District 8:
Flim sits in the Justice Building, awaiting any visitors. She tucks a strand of brown hair behind her ears and begins to think. What were her chances at being Reaped? For her age, it should have been five out of thousands of names. The Reapings were always planned, or so she thought. She and her friend, Ribbon, have always thought that the Capitol seeks out the frailest people in the lower districts and places their name in the bowl solely.
The door opened and a Peacekeeper yells their time. A tall man and a short woman walk in. The woman runs to Flim, holding her close. Flim wraps her arms around her mother in hopes of comforting her. She doesn't say any encouraging words; Flim has accepted that she will die in a matter of days.
Her mother lets her go and Flim gets a turn to hug her father. Her father has to bend down to hug his daughter, seeing that she is only five foot two. When the hugs were given, they sat her down on the couch and gave her a pep talk.
"Flim, stay away from the Careers." Her mother starts. "They kill the most children and I don't want to see you fall victim to them." Her mother runs a hand over Flim's hair.
"I promise, Mom." She replies in a weak voice.
"Honey, we believe in you. You can make yourself a victor." Her father says. "Steer clear of the bloodbath, sweetie. And, remember that we are waiting for you at home." He places a hand on her cheek and a tear slips from his eye.
Flim's mother places a square foot of orange silk in Flim's hand. "We are always with you, sweetie. Try to come back."
"I will, Mom." She says just as a Peacekeeper comes in. They drag her parents out without a word. She is left alone in the room once more.
She feels the silk in her hands. The lovely fabric for what her mother is named. Her parents are truly with her. This piece of silk shows that much. She brings the fabric to her cheek and begins to cry. Why did she take the stupid tessera? If they made more money, she wouldn't be in this position.
The door opens one more time and a teenage girl walks in. She had her blond in a tight bun, showing her blue eyes to Flim. The girl opens her plump lips and speaks to her friend. "How many times did the Capitol put your name in?" She jokes. Flim allows a smile to creep onto her face as Ribbon sat down next to her.
…
Camden takes a cardinal feather out of his shirt pocket and begins to stroke it. He thinks about his death coming up. How will he die? What will the arena be? He hopes for something that he can die easily in. Like a lakebed. Or a beach. Something with water.
Camden's eyes dart to the door, where his family is being ushered into the room. His little sister, Becca, runs to her brother and encases him in a hug. His brothers and his parents cross to Camden. His mother begins to stroke his red hair as everyone begins to tell him what to do in the arena.
"Stay away from the bloodbath." "Grab a sword." "Go by yourself in the forest." "Don't ally with anyone. They will stab you in the back." He couldn't get a word in to his family at all.
His little brother, Raven, noticed the cardinal feather in Camden's hand. "Is that what you are taking into the arena?"
"Yes, I am." He replies to his brother.
"Remember me in there, okay?" His older brother, Carter, tells Camden.
His answer came out as a shriek as Peacekeepers drug his family out of the room. Once again, he was left alone in a room covered with different fabrics. Why did he have to come from the clothing district?
The next visits are from a few close friends. They say encouraging words, but those words are empty. He has a one in twenty-eight chance of coming back home. The odds aren't exactly in his favor. When he says goodbye to his friends, he waits for his escort to come and whisk him away to the Capitol.
District 9:
Jayd holds onto the little girl in her arms. The three-year old girl clings to her sister, in fear of letting go forever. Jayd's mother has explained to Jayd's sister about the Hunger Games last night, before the Reaping. And, despite Jasmine's age, she understood very well. When Jayd was chosen, Jasmine couldn't hold any tears back.
Jayd's mother pushes a few stray locks of red hair behind Jayd's ears. The nightmare has become a reality for them. With the tessera Jayd signed up for just six months ago, she knew that her chances of going home today were slim. And, now, her chances of coming home at all are next to none in her mind. Jayd's mother knew that too, but the words remain unspoken. Why would you tell your daughter, 'You will not come home from the Games. You will die in the arena in a few weeks'?
