Last Words of 23

by Carina1107

Mockingjay never won the Hunger Games. And now, many years later, the Hunger Games is rigged. The supposed random name picking is actually taking people who are friends, crushes, even siblings, to the games. What will happen when two best friends are thrown in together? What will happen when a secret lover will have to fight his best friend and crush to the death?

8. Thomas Jackson - District 2

Thomas Jackson, District 2, 15

Looking outside the window of the training center, Thomas could see Aurelia walking towards him. Her willowy figure slicing through the blistering air of District 2. She looked like a ghost.

He actually pitied her. Her father was distant, her mother suffering, and she had no one to lean on. Although Thomas had had his fair share of trouble, at least his parents had gone quickly. At least he had friends.

Heading back to the knives station, Thomas hit his 15th consecutive knife at the target as Aurelia watched. Turning back and grinning at her, he said, "Aww, late? You know, it's Reaping Day. We've been training for this our whole lives, girl. Now's our chance!"

Smiling awkwardly, Aurelia nodded.

Thomas watched as Aurelia mindlessly took up a knife and started twirling it around, aimed at the bullseye, and missed. "AURELIA!" he shouted, trying to drag her out of the center, failing.

Later...

Walking out of the training center, Thomas came to the realization, for the thousandth time in his life, he had nowhere to go. No home, no family, no shelter. Taking a deep breath, he brushed off the most dirt he could, and headed towards the Reaping.

Thomas had not yet decided if he would volunteer this year. No one would desperately want him to. He didn't have a reputation, a family, a status. He knew that Aurelia would be volunteering this year. If she decided to, he would have to volunteer. He had to be there for her.

After the regular ceremonies, the introduction of the mentors and escorts, the mayor's boring speech, the reminder of the revolutions, it was time for the actual reaping.

The escort, Natalie Chou, slipped her hand in the girls bowl, and picked up a slip of paper.

"And...our District 2 female...is...SUMILY NIGHTINGALE!"

As to be expected, Aurelia pushed herself in front of another blond-haired girl and shouted, "I VOLUNTEER!"

Stepping onto the stage, Aurelia took her place next to Natalie, as her hand slipped into the boys jar.

"And...our District 2 boy...is...THOMAS JACKSON!"

Thomas felt as if the world was spinning, and slowly started to walk towards the stage, and stepped up.

He was trained for this, but all that came into his mind was the though that he was going to die. And his killer could be his best friend.