'No, no.'

'No no no no no no no no no no.'

'This can't be happening!'

'How could my brother get reaped!?'

'He only had his name in the jar once!'

'I only let him enter his name once.'

'I failed.'

'I failed him.'

'I failed as a brother.'

'He's going to die.'

'I can't save him, right?'

'I'm going to lose him.'

'I'm going to lose the only brother I have left.'

'I'm a failure. I'm a failure. I'm a failure. I'm a failure I'm a failure I'm a failure I'm a failure I'm a failure I'm a failure I'm a failure I'm a-'

"Grian!"

Scar's hand is grabbing onto my shoulder, holding me in place, preventing me from falling over completely. He's standing next to me now, a worried expression on his face. I mouth a quick thanks to him as I crane my neck, trying to find Lyle anywhere. I look towards the direction of the twelve-year-olds, and that's when I spot movement. It's quick to spot Lyle's bright blue eyes in the crowd, his face pale, his hands curled into fists, as he slowly starts walking to the stage.

'Wait.'

'I promised him that I'll volunteer.'

'Why am I just standing here?'

'I have to protect him.'

'I have to get to him before it's too late.'

My feet unroot themselves from the ground as I push past all of the other kids my age, trying desperately to get to Lyle as fast as I can. As if the other kids sense my urgency to get out of the crowd, they all move away, creating some sort of messy path so I could get through without pushing everyone. Rushing out of the group, I see that Lyle is still walking to the stage, all eyes on him, like watching someone about to get executed. I'm able to reach him before he mounts the steps up to the podium, and push him behind me, holding one arm in front of him.

"I volunteer. I volunteer as tribute." I gasp, starting straight into the eyes of Eleanor Lux and Mayor Cartwright. There's silence as they look at each other, mumbling to themselves and Juniper. I look over my shoulder, and Lyle's still as pale as a ghost, shaking, his eyes meeting mine. He's mouthing 'No' over and over again, and I pull him into a hug.

"Very well then, young man, please step up!" I hear Eleanor Lux call out to me. I peel away from Lyle, and place his hands on his shoulders.

"Lyle, I need you to get back. I'll protect you, I promise." I whisper. I stand up and turn around, all eyes now on me as I mount the stairs up to the podium. I look behind me, seeing Lyle be dragged back to his age group by a peacekeeper. He's reaching out for me, and his mouth is opened, yet no sound comes out. He's in shock, as he is dropped next to Elena, who immediately wraps him into a hug, her eyes also fearful. I walk to the center of the podium, and Eleanor Lux congratulates me.

"Well done! It's takes a lot of courage to volunteer. Who was that little boy to you?" She asks me, a smile on her face. How can she say congratulations? I volunteered so Lyle wouldn't be killed, yet now, I'll be killed, taking his place. Still, I bottle up my anger over the congratulations, and respond. "He's my little brother." I reply. Eleanor Lux nods, even though I feel as if she doesn't even have any sympathy for me or Lyle.

"Yet, how often is it to volunteer here in District 12? It's way more common in District 1, District 2, and District 4. But here, people can still volunteer, right..?" She trails off, looking at Mayor Cartwright for assistance, who nods as a yes. She then resumes her usual smile, and continues the reaping. I walk over to where the tributes are supposed to stand, hoping no one will see that I'm shaking myself.

"Well, now time for the second boy's name!" Eleanor announces, directing the attention back to her. Again, she dips her hand on the bowl, and pulls out another slip of paper. Walking back to the microphone, she announces the name in a clear voice.

"Scar Goodtimes!"

Shit. Oh fuck. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

How are the odds against the people that I care for? Lyle was almost sent to his death, and now Scar will die alongside me? If I die, then my siblings will only have each other. Yet, they'll be looked after by Scar's Aunt and Uncle. We made a promise on that years ago.

I stare into the crowd, and spot Scar leaving our age group, looking scared but determined. He mounts the stage next to me, and takes my hand into his. He's shaking too, yet he's trying to hold it together.

"Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the two tributes for District 12, Grian Xelqua, and Scar Goodtimes!" Eleanor Lux calls into the microphone, and starts clapping quietly for us. In the crowd, no one moves. Until an elderly man presses his index, middle, and ring fingers to his lips, and raises it into the air. After that one gesture, everyone watching copies that same action. It's the three-finger salute. The salute is a representation of a goodbye, admiration, and unity among the people of District 12. In other words, the population is saying goodbye to us, that we will never be forgotten. Quickly, using the hand that isn't holding onto Scar's hand, I wipe any upcoming tears from my eyes. I don't want to cry now. Especially in front of the entire population of District 12. The anthem of Panem plays, and suddenly we are handcuffed by the peacekeepers, and escorted into the Justice Building. Why are we handcuffed? I don't know. Maybe some tributes tried to escape before in the past.

[----------]

As the peacekeepers force me and Scar into our own rooms, I am left alone once again. The Justice Building could be the richest place I've ever been in. Thick, soft carpets line the floors, and a velvet cough and chair are placed in the room. The dress Elena is wearing, the one that our Mother used to own, is made up of velvet. I walk over to the couch and sit down, unable to stop myself to fidgeting with my fingers. I'm nervous about what will happen. How my siblings will cope after I die. Will they fall into a deep depression and never get out? I won't be there to protect them anymore. I start running my fingers across the velvet couch, trying to calm myself down for the next hour. That is all the time we have to say goodbye to out loved ones. I can feel tears build up in my eyes, but I push them away. Crying is a sign of weakness, and there will be camera at the train station.

After a moment of silence, Elena and Lyle enter the room, and immediately fling themselves onto me. I'm holding onto the both of them, and we stay silent for a few minutes, taking in the weight of the situation. Soon, I pull away, and I start telling them the things that they need to do, now that I won't be there to help and protect them. I've taught Lyle and Elena how to hunt before, so they can get by with that. I tell them to stay in school, and quickly teach them about trading the food that they hunt. I grab their shoulders, and look them both in the eyes.

"Scar's Aunt and Uncle will look after you. Him and I made a promise on that a while ago. Just please, if I don't make it out alive, don't end it. Stay on this world for each other. I know that it's cruel and poor and horrible, but you have to survive, just like the three of us have done for five years now." I explain. I watch as they both slowly nod, and I embrace both of them into a hug. As we're embraced, I feel Elena slip something onto my wrist. Looking down, it's her bracelet that I made her when she was younger.

"It's a good luck charm. Whenever you look at this, you'll think of us." I hear her whisper, and I nod.

"You have to win." I hear Lyle mutter. I know that he knows that I can't win. We live in the poorest district. All the other tributes are probably twice my weight and height. The tributes from Districts 1, 2, and 4 have been trained for this their entire lives. Yet, what Lyle said felt like a promise.

"I'll try my best, okay?" I respond.

I wish I had more time with them. Yet the peacekeepers are now here, and now Elena and Lyle need to leave, and I'm holding onto the both of them, telling them that they are loved, that I love them. We're saying our final goodbyes, the peacekeepers orders them out, and the door slams behind them. I stare at the bracelet that Elena gave me, already thinking about them.

I hear the door open again, and in walks Scar's Aunt and Uncle. They sit next to me and pat my back.

"We'll take care of them, we promise." Scar's Aunt mutters. I look up at them. Both are teary-eyed, and just came from saying their goodbyes to Scar.

"Thank you.." I mutter back, embracing the both of them. Then, they get up and leave, and I'm left all alone until a peacekeeper enters, and escorts me out.

It's a short, ten-minute ride from the Justice Building to the train station by car. I've never ridden a car before, it's something new.

As we exit the car and head onto the platform, cameras surround me, Scar, Eleanor Lux, and Juniper, as we wait for the train doors to open. I look over at Scar. He sends me a tight smile, and I know that he is also trying to hold his emotions in. As the train doors open, we all enter, being lead by Eleanor, and we walk to the lounge area as the doors close. I take a seat by the window as the cameras continue flashing and recording, and I hear the train turn on.

Scar joins me by the window, as the train starts to move, and we watch, as our home starts to move away getting harder and harder to see, until you can't see it anymore.

[----------]

A bit of a shorter chapter compared to the last one, but I hope that it's okay! Hope you liked this chapter!