Hope In Our Eyes #GoldStarAwards2017Winner

Too Late (Lily)

-Flashback-

"What made you volunteer?" Liam asked while smiling at the crowd. You could see a couple girls in the front swooning as I rolled my eyes in disappointment.

"For the fame and future, it'll be an honor to participate as a tribute." I answered back with a fake smile while giggling the whole time. I repeated the lines Sydney told me while she was coaching me for the interview.

"So, Lily. A few of us are curious. Why did you leave your family behind to participate?"

"You were trying to kill my sister. She's the only thing that I have left, and I promised her that I will come back ... but I'll never become the monster the past victors have become." I answered back honestly.

You could hear a pin drop in the huge auditorium, as people stared at me, some in disappointment, some in pride. But what confused me the most was the expression of approval on the head Gamemaker's face.

But it wasn't until I saw Sydney's face, that I knew I had screwed up.

-End of flashback-

All eyes were on me on the elevator. Sydney bit her lip while she murmured quietly under her breath, Mags and Colin were chatting about about tomorrow. I froze. Tomorrow is the day I go into the arena, the day I'll have to apply my survival skills in order to live.

"So," I was broken out of my thoughts by Colin's fake cheerful voice. "That went well." He added while winking at Sam and I.

Unintentionally, Sam let it slip that he won't kill anyone, cause he didn't want his conscious marked. He was very religious in that way, but you could imagine Liam's reaction to that. I suppose he doesn't like us very much, considering the events of today.

"Yeah.. I could see the Gamemakers radiating with joy." Mags snapped back sarcastically.

Sydney was biting her nails and staggered out of the elevator as soon as we arrived. Mags and Colin followed quietly behind her, as Sydney burst into tears and locked herself in her room.

"You did nothing," Colin told us while glancing in pity. His forehead was damped with sweat as he struggled to break free from Mags' tight grip. "Lily, why don't we take a walk. We have a lot to discuss." He added while dragging my arm towards the elevator.

"Why do you want to talk to me?" I asked rudely while talking alongside Colin.

"How old do you think I am?" he answered back randomly. I looked at him suspiciously. He's up to something.

"I don't know... 28. Why are you asking me this?" I answered back in confusion. If he wanted to discuss about his age, he could've done it with Mags.

"Matthew Summers." He said randomly while watching me like a hawk.

"How do you know that name?" I asked as a wave of anger overcome me.

"He was a good boy, a survivor, even more than that. I used to watch the countless times he used to save you. However, being a survivor isn't enough, he suffered the same fate, as you could right now, with that sharp mouth and those words." He answered back while glancing at the peacekeepers around us.

"Shut up!" I snapped. "You know nothing about my brother."

"Oh, but I do. You see... he figured me out. He knew the truth, all of it." He answered back while measuring his words carefully.

"You see, he figured out my last name, not my adoptive name. And even if he knew, he managed to keep a secret. I doubt you could do that. Listen, Lily, have you ever been told a secret?" He answered back.