Chapter 23

Luca comes into my room. He is out of breath and a look of pure horror on his face.

"What's wrong?" I ask concerned.

"Y-your going to the capital." He says.

"WHAT!" I shout.

Jacob runs in and says, "What happened?"

"They are sending her to the capital." Luca says.

"I swear if you guys are joking I will kill you and dance on your grave." Jacob says.

I shake my head. Jacob looks like he has had the last straw.

"Well we knew we were going into war anyway." I say trying to keep myself calm.

"Not in the capital!" Jacob says angrily.

"I asked them to send you both to 8. But they said they had more use for Aina in the capital and didn't want to risk you." Luca says sitting on my bed his head in his hands.

"WAIT SO SHE IS GOING IN ALONE?!" Jacob yells.

"I can handle myself Jacob I will be fine." I say my voice calmer then what I feel like.

"NO!!! Your my baby sister! You can't go in alone!" Jacob continues.

"She isn't gonna be alone she is gonna be a part of the "star team". Basically she is gonna be just for show. With Katniss and Finnick." Luca says his voice cracking

"See I'll be just fine!" I say.

Before Jacob can start yelling again I pull my hair out so quickly if hurts.

"It has been a while since you have braided my hair." I say my voice panicked.

He rolls his eyes but he doesn't object. He starts braiding my hand his hands are less gentle then they normally are.

"I am not letting you go." He says angrily but not yelling so I guess improvement.

"You don't got a choice. I'm going sorry." I say flinching slightly as he pulls a strand of my hair.

"You've gone through enough. You shouldn't have to do this." He say his voice more calm like he is focused on something else.

"She will be fine." Luca says obviously upset.

"We have forced her to do everything  alone. I am not letting her this time I can't!" Jacob says his voice rising.

"You guys didn't force me to do anything alone. My first games Henry went with me and in the quarter quell Jacob went with me. You guys have never even let me do anything by myself." I say.

"We'll let you pick out a dog or something by yourself not go to a war." Jacob says.

"We don't have a choice, Jacob. She doesn't even have a choice." He says.

"When will I leave?" I ask

"Tomorrow." Luca says.

Jacob yanks my hair the second Luca says it.

"Tomorrow!?!?" Jacob says.

"Yeah so we have to make the most of this." I say

"I can't believe them." He says finishing my hair.

"We will be fine." I assure him.

"You better be." Jacob says.

For the rest of the day we hang out and mess around.

THE NEXT MORNING

Jacob wakes me up around 4 in the morning.

"Wake up!" He says.

"It is 4 in the morning your not even supposed to be up." I say still half asleep.

"You have to leave at 5." He says. Obviously annoyed and sad. Luca probably made him wake me up.

"It still is last night." I say tired.

"No it is morning for you. Come on. We used to wake up early like this all the time." He says attempting to sound upbeat but ultimately failing.

We used to wake up as early as 3 sometimes to get out to hunt before the peacekeepers got too strict or to watch the stars.

"Fine." I say rolling out of bed.

He leaves and I change into the outfit they gave me. When I come out Jacob seems sad. But I was prepared and my hair is uncombed and unkept.

"Aina, you can't go with your hair like that." Luca says his voice tired as he drinks a glass of water

"I don't want to do my hair though my arms are tired." I say.

"Well then Jacob you do her hair." Luca says knowing exactly what I am doing.

"Ok." Jacob says.

He braids my hair in a way more complicated braid style then usual. The whole time humming the tune to an old song.

He finishes and clips a barrette to keep a few of my baby hairs out of my face.

"If you die, I will beat you up." He says jokingly.

I laugh and hug him. He hugs me back and whispers, "I love you. I'll be waiting for you when you get back."

"I love you too. Don't do anything stupid well I'm gone." I say back.

"Stick with the team unless the team is doing something stupid okay?" He says.

"Okay." I say keeping a smile on my face.

"It is already 4:45 u may want to go." Luca says. He is obviously holding back tears but his voice comes out clear.

"Hasta luego!" I say as I run out the door with the gun Luca made for me.

When I get to the plane Finnick, Gale and a few other people share getting in.

I go into the plane and I anxiously wait for them to take off.

"Wait are they seriously sending her. I thought they were joking." Finnick says.

"So did I." I say my voice sounding upbeat.

Gale looks at me he probably sees the scared little girl that I don't bother to hide. But he doesn't mention it.

The plane take off and I hold my hand over my wrist over my bracelet. Gale sits next to me.

He probably feels bad for me. So I sit a little straighter because pity is not something I need.

"Aina, you know you remind me a lot of my brother." He says casually.

"Really? How?"

"You both are small but tough." He says. He is obviously more used to talking to small children then kids my age but I still appreciate it.

"Thanks. Means a lot." I say.

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I hope you like this chapter!

Thanks for reading!