Running. Always running away. From what, I can barely remember. When had it all begun?

I was cold, but the thought was distant. Still, I hugged my thin jacket around myself and tried to stay awake as the soon rose on a distant horizon. It would already have been morning for them.

Did they know I was gone? They'd know for sure in a few hours.

Wandering, always wandering. My thoughts are wandering again. What was I thinking about... it was important.

Running! Why was I running away? Why... was I not home?

I remember being scared. Not of them hurting me. I was scared that I would let them, and forgive them again.

I can't let myself forgive them. 17 years of foolish belief in the kindness that blood brings. Every time. Hate them. God, if only I could.

I had to run. If I went back... it would have happened again. and again. AND AGAIN.

And again and again and again and again and again and again and someone save me I'm scared and again and I was in my room and I was holding the door and AGAIN AND AGAIN I COULDN'T I HAD TO I CAN'T

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"Excuse me?" A voice pierces through the spiraling mess I had become. "Are you okay?" A sympathetic voice asks.

Looking up from my tear-stained jeans, I see a concerned face looking at me. Nothing but gentleness. I could trust him right? Just a little?

God, I can't even believe a stranger would ask if I'm alright. Is this what they've done to me? Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I jerk back, feeling fresh tears on my face. He looks at me concernedly.

"Are you alright?" He asks, gently once more. His eyes full of concern. A red rising sun painted stark shadows across such a soft fatherly face, yet a part of still didn't want to ever trust again.

I said nothing, simply staring.

"It's the last stop. Do you have anywhere to go? Or do you need to call you parents maybe?"

At the mention of parents, something in me broke, and the tears came without warning. One minute I had been staring at him coolly, another grimacing, and then crying incoherently, losing myself completely.

And throughout all of it he didn't say a single word, simply hugged me to his chest and waited for me to finish. As I moved back from him, he smiled sadly, a decision warring behind his eyes. I felt myself slowly coming alert. Nothing short of death would bring me back.

"So. I'm assuming you don't have anywhere to go. How would you feel about a place to stay? I can't say its the best, but we do what we can."

I stopped in place, my body frozen, a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind. To stay or to go. Would it be different, or more of the same?

I sighed. I guess I was near the brink anyways. If this was truly a break from it all, I would live. If not, well... not.

And that was the start of Riley Gray's stay in the Red Orphanage. A runaway, unsure of her just cause and as sure of her demise. A girl who won the pitiful lottery most like her in the Capitol lost, the prize being a chance at life outside of the luxurious four wall prisons.