Rowen Hart was not a rule follower. She was never afraid to speak her mind or follow her convictions no matter where they lead her. She was absolutely certain that the Capital could never take away her spirit.
But the Games change everyone.
Years a...
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~The 66th Annual Hunger Games~
The 8th floor of the tribute center was dead quiet.
After the interview, Ace and I ran to our rooms without saying a word, the only sounds echoing through the area were doors slamming. I'd been holed in here since, curled up on my windowsill, watching as the people far below partied.
The weight of what I was about to face had hit me in full force. I didn't know how to cope. My mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts and fears and I knew if I attempted to pull at one the rest would all unravel, causing the rest of me to fall apart.
So I sat here as the hours ticked by, not bothering to address any dangerous thoughts that surfaced. Part of me wanted to go to Ace, but I just couldn't. I knew these would be our last moments ever spent together in peace, and I sure as hell didn't want some of those memories to be filled with arguing, but every time I began to work up the courage to see him, I chickened out.
It was obvious that neither of us were going to budge. We were stuck with an impossible choice of either living and witnessing the death of the person most important to us, or losing our life for them.
The weight of my fear was so palpable I swore I could feel it crushing my chest little by little until my ribs were cracked and my lungs were bleeding.
Why did we have to do this? Why was this celebrated?
The people below me started chanting and hollering almost as if in answer. Children were being sent to their deaths, and the capital citizens acted like it was Christmas.
Suddenly a knock sounded at the door, causing me to whip my head over to the entrance where Ace was standing.
"Hi," I whispered, shooting him a half-smile.
*start song* Instead of answering, the boy walked over and took a seat parallel to me on the sill. Silence once again blanketed me as we both watched the citizens below.
"I'm sorry" He croaked after a while, voice raspy. "I'm sorry that you're here. I'm sorry that I can't keep you from going into that arena tomorrow. I'm so sorry I failed you Row."
My heart shattered as he looked at me, rogue tears streaming down his cheeks. "It's not your fault," I sniffled, "You know you couldn't keep me from this."
For the first time since he volunteered, Ace finally stopped trying to mask what he was feeling. "I'm terrified." He cried, "I'm so scared to die. Is it incredibly selfish of me to be grateful you're here just so I won't have to die alone?"
A sob escaped my lips at the vulnerability in his words. Without thinking I grabbed both of his hands and held them in mine. "Ace please just let me go instead. You don't have to feel responsible for my life. If you die, and I live-" Another sob. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I would never be okay again."
