Alyona Smirnov,18, District 5 female
An ominous breeze blows past me and I remain seated as I wait for this to come to an end. I'm alone now and it'll remain that way. It'll be too much of a risk for Paula if she was to visit me here and for one reason or another, I've managed to push away everyone else that I was even remotely close with.
Even in this room I don't feel safe because I know they will do any and everything necessary to try and get back at me for taking out their leader and the man who I began to consider a father, but he betrayed me, left a hole in me that I'd never be able to recover from, and that's why his blood is now on my hands.
For most of my life, I was under the impression that both my parents were dead, it was last year that I discovered my parents were actually alive and living completely normal lives. I've grown increasingly frustrated with all of the killings and I just wondered what it'll be like to live a normal life. They probably wouldn't even recognize me, but still I just wanted to run to them, tell them everything I did and maybe just try to start on a clean slate.
Tilo didn't seem upset when he found about this, infact he even allowed me to visit them and I immediately did. We spoke for a little bit, but my parents were really young when they had me and "weren't ready" to take care of a child hence them sending me away but they apologized for it and I accepted their apology, I even wanted to get closer to them but upon leaving the house, it immediately exploded. This was Tilo's plan all along, to take them out and make me the ultimate killing machine who won't be slowed down by any emotions. I ran back into the house but my parents were now nothing but a pile of flesh and I layed in their remains, crying for the first time that I can remember and vowing that I'd kill Tilo. I got him, but even after avenging my parents I still felt nothing, was I just numb from all of the killing or maybe there just wasn't any satisfaction in redemption…
All these events are what lead me here though and now I'll have to kill again, and I will. Because I'm not going to allow myself to get close to anyone in that arena, I know what needs to be done, and I'm going to carry this out…
Dio Hughes,15,District 5 male
"Dammit!" I curse to myself as I stomp on the floor In anger. I got reaped, I actually got fucking reaped and it's complete bullshit! I can't even sit still so I pace around the room like a lunatic just trying to come to terms with this, like what were the odds!? All of the poor people here who needs to take out tesserae just to have a meal to eat every day and me who never struggled a day in their life and never took out any tesserae got reaped and my sister would've been going into the arena with me as well but that mysterious girl volunteered in her place instead. I appreciate it, but still I wonder what her deal was, she actually isn't bad looking either, maybe after she takes a bath and puts on better clothes, I can use my charm and try to hit it, release some of this frustration! I never failed at getting a girl so if I want some of that, I'll make it happen!
On another note, I think someone has it out for my family, like there should be no way this happened but it did for some reason, like who's big wig's daughter did I screw for them to have it out for me like this? I'll be honest, I'm scared, even terrified but I have to be strong for everyone who's coming to visit me, I can't show them how terrified I really am…
I don't have much more time to reflect to myself because the girls start pouring in, one by one and I'll be honest, I don't even remember half of them, but I was involved with all these females at one point so whatever. I put on a façade and try acting all macho, telling them how I'm winning these games with no problem, stuff like that, I think just about every girl in this district visited me so now I expect my family to walk in any moment and they do.
My mother and father seem pretty distraught while Ariel and Priya are teary eyed but they're keeping it together.
"C'mon people, cheer up! Not like we won't be seeing each other again!" I laugh trying to lighten the mood.
"Dio…you're going into the arena." Ariel 'reminds' me.
"Yeah, so? I'll do what needs to be done and come right back!" I proclaim.
"There's careers, probably serial killers or worse you're going in there with." Ariel counters and I start losing my patience.
"Listen I don't need this negative energy right now, so if the only thing on your mind right now is how I'm going to die and not make it back to you guys then I really don't need you here!" I raise my voice and she gives me a shocked look.
"Dio, there's no reason to speak to her like that, she's only worried." My mom sniffs.
"I just need you guys to trust me, I'm…I'm already fucking scared as it is so just give me some encouragement, tell me everything is going to be ok, how we'll aee each other again. Even if it isn't true, I'll feel so much fucking better hearing that!" I feel my eyes water a bit but I force the tears back down. My father is the first to embrace me and the rest of my family joins in and hugs me as well
"Just do your best Dio…it will be ok." Priya tells me.
"Thanks Priya, I'll do my best to get back to you guys, I promise you all that." I assure them and they stay with me for a little while but have to go afterwards…
Moments later Maeve walks in and she's still crying, we've only been together for two weeks but she's crying like she knew me her entire life, I can't imagine the kind of pain she's going to have to go through, knowing I'm gone, knowing that I probably won't even come back, I'll have to make her feel a little better, give her a reason to miss me just a little less if it comes down to it .
"Dio!" she cries and runs up to me, hugging me and crying. I close my eyes for a moment and think. Maeve wasn't like these other girls, I was fond of her and I did consider more than just 'another girl' so that's why…
"Get off…" I say in a cold tone but I can still hear some of the pain in my voice.
