Chapter Eight.
Goodbyes Part One.
Sadie Ariste; 18 years old.
District Two Female.
Sadie was counting the seconds until she had to leave. Blah about this, blah about that. All words that didn't matter a single bit to Sadie, and certantly would't help her when the time came. Not that she needed anyone's help for that matter, though. She had trained, she had survived everything that the Academy had throwed at her, and now she was ready. She was Sadie Ariste, and she would survive. No matter what.
Her father had already come and said goodbye, a few minutes after the Peacekeepers brought her into the room. He was quiet, but Sadie appreciated it. He knew what she had to do, and he knew that she would be back soon enough. No words were necessary in that case, because they were family. Unlike mother dearest who wouldn't shut up about her new job, her father knew that she had what it took to win the Games. For years, he had been the only that trusted in her. That believed in her, and that gave her everything she needed to prepare for the Games.
It was because of him that she had gotten this far in the first place. Sadie might be many things, but she knew how to recognize when someone did something for her.
Finally, her mother stood up, shaking her head, probably realizing that Sadie hadn't been listening to a single word that she said. "Did you even listen to a word of what I just said, Sadie?" No, she really didn't. The look on her mother's face made her want to push her harder, not make her hurt more. Between Sadie and her mother, it was always a contest to see who pushed harder. To see which one was the first to break the other's strings, and make them fall apart. Sadie refused to be the one to fall apart. She had more in her life than the foolish woman that gave birth to her, and refused to believe that her future didn't have bright things in it.
"No, mother, I didn't listen to a fucking word of what you just said. Excuse me if I was much interested in thinking that I'll be in the Capitol in the few hours, preparing to make my future much more brighter." She watched as her mother's face fell, and she struggled for words. Good, she thought. That means I won again.
Sadie didn't regret what she had done. Yes, it had taken a lot of effort, but it was surely worth it. Using wise words and a little trickery, she managed to make the fool woman believe that Sadie's father was cheating on her. Yes, it was hard and the effort of having to watch them fight had almost made her die of boredom, but it was worth it. She had built this life for herself, and with her father and sister, they were happy. Maybe it was the fact that the three of them were so alike, but Sadie didn't care. This vile woman didn't belong in her family and until she was out of it, Sadie didn't rest.
That was the thing about Sadie, and how different she was from her mother. Her mother got everything she wanted, without having to do absolutely nothing for it. Sadie, however, had to fight for things, and had to fight to get where she was now. Manipulate people, trick them, she didn't care. It got her where she was now, and she didn't regret it. It would get her to the Games, the place where Sadie truly belonged.
"You really don't sound like my daughter. Or look like her, for that matter." Her mother pointed to the black shirt that Sadie was wearing. Yeah, it might reveal a bit too much, but who cared? She was here to show what she was made of, and for all she knew, her stylist in the Capitol could be already planning to have her naked in the chariots. She was just starting their job.
"Well, maybe I was like this for a long time. Maybe you didn't really knew who I was, mother?" Her mother just shrugged. It was always like this. Sadie had the better points, and she always ended up winning. No matter what.
"You know what happens if you lose. Make sure you don't disappoint me again, there has been enough of that."
Oh God, if you knew how much I hate you. She made Sadie's blood boil, made her so angry that Sadie felt like snapping her neck right there. Who could anyone hate someone so much, even a member of their own family? Sadie had no idea. "I'm proud of myself, mother. Self-esteem is a very important these days. You should be proud that I don't go around opening my legs to-"
"Enough, Sadie. I'll see you in a few weeks and if I don't, well, there won't be many people that will miss you." With that, she left, closing the door behind her.
Bitch.
That was why Sadie didn't let people get close to her. People were evil, and in the end, they ended up hurting everyone around them, even the ones that claimed they loved. Sadie didn't want to be liked by anyone, everything she did was for herself, and to hell with anyone that didn't like it. A few seconds later, Justice walked in, wearing a dress that showed more than Sadie would ever want to see from her best friend.
