Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to Suzanne Collins. Delilah and Atticus, the district five tributes who are briefly mentioned in this chapter, belong to Kate-the-Great-and-Powerful. Thanks Kate! :)

Edited 7/26/14

Chapter 25: An Unexpected Twist

"Annie, it's a nice night out. Do you want to go for a walk?"

I nod, and follow Finnick outside. It is a nice night out. The temperature is cool, but still warm enough to go out in a t-shirt. The sunset is the most beautiful I've seen in a while, with all the colors blending together.

We walk along the beach for a while, without a care in the world. We stop every once in a while to admire interesting rocks and shells. Suddenly Finnick taps me on the shoulder. "Hey, look at that sailboat out there."

I look to where Finnick is pointing and see his mother, Meredith, sailing the boat. I laugh and wave to her, and she waves back before pointing up at the sail. I glance up above her head, and there painted on the sail are the words "Turn around". Confused, I turn around and immediately gasp. Finnick has gotten down on one knee, holding out a ring.

"If there's anything good about the games," Finnick begins, "it's the fact that they brought me together with the most wonderful, special young woman in the world. I never knew what it was like to truly love someone other than my family until I meant you, and now… now you're everything. I promise to always be there for you, to be your rock and to wipe away the tears when you need me to, and I know you can do the same, because you're stronger then you think. Annie Cresta, will you marry me?"

I'm crying but I'm happy and surprised, and I just can't seem to find the right words. So I just nod quickly and run into his arm. Finnick hugs and kisses me, and I just can't get over my happiness and shock. I'm engaged! Not only that, but to Finnick Odair, the man I love with all my heart.

Smiling broadly, Finnick slips the silver ring on my finger. It is absolutely beautiful, with a shiny, natural pearl in the center, surrounded by a pattern on either side of it that look almost like swirly flower petals.

Soon we are no longer along. Meredith has docked the sailboat and runs toward us, tackling us in a bear hugged. Tears are streaming down her face, and I think she's as happy as we are.

"As soon as Finn brought you home I knew you were the one!" Meredith cries. "I just knew it! Oh, I'm so happy for you! I can't wait to start planning the wedding!"

Finnick and I decide to have a small wedding, in the upcoming summer, after the seventy-fifth games are out of the way. As it is, we don't tell many people. Superior and Ava are both extremely happy and give me tight hugs when I tell them. Mags is happy too, but doesn't seem surprised in the least. Her speech has come back since her stroke, but she's hard to understand. Finnick can understand her words better than I can, but I do make out something like "knew it all along", and I smile at her. Mags really is all-knowing.

At this point, I don't see how anything can go wrong, but of course, it does. Finnick and I are watching t.v. one night when we get the news. Caesar Flickerman is discussing Katniss Everdeen's wedding gown, an innocent enough subject. Then he mentions the seventy-fifth games, which will be a Quarter Quell. President Snow comes to the stages and I shudder at the sight of him.

"It's okay, Annie." Finnick says, putting his arm around me. "He can't hurt us here."

But Finnick's wrong. He can hurt us. Snow goes on to explain things we already know, such as why the games started and the previous quells. For the first one, districts had to vote for their tributes I can only imagine how cruel and heartbreaking it would be for tributes in non-career districts. The second had forty-eight tributes instead of twenty-four.

"And now we honor our third Quarter Quell." Snow announces. He opens a wooden box and takes out an envelope labeled "75". Without hesitation, he reads the card. "On the Seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."

Finnick and I glance at each other in horror. One, or even both of us, could be going back into the arena. I collapse into Finnick's arms and sob.

I will not – cannot – let Annie go back into the arena, which is why I am meeting in secret with Mags and Marissa in Mags' kitchen. We must be quite a sight. Marissa chops vegetables at Mags' counter. Mags sits at the table and knits. I tie and untie knots in a piece of string. Victors often have something to turn to when stressed. Some turn to alcohol or morphing, while others turn to calming habits like ours.

"I just don't know what to do," I say. "If Annie goes into the arena, I… I don't think I could get her out again."

"In the past, I would have volunteered for her," Marissa says, "but, Finnick, I have my children to think about. I can't.

I shake my head. "I know. I couldn't ask you to. That's not right."

"I'll go," Mags speaks up.

"What? But Mags –" I begin, but she shakes her head, shushing me.

"I'm old. I've had a good life. They're young. Still living. I'll go."

Marissa and I may not be satisfied, but once Mags makes a decision, you can't change her mind. It's settled. Mags, my mentor, my honorary grandmother, is likely going into the arena, sixty-four years after going through it the first time.

We decide not to tell Annie our plan. The night before the reaping, I want to make sure she understands something. "Annie, if anything ever happens to me, please promise you'll keep going."

Annie looks me in the eyes. "Finn, you're not going to get reaped!" she cries. "Even if you do, you'll make it out! Right?"

I nod. "Right. Just… promise me you'll keep going."

Annie sighs. "Fine. I promise."

"And you'll write those letters?"

Annie nods again, and soon she falls asleep.

This reaping is very similar to my last one ten years ago. But this time I'm more worried because I have a one in three shot, probably more, of going into the arena.

The weather fits the mood perfectly. It's cloudy, giving the day even more gloom. I stand n the right side of the stage with the other male victors while the females stand a short distance away. Even Crystalynn looks heartbroken. After giving her speech, she reaches into the reaping bowl and pulls out a name. My name.

Annie begins to sob as I walk to the stage, but there's nothing I can do. Then Crysta calls her name, and she gets even more hysterical. But just as she promised, Mags steps forward and volunteers. Marissa and Thunder are selected to "mentor" by the peacekeepers, and the four of us are ushered to the train.

Wait – the train? I frantically glance over my shoulder at Annie. She's screaming and crying and fighting to get out of Superior's grasp. Then, I am pushed onto the train, and it pulls away, without me even getting to say goodbye to my fiancée.

Thunder retreats to the dining car while Marissa stays with Mags and I. "Let's watch the reapings," she suggests, and Mags and I nod in agreement.

From District 1, there's Gloss and Cashmere, the brother and sister duo who won in consecutive years. District Two's tributes are Brutus and Enobaria. Next are Beetee and Wiress, who I have gotten to know over eight years of mentoring with them. Delilah and Atticus are from Five. I've seen so little of the tributes from Six, that I can't remember their names. Then there's Johanna and Blight from Seven. Woof and Cecelia are from 8. I don't know the tributes from 9 and 10 well, and like 6's tributes, I can't remember their names. From district 11 we have Chaff and Seeder, and from district 12 are Katniss and Peeta, the star-crossed lovers. As each tribute passes I become surer of myself. I don't have to kill these people, but I could still make it back home to Annie. And that's what I intend to do.

Author's note: Yay for snow days! :D That's why this chapters up so soon!