"D-Dio." She stammers holding me but I gently push her off of me
"I said get off." I say more sternly as I stand up from my seat and she's obviously shocked.
"Dio...why are you acting like this." She breaks down.
"Because I don't love you…I don't care about you…" I tell her and she only covers her mouth as more tears come down her eyes.
"Y-you don't mean that, you don't mean that right Dio?" her voice cracks.
"I couldn't stand you, but only stayed with you because you were easy, easy and gullible, but that's how most of you females are anyways. I never felt any kind of connection with you and not only was I ready to dump you, but I cheating you on the whole time." I lie to her but she breaks down as her hearts shatters into a million pieces and she runs out of the room crying. I take a deep breath and sit myself back on the chair and I don't need to hold my emotions anymore so I let the tears run down my face. I'm sorry Maeve…it hurts now but when I'm gone, you'll miss me a little less…
Hayden Topper,17, District 6 male
I quietly hold my head down, staring at the floor as nothing fills my ears. I volunteered…and now I'm going to have to fight my way back if ever want to see him again. The moment his name was called, I knew I couldn't just let him go because I just wouldn't be able to live in a world without him…
The doors bursts open and it makes me jump a little as Stephen storms into the room.
"Stephen i-" I begin but he grabs my shirt and shoves me against the wall.
"Why the hell did you do that!? Why!?" He grits his teeth and I can already see tears forming in his eyes.
"Stephen…" I can only mumble.
"I had a much better chance of coming back than you! I could've won, I could've came back! But…you wanna be a hero, just why!" more tears come down his eyes.
"Stephen I'm sorry…I'm so sorry. I couldn't let this happen though, I couldn't just allow you to leave, cause I won't be able to live in this world without you." I admit to him and he looks at me for a moment before sinking his head into my chest and begins crying but I hug him to try and calm him down.
"You didn't want to live in this world without me, but now I'll have to live in this world without you, have you ever thought about that!?" He looks up at me.
"I'm sorry Stephen…I'm so sorry." My lips quiver.
"It wasn't your call to make, I'm so upset right now but it just pains me more having to yell at you, I didn't mean to, I didn't." He cries
"it's ok…I understand Stephen." I tell him as i wipe my eyes.
"You have to come back…you have to Hayden, just use your strengths. You're a painter, you can camoflauge yourself, hide yourself from danger and in the scenario that you have to defend yourself, you'll be capable, your father trained you to defend yourself after all!" he pleads to me.
"I'll do my best Hayden, I promise you that!" I assure him and he slips his bracelet on me and gives me another tight hug.
"I don't want this to be the end, I don't…so you do whatever you have to do to walk out of there alive, you got it?" He sternly tells me.
"Yes Hayden, I'll do everything I can." I promise him and we give each other another hug and we stay together for a few more minutes but he has to leave after.
I sit alone in this room now and it doesn't surprise me that no one else comes to visit me including my father, bet he already has someone picked out to replace me but I shake that thought away and think of what's to come.
I know I'm going to need an alliance of some sort and I think of my district partner. She passed out earlier on the stage but thankfully I managed to grab her before she can hit the floor. I know nothing about her but she seems nice and we can probably help each other out, but I'll talk to her later...
Paisley Stitchell,15, District 6 female
My eyes slowly open and I see I'm now In a well decorated room with decors that probably cost more than what this entire district can put together. Where am i though? That's when my memories start coming back to me however, how I got reaped but I couldn't remember anything past that. I'm praying that was just all a nightmare but when I see my distraught mother and sister enter the room afterwards, that's when I realize this is all real…
They both embrace me and I begin crying as I can't even control my trembling body but I feel a little safer in the arms of my family, I just wish it can stay this way…
"You'll be ok Paisley, you'll be ok. Just find an alliance. Someone you can trust and hide when you can!" Linen signs to me with her trembling hands and I nod before hugging her again.
"Linen is right, you'll be just fine baby, just do as Linen says ok? You'll be home in no time!" My mom signs to me. I know they don't actually believe this though, I know they just want me to feel a little better but I don't have a lot going for me, especially since I'm deaf, I can't imagine anyone wanting to ally with such a liability like me, but I have to try, I have to try and get back! My family keeps me in their arms and Linen is able to change the mood a little as she signs what kind of hairstyle I want her to do for me and I sign for her to give me braids which she happily does and it helps take my mind off of what's coming my way, but it's inevitable, it's inevitable that I'm likely meeting my end soon…
Azazel Pinestone,16, District 7 male
I let out a small sigh as I slowly pace around the room, just reflecting on my life. How the hell did it come to this anyways? I woke up this morning, just ready to continue my usual routine and now I'm being shipped to the capitol where they'll fatten me up and send me off to the slaughterhouse, well that's one way of looking at it at least. Maybe I can try and look at this as a trip of some sort. I always wanted to visit the capitol, see just how crazy the people are there, heck maybe I can even entertain them!
