye is foggy. I turn away, wondering what Liam ever saw in me that he liked.

I go to the door, ready to meet our mentor and hide away again. I had to strategize. To figure out my game plan for the Hunger Games.

I walk out of the room and decide to knock on Gilbert's door. He opens it, dressed in a similar outfit to mine. He nods, knowing what we're supposed to do.

Together, we walk into the sitting room to meet our mentor. There is Miss Sutcliff, sipping tea on a couch with her pinky finger extended. Across from her is a ragged looking man. He has long, untidy, dirty brown hair, glazed eyes, and a scraggly beard. His clothes hang off of his skinny frame and a bottle of alcohol clutched in one hand.

"Hello." Miss Sutcliff greets us and throws a sharp glare at the man.

I try not to wince. We got unlucky in both the escort and the mentoring field. The man sets down the bottle and looks at us both blanky.

"More of them?" He mutters, half to himself. "Has it been a year already?"

Miss Sutcliff shakes her head with annoyance. "Together or separate?" She asks with a pointed look at our mentor.

"Separate," I say quickly. No use to getting attached to anyone who might be killed anyway.

Gilbert nods and walks away. I feel a little bad for not letting him have a say, but I also know that I have to win.

The man sighs heavily as I sit across from him. "I'm John." He says roughly. "But you can call me DJ."

I raise an eyebrow skeptically.

"Do you have anything that might help you in the arena?" He asks.

I take a breath, trying to think. "Well, I want to get home, so I won't mind killing anyone, I'm quick, smart, and I know lots of plants and herbs for healing and eating."

DJ grunts. "Good. Now, you know your weaknesses pretty well I'm guessing?" He laughs at himself as if what he said was funny.

I smile, tense. "Well, I'm not super strong and I don't know anything about weapons. I'm also partially blind in one eye."

DJ sighs. "Well kid, I'm not gonna lie, but you got some serious work to do in training." He looks to Sutcliff. "Send in the boy."

I must have looked confused because DJ shoos me away. "I can't help you kid. You have to help yourself. I can answer your questions but I can't win for you."

I walk away quickly, confused. That was an odd way for a mentor to treat a tribute. He was supposed to help me win, not leave it to me. Then, as I pass Gilbert in the hall, I realize what he meant. I have a better chance at winning if I figure it out, not if he figures it out for me. Feeling much better, I retreat to my room, feeling confident. If only Liam were here with me…

Gilbert Evans (18) - D12

I walk out and sit across from our mentor, who tells me to call him DJ.

"What can you do kid?" He asks.

I've already thought about this so I answer confidently. "I am smart, good at judging people, and am very hard to catch unaware. However, I'm not super strong and don't have any knowledge of weapons. I also can undervalue myself."

DJ looks surprised but nods slowly. "I like you kid." He says. "You're straight to the point. Make this take faster."

I nod, not fully understanding what he means.

"I told the girl this, I can't win for you. You figure out your plan. You don't want to hear my ideas or strategies. Use your instincts. That's how you will survive."

I nod. "Thank you, DJ."

"You're welcome, kid." He reaches for his bottle and takes a sip, wincing afterward. "You're free to go."

I head back to my room. I like DJ. His advice is good and seems logical. I sit on the bed and begin to think of my family back home. I can do this. I can win for them.