Here's the third Goodbye chapter! I'm sorry that I took so long to update. Last week was kinda crazy, I injured myself while trying to learn a toss on flag, and I just couldn't think of anything to write. But anyway, I hope you enjoy the chapter!
Goodbyes Pt. 3
Salix Maidenhair, 18, D7 Male
Grove was only thirteen years old. She volunteered for her sister, who I assumed was twelve. She didn't deserve to be sent to the Hunger Games. The two of us were quickly ushered away from the stage after the reaping ended and put into separate rooms in the Justice Building. I was surprised that my parents weren't there yet. I had always assumed that if I was reaped they would get to the room seconds after I did.
"Salix!" my mother cried as she ran into the room. She had been crying all morning, and now she was crying even harder now.
"It'll be fine, Mom," I said to her, trying to calm her down.
"This was your last reaping!" she cried. "I thought that you were safe!"
"Nobody's safe here," I said. "Living in a District isn't ever safe."
"Please come back," my father said.
"I'll try my hardest," I said, trying to be confident.
"Time's up," the Peacekeeper said. I hugged my parents one last time and then the Peacekeeper ushered them out. Chip came in next. I could tell he had been crying, but was trying not to. He pulled me into a hug and kissed me.
"I love you so much," he whispered. "I know that you can come back. You're the strongest person I know."
"I love you too," I said, and I felt tears well up in my eyes. This couldn't be the last time I saw him, it just couldn't. "I'm coming home, I promise."
"Okay," he said, still hugging me. We stood there, like that, until the Peacekeeper pulled us apart and pushed Chip out of the room. I stood there, knowing that if I didn't come home, my family would completely fall apart.
Grove Treemblay, 13, D7 Female
Mable had been reaped, and I volunteered for her without thinking. I knew that it was the right thing to do. She didn't deserve a death sentence. None of us did.
"Grove!" Mable said as she ran into the room. She ran straight into my arms. "Please come back!"
"I'll do my best," I said. "But there are so many people and I just don't know if I'll be better than them."
"Yes, you will be," she said fiercely. "You are going to be better than them because you're amazing."
"Thanks," I said then pulled her off of me. I stared straight into her eyes. "Find somewhere to stay. Stay with one of your friends, okay. You know that our father won't want you, so find somewhere to stay. Please. I don't want you to live alone while I'm gone."
"Okay," she said, beginning to cry. "I just need you to come back."
"Time's up," the peacekeeper said.
"No!" Mable screamed, crying even harder. The Peacekeeper picked her up and removed her from the room, shutting the door behind him. I could hear her screams echoing throughout the building. I had to come home. There simply wasn't any other option.
Walter Mendez, 18, D8 Male
"You just had to go and get reaped, didn't you," my sister said as she walked into the room.
"Sorry," I said, rolling my eyes.
"Don't apologize," she said, laughing softly. "It's not your fault. It's the Capitol's."
"That's true," I said, agreeing with her. "Do you think Mom will come?"
"Not really," she said, frowning. "I haven't seen her in forever. I wouldn't be surprised if she's forgotten about us completely."
"I'm sure she hasn't," I said. "We're her children. She can't just forget about us."
"Since dad died she moved away from us, refused to take you with her, and did pretty much everything she could to ignore us. She doesn't want to see us because we remind her of dad. And she doesn't want anything to remind her of him."
"I just wish that I could see her again," I said sadly. "At least she'll be forced to watch the Games. Then she'll have to see me."
"That's true," Cash said, laughing again. "I know that you don't think you'll come home, but I believe that you can. Just use your skills that you already have."
Poale Hall, 15, D9 Male
"Why did you make me promise not to volunteer for you?" Finn once the door was closed behind him. He looked angry, but in his eyes I could see that he was extremely sad. He knew that I wouldn't survive the Games.
"Because our family needs you more than they need me," I said, fighting to keep my voice steady. I knew that if I thought about the Games, I would lose all control over my emotions.
"But I could've come home," he said, becoming frantic. "I'm bigger and stronger than you, and I've been working in the fields longer. I could've come home."
"I know that," I said. "But our family needs you. I'm terrible in the fields anyway. You're a good worker, much better than me. You'll earn so much more money than I could, and they need that."
"Focus on survival skills," he said, and now I could tell that he was fighting to keep calm. "Make an alliance with some strong tributes. And please, try to come home."
Iulia Donovan, 15, D9 Female
A few minutes after I was put into the room, I heard footsteps pounding in my direction. The door burst open, revealing Beckett. He looked like he wanted to cry, but still wanted to appear strong.
"Hi," I said simply.
"Hi" He said back, then grabbed me and pulled me into a hug. "You're going to come back."
"I don't know," I said honestly. "The Careers are obviously going to be better than me, and I bet that everyone will be bigger and stronger."
"Not everyone," Beckett said, smiling slightly. "Poale's not."
"He's one person," I said. "There are twenty-two other people, and I know that I'll be smaller and weaker than most of them."
"Okay, well focus on your strengths," he said. "Learn survival skills. And make a friend. Allies are going to be how you'll survive. They'll help you."
"Okay," I said. "Still stop by my house when you need help. I'm sure my mom will be happy to help you while I'm gone."
"Please come home."
I skipped Elora, the District 8 Female, because she was a re-submission. If anyone knows whether the story has been abandoned, please let me know and I will put her back in.
Q1: What does Grove tell Mable to do?
Q2: Why did Walter's mother not want to see them?
Q3: What was Finn's advice?