My district partner however, I can't help but to think about her, like that Is the woman of a man's dream. Any man would want a strong and sexy woman like that but she wants to play hard to get. I welcome her to try, but she won't be able to resist my charm!
The door swings open and it's Stacy, the girl I only knew for less than a day.
"Hey there…" she greets me.
"What's up! I grin at her, in the back of my mind, I know death is likely on the horizon for me, but when I consider this a field trip, I just find a little more comfort.
"Wow uh, you seem to be in good spirits…" Stacy comments.
"Would it be better if I was here bawling my eyes out?" I question.
"N-no that's not what I meant. Look Azazel you seem like a decent guy so uh, just try and come back ok?" She hugs me.
"Yeah, sure…" I dismissively say and she sighs a bit before leaving.
My best friends Lilith and Jasper comes in next and I can tell how hurt they are but they do their best to disguise it with a smile, I appreciate their efforts cause I'm not really in the mood for gloomy goodbye stuff.
"Hey buddy, what you up to?" Jasper sits next to me.
"Well I got quite the trip ahead of me. Looking forward to it and also looking forward to my district partner, like you see her body dude? She's playing hard to get but I know I can get her!" I brag.
"Yeah I was checking her out! That's a lot of woman though! You sure you can handle that?" He laughs.
"You guys are gross!" Lilith whines.
"She'll probably pin me down and do all the work but I'm fine with that!" I grin and Jasper laughs.
"Well buddy, make sure your efforts don't backfire, I can see her shoving her foot up your ass if you don't play your cards right!" He advises me.
"That just makes her even sexier? Don't you want a girl that you know would kick your ass!?" I giggle.
"Well I don't know what kind of weird fetish you're into but yeah can we talk about something else!?" Lilith whines again and we give in to her pleas and start talking about boring stuff. Time goes by so quickly when I'm hanging out with these guys and for a while I forget I even got reaped but they have to leave soon after since I have other visitors.
"Here Azazel, take my good luck ring!" She slips a beautiful silver ring on my finger with designs that remind me of the district.
"Are you proposing to me?" I joke but she playfully hits me.
"Idiot, you better bring this ring back though or I'll kill you!" She warns me and I laugh a bit.
"Yeah, sure thing." I roll my eyes and we give each other another hug before they leave.
My parents and brother enter next and they seem to be in a much better mood than they usually are. They don't even seem sad though.
"Azazel, you can be whatever you want to be, whatever you put your mind to so don't let anyone tell you otherwise." My dad pats my shoulder.
"Your father is right, we feel so wrong always shooting down your hopes and dreams but, now we realize that you can be anything or anyone and no matter what we'll accept you for whomever you decide to be." My mother hugs me and I'm taken back quite a bit. Wish it didn't have to take me being shipped off into the arena for them to come to that realization but better late than never I guess...
"Thanks guys, coming from you all. It means so much. That's all I ever wanted to hear really..." I admit to them and even my brother hugs me afterwards.
"We'll be rooting for you buddy. So don't keep us waiting too long!" He tells me and I nod.
They have to leave soon after and I look down at my "good luck" ring before one of my tears fall on it, I'm sorry everyone…
Beauregard 'Beau' Faran,17,District 7 female
I keep my arms crossed and growl at no one in particular as I remained slumped back on this pretty comfortable chair. Almost too comfortable but that's besides the point! yeah I'm pissed the fuck off cause obviously this shit was rigged! Like no fucking way should this have happened!
This capitol, I bet they want to get rid of me! So their way of doing that is sending me into the arena, well they got another damn thing coming to them cause I'm not about to fold over that easily! Just to make them look even more stupid I'll hunt down their little lap dogs that they like to call the "careers" one by one, let's see just how much they like the show then!
The door swings open and my first visitor is Henry, we were supposed to get dinner tonight to celebrate his victory but guess that's not happening now.
"Well…that was pretty unexpected." He scratches his head.
"Tell me about it, fuck it, it is what it is though." I shrug my shoulders.
"I mean you will be ok right? You're like the strongest strongest person in this district!" He compliments me and I scoff.
"Flattery will get you nowhere with me dude but all I can tell you is that I'm not going down without a fight." I assure him.
"Well let em have it then and when you come back, I'll be the one buying dinner!" He gives me a thumbs up and I roll my eyes smirking a little.
"Alright Henry, I guess I owe you that much huh? Just hold the fort down while I'm away." I tell him.
