Here is a new chapter. Enjoy ! I have decided that Annie knows she has to kill people and she will train for that if she wants to get a chance. You'll see how later during the games little by little it's going to make her mentally unstable until the moment we all know. Also let's all have a little Mags-Annie moment, I think they deserve a nice relation ship. Don't worry next chapter will be more an Odesta one and we will know more about Finnick (who's still a mystery).

Chapter 4 - Beginning

Her light green eyes were fixated on her with rage. The woman who looked like her mother but was her doppelganger because hers was sweet, gentle, like a hot chocolate in winter season, threw herself at Annie. Her hands locked around her neck. Eyes still on Annie's, they widened with outburst. The mouth of the green-eyes woman opened revealing big long sharks teeth and screaming in a piercing voice ( Annie remembered later the teeth were referring to a winner of an old Hunger Games, Enobaria who had killed her opponent with her own teeth ).

Annie was suffocating and her all body was aching and she knew soon her life would end. When suddenly it stopped. The piercing sound became a knock.

Annie woke up abruptly, there was a knock on the door…

She opened her eyes, her breathing halting, her neck hurting. Everything was blurry around her, and it took her a few seconds to understand she had woken up from a nightmare. It took her even more time to understand where she was and why someone was knocking at her door. Her green eyes began to see more clearly and strolled around the room she was in. The walls were withe, immaculate white. Her all body dressed in a yellow silk gown was lying in huge comfy bed with purple sheet. Her hair were damp.

A rushed of memories came back to her mind, the blue-green-yellow colours of the moving car when leaving district 4, the shade of purple furnitures in the living room, the quick hellos to the mentors, the lukewarm citrus water heating her and washing her sweat away ( not her worries), ending with the heaviness of her body in the smoothness of the sheets.

« Annie ? Are you alright sweetie ? It's time for dinner and the recap of the reaping. We are waiting on the living room » said Magali's pitching voice, a bit too close to the scream of her nightmare, sending chills all over her body.

A loud rumbling in her stomach answered her.

She arrived in the compartment of the train, where around a table full of food, Finnick, an old lady, Annie recognised to be Mags the winner of the 11th Hunger Games and Magali were sitting. Wasper wasn't arrived yet.

When she came in, the three faces turned around in synchronicity, all of them looking at her in concern. Finnick worry was quickly replaced with a grin revealing his dimples.

« Are you alright ? Did you fall asleep ? »

Annie hadn't seen her face in the mirror before coming in and felt the heat coming to her cheeks. How was she looking right now ? She had a nightmare and had fallen asleep all wet on the bed, probably not pretty. She was still shaking, not doing her any favour.

She didn't answer and sat next to him. Her eyes met her reflection on the shiny plates. Embarrassment was a little word to describe how she felt when she met herself. Marks had been looming all over her face from her nap. Her hair had been drying in a wide way in tangles. On top of that she hadn't even realised her dress was rumpled.

A hand on the shoulder gripped her gently. Her heart skipped a bit to meet Finnick's sea green eyes. As she has discovered this morning his eyes had a singular shade of green. They were the exact same shade of the sea. The external of his iris was turquoise blue slithering naturally into a light turquoise green. Some little spot were a darker green.

The closer you were getting of the center of the iris, the more it was becoming a green with highlight of yellow-brown.

« Don't worry you're not the first tribute to fall asleep I've seen worst » He winked

Annie laughed lightly her face still red vermilion more from the touch on her shoulder than from embarrassment now. Maybe he felt it too because he removed his hand from her shoulder quickly as if he had been electrocuted.

He looked different this morning ( she couldn't believe it was this morning, so much has happened since then ). His three-days beard has been shaved, and his blond messy golden hair were shorter now. Every sign of tiredness, and nineteen-years-old-pimps had been washed away from his tanned skin. Which didn't seem tanned by the sun anymore but tanned with a cream that was making his skin smooth erasing « imperfections. » He was wearing his shirt opened, revealing his muscle torso and was smelling like cologne. Annie couldn't disagree, he looked like a freaking god and understood why everyone was after him and why he was so easily hooking up with a lot of people from the Capitol. But Annie decided he was more attractive in his natural fishermen beauty and scent ( a mix of fish, ocean and sweet ). The smooth beauty, as if no imperfections existed made her feel uncomfortable. She realised this is what she would be turned into tomorrow during the Tributes Parade.

