Save me - A Hunger Games Story

Chapter 2

Ash Furze. How did I recognize that name?

And then I remembered, he was 17 and was Lucy's best friend when they were at school, but then he went to work in the mines and they hadn't really spoken much since.

I saw another crowd disperse and a figure step out. I could see his golden brown hair shone in the sunlight and his old worn clothes as he walked towards the stage. Meeting Hazelle, she too shook his hand and guided him to the other side of her.  

'Well this is exciting. Now please shake hands.'

She stepped backwards and Ash reached out his hand to mine. Steadily, to hide my shaking, I placed it in his and we shook hands. As Hazelle squealed and clapped, I looked at Ash properly this time. Golden hair, soft blue eyes, pale, red lips. He didn't look like a killer. But then again, he was tall and strong and who knew what people were like when they entered the arena. 

Hazelle, guided us backwards into the Justice Building behind and I saw the other hundreds of children and parents sighing of relief as they hadn't been chosen. Oh how I wish that was me. As I turned my back on the crowds, I couldn't held a tear slip out of my eye.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sat in the corner of a small room in the Justice Building. It was a deafening silence, until I heard the keys to the door jingle, as it unlocked. A peacekeeper stepped out of the way, and Axel ran into my arms.

'No Posy. Please don't go, don't leave me.' He cried as tears fell down his face.

'I have to.' I replied, holding back the tears myself.

'Promise you'll come home?'

Hesitantly, I replied, 'I promise.'

Then my mother and father appeared at the doorway and I sprinted into my arms. By then, the tears were well and truly flooding down. 'I'm so scared.' I managed to choke out.'

'I know sweetie.' Sobbed my mother. 'But I believe in you, you have to try.' 

'I will.' I replied, 'But no one has every won the Games at the age of 14.' 

'There's always a first.' Said my father, hugging me closer. ' I love you.'

'I love you too, all of you.' I choked.

'My darling,' sobbed my mother, as the Peacekeeper appeared again to send them out. 

'No. Please don't leave me here.' I begged. But they were taken out and te door was shut again. I collapsed to the floor and sobbed. I sobbed for my home and my bed and my seat at school and my family. And I sobbed for Lucy. Lucy hadn't come to say goodbye. 

Just as I thought that though, Lucy came bursting through the door and knelt down to hug me on the floor. 'Oh Posy.' She sobbed. 'I'm so sorry. I should have volunteered for you. I don't quite know what happened. I froze. My heart felt like it had been torn in two. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.'

'It's okay. It's okay.' I replied, hugging her harder. 'You couldn't have gone anyway, Axel would be distraught.'

'He already is though.' She said. 'So, what are you going to do?'

'I don't know.' I responded. 'You have to look after Axel for me. When the Games are over, he won't be himself. You will need to take care of him and remind him of how much I loved him.'

'Don't speak in the past tense like that.' Lucy pleaded. ' You can win. You are strong. I believe in you. You have to win you just have to.' 

We sat in silence, sobbing our hearts out, until she too was taken from me.