The rise of Panem

Chapter 36

"Come on dear," she said. Sweat dribbled through my clenched hands, forming in a border around m thin fingers. I walk the same rate as my heart. When I get on stage, I look at Effie with disbelief. "Now for the boys," she said. Her heals click toward the boys reaping bowl. Who will I fight with. Who will die with me.

It wasn't what I expected. It was a person I knew.

Niall!

I thought of Samantha and Liam. They care a lot about both of us, and were going to have empty lives. "Our tributes from District 2, Bailey and Niall," she said.

We are marched into a place know as the justice building. Niall was used to the richness, but not me. An average daughter like me never seen such richness. I ran my fingers into the fabric. After about a minute of rubbing, the door flew open. Sofia leaped onto my lap and started to desperately sob. Dad rapped his arms around me, squeezing me. On a regular day at home, I would push him off. "Stop," I would say. Sometimes even groan and roll my eyes. This time, I let him. "Listen, I might not make it out alive, but you have to be brave," I say. I start to cry some more as they hug me. We spent 3 minutes hugging before a peacekeeper comes, separating us. "NO," I yell. I leap at them, clenching Sofia's sweaty palm. I pull her toward me. I grab dad's hand with my other hand. I soon shoot back on the couch and they disappear. I look as a peacekeeper rolls his eyes and disappears into the shadows. My hands fly on my eyes as they try to take away the tears, but they fight there way past my fingers and onto the leather couch. Samantha, Haley, and Annie run in next. I run off and jump on them, hugging them. Niall ran to Samantha, jumped into his warm arms, and cried into his shoulder. "I will come home to you," he said. They started to kiss. "Eww get a room," Annie complained. When they stop, Samantha runs to me. We all do a group hug before the peacekeepers run in, dragging them out. "I LOVE YOU FROM THE EARTH AND BACK," Niall yelled. His eyes pushed up tears as he released them into my chest. "It's ok, I will bring you home to her, don't worry, I'm not going to live anyway," I say stroking his hair. Mags is the next to come in. We hug, cry, and make promises until she has to leave. Niall is still sobbing so loud. Finally Liam slowly walks in. I run as I leap into his arms. I grab onto his shoulder and cry into it. "Listen to me, I love you and you will win The Hunger Games, Promise," he asks. "Promise," I say. I put my hands around his head and press my forehead against his. He puts his hands on my cheeks. We press harder, allowing a kiss to come. It was the last kiss, and I wanted to make it the best. When we stop, I put my hand on his shoulder. "Forever and always," he asks. "Forever and always," I say. We kiss again, as I wrap my arm around his shoulder, resting it there. Then, I drop to the floor as Liam is being dragged out. "NO," I yell. "Don't let go," he yells. I grab his hand and hold on tightly. A peacekeeper runs in and separates us. He is dragged out, telling me it was the last time I saw the ones I love.