Her eyes stoped for a second on the hand he had removed from her shoulder that was now quivering and scratching the product of his skin in discomfort. Annie wondered if he had to dress in a Capitol way because he wanted to, or because he was forced to as a mentor. When his eyes caught her gaze, his hand moved as quickly as before ending in a seductive touch in the golden of his hair.

Annie didn't know what to think about him. Everyone in Panem knew him, Finnick had won his games five years ago at the age of fourteen which at this day made him the youngest victor of History. He had surprised everyone by not drawing attention to his opponents. When they understood he could survive by himself with only a knife it was too late. The sponsors had send him a silver parachute containing a trident, the most expensive gift of the games. The trident had been the extension of his arm and it had taken him only a few days to catch his opponents into nets, finishing them with the gift. Annie remembered being a bit disgust seeing him fishing his opponents.

But now she was in his place and soon despite herself she would have to kill people if she wanted to survive. Annie had to think about the promise she had made to her father and brother, and if she wanted to achieve this goal, becoming a killer had to be an unfortunate option. But Annie had promised also herself that she would come to this end only to defend herself. But once in the arena everything could change.

Finnick was the most popular victor in all Panem and every year he was seen collecting lovers around the Capitol, making him a sex symbol. Annie didn't know what to presume about that. This morning he seemed like a simple guy from district 4 and she had enjoyed his company. But right now as she looked at him he seemed a fancy, shallow, seductive person who would break your heart in a heart-beat. But something didn't click for Annie. How he could be both ? A fancy-capitol man and a simple fishermen from district 4 ? A little voice told herself that maybe there was a part of act in his behaviour. But Annie wanted to stay vigilant. She didn't want to fall in his trap. She knew guys like this from school they would be all seductive and then, get you into bed and it was over. Annie was still furious at her brother for calling her a slut ( a word no one deserve to be called) but he had a point Finnick Odair was not someone of trust. ( For now at least ). Annie decided to stay open minded but careful. She realised she would soon find out more about him when he announced her he would be her mentor.

When Wasper arrived at the table he looked even worst than Annie earlier and wasn't even hiding his red puffy eyes. Annie felt a wave of affection in her all body. She just wanted to hug him and tell him everything was going to be fine (even if it was a big lie). Instead she just gently smiled to him and he responded with the same affection.

« So now let's get started with the food, you're going to love it guys. Right Finnick ? It's taste better than in district four right ? Tell you're tributes »

Finnick gave Magali a look between exasperation and amusement.

« I don't know we have pretty good fish back in four right Mags ? » he smiled wildly

The old lady, who was going to be Wasper's mentor laughed exuberantly. Magali turned red and rolled her eyes.

« Every year ».

Annie didn't understand their little conversation she guessed it was a private joke. She found Wasper's eyes and he looked as confused as her. They both chuckled.

Annie agreed with the two mentors, food in district 4 was better.

Annie had never seen so many food, on a table, tones and tones of different meats in sauce, were served with potatoes cooked in every way possible. Annie had eaten meat once in her life and it was after Finnick's victory in the banquet the Capitol had organised. She hadn't like it at the time and it was still the case now.

She missed fishes and sea food so much suddenly. The meat hadn't this salty and fluffy taste products from the sea had. But she ate it anyway, she didn't want the food to go to waste.

She startled when Finnick leaned towards her.

« Don't worry it took me time to adjust to the taste of meat too, it's better if you add salt » he whispered in her ear giving her a salt shaker.

Vermilion, she was again.

She added it to her food and yes it tasted a bit better.

« Thanks »

Across the table Wasper didn't seem to have a problem with the food and was eating so fast he couldn't breath.

