kryptonite (justice building). — [six/fly]

F L Y
O ' M A L L E Y

.

Six's eyes were red and puffy when I entered the room. I could tell he had been crying, but I wouldn't dare point it out. I understood. I'd been crying too, as soon as his name was called at the reaping. He wrapped me in a hug and held me tight. I hugged him back just as tight, and wished I would never have to let go. Unfortunately, the time would come for that. We didn't have long in the Justice Building together.

"Fly, are you doing okay? I promise you I'm going to try my hardest to come back to you, Fly. I'm your big brother, after all." Fly's words made me tear up again. I couldn't help it.

"Six…" I started. My words trailed off. I didn't know what to even say. The right words just weren't coming.

"I'm not okay," I admitted.

"I had a feeling something bad was going to happen today, but why did they have to pick you? Why couldn't they have picked me instead? You don't deserve this. It's not fair!" My eyes were allowing more and more tears to escape. I just couldn't stop crying.

I should have volunteered to take the girl's place so that maybe I could protect Six. Maybe I could have been his hero, but I had no way of knowing he was going to be reaped. I would have had to volunteer for the girl before I even knew he was being picked. There's nothing I really could have done without risking everything over what may have just been a gut feeling.

Unfortunately, my gut feeling was right, and now my big brother would have to fight and kill to come back home. I wasn't ready for it. My tears didn't stop.

"I know you're going to try your hardest, I just… I'm scared, Six. I wish I could help you." I tried to explain what was going through my head without mentioning the volunteering part. I just wanted to be a hero, and I couldn't do it. I wasn't good enough of a sister. I wasn't strong enough of a person.

Then again, maybe Six didn't need saving. Maybe he could just survive anyway.

I certainly hoped so.

~


"And though I'm told I'll never fly
That doesn't mean that I won't try"

F L Y
O ' M A L L E Y

.

My brother spoke words to me that made me think. He wanted me to promise never to volunteer for the Hunger Games, explaining that I couldn't protect people if I were injured like was bound to happen in the Games. He was right. It was just so hard to make that promise. I wanted so badly to be a hero. The thing is, I cared about Six, and I had to promise him. I also had to keep that promise.

"I promise I won't volunteer, Six," I told him.

Then, he kept on going. He explained to me that there was a way I could help him. By being the best little sister in the world. His words meant a lot to me. I didn't know what to say at first. It was a struggle, this conversation. It made me want to keep on crying, and that's exactly what I did, even though I really tried to stop it.

I couldn't even imagine what it would be like if Six didn't make it home. The mere thought of that being the outcome of all of this absolutely terrified me. What was I supposed to do if I didn't have one of my brothers anymore? It just wasn't fair that there was even that chance.

I didn't want to lose my brother.

"Make sure they don't get into too much trouble," Six had told me. I nodded.

"I'll keep them safe, too. Then, when you come back, I can give you the biggest hug ever. You can do this. I believe in you, Six. I love you so much, and I can't lose you. That's why you have to win, or at least try your best to win, okay?" I said all of this through heavy tears.

He had to come back alive. He had to.

~


"And though I'm told I'll never fly
That doesn't mean that I won't try"