Life and Death| Hunger games

Goodbye

I stood there, frozen in shock. The color drained from my face. My heart beat faster than ever. Bile rose up in my throat.

"Adeline Carson, anybody?" Valeria repeated. Everybody turned and looked at me. I snapped back into reality, and pushed through the crowd, walking down the aisle the separated the boys and girls.

The peacekeepers led me to the stage. Once I reached the steps, Valeria reached out her hand. I took it and mounted up the steps.

Once I was on the stage, Valeria walked to the mic. " Any volunteers?" She said looking around at the crowd of girls. 

Please, just anyone, I hoped. I know it was selfish, but I didn't want to die.

But as usual, all of them backed away, looking at the ground. Then I heard someone scream from the boys side. It was Jacob. He was bawling, screaming "No" While the peacekeepers held him back. I looked away.

I wanted to cry and scream as well, but I did not want to appear weak. I could not believe what was happening. 

"Nobody? Well, then, moving on the boys now.." Valeria cut in, walking towards the boys bowl. She reached in her orange gloved hand, and plucked a slip. She walked back towards the mic and announced the name.

My heart stopped for a second. I held my breath, hoping it wasn't Jacob. 

" Dawson Butch"

A Tall boy with brown hair and green eyes emerged from the crowd. He was led to the stage by the peacekeepers. 

I released my breath, feeling a bit relived. We were both each by Valeria's side. I was on the right, In front of the girls,  he was on the left, in front of the boys.

"Any volunteers?" Valeria said.

Just as the girls did to me, the boys did the same to Dawson"

"Very well, Ladies and Gentleman, Our districts from district 5!" Nobody applauded, Instead, they just stood there looking up at us with pity.

Then we were to shake hands. His hands were cold and rough. I looked up at him, and for a second we made eye contact. 

We were led to the Justice building where a peacekeeper directed  me to a room. The room was particularly fancy, with gold walls and red carpets. I sat in one of the loveseat, and waited. I brushed my hand across the sofa. The material was soft.

A couple minutes later my family burst through the doors. My mother in tears and my father with a face full of sorrow, holding my brother who was also crying. I leapt from my seat and embraced my family. 

My mother squeezed me and kept repeating, through hiccups " How could this happen, how".

I pulled away from my mother. " It's fine, I will be okay." I lied. I wasn't going to be okay. I was going to die.

My dad just stood there, refusing to look me in the eye. I hugged him. He looked taken aback, before he wrapped his arms around me. He pulled away, placing his hands on my shoulder, and finally looked me in the eye. " Win." He said. 

"Win for me. For Jacob. For mom. Win for everyone you love" He grabbed my hand gently, and placed something cold there, wrapping my fingers around it.

"I promise" I replied. At that point I was crying. I wanted to be brave but I couldn't. I never wanted to die.

My dad nodded, patting my head and walked to my mother, who was hysterically crying and shaking.

My brother did not speak. Instead he cried and cried, hugging me.

I pried his fingers from my waist and crouched down, kissing his forehead.

"Times up" A peacekeepers was standing in the doorway.

"I promise to win, so don't worry about me. Take care" I said turning my back to my parents. 

"Goodbye"