Chapter 2: Goodbyes
Allison Winters
It's my voice.
''Well then, step right up'' Says the too cheery sounding capitol woman as I start to walk past the young girl, stepping onto the stage as it hits me. I have just volunteered for the hunger games.
Kevin Thorne
''Ladies first.'' She says picking a name from the girls reaping ball. ''June Stearns'' She announces as a girl from the twelve year old section starts making her way to the stage, all the colour having drained from her face.
''I volunteer!'' Someone calls out.''I volunteer as tribute!'' A girl from my age section steps up onto the stage. As our escort asks for her name I realize that she volunteered because she knew June would never make it passed the bloodbath, with her weak build and lack of strength. It's very rare to have a volunteer from districts that aren't career districts, especially one so young. By the time I look back at the stage our escort is pawing through the boys reaping ball. She pulls out a small slip of paper.
''Kevin Thorne'' my eyes widen a bit as I start to walk to the stage. No one speaks up or volunteers for me. Once I'm on stage the perky capitol lady gestures for me to shake hands with the girl who volunteered. As I shake her hand I don't look at her, I look at my dad standing behind the ropes with Daisy perched on his shoulders, The unmistakable look of sorrow on their faces.
Allison Winters
I stand with a blank look on my face as our district escort picks a slip from the boys reaping ball.
''Kevin Thorne She says as a somewhat shocked looking boy from my age section walks onto the stage, he has the seam look, black hair, grey eyes, though he doesn't seem to be from that part of town. Although I've never really been interested in boys, I can't help but notice how good looking he is, if looks could kill he would win the games, hands down. As we shake hands, he doesn't look at me, I follow his gaze and see a man, also having the seam look and a young girl sitting on his shoulders. They must be his family.
Kevin Thorne
I'm lead into the justice building by peacekeepers with the girl and we're both pushed into different rooms for our goodbyes. I wonder how her family will react to what she did. Almost as soon as the door closes, my father, brothers and sister come in. I hug them all tightly and don't say anything. We have never been good at goodbyes however, Daisy breaks the silence.
Daisy looks up at me, her eyes filled with sadness and hope. Her bottom lip quivers as she asks "Will you come back?" Tears stream down her face. Right now she's too young to completely understand the concept of the games, but she knows enough to know that her older brother may not return, at least not alive.
''I'll try my best.'' I say as a peacekeeper barges in.
''Times up.'' He says heartlessly as I hug my family one last time before they're pulled out of the room. A few more people come to say goodbye to me, a few I barely even know. I don't pay much attention to them and soon enough, my hour for goodbyes is over.
Allison Winters
Peacekeepers lead Kevin and I to our separate rooms for goodbyes, although I have no one to say goodbye to. I sit on a velvet chair and hug my knees to my chest. Around twenty minutes later, the door opens and June walks in, along with the rest of her family. I rise and look at them.
''We want to thank you for volunteering.'' Says June's mother as June walks up to me and puts something in the palm of my hand. I look down to see a small gold charm bracelet, containing a few charms that seem to represent district twelve. There's a charm shaped like the number twelve, our district seal, what I assume to be a lump of coal and one shaped like a small bird of some sort, seemingly trapped in a ring of gold bearing an arrow in it's mouth.
''It's not much.'' Says June. ''But if it's not too much trouble, we would like you to wear it in the arena.'' I nod and fasten it around my wrist.
''Thank you.'' I say as I give her a hug. She hugs back just as a peacekeeper bursts through the door.
''Your time is up.'' She escorts June and her family back outside as I resume my position on the chair. All I can think about is what awaits in the arena I will be placed in.
Author's note: Sorry the chapters are a little short, I'll try making my next chapters longer. This is my first time publishing writing so please be patient with me and any advice you have for me would be appreciated. Thank you!