"What's up, bitch?" Sadie felt her body relax. Now, she could be whoever she wanted to be. Now, she could focus on what she had ahead of her, without having someone bothering her with every passing second.
"Oh, you know. Visiting the most useless idiot that District Two has ever seen, who actually did go with it and volunteer."
"Of course I did," Sadie said. "My district partner is useless. I'm me. Why wouldn't I volunteer in the first place? I'll be back soon. Just keep remembering everyone that we owe the place. Not like they'll start to think that just because I'm gone, they can start taking charge."
"Yes, boss. Don't think you owe me, though." Sadie laughed.
"I wouldn't dream of it." This was her time and her place, and no one was taking it way from her. No matter what.
Tyson Moretta; 18 years old.
District Twelve Male.
Tyson waited.
When the Peacekeepers brought him into the room, Tyson sat down in the nearest couch. Waiting, second after second, preparing himself for when they came. Thinking of what he would say, preparing a reaction if his mother started to cry. They would be expecting a reaction for him, like always. Whatever he did, it would surely reflect in his family's actions. If he cried, they would surely cry. But if he remained strong, at least for now, maybe there was a chance that they would do the same.
They were like a pack. They were the followers and Tyson, without any choice in the matter, was chosen to become the leader. Yeah, right. People looked at him for advice that he couldn't give, because true to be told, he was an absolutely awful leader. He was just a teenage boy, trying to survive in an awful world and an even worse district, and yet they looked at him for advice. Asked him what they should, when he had never asked for any of this. People followed him.
Tyson hated it. But most of all, he hated himself because they deserved someone. The people of District Twelve deserved someone to lead them, someone that had the right words to say when they needed help. He was just a boy from the Seam, and yet, people followed him. He would never know why.
When the door opened and the Peacekeepers rushed his family in, Tyson stood up. He looked at them, his parents and older siblings clinging to each other for support and for a second, he almost forgot the idea of being strong. This was his family and hell, he could give everything he had just to have another minute with them. Another day. Another year. When he saw how close his mother was to tears, and how his older brother tried to support her, Tyson decided what he needed to do.
"Guys, it's okay. I'm fine, all in one piece. No need to cry, okay?" He smiled, but kept his hands hidden behind his back, hoping that none of them would be able to see it. Hoping that his smile seem real enough.
Just like he expected, they calmed down. His mother put on a smile, and a few seconds later, they were all on him. He felt his mother's arms wrap around him, pulling him closer to her. "M-my boy. S-so strong." A few seconds later, his father joined him and his brother and finally, his sister. They were all there. The Moretta family, united as one. Tyson wishd that he could stay like this, forever. Hell, District Twelve wasn't the best place in the world, but it was surely better than the Capitol. His family was in here. His friends, his people.
When they broke apart, his father stood next to him, a hand on Tyson's shoulder. "Son, when you are in there, just do what you need to do. Don't worry about us. We love you, no matter what. Just do whatever you can to get back to us."
Tyson nodded. "Dad, my chances aren't the best. I mean, I'm nothing compared to the ones from the earlier districts, but I might be better than the others. I might have a chance. What I'm trying to say is..." Tyson's older brother laughed, and kneeled next to him.
"Little brother, let's be realistic here, please. You're strong, you're brave and not even some of the merchant boys are taller than you. Not to mention that you're an amazing leader. You'll get an aliance, you'll lead them to the end, and then you'll win. That's my brother. That's the Tyson Moretta that everyone knows and loves." He was smiling and laughing, but Lennon's eyes were also sending him a message. Just like they had, since he was a little boy and Lennon took him to play in the backyard with the other kids.
You have to be strong, for them. They'll fall apart completely without you here.
That was one of Tyson's biggest fears. They looked up to him, not only his family but also his friends, and now he was going into the Hunger Games. To a fight to the death that he might never come of. What would happen to them if Tyson wasn't in here? One part of him told him that they would be perfectly fine without him, that they would find someone new to look up to. Someone better. But Tyson also feared that the part that told him that they would fall apart completely without him in here.
