Howdy. This is my first story for a few years and I've been swept into the Hunger Games madness. I was really interested in Finnick's Hunger Games so I wanted to write a fanfiction depicting what I thought would have happened. I also used some ideas from the web series by Mainstay Pro on Youtube. When I finish this ( no idea when that will be) I hope to write something for Annie's Hunger Games as well. I hope you enjoy this and I will try to write a more lengthy bit next time. So without further ado, here is the beginning.

"Finn."

My eyes shot open, my neck cracking as my head whipped around, looking for the source of the whisper.

"Shh, it's just me."

I breathed a sigh of relief, my eyes zeroing in on the petite girl standing over me, wearing a floaty dress that matched the color of her startling green eyes perfectly.

"Looking great as usual Annie," I tease, using my arms to prop myself into a sitting position.

Annie stuck her tongue out at me, her fingers busy playing with her thick, curly brown hair.

"I'm worried about this year," she mumbles, taking care to look at the ground.

I furrowed my brow. Worried? We're part of the Career pack, we have a better chance than most of winning. Plus, it's a great honor to be reaped. Why not get some more glory? She must have picked up on my confusion because she made a motion for me to move over on the towel so she could sit and explain.

We were at a quiet part of the beach that surrounds half of District 4. Annie and I first started coming here because it was the spot where we first met, after I saved her from drowning. Long story.

"It's just, I don't want to do this. What if I get reaped? I don't know how to wield a trident or make a hook. And how am I supposed to compare to Kendall? She's strong, she knew how to kill, she-"

"Annie, you'll be fine. Someone will volunteer for you; you won't have to do it if you don't want to," I cut in.

Annie still looked uneasy, like the sea before the storm. I guess I couldn't blame her; after all, her sister was still getting attention from last year's Games.

It had been down to Kendall and a pairing from District 7, twins. The girl had a large, blunt axe, almost the same size as her whilst her brother has a smaller axe with a thinner blade that could slice anything off with the lightest of chops. Kendall had nothing more than a net, which had spikes protruding from the rope, which could easily captivate one person and make for a good show. But there were two people, and Kendall was cornered inside the Cornucopia, with no sign of escape. I can still remember the look of pure terror on Annie's face as she contemplated that she may be watching her sister's last moments. But her sister was smart, and what she assumed was cruel and heartless, but it worked. Kendall figured that if she threw the net over one, injuring them and leaving them immobile unless they wanted to die, the other would fear for them and forget the task at hand. Again, it was cruel, but it kept her alive. Kendall threw the net at the boy, who yelped and crumpled to the ground immediately. His sister screamed in surprise, dropping her axe, and by then, anyone could tell it was over. Kendall swooped at the axe, and attacked the girl. Unfortunately for the twins, it took at least 20 swings until the cannon sounded and by then, Kendall was in a murderous rage. She turned on the boy and I remember looking away as she began to hatch at different body parts until he died.

"Finnick, I don't want to die," Annie whispered.

I turned slowly to her, still imagining the fingers lying beside the boy from District 7. Annie looked as terrified as he did, and all of a sudden, I imagined losing her.

" I didn't save your life so you could die," I said, placing my hand over hers.

Annie looked out at the sea, probably remembering the day as well as I did. Her shoulders relaxed a little as my words brought her small comfort.

"It's almost time, we should go," I say, and grab my shirt in my left hand and help Annie up with the other. As she brushed herself off, I put my shirt on, buttoning it up and took a look out at the ocean.

"Let's go."

As we headed to the square, I felt Annie tense again and I could almost hear her breath quicken. I gave her hand one last squeeze before we parted ways to go sign in, me to the left, and her to the right. I hoped for her sake it wasn't her year.

After everyone was settled in our groups, I moved to the very edge until I reached the rope that made a path for the tributes. The other boys in my age group were grinning hopefully and murmuring about their odds of being picked. I just hoped our district won again this year.

I looked over to the girl's section and I saw Annie standing at the edge, almost lost in the sea of green and blue around her. She was looking at me and I could feel the pang inside of me as the thought of losing her hit me again. We've been friends for so long, I don't know how I could survive without her to keep me anchored. I hoped again for her safety.

"War, terrible war . . ."

I looked up to the stage, just as the mayor begins the spiel about Panem and the Hunger Games, how we rose out of the ashes, how the rebels tried to overtake the Capitol, how that's the reason we have the Games. This lasts almost exactly an hour and a half and then our chaperon, who very closely resembles a peacock with the feathers in his wig, begins talking about how grateful he is to be here. Then, all too soon, it's "Ladies first!" and I can feel myself sweating, my fingers crossed, hoping with everything I have that it's not Annie. The man, I think his name is Walden, reaches into the reaping ball.

"Not Annie," I whisper.

A moment's silence then, "Brook Falles!"

I don't hear the numerous shouts of people volunteering, I almost fall to my knees I'm so relieved. I look over at Annie and she's still tense. I'm momentarily confused until I realize that she still has her brother and me to worry about. She has her fingers crossed and I can see she's whispering something. Maybe praying. I want to reach over to her, hold her close like I did 7 years ago, and tell her everything will be okay. But it's not because the name that's read out is far too familiar.

This year's tributes are Brooke Falles and me.