Sorry about the length. I really wanna write more but I usually don't have a lot of time. Thanks for reading. Oh, I also I noticed that I failed to provide a disclaimer:
I OWN NOTHING ABOUT THE HUNGER GAMES (except my OCs, of course)
I went to the woods. No one tried to follow me.
Now that I was awake, I was aware of everything: every tree, every person, every mockingjay flying through trees and bouncing sweet harmony. Even my own heart was beating as fast as it could, like it knew that its beats were now stamped with a number. I breathed deeply, filling my lungs with the air that would soon vacate them forever. My blood was as cold as the hard, unforgiving ice in the winter months. My whole body was chilled to a haunting degree. I realized only too late that I took life for granted. Now it was too late to go back.
The reality was that I was going to die. There were no questions about it. I couldn't fight. I could not lift a sword, could not throw knives, could not shoot. The only skill that I could use was identifying plants to keep my family alive when food was scarce. I was strong, though. I could climb trees and jump in between them. Just like the small Rue girl from the 74th Games. I know of her, seen pictures of her. Ever since that Katniss girl sang her to death and covered her in flowers, Rue was memorialized forever.
My mother secretly taught me the lullaby that Katniss sang to Rue when she died. I knew it by heart and would never let it go. I often sang it to the mockingjays and let them harmonize and spring it back at me with all the song's glory. I had to do this discreetly, because the Capitol sees this song as a symbol of rebellion. What the Capitol doesn't know, though, is that we did see Katniss sing to Rue. We did see her covered in flowers. We did salute Katniss and Rue with District Twelve's three-finger honor. We saw these things. The editors were too late. They were acts of kindness and friendship. Such actions were unprecedented in the Hunger Games, and the Capitol didn't want friendship and kindness. They wanted blood.
I wasn't alive to see the games myself, but my mother saw them.
Just like Rue before me, I am stationed at the top of the trees and use her four-note whistle to signal the work day's end. I felt humbled to be presented with a position so great. When I first learned that I would be at the top of the trees, I promised myself to never, ever let it slip into the corners of my mind. If there was ever one thing I didn't take for granted, it would be my workplace at the top of the trees. The memory of Rue would be kept alive, but not by me. Not for much longer. The only certainty in any life was death, and now mine coming early was inevitable.
At this point, I said nothing. I was mute. I talked only with my eyes. I always thought that death was nothing to worry about because I had never really learned how the feeling of imminent death takes a trowel and digs out your soul. I felt hollow. What would I truly miss about the world? To be honest, I wasn't scared. Just curious. What would dying be like? What would happen after I died? Silently I pondered. No sound came from my mouth. The only thing that left my mouth were the final hundred breaths I would be able to take. However, I promised to myself that the final sound I would make was the sound of the lullaby. The last song. I would sing until my throat was cut.
Feeling slightly revitalized, which is completely wasted at this point, I returned to my house from the meadow. I was ready to leave and welcome death. I had already planned out what I would do.
When I walked in my front door, I saw May, her mother and my mother standing side by side. I regarded them calmly, my face an emotionless, closed mask. First I walked to May's mother and looked into her eyes. Take care of her. I sent her the message. Next I walked to my mother. I stared so into her face that I knew her soul was even paying attention to me. My eyes contained a fire they never had before: Do not ever forget. Last I walked to May, and hugged her tight. I clasped her hand in mine, and then turned away.
A knock on the door told us that the Peacekeepers were here to take me away. They entered our house noisily, briefly looking at the three people in front of me, and then grabbed my arm. I was able to say one last thing: "I love you all."
And then I was gone to face my fate.
I hoped that for May's sake I'd at least get to the final eight or so. That way she could be left with a little hope, and then I would die. The young ones always bounce back. She would heal, find a new best friend and forget me. That will be good for her. I don't like to see my best friend suffer.