Having separated from Fiona after a long march through the corridors of District 7's town hall, Ash's Peacekeeper escort deposited him in a stuffy, isolated parlor, cluttered to bursting with various knickknacks. Mounted plaques near the ceiling held the lifeless heads of an almost frivolous amount of rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks that seemed to defy that Capitol's "No Hunting" decree amongst the outlying districts. Dozens upon dozens of beady, glass eyes glared down at the boy, their open mouths and buck teeth screaming out in unison and calling for his head to join theirs as yet another victim of District 7.
Shuddering, Ash turned his gaze downward and pace around the room, extending his arm and letting his fingertips brush over the fine layer of dust coating the solid mahogany bookshelves that lined the room. The sheer quantity of books overwhelmed the boy: textbooks, biographies, ancient classics from before the war that destroyed District 13. These texts decorated fill the shelves from wall-to-wall, the dust spreading from polished wood to leather bound covers and slightly obscuring the repetition of titles spaced out across the room to make it seem as though there more books available than the reality.
Ash finally took a seat at the large desk centered at the back wall of the room, and slanted to one side on a wobbly chair leg. Most of the furniture had been carved by various elected officials over the years, and some possessed more skills than others, as evidenced by the lopsided chair and the trapezoidal desk that any professional woodworker would find fault with. Gripping the seat, Ash attempted to even out the legs by sheer force of impact with the ground, but the faulty furniture showed surprising durability in the wake of the boy's efforts. Rising to his feet, Ash grunted and kicked at the back of the chair, sending it sprawling to the floor with a wooden clunk. Clutching his forehead, Ash groaned and rubbed at his temples, trying to alleviate the growing pressure building behind his skull.
A key turned in the lock and Ash looked up as the door opened and Kalley, Natlan, and his mother, Emelia, burst into the room. Almost immediately, Ash found himself smothered with affection; a series of hugs and kisses giving him little opportunity to get a word in edgewise towards his family. Kalley clutched at his shirt and stained the gray fabric with loud tears, and a slight trail of snot as she shook her head from side to side, unwilling to accept her brother's fate. The long, brown braid Emelia had so carefully woven before the Reaping now dangled undone around Kalley's shoulders, and even her freshly-laundered blue dress found itself stained with dirt and sorrow from the plaza.
To the side, Natlan glommed weakly onto his brother's arm, sniffling and crying, but not quite so much as Kalley. For Natlan, his face pressed into Ash's sleeve and hid the look of shame and guilt that crossed the furrow in his brow and the grimace across his mouth. His own shirt, a gray hand-me-down from Carlin that he hadn't fully grown into yet, hung untucked from the waistband of his pants on one side. Looking up just briefly, his scruffy, dark brown hair hid his eyes from his brother as they shimmered on the brink of tears.
Behind Ash, Emelia Maxwell's arms extended around her three children, pulling them close as though she would lose all three if she were to let go. Wisps of gray amidst her otherwise brown tresses carried the stress of aging and raising her large family on her own, and the amount of gray would most certainly increase in the coming weeks, with Ash's fate hanging in the balance. Her face pressed into her son's back, right between his shoulder blades, and tears leapt from her eyes every few moments, hitting the fabric of his shirt and that of her own, pale gray dress.
Enveloped in his family, Ash's emotions overwhelmed him and he squeezed out a few tears of his own while maintaining his composure as best he could. Catching his breath before his sadness claimed him and pushed him to the point of no return, he managed to stroke Kalley's hair and kiss her forehead before lightly pushing his siblings and mother away, brushing himself off and taking a deep breath before addressing them.
"Where's…" he inquired, "where's Carlin?"
"He said," Emelia sniffled, "he would see you later. He wanted to speak with you alone. And he had to get something for you from the house."
"Aaaaash!" Kalley cried, once again forcing herself into her big brother's arms, sobbing against him, "Don't go! Don't let them take you away!"
"I…" he stammered, wrapping one arm around her and rubbing her back "I…I don't have a choice, Kal. You know I don't want to go to the Capitol. Not now, not ever. But this is just…this is just how things are."
