The Hunger Games: Bad Beginnings

Chapter 2: Ride of Our Lives

A/N: That's Lilac⬆️ She's portrayed by Indiana Evans.

* * *

EITHER one of us dies or both of us do. I want to win, for Katniss and Prim. Olive doesn't have any family. All she has is her dying grandma. If she won, she would be going home to no one. I want her to be alive by the end of this, but my family needs me.

My family comes through the doorway of the holding room. Katniss comes running in, tear stains on her cheeks. "Don't go, please!"
    "Hey, hey, it's gonna be okay. I'll be home soon," I say and I can't hide the uncertainty in my voice.
    "If you die, I will never forgive you," Katniss cries. Her brown hair falls in front of her striking green eyes and I push her hair behind her ear. She's a spitting image of our father and she's the only one who got his brown hair and green eyes.

"If I die, take care of Prim for me. Teach her how to hunt. Help her grow into the beautiful girl I know she will be," I start. "Also, be a good girl for me, and for Mom. Hunt like I taught you to. Gale can practice with you."
    "Gale is my best friend, just like you and Olive," Katniss says, her eyes lighting up.
    "That's right. He will always be your best friend. Don't ever lose him."
    "Okay, I won't. Be careful," Katniss says, pulling me into an embrace again.
    "I will."

Katniss takes a step back and Prim runs into my arms. "Don't go!"

She doesn't understand, she doesn't know where I'm going. She's just mimicking Kat and my heart breaks when a tear runs down her cheek.

"Hey, Prim, be a good girl while I'm gone, okay?" I ask.
    "Okay, Lil," Prim agrees. "Where are you going?"
    "Somewhere special, I'll be home soon. I love you."
    "I love you, too."

I pull Prim in my arms and kiss her head. When I let go, I turn my head back to Katniss.

"Take care of her at all costs. She'll always be your best friend." I kiss her forehead. "I love you."
    "I love you, too," Katniss says softly.

I turn my attention to my mom and this is the first time I'm noticing that she's crying.

"Don't cry. I'm coming home," I assure her and hug her.
    "I know you will."
    "I love you." I look into her icy blue eyes which are identical to mine.
    "I love you, too," she replies.

The peacekeeper at the door speaks up, interrupting our last moment together before I have to leave. "Alright, time to go."

He guides my mom out the door, but has to pry Katniss and Prim off my legs. I know I shouldn't think like this, but I wonder if that's the last time I'll ever see them.

*   *   *

Effie rambles on, as if Olive and I are listening to her, on our way to the train that takes us to the Capitol.

"So as you can see... you will be treated well..."

Blah, blah, blah. Neither of us really cared enough to pay attention. I was more focused on the beautifully decorated train. District 12 is like a black and white movie, and the assortment of colors inside the Capitol's train almost blinds me. Every dish, chair, and table is a different color. Even the foods are colored in every shade imaginable. From the brightest neons, to the softest pastels. When Effie finally stopped talking, she left Olive and I to devour our meals which were perfectly placed on white, porcelain plates on a shiny, glazed wooden table in the first train car.

"This is all so good!" Olive exclaimed.
    "Yeah, this is our 'before you are sent off to die, here's a little banquet meal' meal," I reply with a light chuckle to hide my aggravated tone.
    "You're so negative sometimes," Olive says.
    "Do you know what's going on here? Are you that ignorant? Did you just forget that we are being sent to enter an arena full of people that will all be trying to brutally murder us? Only one comes out, Olive!" My voice starts to raise.
    "Yeah, I know." Olive starts to become irritated, too. "Maybe if you didn't volunteer, we wouldn't have a problem."
    "I volunteered to save your dumb ass! You shouldn't have volunteered! I know we made a pact, but the smarter decision would've been to just let me go!" I slammed the table with my fist in frustration and started to head towards the door.
I hear Olive faintly say, "Whatever happens in there will be your own fault."
I ignore her and slam the compartment door on my way out.