Chapter 15: A Meaningful Motive

Rocher Russe, 15

District One Male

I don't know if I'll ever be back here again.

My life has never taken me outside of One, and I wonder what the rest of the world is like. But at the same time, I do not want to leave. I have a one in twenty-four chance of coming home, which makes it highly unlikely. I still plan to try as hard as I can in the Hunger Games, but no matter what I do it might not be enough. It's going to be scary knowing that my life is on the line. The bombing was so sudden that my family and I had no time to realize that we were in danger. I know going into this that one mistake could result in my death, so I've got to make good decisions to stay alive.

Orchid and Citrine come into the room to say goodbye to me. Even though I can't hear them, I can see how upset they are. Citrine reaches into the pocket of his jacket to offer me an apple, but I tell him I'm not hungry. This morning's meal was the best hot dog and lollipop I've ever had, and I'd rather him have it than me.

"It's okay, I'm okay," I say to them, because I can see how bad they both feel. Orchid has takes out a book from the small backpack she carries around.

"Do you want a page for your token?" Are what her lips read. I've got something far more exciting than a page of a book.

"No thanks," I say politely. Orchid loves her books too much to lose a page. Plus, she rented it from the small library we have.

"Rocher, we want you to know how many people love you and wanted to come in and see you. So many of our friends were lined up at the door, but the Peacekeepers would only let us, your closest friends, in. Everyone sends their love and wishes you the best of luck. Especially Zales, who was going to come in with us but he had to get back to the fruit stand," I smile at the feeling of having my true family here. We might not be blood-related but we are just as close. Zales has saved our lives multiple times when we needed food, and since this was the only time he could've been Reaped, I'm glad he's safe.

I sign I love you guys to Citrine and Orchid, who sign the same sentence back to me. It's one of the most meaningful things a person can say, and it's so much more meaningful to me seeing my friends sign it. They leave the room and I am thankful for their friendship through the years - it's honestly kept me alive.

I look down at my beautiful black goldstones, which is what I'm bringing to the games. Despite being hungry so often it's the only thing I've ever stolen. It's only a simple string that I wear as a bracelet, but I was so drawn to them that I just had to have them. If the Peacekeepers ever found out, I could've been hurt or killed.

Is it a possibility that I could be drawn to something this life-threatening in the games?

Athena Garcia, 17

District Four Female

I had no idea that I would end up being the person that was Reaped.

I have lived a priveleged life compared to most other kids in Four, with no hardships or major problems in my life. I never got the chance to meet my father but other than that my life has so far been ideal. I have great family and friends, but I now have to leave it all behind, not knowing if I'll be able to come back to them. This is a very stressful situation and I have no idea how to handle it. It's not even the type of thing someone could help me with - nobody besides the other twenty three tributes has ever had this experience before. This is something new and scary for everyone.

My mother comes into the room, and I'm surprised to see only her. I've been so fortunate to have extended family members, considering that almost nobody in the Districts has any that they're in close contanct with like I am. I hug my mother tightly, actually happy that it is only her and I so that we can have a special moment together. If the others were all brought in, it would be too overwhelming for me.

"I'm so sorry honey," my mother says to me through tears. I hate that I'm making her so upset. Like most teenage girls and their mothers the two of us fight occasionally but I wouldn't trade her for anyone.

"I love you Mom," I respond, and with that our short and sweet goodbye is over.

Murdoch, Coraline, and Glan enter the room next, Coraline in tears and the boys rather serious. Coraline is hugging me and murmuring something I cannot understand.

"Make sure when you're in the games you stay alert. You never know what's going to happen, so ally with people you trust to keep watch over you when you're sleeping," Glan tells me. Being the poorest of the group, he has always known the most about survival.

"I'll try my best," I tell him, hoping to find good people I can trust.

"Make sure not to trust the wrong people tough. I don't want you to get hurt because you were too trusting," Murdoch says. I hug him tightly, and the rest of the group joins in.

"Bye guys," I say quietly as I watch them leave.

I sit down in one of the chairs within the room and begin to twiddle with my token. Before he died, my father had been a great fisherman here in Four, and my mother had saved his favorite line while he was at war. When he came back in a coffin, she had kept this tucked away until she gave birth to me a few months later. It's been my good luck charm for as long as I can remember. When I have it near me, which is quite often, it's like my father is watching over me. It's a nice feeling knowing he is there for me emotionally, and that it's more important than being physically there.

Will his presence be enough to save me?

Hercules Forge, 16

District Two Male

I cannot wait to become a hero to Panem.

