Cypher "CT" Torres, 15

District 3 Male

The numbness that held me had yet to let go. I could only feel a faint tingle in my hands and every inhale felt like it was filling too large of a space. I could hear my breath rattling in my chest.

I didn't know how to feel. There were so many emotions cycling through me and none of them were staying put. I understood the significance of the Hunger Games, but I didn't want to be a tribute. I was going to die! But my life would be a fair price to pay in return for the ones I'd ended. It was selfish to only think about myself. I wanted to be selfish!

The door opened with a loud crash, making me leap up from my seat. My mom was on me in seconds, pulling me against her and squeezing me so tightly I could barely breathe.

"Mom," I croaked, trying to pull back. "You're squishing me."

She loosened her grip but still held me tight.

"CT… Oh, my baby…" I could hear the tears she was trying to fight back in her voice. My dad stood by the door, his face like stone. Suddenly, I couldn't take it anymore.

"Mom, I caused the accident!" I started to sob and dug my nails into her shoulders. "The one last year that killed all those people. I made the gun! It was my fault! But I didn't mean to, I swear! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I don't want to die!"

My mom stroked my hair and rocked me until my sobs quieted to sniffles. Then she pulled back and held me by the shoulders.

"I know you would never hurt anyone on purpose," she said. "It was a very tragic accident, but it was an accident. But why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Dad said not to," I whimpered. I looked at him over my mom's shoulder. "I'm sorry…"

All of a sudden he was there too, his arms around me and my mom.

"My son…" he breathed. "I failed you. I forced you to keep a terrible secret. You never had a chance to heal. And now I'm going to lose you." He broke down in tears as well and we all cried together.

When a Peacekeeper knocked on the door to tell us our time was up, my mom cupped my face in her hands.

"I love you," she said. "You're the smartest boy I know. Listen to your mentors and learn as much as you can."

"I'll try," I said. My dad hugged me too.

"I love you mijo. Be safe."

Then he took my mom's hand and they left together, looking at me over their shoulders as the door closed. My mom just had time to blow me a kiss before it shut. But it was opening again before I even had time to miss my parents. Adrian and Roma burst inside, loudly talking over each other.

"Slow down," I told them. Roma cut Adrian off and pulled me in for a hug first.

"I'm so sorry," he said.

"It's not your fault. I just want to say thank you both for being my friends. I—"

"What?" Roma yelled. I blinked in surprise.

"Don't talk like that!" Adrian gasped.

"Like what?"

"Like you're already dead. You're the smartest kid in our school and you'll have Beetee Latier as your mentor. You can win."

"Thanks," I said awkwardly. They both seemed so hopeful but I knew I wasn't coming back. I could never kill someone again. And to win the Hunger Games, you had to do just that.

Adera "Addie" Laurier, 16

District 6 Female

My head was still spinning as two Peacekeepers guided me into a small, stuffy room with a moth-eaten couch and a wooden stool in the corner. They shoved me slightly and then shut the door behind me. I drifted to the window in a daze, looking out at my little district. It wasn't much, but it was my home.

The idea of leaving was almost scarier than the idea of the Hunger Games. It felt more real, more tangible. I was sure the fear of the Games would catch up to me at some point, but I was going to coast as far as I could before it hit me.

Mayor Harloy's teary expression when I was Reaped was still on my mind. She was my mother for more than half of my life, but I didn't realize how much she actually cared about me. I must have hurt her more than I thought the day I left.

A lump rose in my throat and I swallowed hard. I couldn't let my emotions get the best of me. I knew I was strong and I knew I could get through this. I had to stay confident and the rest would follow.

"Hey loaf," Jackie said, using his annoying nickname for me. It was his favorite when I didn't want to get up in the mornings.

"Hi Jackie," I said. I held my hands out in front of me. "I don't know what to say."

He laughed bitterly.

"That's a first. Look, I don't have lots of time. But you're a strong girl Addie. I know you and I know you can do this. Don't stop fighting. And don't let any pretty girls distract you."

