Chapter 4

For the past two days, I have locked myself in my room, I haven't spoken to a single person at all.

The sadness of knowing that I am safe and my family has not comes and goes. At times, I feel sad, at other times, I feel nothing at all. How heartless I am.

Finnick is sitting on the edge of my bed lightly shaking me awake."We're here Athena."

I smile and nod. Arms filled with bags, I step off the train. I glance around and see tall trees surround me and the sun shines brighter than it ever did in 12. Back home the summers were cool and breezy, and late at night quite chilly. Clearly it's the opposite here, the less I wear the better. I quickly shed the jacket I'm wearing and feel a warm breeze blow my hair back. I quickly shift my gaze and soak up the warm sunlight. Finnick motions towards a set of sleek looking metal vehicles. They glide over the air without touching the ground, and Finnick hops into one of them. Finnick's mother smiles and heads towards the other, I'm scared that if I get in whatever is holding it up off the ground will buckle under our weight and we will plummet into the ground.

"Athena, get in the Chariot." Finnick says.

"Chariot?" I raise an eyebrow.

"It's the name of the model, throw your stuff in the back, and climb in so we can squeeze three of my sisters in here."

I nod and toss my things inside and hop into the Chariot; three little girls claw their way into the car and excited giggles fill my ears.

"Are you excited Athena?" I look behind me and see the brown eyed little girl who asked me, Harmony.

"Yes I am Harmony."

"We should make you pretty when we get home."

Finnick laughs, "So your saying she isn't pretty now..." The girls break out in more giggles and I punch Finnick in the arm. The sensation of movement gets my attention and I look around at the blur of trees we are passing by. They're tall and thin, leaning over as if the wind could blow them over. Small markets pocket these odd trees, after a while they begin to mesh into a blobs of colors. I close my eyes and fall asleep, hoping that when I wake up we will be by the ocean.

"Athena?" A deep vibrating voice is calling my name. "Athena?" A hand ties around my shoulder and gently shakes me. I stretch and flutter my eyes open. Shimmering deep blue eyes sit a few breaths away from me.

"We're here Athena.'' My eyes widen and I struggle to unbuckle myself, I fling the door open, and crash into something warm and kind of soft. I swipe a handful of it and let it slip through my fingers. Sand. My smile widens, I'm sitting in sand. Immediately, I toss my shoes off into the sand. Finnick extends a hand and helps me up. I look around and see an expanse of crashing white and the hue of deep blue that matches Finnick's eyes. My smile quickly fades as I realize that my family isn't here to enjoy this with me, I head towards the house with tears lining my eyes.

I stay in my room, until I hear someone knock on the doorway. I look up to see Finnick leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed, scowling.

"You need to get outside. We live on a beach, why don't you go enjoy it."

"I can't enjoy it. I am sitting here on the beach while they are being-" Finnick cuts me off.

"Being what? Its been quiet for days, Athena. They said that the Diplomats are working things out. Soon this will all be over."

"What if this is the calm before the storm?" I ask.

"Well then you better make the most of it before the storm comes...Get outside, Athena. Just walk on the beach or something. Alright?" Something in his tone tells me it would be better to listen to him. I grab an apple and head outside.

I walk endlessly, soaking up all the sun and salty sea air. I look behind me to see that the house has faded into a dot behind me, I keep my eyes trained on the ground and try to count how many seashells I can find lodged in the sand.

I slam into someone. "Sorry." I murmur. Rubbing my head, I look across into a pair of bright tawny eyes.

"Oh don't mind me." The girl looks down and attempts to walk away. "Wait? I don't have any friends here except for one. Could I at least know your name?" I ask, something inside me fills with hope; I can make a friend here in District 4.

"I'm Castle..." her voice drops lower and she seems to wince, "Castle Snow." The name tugs at a memory, searching desperately I find it. President Coriolanus Snow, the man who doomed my ancestors to death, who killed Finnick's great-grandfather, who sent innocent children to their death. My eyes narrow, all the hope I had of making a friend with this girl begins to fade. Judging by her pale skin that matches his from the pictures, and the way she carries herself it's not a coincidence.

I feel a dislike for her instantly. Anyone who descends from those bloodlines must be cold and twisted. I straighten my posture. "I'm Athena, Athena Mellark."

Castle's eyes widen, her pale face becoming almost transparent. Her breath quickens and she quickly cowers before me. Is she scared? I step back a bit and Castle peers at me oddly.

"Well aren't you going to beat me to a pulp or something?" She whispers.

I turn my head slightly and bite my lip. While we come from opposing families, I am not cruel enough to just beat her for the mistakes that Snow made. Slowly, Castle realizes I won't pound her into a pile of blood and stands tall again. She stares at me with a fascination and intensity that makes me feel anxious. Castle takes her finger and presses it to her lips, in deep thought. Finally when I am about to just turn and leave Castle opens her mouth.

"Do you ever wish it was different?" She asks.

"How do you mean?"

"Do you ever wish you weren't well...you?" I can see her doubting her choice to carry on a conversation with me. Something in my mind tells me to just ignore her and leave, but a nagging voice encourages me to stay.

"I always wake up glad that I am me."

Castle shakes her head, "No. I meant that...for example, when I wake up, sometimes I wish I was just Castle. Not Castle Snow. Does that make sense?" Castle's finger presses to her lips again, "Who am I kidding? You probably are just what everyone wants." Castle tosses her ebony hair back and moves past me. She thinks I am the perfect prodigy of my family. She thinks I am brave, courageous, inspirational, Katniss. I begin to walk away from her, but a single thought stops me.

This girl understands what its like to not live up to the expectations everyone has for you. She understands the weight that comes with having a powerful last name. Despite the fact that she is a Snow, she is the only person who understands a part of me that no one else gets. Not Finnick, my brothers, my parents. Out of all the people to understand my failure and shortcomings, its the girl who happens to be from the family I am supposed to hate. I debate turning around and telling her the truth about me. I think a second longer and have made a decision.

I turn on my heel, I hate feeling alone. This girl, Castle, seems to understand not being worthy of the name passed down to us. I step towards her, grip her shoulder, and turn her towards me.

"I am nothing like her, Castle. If she were to see me now she would be disappointed. I am a coward; I crumble under pressure, and...I understand you. Sometimes I just want to be Athena...even my best friend doesn't understand that. No one understands. Why should they? It's one thing to have an expectation to live up to and succeed, it is a completely different thing to have an expectation to live up to and fail immensely." I say.

Castle nods her head and smiles at me. It's a small smile that spreads across her face. "I like you Athena. Even though I am supposed to hate you..." she puts her hand out for me to shake. I hesitate a moment before shaking. As I pull my hand away Castle walks away from me then stops a few paces away. She turns towards me, "I've never had a friend before. Thank you."

I smile back and sit in the sand letting the white waves lap over my feet.

Hey everyone! Hope you like it so far...By the way, for those of you who are Divergent fans, Summit just released two new posters for the movie. So excited!