If the Capitol Returned (A Hunger Games Spin off)

Chapter 5- Goodbyes

The peacekeepers escorted us to different rooms. The peacekeepers escorted me through 2 wooden doors and then shut them quickly and smoothly. I looked around. My ocean blue eyes could barely believe what I was seeing. The walls were painted a creamy white and the floors were covered in something soft that I couldn't identify. It seemed like a rug that covered the entire floor. In the center was a red velvet couch with a golden trim. In front was a glass coffee table with a loaf of bread so big it would keep my family going for at least a week. I sat down on the couch and stroked the silky smooth fabric. Then the wooden doors opened. Taddeo walked in and sat down next to me. I saw his big brown brown eyes begin to flood with thick salty tears.

"Oh Taddeo, please don't cry," I coaxed. I hugged him and he embraced me harder than ever, showing a sense of protection. I knew Taddeo so well everything about him was familiar to me. Even the rate of his heart was something knew of Taddeo. I loved him dearly.

"I'm sorry I couldn't volunteer Rosie!" he choked out, using my nickname he game me.

"Why would you ever want to?" I questioned, rubbing his muscular back.

"So I could protect you and save Hagan," he explained as his tears began to slow down. Taddeo and I had always been really close.

"I love you Taddeo," I said heartfully,

"I love you Rosie," Taddeo said bashfully. Then two peacekeepers came in.

"Your time is up," announced the first one. Taddeo embraced me quickly. The Peacekeepers came and pried him off of me.

"Taddeo!" I shouted But I never heard his response. I began to notice some tears coming into my eyes. I sucked them in. I couldn't have the crowd find me weak and I knew there were cameras in here. Then I heard the doors open again. It was Hagan.

'"Hagan," I began to say.

"Oh Rosemary," Hagan said and hugged me. His cheeks were tear stained.

"It will be okay," I said.

"You can do this. All Devlin is going to do is try to protect you," he explained.

"No, he is going to win!" I said sternly. I was going to die. Devlin had to win.

"Do what you think, but I know what I know," he said. Even though the timing was shorter than the timing with Taddeo, two peacekeepers bounded into the room.

"It's time!" the first one announced.

"It hasn't been 3 minutes!" Hagan tried to explain. The peacekeeper took out his gun and aimed it at Hagan. My eyes went as big as saucers.

"Are you questioning me?" he asked firmly, ready to fire.

"Just asking," he said, his teary eyes full of fear.

"Keep a steady eye on him, one more outburst there will be a whipping," said the first peacekeeper to the second one. He nodded and typed it into the little machine on his arm. They took Hagan out of the room, leaving me alone once again. A large group of my friends came in.

"Rosemary, I'm so sorry," my good friend Aleissia whispered to me. She fell into my arms, sobbing. I rubbed her back, trying to keep myself from crying too.

"Everything will be okay," I replied back softly, lying through my teeth.

"Rosemary, we know you too well, we all know you are going to try to have Devlin win," another one of my friends said.

"I know, so I guess this is goodbye," I whispered, biting my lip as a thin streams of tears rolled down my cheeks. All of my friends began to cry at once and we all formed a group hug.

"We are going to miss you more than you will ever now," Alessia told me. Everyone nodded in agreement. I opened my mouth to speak.

"You will all be fine, that's what matters, please don't worry about me. Go on living as if I was never there. Don't grieve when I am killed. Just go on. Please just go on." Everyone began sobbing and started hugging me. As I finished my sentence, the peacekeepers walked in.

"Time is up, let's go," one of the peacekeepers said in a deep voice. Everyone walked out, except for Alessia, who stood next to me confidently.

"Alessia, don't," I whispered.

"You hear me kid? Time's up, let's go," the peacekeeper said dangerously. Alessia put her hand in my own and said nothing. The peacekeeper nodded at the other one. He grabbed Alessia put his hand on her throat, cutting off her air.

"No!" I screamed and raced to the peacekeeper choking Alessia. I tried to rip his hand from her neck, but I didn't have the strength. The other peacekeeper grabbed me, trying to slip handcuffs on my wrists, but I fought as hard as I could. He kicked me trying to get me to stop. Finally the peacekeeper let go of Alessia and she fell to her knees, gasping for air. The peacekeeper finally was able to slip the handcuffs onto my wrists and lead me out of the room.

"No!" Alessia screeched weakly. I didn't know if I would ever see her again.