The doors close to the building and I stand, staring at the closed door. Roff, my best friend since as long as I can remember was put into the Hunger Games to fight to the death. Why didn't I Volunteer? I know I would die in either the bloodbath or pretty soon after. How would Roff stand a chance against all of the other tributes? The Careers would probably kill him as soon as the Games begin. Suddenly, the sound of tapping on a microphone brings me back to reality.
"If anyone would like to say good-bye to the tributes, please come on stage now," Lotha says. I don't hesitate. I walk the path Roff took up to the stage. His family walks behind me and the other tribute's family walk up behind them. We get onto the stage and Peacekeepers take me by the arms. They open to doors to the Justice Building and force me inside.
It's a small lobby. A small wooden desk is up against the wall with a empty chair behind it. Two leather chairs are located on either side of me, neither of them are being sat in. The floor is made of polished wood the shines from the lights above us on the cement ceiling. It's nothing special, just a building that leads young adults to their deaths. I am guided to the left and am told to sit in a chair by a deep voiced Peacekeeper.
"Sit here," he says, "It's custom for families to see the tributes first." I sit in the chair, dust bursting into the air from the weight. I cough.
"Okay," I respond and cough some more. Roff's family passes by me. His very tall father in the lead, his pregnant mother behind him, and Roff's older sister (who is very beautiful by the way) follows behind her. Her name is Roda and she is in the process of crying. I wish I could reach out to her and give her a hug but I resist.
Let her have a moment with her brother, I think, I might be her last.
They all walk into a room, Roff's mother running in to hug her son. Then the Peacekeeper closes the door behind them. I hear crying come from the room and lots of "I love you". After about one minute the Peacekeeper opens the door and tells them their time is up. The make their last hugs and then are escorted out of the room. They leave the building with Roff's mother crying into his father's shoulder. The Peacekeeper puts his hand on my shoulder.
"Now it's your turn."
I stand and go into the room. Roff wipes tears from his cheek and smiles. Normally we just have our handshake that me made up in the woods trimming trees with our dad's but this time we hugged. He pushed away from me and sighed.
"Take care of Roda for me, will you?" he laughs weakly.
"Okay. You'll win right?" I say. He sighs.
"I told me family I will," Roff respond, "but truthfully, I don't think I can. I'm as skilled with an ax as you are."
"You said you would use a spear only just fifteen minutes," I say.
"I was just joking. I had no idea I would actually end up in a fight to the death." He sits in an identical chair I had been sitting in. Suddenly the door bursts open and the Peacekeeper says my time is up.
"Good luck," I say.
"Thanks. See you a T.V."
I walk out of the room and leave the Justice Building. I walk off the stage and down the main square. I turn left onto the road with all of the shops. I pass the candy shop which is about as big as my family room. I pass the bakery where I can smell fresh bread coming out of the oven. I pass a few more stores until I reach my father's firewood store. I lift the welcome mat up and find the house key. I put it in keyhole in the door and turn it. The lock clicks and I put the key back under the mat. I open the door and walk into the entrance of the firewood shop. Logs are everywhere and a fire burns in the fireplace. Behind the main desk where people come and buy wood are a flight of stairs that lead up to the top of the shop, which is where my family and I live. I go behind the desk and go upstairs, my feet thumping each step I take. I get to the top and my Mom comes out of room.
"Sylar–," she starts but I go into my room and slam the door shut.
This is completely unfair. Why does the Capitol have to take Roff? He was the person I always hung out with and we always were partners in school projects and we always helped each other out in the woods. I'm so mad I punch the wooden wall and make a dent. I sit on my bed and throw my pillow across the room. It hits the wall and falls to the ground. I flop onto my bed and start crying.
"Why?" I whisper, "Why do you have to take him?" I will never forgive those people. I will never forgive the Capitol.
Never.