"I shoulda volunteered!" Natlan choked out, "I…I shoulda gone up there for you, Ash! I'm…I'm sorry. I shoulda-"
"Hey," Ash interrupted him, "don't say that, okay? You couldn't have done anything about this. And let's be honest…I…I wouldn't have, have let you volunteer for me. I woulda kicked your ass off the stage like in one of the Career districts."
"But, but I shoulda done something. I just stood there. I just, I just stood there, Ash."
"Nat," Ash sighed, pausing momentarily to shush Kalley reassuringly, "it's not your fault, okay? I just…I need you and Kalley and Carlin to be strong because if I know you guys are rooting for me, I've gotta make it home, right? I just…I need you guys to be strong for me, and I'll make it back. I promise."
"Ash…" Natlan finally broke down and sobbed, hugging at his brother and sister, "you can't die…you can't let them beat you. You just can't!"
"I'm gonna do anything I can, Nat, I swear."
"Ash," Emelia whispered, "honey, is there anything you need us to do for you? While you're…away?"
"I…I don't know. I mean, I just…I don't know. Maybe, like, if you get the chance, check in on, check in on Maya for me? Make sure she's okay? And…make sure the family sticks together, no matter what happens to me. Just…you've got Carlin and he's not gonna be in the Reaping anymore, so you won't need to worry about ever losing…about him ever not being there. I'm gonna come back…I promise. So just, just keep everything going like normal, okay? Keep the fire warm for me when I get back, okay? Please, mom. Just do that for me. Please."
"Ash," Emelia embraced her son, stroking the back of his head, "you're brave…and you're strong. I believe in you. I've always believed in you, honey. You're strong. You're going to make it. I believe in you. I'll keep the family going for you. I promise…we'll be waiting for you. So you just, you stay focused on staying alive…don't worry about us. We'll worry enough as it is."
Ash sniffled and allowed several more tears to fall, tingeing his mother's dress as she squeezed his in a bear hug powerful enough to make his ribs ache. Kalley refused to stay silent, wailing her brother's name again and again and again, muffled by his shirt, and Ash closed his eyes, picturing her name being drawn and her stammering as she climbed on-stage in front of the entire district, with no one around to comfort her. "It's okay," he whispered, trying to force the image out of his head, only to be replaced by a similar scene of Natlan, looking out into the crowd where Ash would've stood were he around.
His eyes clenched shut and he shook his head, scattering the unwanted thoughts and focusing on the moment, his family once again holding him in their arms and keeping him safe, one last time. The door opened again and a gruff Peacekeeper announced that their time was up, barging into the room and forcefully separating the family when both Kalley and Natlan refused to release their brother. The Peacekeeper pushed them from the room as Emelia urged him to be gentle, and she took one last moment to turn back and blow her son a kiss through the closing door. It would possibly be the last time Ash would see any of them again, and as he retook a seat in his unstable chair, he doubled over, cupping his face in his hands and uttering several sorrowful gasps and a groan of anguish.
A minute passed before the door unlocked again and Ash looked up to see Maya in the doorway, her cheeks red and swollen and her lips quivering as she laid eyes on him. She coughed out his name, one syllable enough to bring Ash to his feet as he crossed the room and threw his arms around her. Lowering his head, he brushed a handful of black hairs from her face and pressed his lips against hers, tasting the pine needle tea she tended to drink still lingering on her breath from the morning's breakfast. Their noses pressed together and his tears mixed with hers as her fingers dug into his chest, clutching at the gray fabric of his shirt; Ash's arms pulled her closer, cradling her warm body against his own.
"Ash," Maya gasped, breaking the kiss before immediately planting another on his upper lip, "I…I love you."
"I…I love you too, Maya."
"You can't die, Ash. I won't let you. You have to win. You have to."
"I know…" he panted, locking lips once again for just a moment, "I know, Maya…I don't want to leave you. I don't ever want to leave you, Maya."
"It's not fair, Ash…it's not fair. Why can't someone else…why didn't someone else volunteer to take your place?"
"I…I don't know," Ash stammered, staring into his girlfriend's shimmering brown eyes and losing himself, pushing in for another kiss.
"Ash…" Maya trembled, breaking the kiss, her whole body shaking in Ash's arms as she leaned on him for support, "no matter what…no matter what it takes…you have to win. If, if you have to k-kill someone to survive…then do it. Please, Ash, I-I…I just want you to come home, baby."
