Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

The Goodbyes

Quickly Maxwell and I were escorted into the justice building by expressionless peacekeepers. I was shoved in a room alone and the door locked behind me, it was time for goodbyes. A few minutes later the door burst open and in came a sobbing Aunt Sara and a stone Uncle Salton. I stood up and my aunt runs into my arms practically tackling me but I stay up. Choking on her own tears Aunt Sara keeps telling me how sorry she is and how it's all going to be ok. I let her cry for a few minutes before I gently push her back and walk over to Uncle Salton. We have on the same expression, hard as stone.

"I know you hate me missing work, so I'll try to be back soon," my voice breaks at the end and my uncle grabs in a bear hug. Uncle Salton rarely ever showed emotion except to scold me but when I pulled back his face was tear stained.

"Just come home," that was the first time I had ever seen my uncle look weak. At that moment peacekeepers came in and took them out, the last thing I saw of them was a flash of blonde hair before the doors closed. My eyes burned from that scene but I knew I couldn't cry, the train platform would be crawling with cameras, and I refuse to look weak. I also knew who was coming in next, and how hard it would be to not cry.

The only thing thought that was racing through my head was no. No no no no no no no no no no. My usually distinct thoughts were turning to soup. This can't be happening, not to her. Not Marina, it can't be. This can't be real. I look down in shock after she and Maxwell are led off the stage. Grabbing my arm, I pinch the long scar on my forearm that I gained from our encounter with the peacekeepers years ago. It hurts, but the reality around me is incomparably worse.

I was going to volunteer if she got reaped, I was planning on it. Until I realized that I would put her through far harsher pain, forcing her to watch me die. Instead, it is I who might have to watch her death.

I already see people around me leaving, some in tears, and most in anger, assuming that we were going to lose yet again to another career district. My black flats were still planted on the ground, though I felt myself begin to sway in disbelief. My best friend had just gotten reaped for the Hunger Games. My best friend..

The stern voice of my mother popped into my head. "BROOKE SPRINGS. You are a lady, pull yourself together! And get your head out of those books, we need more netting to sell." Although her voice still grated my ears, it did the trick. My brain shook into focus. I had to find Marina. Grabbing the hems of my dress, I run as fast as my legs can carry me to the Justice Building, gaining some odd looks from strangers. Normally, my face would turn bright red, but I was preoccupied with finding the goodbye rooms. Finally, my feet skidded to a stop in front of a pair of marble doorways, with peacekeepers on each side of them. Recognizing the flash of blonde hair and black clothes entering the room on the left as Marina's Aunt Sara, I regain my composure and attempt to act normal. I walk to the now closed door and verify who I am to the peacekeeper with the clipboard. He tells me to wait here until the first party is released.

I notice that I'm the only one in line for Marina, while the other kid, Maxwell, has two teenagers outside his door, a strawberry blonde girl and a dark haired boy. I recognize them from school. Turning back around, I continue to wait to see her once again.

After a few more minutes, Marina's aunt and uncle are escorted out of the room by a peacekeeper. I see tears on both of their faces, which isn't a big shocker to me. Finally, the door opens again, and I find myself running into the marble room.

Marina is in there waiting for me, her blue eyes that are usually so full of confidence are filled with pain that she can no longer stop from surfacing. I run into her arms in a giant hug, knowing every second with her may be my last. This also means I have to get to the point.

"Marina I'm sorry," I manage to get out. No tears have come to my eyes yet, but it's hard for me to speak. She looks down and starts wringing her hands, the nervous habit she's had since she was younger. I've only seen her do it in times of great stress, as she tries to mask any emotions whenever possible.

"You and I both know the chances of me getting out of this fox hole are slim," Marina says, wearing a grim expression. "I just want you to know that.."

"No," I interrupt, staring at her intently. Don't give me that crappy last night on Earth speech Marina, it never does anyone any good in my books, don't you remember?" That brings back memories of me reading to her on hot summer days at the beach, when she could get time off. "Listen to me, you've got to win this. You're intelligent, far more so then you give yourself credit for. You can fight, you can strategize, and you can survive." She looks at me, a bit more hope in her eyes. "Marina, I have faith in you. Come back to me please, I don't know what I would do without you." I choke out the last few words, and my voice breaks.

For the first time in a long time, I see a tear run down her cheek. Marina buries her face in my shoulder, even though she's a few inches taller than me. "I can't do it," she whispers, still clutching onto me with an airtight grip. It was hard for me to see her like this, she was always so light and happy.

"Yes, you can." I was crying now. I stroked her hair like I stroke my little sister's when she can't sleep. "You of all people can get yourself out of this mess. It's what we've been doing for years now, isn't it? Just imagine I'm there with you, like it's just another adventure. Marina I'll always be with you."

One of the peacekeepers guarding the doors burst into the room. "It's time," he said in a gruff voice. In a hurry, I yanked off my jade necklace.

"Take this," I said, and thrust it into her hand. "Remember, you'll never be alone."

The peacekeeper yanked my arm and started pulling me out of the room. The last view I had of Marina was her erasing any tears that might've fallen, trying to harden her expression. She was staring at me, with a face that only I knew meant she was panicking, and continued to grip the necklace. Then the doors shut behind me, and all I could see was marble.

I stroked the necklace in the car on the way to the train that would take us to The Capitol. It had a plain black string but at the same time it the stone looked real. The color reminded me of the ocean, in it's dark green color and the way it swirled like two waves fighting.

Next to me Maxwell's brown eyes were red and puffy. He kind of looked like me, except for the hair and eyes and he definitely looked like a slum kid.

"We're here," Claudia chirps and we get out of the car. Just as I expect the platform is crawling with cameras, so I hold my head high and ignore them. But being the way I am, I can't resist. Right before we all board the train I do something I'd never thought I'd do.

I flash the cameras a charming smile and wave enthusiastically the second before we crawl on the train.