Age 15

"When do you think we should tell him about Victors Village?" I whisper.

We got a phone call a few days saying his house was ready. They made it sound like he had to be there. It sounded like a threat.

"I don't know he seems to finally be readjusting, I don't think-" James starts.

"I think he has to move there Jay." I say.

He sighs.

"I was hoping that wasn't true." He says glumly. However, I think that might be the case." James says sadly. "We should tell him tonight and move in tomorrow."

I nod.

It's dinner and Marci (my nine year old daughter) and Jason (my thirteen year old son) have been excused but Finnick is still here because we have to tell him. We have to tell him we are all moving to Victors Village tomorrow.

"Finnick we want to talk to you." I say softly.

"Somebody's in trouble." Jason taunts from the family room.

"Shut up!" Finnick yells at Jason. Who then hurries upstairs.

"Finnick don't yell." James scolds.

Finnick looks at his lap.

"Am I in trouble?" Finnick whispers.

"No Finnick." I rub his arm. He looks up at me confused.

"Then what is it?" He whispers.

"We got a phone call the other day." James starts slowly.

"Okay." Finnick says confused.

We pause neither of us wants to tell him.

"What? I know people don't call here often. Only Nana and Gran are they okay?" He asks now worried.

"They're fine baby." I say and he smiles. "Finnick the phone call was about your house in Victors Village. We are going to-"

"Please don't make me!" He shouts.

"Make you what?" James asks. Although we all know what he meant.

"Move there. I like living here." He says frantically.

"Finnick it might not be that bad." I say and rub his back but he shakes me off.

"No! You don't understand!" He shouts.

"Finnick-"

"You can't make me! Please don't! Have me stay there! Please anything but that!" He shouts which makes my hear sore.

"Finnick I think you have to." I whisper gently.

"No." He whimpers this time.

"I think Mom is right Finnick, the way they sounded on the phone-

"No! You can't make me!" He says frantically like when an animal does when it's trapped.

"Don't worry Finnick, we will all be going with you." I say and kiss the top of his head.

"I don't care! It is just a... I- Ican't... I won't." He's starting to panic.

"Finnick shh. It will be okay." James says and I rub Finnick's back.

Finnick starts crying.

"It's okay sweetie." I say.

"No it's not!" He shouts

I hear someone coming down stairs. I motion my head so James can stop them. I can tell it is Jason.

"Is Finnick hurt?" Jason asks.

"He's fine Jason." James tells him and takes him back upstairs.

"Baby you're okay." I whisper to Finnick and rub his back. "This might be a good thing." I kiss his forehead. "You can have your own bedroom. We are closer to the water so we can go swimming and fishing more often." I rub his back. "Everything will be okay and I'm sure you can come back here whenever you want." I say.

"Okay." He whispers.

"Okay." I whisper back.


I hear Finnick screaming and head into his bedroom.

"Finnick sweetie is alright." I say and sit next to him and rub his back.

He hugs me and his chin is trembling.

"No it's not. I hate it here I can't sleep."

Ever since the move to Victors Village Finnick hasn't been able to sleep through the night. All that time at home healing was just a waste. He's the same as when he came back from the Capitol.

After calming back to sleep I head back to my bed.

"How is he?" James asks. I can hear the sorrow in his voice. He doesn't like seeing Finnick like this either.

"Jay, I don't know. I wish he didn't have to stay here."

"I know Felicity but what can we do?" He says frustrated. "We can't just leave him by himself and I don't want to know what will happen if he doesn't stay here." He says.

"I know but doing nothing seems so, sad." I whisper.

"I know." James whispers and kisses me.

"I also feel like I haven't been spending enough time with Jason and Marci. I know that's not Finnick's fault but I feel like I'm a bad mother." I whisper.

James sighs and kisses my forehead.

"You're not a bad Mother. Finnick just needs us now more than ever."

"I guess." I say and kiss him.


It seems all too soon that Finnick needs to leave for his Victory Tour. I can't bare how scared he looks when he finds out details or that it is coming quickly. The crew is supposed to be coming tomorrow

I'm trying to make the house nice for the Capitol people who will be coming to take Finnick away for the Victory Tour today.

I don't really know what to expect from these people. I just know Finnick doesn't like them and I don't blame him either.

I know our District escort, Aries with his teal hair and beard, is quite the character and a fond supporter of the Hunger Games. He also seems a bit dense. Finnick has called him stupid on many occasions but he doesn't really talk about designer or prep team. He doesn't talk about anything about his games except what is in his nightmares. A lot of the things that haunt him in his dreams are the very things I saw him doing on television.