"I will…I swear Maya…I'll do anything to come back to you."
Maya nodded frantically, eyes darting towards the door, unsure of how long she would have to spend with her boyfriend. She raised her hands to her neck and reached back, unclasping a small, silver chain that hung down over her chest, a lacquered wooden ring hanging at the end of it. She forced the chain into Ash's hand and closed his fingers around it, cupping both hands around his fist.
"This belonged to my grandmother. It's, it's made of birch and oak bark, intertwined. I want you...to hold onto it, and wear it when you're in the arena, so, so that you can think of me and think of me to get you through it, okay? Just wear it and remember that I'm waiting for you and I'm praying for you, okay? Okay, baby?"
Ash nodded and clasped the chain around his neck, tucking the ring into his shirt before cupping Maya's face in both hands and giving her one last kiss as the same Peacekeeper from before pushed open the door and ordered Maya to leave as her time was up. Maya gulped and nodded, sniffling and wiping her eyes as she slowly moved towards the door, holding Ash's hand until their fingertips finally separated due to the distance between them. She waved goodbye over the Peacekeeper's shoulder and turned, crying as she hurried through the door to avoid dragging out their farewells.
After that, a few of Ash's friends arrived in a group, all of them wishing him luck and hugs (although none of the boys offered any sort of apology for staying silent at the call for volunteers), and they too, like his family and Maya before them, left when their time expired. Ash sat, tapping his foot and shaking his chair as he waited for one last visitor: the one he needed to speak with the most. And as the door unlocked, Ash looked up to see his older brother enter the room.
Carlin didn't hug him like the others had done; he walked over and set a wooden case on the floor by Ash's side, and sat down beside his brother, looking oddly at the chair, planting his feet firmly on the ground in an attempt to stabilize it. He looked up at Ash, his short hair slightly mussed and the front of his shirt soaked in sweat from the neck down to the center of his chest. His breathing still came out in long gasps in spite of his otherwise calm composure, and his face glowed red with exhaustion.
"Sorry I'm late," Carlin said, pointing at the case, "I had to get back to the house and grab that for you. Before you left."
"Thanks…" Ash droned, not acknowledging the gift, "I'm glad you could make it."
"What's wrong? I mean…you know what I mean, right?"
"Car, man, why…why didn't you volunteer?"
"Me? I, well I, you know I, I couldn't do that, right Ash? I mean, I'm eighteen…this was my last year in the Reaping."
"So what? You're bigger than I am. Stronger. If anyone in our family had a shot at winning the Games…it was you. I just, you're supposed to watch out for me…for Natlan and Kalley too, but for me, man."
"I am watching out for you. I'm watching out for the whole family, Ash. Dad's dead, been dead for a while. You think Mom's gonna be able to feed four people by herself? Hell, she barely scrapes by as it is, because you and me help out."
"So I could still help out!"
"What if it happens again? What if I volunteered? Went to the arena? Didn't come home? Then your name comes out of the jar again? What then?"
"I don't-"
"I can provide, Ash. I can work in the forest. Put food on the table. I'm old enough. They need me at home now, Ash. I'm sorry I didn't step up, but I couldn't. I couldn't."
"You weren't thinking about that…"
"What does it matter what I was thinking about? You want me to say I was scared? 'Cause fine, I was scared. I don't wanna be a Tribute just as much as you don't. But I didn't volunteer, and nothing's gonna change that, no matter how mad you are at me. I'm sorry if you're angry, but I just…I was scared, and I knew Mom needed me at home. Now if you wanna keep being an ass right now, spend this time fighting with me, you go right ahead. But personally, I don't want that. I don't want to fight with my little brother right before he goes to the Capitol and I might never see him again."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"Hey, I'm just tellin' it like it is. Twenty-four people go into the Arena. One comes out. Odds aren't in your favor, no matter what Jessilica says. I mean, I'd pick you in a fight against Fiona…but that's still twenty-two people you've gotta beat."
"Why are you even telling me this? Why did you bother coming to visit me?"
"Hey. You copped attitude with me first, baby brother. Don't expect me to go easy on you after that. And I told you why I'm here. To bring you this."