The torn family didn't want to talk; they only spoke with an embrace. Their three minutes were now down to one, and they needed to say something. The hope of Jayd returning needs to stay alive, and maybe she will return.
"Jayd, sweetie," her mother begins, clearing her voice free of tears. "I want you to know that we will support you in the Games. The odds will be in your favor, I know it." Jayd looks at her mother with hollow eyes.
"I hope they will be." She replies, stroking her sister's hair.
The Peacekeepers opened the door and ushered out her family. Jasmine kicked and screamed for Jayd, but that didn't do any good. The door slammed and Jayd was left alone. Her blue eyes looked at the walls of the room. Pictures of past victors hung on the wall. The last victor they had was from nine years ago. Twelve year old Amy Lee hung on the wall. Amy never returned after her Victory Tour; she liked the Capitol better than 9.
Jayd finally understands Amy's reason.
…
Rye combs his hair as he waits. He had his hair perfectly combed this morning, but Farro messed it up. Once Rye was Reaped, Farro held him tightly, not letting go. Rye tried pulling his brother off of him, but that made him messy and an easy target for the Careers. The Careers probably looked at him and said, 'He's a messy, poor kid. Let's kill him first'.
The door opened and two identical looking people were escorted in. Farro runs to his twin brother, and Kasha made up the Corn triplets. They were quite famous in 9 only for that reason. They all have hazel eyes and light blond hair. They are also known for having elfin like features, like their pointed chins.
Kasha threw herself at her brother and let the tears fall on the youngest of the three. Sure, they are all fourteen. But, he came into the world just minutes after Kasha. Farro was the oldest, and he made sure everyone in his home was safe and sound.
After the hugs were given, Rye looks at his siblings. "Where is everyone else?" He was referring to to his parents and other siblings. This was only his partial family. Where are the other six members of the Corns?
Farro ruffles up Rye's hair again. "We asked if we can see you separately. You see, Kasha and I had this idea. You and I look-alike. If I take your place, you won't…" He gets cut off by his younger brother grabbing his collar.
"I was chosen!" He screams. "I am the one who has to compete for his life. Stay home with the family while I die!"
"Rye!" Kasha's voice said in his ear. "That's the idea. You do not need to die. If you and Farro switch places, the Capitol would never be the wiser. You wouldn't have to die. What do you say?"
Rye turned quiet. His brother was risking his life to save his brother? And after all that happened in their lives? What would Barely think? The only people who would suspect the switch is his family. They know the difference between them. But, what was the harm? If Farro wanted to risk his life, Rye had nothing to say about it.
Rye nodded and they stripped down to their underclothes. They handed off the clothing and got dressed before the Peacekeeper came in. Farro stayed behind while Rye walked away with his life. Just as the door shut, Farro thought to himself, 'At least he's safe at home'.
District 10:
Lana sat in the room decorated in poorly mimicked cowhides. She had seen cows before and they do not look like that. The colors weren't even black and white. They were purple and cyan, and they gave her a headache. Why can't people understand livestock? They sure did understand when Jada won last year. What will Lana wear this year in the tribute parade?
The door turned and a five-year old girl ran to Lana. As Lana wrapped her arms around her baby sister, a boy walked in. He was the same age as Lana, and had District 10's signature look of brown hair and blue eyes. Almost everyone in 10 had that look. The only people who didn't came from the southern part of 10, where everyone had raven hair and dark eyes.
"It's alright, Marabell." Lana comforts her sister eight years her junior. Her grip tightened as Marabell began to breathe heavy from crying. "I'll come home, I promise." Tears slid from her eyes as she made the empty promise.
A hand was placed on Lana's shoulder. She turned and saw Blake comfort her. His blue eyes were already being filled with tears as he looked at his best friend. As she hugged Marabell, she wrapped an arm around her friend. There was no point in comforting words. It's very rare that a district, besides 1, 2, and 4, wins two years in a row. That only happened one time. District 6 had back to back winners, and no one saw it coming.