"Sure thing!" He prepares to hug me but I give him the look and he stops in his tracks giving me a fist bump instead.
Only moments later, Acacia, Sylvain and my little brother Al walks in. Al seems worried understandably but Acacia and Sylvain are trying to be good spirits.
"Your popularity just seems to be rising more and more, even the capitol wants to spend time with you now!" Sylvain jokes.
"Certainly seems that fucking way." I grunt.
"You got this girl, just punch out anyone who got enough balls to stand up to you." Acacia plops down in a chair next to me and Al let's out a sigh.
"What's up little bro, come over here!" I hold my arms out to him and he drags his way towards me.
"This is not the end…right?" he holds his head down but I raise it back up with my finger and give him a stern look.
"Hell no! And you better believe that, you know what to do though, I don't want to spank you if Acacia and Sylvain over here tells me you weren't behaving!" I joke with him and he smiles a little.
"You feel more like a mom than a sister, but…don't let me down. Promise me." He hugs me.
"I promise!" I hug him back.
"No matter how dark things get, just look at this picture ok? It'll make you feel better!" He hands me a picture and it's me and him from a few years back with us smiling and hugging each other and I laugh a bit but I can feel my eyes start to swell a little.
"I'll see you guys soon, so yeah. Don't miss me too much." I state and we give each other another hug before they have to go, I'm going to miss those pains in the asses…
Christmas Maloney,17, District 8 male
I'll never forget that image, those cold eyes just gazing up at me, but even then I can still see the pain in her eyes, the pain that I caused…
She never did anything wrong, she just wanted to be loved but all I did was shatter her heart and got her murdered. This arena will be my punishment, and whatever happens to me, then so be it…
My family marches in at the same time and. I only sink my head down as they waste no time ripping into me.
"You're worthless! A worthless nasty boy! Hope you die in that arena!" my mother smacks me across the face and I don't respond.
"You ruined our business! You got Masie killed just so you can roll around the floor with your gay friends!" My father roars at me.
"You're a fucking joke you know that fag! Looking forward to seeing you suffer out there!" My brother shoves me on the floor and they each take turns kicking me as I cover myself up but the door opens and I see two peacekeepers beginning to pull my family away as they continue cursing at me and wishing death on me. Once they're gone, I only curl myself into the corner and let tears run down my eyes, I don't deserve to cry, because I only have myself to blame for this…
The door opens again some time after and it's Hank…my best friend.
"Christmas…whoa what happened?" He runs up to me and sits next to me as I continue crying.
"Just go…" I sniff.
"What? No! Christmas what the hell happened? You're bleeding from your nose!" he tries cleaning my face with a tissue but I only push him away.
"I deserve everything that happens to me…everything and I shouldn't have the privilege of being around a good person such as yourself so…just go. Leave before I scream and have you escorted out of here!" I warn him and and he grabs my hand, slips a ring on it and I'm shocked….
"Hank…what is this?" I give him an exasperated look.
"I've had this for a few weeks now, I couldn't ever bring myself to give it to you, but now I just need to man up let you know…how much I love you." He confesses to me and I start breaking down.
"You're too good for me…" I cry.
"You did nothing wrong, and if your family can accept you for who you are then fuck them! But I'll always accept you Christmas, so when you're out in the arena…just…just think about me, ok?" he clutches my hand and I press my lips against his for what may be our last moments together but…I finally have something to fight for now, and that's why I can't give up!
Genevieve Altruzara,16, District 8 female
My mom's deafening screeches refuses to leave my ears and even with me in this room, it still feels like I can hear her pained and hoarse cries. I shake the thought free for now but mom, I swear I'm not going to let this go unanswered! I will claw my way back here if I have to, but that old miserable hag who's abusing my mother, when I get my hands on her…I swear!
I patiently wait for my little brother Mandel to show up and try to calm myself down. I don't want him to see me like this so I need to pull myself together. I wait, wait and wait but no one shows up, what gives? The door finally opens and I expect it to be Mandel but it's instead a peacekeeper holding an envelope.
"Doesn't look like you'll be getting any visitors but someone wanted me to give you this." He hands me the envelope and I already know where this is going.
I waste no time opening up the envelope and inside is a letter that reads
"Can't wait to see you die you filthy crazy bitch!" with a kiss mark on it and I immediately rip the letter up to shreds.
I'm so angry right now that I feel tears start coming down my eyes and I ball my fists so hard that my nails start tearing into my skin. Those fucking bitches! I'm going to kill them! They planned this all out just so I wouldn't be able to see Mandel and I can literally feel my skin boiling. Even if it's the last thing I do, they're not getting away with this!
Here is part 2 of the goodbyes! I really don't have much else to say at the moment but want to thank all of you for your reviews! Stay tuned for part 3 and I'll see you guys soon, till next time!