My district, my home, burning right before my eyes. Just before the bombs were dropped onto District 12, I was watching the 75th annual Hunger Games, or the Quarter Quell, with my best friend, Lumex Thurman, and his mother. We sat there in shock as we watched what seemed to be a Rebel Hovercraft pick up a few of the tributes, including District 12's only female tribute, Katniss Everdeen, who won the 74th Hunger Games. It looked as if Peeta Mellark, District 12's male tribute who also won the 74th Hunger Games, was picked up in a Capitol Hovercraft. Everything soon went dark.
Suddenly, we saw a bright flash of light and heard an explosion go off. We ran outside to see most of District 12 engulfed in flames. I was blown away after more bombs were dropped; they were so loud that I was temporarily deaf. Slowly opening my eyes, I found myself tossed to the side. Lumex and his mother were no where around me until I saw something that looked like a body, but I couldn't see it very well.
"No, God. Please don't let this happen to me," I thought to myself, running to the body. My eyes widened at the sight of Lumex's body almost entirely split in half. His eyes were glassy with tears as he took my hand in his. My vision began to get blurry and I started to cry.
"Echo, you have to run... But don't forget how much I... How much I love you..." His words made me sob so hard that I was gasping for air. I kissed his hand and ran my free hand through his hair.
"I won't. I love you, Lumex," I said, watching him release my hand slowly and close his eyes. I began to sob more, laying my head on his flat chest. Standing up, I began to run through the rubble and ash. The smoke filled my lungs and I began to cough. As I was running, I slammed into someone, falling onto the ground. When my vision cleared, I saw that it was Gale Hawthorne, best friend of Katniss and one of my good friends. "Gale?"
"Echo! You're alive!" He helped me up, hugging me quickly before pulling me along with him. Coughing more, I ran behind him through the fog. "Where's Lumex and his mother," he asked me as we ran.
"Lumex is... He's... Lumex is dead and I couldn't find Mrs. Thurman," I yelled to him, more bombs going off every minute. I ran next to his side, not letting go of his hand. Tears ran down my face but I had to keep going. When we reached the fence, we quickly slid through the wires and ran into the woods. I stopped and turned back to face what was left of District 12.
"Echo," Gale said quietly as he intertwined his fingers with mine. "Let's go." Nodding at his words, I turned away and began to walk with Gale. I was shocked to see Primrose and Mrs. Everdeen, Katniss's younger sister and mother. They both hugged me. My mother and Mrs. Everdeen were good friends before my mother passed away. I saw a few more people, including Gale's family. We were all that was left of District 12.
"Everyone, Haymitch and I created a plan before he left for the Capitol," Gale said. "A hovercraft should be here anytime now. Just stay with us and we'll be just fine." When he noticed that we were still holding hands, he surprisingly didn't pull away; he just looked at me and smiled.
"Gale, where exactly are we going," I asked.
"We are going to District 13."