That's why he had to fight as hard as he could. Yes, he didn't knew how to lead them, because he didn't even knew what he wanted to before today. Hell, he was just trying to survive the reapings and after that, he would figure out his future. But now, he didn't have a choice. He might be an awful leader, but this one thing, he could do it. For them. He could fight as hard as he could for them, to keep his family together.
He could. He had to. Tyson might not have been enough before, but now he had to be. Now, his insecurities had to stay behind. His life depended on it, but most of all, his family depended on him. And he couldn't let them down. Not now.
"What I'm trying to say is that you guys need to prepare. If something bad happens to me. I mean, it's always better to be ready for the worst and have a nice little suprise, right?" He tried to smile, and hope that this would make things better. If they were prepared and he didn't make it back, m-maybe it wouldn't hurt too much.
Tyson shaked his head. No. He couldn't let that happen. When he was alone later, maybe. Maybe by then he could fall apart. But not right now. He owed it to them to stay strong.
When the Peacekeepers came to get his family, Tyson almost felt like crying again. "I love you all. I really do. Please don't ever forget that." His mother smiled.
"We'll see you soon, son. We love you." She sounded so confident. So certain that he would make it back to them, no matter what. Tyson had to be like them. He had to believe that he would make it back, or it wouldn't work. He had to believe in himself. And for the first time in his life, Tyson was sure of what he had to do.
Ryella Duval; 18 years old.
District Six Female.
People expected her to actually cry.
Ryella had never understood that people that cried at the reaping. It would just lower their chances of being sponsored, and their chances of making it home. However, if they didn't cry, that was half the way to make a good impression in the Capitol. Ryella didn't even remember being nervous when she was reaped. She was calm, even if the possible bloody deaths that she could end up having did come across her mind for a few seconds. This gave her a chance, something that she wasn't expecting before. Being reaped wasn't in her plans, but Ryella already knew what she would do.
This gave her a chance of making a life for herself, of living by her own rules. She would look at this like a Game, with its own set of rules. Only one could come out in the end, and all the others had to die. She didn't mind killing, it couldn't be that hard. Just like a true game of chess, like the ones that Ryella used to play when she was younger, the paws had to fall for someone to win. But if she managed to do it, this also gave her another opportunity.
To be free. She could bring actually nice people to take care of her brother, to give him everything that he deserved. The thought of Lyric brought a small smile to Ryella's face. If it wasn't for it, she would have ran away from that use long ago and made a life for herself, somewhere nice and in a place where she wouldn't have the weight of the world on her shoulders. Maybe then, she could finally relax.
And her father... Ryella wasn't sure of what she should do about him in the first place. He had controlled her life until the end, and even now, when she was the one that provided everything for their home, he actually had a say in it. Ryella hated him, but then, she didn't really pay much attention to emotions. Ryella had learned to put her emotions in a place that couldn't hurt her a long time ago, because they didn't help. Emotions would not help her survive, they wouldn't put food in the table of the day.
Poisoning him? No, she couldn't. Well, maybe she could actually work it out, but a Peacekeeper had just moved a few doors down to where they lived. It could work, but she would get caught quickly. She could run away and take Lyric with her, probably move to Camryn's house, but it wouldn't last long. Listening to his parents wouldn't be worth it, even if Lyric would probably be better in there.
Winning the Games would give her everything. Some people, including her father thought that the Games were right. That the people in the districts deserved to pay for what people had done to the Capitol in the past, and that the killing was good. Ryella knew that she didn't agree with that completely, because there were still some people that didn't deserve to be in the Games. Her brother, for exemple. He wouldn't last a second in the Games.
For a second, images of Lyric's death came to her mind. Him being torn apart by a mutt, or cut in half by a Career. No, no, she couldn't think like that. Her brother was safe, at least for now. If, not if, when she came out as a Victor, Lyric would never have to worry about the Games. She would make sure of that.
Ryella looked at the clock, trying to calculate how long it would take them to come. Maybe her father wouldn't even come. Who knew. If there was someone that Ryella wanted to see before she left, it was Lyric. He would surely miss her. She needed to try to tell him where she was going. That she would be going away for a while. Maybe forever. Maybe not.