If only that rarity came this year.
"Blake, remember our deal? Is your father okay with it?" She asks in a hushed tone. Blake nods and clears his throat.
"I remember. My father is alright with it. He will house Marabell and make sure she's off the streets." He comforts his friend.
Last year when Lana and Blake were old enough for the Games, her parents were publicly executed for breaking the law. They were caught sneaking away some meat from the butcher shed and they were beheaded. Lana was only twelve and she had the store pull some strings for her to work there. She had extra money and food thanks to the Capitol tessera, but she knew there was a chance for her to be sent to the Games. So, she and Blake made sure that, in the event if Lana became a tribute, Marabell will live with Blake.
She hugged Blake one last time and squeezed Marabell. Marabell's throat was clogged with tears and she couldn't get a word out. It was only when the Peacekeepers came and took her away when she began to scream for her sister. Lana watched as Marabell was dragged out and was shut away. Tears streaked Lana's face.
…
October's nails dug into the window sill's wood. The wood came from District 7, but only for the JusticeBuilding. If anyone else needed wood, they needed to pay a fine or chop down some trees themselves. Speaking of 7, how were their goodbyes going? They must be having an easier time than October is.
The door swung open and Oliver, his little sister Crystal, and his parents enter the room. They enter the room and head for October. Oliver ran for his brother and attacked him on the couch. Tears were gleaming on his face as he hugged his brother. October hugged his brother close and wrapped an arm around Crystal. "It'll be fine, guys. You don't need to worry about anything."
"You don't know that, Toby." Oliver says. "Everyone promises to come back but not everyone can keep that promise." October looked at his brother. He didn't want to admit it, but Oliver was right. How many people promised to come back and never returned?
Crystal let go of Toby and walked to her parents. Oliver clung to Toby as everyone took their turns saying goodbye. His parents asked him to keep the promise he made to Oliver. Toby said he would. However, if he broke that promise, he would perish in the arena. He would perish where thousands of children perished before him.
"Toby." Crystal's timid voice breaks through the silence. She begins to undo her hair and lets it fall down her back. A single ribbon of shiny silk in green is in her hand. "I want you to have this. Remember me every time you look at it." She places it in Toby's hands and curls his fingers around the ribbon.
He grabs Crystal's face in his hands and kisses her forehead. He stroked her soft, blond hair and told her he would remember her. A Peacekeeper comes in and yanks his family away from him. The door slams and he is left alone. He stares at the ribbon Crystal gave him. It was the same hue of his eyes. Every time he looked at this piece of his sister, he saw Crystal running through patches of flowers and laughing.
District 11:
Saely twisted the ring on her finger. The ring was a present her mom gave her years ago when her father passed. It had a picture of wheat on it, something that 11 was famous for. Her eyes move from the ring on her finger to the door, where the handle was jiggling. The mayor needs to fix the doors in this building.
Her mother and brother rush to her side. They hug her so tightly that they cut off her air supply. Saely tried her hardest to pry her family off of her so she can breathe, but they clung on for their lives. Saely knew why, too. They were about to lose a family member, whether it be for a few weeks or forever. Either way, they did have something to be upset about.
Saely's mother lets go and pushes a strand of light brown hair behind Saely's ear. "Try your hardest. Make some allies and stay with them. I know you all can't win, but stay with them and they will help you live longer." Saely nodded to her mother's suggestion.
"I will." She says, hardly audible.
"Don't go to the bloodbath." Her brother, Cody, says to Saely. "It's temptation. Don't even go near the Cornucopia." For only being 9, Cody knows a lot about the Games. When you are exposed to the death the Games cause, who wouldn't know everything about them? Saely runs a hand over his blond hair.
"I promise." She looks around the room. "Where's Sean?"
Her mother bit her lip. "Sean didn't want to come. He said that you're not his real daughter so he didn't want to see you off." Sean is Saely's mother's boyfriend. He began dating her mother two years after Saely's father's execution. Sean isn't a very good boyfriend, but Saely would have loved to tell him off before her death.
