Games of the Dead

Summary: He was many things, but not a dead man.

Note: Definitely not my favorite. Perhaps not the worst.


3. Of A Victor

He was a tribute. He was a victor. He was a friend. He was even a newlywed. And then – just like that – the beautiful Finnick Odair was dead.

He still remembers his name being called at the Reaping. It was so distant – the memory – yet it stayed so clear. How was that? Why was that? Was it because that was the day everything changed? His mentor – Mags – pulled through, in the end, and he was a tribute no longer. He was a victor.

And victors always, always win. Victors die after they've lived their long, somewhat happy lives, they die on a full stomach – but they are broken and desperate and plagued by the taunts of the Capitol and the arena. Tributes are supposed to die in the comfort of their districts – they're not supposed to die by mutts. The time for mutts was supposed to be over – if you were a victor.

He's sad he didn't get to say goodbye to his family and friends – his wife, and everyone he's ever known. Life isn't fair! It is because of the Capitol that he died – because of their cruel ways that he had to die like this.

What will Annie think, now that he is dead? Will she be mad at him for leaving her –alone and lost and distant forever? Will she be sad – broken and miserable with salty tears? Or does she not even care? If there is one thing Finnick does not want, it is Annie not caring about his death. (It's not Annie's fault, though, 'cause she's crazy – not that he'd call her that.)

And his friends . . . Well, he knew he would have to leave them sometime, but this is not how it was supposed to happen. Most of his friends were dead, anyways. Still, he had his everyone to say goodbye to – Katniss, Johanna, and even Haymitch (who was, in Finnick's mind, a good person before the Games, or probably was).

Not like they'd care about his death – hell, he wouldn't care about his death if it were in reverse. Because they are Victors. And Victors take care of themselves. (Only themselves.)

Victors are independent, not dependent – because, when it comes to the Capitol, there is only ever one winner. (And Finnick's lost the game.)