Rain: I'm glad that you guys like what I have so far :) I honestly thought a lot of people wouldn't pay much attention to this, because a lot of people like FinnickxAnnie (which I also love!). But I was proven wrong. And that makes me so happy~
"Despite the lies that you're making
Your love is mine for the taking
My love is
Just waiting
To turn your tears to roses"- Whispers in the Dark, Skillet
Disclaimer: I own nothing~
-On the Train-
Ash tries to talk to me at first, but stops when he realizes I won't respond. As the train starts, Skylin smiles at us two.
"Well. Why don't you two go take a shower and change into something more comfortable? Then we can all eat. How does that sound?" She asks. I shrug, which she takes as a yes. She leads Ash and I down the hall, to our rooms. Mine is first, so I go in, not saying a word. As soon as that door closes, all my bottled up sadness crashes down on my. My body racks with sobs as I head into the bathroom, before stripping down. I turn on the shower, and step in, letting the warm water wash over me. I slide down the shower wall, before curling into a ball, not caring as water and different soaps wash over me. After what seems like hours (but is probably no more than ten minutes) I turn off the water and step out. I'm dried from head to toe, and then step back into my room. That's when I get angry.
"Dammit!" I yell, throwing a vase full of flowers at a wall. Buts that's only the beginning of my spiral into self-destruction. I kick what I think is a chair, before pushing over a dresser. Pounding my fist into a wall I think of everything. Annie, Calla, Ash, Finnick, Mags, Skylin, and even my mom. I think of how I hate the capitol. I hate them for tearing apart families, killing children, and tormenting past victors by mentoring those children. I hate the fact that I want to just drown my sorrows in alcohol, like I did when I was younger, and angry at the world for putting me in Calla's care. Then, I stop.
"N-no way.." My voice is shaky, as I pick up the last thing I ever expected to see on this train. Knee-high combat boots. I know it may be stupid, but these boots give me a strange comfort. You see, when I was younger, I remember my mom wearing boots just like these. I remember getting excited, when I heard her boots in the kitchen when she came home from work. I remember her saying they were a gift from my father, before he died and she realized she was having me, her little miracle. I smile, and set them down. I then realize that I'm naked, and get dressed. I put on a white button down, a navy skirt, some navy knee-high socks, and the boots. Just like what I wore at home. Home. A place I'll probably never see again…
"No more ocean. No more waking up to the smell of the ocean breeze and fresh fish. No more Serena. No more Annie. No more making shell necklaces. I've lost everything I've ever known…" I say, before dropping down on the blue bed they've placed in this room. I look out the window, watching as everything blurs past. I remember something a past tribute said about the train ride.
She said she imagined it as being pushed forward in time, into the hunger games, something she said she never expected. I recall Calla saying that the girl was crazy, that she probably wouldn't make it five minutes. But the girl proved her wrong, coming in second in the games. She was very handy with an ax, that was for sure. She reminded me of myself in a way, we both are very handy with an ax, we both came from four, and we both have a cold distant demeanor. I sit there for a few minutes, just staring and remembering that girl, wondering what her name was. Then, I get up.
"No use sitting here" I say to myself, as I put my hair in a ponytail, leaving my bangs to fall freely. I then look in the mirror, washing away any evidence of tears, and head for the door. Just as I'm about to open it, however, it opens, and Finnick Odair stands in the doorway. I jump back, surprised, before replacing my impassive expression and looking at him.
"Yes?" I say, my voice scratching slightly. Damn. He looks at me, inspecting me.
"Skylin said she heard you screaming while we were showering, and asked me to check if you were okay. She was worried, because you seemed to be quiet for a while." He says. Skylin heard me? And by the look on his face, he seems to have to heard me too.
"I'm fine." I say, a little too quickly. He raises an eyebrow, and steps inside, the door closing behind him. I take a step back, and wonder what he's doing.
"We both know that's not true. Especially considering how badly this room is destroyed.." He says, looking around. I survey the damage with him, and see he's right. The only thing not destroyed is the bed. Everything else is just…ruined. That vase I threw is broken (no surprise), the chair I kicked is upside-down, and the dresser I pushed over has clothes scattered underneath and around it.
"I was just venting…" I say, in a small voice. He nods, and, to my surprise, gives me a hug. I barely have time to react, before he pulls away, and picks up the dresser. I recover from my moment of shock, and start picking up the clothes, folding and putting them in the dresser. He picks up the glass shards and then fixes the chair. After we get done with picking up after my destruction, I turn to leave. But, he has other ideas in mind. Grabbing my wrist, he turns me to him.
"Tell me, what possessed you to volunteer" He asks. I look away, gritting my teeth.
"Annie would've gone in" I simply say. Pulling my wrist from his grasp.
"She could've handled herself" He points out. I let out a laugh, harsher than I intended.
"She could have, but she'd never be the same. I would rather have my best friend smiling, and happy, oblivious to the bad things of the world, than have her broken, abused, and traumatized." I say. I turn to him. His expression is unreadable. Then, without a word, he grabs my wrist, and takes me out of the room. I have just enough time to regain my emotionless mask, before he pulls me into the dining car. Ash, Skylin, and Mags look up. Skylin smiles.
