² SECOND CHANCE ─ the hunger games

four - rekindled hope

— GWYNETH —

THE TRAIN starts moving, and our day-long journey back to the Adelaide Woods begins. I join my friends by the window as we watch the scenery breeze by, and we are momentarily overcome by a wave of silence before someone sighs.

Kunboss, then Zoey, drop down onto the couch with heavy eyelids, and I turn to face them hesitantly.

Then suddenly, he breaks down. And his hands find their way around my waist as they're meant to be there. My emotions rush through the barricade that was never meant to exist, and I pull away, staring into his deep black eyes.

They withhold so much. I thought I understood him more than anyone in the world, but all the feelings - all the emotions - couldn't be stopped by anything. Not even our reunion. Not even the first time seeing them...after their death.

Kunboss smiles, pulling Zoey closer to himself.

"Why did you make that choice?" he asks, seemingly questioning himself rather than me.

We stay in silence before I mutter, "I don't know if it was worth it. But I missed you guys. So, so much."

Zoey smiles, leaning her head on the cushion. "I'm proud of you, Gwyn," she says. "We're proud of you. And we wouldn't have it any other way. We're going to win this thing for you."

Kunboss embraces me in another tight hug. "Please, don't. Don't blame yourself for what happened. You're my best friend, Gwyn, I know. Trust me," he whispers under his breath. "We will get back to you, we refuse to never get out of these games and never see you again."

I nod. A tear barely manages to squeeze itself out of my eye before Kunboss wipes it away with his finger—I can't even tell if it's a tear of happiness for being able to reunite with them, or a tear of sadness that they could well possibly be torn from me. Again.

But I know they'll fight extra hard, and the realization gives me a moment of relief.

I smile bitterly at Kunboss and Zoey. Then, I look at the girl who's lost in thought.

Eunice still stands by the window, like she's in a daze. The greens and blues of the forest whiz by, and she doesn't respond. She's thinking, I know. But about what?

— EUNICE —

The moment I woke from my long slumber, I was dazed, confused, and lost. I was dead, why am I alive now? 

The people in the Capitol explained to me that I was brought back to life, and I was washed over with a wave of gratitude. But what followed, was the announcement that I would be once again thrown into another set of Hunger Games, to fight to the death yet again. 

My heart dropped. I couldn't get home last time, how would it be different this time? How would it be different that I have to kill people, but I can't? How would it differ in the sense that I'd still die for people to marvel and laugh about?

How would it be different that I will die in that arena? Again?

I was dead and brought back just to suffer. How glad the viewers must be to see me back, I guess...

Eunice Seyfield. Tribute. 2nd Hunger Games.

These words repeat themselves again and again in my mind, and I can't help but think this is the last time in my 13 years of life that I'll ever see the Adelaide Woods again. 

Last time, I got lucky. The small voice in my mind mutters nothing but utter discouragement, yet I can't help but start to believe its words.

Just face it, you'll never be coming back. You'll die in the arena, and there's no Gwyneth. There's no next chance. You'll die, and there's no one to help you. You'll die, Eunice. There's nothing worth fighting for anyway.

The train pulls into the station, and I look around the Adelaide Woods. This place hasn't changed a bit since I left. A green banner that says 'welcome back' is plastered to the ceiling of the train station, and I can see nothing but two familiar figures with their backs turned.

"Mom! Dad!" I yell. People around us make way for me to pass, and I rush past Zoey and Kunboss, squeezing into my parents' open embrace. Tears start running down my mom's cheeks immediately, and she tightens her grip on me, planting a kiss on my cheek.

My dad's body tenses when I squeeze him harder, but he quickly recovers and kisses my forehead. They're real - but I have to leave them in one week.

My eyes blur with tears as my parents kiss me again and again. At this point, my parents' tears freely run down, wetting my head, my face, and even my yellow flowery dress. I don't care. I hug my parents tighter and tighter, never wanting to let go ever again. 

Once I let go, I will not be able to accept the fact that I won't see them again. The wrinkles on their faces are evident - like they've aged a decade in two months. At the observation, I sob even harder, knowing that I couldn't ever bear to destroy their hope.

Seeing my parents like this breaks my heart. I've been brought back, like how their hope was rekindled, for the littlest, slightest chance for me returning home and the family being complete. I can't even imagine how devastated my parents would feel if I died.. Again.

The tiny fire was lit, just to be extinguished by the huge pouring rain.

No, I tell myself. I must come back this once. For myself, for my future, for my friends, and for my family.

And it was at this moment that I knew. I have to fight, harder than I've ever fought. I have to win this, and I have to come back alive. This time, I'll jump across all the obstacles - all the stepping stones - and persevere to the end. This time, there will be no more sacrifices. There will be no more accidentally dying; no more feigned sympathy. This time, I'll try my best, not only to keep my allies alive, but for the sake of my parents and family. 

This time, I'll keep my eyes on the prize and never look away.

This time, I will win. I will win it all and come home to reunion and glory.