PACK OF WOLVES - Hunger Games

TWO- FINAL GOODBYES

"Artemis?" 

The voice is pleading, and I can feel two soft hands gripping my shoulders.

"Artemis, I'm here." 

I clear my throat, embarrassed once I realize that I had been in a daze, unresponsive, unalert, and worst of all, fearful. 

I have to remind herself that this person standing in front of me is my sister, and I don't need to pretend when it comes to her, especially with so many words left unsaid and so little time left.

"Yeah?" I finally answer, my voice a little shaky.

Oh, how I hate myself for sounding this weak. 

"Are you scared?" Layla asks.

I shake my head. 

Fear is for losers. 

Fear is for the weak tributes who got killed in the first few seconds of the Bloodbath.

 And if I want to win these games, fear is not an option. 

"No," I answer. "I'm not." 

"You'll win." My sister swallows. "I know it. You're smart, you're strong enough. You're a fighter. Like dad said." 

Like dad said. 

 The very mention of him is like a scissor tearing up the threads I so carefully sown up to cover, to hide, to close the wound that the Capitol inflicted in my heart when they pulled the trigger.

I shut my eyes, willing the bad thoughts to leave. 

"I'm not just a fighter. I'm going to be a Victor." My response is firm. 

My sister looks up, and I notice the tears pooling in her light brown eyes.

"Promise me you'll come back?" the little girl asks.

I nod. "I promise. I'll win it." 

"Time's up."The door opens, revealing a gruff looking peacekeeper standing in the entrance. 

He taps his foot impatiently on the floor, as if willing us to hurry up.

 I sigh, taking one last look at my sister as I am escorted outside of the room. 

I'll make it.

I square my shoulders and step out of the door, my boots clanking on the shiny clean floors. 

I promise. 

But it is a promise I don't know if I can keep.

note: yes ik this is short haha sorryyy