Chapter One

"I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind. I'll do it all for you in time, and out of all these things I've done, I think I love you better now." -Lego House, Ed Sheeran

In the beginning there was nothing. The earth didn't exist. The ocean didn't exist. The ocean didn't exist. Fear didn't exist. Things change, though. I know that more than most. I know that in a moment, a life can change forever. Whether it be the life of Annie, the girl who I am in love with, or my own life. In a moment, a life can change forever. The reapings, she's not to supposed to have been chosen, and after this year, she would be safe. I was assured she wouldn't be chosen, yet my heart still beat fast when the escort's hand dove into the glass bowl and drew out a single piece of paper. Surely there were others I should worry about. The Green family has a daughter who entered the reapings this year. The mother is blind and unable to work. Surely they need their daughter to stay in the District to work. The Tillman family has a pair of twin daughters who are in the reapings. Because there's two of them, the chances of someone in that family getting drawn are essentially doubled, but I can only think of Annie.

The escort starts to open the little piece of paper, a piece of paper that can change someone's life, and starts to pronounce the name, very deliberate in each syllable. Not Annie, is all I can think. It's pathetic. My own sister is in the reaping this year, and I can only think of the girl I can never have. "Annie Cresta."

My stomach plummets and I shake my head. She walks up the stage, her chocolate brown hair, somewhere between wavy and curly, falls down her back. Her eyes, beautiful, beautiful eyes, have so much emotion captured in them. She's shaking like a leaf, nerves getting the best of her. I've never seen her shake so much. I want nothing more than to hold her in my arms, kiss the top of her head and tell her everything will be alright. "Any volunteers?" A pair of girls in Annie's year look at one another, contemplating whether or not to volunteer, but decide against it. If she dies in the games, then Finnick Odair is single and back on the market. They don't volunteer. I feel my hands become fists and I find myself taking a breath to calm my nerves. She'll stay alive. I'll be sure of that.

The escort plunges her hand into the bowl filled with the boys names. "Shark Donahue." I look at Annie. Her eyes are starting to fill with tears. Why shouldn't they? Shark Donahue is her best friend, after all. Getting reaped to begin with saves me the trouble of volunteering. I make my way up the stage and go stand next to Annie. The escort once again asks for volunteers, but no one does. The look in my eyes must say everything. I pull Annie in for a hug and look at Finnick. I give him a nod, and he nods back.

To most onlookers, it probably looks like we're agreeing on letting me be the victor, the one to place all the bets on. Any other game, that would probably be the case. I'm quite tall, six foot two, barely shorter than Finnick, I have strength that comes form working on a boat for three years, and apprenticing for five years before that, as well as training that the school gives. I know I look like a victor. Finnick knows this too, but we both agree this is the end of the line for me. We're both desperately in love with Annie. Giving up my life is but a small price to pay for saving hers.

Peacekeepers lead Annie and myself away to the Justice Building. It's quite nice, this building. Large windows look over the picturesque ocean. The building itself it made of white stones with matching stones creating a walkway, surrounded by large flowering hibiscus bushes. As we're lead down the walkway, I manage to pick one of the peach colored flowers. As we're about to be separated, lead to different rooms in the building, I slip the flower into Annie's hand. She gives me a weak smile, as if she's trying to make the best of the situation. It's hard to see her smile, though, when her eyes are so red from crying. I am lead to a room with a brown leather couch and a few matching chairs. I make myself comfortable on the couch, not wanting to think about the goodbyes I'm about to make. The door opens and a rough voice says, "Two minutes."

In come my mother and sister. "Shark!" My sister comes up and hugs me, crying, her tears soaking my old blue polo shirt. My mother presses her lips to the top of my head. I grab her hand in mine. We stay like this for a minute, when my mother breaks away.

"Shark," she says, "please come home." I nod, a lump in my throat. I can't come home. My mother must know this. Pearl, having been in her first reaping, is scared. I know I wont be there for her for the rest of them.

I kiss the top of Pearl's head and pull her away from me. "No matter what happens, I love you. Nothing will ever change that." The Peacekeeper tells up our time is up. Pearl gives me another hug and slips something into my pocket. I kiss the top of her head once more, and kiss my mom's cheek. "I love you."

They disappear and I go sit back down on the couch. My visitors consist of the crew who works on the boat with Annie and myself, Captain Salty, the Captain of the ship, giving me a bit of salt water taffy to have on the train, as well as a couple of guys from school who I have been friends with since we were toddlers. I don't expect my last guest, though. "Finnick?" Finnick goes and sits down on the leather chair, looking at me with his intense green eyes. "Did you visit Annie?"

Finnick shakes his head. "I'll see her on the train."

I'm confused. "You'll see me on the train too."

He nods. "Annie might overhear this, though."

I start to understand and take him seriously. I have never really liked the guy, mostly because he has the girl I love, but we can put that aside to save her. "She's making it out of the games."

Finnick looks relieved to see me say this. "I'm glad you and I are on the same page." He pauses and pulls what looks like a packet of sugar out of his pocket, he opens it and downs it before either of us speak again. "Shark, I really do love her."

I narrow my eyes and look at him with malice. "Why are you with all those women then?"

Annie has told me the answer to this a thousand times, but I need to hear it from him. He looks down, looking like he had been gutted. "To protect her." He puts his elbows on his knees and head in his hands. "I did a great job, huh?" I don't know what to say, but I can tell he is genuine in his feelings towards her. He gets up to leave, but once he reaches the door, he stops. "I wish she had fallen in love with you instead of me." Twice today, Finnick Odair and I have agreed on something.

Hey guys! I know I have The Thing in the Forest being written right now, but that story is going to continue! I've just been dying to write my own 70th Hunger Games for years now, and I /spanfinally think I'm going to be able to pull it off. New Years Resolution is to update all my stories more frequently.

Coming up, also, is a one-shot series that I am co-writing with the wonderful Lori0211! She is an absolutely amazing writer and I've been having an absolute blast getting to know her! Be sure to go check out her story Flying Free! It's really a wonderful story.

Thank you all so much for reading and supporting me over these past few years. This is going to be my fifth year on this site, in April, and you have all supported me so much through the years!

Question of the Day

Who is your favorite character form the Hunger Games?

With Love,
-Juliet