Hey Guys! I kind of left at a cliff hanger so here is the rest of the reaping and the Justice Building Goodbyes. By the way, if you love my story please subscribe to it or leave a comment.
Lilly's POV ~
"No, No, No!!!!" I think,"This can't be happening." I peek at Cedar whose mouth is in an o shape. "This is it," I repeat in my head, "I'm going to die and my brother the one who is going to kill me." I had tried so hard to stay tough and get sponsors but this is too much to sink in. That's when the tears come, and when they do they come hard. I pull my hands to my face so I don't have to watch my brother, or I should say my best friend, come up to the stage toward his death. In a few seconds, I feel a hand around my shoulder. It's Cedar. Vivian looks at us with her eyes watering up. She must have put two and two together and realized we are siblings.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," she announces into the microphone, "give a round of applause for your tributes!!" This is when I am supposed to shake hands with my fellow tribute. However, I find myself hugging him. Tears still falling from my eyes.
Cedar POV-
Moments later, Lilly and I are shoved into a car that will escort us to the Justice Building. That is where we will say our goodbyes to our friends and family. But our only family is each other. In the car, I stay strong. Not for me or the sponsors, but for Lilly. She lays her head on my shoulder the whole ride. I feel a wet spot growing on my shirt. I give her a hug and end up crying too.
The car arrives at the Justice Building, and Peacekeepers grab our arms and shove us inside. Peacekeepers aren't peaceful at all; they just make things worse," I think. I don't dare say that though. Who knows what they'll do to me. Kill me, oh wait they already are. Turn me into an avox? Whip me? I try to change the subject of my mind. I glance at Lilly. Sweet, kind Lilly. What did she ever do to deserve this? At that moment, Peacekeepers push us apart and into separate rooms to say our goodbyes.
The first person to appear in my room is Sky, my girlfriend. She runs up to me and hugs me. Her tear-stained face makes it obvious she has been crying. She kisses me and studders, "Cedar… Please, Please don't…. don't die."
"Sky, I won't die. I will come home," I say, "I promise."
Sky looks at me with a sarcastic look and bitterly says, "Cedar, you and I both know you can't win. For God's Sake, you will have to kill your sister. Take it from me, don't overestimate yourself. You'll die." She was right. Her brother, Alexander, died in the games 4 years ago. Even worse, he volunteered. I begin to cry again. I give Sky one last kiss before the Peacekeepers rip her away.
Lilly's POV ~
My best friend, Opal, sits across from me in a small wooden chair. "Lilly," she says through her tears, "promise me something. Come back alive. Okay?"
"I'll try. Promise," I say. I feel tears stream down my face, endlessly. I look at Opal and say, "Any final advice?"
"Yeah, don't eat poisonous berries and hide."
"Opal, if I do die, please remember this," I sit on my knees in front of her holding her hands. "I will always remember you as the sister I never had."
The doors burst open and a peace keeper drags Opal away. At the last minute, she throws something and says, "Take it with you!!" It is our friendship locket.
For a few minutes, I sit in my chair twirling the locket. The doors open again and reveal my crush, Blaze. The peacekeepers look at me in disgust and say, "You have three minutes. Use it well."
Blaze runs up to me and hugs me. I look at him with my tears running down my face. He opens his mouth and says, "Lilly, I have to confess something. I have always secretly loved you. These stupid games just made me realize it." His cheeks turn bright red with embarrassment. I face him and kiss him on the cheek. He looks back up and smiles. "I'm guessing you feel the same way?" We laugh and begin kissing. Maybe this day isn't all bad after all. I give him a sweet smile and lean in for another kiss but I am interrupted by the peacekeepers. The biggest grabs Blaze and pulls him away. He resists and manages to break loose. He runs towards me and grabs onto me. But I don't try to stop him.
Cedar's POV ~
One second I was talking to Annalise, my best friend, and the next I'm eavesdropping on Lilly. I heard her screaming, so I pressed my ear against the wall.
"NOOO!! Don't hurt him!" Lilly yelled.
"Quiet, girl!" said a harsh voice that could only belong to a peacekeeper.
"Hey! Don't talk to her like that!" said a familiar voice. Who's was it? Juillian? Clayton? Tiger? My thinking was interrupted by a scream. Two screams.
"Blaze!!" I heard Lilly scream. He must have been the other voice I heard.
"You sick, twisted peacekeeper! You'll pay for this!" Blaze says. His voice is followed by the sound of a whip and a cry.
"Stop it! You're hurting him!" Lilly says. I hear her scream. I move my head away from the wall and look at Annalise, who is sitting in her chair crying. I wrap my arms around her and cry too. I think of Lilly being whipped while I sit crying. A peacekeeper enters and tries escorts Annalise out. "May I say one last thing, please?" Annalise asks the peacekeeper. He gives her a nod and she faces me. "Cedar, protect Lilly in the games for me. Oh, and give her this." She hands me a note and walks out of the room. I leave the note sealed to make sure Lilly doesn't think I'm invading her privacy. I close my eyes and think about winning the games with Lilly.
I know what you're thinking. Oh my god I hate those peacekeepers. That's what i thought when i was writing this. I promise when you read the actual games, you'll be sooo surprized about the gamemakers and peacekeepers you'll cry, cuss, and scream. Subscribe, favorite, and comment!!