â-„ r e v ι Ñ‚ α l ι z e d â-º (on holddd)

2: the beginning ≋

❝The easiest sacrifices are in love.❞

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"I volunteer! I volunteer as tribute!" Without hesitation, I yelled out the words with the little confidence I had left. The series of gasps that followed were soft, yet audible.

Trying to settle everyone down, "It seems we have a volunteer." Savey surprisingly said. "Come on up here, darling." Avoiding eye-contact, I walked steadily to the stage, letting go of Ma's hand.

"NO! NO! SKEY NO!" Blaze shouted from the stage, trying to get past the Peacekeepers surrounding him. Punching, pushing, but it was no use. Ignoring him, I continued to step towards the front; not affording to break down in front of everyone. There was no sound coming from anyone, only the crushing of rocks beneath me.

The walk was longer than I thought it would be. When I finally took the spot next to Savey, Blaze refused to look at me, small tears flowing down his face.

"What is your name?" Savey asked, attempting to lighten up the mood.

"Skey Truax." Looking into the crowd, I see blank faces staring at me: unresponsive.

Wrapping up the ceremony, "Well, there you have it. Your tributes for the 67th Annual Hunger Games! Always remember, The little things are key!" With that, they brought us inside the building, and the doors closed as I watched Faye desperately trying to run after me.

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As I pace back in forth, the events of the past hour replay in my head; uneasiness flooding through my body. I refuse to regret the decision, because I know it was the right thing to do.

The sound of the door opening pulls me back to the real world.

"You have 4 minutes." The peacekeeper says, while pulling open the door to reveal Faye and Ma. As soon as the door cracked open, Faye came rushing to hug me with tears running down her face.

"Why did you do it?" I can't lose you too." Choking up a sob, and letting go from our embrace.

"You know why. But hey." Lifting her face, "Hey. I will try to win. I'll try to win, for you." Reassuring her, I told her my first lie as I pushed her soft, red hair away from her face. Refusing to say the words parting us, I lean close and give her a kiss on her forehead.

Strolling over to where Ma was in the corner of the room, I couldn't help but realize she must be going through deja vu.

Desperately trying to get her attention, "Ma. Listen. You have to be strong. You're all she has." Ma wiped her stained cheeks as her head nodded, opening her arms for a hug. 

Suddenly, the Peacekeeper came back in grabbing Ma and Faye from me, as I took one last look at my only family.

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As I'm sitting at the back of the train, I watch my home, and everything I know drifting and fading away. Realizing I may never see Faye's bright, green eyes or Ma's famous smile, pains me.

Barging in, I see a tall, pale-faced woman with short, dark hair. As she strides over to me, her hair bouncing as she moves and I quickly wipe my tears away. Getting closer, her lively blue eyes pierced mine.

"So, you're Skey." She said in more of a statement, as if she was analyzing me. Following her, Blaze and Savey came in the room. Still not making eye-contact, Blaze sits across from me.

"Who are you again?" I question, ignoring the familiarity of the woman and coming off a little rude. 

Raising her eyebrow, she says "I'm Ezourry Betts. Your mentor." 

"Ezourry won the 60th Hunger Games, Skey." Savey adds. Flinching at her words, I say the first thing that comes to mind.

"How did your partner die?" I manage to say, and look up at her. Blaze's head snapped up, understanding the situation. 

Caught off guard, "Oh, Jay? I didn't know him very well." Ezourry says nonchalantly, "I saw everything. He fell into a bomb trap of the Careers, honestly he wasnt that smart."

I cringed at her words. Unbelievably, I say "Tell me more."

"Don't do this, Skey." Blaze warns, knowing where I was going.

Luckily ignoring Blaze, Ezourry says with a smirk, "Jay was tracking, and I saw the trap being set up. Although, I didn't say anything because we weren't allies. He should've known to be more aware. When he was slowly closing in on his game, unfocused, his foot tripped over a wire. The wire took a hold of his foot, and lifted him off the ground. Being too tall, his head hit the floor, and his neck snapped. Before you know it, the cannon fired and he was gone." 

As she spoke, tears started slowly going down my face.  Re-living her words, I pictured my father: terrified and desperately trying to survive. My mother never told us how he died, knowing it will make it even harder.  Wiping my tears away, I took in the words I've been dying to hear, yet too scared to listen to.

By Blaze's face, I could tell he was appalled. 

Breaking the silence, Blaze said "Ezourry, Jay Truax was Skey's father." 

"Oops...well she asked." Ezourry stood up, towering over me with a smile on her face.

"It's still not ▬ " Blaze began, before I interrupted him.

"No, she's right. I did ask." I got up, passed Savey and Ezourry and left the room.