A/N So in Mockingjay they come up with the idea to write a book about the previous tributes and I thought this could be an extract. Also I know Annie and Diana have the same last name even though they are related through their mothers, but

1. I am really bad at coming up with names

2. I thought it could be a district four tradition

Anyway please enjoy reviews are very much welcome (eventual Annie x Finnick) x

I was almost sixteen when they reaped me it was the 69th hunger games.

'Ladies first?" The silly bitch trilled.

District four is a career's district but it's fairly rare for a girl to volunteer. No-one did they read out my name.

"Diana Cresta,"

My cousin Annie grasped at my hand through the barrier that separated us she was a year younger than me we looked rather similar back then she was prettier though I the more striking. Tears streamed down her cheeks, I couldn't cry I knew I was going to die.

"Oh god, oh god,"

There is no God, there is the capitol.

My father was a sailor, he hoped in a few years to be a ship captain. We were not rich, we were not poor either nothing like the poverty of district twelve. I was his only daughter my elder brothers had grown up looking after their own necks not foolish enough to volunteer, they had married had decent jobs as sailors as well we lived life like the capitol did not exist. I would be a fool to say I wasn't beautiful. My mother before she died told me stories about Mer creatures and water goddesses. She said there was watery blood in our veins. I had district four good looks mother of pearl skin, enormous sea blue eyes and waist length black wavy hair. He hoped, my father I would marry a rich man hope for a better life pretend that every year for a few seconds I risked my children's lives. None of that mattered when I was reaped I wasn't a person any more I was a tribute.

Annie gave me several kisses and a large misshapen pearl that glows pink in the sun, I only let her and my father silent and stable in, I spurned my sobbing school friends and Annie's mother the Aunt who looks and smells so much like my own mother I can't bear the thought of her.

My fellow tribute Dale was tall and huge with too small a face like all career tributes overgrown physically, under grown intellectually and emotionally. He gripped Finnick the ridiculously handsome bronze mentor's hand and ignored Mags the old woman with fiery blue eyes, I shook her hand and ignored Finnick if I was going to die I thought I may as well die without him and all the career idiots. I blamed them then. They were the ones who turned it into a game into a festival a competition.

"Shall we eat?" Finnick's eyes are on me, I can't escape him. We sit, Mags gives me a small smile.

"So tell me about yourselves," Finnick drawled

I let Dale talk for the next couple of minutes he's been trained likes lifting weights. I don't really listen I can barely eat I peck.

"What about you sweetheart," He grabs my plate and piles it up placing it back down in front of me.

"Hobbies, interests…?" He trails off seeing my expression and grins a little wider and glances up at Dale.

"You done mate? Better get some rest," Dale complies scrapes back the chair and walks to the sleeping quarters with a fierce grin at me.

"Alright Diana," He leaned over to me "Eat up your never going to win if you go into the arena half starved."

"I'm not going to win anyway." I said stiffly,

"Hmm," He says nothing else for quite some time. "I think your wrong I've seen you run."

Running was my love, I was the fastest in my class, and my feet flew through water, earth and air. I ran and ran but I couldn't run fast enough from the capitol or from the hunger games.

"Don't try," I say to Finnick "Please don't try,"

"It's my job," He says charmingly, "You can pretend like it's not happening or you can face up to it. The choice is yours."

I looked down at my plate and played with my food.

"As you like Diana, but one thing at the capitol for all the blood lust they like things to be pretty and nice. They'll take care of the first one; see what you can do about the second."

At the capitol they strip me of my clothes and hair, I can't help hating my prep team they look awful blue skinned, luminous wigged, tattooed and whiskered I hate them as they titter and giggle, I hate them as they soothe and adore, I hate them I can't help it. They rub my skin with a shimmering lotion, gild over my eyes huge and dramatic with silver and a pale blue and green eye shadow. Stick on huge black lacy lashes paint my lips a watery silver blue. I go half naked they braid my dark hair with pearls and gold net and hide my breasts under the curtain of hair. I am a mermaid mother of pearl silk is wrapped around and around from my waist to a long train from my ankles. It's a great year for nudity, but if I am entirely honest not a great year for nude people the miners from district twelve are painted coal black sallow and hungry looking even under the makeup, the two from district seven the boy over plump and wearing glasses, the girl tall as a tree with long limbs and buck teeth are naked as well leaves gathered in choice places like a painting I saw in school from hundreds of years ago.

"Be nice," Finnick said and I was

I blew kisses I caught roses at the end when the anthem finished playing. Finnick swung me off my chariot.

"I can't walk in this thing," somehow I manage to laugh as I shuffle penguin like after him. He laughs as well and tosses me easily over his shoulder.

"Is Dale getting the same treatment?" I ask looking over at the red haired pasty bulk covered in a gold netted toga.

"No Mags is doing it," He said, we got into the lift together. He gently fingered the clasp on my skirt.

"It looks like I could unwrap you like a present." I don't know what to say, part of me wants him to, so I say nothing. I almost don't want him to touch me, I moved away from him in the elevator.

"I'm going to die," I said

"Everyone does," He says easily

"Soon,"

"Maybe not, if you listen to me."