AN: This is my lovely version of the Hunger Games, set a few years before Katniss and Peeta's games. Here's a major tip! Finnick has no feelings to Annie at all, they are just good friends. Read and Review!
*Disclaimer* I do not own anything from the Hunger Games series!
"Artemis come on, we shouldn't be out here!" Peter, a tall brown haired, brown eyed eighteen year old yelled from the top of a sand dune. The person he was yelling to was Artemis, who danced on the water's edge of District 4. Her loose blonde curls blew in the sea wind, her smile wide as ever when she turned her head to Peter he saw the amazing blue eyes the boys in their school adored and chased. Flawless golden tan skin, light pink plump dewy lips, rosy red cheeks with long lush black lashes that pulled everything together.
"Oh come on Peter a bit longer!" her honeysuckle sweet voice said.
"Peace Keepers will come!" Peter yelled back with a slight chuckle. Artemus looked back at the ocean and took it all in, but Peter knew that she wanted to disappear into the surf. Artemis ran towards Peter making her sea foam green dress fly back. Her body was perfect with her curves in the dress except for the fact that her aunt, Annabeth, had to make the bust two cup sizes bigger.
"Okay, fine. We'll go," Artemis sighed grabbing her brown flats. Peter looked at her blue eyes as the shined in the afternoon light, they were dark on the outer reaches then lightened towards the pupil where specks of gold laid.
"Happy Hunger Games!" Peter smirked.
"And may the odds be ever in your favor," Artemis said with a Capitol accent as they walked towards town hall and square.
"Who do you think will be picked this year?" Peter asked as they walked past the Victor's Village.
"Shh! Are you crazy?!" Artemis hissed, spotting a ton of Peacekeepers in the Village and a car parked in front of one of the houses, "You don't go off asking those type of things!"
"Artemis, Peter," Pandora, a flaming red head, a year older than Artemis smirked.
"Pandora?" Artemis questioned as she followed Pandora's gaze, she was looking at a Victor's house, "Really?" Artemis asked, seeing who's house it was, "Finnick Odair's house? The Capitol playboy? Pandora, Finnick doesn't date anyone from our district remember?"
"We'll see about that," Pandora said before stalking up to Finnick's house, the winner of the 65th Hunger Games when he was only fourteen. Every young girl in Panem drooled and fantasied about the 'Dreamy Finnick Odair', but the only person who could care less about Finnick was Artemis, which always had both Peter and Finnick wonder why. People could say that Artemis almost hated Finnick, even though her mother was very good friends with his dead parents.
"She's getting no where with him," Peter laughed.
"We better get going," Artemis grumbled, her family hated the Hunger Games and most importantly hated President Snow.
"Hey Art!" Artemis's brother Poseidon smiled coming up to the two as they went to the Reaping area. He's twenty-four, the oldest of Artemis's siblings, and always lovable to everyone in the district. The Rose family has five children; Poseidon, Ares, Troy, Artemis and Apollo, each separated by two years and all looked the same except Artemis, the boys had green eyes while hers were blue.
"Poseidon," Artemis smiled, "Where's Apollo?" they entered the town square seeing parents and children laughing, happy and excited for the games.
"Already here and signed in," Poseidon laughed, "You two are late."
"No we're not," Peter laughed before Poseidon vanished to go stand next to Troy, Ares, and their father Zeus. The Rose family was named after the Greek gods, because of their beauty, their father and mother having a godly names was just a coincident. Artemis signed in and stood in the seventeen year old section, looking for Apollo and then saw his slightly ruffled hair in the sixteen year old section.
"Don't worry, he won't be picked," Artemis's best friend Clara said standing next to her.
"You can never promise that," Artemis grimaced.
"Welcome! To the 72nd annual Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" Cosalleta Stargaze announced making people cheer loudly, District four was a Career district at times, depending on how strong their tributes are. Artemis's expression was a mix between bored and annoyed, this is her last reaping, even though a lot would say she should have to go through one more due to her birthday, the day the tributes entered the arena. Artemis tuned out the speech and video, looking at the stage to the Victors, Cosalleta occasionally glanced to Finnick and winked at him, making Artemis want to barf, "And now the drawing of tributes!" Cosalleta smiled as people clapped, "Ladies first," she walked over to a giant clear glass bowl which held the districts girl's names. She snatched a single piece of paper with her long green polished finger nails and returned to the microphone. Artemis saw Sophia Sanders hands twitch, everyone knew she wanted to be picked, but she never had the guts to volunteer.
"Think it'll be Sophia?" Clara whispered.
"It depends on her odds," Artemis sighed.
"Artemis Rose!" Cosalleta announced, for a brief moment Artemis froze, but then knew that as she walked to the stage that no one would volunteer for her because all of the girls hated Artemis's ways of attracting ever guy to her, and from that moment on she was in the Hunger Games.
