The 100th Annual Hunger Games

Chapter 2

I eyed her carefully as we were escorted to the Justice Building.

I smirked when I realized that there happen to have been more than what I've seen, peacekeepers surrounding us.

Confidence, or maybe it was insanity, made me shout to them.
"Hey, as long as you don't touch me, you won't end up like your buddy."

That's it, I've lost my mind.

The Capitol has broken me.

I lounged across the velvet sofa with springs digging into my side.

Of course the first person to come in would be the hardest to let go.

Harper jumped up, similar to before, and whimpered into my shoulder.
I stroke his back, as I did often when he was scared of storms.
My father wrapped his arms around us, while my brother's all stood around dumbly.
I patted my father's arm, so he'd know to let go.

I placed Harper on his lap and stood to face my older brothers.

They flinched back as I rose.

"So now you're scared of me huh?" I asked, crossing my arms protectively over my non-existant chest.
Silas shook his red curls and caught me off guard by wrapping me in an embrace.

I gaped once the other two joined in.
"What is happening to my brothers, what have these spirits replaced them with." I blurt out, trying to hide the emotion welling up inside my throat, unsuccessfully, if I may add.

"We came to apologize for being such total jerks." Lennox said.

I laughed maniacally "jerks?? Oh no, you were much worse than that."

They all hung their heads before I added, "but we're family, so I guess I will have to forgive you. You know, since I'm gonna die anyways."

Harper laced his arms around my thigh, as well as my father joined us.

"Not with that performance." The triplets said in unison.

My eyebrows twisted in confusion. "Performance?"

Silas snorted. "You killed a peacekeeper for touching you. The other tributes will see that and be scared. In fact, that's probably why you're still alive. To spice things up in the games."

Now that I've thought about that, I normally would have been killed on the spot for my actions.
"Are you sure they won't take that out on you guys?" I comb through Harper's hair, slightly regretting my previous decision to go ballistic on the guard.

The worst thing was, they all shrugged, having no clue.
"No, probably not. They like that sort of thing. If anything, they'll take it out on you in the games." My father said, his hazel eyes twinkling.
"Such like you're mother." A tear trickled down his face.
"You look just like her you know. The untameable chestnut hair to match your independent personality."

"You have a chance, we believe in you." The triplets squeezed my arm.

The peacekeepers came just then and I felt Harper latch his hand to my wrist.

They tried to tear him off of me, but I waved them all back. "I'll get him."

I knelt down to look him in the eyes.
His tear stained hazel eyes just like my own.

"Harp, I have to go now. But I swear I will try my hardest to get back."

"But people from our district never come back." He muttered, twisting a ragged bracelet around his wrist.

"This one will." I kissed his forehead. "See, the bracelet will protect me." I held up my own wrist to show the matching woven bracelet he'd made me.
"Now go okay? Go with daddy. Be my brave boy" I tapped on his pouty lower lip.

Harper nodded, puffing his chest out, and trying his best to look tougher.

I would have laughed if I hadn't been in this predicament.

Thankfully, Harper left with the rest of my family quietly.

The next person to come in was a surprise.

My recently ex boyfriend, Wesley, the mayor's son.

"Wes-" I stuttered as he rushed forwards and pulled me into a hug.

"I was going to, but they wouldn't let me. I tried- I tried so hard." He stammered into my hair.

I pushed him back, "you tried what?"

"I tried to volunteer, but it's the quell, they wouldn't let me." He ran his hands through his unruly blonde hair.
"I couldn't reach you either, the guards held us back."

I was going to ask a different question, but pulled myself short. "Us?"

"Your brothers didn't say anything?"
Wesley he asked, his sky blue eyes filled with confusion.
I shook my head.

"We tried to reach you once you started to attack the Peacekeeper. We figured they'd try to murder you for it and have Ash pick a different girl." He explained, fiddling with one of the buttons on his blue button up shirt, as he did when he was nervous.

I touched his hand, how different ours were. His soft and large, my own small and scarred.

"Thanks for trying anyways." I mumbled as he caressed my hand.

"I'm sorry for what happened, I didn't think saying that would have any affect, but I realize now I was wrong."

"You were, but there's no way we could have foreshadowed what was going to happen. So don't let it get to you when I don't come back." I said, putting some distance between us.

"You've given up already? But you actually stand a chance!! The tributes will be terrified of you, that or either want you as an ally! Can't you see the advantage in that? Not to mention all the sponsors you will get!" Wesley protested.

The peacekeepers choose right then to call time up, and opened the doors wide.

"I still love you." He grabbed my face and pressed his lips against mine.

To be completely honest, that was the first time I'd ever been kissed, so I had no idea what to expect.

His lips felt gentle against my chapped ones, soft and warm.

Too soon, they pulled us apart and dragged him out as he yelled "Don't give up!! You have to come back!"

I never got to return his I love you.