I cried for days. The only time I ever got out of bed was to eat, and then I'd crawl back in and start crying again.
My family left me alone for a week. I was glad they did; I didn't want anybody to talk to me or look at me. But after a week, my mom was getting worried.
"Melany," she said, sitting on the edge of my bed. "Sweetheart, you have to get up. If not for yourself, then for the kids. They miss you."
Becky. Manda. Lance. I was the only big sister they had left.
"I have to take care of them," I croaked. I hadn't spoken for a week, and the only sound my vocal cords ever made was crying. I wiped the tears from my eyes and slowly started to slowly raise up out of my bed. My body shook but I was soon on my feet.
"Thanks, Mom," I said.
"You sure you're going to my okay?" she asked me.
"I'll be fine," I said.
"If you're sure," my mom said. "I'll be at the bakery if you need me."
"Okay," I said. My mom left and I poured water into a bowl and washed myself for the first time in a week. The tears on my cheek disappeared as the water washed over my face. After showering, I slipped on a shirt, pants, and boots and headed outside. A cold blast of wind hit my face and blew my hair back. I breathed in the fresh air and headed toward the Hob. People looked at me sympathetically as I walked by. I was no longer the girl who got whipped; I was the girl who lost a sister.
Just as I was about toe enter the Hob a peacekeeper stepped in front of me.
"Excuse me," I said as I started to go around him. He blocked my way again.
"You have to come with me," he said.
"Why?" I asked.
He grabbed my arm and started to drag me away, not replying to my question.
"Why?!" I asked again, growing more frantic. He didn't answer again. I started to tug on my arm, but he quickly tightened his grip. He stopped walking and looked me in the eye.
"I can do this the hard way or the easy way," the peacekeeper said with an intimidating look on his face. I gulped and he started to walk away with me. He walked through the town square and people stared at me again, their looks now confused instead of sympathetic. The peacekeeper dragged me into the Justice Building and down multiple hallways. He swung open a door and shoved me inside the room, then closed and locked the door behind me. I swung around and quickly tried to turn the handle of the door, but it wouldn't budge.
"Let me out!" I shouted, pounding on the door.
"Miss Ellint," a voice behind me said.
I whirled around and stared into cold, unmerciful eyes. The smell of blood filled the room.
"Who are you?" I asked with a shaky voice.
"My name is Snow," the man said. "I am the President of Panem, and you, Miss Ellint, have caused a problem for me."