Hey guys! So I tried starting this story a couple of months ago but when I went back and read it I just wasn't very happy with it. So I waited to post it until I wrote it better. This is the first chapter of the new story and I hope it will much better this time. So any comments or questions you have, please leave a review. They mean so much to me and starting next chapter I will leave a response to each review at the end of the chapter. Hope you enjoy the story!
My trident slices through the air and curves downward into the clear water, piercing a large fish and pinning it to the shallow ocean floor. I smile as I retrieve both my trident, and my catch and add it to the growing pile on the sandy beach next to me. Today I have the beach to myself. No one is interested in swimming when the reaping is hanging over our heads but I try to get out of the house as much as I can. I hate sitting at home with nothing to occupy the hands that always want to be busy.
Ever since I was little, my father has taken me out to the ocean every day, teaching me how to fish, how to swim. Over the years, the ocean has become my home and, since last year, my escape. A little over a year ago, my mother drowned in the ocean. Since then, I've realized that the ocean is more than just a place to swim. It can be ruthless, cruel, it can destroy families with just one change in the current. After my mom died, my dad has refused to go back to the beach. He busies himself at home while the beach is still my escape. We've drifted apart in the last year just by not spending as much time together. It surprises him that, after what happened, I still go to the beach, without fear. I'm not sure why I am not scared, but I continue to try to get better at everything I do, whether it be fishing, making nets. Or swimming, always swimming, as if I am trying to conquer the waters that tore apart my family.
I glance at the sky and see the pink, orange, and red colors of sunrise. I curse under my breath and hurry to pack up my catch. I run through my district, sand still clinging to my body, and burst through the door of my house. I hear my dad in the kitchen making breakfast and I try to slip past him to go upstairs but, like all other parents, it seems like he has eyes in the back of his head and he notices me.
"At the beach Finnick?" he asks quietly.
"As usual," I say, sinking down in one of the chairs. I put my net of fish on the table proudly, "I caught some more today."
He just glances at them before returning to his task, "That's nice. Just store them with the others."
I sigh inwardly and take the fish over to the sink, where I clean them of the sand and saltiness of the ocean. Once they are clean, I fill another container with ice and place them carefully on it. It's been a while since my father has taken any interest in what I busy myself doing. I'd like to blame him for the deterioration of our relationship but I know that it was a two-person effort.
I eat my meager breakfast in silence, neither of us even attempting at a conversation. Finally, I can't take it anymore. I push back my chair and head to my room without another word.
I grab some clothes and go into the small bathroom that my dad and I share. I wash my face quickly and try to comb back my long, unruly, bronze colored hair, but as usual, it refuses to tame. Eventually I give up and pull on an old blue, button-up shirt. and jeans. I put on the nicest shoes I have, but they pinch my toes, making me feel even more uncomfortable. This year is my third reaping, and this year I've been forced to take out tessarae, which worries me a bit. My mom used to sell nets that she made to fisherman in the village. It didn't make us a ton of money, but it was enough that I didn't have to take out tessaae. I've been trying to convince my dad to start the business again but he doesn't want to, says it reminds him too much of her.
I hear a soft knock on my door and it opens to reveal my father, dressed in his best as well, "It's time to go Finnick." he says gently.
I stand quietly and head out of the room, with my father trailing closely behind me. No matter how weak our bond is, no parent wants to be away from their child on reaping day. We walk down to the square side by side. There are no words, but it is nice, a last moment of peace before the chaos of the reaping ensues. Just before I leave him to go to the fourteen year old section he grabs my arm.
"Good luck son." he says seriously.
"Thanks," I say. He lets go of my arm and gives me a smile. I smile back, "Don't worry about me dad. I'll be fine." reassure him before disappearing into the crowd.
I check in with the Peacekeepers then head to the roped off section dedicated to my age group. My friend Devan finds me quickly.
"You doing okay?" he asks.
I nod, "As good as I can be on reaping day I guess."
He chuckles, "Were you at the beach this morning?" he asks.
I nod again, "Of course. One last catch before I get reaped."
He punches my arm, "Come on. You're not going to get reaped."
I just shrug. I find it easier to prepare myself for the reaping if I come to terms with the fact that my name could be drawn. If I become content with that, then I am not as worried and the fear doesn't take over. However, it doesn't stop my stomach from rolling, nauseating me. Our escort takes the stage and a terrified silence falls over the huge crowd. Our escort's name is Celestia and she is dressed in an ocean blue cocktail dress with fake, colorful starfish sticking to it. Her hair is done up in an elaborate style and has streaks of blue in it too. We watch the mandatory video from the Capitol, all of us just waiting with bated breath for her to draw out those tiny slips of paper that determine our fates.
Finally she calls out, "It is time to select those special few that will represent our district in the 65th annual Hunger Games!" she struts over to the girl's bowl and pulls out a slip of paper, "Caia Burke!"
An older girl, looking about 16 or 17 walks up to the stage, pale but strong. Celestia asks for volunteers but no one steps forward. Usually the bulk of our volunteers come from males, not females.
She walks over to the glass ball that holds thousands of names. I know that inside that bowl, four slips of paper have my name on it. I can only hope that she doesn't pull one out. She opens the paper and time seems to slow down as she calls out, "Finnick Odair!"
Devan looks at me in concern but I ignore him. I push my way through the crowd and walk confidently up onto the stage. Celestia asks for volunteers and once again, no one steps forward, tearing my last hope of staying out of arena away. The Peacekeepers escort us into the Justice Building and I am shut into an extravagant room to await my visitors.
First my dad walks in, "Finnick," he says softly, tears in his eyes.
"Don't cry dad." I say. If he does, I probably will and I can't afford to cry right now.
He pulls me into a hug and I hesitantly hug him back, "You will come home." he says confidently, "I am not going to lose both of you."
His words send a pang of sadness through my heart as I put myself in my dad's shoes. He has just lost my mother a year ago and now he might lose his only son too. Not for the first time, I wish I had made more of an effort to repair our relationship.
"Don't worry. You'll see me again soon." I say.
He pulls away and nods, "I know. Son, I'm sorry if you feel like I've been neglecting you. I've just-"
I cut him off, "I know dad. It's okay." he grins, obviously getting a huge weight off his chest. Then the Peacekeepers come in again to take him away and I am left alone again. Not a minute later, the door opens and Devan bursts into the room.
"I told you." is all I can say.
He can't help grinning at me, "Why do you always have to be right?" he asks sarcastically, "Listen, when you're in the arena just make sure to get a weapon. There probably won't be a trident so get a spear. I f you do that, you should be good."
I nod, "I can do this Devan. Don't worry about me."
He pulls me into a short hug before the Peacekeepers take him away too. There are no more visitors for me but clearly Caia has a lot of friends because I have to wait for what seems like an hour before they can take both of us onto the train. My mind is too caught uo in other things that I barely notice the elegance and richness of the train cars. All I can do is sit there and look at my home, at my ocean slowly becoming a blur as the train picks up speed. As much as I tell myself I can do it, I still have my doubts but I am determined to get back to the ocean, back to my dad, and back to my home.
Okay, the first chapter is done! Next chapter will be the opening ceremonies and training will probably begin. The chapters will get longer as the story goes, this one was just a little short. I really hope you guys liked this and please leave a review. No matter how many reviews I get, I will always do review responses at the bottom of every chapter. So if you have any questions, they will be answered. And just to clear things up, Finnick's dad is not in the same condition as Katniss's mom. He didn't shut down or anything, he just had a different way of coping with his wife's death. he still spoke to Finnick and took care of him, their relationship just wasn't very strong. Anyway, I hope you guys liked it and please, please, please review!