Roseabella Robinson

District 3

"I did my fair share! I always have!" A man was yelling, yelling, so loud… The other man was advancing on him with the whip, ordering him to comply or it would only hurt worse…

"I'll never comply." He was saying no, backing away, but the whip struck him. There was a loud clap on his back but the man who was whipped stood there, showing no pain.

The peacekeeper knows though. He knows he will hear screams if he whips him enough, and he isn't giving up until then. But the other man is strong… He is surrounded by blood, but there isn't any screaming… Why do they keep whipping him!

Now its changing… It's my brother. He's coughing so hard! President Snows standing there… now he has the whip. My brother is so pale, so hurt, and so diseased. Snow is just standing there!

"Help him! Help him!" I am crying now, my brother is throwing up… blood. But no one hears me, no one helps, the capitol watches. His blood is leaving his body, and soon President Snow hits him with the whip, and he is dead, by the hands of the capitol.

My dark blue eyes fluttered open, and I became aware of the silent tears running down my face. I quickly wiped them off and pushed myself up from lying down. 1 year. One year since my brother died of the flu. One year since the capitol refused to help. One year, since they killed him. I would never forgive them.

I sighed and rubbed my eyes, then continued to push myself out of bed. I hated the capitol, and there stupid reapings. 14 years. Then the capitol couldn't hurt us. Belle would be 19.

Once I was out of bed, I made my way to the mirror. I grabbed a brush from the end table and quickly started brushing out the mess my long black hair with red highlights had become overnight.

I then pulled on a red dress, and the matching red boots, that I wore every year. I made my way back to the mirror and a small smile worked its way onto my face. Whoever was in that mirror, looked good.

Yeah, I looked good. I spun around to admire myself, which was not something I did very often, and then reached over to a small wooden jewelry box. Inside, I found my bracelet. It was silver, and had the letter 'R' on it. It was my favorite piece of jewelry, and I treasured it.

I plastered a fake smile on my face, not wanting my family to think I was feeling sad. My feet took me over to where the rest of my family was eating breakfast, and I sat with them.

We spent breakfast talking about happy things, normal things. I gushed about how one of my best friends, Crystal, needed to get a guy, and giggled at the funny things Belle said. After we were done eating though, it was back to the reaping.

"Relax." Cam was telling me. "If any of you get picked, someone's going to just volunteer anyway. Its how it always happens." I just rolled my eyes, refusing to believe it. For some reason the capitol didn't like us. My dads friend getting whipped, my brother dying. They would make sure no one would volunteer.

OoOoO

The crowd in district three was hushed, watching as Mayor Eris said the treaty, and everything else he always said. I tried to sneak into the 16's section unnoticed, and stood silently by Leena and Crystal when I got there.

"And now for your escort, Rita Foyer!" Mayor Eris stepped back and sat in a chair, letting Rita stand in front with the bowls. Rita was remarkably plain – her only alteration was gold hair die and a few gems around her eyes.

"Ladies first!" She practically squealed. Her hand dived-bombed into the girls' glass bowl and picked out one name.

"Roseabella Robinson!"

I stood in shock, not sure if I heard it right. I felt a nudge in my side, and I nudged Leena back. I was most certainly not in the mood.

"Roseabella Robinson!" She yelled again, louder this time. I slowly made my way up to the stage, and my body was filled with fear. No one was going to volunteer. If they were, they would have already. I saw my family in the crowd, half of them with tears running down the faces.

"Shh…" I whispered, trying to help them hear it. "Shh… Its ok, it will be ok."

Rita gave me a strange looking before going into the boy bowl, and I blushed. She must have heard me; I can't imagine how stupid I must sound standing up here whispering to myself.

"Jay Wilcox!" Rita called out, and a boy slowly walked up. He was shaking uncontrollably. Good. One tribute down, 22 to go.

Why did the games have to do this? Mess with our minds?

I just shook my head and grabbed his hand, shaking it. I think I may have almost crushed it though, out of nervousness.

"Congratulations to the tributes from District Three, Roseabella and Jay! Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"

OoOoO

Belle, Bark, and Light, were all standing in the room where I said my final goodbyes.

"Roseabella!" Belle was crying into the bottom of my dress, while Bark sat, silently crying, and Light tried not too.

"Guys, I'll make it home. Pinky promise." I held out my pinky to Belle and she hesitantly took it.

I wasn't lying. I would make it home, for me, for them, for my family and friends. They weren't going to take anyone else from us.

Damn the Capitol. Damn them to hell. They were going to have an interesting Hunger Games on their hands.

Next came Waltz and Cam. Cam immediately pulled me into a hug so tight, I almost died.

"I'm sorry, so sorry! Rose Rose Rose! I'm sorry!" Tears were running down his face, and it took all I had to push him away.

"You act like I'm gonna die, Cam." I replied stonily. Why did they have such little faith in me? I looked over to Waltz and he was eyeing me wearily.

"I'm going to live. That's it. Nothing to it. I'm strong, you know it." I eyed them both, willing them to believe it. Willing me to believe it.

"Ok." Cam said, then pulled me into another hug before the peacekeepers came and shooed them both out.

Next were my parents. I can't really say much about them coming, because it was mostly tears and reassurances. I couldn't understand much of what they said, except right before the peacekeepers took them away.

"Keep that bracelet Roseabella. Use it to remember who you are." My mom pointed to the bracelet I always wore, and I nodded.

"Of course. I'll remember." My voice wavered, because I had just been planning the death of Jay Wilcox.

Next came Leena and Crystal. "Take care of them until I'm back ok?" Was my only request. They both nodded, not even doubting the fact that I would come back.

Finally. Someone believed me. I smiled gratefully at them, and then began to play with my bracelet, as they gushed their usual talk.

Then finally, the only person to go to was Jay. I made my way over to his room, and pushed my way in.

"Jay, I'm going to make it home." I raised an eyebrow at him to wait for his reaction.

"Maybe. Maybe not. We will see." His voice made him sound like he would jump out of the window at any moment. Any other time, I would say something, but I needed to be on his good side.

"An alliance?" I made sure my voice had no hint of betrayal in it. I felt extremely stupid, because I had just said he would die and I would live.

He thought for a minute before speaking. "Alright…" His voice was slow, and shaky, and he took a deep breath when he was done. "The trains are probably here. Lets go." He said after. When he stood I noticed how skinny and weak he looked. Maybe being in an alliance with him wasn't such a good idea... But, I could just kill him if I had too.

We made our way to the trains, looking around our home for what could be the last time, for what could be one of our last times of freedom.

At least for him.

A/N - So whaddo ya think? Why would Jay agree to that? Whos your fave character so far beside your own? Review! It makes me update faster! by the way, this is my longest chapter, I'm proud :) Personally I like Roseabella, but I'm not gonna be bias!