Finnick's eyes went to the girl who was chosen, feeling sorry at first and then confused, was this the same Artemis who hated him? She was keeping her face composed and sweet as her long legs went up the steps to stand next to Cosalleta. The escort seemed angered at the young girl's natural beauty and Finnick's close attention to her,
"Hello," Artemis greeted Cosalleta, Finnick's jaw dropped at the sweetness of her voice.
"Any volunteers?" silence, "And now, for the boys," Cosalleta said, almost annoyed. She picked a name out of the boy's glass bowl much faster than the girls, "Apollo Rose!" a sudden pang went through Artemis.
"No," Artemis almost cried as tears filled her eyes. Everyone in Panem saw his world break, first his sister being chosen and now himself.
"I volunteer as tribute!" a boy yelled.
"Did you see that coming?" Mags asked Finnick seeing a boy emerge from the eighteen year old section, Finnick saw Artemis's jaw drop at the sight of the boy.
"A volunteer!" Cosalleta beamed as the boy walked up the steps and stood next to her, more like tower over her, "What's your name?"
"James Evermoore," he said looking at Artemis.
"Well here they are District 4! Your tributes for the 72nd Hunger Games! James Evermoore and Artemis Rose!" the crowd cheered wildly as they were rushed inside of town hall. Finnick and Mags made their way down to the two waiting cars, getting inside on and going to the train.
Artemis sat in a room by herself which was guarded by Peacekeepers. When the door finally opened, she saw her family.
"Papa," Artemis whispered rushing into his arms.
"It's ok little Swan," her old father said, heartbroken after the death of his wife, "Artemis Aphrodite Rose, you are strong, smart, fast, cleaver, and skilled. You will go far," Artemis turned to her brothers. To them Artemis was their punching bag, friend, nurse, defender, but still their sister. She saw Troy turn his head away from her with tears in his eyes.
"Protect each other ok? You have to be strong for one another when dad's gone," Artemis said, not letting them see her cry.
"Win Aphrodite, ok?" Apollo cried hugging her. They all were taller than her but they always looked up to her.
"Win," Troy whispered joining their hug, then Artemis looked to Poseidon.
"I'll tell Peter and Clara," he started with a shaky voice.
"You're their shoulder now, ok? Take care of them like I would."
"You're going to win Art," Ares said hugging her, "You're going to win."
Suddenly the door flew open, "Times up," the Peacekeeper ushered Artemis's family out.
"I love you!" Artemis said before they vanished from their sight.
"You're coming with me now," the Peacekeeper said pulling Artemis out into the hall, she saw James's mother walking back towards the main entrance, but towards Artemis.
"You'll be victorious Artemis," she sniffled a tear, "You always are!" James joined Artemis in the hall as they walked to the last waiting car.
"Are you ok?" James asked as they sat in the car, seeing Artemis's blank expression, the one she wore when her mother died. She died when Artemis was six, she never felt complete without her and James saw that as well as Artemis never truly being happy.
"Fine, I'm fine," Artemis said changing her expression to the one when she got reaped.
"Oh! This will be excited for you two!" Cosalleta gushed sitting in between James and Artemis. James's physic was large, no large is an understatement, he was a giant. Huge muscles, 6'8", sweet chocolate brown eyes and short brown hair, a bright white dimple smile, in his mind he was the luckiest guy in the world. He knew Artemis inside and out. He watched her grow up from a giggly little girl to the drop dead gorgeous woman she is now, and he always saw the way her eyes sparkled each time she looked at him, "Remember to smile!" Cosalleta laughed as the car doors opened and the roar of District 4's people poured into their ears.
"Hurry up!" a Peacekeeper yelled over the crowd, "Get them inside!" both Artemis and James waved off their home and were rushed inside the train. Artemis stood by on of the windows in the dinning car, her eyes saddened as she her ocean vanishing quickly away as the train sped towards the Capitol.
"Artemis?" James asked as he heard her long silence.
"The ocean is my home," Artemis whispered, but loud enough for James to hear, "I don't know how to live without it."
"I felt the same way leaving for my games," a voice said entering the dinning car, James glanced up from his lap and Artemis slightly turned her head to see Finnick Odair standing before them, "Hello, I'm Finnick Odair, your mentor," he said sitting down in front of James, trying to see the potential in his tributes. James was obviously strong, but Artemis's skills were a mystery hidden by her beauty.
"Artemis," she said watching the ocean disappear before giving out a sigh and blankly looking out the window.
"James," he said with a smile, but then looked back at Artemis, "Aphrodite, join us," to Finnick's surprise she willingly sat down next to James.
"He calls me by my middle name sometimes," she said with a sad smile.
"Ah, I see," Finnick said leaning back, noticing something between the two, they were awfully close to one another.
"What's our angle?" James immediately asks, getting straight to business.
