A Deadly Game of Chance: A Hunger Games Fan Fiction

Chapter 3: Goodbye District 8

I stood on the stage motionless as I felt hundreds of pairs of eyes on me. Seth looked as nervous as me but the escort looked delighted with herself. Nicholia held Seth's left hand and my right up high in the sky as people applauded. But not out of kindness or support. They clapped because they knew they were safe for another year.

  I could see Deina crying silently as her friends hugged her. I couldn't see Mamma or Amelia anywhere and I think Tarrant had left. Nicholia was talking to the crowd but I couldn't hear her. It was like my mind had blanked everything out.

   "SOPHIA!" someone cried. I dropped Nicholia's hand and turning towards the steps of the stage, I saw Amelia running up them. Her blue eyes were bright and full of tears, her hair was coming out of their curly pigtails and her dress was torn in places. "Amelia!" I yelled, running behind Seth and Nicholia towards the steps. I scooped Amelia up in my arms and hugged her tight. "What happened?" I asked, not caring that everyone was staring at me in awe. Amelia leaned back a little and wiped away her tears. "The big boys. They said you are dead. But you're he-eeee-re!" she complained. I hugged her again, stroking her hair. "It's okay, sweetie. They are just being stupid," I told her, trying not to choke up, and Amelia's face lit up. I could hear a loud 'Aw' from the crowd and a very loud, high-pitched one from Nicholia. I looked at the crowd below the stage and I saw the crew filming and taking photographs. Seriously, I couldn't help thinking. They are seriously taping this. My sister is upset for crying out loud! And so am I!

After a few photos of me and Seth and Nicholia and the previous Victors (including my Dad, who was silent, and took Amelia off me), we were shoved by some Peacekeepers to the Justice Hall. I was shut in a room - alone - next to Seth. I slumped onto a sofa straight away and put my head in my hands. I was actually going into the Arena. I was going to die.

Mamma, Amelia, and Deina came into the room. I didn't want to know what had happened between Mamma and Dad to get Amelia. "My baby!" Mamma yelled, tears welling out of her blood-shot and tired eyes. She suffocated me with a hug and she sobbed into my shoulder. "Mamma. Can't. Breathe." I choked out and she released me. "I'm.So.Sorry.Sophia.Its.My.Fault." She sobbed as she wiped away tears.

Deina's eyes were filling up with tears again and she clutched Mamma's arm. Amelia jumped on my knees and rested up against me. "Are you going to the big Capitol place?" she asked, staring up at me. I smiled sadly and nodded. "V-when?" she asked and I tried to keep my voice calm. "Tonight, Amy. Soon. Too soon." Amelia moaned. "but www-why?!" I looked up at Mamma, unsure at what I should tell her. She shook her head and I knew I had to lie. Amelia wasn't old enough yet to understand the whole 'kill-or-be-killed' concept of the Games.

"Um, Amy, I've been asked to go there. Its a treat for me and Seth. I won't be back for a while but I will come back soon." I lied and Amelia lapped it up like a glass of milk. I felt sick for lying, and I tried to hard not to cry.

Deina was walling. "Deina!" I cried as she slouched on the sofa. I hugged her with my free arm as she sobbed. Mamma stared out of the window, silent tears rolling down her face. "Sophia, why? Why us? Why you?" Deina sobbed and I felt the pin pricks behind my eyes. "I . .  . I don't know, Deina. I just don't." I almost let the tears spill. I kissed Deina's forehead, rubbing her head. She looked up at me, her face red and tears still streaming. "Hey, Dee. You have to be good. Work hard in school, don't get in fights, help in the shop. Look after Amelia." My voice was tightening. "You have to be strong, and brave and good. Okay? Just incase." Deina stared hopelessly at me. "But I promise. I am coming home. I am coming back home. Just watch me." 

A Peacekeeper opened the door and knocked loudly. "Time." He growled and I swallowed my tears. Amelia stood up and faced me. "I'll miss you Sophie. Sophia. I love you sissy!" So does Seth and Tarrant and Mamma and Deina and Dadda and Mont and Mrs Tarrant and the District!"  she kissed my cheek and hugged me tight. It was hard not to cry. Once Amelia hugged me, Deina collapsed on me again, a ball of tears and hugs and sighs. I hugged tight, kissing her head. A few tears leaked out and Mamma had to pull her away from me. Deina took Amelia's hand and led her out of the room. Mamma fixed my hair, wiped away tears, kissed her fingers and put them on my nose. "I love you babygirl. Remember that. Fight. You are strong and brilliant." she whispered before leaving the room.