Carlin reached down and picked up the case once more, popping the clasps and lifting the lid to reveal a slightly tarnished wooden fiddle. The body had a small chip on one side and the edges all showed signs of age and wear, as the instrument hadn't received a new coat of varnish since its creation. The strings stuck out from the neck, leaving extra slack in the event of retuning or damage, and the bow showed similar strain, several hairs jutting out from the otherwise taut and rigid bowstring.
"I figured you might want it," Carlin sighed, "you were always better playing it than I was…plus I figure it's a way to remember us back home. Remember Dad, you know?"
"Carlin, I…I can't take this. What if I break it? What if something happens to it?"
"Please, that thing can take some serious abuse and we both know it. You whacked me in the head with that thing when you were little and all it got was that little chip right there."
"Yeah…yeah, sorry about that."
"You're gonna apologize after all this time? Jeez, anything else you wanna get off your chest before you die?"
"Asshole."
"Whatever," Carlin forced a laugh, "I don't want you to die."
"That's reassuring."
"Hey, I don't. You think I wanna deal with Nat and Kal sobbing for a year before they freak out about the Reaping again? I want you to make it home, little brother. You gotta do what it takes to win, and I mean whatever it takes. No time for morals or any sappy shit like that. You just gotta win."
"You make it sound so easy…"
"Hey, just go with your strengths. You've got a ton of friends…you're great with people. Make alliances with the other players. Stick with them. Because you know there's always that one group every year that just rips the Games to shreds. And maybe you could take out one…two if you're lucky. But you're not gonna beat the Careers flyin' solo. You gotta find one or two people you can trust and you've just gotta stick with them until you can't anymore. You got me?"
"How do I know if I can trust anyone? Everyone else'll be playing to win like me."
"You've just gotta do your best and choose wisely, little brother. And remember, we're District 7, so get your hands on an axe as soon as possible. That's your weapon of choice, you hear me? Having something you know how to use…that'll give you an advantage, and you need any advantage you can get in there."
"Carlin…" Ash stammered, "thank you. I'm, I'm sorry for getting mad about…you know."
"Don't worry about that. Better you get all that out now than letting it boil over in the Arena…make you lose your focus. You got nothin' to apologize for."
"You just…you make sure Mom and Kalley and Natlan are okay without me around. You'd better not let anything happen to them, 'cause I'll find out."
"Don't worry, I've got it covered. And if any of the guys from school try to make a move on Maya, I'll kick their asses."
"Thanks," Ash whispered, leaning over and hugging his brother.
"Don't mention it, little brother," Carlin whispered back, patting Ash's back as they embraced, "you just make sure you remember what I told you…and you come home, alright?"
"I will…I, I promise I will."
They broke the embrace and sat there in silence for several minutes before the Peacekeeper returned yet again to escort Carlin away. Stopping to give one last hug, Carlin closed the fiddle case and pressed it into Ash's arms. He gave a half-smile and turned away, walking to the door and wiping his eyes, and vanished into the hallway, the door locking closed behind him. Ash gripped the case tightly, his fingertips tracing the etched, black outline of a willow tree on its lid, and he returned to his seat, waiting for the next step in his journey.
"Hello again, Mister Maxwell!" Jessilica's voice hammered his eardrums as she shouted her greeting far beyond an acceptable volume, barging into the room, "Affairs in order? Say your goodbyes?"
"Yeah…"
"Wonderful! You know what they say…once you see the Capitol, you'll never want to go home. What do you have there?"
"It's a fiddle…it belonged to my Dad."
"Oh…well…I suppose that's…acceptable. You won't be…playing it on the train, will you?"
"I wouldn't dream of it."
"Splendid! Then we should have a pleasant trip. Come along, come along. The Capitol awaits you, Mister Maxwell!"
The pair collected Fiona, whose eyes showed far more fatigue and puffiness than Ash's, and together, the three of them traveled down a back staircase and through the back entrance of the town hall building, where a car idled in wait. Cramming into the backseat, with Jessilica separating the two Tributes, Ash rested his forehead on the window and did his best to drone out the escort as she prattled on in praise of the Capitol's living conditions. The car reached District 7's meager train station, where the only train each year not used for transporting lumber billowed smoke, ready to travel. Fiona boarded first as Jessilica's behest, and with one final look at his home district, Ash climbed onboard as well.