I hear a knock on the door.

They can't be here yet. It's only nine in the morning. They said they would arrive at noon.

I remember because Finnick's brother and sister (mostly his sister) were worried they wouldn't get to say goodbye to him, because they would be in school still. However, if the crew arrives at noon Marci and Jason can say goodbye to Finnick on their lunch break. Almost all the children come home to eat lunch with their families.

I head to the door and open it and feel relief.

"Mags." I say and motion for her to come in.

"Hello dear." She says more like whispers.

"Finnick is still asleep." I say. I sound a bit too happy about that. But Finnick is finally sleeping through the night again.

"I figured." She smiles. "I wanted to talk to you dear." She says.

"Me?" I say confused.

"I know you must be worried about him leaving about if he will be… different when he comes back home."

"The thought has crossed my mind but I'm sure he'll be fine." I say worried. "But, I would greatly appreciate it if you stayed with him. Please don't leave him alone." I beg. "He acts strange if he stays alone by himself too long." I say.

"That's why I wanted to see you before everyone came here. I wanted to reassure you that Finnick will be in good hands."

"Good." I say. "I'm glad for that but what about the other victor , Luna, will she be alright with Finnick?" I ask.

"Luna adores the Hunger Games more than myself or Finnick. She did volunteer but she has softened over time. However, I don't think she would go out of her way to watch over Finnick."

"Okay." I say understanding.

"But don't worry I won't leave him alone unless absolutely necessary." She says.

"What would be absolutely necessary to leave him alone?"

"President Snow likes to talk to the new victors in private before the party at his mansion." She says sternly.

"I see well that shouldn't be that terrible." I say unsure.

She looks at me grimly.

"The Capitol has many temptations that can easily be found. A young person, a young victor, can be sucked into a terrible world without realizing it." She says gravely.

I want to ask of these temptations but I hear the stairs creek and know it is Finnick, we are the only people in the house. The kids are at school and James is at the docks.

I turn towards Finnick and see him rubbing his eyes while walking downstairs.

"Hi sweetie." I say.

"Mmmh." He groans.

"Come to the table. Mags wants to talk to you about the Victory Tour." I say and he looks more alert. I notice he throws something back upstairs. It was probably his teddy bear. Even though Finnick is well past the age you should be sleeping with a 'security blanket' he still does. It's not hurting him besides, after the Hunger Games I could tell it made him feel much better. James and I never mention it to him but he gets embarrassed when someone sees him holding it who are non-family members.

"Come here Finnick." Mags says and he does.

I let them talk by themselves while I make breakfast for all of us. I know Finnick likes this better. He doesn't like talking about the Hunger Games unless it is with Mags. Of course it is obvious why. She was his mentor for his games. She was the only person Finnck could confide in. Besides, she understands better than I could.

I put the breakfast on the table and hear the end of their discussion.

"Don't disagree with them Finnick it will make this trip much easier."

"But Mags they're terrible, awful really."

"You're going to find out the real terribleness of the Capitol during this tour."

"Breakfast is ready." I say uncomfortably. I wonder what she meant.

In a few hours I hear a car door and people coming into the house.

They don't bother knocking they just burst in and start setting things up that look horrible.

"Finnick you couldn't have kept yourself more trim? You hair looks hideous." Says a woman with pink hair and a nasty snarl on her face.

"Diana please be nice. Finnick was probably just swimming or something." A short pudgy man with purple hair says. At least he seems nicer.

"Hello darling." I hear Aries, our District escort, say while stroking his trademark teal beard.

At first I think Aries is speaking with Finnick or Mags but he is looking at me instead.

"Hello Aries." I say a little surprised he knows who I am.

"I remember you Felicity, darling, from when you first picked up young Finnick."

"Really?" I say trying to sound nice.

"Oh yes, I could never forget a face like yours. Great bone structure, eyes like gems, and hair so golden it might blind the son." He says and turns towards Finnick. "You're lucky you look like her kid. That's why you have so many admirers." Aries says and flurries to the kitchen and complains about the decor.

I hear the door open again. I expect my husband but see a tall pale man with daisy yellow hair and a bitter smile instead.

"Finnick you've grown, now I have to redo all of your Victory Tour outfits." The man says as a greeting.

"S-sorry Yule." Finnick says frightened.

