The price of your greed
Is your son and your daughter
What you gon' do
When there's blood in the water
Lira Wesley
District 1, Female, 17
(Goodbyes)
...
I walk into the Justice building, savouring the sound of cheering behind me, I'm going to need that extra support while I'm in the arena so it's good to begin cherishing it. Silver begins arguing with Elvera about the goodbyes, he wants to hop straight on the train as he "doesn't need to say goodbye to anybody because he'll see them again soon". However, I've known Silver for awhile now, he used to bully most people when we were younger in the academy and I told my Mom about it once. She told me how Silver's parents had died in a fire and he had grown up in the academy, it's a sad story but he's not someone who deserves sympathy so I snicker as he storms off into the Goodbye room where he'll sit and wait for me to finish - alone.
Elvera stretches out a long, unnatural smile as she points toward the door where I'll say my final goodbyes to everyone I love. I scurry off to get away from the strange woman and make my way inside the goodbye room. It's a small room but the luxurious furniture makes up for it, a low hanging chandelier is at the centre of the room, right above a plush white sofa. I sigh and make myself at home on the couch, today had already been a long day with morning training and the reaping but there's a lot more ahead.
It doesn't take long for my Mom and my older brother, Glow, to rush through the door, excitement and nerves are shown on their face. "Lira, get your shoes off the sofa!" My mom says, rolling her eyes. She's only half joking, she's a good Mom and has always taught us to be well-behaved and disciplined. Unfortunately for her, I've always been a little bit mischievous. She pulls me into a tight embrace and I hug her back, I had never thought about how much I would miss them until now. A couple tears well in my eyes but I quickly wipe my eyes and give Glow a sad smile before pulling him into a hug too.
We give each other our goodbyes in the form of smiles and quick hugs, not much is said besides a few words of encouragement. The Peacekeepers alert us when our time is up and Mom and Glow make their way out of the room, looking back at me the whole way until the door is shut behind them. I slump back onto the sofa and shut my eyes. Why had it never dawned on me that I was going to miss my family? That I might never see them again?
I never cry and yet I feel a sob forming, however, I'm quickly forced to get myself together as the Peacekeeper opens the door from the outside and two new people make their way in. They're my best friends, Jazz and Ivory, they're the whole reason I got into the academy and I could have never done any of this without them. Jazz sniffles and I shake my head, wrapping my arm around her back and guiding her to the sofa where the three of us sit.
"Do you think I can do it?" I murmur, a sudden newfound doubt has fallen over me.
"Of course you can do it, Lira! You've trained in one of the biggest training facilities in the whole of Panem and reached the top of your year, if you can't do it, nobody can." Jazz cries and Ivory nods along in agreement. Confidence begins to start back up inside of me and my familiar up-to-no-good smile is back to normal.
"You're right. Ah! I'm going to miss you guys." I pull them into a quick group hug and we spend the rest of the 5 minutes discussing what I think being in the Capitol will be like and what the room where I'm staying will look like. I'm beyond excited, we get luxury here but it's nothing compared to The Capitol. I give them one last hug before they leave and then sit quietly by myself.
A few moments later, the Peacekeeper comes in to collect me and I follow him out the door, getting my last glimpse at my District until I come home with the title of Victor.
Devon Galloway
District 10, Male, 13
(Goodbyes)
...
My vision is blurred by tears as we make our way into the Justice Building, Dara's arm is wrapped around my back, I've only just met this girl but the simple gesture of her supporting me is enough to let me know I can trust her. I know I'm going to die, I have to accept the inevitable though I choke an a sob as I think about it, but if I can help Darla survive then that's enough for me to feel like I did something. My life has been meaningless, a waste of supplies to keep my heart beating and I don't even make it past Reaping age, if I help someone as kind as Darla survive that arena then maybe it wouldn't have been all for nothing.
I feel a little better thinking of the possibility that I could help Darla survive but deaths till looms over me, more than it ever has before, and it's hard to put on a brave face when it's coming so close. I take a deep breath and Darla gives me a quick hug before making her way into a room on the right, Osian ushers me to a similar looking one on the left - a fake smile is spread across his face.
The room is very small, around the size of my bedroom back at home. It's mostly used as a storage room nowadays because I'm never actually there but I enjoy the time I do spend in my room, it's somewhere private and privacy is hard to get in a hospital. I sit myself on a stiff sofa and await my Parents, I ponder their reactions in my mind. Will they be crying?
Sure enough, my father comes in with tears rushing from his eyes. He's short, like me, and someone who I've always felt comfortable talking to. He's like my best friend, we used to spend a lot of nights at the hospital just talking because we didn't have any motivation to go to bed. He pulls me into a careful hug, gently patting my back. My mother has always been more firm and we never really had built much of a connection but even tears well in her eyes. I know it must be hard for her to see yet another child of hers die. I always assumed she never grew close to me because she was still mourning the loss of my triplet brothers.
"I'm sorry." She whispers into my ear, wrapping her arms around me. "I could never give you the life you always dreamed of. I'm so sorry for that Devon." Tears begin to rush down my face again, I don't even bother wiping them away. My mom loves me. Deep down, I had always had my doubts but to hear her confirm it just makes my heart soar. Even if I do die in that arena, she will miss me and I will live on through her.
"I love you mom, none of this is your fault. Please, just live your life to the fullest." I say through sobs, dad doesn't say a word. Just cries and holds me in his arms. After seeing their reactions, I know it would be selfish of me to admit defeat now, I need to try for them. Even if my possibilities are the worst and even if I die in there, I need to try for both of them.
"Promise me you'll try." Dad says, his voice breaking. I nuzzle my face in his shoulder, not saying a word. "Promise me Devon."
"I promise, Dad." I finally sigh. Do I mean it? I can't take an innocent life even if it does mean coming back to my family. Can I? I block the thoughts from my mind, right now my focus should be on the two of them.
"Time's up." A Peacekeeper shouts from outside. I give my parents one last hug before they leave, looking at me the whole way with sorrow lingering in their eyes but supportive and encouraging smiles on their faces. Once they're gone, I lean back and sigh. What am I going to do?
A/N: Not one of my best chapters but I'm just happy to finally be getting one out and hopefully having this story back on track soon. Next chapter should be train rides so stay tuned for that! Thanks to those who are still reading, it's always appreciated.
- Neb