The One Who's Going Away (Fletcher Family Thread)

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Waiting where the peacekeepers lead us never was so stressful. They told us that this was where our family and friends come say goodbye. I had no idea that I'd have to see them again. I always thought the tributes just got sent straight off after the reaping happened. Boy, was I off. Why does it take so long for them to bring in my family? I don't want to have to see them until I win. I don't want to see Anna cry. I don't want to have to feel the pain of having to leave them. I guess I'll feel that later, regardless. This sucks. I wish that I didn't have to do this. But after what Seth said on stage, something about doing this better than me; and what Leticia said. I don't even remember wait she said. But she yelled at me. I gotta do better than both of them.

As I sit in silence, memories flood back of recent memories I had. Some are those I had when I was much younger, probably around five or six. Why couldn't I go back to simpler times like that? I would kill to not have to be in this situation. I will be able to kill soon. That'll be nice. The more the memories come, the more recent they become. My first memory of Seth and I appears. My father had thrown a hatchet into some beast. I vaguely remember what happens next, but all I know is that Seth was there. That was so long ago...before either of us hated each other. The next one of him was of the fight; the fight that changed everything. I lost control, he lost his leg. He deserved it. He started it. The most recent one of him finally came to me. I was sitting up in a tree when he came. I could have killed him that time, but I couldn't. I didn't have the advantage. Then what he said to me hit me. "Say - why didn't you volunteer these games? I'd love to see you out there choppin off legs and severing heads. Can you do that next year? I'll be your biggest supporter." I proved you right. I did volunteer you asshat And I guessed he followed my advice as well. My words to him followed: "You should volunteer yourself, someday. Maybe the next one after I do." Except we're together. Maybe I'll get to kill him.

More memories continue to flow freely into my head. This time, it's no longer of Seth. It's of Leticia and I.  I remember the first time we met in the woods outside of District 7. Ah, fun times. I'm honestly still surprised I haven't gotten caught yet. I maimed someone AND I left the district and returned. Damn, I'm really lucky. I could have also possibly maimed another person. Boy, do I have great adventures. Sadly I won't have anymore anytime soon. At least not in District 7. One of my more recent memories appears; it's still of Leticia, but this time we're both in the District. She was hiding from a teacher. I still don't know why she was hiding from her. I remember her then running away eventually. But what happened next?

Before I get a chance to remember the next sequence of events, someone knocks followed by the door swinging opens. The Peacekeeper announces that my family is here. I give him a nod. "O-okay." That came out quieter than I expected. As the Peacekeeper leaves, I quickly lower my head. I don't want to have to see my family's faces when they come in, especially my sister's. I'm really sorry about what I did. I had to. I made a promise. I need to win. To help us.

[kap]

ANNA FLETCHER
DISTRICT SEVEN

Finally, Anna was old enough not to be in the reaping. She was free to live her life as an average girl in District Seven. Well, perhaps she wasn't completely average. It's true that she was paralyzed from the waist down, resulting in her being confined to a wheelchair. Regardless, she wasn't too bothered by it. She did get to live, after all. She'd never have to go into the arena for the terrible, annual death match that the Capitol put on. What was even better was that this year, she believed her brother was safe, as well. He was still young enough to be reaped, but luckily, the quell twist resulted in only volunteer tributes going into the arena. Anna told herself that she was certain Marcus would never volunteer for something so terrible.

I was wrong, she told herself, as everything she loved crashed down in front of her own eyes.

Her brother had volunteered. He would be going into the Hunger Games by choice! Anna was stunned, and didn't even know how to react. She wished she could have stopped him before he even contemplated taking a place as a tribute. Immediately, when Marcus put himself forward, tears began to stream from Anna's eyes. She was heartbroken, and didn't know what to do.

Eventually, Peacekeepers came to she and her father. The last time Peacekeepers had approached the two of them, it was because her father had gone on a rampage. Her father was the reason she was paralyzed, after all. Anna, of course, hasn't been all too fond of the man since that occurrence. The Peacekeepers told them that they'd be visiting Marcus in the Justice Building before he got on the train, but Anna had mixed feelings about it. She didn't know if she wanted to see him or not. If she visited him, she knew she'd break down worse than she did when he initially took his place as a tribute. If she didn't visit him, she knew she'd regret it later, in case she never saw him again. Marcus was strong and intelligent, but was that enough to help him win the Games and return home? Anna couldn't be sure.

Anna wiped away her tears by the time they got to the Justice Building, although, it was still clear that she'd been crying not too long before. Her face was still wet from the salty drops that escaped her eyes, and she wouldn't be surprised if they were to reemerge quite soon. The Peacekeeper that had escorted them to the Justice Building opened the door to the room that Marcus was in, and let them go inside. Anna wheeled her way in, first.

