Isolated Together | Panem's Past Hunger Games

Chapter 3

Hazel

They peacekeepers lead - well, force - us off the stage with their rifles pressed uncomfortably into the square of our backs. We have no choice back to go with them. Away from my brothers, Conner and James. Away from my parents. Away from my district.

But unlike how I had imagined this moment time and time again, I am not walking away from my friends, who trail behind me with their heads bowed. The only exception is Reyna, who's posture remains rigid and confident for the entire walk. 

This isn't supposed to happen. Not to me. I do everything right. I follow the rules, I'm a good sister and a hard worker. The games are supposed to be karma for people who deserved it. 

Have I done something wrong?

I can feel the tears about to escape my eyelids, so I press them shut firmly.

They need me to at least look strong, or they'll lose all hope.

My breathing becomes shaky and shallow as we make our way to the building where we will say goodbye to everything we have ever known. 

Nausea sweeps over me and I feel faint. Calm down. 

I enter the Farewell Room and sit on the clammy, dust-ridden couch waiting for me. A peacekeeper follows me in. I think about how unsettling it is that I've only seen a peacekeeper with their mask off once. I don't like it. I read people by watching their eyes; you know what they say, eyes are the window to the soul.

The sudden swing of the rotting door breaks into my thoughts. My brothers run up to me, their chests heaving and tears flowing.

"Hey hey hey, it's okay. There's no need for tears," I reassure them. They nod simultaneously and James rubs his eyes. 

"Please come back. Maybe you can win, you have all of your friends!" Conner suggests. His voice is laced with desperation. I manage a weak smile for his sake turn to my parents.

None of us say a word as I hug each of them. They are escorted out of the room.

I think about how I will probably never see any of them again.

Something grabs my arm and my heart

skips

a beat.

It's not until I've been shoved outside that I realise it was the peacekeeper.

Once I'm standing up straight again, my gaze falls on Esmẽ, who is watching her parents leave with a distant expression plastered on her face. I walk over to her.

"You okay?" I whisper to her. She quickly recomposes herself and gives me her usual wide smile, but her eyes look empty.

"Never better. I mean, we're obviously going to win the games. We have ME in our team!" Esmẽ announces. She winks and turns to follow Serena, who is being led by a peacekeeper, presumably to the train. The one that will take us away from our district, never to return. I sigh. Whether Esmẽ really believes it or not, we do have to be positive if we're going to stand even the slightest chance. I begin to trail behind Esmẽ and Serena, with Jess, Sheena, and Reyna behind me. 

It reminds me of the day I met them.

I've only seen a peacekeeper with their mask off once.

We were walking single file through the orchard, peacekeepers trudging alongside us. I was in the middle of the line, which was awkward because everyone knew them as a tight-knit band of girls, and there I was, smack bang in the middle on them. My heart was about to jump out of my chest and my tongue felt like sandpaper. I clenched my teeth.

You can do this. Make some friends.

Once we were working, the peacekeepers became bored of overseeing our labor and left to attend more entertaining matters. I took this as an opportunity to start a conversation. I turned towards the girl with dark blue glasses. She also happened to be from one of the only families with pale skin. Like me.

I took a deep breath, and-

"Get down, now!"

I was sprawled across the ground. What the?

I tried to collect my thoughts. Everything was spinning, and someone had shoved me. I squinted and could just make out the blurry figure kneeling in front of me. It was the girl I was just trying to talk to. Did she shove me? Who said 'get down'? What's going on?

I heard a collision of some kind, and the sound of something breaking. Then, a loud thud. It sounded like someone punched someone - something - else. I stood up on shaky knees to see the same girl retracting her arm. Her hand was clenched into a fist.

My vision tunneled as I took in the scene. In front on the girl was a peacekeeper. His mask was broken in the center, and fragments of black plastic were strewn around him and the his attacker. Then I noticed that her fist was smeared with red.

Blood.

She defended me.

Not his attacker. My defender.

The peacekeeper's face flushed pink and his expression was aloof.

He's drunk.

He giggled and tried to stand up but stumbled and fell, losing consciousness as well. The girl glared down at him.

Another girl - Reyna, I think - comes up to me, the curls of her ponytail wavering slightly in the stale breeze.

"He was about to hit you with his rifle. She pushed you over and then punched him," she said. Her voice sounded so... unaffected. I shivered and shuffled away from her. "Nice work, Serena. You even broke the mask." Reyna smiled.

Serena turned back and returned Reyna's smile with her own.

"Yeah, but now my hand hurts like hell," she sighed. "You okay?" she asked, inclining her head towards me.

I thanked her eagerly.

And that's how I met them. Ever since, I've been friends with all five of them. Well, except Reyna, who kind of gives me the creeps.

The abrupt sound of a train screeching to a stop startles me and I look up. A shining silver vessel is perched in front of us, making us feel even more drab and dull in comparison. News reporters crowd around us, barely being held back by the peacekeepers. Serena stumbles over the gap in the train entrance but manages the rest of the way through the gleaming automatic doors. As they slide open soundlessly before me, my body freezes up.

I don't want to go.

My breathing hitches and I stagger backwards. The peacekeepers grumble from behind and close in on me, trying to heard me into the train.

No.

No.

No.

I don't want to go.

My brothers--

A gloved hand closes around my shaking arm. The owner of the hand pushes me forwards. I struggle against the guards but more and more arms reach out to push me int the train. I fall through the doors.

As the train glides away towards the unseen exit of the dark tunnel, one thought dominates my mind.

That was my only chance.