Chapter Four: What Makes You Tick


A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all the reviews! I've also decided to add in relevant lyrics to every chapter, so if you want, take a look at the previous chapters! Some Elethea/Dom cuteness in this one :)


"Trying to find out what makes you tick

Coz I lie down, sore and sick

Do you like that, do you like that?

There's a fine love between love and hate."

- Diary of Jane, Breaking Benjamin


Elethea's POV

I don't think I've ever been more enraged. A 6?! How had I managed to score that low? All of the other Careers had scored 8 and above! I clench my hands into fists as I watch the television, although I don't really want to see what the other districts got. It'd be like a slap to the face if even the lower districts have done better than me. Dom can't help but chuckle, like he finds my fury amusing.

"6, huh? From a Career?"

"Shut up. I was playing the weak angle." I snarl, although we both know that kind of angle has nothing to do with getting a mediocre score in personal training. Silver and Romulus had both achieved 10! How am I meant to compete with scores like those? "You know that."

"Still." Dom raises his eyebrows. I think he must know how easy I am to rile up, because otherwise, why would he keep attempting to aggravate me? "A 6?"

"I said shut up," I snap, clambering to my feet. Finnick hadn't been impressed, but then again he hadn't been disappointed either, claiming there had been worse scores from our district. Well, if that was true, I'd never heard about it. I make to leave, but it's clear that Dom isn't done mocking me yet. How could I ever have thought him to be my friend?

"Or what?" he demands.

"You must think you're so threatening." I whirl around to face him, green eyes flaring. My small hands clench into fists, although I seriously doubt I can actually manage to do any damage to Dom. "You're not that much older or bigger than me."

"Bet I could overpower you," Dom said, his smugness starting to make my temper boil. Yes, okay, he's a lot bigger and stronger than me. That doesn't necessarily equate to him being better in the arena. He's the smarter one, although I'd never up his ego by telling him that. I draw myself up to my full height of 5'1. "Want to test it out?"

He is so competitive! I shove him in the chest, but he catches my wrists and pins me against the wall, holding me there and towering over me as I thrash like a wild animal. Admittedly, I do feel trapped. But there's not a snowball's chance in hell I'm letting do know his intimidation is working on me.

"Scared?"

"No!" I spit, kicking at his ankles. Physical power doesn't mean anything. Dom steps back, avoiding my kicks, but still holding me in place. I'm fighting with all my might, but Dom's hands around my wrists might as well be steel manacles for how tightly they hold me in place. "The other Careers are much bigger and stronger than you."

Technically, it's only kind of half-true. Melia must be around 5'8, but Silver is only a few inches taller than me. Romulus and Xander are another matter, both being several inches taller than even Dom. I have to crane my neck just to look up at them. I'm getting so sick of being the smallest, the weakest, the youngest.

"You don't scare me," I growl, "So back off."

Dom holds up his hands in surrender, taking a step away from me. I have to wonder at how weird our relationship is. Half the time we're fighting, and then the other half we get along. Then there's also the fact that I admire him, his calm, his drive. Okay, well…it's hard to admit, that maybe I have a bit of a crush on him. But none of that matters, because the Games are in a few days, and at least one of us is going to die.

"Boys always think strength gets people," I huff. Romulus and Xander often arm-wrestled across the table at lunch during our training days, causing Melia to giggle like a little girl and Silver to roll her eyes disinterestedly.

"No, being nice works as well," Dom argues. I have to admit that it's thanks to his politeness and cool that we got an alliance with the other Careers. Melia definitely doesn't want me around, Xander is constantly mocking me. Silver is okay, but Romulus watches me with dangerously empty eyes.

"So what's nice, then?" I challenge, folding my arms over my chest. "Show me how to play nice."

The next thing I know, Dom's kissing me. I stiffen in surprise, before kissing back. Once we've started, it's like we can't stop. Why are we doing this? Does he like me, or does he just think he needs a kiss before he dies? I put my arms around his neck and step up on my toes so that I'm a little taller. Dom pulls me close against him, pressing me against the wall and eliciting a gasp from me. His lips leave mine to trail down my neck, but I'm suddenly embarrassed, my cheeks flaming red. I turn my face.

"Dom, stop."