Peacekeepers came in and took her mother and Cody away. Saely was left alone in a room decorated by Victor Pictures and people who work the hardest in 11. Her mind began to wonder as the seconds tick by. What will the arena be like? Will she be a bloodbath casualty? The questions race as time begins to countdown her life.
The door opens and a strong-looking boy enters the room. His blue eyes connect with her eyes of the same color. He runs over to Saely and encases her in a hug. "Oh, Saely. I wish I could have helped you."
"Ethan, it's alright. Don't worry about me."
…
Jack takes a marble out and throws it at a pot. It hits the wall behind it and falls in, clinking inside the jar. Nice shot. He stands up and collects his blue marble. He stands closer to the jar and throws it again. It circles the lip of the pot and it eventually falls in. He retrieves his marble just as a Peacekeeper allows a sickly pale boy enter the room. Jason walks over to his brother and squeezes Jack with all of his might.
"Okay, Jason. Can you let go now?" he asks his brother. Jason releases his brother and they sit on a padded couch in the corner.
"Why did you volunteer?" Jason coughs into his hand. "I want you to be safe, you know."
"Look at yourself, Jason." Jack snaps at him. "You look like you would die of sickness before another tribute got to you."
Jason closed his mouth. Rather than argue with his brother, he sat there and listened to him. Jack had a point. No use in arguing if Jason was already sick and on his way to death's door. Jason looked into Jack's blue eyes and saw confidence sparkle in them. Maybe he could win this thing and prove all of District 11 wrong about underestimating a twelve-year-old boy.
Jack brushes his white hair from his eyes. Well, it wasn't white per say. It was a very light blond, and the way the lighting caught it, it made it appear white. Jack was well-known for his hair just by that reason. Some people call him 'Rector's Grandchild' because of the hair. So what if the president has white hair just like a boy in 11?
"Try to win for me, okay?" Jason asks before he begins to cough.
"I will, I promise." He encases his brother in a hug before Peacekeepers come in to drag the sick boy away from the new tribute.
The Capitol doesn't want to see a bloodless death by sickness, now do they?
District 12:
Meadow's arms are wrapped around her brothers and sisters. Her youngest sibling, Renee, is clinging to her neck and letting tears fall onto Meadow's body. The six person goodbye party all had tears in their eyes as they say their goodbyes to Meadow. She is the oldest of the children, being eighteen years old. Nothing hurts more than to see your oldest sibling go away to a death match.
Everyone lets go after a solid minute of hugging each other. Meadow's mother corrals her children and lets Meadow get some air. Ever since her name has been called by Junebug, her eyes wouldn't dry up. No one's eyes could. Everyone assumed that she wouldn't be called because it was her last year of eligibility. However, the odds weren't in her favor today. She is sitting in a room covered in pictures of miners.
Her youngest brother Max breaks the silence. "Meadow, please be strong. You have seen the Careers. You know how they work." Meadow nods. While 12 was in construction, they watched past Hunger Games on their projector screen. They all took notice of how some tributes won their Games and made sure that they understood the way the Careers work.
"I will, Max." She replies, pushing his blond hair out of his blue eyes.
Each of her siblings take their turns saying something that they know about the Games. Linchon says to stay away from the bloodbath. Sabrina warns her about nightlock. Scarlett says to make allies. And Renee tells her to beware of the Capitol mutts. Overall, her five siblings told her to come home.
Finally, her mother takes her turn to say farewell to her oldest daughter. She begins to touch Meadow's blond hair, something that merchant children are known to have. "Honey, you are stronger than them. Prove them that you can fight and try to come home."
"I promise, Mom." She pulls her mother into an embrace and tries to hold her tears back. When the hug ends, her mother undoes the locket on her neck and hands it to Meadow. "Mom, not your locket. If I die, you'll never…"
"Please, take it. I want you to remember us in the arena." She places it in her daughter's hand just as the Peacekeepers take her large family away.