Seconds later, there was knock at the door. A Peacekeeper came in, helping her father walking in to the room, in his wheel chair. It had been a gift from Camryn because even if Ryella tried, she couldn't afford to buy it for herself. Seconds later, her brother was in the room too. A small smile appeared on his face. "Ry-ella." And then, he gave a little laugh.
Ryella smiled a little. If she ever came close to caring about someone that wasn't herself, than this was it. Lyric could only speak one word, thanks to the Cerebral Palsy, and it was her name. Ryella could have said that the look on their father's face when Lyric had said her name for the first time was quite amusing. She ruffled his hair a little bit. "I have to go away for a litte while now, Lyric. But I'll back soon. I promise." She leaned down, and kissed the top of his head.
He just giggled again. "Ry-ella." That was when she turned to her father, facing him.
"Ryella, so you have been reaped. What are you planning on doing?" Even, in a situation like this, her father was obvious.
"Everything I need to do, father. Isn't that why they have a reaping each year? To figure out which one of us is capable of doing whatever it takes." That was partly true.
"Don't disappoint me. You know that we both need you." Ryella never knew her mother. But sometimes, she wondered if things would be different if she actually had one.
"I won't." With that, they both left and Ryella stayed still, watching them leave. One part was done. Now, for the other one. Seconds later, Camryn came in, looking all dressed up, as always. Rich people like him made Ryella want to throw up, but they were necessary.
"My love!" And before Ryella could do anything else, she was in his arms and he was kissing her, and there was nothing she could but kiss him back. For one moment, she didn't care. If felt good, and she might never see him again so why would she care? Besides, this might make him look after her family when she was gone.
"Are you okay?" He asked, when she was sitting in his lap and Ryella used the opportunity to bury her face in his chest, so he wouldn't be able to see her expression. Or her thoughts. "I'm fine. Or at least, I will be soon enough." Camryn appeared to her as an opportunity in the worst time of her life, and Ryella couldn't do anything but do it. He was one of six children to millionaire Carlyle Lapointe, a CEO of a successful mechanical industry, who had more money than Ryella could ever imagine.
He had a crush on her since they were on fifth grade. It would be expected that he basically fel into her arms when she needed him to. It wasn't too hard. A kiss there, a night together in here, and he would end up doing anything that she could possibly want. As long as Ryella was "with" him, it's all he cared about. He gave her the money to support her family and herself, that was all she cared about. "Is there anything I can do for you, baby?"
"Actually, yes. Take care of my family while I'm gone? You know how much they mean to me." She kissed his neck.
"Don't worry about it. Just come back to me. I love you, Ryella." He left, but she didn't really have a reply for him. Now she was done. Now, she could focus on the Hunger Games. Ryella wouldn't play by the rules.
Oliver Craddocks; 16 years old.
District Nine Male.
It was exactly like a game.
Oliver had played many games before in his life, but nothing like this. All of his games had a beggining and an end, and in most of them, he had come out as the winner. He was absolutely sure that he deserved to be the winner in all of them, because he worked hard. Unlike most of people, Oliver had to work to get everything he wanted. He had to fight, and sometimes even struggle. But that was also one of the things that made him the best. The strongest.
But right now, for the first time of his life, Oliver had no clue about what the future held for himself. Only that he was going to represent District Nine in the Seventy Second Hunger Games, and that he would probably die a bloody death, at the hands of someone stronger than him.
No, no. Oliver shaked his head. He couldn't let himself think like that. This was just a game, like every other one that he had played before and he knew the rules. If he could focus enough, this would be just a test. Yes, he was going into the dark. But in the end, he would beat the thing that everyone considered the worst thing in Panem and it would be make him the best. It would make him the best in the district, and finally, there wouldn't be no one standing on his way of being the best.
