The 150th Annual Hunger Games: The Pride In Death

Chapter 4 - Anxiety (Carson)

Carson's (Vivian's) POV

Floria leads me to a room and takes Jackson to another. I enter the room and I'm instantly bored out of my mind. The walls are a dull grey color with the paint chipping off. The only furniture in the room are two cream colored sofa chairs, a small white rug pressing against the wooden floor, and a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

I relax in one of the chairs and attempt to sort out my thoughts, but before I could, the door creaks open. It reveals a small girl with tear stained cheeks and red eyes. It was obvious she was crying. And it broke my heart. She runs at me, pulling me into a hug that if she hugged any tighter, she would be choking me.

"Why, Carson, why? Why did you volunteer?" She whispers.

"I'm sorry, Donny, but I wasn't gonna let you die." I sigh. "I would've never forgave myself if I let you die."

"Please survive. You're strong, you're smart, you're a fighter! You will survive." She pulls something out of her hair. "Here." She hands me a pin. The pin was beautiful with a baby blue rimming and diamond like wave at the center. She's told me the story behind this pin. 151 years ago, in the Dark Days, during the battle, a man named Krystl Pentascope wore this pin in battle. He saved five men from a bombing by sacrificing himself. This pin is the only thing left of him. Krystl Pentascope was Donny's great, great granddad.

"No way. It's too precious." I reject instantly.

"So are you. Sis, you're coming back a hero. Krystl never came back a hero, and I want you to do what he never did. I want you to come back a hero. I want you to honor him." She spoke with a fire in her eyes that I've never seen before. She must be passionate about this.

I take the pin from her hand and adjust it in my hair. She wraps her arms around my neck for one more hug. She whispers one last thing to me before she is escorted out by a peacekeeper.

"Honor us, sister."

I catch up with Jackson and Floria when suddenly it hits me.

I'm gonna die. Not to natural causes. To the Capitol's sick and demonic game.

This thought causes a trigger. My heart starts beating rapidly. My breathing is fast and uneven. Tears start escaping my eyes as my vision to become blurry.

A panic attack...

I feel a shock of numbness run down my body as I hit the ground and everything goes silent and I see nothing.