…
Playton holds his sister Cissa tightly in his arms. The five-year old girl doesn't squirm when he squeezes her; she stays as still as a tree. Cissa was too young to understand exactly why Playton was leaving, but Playton assumes that his parents would tell her when he is on the T.V at home.
The girl lets go of her brother and sits on his lap. She grabs a piece of wood from his shirt pocket. Her eyes light up when she sees it. She knows where this came from. Everyday, he takes her to the park and lets her play with the butterflies and the flowers. Seeing her in the park reminds him of the innocence that Panem was once filled with. Thanks a lot, rebels.
She begins to play with the woodchip and he turns his attention to his parents. He looks just like his merchant father, blond hair and blue eyes. Cissa looks like her mother with brown hair and brown eyes. They look so out-of-place in the merchant section of 12. No one has taunted them about their looks, so nothing really seems wrong.
"Mom, Dad," he starts, "you need to come home for Cissa. I'm not there anymore to take her to the park and play with her. You both need to come home from the library and take care of her."
"Playton, I can promise you we will." His mother says and sits beside him. She tries to stroke his blond hair, but she shoos her hand away.
"Don't you dare give me an empty promise." He snaps. "If I die in the Games, I don't want her to be asking for me and you guys being too focused on the damn library, you got it?"
"Son, we will take care of Cissa." His father reassures him. His mother and father come over and embrace their son. They better take care of her. I won't be there to make sure that they will. Playton thinks as the hug ends.
"And, you!" he playfully teases Cissa. She giggles and her eyes light up. "Have fun in the park and get Mommy and Daddy's attention."
"Are coming back?" She asks, a smile spread across her face. Playton's smile disappeared as Peacekeepers came in to grab the family.
"I'll try, Cissa. I will." He says as he takes the woodchip back. Cissa begins to scream when her mother takes her away from her brother. The door slams and Playton flinches. Cissa's scream is still playing in his mind.
District 13:
Melinda undid her braid and let her black hair fall down her back. She sits in the new room in the JusticeBuilding, marveling at the pictures on the wall. One wall was blank, and it was marked, 'Past Victors'. No wonder why that wall is empty; this is District 13's first year in the Games. She played with her hair with her fingers, and eventually she was plaiting it again.
The door opened and a little boy wobbled his way to Melinda. He was no more than two years old and he was coming her way. She walked over to Danis and picked him up. For being two, he didn't completely understand why she was here. A woman with slick black hair entered behind Danis and she hugged Melinda slightly.
The family moved to the couch and Melinda still held Danis. She pushed his brown hair from his eyes and looked at her mother. This couldn't be easy. Your daughter is the first tribute for District 13 and she was Reaped. Nothing screams out 'unfair' louder than this situation.
"Honey." She begins, grabbing Danis. "Stay strong and get to a bow. If you get those, you will win for sure and come home to me and Danis."
"I will try, Mom." She says as she undoes her hair again.
Her mother reaches in and grabs a pin with the number 13 on it in gold. "I found this the other day and I think you would have liked it. Take this into the arena and remember us." Melinda takes the pin in her hand and pins it to her dress. The number flashes in the light and seems to scream out 'I am proud to come from Thirteen'.
She hugs her mother before the Peacekeepers come in. Danis wails for her, but there is nothing that she can do. She stays seated and waits for Majesty to come and collect her.
…
Tartan waited in the room. He knew Melinda had visitors; he heard screaming from the other room. He sat on the couch and hoped that someone, anyone, would say goodbye. District 13 is known for nice people, but the Reaping can change that. It was their first Reaping and maybe some people didn't want to say goodbye. Who would, anyway? There is a one in twenty-eight chance that the person they're saying goodbye to will come back. There isn't really a point.