Becoming the First Victor of the Hunger Games is something that I will be known as forever. I hope to inspire others to enter the games so that they can kill even more of the worthless rebels in the future. I want to become an influential household name, and someone whose legacy is remember long after they pass on. I know the games will last forever as a punishment to the rebels, and I hope that others like me will get the oppurtunity to take their lives, just as they took the life of my mother. This is going to be the chance of a lifetime, and I think I've got this in the bag.

My father comes into the room and he is fuming. I had never told him that I was going to volunteer, I wanted it to be an exciting surprise to have a son that can win the games. Plus, I didn't want him to stop me from having this great opportunity.

"Why on Earth would you do that, Hercules?" He says, his face red with anger.

"I just wanted to kill some of those rebels, the people that killed Mom," it makes me so upset that they get to live and she doesn't, she was loyal to a fault and always followed every rule, it's so unfair that she was killed because of those idiots.

"This is the worst decision you have ever made. You're putting you're life on the line to kill teens that most likely had no direct part in killing your mother," I don't think of the rebels as individuals, but more as a large group of problematic people.

"It's fine. When I come home victorious we'll be even richer than we already are!" My father has a confused and afraid look in his eyes.

"How do you know you're the person that's going to come out alive? Twenty four of you are going in and I'm sure everyone will be motivated to live," I see a face of uncertainty and I don't understand why. It's almost as if my father thinks that I don't have a guaranteed Victory. It's beginning to annoy me.

"I'll win the Hunger Games and I'm absolutely sure of it," I respond to him confidently. I know I can do this.

"We'll see about that," my father says as he shuts the door, leaving me alone.

I take my mother's dog tags from the Rebellion out from where I had tucked them in my shirt. She was an honorable soldier in the Rebellion, but she didn't deserve to die. She was of high ranking, and it was a sad moment for District Two when we found out that she had died. She was a natural born-leader, just like my father still is, but she wasn't present witness the Capitol's victory, which I know she would've loved. I hope to make her proud by killing as many rebels as I can in the games.

But why doesn't my father believe that I'll win so easily?

Corduroy Denim Poplin, 12

District Eight Male

For once in my life, my mind is empty of thought.

I have no real survival experience or physical strength, the only sure thing I know about the games is that I am going in with Eyelet. Normally when I'm involved in a new situation I assess the things that I can do well and anything that I can control. However, there's practically nothing in either area. There's nothing that I can do to change my fate and that's a thought I cannot wrap my mind around. I don't think I'll make it very far in the games but for now I am trying to tune that out. It's impossible for me to comprehend that my life could end so early.

My sister comes in and it's clear she needs to make our goodbye short if she wants to have time to talk to both Eyelet and I.

"You are the best baby brother," she says, trying to savor our what will probably be our last moment together. She runs out the door and rushes to her girlfriend.

My parents walk into the room next, immediately mushing me into the middle of a group hug. I've never liked any sort of touching or affection, nor tight spaces. I'm uncomfortable but I know they have the best intentions.

"As long as you listen to Eisley, you'll be okay. Don't give up and be brave. We love you," I avoid their eye contact because I'm worried I will cry.

"I love you both too," I say, wishing I could spend more time with them before I go.

Taylor comes in last, and she is trying to remain calm but tears are spilling out of her eyes. We have always been eachothers' only friends, and we're both quite the introverts. We always felt comfortable around one another, and that's a rarity for me to feel like someone understands me. We both just look at one another awkwardly, not really knowing what we're supposed to be doing. Taylor kisses me on the cheek and runs out of the room sobbing. I feel horribly that she is so shaken up about it, but that seems to be the effect that the Hunger Games have on everyone. I just wish I felt like I had a better chance at coming home.

I now sit alone in the room, having nothing else to occupy my mind besides playing with my bracelet. My mom had made it for me when I was younger. It has many different fabrics, all various shades of blue and green. I don't know how she was able to weave it altogether into one bracelet, considering that they all have such different textures, but she did. I want to get back to see Chenille, Taylor, and my parents so badly, however I don't think it's very likely to happen. I think today I will be taking my last breaths in District Eight.

Is this the beginning of the end?

Griffin Hatchet, 17

District Nine Male

For once in my life I feel completely confident that I did the right thing.

