Like a robot, I follow Sylvie. I find myself in the Justice Building, somewhere I've never had the honour of going to. I'm shoved into a room by a guard in a white uniform who says:
" You have one hour."
One hour? For what? To prepare myself before I'm shoved into an arena of death? The door behind me opens and my mother, closely followed by Griffin and Thorburn, rushes in. She doesn't say anything, just holds out her arms. I rush into them, and all the feelings that have been bubbling up boil over. I know I shouldn't cry, it just makes it worse for everyone, but I can't help it. I'm scared, and I don't even try to hide it. When I finally let go of my mother, I turn to Griffin and Thorburn. I don't hug them, as I know they have no wish to be cried on. I smile at them weakly. When he sees I've pulled myself together, Griffin gives me a hug, followed by Thorburn. Thorburn looks me straight in the eye.
"You have to win, Parry. Then you'll be able to come home to us again."
Griffin nods his agreement. "If you win, I heard the Capitol moves you into a bigger house in the Victors' Village. Just think! We'll get to move into a house even bigger than the one we have now!" That makes me laugh. Our house is like every other house in the Seam – not much more than a shed.
There's a soft knock at the door. It opens, revealing Tule. She looks at me with moist eyes.
"You're allowed to take a token with you into the arena. I'd feel a lot better if you had this with you." She holds out some sort of pin with a bird in flight. I look at it closer. It's a mockingjay.
"Take it," said Tule. "It was my fathers. He made it when he realised what the mockingjays could be used for." I take it and hug her as well.
I dry my eyes and address all of them.
"I promise I will try and win. For all of you. I'll wear the pin with pride and not take it off until I return home, safe and sound."
Tule forces a laugh, as if to lighten the atmosphere and pretend I'm not facing certain death. We spend the rest of the hour closely huddled together, in companionable silence.
The door opens again and the guard in white uniform strides into the room.
"Times up." He grabs hold of me and drags me out the room. It's not until I'm on the train with Raff that I realise I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.