He twists his fingers and continues to wait. Rain begins to patter on the windows, and he thanks his lucky stars that he missed the rain. The clock counts down to his death. Why isn't anyone saying goodbye? He knows that he has friends at school, mainly girls who swoon over him, but why aren't they coming?
The door twists open and two adults walk in. Not them. His parents come in and sit silently across from him. He never really talked to his parents, seeing that they all ignore each other. Tartan usually does his own thing while his parents do their's. He is an only child, so he really has nothing to do.
The visit is filled with the common things you would say. 'No bloodbath'. 'Find allies'. How will that help? Thanks, Mom and Dad. Nothing better than to say a few words to your son that will die in a matter of days. The visit is cut short by a Peacekeeper to take his parents. Good. Take them. He sits alone in the room, looking at the pictures of the grand opening of 13.
This visit made him more depressed about the Games than his Reaping.
District 14:
Amelie twirls the bracelet on her wrist. It is made from herb leaves and grass, something that she and Blakely did one year. She was eleven when they made the bracelet. Blakely has an anklet of the same idea, and it made him a little different from his sister. Speaking of her brother, she needs to talk to him when they get on the train.
The door opens and her parents greet her. Her mother grabs her in a hug and squeezes her tightly. Her father begins to stroke her auburn hair and look into her green eyes. When looking at her father, she is unsure how she got these eyes. They are oddly bright, while her father's eyes are dark like an emerald.
"Stay with Blakely." Her mother whispers to her. "Don't go anywhere without him."
"I promise, Mom." She says, pulling her mother up from her. "I do that at home already."
"Honey, you have seen the bloodbath multiple times." Her dad says. "Don't go anywhere near it, you understand? Grab something quickly and run." She nods to her father.
"I will, Daddy." She hugs her father and tries to hold her composure. Peacekeepers come in and take her mother and father away.
"Stay strong, Amelie!" her mother yells before leaving her alone.
Amelie's eyes look to the walls. Pictures of the grand opening of 14 litter the walls. Red crosses and first aid kits hang proudly and show themselves to Amelie. Will she ever see 14 again?
…
Blakely's arms enclose his mother in his grasp. She is bawling her eyes out and staining her son's clothes. Blake understands why she's upset; she might lose both of her children in one year. She dreaded this day since the opening of 14 and Jada's victory speech. Nothing hurt her and her husband more than to see their only children fighting in a match where only one can come out.
He comforts his mother as best as possible before letting a tear slip down his cheek. He already heard the speech about sticking near his younger sister and he promised he would. Nothing would tear him away from Amelie except Death itself. He has never been far away from Amelie for more than a few hours.
"Son," his father says to him, "keep Amelie away from the bloodbath. Make sure that she is safe and sound, okay?"
"I promise, Dad." He says the promise every parent hears from their children. "Stay strong while we are gone, okay? Please don't shut out from everyone, please!"
His mother lifts her head and nods to her son. "I won't shut out. Your father won't let me." A smile crept on Blake's face as he hugged his parents again.
Tears and murmurs of his victory were the only thing that filled the room. He made the promise of keeping Amelie alive rather than himself, and he was okay with that. He needed to make sure that his sister was safe and would return to their parents. Peacekeepers came in to grab his family away from him.
The next few visits are from girls who want to date him. It was clear about their intention, they way they batted their eyes to him and told him to come back for them. He said he would, but if he ever came back, it would be for his parents. Not some girls who only want to date him.
A/N: How was that? I am sorry about how these goodbyes came out longer than the other. It came out WAY longer than I expected, at 5,074 words (minus the Author's Note). I also want to know if I am favoring one tribute over the other, because I can't tell. I am being as unbiased as possible. I am guilty of being 'lazy' on districts 13 and 14. I am so sorry, but I wanted to get this out yesterday, not today.
Another note, the trivia will be on temporary hiatus. They might come back during the training chapters…but I am not sure. I hope you enjoyed this hell of a chapter. One more thing. Take the poll on my page! I plan to have a district seal on the cover by next weekend. I will update the polls often and I want you all to take it.