"Sorry." He draws back and watches intently as I rake a hand through my hair and sigh. We've come too close, way too close. I can't afford to have a romantic relationship with Dom, despite the fact that I think I'm starting to get feelings for him. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just…" I struggle to find the right words. "Don't want to do anything too much."

"It's fine." Dom's looking at me differently now. Maybe he's thinking that I'm only fourteen and we shouldn't have kissed like that. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken it so far."

"I guess you're just older and…you're ready for stuff I'm not." I wrap my arms around myself. Why can't things just be simple? I kind of wish we were fighting again, because that way, I wouldn't want to kiss him so much.

Dom watches me closely. "Are you alright?"

"Fine." I exhale deeply. "Just going to be the laughing stock of the Careers.

"Well, then, show them you aren't something to laugh at." Dom replies simply. It's such a Dom-like thing to say that I can't help but smile, although I don't really know how I'm meant to prove myself worthy now.

"I'm supposed to be playing weak though," I ruminate aloud. Tomorrow the interviews commence. Can I still play weak when natural fire is trying to burn its way out of me? I'm strong despite my small size and young age. The only thing is, the rest of the Careers don't have those factors holding them back. "Xander and Romulus are way over six foot. How am I meant to fight them?"

"Don't," Dom advises me, and I'm struck when I think how good a Victor he'd make, how good a mentor. "Let them turn on each other."

"Come on." I smile and impulsively kiss his cheek before taking his hand. I'm tired of being alone, of staring up at the ceiling and imagining myriad horrible deaths for myself. I need company and warmth. A friend. I need Dom. "Let's go back to my room."

Dom flushes and I immediately realise he's take my words the wrong way. I feel my cheeks heating up and know I must be going tomato red. I can't help a little giggle, but I press my hand over my mouth.

"I'm fourteen, I don't want to..."

"I didn't mean it like that, I don't want anything sexual," Dom insists, noticing my discomfort about the subject. I mean, sure, I know about sex, but I didn't mean to make any implications to say that I wanted to have sex with Dom.

"I just want someone to sleep with," I murmur, running my hands up and down my arms. I gaze at him quizzically and he nods, following me into my room. I change into my pajamas in the bathroom, examining my reflection critically. Why am I doing this? Why am I getting close to Dom when it's only going to bring heartbreak?

By the time I walk back out, Dom is sitting on the bed, shirtless. I lie down and he flops beside me. I curl close, my dark hair brushing against his chin. He puts an arm around me and his bare chest is warm against my fingers.

"Sometimes I lie here and wonder if it's going to hurt," I whisper, causing Dom's arm to tighten around me slightly. I bury my face in my pillow and although I'm completely silent, there are tears running down my cheeks.


I toy with my hands nervously, playing with the hem of my green chiffon dress. It's going to be my turn to be interviewed soon. The others have all gone out and I've seen the confidence they exuded. Like Finnick said, they all had their own angles to play. Xander was easygoing and charming, yet not to be underestimated. Silver was cool and calm. Melia was flirtatious and fun-loving. Romulus was a ruthless killer.

As Caesar Flickerman interviews the tributes from District 3, I wait nervously for my turn. I'm wearing a one-strap green dress that clings to my form. It's not modest, but it's definitely not as revealing as the dresses Melia and Silver had been wearing. The earrings I wear jingle and get caught in my dark hair. Dom reaches across and squeezes my hand reassuringly, but I quickly snatch it back.

"Now, from District 4, the one and only…ELETHEA AMBROSE!"

I jerk to my feet and walk out onto the stage, trying not to be intimidated by the number of people who are in the crowd. Caesar and the audience clap me on, and I take my seat beside Caesar. This year his hair is a shocking shade of green and he looks across at me with a Cheshire cat grin.

"So, Elethea. Tell us, what made you volunteer for the Games?"

"Well." I think about it momentarily. My voice gets stuck in my throat, but I find it again after one terrifying moment. "I wanted to bring pride to my district."

Caesar nods understandingly. Clearly my response is nothing new, and I know that's no good. I need to stand out, to give sponsors a reason to pick me over the other tributes. I take a deep breath and wait for Caesar's next question.

"Tell us about your mother and brother," Caesar insists.

"My mum lost her brother to the 50th Hunger Games," I admit. It had been before my time, so I don't really know much about it. "My little brother Leon is eleven. He wants to do District 4 proud as well someday."

Caesar nods, considering my words. "What do you like most about the Capitol?"

