Disclaimer- I do not own the Hunger Game.
A.N. I don't know how much I'll write about Finnick and Annie. Just something I dreamed up, after I read the Hunger Games. I hope you like it and I promise it'll get better.
The cold water rushed tormenting every pore of my body. My lungs were stinging from the lack of air and as much as I wanted to breath I knew it would be my end. I couldn't tell where I was, being thrown deep into the sea by the current. I could feel my heart thrash hard against my chest, trying to keep me alive. I couldn't keep this for long. My lungs were screaming for a pinch of oxygen. I couldn't feel a way out of this predicament. I couldn't see the surface. I didn't know where was up, where was down, was I fighting to go the right or was I going to the left. I knew to escape a rip was to go to the side but it was much easier said then done. My arms getting tired of fighting the current, burning against the icy water. I was going nowhere, and I couldn't hold on. Everything was black but I could feel my vision blurring. I could feel myself slowly slipping away. Gradually, I stopped fighting the riptide. My head felt like it was going to explode, trying not to breath.
I should breath in the water, and die fast, hopefully. I should have known better than swim at night, but I was so scared. I needed to take off the edge, the fear that I felt. I needed to sleep, to stop thinking about what would happen in the morning and swimming seemed like a good way to take my energy away. It would be my first reaping, it was better to go out this way; to die in water than by someone elses hand, right? Should I be happy to die at home, then in someone's game?
Goodbye Rhyal. Is the last thing I think before I breathed in.
The water burned into my lungs, I tried to cough it out but that made it worst. Swallowing the salt mixed with the water.
I fought again against myself, my body. Then I was slipping away, only halfway feeling the world.
Someone was holding me, taking me out of the rip, and going toward the shore. It was too late, though. I accepted it. I wasn't there, I was somewhere peaceful where everything was dark. Then, I could see a light; dim but there.
Then I was in the light, warm and free. Then, I felt a push in my stomach, I blinked away the light, opening my eyes to two sea green orbs.
"You're alive." said the boy, the dim light showing his smiling face.
"I guess I am." My throat burned, and my voice was scratchy.
He laughed, backing up. "Were you trying to kill yourself?"
"Of course not. I just- I needed-"
"Don't worry I was just picking. I get it. You're lucky though; that I was here. You would be goner, but I needed a swim too."
I sat up, my head spinning. "Thank you."
"No problem." He smiled, getting up, holding out a hand for me. "I'm Finnick Odair."
"I'm Annie. Annie Cresta." I said, grabbing hand and he pulled me up.
"Well, Annie. Ready, for the reaping tomorrow?"
"No, it'll be my first." I said, trying to take the sand off me but quickly found that it was useless. I needed a shower.
"Well, hopefully I didn't just save your life for nothing." He said, bitterly.
"I hope so, too. Maybe, since you saved my life you get more years on yours."
Finnick smiled. "That would be great."
I would never forget. I would never be grateful enough. I could never repay him for my life. He could've just acted like he didn't see me. That's what any normal person would do. No one would actually swim into a riptide for a stranger.
He nodded. "Well, um. Are you from the South Side?" He asked.
"No, the East End."
"Well, I would walk you home, but that's a bit far." He frowned.
"It's fine, I walked from home to here. I can get back without getting caught. I'll see you later..."
"Yeah, see you... And good luck, Annie." He said, getting up and stepping back.
"Good luck." I said, getting up.
"Wait." He said, stopping me from stepping on a shell. He picked it up, I don't know how he saw it but it was beautiful. Small and yellow curving to a small harmless point. "Here you keep it." He said, putting it in my hand.
I smiled. "Thank you. I can put it on a bracelet."
He smiled. "Bye, Annie."
The next day I found that my good luck was useless; Finnick name was picked and he went into the Games. He didn't die, though. So maybe he did get a couple of years added into his life for saving mine. It would be another five years until Finnick looked at me again.