I'm swimming in the District 4 ocean, with my little sister, Iridesca at my side. We're splashing and laughing and I never want this moment to end.
"Come on kids, it's time to head back to shore. I've got enough fish for today's haul." My father says from up on our boat. The early morning sun peaks through the clouds and hits his copper hair, the same as mine and Iridesca's. We're all very different than my mother who has just come up from the lower level of our boat. She has dark brown, almost black hair and eyes to match.
"Can Finnick and me race back? It's only like, half a mile!" Iridesa whines.
"Finnick and I. And it's fine with me. What do you say Ariel?" My father replied as he looked to my mother.
She smiled, "Of course. Just be careful, please." Within seconds, both me and my sister were underwater, trying to get a head start on the other. It was so amazing, being in the water. It made you feel so invincible. Like nothing could hurt you. But I knew all too well, that was a lie.
It didn't take us very long to get back to the dock, and we both climbed back up the ladder quickly. "So Finn," Iridesca started as she walked to the faucet to rinse her hair. She was the only one to call me Finn, and it made me laugh. Even though she was only a year younger than me, I still treated her like my little sister, because she was. I would never stop being protective of her. "What did Snow want?"
"What do you mean?" I asked as I dried my face with an old towel. "You know, when he came to talk to you last week." She replied.
"Oh, you mean that. It was nothing. Just wanted to talk to me about the upcoming Games." I said as I pulled an old t-shirt over my damp hair. The look on Iridesca's face was that of knowing, as if she could see through my facade. Her voice suddenly got more serious as she came over to sit by me. "Finn, he's not trying to use you, is he? I've talked to Mags, and I know what she had to go through. I just don't want the same for you.." Her voice got quiet as a pair of fishermen walked past us.
"Look, Des. It's fine. I can handle it. I know what I'm doing." I assure her. "Alright. I just don't want anyone to get hurt." She replied.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you or anyone else we love." I say as I put my arm around her shoulder.
It's then that we saw our parent's boat coming over the horizon. They were just close enough to see their figures when we heard a loud thump, and the boat was consumed by the ocean.
"No!" I screamed as both Iridesca and myself immediately jumped into the waters, and swam to the wreckage. My eyes stung as I searched for my parents, only to find sand and shells.
After about two minutes I'm forced to resurface and breathe. When I do, I see Iridesca wrapped in a towel on a small Peacekeeper boat. It's a little weird how fast they got here. Almost like they knew about the wreck before it happened.. I don't dwell on the subject any longer and soon enough I'm back under water, searching feverishly. Once again I resurface and go right back down again. I do this 4 or 5 times before the Peacekeeper on the boat makes me stop. "Forget it kid, they obviously aren't down there. We'll send some divers to search for them this afternoon." He says with an almost sad expression.
"No! There's still time! I can get them.. I know they're still down there.." I say as I'm about to go back under. I'm stopped by a small voice, "Finnick. It's okay. They're not down there. Just come up here before you hurt yourself." I stop and look at Iridesca, she's got a serious expression on her face but I can see tear streaks down her face.
I reluctantly climb on the boat and wrap myself in a towel. Soon enough we're back home but I just go to the backyard and sit in my mother's garden. I can't believe they're gone. Just like that.
I don't know how long I sat out there before Iridesca came out holding a note. She started sobbing as she held out the piece of paper for me to see. I took it from her hands and read it.
"I don't play games.
-President Snow"
"Finnick! Finnick please wake up! Finnick this is important!" I hear in a familiar feminine voice. I open my eyes and see Katniss standing by my bed with her hands now on her hips. She was irritated, I could tell.
I smiled, "Good morning Katniss, how long have you been standing there?" She glared at me, "Just long enough to watch you drool all over your pretty little face." She said as she pinched my cheek. I stuck my tongue out at her and wiped the drool from my chin.
"Now come on! They've got Annie and Peeta!" Katniss said as she was almost out the door. They do? They actually have her? I jumped out of my bed, effectively tangling the sheets around my ankles and knocking me to the ground. I quickly slipped out of them, however, and was soon sprinting down the hallway with Katniss. We pass where the Hawthorne boy is receiving treatment for his injuries and I can see Katniss tense up next to me. She cares deeply for him, I can tell. However, if it's love, I don't quite know.
It seems like forever going down the last hallways and I don't think I'll ever find her when I hear, "Where is he? Where's Finnick?" I turn around and see those green eyes and almost melt on the spot. Before either of us knows what we're doing, we both run full force towards each other, finally embracing. We take in each other's presence and stand there for I don't know how long before a medic clears his throat.
Irritated, we look at him with harsh glares. "I'm sorry but there are a few things we need to clear up with Ms. Cresta." He says, indifferent to our expressions.
Annie breaks away from our embrace, still holding my hand as she answers him, "Alright, what?" I missed that voice so much. It's all I can do to not to pick her up and spin her around right now. I settle for nuzzling my nose in her neck. This makes her giggle, "Finny stop!" She says. I do what I'm told and hold her hand up to my mouth and kiss it.
The medic continues to ignore our emotions and begins asking questions. Most are pretty basic and easy to answer, but I object when he asks if she'll be staying with Johanna in the women's hospital wing. "She'll be staying with me, of course." The medic, for once, actually looks shocked. "But Mr. Odair, you're in the hospital yourself." He says while looking at my hospital gown. "I'm due out any day now. Go ahead, check your charts." I reply with a smug grin on my face. He checks, and sure enough he nods his head.
"Look we're very busy right now with all the soldiers and whatnot, so why don't I just assign you two a room together and Ms. Cresta can come for her medical inspection later?" He responds, exasperated.
Annie wraps her hands around my waist and pulls me close to her. We both smile at each other, and she answers the medic, "That'll be just fine."
Filler chapter :P ha sorry, but it had to be done. I'm not very good with lovey-dovey stuff, so sorry if it wasn't what you were expecting. Also, I know that it's not the same as in the book, but I don't have my book with me to see what exactly went down.. so yeah. Review please! I hardly got any feedback from the first chapter.. Thanks!