Come Back to Me

IV

Greyson threw himself into his older sister's tanned arms for the third time that day, still full of hope and still overflowing with fear. Though now his hopes and fears had changed. Instead of fearing that she'd be reaped, he now feared for her death. It was now more than likely that he'd never see her again and he might've been young and optimistic but, the fate of being reaped was one no one could ignore the detriment of. His hope still remained the same, only wishing for one thing.

"Come back to me," He pleaded tearfully as he clung to the front of Cordelia's now tear stained dress, "please Lia, just come back home!"

"I'll try my best," Cordelia smiled strongly, "just for you, okay?"

"That's not good enough," Greyson said sternly, finally connecting his hazel eyes to her's, "you have to win."

"He's right," Mira added, even though she knew better, "we can't do this without you. So just, do what you have to do so you can get out of there and come back home. Please."

She wrapped the girl into another tight embrace. The family had given their record amount of hugs throughout the morning, and then some. As well as a record amount of tears. Not that any of them were in the headspace for keeping count.

"You know how to fish," Dylan said, choking down a cry of his own, "I taught you how to use a spear myself-"

"And you'll know how to survive- and knives. Just find yourself some throwing knives and everything will be fine."

Cordelia couldn't work out if her mother and father were saying these things to convince her, or to convince themselves. She didn't mind the reassurement though.

"Your times up." A man had opened the door, escorting the family back through it, sealing them away from the now isolated part of them completely.

Cordelia ran her hands down her face, stopping to cover her mouth to choke back the tears that were fighting harder then she ever thought she'd be able to. Then, the door opened again.

"Lia," Hudson opened his arms to the girl, not even flinching when he stumbled back at the contact of her throwing herself into his arms, "try not to worry, you'll be back here in no time."

"I'm glad someone seems so sure."

Cordelia let out a sniffle, unkowingly causing her friend's heart to ache.

"Oh, I'm positive."

"Is that so," Hudson nodded, bringing a small smile to Cordelia's face. He could always turn the worst time into the time to make her smile, "and why's that?"

His faced hardened, his tone turning serious.

"Because I know you," He said surely, "you've never been one to lose at anything in your entire life. Do you really expect me to believe that you're going to start now?"

"Oh you know better than that."

"So, then I'll see you in a month or two, won't I?"

"You know I can't promise that." Cordelia said breathlessly, finally deciding to be serious herself, even just for a moment.

"I know you can't," Eddy sent her a comforting smile as he heard the door behing them slam open and the peacekeeper call for his exit, "and I know that you don't have to. Let your actions speak when you don't have the words."

He leaned in to leave one last kiss on her forehead, pulling back when he fet a tug on his arm.

"I got it." He muttered before sending Cordelia one last soft look and leaving her alone again.