The 175th Hunger Games

Chapter 4 - Alexia's POV

"There's someone waiting for you in the other room, Ms. Hawthorne," a peacekeeper tells Margo.

I begin to panic. I can't be alone. You took away my parents and my brother, forced me to be in these games, you can't take away my sister too.

Margo kneels down in front of me, says something about how she'll be right back.

Please don't leave me, I think.

"I swear to you, I'll be right back," she says, responding to my thought. Did I say that out loud?

I begin to shudder, which I think she takes as a nod because she leaves with the peacekeeper. I begin crying again as she leaves. After a few moments, the door opens again. Thank god, she's back I think to myself, still crying.

"Alexia," I hear a low voice say. Not Margo.

I look up and see Aster. I jump up into his arms.

"This can't be happening Aster, I can't do this,"

I say, sobbing into his shoulder.

He doesn't say anything for a moment, then breaks the silence.

"I love you Alexia," he whispers, "I'm sorry I never said anything before, but we we're just great friends and I didn't want to ruin anything,"

I break the hug and look at him, tears forming in his eyes.

"I love you too, Aster," I say, softly.

We hug again, both sobbing, because at this point it's too late for us to be anything. We both know I'm probably going to die. As the peacekeeper comes in the take him out of the room, he kisses me quickly.

"Goodbye," he says through tears as he's dragged out.

I sit down on the couch again, bringing my knees to my chest and sobbing.

Soon after Aster leaves, Margo returns, now with puffy red eyes and a silver necklace. I recognize it. It's Lily's. She got to see Lily, and I got to see Aster. Makes sense. I scoot over a little bit to allow Margo to sit down next to me on the tiny couch, and I rest my head on her shoulder.