He would be Oliver Craddocks, the Victor. But most of all, there wouldn't be a soul in Panem and in District Nine that wouldn't remember who Oliver was. He would be remembered, for the rest of life and even after all. And just like that, Oliver would get over one of his biggest fears. Being forgotten. No, he wouldn't be like the other tributes that died, throwed into oblivion and never remembered again by someone that wasn't their family. Sometimes not even their family remembered them in the way that they should.
That wouldn't happen with Oliver. No, it happened before, but he wouldn't let it happen again. Never again. For the first since he was reaped, Oliver was starting to see the good side to the Hunger Games, just like he would, to any other Game. He would beat what everyone considered dangerous and that would make him the absolute best. He would never be forgotten. But most of all, he would make a name for his family.
Oh yes, Oliver was surely starting to warm up to this.
Slowly, the door to the room that Oliver was opened. Oliver's mothers, Susanna and Annabel came in, holding each other for support, both blinking away tears. Right, and then there was this. Before Oliver could prove to everyone that he was much better than them, people talked behind his back. The fact that he had two mothers, instead of a normal couple like most kids did, was something that they made fun of, everyday. But Oliver couldn't care less.
They were the only ones that ever truly cared about him. Oliver didn't knew his real parents but for him, it didn't matter. Susanna and Annabel were his family, and he didn't want to know what anyone else thought. That was also part of the reason that he wanted to win the Games. If he did, he would show everyone that a lesbian couple could raise a child to be the best of the best. Could raise him to be a Victor.
He could almost smell it. The smell of victory.
Susanna was the first to reach him, bringing Oliver in for a hug. Oliver had learned to be brave with her. She had left her rich family, who wanted her to marry another boy, to be with her true love, who happened to be a girl and happened to be from the poorest side of the district. Since then, they had made their family. "Our baby, An, look at him. He's all grown up and no-now, he h-has t-to..."
Oliver smiled at her. "Mama, I'll be perfectly fine, don't worry. I'm me, after all? If anyone has a chance of winning from District Nine, it's me. Oliver Craddocks, the best of the best."
Annabel was smiling, but Oliver could see that she was also close to the tears. "You heard me, mom?" He asked, turning to her. "Tough as nails, just like you guys always taught me to be." The best of the best. If it wasn't for them, he would still be a small sad boy in the orphanage , looking for love. Trying to find a way to not be forgotten. But they had taken him in, and had given him all of their love, and it was because of them that Oliver always learned to give his best to everything he did.
Annabel smiled at him, and this time, she didn't fight the tears. "You know we love you, don't you? More than anything in the world," She turned to Susanna, placing a hand on her shoulder. "And he's right, baby. If anyone can win this, it's our son. I mean, he's the strongest person I know."
Both of them brought him in for a last hug, when the Peacekeeper knocked at the door. "I love, mom. I love you, mama. I'll be back for the both of you, no matter. We're a family, always and forever. Remember that. Remember me."
"Always and forever," They said, and turned back to walk away, holding each other. "We love you, Oliver."
"I love you too." He said, right before the door closed behind them. Seconds later, his best friend Ethan came rushing in, and before Oliver could react, he brought Oliver into a big hug. "Wh-why di-did it have t-to be y-you..."
Oliver laughed, punching him lightly on the chest, just like he always did when Ethan was feeling down. "I don't know, man. I guess that fate just has a thing for me."
"You'll m-make it ba-back. You have to." Ethan said.
"Of course I will! Look at it on the bright side, man. When I come back, I'll be officially better than you. That sounds good?" Ethan laughed, but the tears still didn't let him reply.
"Ethan, I'll be back here. Relax. I promise you, man. Since when does Oliver Craddocks breaks a promise to his best friend?"
"Since never." They both laughed and soon, Ethan was gone. Now that he had said goodbye, Oliver felt clean. Now, he couldn't almost wait to get to the Games. No matter what he had to do, no matter who had to die, Oliver would play. And he would be the ultimate Victor.
A/N: This one was pretty fast, uhm? Took me less than a week. Mostly because I'm pretty excited to get to the Capitol and to the fun stuff! xD One more of those, and we'll be there! Thanks for reading this, and I'll see you soon!