Oh my God, was all she could think when she saw Marcus. He'd really done it. She wanted to hug him; to hold him close and keep him home. He was her little brother. They'd been through a lot together. She knew she couldn't bear to see him go, not knowing for sure if he'd be returning or not. Anna spoke to him, her voice shaking.

"Marcus..." she began, trailing off as she choked on her own words. Tears began to form in her eyes again. "Why are you doing this? I- I love you. I don't want to see you go." Her voice was shaking, and she was struggling to say much. She was full of fear for him, and didn't know how to make it go away. Anna just wanted to save her brother. She wanted Marcus to be safe and at home with her again. Now, there was no way of knowing if she'd ever have that happen.

Justice Building

Fletcher Family

words: 605

NOTES: N/a

ⒶⓀⒾ of Adoxography and of GS

[Noah Vau - D2 (Cato)]

John Fletcher

The reaping. Such a horrible time of year. A time to slaughter our own children. I hate it. Quells are the worse though, and this quell is no different. I stand in line with the other parents wondering what's about to happen. Wondering what could go on. The quell would only consist of volunteers. It makes me wonder what would happen even more. Marcus is reaping age, and I hope he's smart enough to not volunteer for this game. I want him to live. But then he's the first one who volunteered.

A lot is going on right now. The pain of losing my wife still sets heavily inside me, and now I'm risking losing my son. Marcus volunteered for the games. Normally the odds were different, but this time they look to be worse. Many from seven volunteered. I don't know how many total volunteers they are, but I just want my son back. I look at Anna partially disgusted at myself. I did this to her. Talking isn't easy because I don't know what to say, and I genuinely do care for both my children. I just don't want to say goodbye again. I can't lose him like I lost her.

I want to say everything's going to be okay, but somewhere I know I'm wrong. I've seen many games throughout my life. I've watched district seven lose over and over again. I just wish he didn't do this. I can't understand it. I'll never understand it. Biting the inside of my lip, I move forward trying to keep my head held high. I broke their trust, and I gained it back, but it doesn't feel good enough. A father is supposed to love and protect his children, but I haven't done any of those things. I've been a terrible father, and now I feel even worse.

Anna's crying, and inside I'm crying too, but I keep a straight face trying to hold myself together. Everything's falling apart around me. I just don't understand why he volunteered for this game. The peacekeepers showed us where he was, and my daughter went in first. She's obviously upset, and I don't know how to make it better. I can't make it better. I don't understand why Marcus did this. I'll never understand fully. I just wish he wouldn't have done it. It's hard. A heavy sigh leaves my chest, and I'm at a loss of words. "Well, son, I hope you understand what you're getting yourself into.".

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Looking up never had been this hard ever. I couldn't look up. I couldn't face them. I knew I disappointed them. I heart their footsteps come on in. Luckily it was just the two of them. "Marcus..." My heart pounds faster as I teeter on the edge of shedding a tear. "Why are you doing this? I- I love you. I don't want to see you go." I'm so sorry. I have to do this. For you. I want to bring honor back to our family. I don't want the Fletcher name to look bad anymore. I have so many reasons I want to say, but none of them were the truth, but I couldn't state that I wanted to win for the sake of glory.

"I..." What do I say? DO I tell the truth? DO I tell a lie? "I wanted to bring..." No, not that one. "I wanted..." Still no. Am I crying? I wipe a tear away from my face. Shit, this isn't a good time to do this. "I thought maybe if I volunteered..." Too selfish. Why must all of these be selfish? I don't want my family to think of me as selfish. "I don't know. I wanted to win so we could have a better life here." There. I said it. I don't think it sounded selfish.

"Well, son, I hope you understand what you're getting yourself into." Dad... I wanted to lash out at him, to yell at him about how stupid that statement is, to attack him about what he did to anna, to get out my anger on him. But I couldn't. I just couldn't. Deep down, I knew he cared about me, and that I know that I should forgive him. I need to forgive him. There's a serious chance that I'll die. How do you want to know that your final thoughts of talking to your father you yelled at him? How do you think HE'LL feel, getting yelled at right before watching his son go off and potentially never see him again. I nod. "I understand." I feel more tears sliding down my cheeks. "I'm going to win. I have to win. For both of you."

I finally look up at them. "I..." I hesitate due to a blast of tears shooting up into my eyes. "I love you." Please don't let that be the last time I'll ever say that to either of them. The tears are continuing to rush into my eyes, causing my voice to quiver. "I'll make sure that both of you will see me again. I will make it out alive, okay?" I give them the best smile I could give while having every intention to completely brawl like a baby. "I promise."