I waited ten minutes for my next 'visitor'. Tarrant came barging in, his face red and his eyes even redder. I stood up as he slammed the door shut. "Tarrant?" I whispered and he slumped down on the sofa, head in hands. I sat next to him and put my arm around him. It was like I was comforting him, like he was going into the Games.

He shrugged my arm away. "Tarrant?" I whispered, peering at his face and taking his hands away. He was crying again and he looked just so hopeless. "I promised to protect you! And I couldn't even volunteer for you!" he rested his hand on my face. "Oh, Sophie. I am so worthless. I am so pathetic." He hung his head.

"No!" I half-yelled, half-implored, lifting his head up. "You aren't worthless. Or pathetic! You are amazing. You were just scared - we all were! Even Seth! And, well, its Seth! I don't blame you anyway! Its a Deadly Game of Chance. There is nothing wrong with that. And I couldn't watch you die to protect me in the Arena!" He gave me a sad, little smile. "Oh, Sophia." He whispered, and he brushed my lips with his.

Someone knocked on the door. I looked up, not taking my hands out of Tarrant's. Seth was standing at the open door, his face straight but I could see in his eyes, just how nervous he was. "You have another visitor Sophie. Your father. We are going after that." He didn't move, but watched as I said goodbye to Tarrant.

   "I'll come back Tarrant. I promise, okay. I'll come home." I kissed him softly before he walked past Seth, head down to try and hide his red eyes.

    Seth sat on the coffee table in front of me and stared. "What?" I asked, blushing slightly. He shrugged. "Nothing. Just inspecting my competitor." he winked at me. I rolled my eyes. His charade wouldn't last long.

  "So no alliance then?" I asked, trying not to sound hopeful. He stood up, patting his hands on his thighs. "Hmm, we wil just have to wait and see, Sophia." He left just as my dad came in.

    "Sophie?" My dad's voice trembled. I ran to him and hugged him tight, holding in more tears. He hugged me tight back and I was glad he didn't reek of drink. "My babygirl. I can't believe they chose you!" he exclaimed as we released each other. I shrugged as he crouched down next to me. "Dad, a Deadly Game of Chance. And a Windling is usually chosen anyway. I would have gone in anyway if they chose Deina." Dad rubbed my shoulders. "Everything will be alright. You have to be strong, for everyone."

    A Peacekeeper knocked on the door. "We have to go." he growled. Dad turned to him. "A few more minutes, we will be quick." The Peacekeeper frowned. "You have one minute." But he didn't leave.

Dad turned back to me. "Sophie, remember this. Be strong. You are stronger and smarter and better than you think. Don't concentrate on killing - even though I know you could never kill anyone! Find shelter, water, food, and get weapons to protect yourself. But don't fight in the beginning. Get some supplies and run for it! You are fast and swift and play to your strengths."

   The Peacekeeper coughed loudly. Dad straightened up, kissed my head and gave me a quick hug. "Bye babygirl." he waved from the door, his eyes watering. "Bye Dad," I croaked.

The Peacekeepers escorted me to a train on the other side of town. Seth was already there, waiting and trying to stay calm. I don't know how, but I could tell how he was feeling when no one else could see it. Even when we were younger. And friends.

   We were rushed onto the train and into different carriages. We passed different rooms with people we recognised: The Escort, Nicholia, was sitting in a small room with a glass of golden liquid, two of the past victors were talking in a large room, and the Mayor - Mayor Lance - was asleep on a bed. I was pushed into a room with a large window which I rushed over to, just as the door shut behind me. I could see the whole of the District from the window. The large lakes, the little wooded area, the huge factory buildings where they made the Capitol Clothes and the Peacekeepers uniforms and the clothes sent to the Districts; the shops and the houses below the setting sky. It was a beautiful sight but all too soon we were moving, rolling along the track.

     And it was Goodbye to District 8.