TWENTY-ONE – Finnick Odair, 22 years old, District Four
You could tell it was an uneasy alliance between Freya and River as they crept away from Ryan's body. Trying to put some distance between them and the young boy. Johanna was stood next to me, hands clenched tightly together, lips pursed, eyes shiny. She knew the boy hadn't had much chance, but I think she honestly believed he would have survived longer than he did. In fact, even I believed he would have lasted at least the first night.
The screens in the training centre were showing the surviving tributes as they went around recovering from the bloodbath which killed twelve of the tributes. Twelve! There was only twelve left already. Alongside Freya and River there were the six tributes making up the Career Pack - both from district 1, both from district 2, Morgana and the boy from eleven; then there was the other alliance of outer districts - the two from twelve, the girl from eleven and the girl from eight (River had killed her district partner). All the solo tributes were dead. Most of the mentors had disappeared back to their floors – all interest in the games lost now they didn't have any tributes to look after. It left Johanna, Blight, Annie, Mags and I with the mentors from one, two, eleven, twelve and eight. It made it easier now for them to follow seeing as they were all in alliances.
We watched the screens as the Career pack went hunting in the forest for the remaining tributes. The outer district tributes were also in the forest. It was just River and Freya who were in a different area of the arena. For which I was grateful for when the canons finally went off signalling the end of the bloodbath. I watched with bated breath as the pair froze and counted.
"Twelve," Freya whispered quietly. River nodded.
"I hope some of them are Careers," River said callously. I winced slightly. I got why he wanted it to be true but there was no need to be vicious about it. I turned to Johanna.
"They'll be ok for tonight," I said. "They've got a tent, water and food. They'll survive," I said leaning back into the sofa slightly. Johanna nodded and rested her head on my shoulder.
On screen River and Freya were finally talking. "We should set up camp somewhere. We've got the tent we can use," Freya said. She was all business.
River nodded. "Yeah. Let's head that way. There looks like there might be some rocks we can set it up behind." He pointed in the distance towards a grey shape that was forming on the horizon. She nodded, and they walked forwards. There was silence as a grey cliff appeared. They stopped and stared.
"Wow," she said. She looked stunned. "I've never seen a cliff before," she added. River smiled.
"Good job we've got a few in four," he said. I could see him analysing the best way up the cliff. Realising he had more experience Freya did finally let River take the lead as he began picking out a route and helping her up. They reached a flat ledge about 8ft from the floor. "Here seems pretty good," he suggested. In silence Freya dug out the tent. Between them they had it set up in minutes, the door facing the cliff face near an easy path, so they could escape upwards if someone came looking. Freya placed her bag inside the tent and then sat on the edge of the ledge, her legs dangling over the edge. Johanna sat forwards a bit, probably worried she was going to jump. River stood by the tent and watched her for a bit. He finally decided to join her on the edge. They sat for a few moments in silence and then Freya gently rested her head on his shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.
She said nothing for a long while. The silence stretching out. "He was so young," she said finally. "He was so young, and I wanted to protect him," she added. "I promised him I wouldn't let it drag out, but I did. I tried to save him, caused him more pain. I should have done it when he first got shot. You weren't there. His words once shot were 'kill me and leave me'." Her voice was shaky as she spoke of Ryan. "And now, now he's gone."
River wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tighter. "I know. But it's never fair. How many twelve-year olds have been reaped? How many twelve-year olds have died? Finnick was fourteen when he won, and he was the youngest victor ever. You tried to help him. Which is more than most would have done," he added. He tilted his head until his was rested on hers. She snuggled closer into him. They sat in peaceful silence.
"I guess we both got to travel after all," Freya said after a while. River chuckled. "What? It's true. Look at what's in front of us?" she added spreading her hand out in front of them. "I have never seen the sea. I've never seen a cliff. I've never seen a desert. I've never seen a sun so red," she said, her voice almost singsong in quality.
"I mean it's a fake sky and fake sun, but I get what you mean," River said. "And we got to experience it together. Something I never thought would happen," he explained. "I always wanted to come meet you in four. See the forests you described. Meet you. And your friends and… your brother," he said. The words seemed to grate slightly with her, but she continued to sit and relax. "You made travelling seem so fun and I'm glad I got to meet you before I died. I'm glad I get to travel with you across this incredible arena. I'm glad I get you."
Freya tilted her head to face him. "I'm glad too. I need you more than you understand. Killing Ryan…" she started sobbing quietly against his shoulder.
"You did the right thing," he said. "But I get it. Killing anyone is tough," he stroked her shoulders as the fanfare started up. Johanna and I sat up and stared. It was still light. The sun was setting but it couldn't be night could it? The sky lit up with the twelve tributes dead. When Ryan appeared in the sky Freya and River both bowed their head in respect. "I'll take first watch," he said when the hologram disappeared. "You get some rest."