I will never forgive myself for killing Rayden Den, and I can barely live with myself from that. I know for a fact that I would not have been able to live with myself if I let his son go into the games and die too. As someone older than him and also stronger I knew that I would have a better chance of making it out alive than the twelve-year-old boy. However, I don't really feel like I deserve to be the one person that lives. I would rather see it be a sweet and innocent child who had never taken part in the horrors of death. I'm unsure if murderers even deserve to live in this world, people like me deserve a taste of their own medicine.

My mother along with Alder, Misty and Fable all come in to say goodbye to me for what may be the last time. Poor Misty and Fable are to young to understand what I'm going into and what I'd have to do to survive. I can see how distraught my mother is, and I feel badly. However, I think I'd feel worse is Ames died than she would if I did.

"Please try your best to stay alive, I can't lose you too," my mother says to me. She had to deal with so much when my father passed away, and I don't want to put her through any more pain.

"I will," I say sadly. I notice Alder break into tears, but they're angry ones and not sad ones.

"How could you do this to us? You have to come home!" She says.

"I'll do everything I can," I respond, and after a quick hug my sisters and mother are gone.

I figured that after my family's departure I would be heading out, since I'm very closed off and don't have any friends. I'm shocked to hear a knock at the door. Who else could be visiting me?

The young boy who I recognize as Ames Den walks into the room, tears in his eyes and looking very grateful.

"I don't know who you are or why you volunteered for me, but thank you. I want you to have this as your token, it was once my Dad's," This poor boy has no idea that I am the reason his father is dead.

"Thank you," I say to Ames as he hands me a leather bracelet with the name DEN engraved on it. It scares me to know I'm wearing something from the person I killed, but at the same time it's oddly comforting. It reminds me that I did something kind for the Den family by volunteering, and I am happy that I made this choice.

"No, thank you. You saved my life," Ames says to me, before leaving the room as quietly as he came in.

Would he still be thanking me if he knew what I did?

Evelyn Harewood, 16

District Twelve Female

It's a strange feeling to know that my life is at risk.

Although I do have some knowledge about weapons from my parents when they became soldiers in the rebellion, no amount would ever be enough to secure a Victory against twenty-three others. I'm sure that my brother would think that my chances are higher than I do, since I've never been a super confident person, but nothing is certain anymore. I wear my mother's wedding band on my finger, thinking of my parents and wishing they could help me now. It's not very comforting to think that it's a possibly that I join them in death in the near future. No matter how capable any person is, there is no sure thing when it comes to the Hunger Games.

Aunt Mae, Nate and Nellie come into the room first, all with very different reactions. Aunt Mae breaks into tears the moment she looks me in the eyes.

"Oh, you look so much like your mother," she says sadly, remembering the woman that her brother had married. She gives me a big hug and begins to cry even more. Nellie is far too young to understand how the games work, but she notices the sadness that fills the room and attaches herself onto my right leg. Nate is trying to stay calm for my sake, but I can tell he's upset. When he hugs me I can feel his arms shaking with fear for my life.

"It's going to be okay, just please protect them," I tell him softly as I begin to cry as well.

"Please come home Evelyn, I know you're capable of it," Nate says as they all walk out the door.

Ivy and Amelia come inside shortly after my family members leave, Ivy trying to stay calm and Amelia looking very shaken up.

"Bye Evelyn," Amelia says shakily. I feel upset that she's so worried, and I wish I could assure her that I could come home, but it's not that easy.

"Don't you dare give up at any point during the Hunger Games, if you believe in yourself I know that you can do this," Ivy says to me, holding my hands tightly.

"I promise to," I respond quietly, hugging them both.

The next person to visit me was someone who I was not expecting to see at all. Lucas, a boy I've had a crush on for a while from school, comes into the room shyly. We haven't talked much so I was surprised to see him.

"Hi," I say, trying to break the silence.

"Hey. I wanted to leave you with one more thought before you go. I've liked you for the past few months, as more than a friend. I really hope you can make it home, I truly think you can do it," Lucas says to me, looking antsy for a few seconds before I find the right words to say.

"I like you too, and I'm going to try as hard as I can," I say, slowly feeling the confidence inside of me grow, even if it's just by a small bit. I give him a hug and he is gone.

Am I more capable than I seem to think I am?

Hi everybody! I hope you enjoyed this second segment of the goodbyes. I know the story is moving slowly, but it's important to me to capture each tribute's thoughts and feelings during every moment of the Games. I hope you enjoyed the point of views from Rocher, Hercules, Athena, Corduroy, Griffin, and Evelyn! Once again, for those of you that have not voted already I would appreciate you voting in the poll in my bio! I hope you're all doing well!

Yours Truly,

CuriousClove :)