"Kyla Guthrie"

Louis is screaming my name but it sounds extremely far away. All I can really hear is my heartbeat and my breathing. They drew my name. I'm going into the arena.

I look around frantically and see Louis being held back by Peacekeepers. He isn't screaming anymore but tears are cascading down his face now. I can't even bare to look at him, so I focus on the ground and begin to walk to the giant stage at the front of the square. No one is talking, and all I can hear is scuffling from behind me (probably Louis fighting the Peacekeepers) and my footsteps on the concrete. It feels like an eternity before I'm walking up the steps and joining Effie on the stage. She smiles brightly at me before turning to face the audience once again.

"And now, we pick for the boys!"

Instead of looking out into the audience and looking at Louis', my parent's and everyone's devastated faces, I watch Effie as she digs her hand into the second glass orb. She pulls out a thin piece of paper and walks back to the center to read out the last name.

"Thomas Williamson." she says, but before anyone can even react, I hear Louis' voice screaming through the crowd.

"NO! WAIT!" he yells, "I volunteer! I'll take his place."

My heart stops and I can't even believe what I heard. Louis just volunteered for someone he doesn't even know. Before I'm even aware, I'm screaming at the top of my voice.

"NO! LOUIS! STOP!" I try to run off the stage but I'm held back by giant hands. Someone from the Capital, no doubt. Even though I know it's too late, I pray that he can change his mind and the other boy will have to go into the arena with me. But before I can think twice, Louis has joined me on the stage and is standing alongside Effie.

"Our tributes from District 12! Kyla Guthrie and Louis Tomlinson!" Effie exclaims into the microphone. It echoes off the buildings and the square is eerily quiet. Everyone in the district knows Louis and I are best friends. I can hear someone sobbing extremely loud in the audience, and when I finally find the person, my heart shatters. Mr. Tomlinson is on the ground, crying as hard as ever. Before I begin to cry myself, I have to turn away and glance at Louis. He is already staring straight at me and his blue eyes are glassy with unshed tears.

"Well go on you guys, shake hands," Effie says, trying to lighten up the mood.

Before I can even reach out my hand, Louis is running at me and pulling me into a back-breaking hug. The audience gasps, along with the guests on the stage, but I ignore them. I've never held Louis like this before; with such strength and love, like we may never see each other again which I know now could very well be the case.

The guests from the Capital lead us into the main District building to wait for our families and anyone else who wants to say goodbye. The meeting with my parents is brutal and heartbreaking, as my mother could hardly speak from sobbing. We pretty much just stand together in each other's arms and whisper "I love you's" before the Peacekeepers say they need to go. Before my mother is shoved out the door, she manages to get out her first coherent sentence since I've seen her.

"Come back to us baby, and try to bring Louis home too."

Before I can even answer, she's gone. I can only hope for her sake that I can return home with Louis, but I know the odds aren't in my favor at all. I'm small, weak, and vulnerable. I know I don't have a shot at winning, especially if it came down to killing Lou. I hear a soft knock on my door and when it opens, Mr. Tomlinson is standing on the other side.

"Kyla," he whispers, sounding extremely tired. I run to him and wrap my arms around him, knowing how hard this must be for him. He's tried so hard to keep his beloved children away from the Games and his own son just volunteered. He pulls away from me and looks me dead in the eyes.

"I'm going to try to make this quick. I don't have a lot of time," he says, "but I have to get this out. Kyla, Louis loves you so much. Please take care of him for however long you can. Stay together for as long as possible. Don't leave his side, no matter what."

I feel tears fall down my cheeks as he says this to me and my hands start to shake.

"I will, I promise."

Mr. Tomlinson opens his mouth to speak again but the Peacekeepers slam open the door, blocking out the noise. He is grabbed by his arms and dragged away from me, leaving me hanging on to the last words I spoke.

Effie, Louis and I finally get to the train that is going to take us to the Capital. I don't speak to anyone, not even Lou, and when we are given our cabins to sleep in, I run in alone and collapse on the floor.

I let myself sob for minutes, maybe hours. I don't know how to keep myself alive during the Games, much less Louis. I can't even bake bread without burning it, much less catch food and survive. I feel worthless and pathetic, and the thought of dying in these circumstances make me cry even harder. My stomach starts to hurt and my head begins to pound but I never stop. I can hear the door open behind me but I don't dare look to see who it could be. Only when I feel big arms wrap around me and the familiar smell of peppermint do I realize it's Louis, and I begin to sob even harder. For awhile he doesn't say anything, but when I've finally started to calm down, he lifts me up and sets me on the bed. He crawls in next to me and grabs a blanket to cover us up. I turn to face him and even in the dark, I can make out his gorgeous blue eyes. He cups my cheek with his hand and begins to sing to me, something he hardly ever does, even though he knows how much I love his voice.

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said "I'll never let you go"

When all those shadows almost killed your lightI remember you said, "Don't leave me here alone"

But all that's dead and gone has passed tonight

Just close your eyes

The sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound

He only sings the first part to me, but I don't even mind. His voice calms me down quite a bit. I meet his gaze.

"Why'd you volunteer, Lou?" I ask.

"I couldn't let you go into the arena alone. Even if I die in the attempt, I can't let you die. Not like this, not for the Capital. I don't want to live in this world without you, Kyla."

I feel tears begin to fall from my eyes again and Louis takes me in his arms. Only this time, I don't let myself calm down. I don't let myself resurface from the sadness and pain that the Capital has dropped upon my shoulders.