I know some of you weren't that surprised by the cliffhanger on the last chapter. Most of you were like "Why Evan?" well, I worked hard on this chapter, and I hope it answers your question. So enjoy, and please let me know what you think.
"How delightful. Another volunteer! I have a feeling that this year's games are going to be interesting." Exclaims an excited Morraina.
Yes they will be quite interesting. This year, the year I have been waiting for my entire life to get into the games and win has been deeply affected. I will be put in the arena to kill others, possibly even one of my true friends.
"What is your name, young man?" she asks while putting the microphone close to his mouth, just like she did with me.
"Evan Fortis." he says into the mic.
Why? This one question doesn't dare leave my mind. Something I wanted so badly, and it gets ruined in a mere split second. Why did he do this? Why did he volunteer? Anger, sadness are all mixed up in my brain that I'm not sure how to feel.
There is definitely nothing romantic between Evan and I and there never has been. I remember the first day I met him.
"Mom, I want that one!"I say pointing at a silver glittery dress planted on a mannequin. It's so pretty. It catches my eye every time I turn my head in its direction that I just can't stop looking at it. Everyone will look at me when I have it on.
"No honey, that's for the big girls." My mom says calmly.
I cross my arms. "That's not fair. They're not the only ones who get to wear the pretty dresses!" I spat, annoyed. My mother only laughs and strokes my head softly. As much as I want to slap her hand away, I let her caress my hair.
"I promise, when you get older I'll get that for you." She says, looking at a yellow dress with red lace at the hem.
"What if I get older and it's not there anymore?" I ask.
Before she can answer, a lady bumps into her and they almost fall, but they both manage to balance themselves by holding onto a shelf and a mannequin. I expect my mother to get mad the woman for not watching her way, but instead they burst into a fit of laughter. Confused, I don't even notice the boy standing by the lady's side looking at them with a confused look on his face as well.
The boy looks at me and brings his hand to his ear. He uses one finger and moves it in a circular motion while using his other hand to point at his mother. When I notice what he means, I laugh along with our mothers. His gesture means that his mother is some kind whack job, but I know he's just kidding.
"I am such a walking disaster." the boy's mother says ashamed.
"Trust me, I'm worse. Everything I touch either falls or cracks," My mother says. It is true; she has broken a few glasses and dropped anything she doesn't hold onto tightly.
"What brings you guys here?"My mother asks her.
"Just buying Evan here a suit for his first reaping." She says as she pats her son, Evan, on the shoulder.
"Same here. Only this is Amethine's second reaping." My mother smiles kindly.
"I'm Linda." Evan's mother says, extending her hand.
"Susan." My mother states, not hesitating to grab Linda's hand and give it a firm, but kind shake.
"Why don't we look for our children's reaping outfit together?" My mother suggests.
"That would be wonderful! I knew I would be needing some help, but my husband doesn't enjoy shopping at all." Linda says.
"Well, even though I don't have the same taste as most men, I think I can help you find something nice for Evan." my mother says and she glances at Evan and smiles.
Then that's how the whole shopping trip turned out. Our mothers walking around the department store, scanning the dresses, and suits carefully, wanting their child's reaping outfit to be amazing while laughing like young girls. Evan and I walk behind them, talking about who we think is going to volunteer this year. After coming up with different names, I mention training about the games.
"You train?" Evan asks in disbelief.
I nod. "But I don't plan on volunteering just yet." I say.
"Then when?" he asks.
"When I'm eighteen." I say confidently.
We spent the next hour talking about my training. He would ask a lot of questions, like about the trainers in the center and the activities that go on in there. He tells me he really wants to train, but says that his mother doesn't agree with him training to become a bloodthirsty career, especially at a young age.
I encourage him to try his best to convince her. Who knows if his name gets pulled out of that bowl and no one volunteers to save him from his death. I tell him that if he really wants to do something, he shouldn't let anything stand in his way, not even his mother. I assured him that if the roles were switched, and my mother wouldn't let me train I would do everything and anything to get her to enroll me.
