District 3 Justice Building & Train Rides

(Bella File and Leo Terran)

Bella File (15) - D3

I crumple onto the couch that's falling apart. I can't stop sobbing. I can't believe that I'm going to the Hunger Games. My hands shake and the ground sways under me. Tears stream unchecked down my face and I sob into the dirty cushions.

Well, at least I won't have to leave Zale. I sniffle and wipe a tear away. That made me feel a bit better. I was going to die, no doubt, but at least I wouldn't have to be away from the only friend that I had ever known.

The door opens and I whip around, ready to fight off my parents. Instead, the escort stands there. Her outfit is no longer sparkling and she looks less frightening than she did on the stage.

"What are you doing?" I ask between chokes.

She doesn't say anything but walks closer and pulls off her hair. I jump in shock, only to realize that it's a wig. Her natural hair is pulled into a tight bun. It's white blonde.

She sits down on the couch next to me. I look into her green eyes. There's sadness and pity. I'm shocked. I thought that escorts were ruthless like the president. Instead, she grabs my hand and pulls me close to her.

"I'm so so sorry." She says softly.

I break down in tears again and she pulls me into her arms. I hold onto the woman's slim shoulders for as long as I can. Eventually, she pulls away from me.

"I wish that this would never have happened to you." She has tears in her eyes.

"Why do you care?" I ask, suddenly wondering why she was offering me her pity.

She sighs. "No one was coming. Your brother had to go to the train and I just felt so bad for you."

I sniffle and nod. "Thank you."

She smiles and stands up. Taking my hand in hers, she looks straight at me. "Don't underestimate yourself."

I nod, oddly comforted by the escort's kindness.

"What's your name?" I ask as she leads me to the door.

She turns around and smiles." Bella."

"Oh," I exclaim.

She laughs lightly. She's young, maybe in her twenties and she's extraordinarily beautiful without the wig on. I follow her down some stairs and onto the train platform. I watch the rain falling. It's as if the very sky is mourning. Eventually, a peacekeeper leads Leo down some stairs. He looks sad and hopeless as if he were already defeated.

Escort Bella smiles sadly at him before beckoning a peacekeeper over to help with the umbrellas.

We are led out into the rain and onto the train that waits to take us to our deaths.

Leo Terran (16) - D3

I'm led roughly by a peacekeeper to a room that is musty with crumbling stone walls and faded carpets. I look at the old couch and decide against sitting on it. Stuffing sticks out of various holes and the cushions are a very strange shade of reddish-brown-purple.

I can hear a noise behind the closed door and I brace myself, physically and emotionally, to say goodbye.

The first to come in is Dad. His face is grave. "Leo," He begins.

I run and hug him. I can't believe that I'm leaving my family, for the first and possibly last time.

"I love you Dad," I say, tears forming in my eyes.

"I love you too Leo," He strokes my head. It feels so good that I relax in his strong arms.

Eventually, he pulls back. "Leo," he says grimly. "Don't ever forget who you are, ok? Don't ever forget us."

"I won't," I say with a nod.

Then, Dad is gone and replaced with my brothers. Michael was sobbing so hard he could hardly breathe, Cody's eyes were red and he was sniffling, and Joshua stared at me blankly.

Michael threw his arms around me. "How could you?" He half screamed, half sobbed. "Why did you do that?" His fists banged into my chest, but I hardly felt it.

"I wasn't about to let you die, Michael. I promised to volunteer if you got reaped."

Joshua held Michael back as Cody hugged me. "Come home, Leo. Please. Please don't leave us." He sounded so desperate.

Tears filled my eyes and overflowed down my cheeks. "I'll try really hard Cody."

Joshua stepped up last. "You really are stupid aren't you?" He hugged me and squeezed my hand in his. "You remember, we all love you and want you to come home. Do whatever you have to, just come home."

I nod, crying quietly. Joshua steps back and says goodbye one last time. They leave and I have the dreadful feeling that I'll never see them again.

Kelly comes in next. Her beautiful face is wet with tears and her braids are messed up. I catch her, sobbing, in my arms. We fall back on the couch, crying into each other. How could I leave her behind?

Kelly looks up at me with her wet face. She's beautiful. The most beautiful person I know. "Promise me you'll be back?"

I sigh. "I can't Kelly. I can't promise anything. I'll do my best, but I wouldn't expect much."

She sits up straighter, looking at me with her beautiful eyes. "What's something that you wish you could have done at least once before this?"

"Why?"

She smiles. "I want to do it, so I can think of you and know that I could do it for you."

I look at her sweet and innocent face. "There is something, but you won't be able to do it once I'm gone."

"What?" She looks surprised, but also expectant.

I lean in and kiss her. It's the most exhilarating feeling that I have ever experienced. We always were "too young" to be serious and both wanted our first real kiss to be special. Well, this was special all right.

My heart was pounding and I could feel her heart beating under her skin. Her lips were warm and soft and I couldn't help but want more. Finally, Kelly pulls away, looking so happy and sad all at the same time.

"Marcus will want to say goodbye." She says softly.

I kiss her forehead, still panting with all the emotion that came from the kiss. "Yeah, Marcus."

"Goodbye," Kelly's voice cracks as she hugs me and then flies from the room. I want to follow her, but the peacekeeper at the door glares at me as he ushers Marcus in.

"Goodbye, Leo." He says quickly. "I'll take care of your family, I promise."

I smile. "Thanks, Marcus."

We embrace and then the peacekeeper tells me it's time to go. I can hardly believe where I'm going. I follow the peacekeeper to the train platform where Bella and the escort wait.

The escort has taken off her wig and her true blonde hair is pulled into a tight bun. She smiles sadly at me as I approach. Defeat fills my chest. I know I won't be home again, unless by some miracle.

Peacekeepers hold umbrellas over us as we walk across the wet platform and onto the train. My senses are dulled to everything around me and I can hardly remember to put one foot in front of the other.

We are led to two doors with our names on them. The escort opens the door for me and tells me to make myself comfortable. Then she turns and goes into Bella's room.

I sit on the comfortable bed and relive my last moment with Kelly. I just want to always have that memory, tucked into my heart. I can still see her smiling face after she pulled away, so bittersweet. I lay back and sob into the comforter. My body is shaking and it's hard to breathe. I have left everything behind. Everything I love and cherish is gone, possible fever. It's enough to make even the strongest person feel weak.

Eventually, the escort calls me out and I follow her to a sitting room. There is Bella, cuddled next to her brother, who also happens to be our mentor. He looks just like Bella, black hair, green eyes, pale skin. His eyes have an emptiness to them, as every victor does. They can't unsee what they've done in the arena. I know that Zale was ruthless in the arena, killing everyone as soon as he could. I hated that, but it got him home.

Zale beckons for me to sit down. "I've already had my conversation with Bella so you can go ahead and start."

"Ok," I think hard. What might be something that can help me get home? "I can run pretty fast, I'm good at hiding, and I can fight, though I'd prefer not to."

Zale nods and leans his head against Bella's. "Weaknesses?"

I feel uncomfortable being the odd one out and gulp. "I haven't had any weapons training, I'm not good with plants, and I have very few natural survival skills."

Zale nods. Then, he goes over some training strategies and dismisses me. I go back to my room, feeling more encouraged. Zale is kind and helpful. He gave me some pointers and tips and I feel more confident. Maybe I can win and come back. Maybe I will be able to kiss Kelly again, hug my brothers, and play with Marcus.

Maybe, this is all a possibility.