"You should've sent me a letter so I wouldn't have to fix so much. I honestly don't know if I have enough time to fix your Capitol party outfit." He says and goes over to the other two. He looks Finnick up and down. "His hair is too long, cut it. Yule commands.

"But-" Finnick objects.

"You look a mess. You're also sun burnt. I thought I told you to be careful." Yule sneers.

"Don't be so mean to him we can fix Finnick right up." Says the short pudgy man.

"Yes we can and Finnick can look like the star he is." Aries smiles finally coming back into the room.

I walk closer to Finnick and reach for his hand which I squeeze.

"You're okay Finnick." I say hoping they couldn't hear me.

"Finnick come here now!" Shouts the only woman. "We need to cut your hair."

Finnick swallow hard and reluctantly lets go of my hand.

"Wait Diana." The pudgy man says.

"What Dean?" She says annoyed.

"Would you like us to do this outside Mrs. Odair? It would make less of a mess." Dean asks with a sweet smile.

Diana scoffs.

"You're fine." I say and they start to dampen Finnick's hair so they can cut it.

I will admit Finnick could use a hair cut. It is getting shaggy but I'm not going to shout at him because of this. I wouldn't make him get one either. If it's what he likes that's good enough for me, his Mother.

I wonder if these people were this terrible to him in the Capitol. I didn't think his designer would be so mean.

I hear the door open an hour later.

Now what? I think but I see it is my husband and followed closely behind him are Jason and Marci.

James probably waited in town so he could walk home with them for lunch.

James looks concerned when he looks at Finnick. At the moment they are doing something to Finnick so his skin will no longer look sunburnt and I can tell from Finnick's face it is painful.

"What's this?" Aries asks with excitement as he flutters to the door.

"That's my Dad… sister… ouch… and brother." Finnick whimpers softly.

"Shouldn't they be in school." Diana sneers.

"We come home for lunch." Marci smiles.

Diana just rolls her eyes and rips something off of Finnick that makes him wince.

"Mommy what are they doing to Finnick?" She asks worried and louder than she should've.

I see Yule and Diana glare at her, a nine year old.

"I think a break time would be nice." Mags says in a forceful tone.

"I can make everyone some lunch." I say.

I hear the Capitol citizens make special requests that I don't think I can follow. I heard 'gluten free' 'only almond milk for me' and 'I don't eat anything green'.

"We should eat what is given to us. How often do we get to eat real District Four cuisine?" Dean says.

I smile. I like Dean.

I hear sighs of disapproval and hear the last piece of something being ripped from Finnick before he rushes over to us.

"Alright there Finnick?" James asks concerned.

He just nods.

"Finnick, Finnick, Finnick. They said because of your Victory Tour we might get to go home early. That means I get to see you more before you leave." Marci says with glee.

"That's great Marci." Finnick says and she hugs him.

"Ok I'm going to miss you." She whispers.

"Don't worry Marci I'm going to be back home before you know it." He says.

"You sure?" Her blue eyes twinkle with wonder.

"Yes Finnick is sure, now go wash your hands and come back downstairs." I tell Marci and Jason.

They come back downstairs soon and Marci looks around at all the things the Capitol people brought. I notice Dean keeps a careful watch on Diana. Which I am thankful for.

I end up making everyone tuna fish sandwiches. While some of our 'guests' complained about the smell they endured it anyways. However that didn't stop them from making faces the whole time.

Before I know it they are finished with Finnick. Which means it is ,sadly, time for him to leave.

Even though the kids get to leave early from school I can tell they aren't going to see Finnick again.

When they are finished with Finnick his hair is cut. The sun burnt is gone. Finnick's nails are perfectly cut and I saw them put clear polish over them. Not like that matters Finnick has always chewed and picked at his nails.

"You ready Finnick?" I ask as he is about to board the train.

He shakes his head.

"You saw how mean they are Mom." He whimpers and holds onto me tightly.

I rub his back but he winces.

"It hurts when you touch me. They did something funny to my skin." He whispers.

"It's okay Finnick." I say and kiss the top of his head.

I see Luna , the other victor, is standing with the rest of the crowd.

James and I comfort Finnick more but it isn't enough because when Aries calls him over Finnick grasps me very tightly.

"It's okay Finnick." I whisper into his ear and kiss his cheek. "Mags is going to take care of you. You'll see." I say and he nods.

I watch as they all walk to the train.

I sigh and James pulls himself closer to me.

"He'll only be gone for a month." He says and kisses my forehead.

"I know and he's been through much worse. At least I know he's going to come back alive this time." I say and feel a stray tear roll down my cheek.