Rising Flames

Chapter 5: Effie's Goodbye

I've been left in this room for about 6 hours now, waiting to be escorted to the Capitol. 6 hours of torture, knowing I'm going to die soon, that my life is going to end earlier than expected. That my life will end in some cruel and malicious way...
My thoughts are interrupted by a knock at the door. It's simple; three knocks, rest, then another two.
"Come in..." My voice is crackly and broken from disuse, and a tinge of fear.
Effie's head pokes around the corner, smiling at me. I can read three expressions on her face; sorrow, remembrance and... Pride?
"Hey Effie. What can I do for you?" I'm asking politely but inside I really wish I could slap her, even once. I know she's my friend, but I need to hit someone right now.
"I just need you to know..." She shakes her head, her eyes tearing up as she speaks, "I never wanted this to happen. My life may be better and nicer when it's worse for you, but that's just the point. I've seen the torture and the fear of the tributes now, seen how they lived their lives during the era of the hunger games. I can't let you go back to that." At that she breaks down crying. I rush over to comfort her, to calm her down, but I know that nothing I can say will ever truly calm her down.
"I know it wasn't your fault Effie. I know."
She looks up at me suddenly, frightening me with her speed. "Do something brave. Do something that makes the Capitol look terrible, that makes fun of the Gamemakers." She stares at me right in the eye and repeats the simple saying that I will keep with me for the whole of the hunger games, whether I live or not; "rebel"
As quickly as it began, Effie's crazed phase is over. She exits the room, slowly, making every step count. When she's near the door she turns and glances at me, then the ground before saying, "Remember what your mother said. Don't let them change you."