"Oh, you got her! Thank you Finnick!" She says. He just shrugs, and goes over to sit next to Mags. Ash, Skylin, and I sit down with them, waiting for the food to arrive. When it does, I'm sure Ash and I have eyes as wide as saucers. There's so much food! Half I don't even know the name of! The others look at us, amused. They walk over casually, and get a plate of food. Ash and I go over, me cautiously following him.
"Wow!" He exclaims, as he grabs a plate and starts filling it. I grab my own plate, grab a few things, and sit down. Ash sits next to me, plate full of different things, where I have regular district four foods ike fish and bread. Ash looks at me.
"The witch isn't here, you can eat as much as you want." He says. The others look between the two of us. I grit my teeth.
"I know. I'm not that hungry is all" I lie. He laughs.
"Bull! You're just afraid the witch will come out of nowhere and beat you for taking too much!" He says. I ball my hands into fist, tempted to punch him. He's right, but I don't want the others to know. Skylin turns to Ash.
"Witch?" She asks. I give him a look, telling him not to say a word. He ignores me.
"Naida lives with an old, bitter woman named Calla. And if she takes too much food, doesn't get certain things for the market, or doesn't make enough money-" I interrupt him.
"Shut up" I growl. Again, he ignores me.
"Selling shell necklaces, then Calla will either let her starve for a few days or beat her with her cane" He finishes. The others turn to me, wondering if I'll confirm whether or not it's true.
"That's not true" I grit out. He laughs.
"Really? Then how come you come to school with bruises all the time? Why do you beg old Serena to give you more money? Why do you bargain so much for certain things that I'm sure you don't need?" He asks.
"Why does it matter to you?" I counter.
"It matters to me because you've been abused all of your life! I've always tried to help you but you're too proud to accept!" He yells, standing. I stand and glare at him.
"Because I've never needed your help! I'm just fine on my own! I always have been!" I yell back. Skylin tries to intervene.
"How about we all-" We ignore her.
"Yes you do Naida! If you had accepted my help before you wouldn't have your name in so many times for tesserae! You wouldn't have bruises! You wouldn't need to make those stupid necklaces! You wouldn't need to volunteer for that idiot Annie Cresta!" He yells. I lose it. Grabbing a knife I snag his sleeve, pinning it to the table. I then push his head down onto the table also, twisting his arm behind his back.
"I swear to God if you say one more thing about her I'll break every bone in your body" I hiss, before letting him go, and taking the knife out of the table. Skylin rushes to him, to see if he's okay. As does Mags. I watch as Skylin fusses over him, and he just stretches out his limbs. He then turns to me, glaring. Don't want to help me now eh? That's when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I jerk away, wrapping my arms around myself instinctively. I shiver, memories filling my system.
"Don't touch me" I say, my voice sounding weak. I sound so…helpless. They all stare at me now, with pity in their eyes. I feel like shrinking away, my emotionless mask fading ever so slowly. Their eyes are still trained on me now, and I can't help but yell out.
"Stop looking at me like that! I don't need your pity! Just because I'm abused doesn't mean that I need all of you to pity me!" I yell, before running off, down the hall to my room. As soon as I shut the door closed, I lean against it, staring at the ceiling. I sit there for what seems like ages, wondering. Why am I acting like this? I'm supposed to be strong, not weak. I can't let mom down. Is it Ash? Is it all of his questions, and years of trying to get me to accept his help finally getting to me? Is it Finnick, and how he seemed to appear around me everywhere today? Is it the fact everyone knows my secrets? Is it because Ash voiced them, and not me? I don't know. I sit there, wondering forever, until a knock sounds, startling me. I can only guess who it is.
"Go away Ash…" I say, my voice scratching slightly. The door opens anyway, and I have to move aside.
"It's not Ash" A familiar voice says. I almost let out a groan. Looking up at Finnick I see he has a plate in his hands. He walks over, and sets it on the bed. I watch him, and the follow, sitting down cautiously. On the plate there are tons of food, and it makes my mouth water. I look to him.
"Why are you doing this?" I ask. He shrugs.
"You missed dinner, and the reapings recaps are soon." He says. I shake my head.
"I mean, why are you being so nice? I would figure someone as popular and rich as you wouldn't give a second glance to someone like me.." I trail off. He gives me a small smile and shrugs again.
"We're not that different. Now eat." He says, pushing the plate towards me. I immediately grab some fish. He lets out a laugh. I bite into it, and raise an eyebrow.
"What?" I ask, after swallowing. He looks at me, and I can't help but admire his green eyes. They're just so…beautiful. But it's plain to see that pain and sorrow are hidden deep within them.
"Nothing…it's just, in all the years I've been mentoring, it seems every tribute eats the fish first." He says. I laugh, before finishing my fish and going for some oysters. Yum.
"Did you eat the fish first?" I ask. He thinks for a moment, before breaking into a smile.
"Yeah, I did. I guess that my brain was so used to eating seafood, that it was the first thing I went for. Then, of course, I went for oysters" He smiles at me. I laugh.