Finally after my mother and I agree on a light purple dress and Evan picks out a dark blue polo, we say goodbye to each other and mention what a pleasure it was to literally 'bump' into them. Evan and I wave goodbye at each other.
Then I realized, even though neither of us said it, that I have just made a new friend.
Evan and his mother, who is very kind and caring. She be must upset of having her son entering a death match against other children, but I look over at her and see that she is trying to stay strong for him. Even though he has been training ever since the age of thirteen, she probably knows that not every year a tribute from district one takes the victor's crown home.
We may have four victors, but last year the district one tributes were idiots. They developed a friendship with their allies, and when they least expected it, had their heads chopped off with an axe or stabbed in the heart by a dagger.
Never develop relationships in the arena. Nothing friendly or romantic. The word romantic brings Reina to mind. Evan's girlfriend of five years. I search for her in the seventeen year old girl's section and she gives me a sad smile. Did she know about this? I know for sure she would've been crying her heart out if she didn't.
Morraina's high pitched voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
"May I present to you, the tributes of district 1!" she exclaims and the crowd goes wild.
"Shake hands you two." she urges. I grab Evan's hand and give it a gentle shake as I resist the need to twist and break it. The crowd doesn't stop cheering and whistling as we're ushered into the Justice Building.
Morraina disappears somewhere while two Peacekeepers escort Evan and I into different rooms where will bid our loved ones goodbye. Sitting down on a red comfortable chair, I patiently wait for my family to come in.
They walk through the door with my little twin brothers in the front and my father in the back. Garnet and Geode plant kisses on my cheeks and hug me. I give them each rib-crushing hugs and tell them a few jokes that my parents have found humorous as well.
"Are you going to win, Amethy?" Geode asks, using and old nickname that he must've suddenly remembered.
I nod. "Yes. Yes, I will. I'm going to win for all of you guys." I say as I plant a kiss on his forehead.
"Are you going to bring us back a present?" Garnet asks.
"I'm going to bring back something more than a gift. I promise." I say stroking his hair, the way my mother did to me at the department store when I was thirteen years old.
Pride, glory, and an unlimited amount of money is what I'm going to bring back to my family. I'm not letting anyone get in my way, not even Evan. He knew that I was going to volunteer and he decided to ruin it. I'm going to say 'I warned you' as I look into his eyes as he takes his last breath. When I'm done saying goodbye to the twins, my parents step forward.
My examines my face with furrowed brows. I'm about to ask her why, but then I remember. Crap.
"How did you get these?" she runs a finger over the scratches.
"It was-"
"Did someone hurt you on your way home?" she turns to my father and he bends down to check it out himself.
"Doesn't look that bad. Does it still hurt?" it's his turn to ask, but I know that one or two questions, that's it. I wish I can say the same for my mom. I shake my head.
"How did you get them?" my mother questions.
"From a girl in training." I answer. She starts to realize that the time they have is limited.
My mother cups my hand with both of hers.
"Amethine. Promise me that when you win, you come back the way you were. I love you, never forget that. We all love you, me, your father, brothers, and sister. I have no doubts about you winning, but just…be very careful. Especially with the decisions you make. Try not to make poor judgments, because it will make a big difference between life and death. Understand?" my mother says, staring into my eyes intently.
I manage to nod my head and pull her into an embrace. The tone of my mother's superior voice catches me off-guard, so I just nod. She's right. The choices I make will affect my survival, so I need to be careful. My mother kisses my cheek and makes room for my father to say what he needs to say.
He puts both of his hands on my shoulders. "Just like your mother said, be careful. It's not that we doubt you, it's because anything can happen in the arena. You've watched the past games, so you know firsthand that something happens when you least expect it. Bottom line is; expect the unexpected." He says.
"I love you and know you will bring home the crown." He adds and kisses my cheek.
The door opens and a peacekeeper sticks his head in. "Time's up." He announces. My family gives me some last hugs and kisses when I realize I haven't said good bye to Amethyst yet. First the twins, then my mother followed by my father walk out.
The peacekeeper holds the door for Amethyst, waiting for her to get out of the room, but she just stands there.
"Give me a few more minutes." She says.