"Ha ha," I mocked. But when he opened his arms for a hug, I accepted it.

"Thanks for everything," I whispered to him. "You're the best brother I could ask for."

I thought Jackie would be my only visitor so I was surprised when my next guest wasn't a Peacekeeper. It was Mayor Harloy.

I stepped back quickly, almost tripping on the couch. Mayor Harloy's hands were clasped behind her back and she looked as lost as I felt.

"Hello Adelyn. Adera. I'm sorry. I—"

"It's fine!" I snapped. "You don't—"

"No, it's not," she said, cutting me off. "Dacie and I are—were your parents. We should have seen how much you were hurting."

We were both silent for a few moments. Then I sat down and patted the couch. She came to sit next to me.

"Was I that easy to recognize?" I asked, trying to break the awkward tension.

"I helped you change your name," she admitted.

"What?"

"I'm the mayor. If you wanted to change your name for the Reapings, it had to come through the Justice Building in some way. I don't know who you paid to change it, but when I saw the unprocessed request, I processed and authorized it."

"But—but—why?" I stammered.

"I wanted to let you have your fresh start. And it's a mom's job to keep her kids out of trouble." She nudged my shoulder and winked and I smiled a little. I hadn't called her "mom" since I was eight.

"Will you also tell Dacie and Ember that I'm sorry?" I asked. She nodded.

"I will. But you have to focus on you now, okay?"

"I know. I'm going to fight like no one's ever fought before," I told her. "I want a life. Ideally my old one and my new one."

Jersey Madras, 16

District 8 Female

I peeked behind us as a pair of Peacekeepers led me down a dusty hallway. But the doors were already closed, shutting me off from the crowd. I was curious about what my parents were thinking. They might not even come to say goodbye.

I was left in a small room decorated to look like a living room, but all the furniture was old and rickety and there were bars over the windows. I sat down on an armchair, enjoying the silence. There was no one around me, so there weren't any voices either.

When the door opened, I flinched. I wasn't expecting anyone, even my parents, so when they showed up I was shocked. And I was even more shocked to see that they were both crying. I stood stiffly to greet them.

"Jersey!" my mother gasped, nearly choking on her tears. "What were you thinking?"

"You need money and I can't take on more factory work," I said. "Now I'll be able to help provide for us."

"Honey…" my father said, using his old pet name for me. "That's our job. We're your parents."

"You said it though," I told him. He frowned.

"What?"

"You yelled. You said you hated me for working in the factories and that we needed more money." The words still stung, but surprise outweighed the pain when my parents both gasped.

"We never said that!" my mom cried. "What are you talking about?"

"A week ago…" I said, trailing off nervously. What was going on?

"No," my dad whispered, sounding horrified. "Your mother and I said we hated that you had to work in the factories and that we needed to make more money to support you. You're our little girl."

I sat down, completely stunned. I misheard them. But their voices were so clear. I could hear them now, telling me I needed to contribute and that I was worthless. But I could see the fear on my father's face and the tears on my mother's cheeks.

"I don't know what to think," I said. "I like to be alone because there are no voices. And there are a lot of voices right now but I think they might be wrong."

"Voices?" My parents looked at each other as my mother said it. My father nodded to her and she took my hands.

"Jersey, I need you to focus on my voice. Look at my lips if you need to." I nodded, but chose to look her in the eyes instead.

"Some people have different brains. Your father and I think you have a different brain. It's not bad, but it means you should know what it is. In the Capitol, tell your mentor about the voices and ask to see a psychologist. We didn't have anywhere in District 8 to take you, but the Capitol will know what to do. Will you promise me that you'll ask?"

I had a different brain. I thought back to so many interactions where kids said I was mean or rude and I didn't know why. It was because my brain worked differently to theirs. And the Capitol could tell me why.

"I promise," I said. My mother smiled.

"Good."

"I need a promise too." My father crouched down and gave me a hug. "I need you to promise that you will try to come home."

"I will," I told him.

"We love you," my mother said. She hugged me as well, and then they were gone. But their voices stayed with me, and this time they were nice.