"Really? To be honest I would've never noticed unless you pointed it out. But I think I went for fish first because it was something that I rarely get to eat, and consider it something nice. Then the oysters, because I've only ever tasted them once" I say. His eyes widen.
"You've only tried oysters once? And fish is rare? What did that old woman feed you?" He asks. I grimace.
"Bread mostly. Though, she would usually only give me about half of the amount she was eating." I say. He shakes his head.
"You know, I bet you could easily pass for a district 12 kid. The hair, the eyes, the weight, the height, and the diet. You'd fit right in" He jokes. I let out another small laugh, before finishing the food on the plate. He takes it and sets it aside.
"Hey Finnick?" I ask, he looks up at me.
"Yes?" He asks.
"Why did you give me seafood only?" I ask. He smiles.
"Capitol food is so much different from home. It's what I usually get, and I guess I just got it for you too, on instinct" He says. I smile.
"Thanks" I say. He laughs.
"I should be saying that to you" He says.
"How so?" I ask. He smiles at me.
"This is the first time I've actually smiled for real in a long time" He says. My eyes widen.
"Mine too…." I say. We give each other a smile, and laugh.
"So, how did you end up with 'the witch' anyway?" He asks. My smiles fades, and I look ahead.
"My mother died when I was five, in some freaky accident. And since my father was dead, my mother said she wanted me to live with Calla. Do you have any family?" I ask. He frowns, and looks out the window.
"No, I don't." I can tell it's a touchy subject for him just by the look in his eyes when he turns back to me. I feel a small pang of sadness for him. Then, looking at the clock, I realize the recaps should start soon.
"The reaping recaps are in a few minutes. Let's go." I say. He looks at the clock, confirms what I'm saying is true, and we both get up. He goes walks ahead of me and is about to open the door, when I grab his wrist. He turns to me.
"What is it Naida?" He asks. I bite my lip.
"Don't tell anyone about what I told you, please." I say. He looks at me a moment, before nodding.
"As long as you don't tell anyone what I said either" He says. I smile, and give him a small nod before letting go of his wrist. He opens the door, and I regain my impassive expression, as does he. We walk in a strangely comfortable silence, before we both find the others in one of the train cars, huddled in front of the TV.
"There you two are! We were worried for a minute!" Skylin chimes. Finnick shrugs.
"We met up with each other in the hall, and started talking" He simply says. I nod, confirming his lie. She smiles at the two of us, believing every word. She then brings Finnick over to watch with Mags and herself. I feel someone grab my hand, and pull away. Turning around I see Ash. Of course.
"Hey Naida. Um…I'm sorry. I guess I got a little out of hand." He says. I shrug.
"It's fine, I guess" I say, plainly. He smiles.
"Well then, how about we see the competition" He says. I walk behind him as we approach the TV a bit more. The capitol symbol appears, and the anthem plays. Then it turns to a video, the District 1 reapings. Their escort looks almost as ridiculous as Skylin. Almost. I watch as she plucks a slip of paper out of the girls' ball, and reads a name. I don't pay attention to it, however, because I'll have to kill most of these people anyway. Plus, she's a typical one girl. I watch as she climbs the steps, with a cocky sway in her step that spells 'backstabber'.
"Any words for your district?"The escort asks. She just smirks and flips her hair over her shoulder.
"I'm definitely coming back as victor" She says, flashing the crowd a smile. I scoff. Her district partner is even less interesting. He's a typical District 1 boy, with jet black hair and steel gray eyes. He's burly, and definitely strong. I have no doubt about that. I watch as he smiles at the crowd, before fist pumping the air. He instantly disgusts me. How can he be so happy? He's risking his life, for such an absolutely ridiculous reason. I look to Ash, whose just smirking. He must be happy about the beginnings of our career alliance. My hate for him doubles.
"Nice career pack already" He says. I shrug. I don't really like the career pack, but oh well. I can kill them so much easier anyway. Next we watch two's reapings, and then three's. Then comes four. I watch as Skylin puts her hand in the girls' bowl.
"Annie Cresta!" Everybody moves, to make way for Annie. The camera catches as her hand let's go of mine, and our faces, hers , scared, and mine, impassive, as usual. Then she walks up there, slowly and stiffly.
"I volunteer!" My cry sounds through the silent area, and all heads turn to me. A few give me a look of sadness as Annie runs to me, crying into my shirt. I just stare at the stage as I stroke her hair and take her off me, leaving her to cry into her hands as I walk up there.
"What's your name?" Skylin asks. I stare out at district four for a moment, before turning to her.
"Naida. Naida Lynn" I say, rather plain before turning back to the crowd. She then goes over and calls Ash's name, and it cuts to the District 5 reapings. Not wanting to watch anymore, I turn, stating that I'm going to bed, before leaving to my room. Once there I strip down to just my undergarments, and climb into my bed. I lay awake for a while, listening as everyone goes to their rooms, one by one until all I can hear is the train's occasional sound. I soon fall asleep, and this time, I definitely have nightmares.
Rain: So? Is this one good? I hope so '-' Read and review!