"Can't. Time's up. That's it." The peacekeeper responds sternly.
Amethyst folds her arms together and stares back at him.
"A few more minutes. That's it." She says defiantly.
"Fine. Three minutes." He says.
"That's all I ask for." She says as the peacekeeper walks out and closes the door behind him.
I stare at Amethyst expectantly.
"Amethine, I know I don't say this a lot, but I love you. You're the best sister a girl could have. I know you have what it takes to make it out alive. You've been training for this for twelve years now and you have become quick, cunning, lethal, and agile so I feel sorry for those other tributes." She smiles at the last remark.
I let out a laugh and pull her into a tight hug. "Two more years and it's your turn." I say quietly.
"I know. You won't mind if I use some of your strategies for my games, right?" she asks, giggling a little.
"Ofcourse not. I love you too Amethyst. You're the best sister a girl could ever have, too. Make sure you watch over the family while I'm gone, okay? I know you have a stash full off throwing knives in your closet." I smirk.
"Hey! How do you know that?"
"It's so obvious." I say, laughing. The door opens and the same peacekeeper steps in.
"Time's up." He says.
"Already five minutes have passed, so I wonder what the head peacekeeper would do if he found out that you weren't keeping track of time." She says, hugging me one last time and walking past him, ignoring his nervous gaze.
I laugh. I sit back down on the velvet chair, seeking silence for now. It's not long until the door opens and Shine and Reina run over to me.
"Congratulations! That girl was so pissed off when you volunteered faster than her. I mean, did you see her face?" Shine laughs. I laugh too. Looking back, her face was hysterical. Shine and I laugh more at what she says, until I notice Reina standing by quietly.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Nothing. It's just that two of the people that I care about are going to enter a game when only one person is allowed to live." She looks at the ground.
"Reina, now is the not the time to mope. Be happy for both of them. They're going to be allies, they're going to help each other. They will defend each other, so don't you worry." Shine says.
I nod my head, reassuring her that what Shine just said is true. I'm slightly annoyed at that fact that I have to help comfort Reina, when I am the one going away from home and won't come back until next month.
"Just forget about it. You're right, I should be happy for them. So congratulations!" Reina says, obviously trying to sound ecstatic.
"Thank you." I hug her.
"I know you'll win." Shine says, and this bothers Reina so I give her a look signaling that she shouldn't mention that around her.
"We're going to really miss you. Now, remember you can't develop any friendships with your allies, so distance yourself as possible. Alright?" Shine reminds.
"Got it, captain." I give her a salute that makes all of us laugh. We hug each other when the peacekeeper appears again and tells us that their time is up.
I figured my time was up too. No more visitors, it's time to get on the train and head on over to the Capitol. I step out of the room and the peacekeeper's hand blocks my way.
"Move." I say through gritted teeth.
"Not yet. You still got visitors."
I step back inside the room and wait. Saline and Glen step in with big smiles on their faces. Glen has more of a grin then a smile. Saline pulls me into a hug and I don't hesitate returning it.
"Thanks for the knife throwing tips." I smile.
She laughs."I just gave you a few pointers, but you made the rest happen,"
"Remember everything you learned in the training center, lock it in a safe and set a long ass password. So in the future, it'll all come back to you with a snap of a finger." She says. I nod and she gives me one last hug. Glen steps forward and gives me a quick embrace.
"Amethine, you were like a daughter I never had. Remember, you hit every bullseye with a spear just like a mockingjay that always has a new song to sing. You don't let anyone get to you. Think of things that won't come to mind of the others. Use the 60 seconds to scan your surroundings and form a plan, that way, when you jump of that plate, you'll know what to do." He says.
"Also, when food from the Cornucopia is running low, you hunt. Set up snares and use your spears and nooses, alright?" I nod.
"Make sure to intimidate the field during training. For you private session, show the Gamemakers something they have never seen before. And also-"
"Enough Glen. I'm sure she remembers every single little thing she learned here." Saline starts pulling him from the back of his neck.
I say goodbye to them again and they walk out. The next visitor is unexpected.
It's Evan's mother.