THE 3RD QUARTER QUELL: REAPING DAY

"And the male tribute for the 75th Annual Hunger Games is…"

Talia, the District 4 escort, proceeded to reach into the reaping ball, and I locked eyes with Finnick, who was standing a few feet away. He gave me a reassuring smile, trying to tell me that there was nothing to worry about. That there was no way either one of our names would be picked out of a handful of victors. My heart went out to whoever would be reaped, but I sincerely hoped that after everything we'd been through, Finnick and I would be able to enjoy a relatively peaceful life together.

But I could see it in his eyes. I could see how little he believed in that.

"Finnick Odair!"

A strangled scream escaped from my mouth and I watched Finnick, my brave, wonderful Finnick, walk steadily to the podium, where Talia and the mayor were clapping their hands. He stepped onto the stage, his head held high and a look of eerie calm descended on his face. Almost as if he were at peace with his fate.

But this couldn't be happening. Not again. Before I could run up to him, Talia's hand had already reached into the reaping ball. Her chirpy voice, one that I now despised like it was all her fault, called out,

"And the female tribute for the 75th Annual Hunger Games is…"

My heart thumped so loudly against my chest, so loudly that I was certain every single person in the square could hear it in the subdued silence. All eyes were on us, on the Victors, inwardly guessing whose face they'd have to see dead on the screens in a few days. The faces that once glowed with hope and admiration for us were now contorted in dread and despair, that last bastion of hope now completely and utterly destroyed. We were the links between the districts and the Capitol, the frail but present assurance that there was some mercy in this wretched world, and now, we had nothing.

Talia rummaged about in the reaping ball, her long nailed fingers delicately caressing every folded chit of paper it held, as she looked up to stare at the female Victors for a long moment before drawing a slip out of the ball. I wanted to shut my ears and scream, drown out the tension in the air, and in my head, it was just me and again, dangling our feet in the cool water when I was eighteen. The one good thing that came out of this madness, was Finnick.

He met my gaze again, his beautiful eyes begging that it wouldn't be me. Anyone but me. I could read between the lines, I could see the frown etched across his face. I knew how worried he was, hoping against hope that it'd be someone else, because we both knew that either one, or none of us were coming back home. Yet, he flashed me the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen, nodding slowly in reassurance. I couldn't help but smile back at him, even if it was forced. But despite his calmness, I couldn't shake the feeling off that something was going to go terribly wrong. And when it did, nothing could make it right again.

"Annie Cresta!"

For a moment, all my senses felt numb. I didn't know what was going on, what I was doing. I could barely see where I was going, tears blurring my vision as Peacekeepers cleared a path for me towards the podium. I trudged forward, my mind wandering back to my first Games. I could feel Coral clinging to my leg and crying her eyes out, and just like last time, I saw Finnick standing on that podium, tall and strong. Last time, he was the kind stranger who saved my life. This time, he was my entire life. As if in a trance, I walked up to the podium and took my place beside him, the deathly silence from the people snapping me back to the present.

Before I knew it, I was in Finnick's arms, screaming my lungs out. I couldn't get the memories of the previous Games out of my head; the bloodbath, my fellow tribute's death, the flood, and worst of all, the Victory Tour.

I shuddered at the thought as my fingers stuffed themselves into my ears and I felt my body shaking all over. This couldn't be happening again. I felt angry tears of helpless flow freely from my eyes as I held on to the one thing that kept me sane. And that would soon be taken from me. More like, I would have to be forced to watch him die in front of my eyes. Finnick held me in his strong arms, softly rubbing against my back and murmuring sweet words of reassurance in my ear, though it was of no use.

"Annie, my love, it'll be okay," he whispered, stroking my hair. "I swear I won't even let a scratch on you. I'll die before anyone can even lay a finger on you, I promise. Look at me, love. It'll be fine, you'll come home safe and sound. I promise."

"No," I said, burying my face deeper into his chest. "That's what I'm afraid of. You won't hesitate a moment to die for me, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that I'm the reason you died, when you could have come home. I won't let you do it, Finnick."

"Annie, listen to me," he sighed, defeated.

"NO, you listen to me!" I said petulantly, raising my voice. I pulled away and looked into his swirling green eyes, irises gleaming like emeralds in the golden sunlight, ridden with worry as he held me lightly by my shoulders.

"Finnick," I began, softly, "I love you more than life itself, and I am NOT entering that arena again, least of all with you. I know I won't even make it to the final fifteen, and I don't want you jeopardizing your chances to come home for me. You're a born fighter, so use that to your advantage."

"But, Annie-" he protested, "What will you do?"

I gave him a sad smile and a knowing look, before going on my toes to peck him on the lips. His eyes widened in horror, and he shook his head, gripping my shoulders tighter. I thought that it was the proper way out the last time I was reaped, but this time, I was certain.

Because I doubted that either of us would make it back alive.

"Annie, no! You won't do it. Promise me!" Finnick cried, his jaw clenched as he fought back tears. I said nothing, just continued staring at him for what would probably be the last time we would be allowed within a foot of each other.

"ANNIE! Answer me"

"I can't promise," I said, simply. "It's for the best, love. You and I both know that."

"I won't let you do it! Annie, you can't do this! This is not how it ends!" My poor Finnick, I hated to do this to him, but it was best if it happened this way.

"Trust me, this is the best possible way it could end. Saves both of us a lot of pain. You get to come home a Victor, again, and I'll be watching you, always."

Finnick stared at me in disbelief, his hands shaking as he ran them through his hair, tugging at the strands and biting on his lower lip. It broke my heart to see him like this, but I'd rather do this than anything else that could happen in the arena. He was struggling so hard not to break down, and I couldn't do anything but stand there, helpless. Nothing I'd say would comfort him, for it was me who put him in this state.

The entire district watched in silent horror, gasps escaping the mouths of quite a few. Talia clicked her tongue impatiently, jerking her head towards the Peacekeepers that were waiting to escort us to the station.

" I volunteer as tribute!"

A voice suddenly called, and all heads whipped towards the pool of female victors. I gasped as Mags walked onto the podium; her stride stately and confident despite her slight limp. Her silvery hair puffed out around her shoulders and down her back, like the clouds on a rainy day. She stood between me and Finnick, grabbing one of our hands each and raising them in the air.

"Mags?" I whispered. "You don't have to do this! You don't have to go back there, please don't do this!"

She shook her head and pressed my hand between both of hers. "I want to do this, for you and Finnick. I want him to have something to come home to, someone to look after him when I'm gone. And you, Annie, my darling, are the only one who can."

I threw my arms around her, sobbing quietly into the older woman's shoulder. "Oh, Mags, you wonderful, wonderful woman! How can I ever repay you? I don't deserve this!"

She kissed the top of my head as she gently pushed me away from her.

"By staying happy and safe." She murmured, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"Mags, I can't thank you enough," Finnick said, pressing her hand to his lips for a brief moment. "You've been more than a mother to me all these years; you've been a protector, a mentor, a friend; everything I could ask for. Annie and I… we'll never forget what you did for us."

She nodded, smiling faintly. "Then you must make it count, dears."