Annoa Cornflower, 17

District 9 Female

I sat quietly on the sofa in the room the Peacekeepers left me in. It was hot and stuffy but I knew the windows wouldn't open. They wouldn't risk losing a tribute before the Games began. At least I would be able to say goodbye to my parents.

I brushed a stray curl out of my face and thought of Butch. His reaction at the Reaping was unexpected. I hadn't realized he felt so strongly about me. It brought a small smile to my face, which remained there until the door opened.

My mother was sobbing when she came inside. I stood up to hug her and she squeezed me tightly.

"It's alright," I told her as I gently rubbed her back. "I'll be okay."

"You're my only child!" she wailed. "I can't lose you!"

"I'll always be with you," I said. "Even if I die."

"But you won't," my father said firmly. "Annoa, you have been trained by skilled teachers and you have the dedication to master any subject. You truly do stand a chance at victory."

"I will do my best," I told him. My mother released me and pulled me down to sit with her on the sofa.

"Are you afraid?" she asked.

"No," I said firmly. "I know you want me to feel things, but I don't. And I'm sorry that you expect that of me because it's not something I can do. But you are my family and I will fight to get back home to you."

My mother nodded slowly.

"I'm sorry," she finally said. "I should love you unconditionally. Emotions or not, you are my daughter."

"I'm not upset with you," I said and she let out a teary laugh. I hugged her one more time before looking at my father.

"If I die, I would like you to consider Butch Torrance as an apprentice. He is a strong boy with a good work ethic and I trust him wholeheartedly."

"The boy who always eats our food?" my mother asked in shock. I nodded.

"I will," my father said. "He's got spirit."

"Time's up!" a gruff voice called. My mother kissed my forehead gently and then took my father's outstretched hand. She blew me a kiss and my father smiled at me, and then the door shut behind them.

I knew Butch would come, and I knew he would be angry. He stormed into the room and slammed the door forcefully. He opened his mouth to yell but I cut him off.

"If you had volunteered we'd both end up dead," I told him firmly.

"I could have protected you," he cried.

"I don't need protection," I reminded him. "My father wants to offer you work and I want you to accept it. You are more than a fighter on the streets."

Butch looked at me as if he were in pain. But he nodded and then reached up to remove his earring.

"Take this," he said. "As a token."

"I can't. They'll say it's sharp and they'll take it away."

"Then bring this."

Butch slipped a thin gold band off of his finger and slid it onto mine. It was the ring I gave him the year we met, as a test of loyalty. He chose to keep it rather than sell it, which was what I hoped for. 'Happy Birthday' was etched on the inside of the band.

I held my hand up so the ring caught the light.

"I'll keep it safe," I told him.

"Keep yourself safe," he growled. "Annoa…"

"Don't." My words were strict. "Don't say it."

"Why?"

"If I die, they'll haunt you forever."

"They'll haunt me if I don't," he snapped. "Please?"

"Fine."

He took a deep breath.

"I love you."

"I know," I said. He leaned down to kiss me lightly, and then he was gone.

Hi everyone! I know this is another super fast update but I'm feeling productive and I want to write! This chapter got pretty emotional, but I think it's realistic for people to get mushy when they might never see their loved ones again. And apparently I like causing emotional turmoil in my tributes. Hopefully you thought it was all in-character.

Next chapter is the Train Rides, which will have six POVs. My plan is to give every tribute one miscellaneous pre-Games POV and one training POV. Miscellaneous being train rides, parade prep, interview prep, etc. If you want your tribute to have a specific one, please let me know! I have a loose plan for who goes where but I want to incorporate your ideas, if you have them.

QUESTIONS

1) Did these Goodbyes feel realistic?

2) Has your opinion on any of these tributes changed now that you've seen more of their emotional sides?

3) Will CT stick to his vow to not kill anyone?

4) Do you think Jersey can/will get a diagnosis?

5) Which tribute(s) do you want to hear from next?

Have a nice day, be kind to each other, and never stop reading!

- Fiona