I force a smile. I couldn't say I hated it here because it was a place of death, and that nothing good for the districts could come from here.

"I love how everything is so colourful."

Caesar smiles and the buzzer goes off, prompting me to get to my feet. I smile and wave my way off-stage to the cheering audience and pass Dom in the corridor on my way out. I grip his wrist tightly, urgency coming over me. I understand the need for privacy, especially between the two of us.

"Don't tell them anything about us, Dom."

"What do you mean us?" Dom inquires, raising an eyebrow quizzically. I can't tell whether he's playing along or whether our kiss had truly meant nothing to him. Either way, I surmise that the kiss will mean nothing to anyone once we hit the arena.


Finnick's POV

Elethea paces back and forth as Dom watches her from the couch, trying to suppress a yawn. She seems on edge, although I know she'd never admit it. Tomorrow, the Games will begin. It's a nerve-wracking prospect for anyone, even a Career tribute. Elethea immediately spins around to face me and begins firing questions.

"So, food. Where do we look for food?"

"Anywhere you can," I reply, sitting down and watching the restless girl as she frowns.

"What happens if other tributes get our weapons?"

"Fight to get them back." I spread myself over a couch. She's bombarding me mercilessly, but I know that she needs answers. Survival is a necessity.

"What happens if the other Careers turn on us?" Elethea inquires. It's a pessimistic outlook, but you always have to be prepared for the worst when it comes to the Games. I lean back and wish she had a remote on which I could press 'mute'.

"You run," I reply simply. It's the only thing they can do. If Districts 1 and 2 betray them, young tributes like Dom and Elethea won't stand a chance unless they got out of there right away. I watch as the dark-haired girl bites her lip.

"Do you think they will?"

"They shouldn't." My tone grows a little sterner and my words are directed at Elethea. I know she has a tendency to flare up when it's inconvenient. "Be careful with how you act."

"In other words, be nice?" Dom pipes up from the other couch. Elethea glances over at him, but a scowl crosses her face as she turns back to me.

"What's wrong with how I act?"

"You aren't nice," I inform her.

"I'm nice to Dom," Elethea protests, but that just goes to prove my point. It's the Careers she needs to win over, especially considering her young age and lack of physical strength. I've noticed the blooming relationship between my two tributes, and I think I'd prefer it if they hated one another. The arena can do strange things to people, and I know that one will be shattered when the other dies.

"Be nice to everyone," I say, raking a hand through my bronze hair.

"I'm not being nice to those jerks from 2," Elethea snaps, her temper flaring once more. I know then that it will be her undoing. She just can't control herself, not to mention that she's as stubborn as a mule. If I find the girl frustrating, then the other Careers would certainly gut her in no time. "I could just kill them in their sleep."

"That's a cowardly act," I tell her coldly, watching as her little hands ball into fists. I know she sees survival as coming before everything, but I thought she had a bit more humanity than that. Now I find myself wondering if Elethea Ambrose will be one of the monsters.

"So is throwing nets over people before you take them out with a trident," Elethea hisses in response. My jaw clenches. I can't help it, she really has a way of knowing exactly where it hurts. I push myself to my feet. If she's going to be such a bitch about things, why should I even bother helping her?

"I'm sorry," she murmurs.

"No, you aren't," I snarl at her, glowering in her direction. "You always open your mouth before you think what you're saying. Maybe you're right. Maybe Dom's the only hope for a District 4 Victor."

I stride out of the room, but I don't go back to my own. I want to hear what's being said – not for the sake of eavesdropping. I want to know if my tributes have the ability to sort themselves out when I'm not around, because they won't have my guidance tomorrow when they're in that arena.

"You're a genius," Dom says icily.

"What does it matter what's cowardly?" Elethea demands, her tone defensive. "Wouldn't you do anything to survive?"

I press my head against the wall and wait for Dom's response.

"No." His voice is firm. "I'd rather look someone in the eyes when I killed them."

"What if you knew they'd kill you if you were on even ground?" Elethea persists, and I have to agree with her line of questioning. "Would you let them kill you just to keep your honour?"

"It's the one thing the Capitol can't take," Dom replies softly, and I have to refrain from walking back in and correcting him. The Capitol has the ability to take away from you everything that you once were, until you're just a hollow shell. Until there's nothing left.