"Protector and Swan," Finnick said, Artemis flinched when he said 'Swan', "Something wrong?" his question made Artemis give a fierce look.
"No," she mused with a seductive smile, "Nothing is wrong," Finnick thought she was flirting with him, but then remembered that this girl almost hated him.
"Ah! I just love that district! The most beautiful one out of them all!" Cosalleta squealed coming in with Mags, both Artemis and James rolled their eyes.
"I'm Mags, your second mentor," the old woman gave a sweet smile which everyone saw lightened Artemis's expression, "Come, let's eat, you need to gather your strength," the five of them went to the over flowing table of food, as they ate Finnick saw Artemis eye Cosalleta with a knife in her grip.
"Artemis," Finnick said, grabbing her attention and making her drop the knife, "What can you do?"
"Anything," James said before Artemis could speak, "Aphrodite can do anything."
"Really? How come?" Mags asked, Artemis's head was raised as if to look directly at us, but her eyes looked away.
"My parents had me start training as soon as I could walk, so I could be prepared for anything," she seemed pained to talk about her parents.
"Where did you two live before you were reaped?" Mags quickly asked, Artemis closed her eyes and James gave a huge smile.
"I live on the bluffs, small cabin over looking the sea," James smiled before stuffing his face with more food, "My family is in the lower class, but we get by just fine."
"What about you, Artemis?" Mags sweetly asked.
"We use to live near James, but when I was six we burned the house and moved onto the water front."
"What happened when you were six?" Cosalleta innocently asked, James dropped his fork and knife as Artemis looked up at everyone with tears in her eyes.
"My mother was killed," she whispered, James put an arm around her shoulder, comforting her.
"You don't have to tell them," James whispered to her and she looked him dead in the eye.
"They need to know," Artemis spoke louder, then looked at the three, "My mother was hung in town square during the 58th Hunger Games, she was a rebel," Artemis looked at only Finnick now, "My mother was very good friends with your parents, but whenever she wanted me to come over to meet you I was playing with my four brothers."
"Four? What are their names?" Finnick asked.
"Poseidon, Ares, Troy, and Apollo," she gave a small smile, "We're named after the gods, our father's name is Zeus."
"What's your mothers name?" Cosalleta asked, Artemis and James gave her death glares.
"Persephone," Artemis whispered, "We burned her in our old house."
"Wait, did you say that you live on the water?" Mags asked, Artemis looked at her with a sweet smile.
"Yes, why?"
"Those are the homes of the wealthiest people in the district," Finnick said.
"I know," Artemis said, "Both of my parent's side of the family are the wealthiest families in all of District 4, it makes sense on why they married, more money," Artemis leaned closer to the table, "Let me tell you this, I am not a spoiled little brat, my name was in that selection container 193 times."
"What!" Finnick asked, "Why!"
"Because my family hates the Capitol," Artemis spat as she eyed the berry Cosalleta picked up, with one swift movement Artemis threw her knife at the berry, spearing it to the wall, "And they're willing to poison their own Capitolian to blame my family and get more of us killed," Artemis shoved the table standing up and marched towards the exit but then paused at the door, "My brother and I were originally reaped for a reason," she turned to everyone in the car, "They want my family gone, to end the District 4 ties to the rebels," and with that she stormed out of the dinning car to her room.
"I don't know what her issue is!" Cosalleta gasped breaking the long silence. Suddenly James started laughing making everyone jump.
"I would sleep with one eye open, Cosalleta," James taunted, "My father was hung with Artemis's mother as well," he gave a dark chuckle making the Capitol escort scurry out of the train car.
"I'll go check on Artemis," Mags said standing from the table and leaving the dinning car.
"Can I ask you something James?" Finnick said leaning back in his chair.
"Sure," James shrugged.
"How long have you known Artemis?"
"Since we were kids," James smiled.
"That means you have a good relationship together good," Finnick mused, "The tributes from the other districts are tiny compared to you and not as fast as Artemis, but her looks," James's eyes narrowed, "Well, they will get you sponsors, no matter if your a rebel's child, they want to see a pretty face last as long as possible."
"And?"
"And," Finnick looked at James, "I can make that happen, I can make both of you last as long as possible," James smirked.
"I don't care for winning," James said leaning forward, "I'm not a toy for the Capitol, if anyone should win, it's Artemis."
"Why?" Finnick quickly questioned, "Why her?" James looked at Finnick and smiled at him, leaning back into his chair with a contempt smile. Saying no words Finnick understood. And knew that no matter what, one of his tributes would turn into a Victor. The question was: Who?
AN: Hello there reader who finished the chapter! I hoped you enjoyed the first chapter of many to come! As you can see this is not the usual fluffy Finnick romance FanFic you must be use to, this is a rebellious one that will kill without a second thought. Reviews are welcomed!
Xoxo - Scar