Next to him the woman in green looked at him with disgust. A huge desire to punch her in the face grew in Annie's.

A course of dessert arrived and for Annie's greatest enjoyment there was a lemon pie with a withe cream on top. She enjoyed it so much this time she was the one who received a disgust look from Magali.

During diner the mentors had explained them that the following morning they would arrive in the Capitol full of citizens waiting for them. It was important to gave them a good impression because most of them were sponsors, rich people who would bet on them so they could receive a silver parachute in the arena (full of food, medicines,…).

After that they would be dressed in the theme of district 4 for the parade where the twenty-four tributes would be presented to Panem.

They would also start to talk tactic.

« I'll tell you more tomorrow about our strategy » told her Finnick before moving in into the couch.

« Tomorrow just smile to everyone and try to be likeable »

For now it didn't seem too hard, Annie was a cheerful person. (Used to). She just had to think that Capitol's people were people she liked and it would be easy.

« It's starting, it's starting » said Magali excited.

« Pay attention especially to the Career » said Finnick in a bossy voice.

The Career were tributes from District 1 and 2, they would train like in district 4. But there were richer districts and training was for everyone. Almost every year, eighteen years old volunteered and won. Sometimes district 4 were part of the Career pack. Annie observed at how slender and not treating both her and Wasper looked like and doubted the career would have district 4 among them this year.

And she had the confirmation when she saw two eighteen years old volunteer in district 1. They both looked so tall and muscular. The boy was all muscle with blond hair, and little determined dark eyes. The girl had robust legs and arms and could probably lift two grown up person at the same time. A silence fall on the living room. Wasper had disappeared in the couch. Annie couldn't believe these two were her age. The recap of the reaping wasn't starting that well. When district 2 had no volunteer and two sixteen years old kids with normal height and normal muscle were reaped, Annie breathed easier. That didn't mean they weren't a threat but at least Annie could talk to them without having a torticollis.

Annie was relieved to see she wasn't that bad on camera. She didn't seem very confident and was flushing but at least she wasn't shaking and she looked eighteen which could be an asset in the arena. She thanked her old self to have stayed calm and not to have fainted like the girl from district 3.

The other tributes didn't seem treating (for now) and were as surprised as her to be reaped. Only the guy from 8 who laughed meanly and the girl from 9 who seemed as mean just by the look she gave to the crowd scared Annie. She didn't know if she was relieved or not, because now she just wanted to protect the other kids and make sure they would be okay. Annie had always been a maternal person, not the greatest quality to have into an arena. The idea that in probably a month twenty-three of them would be dead ( including herself ) terrorised her.

She didn't follow the last advice Finnick gave her before going to sleep, « try to sleep well to look presentable tomorrow », when two hours later she woke up suddenly.

She had a nightmare again, this time starring the guy from district 1 bending over her and cutting her neck with a knife.

Her breathing was panting, testifying the beginning of a panic attack. The more she tried to breath the harder it was. Sitting on the bed became a challenge and it got worst when her body felt the warmth of the shits. She rolled off the bed and let herself fall on the cold floor in a foetal position. The cold felt better and allowed her to do the different breathing exercises she had learnt this last six months. Little by little her breath took her habitual path again, ending lying and crying on the cold floor, the room turning around.

The cold water from the fancy Capitol shower cooled her down washing her tears away and her body relaxed in the the silk nightgown's light fabric. But she couldn't sleep anymore, the fear of falling asleep tensing her relaxed body.

As she couldn't bear it anymore she went to the living room searching for a drink. It wasn't empty. A shadow, Annie recognised as Mags, was sitting in the fading light, drinking.

« Hi Annie, come sit next to me » she said not surprised to see her, waving to a spot next to her in the couch.

As Annie sat down Mags gave her a hot beverage, Annie identified as hot milk and honey. Despite the oppressive heat, the concoction slid down her throat and washed away the chills of her body.

« It's my secret beverage, I gave it to every tribute in need » said Mags in a sweet voice

« Even Finnick drink it. It's his favourite » she winked

Annie smiled shyly to the old lady and wondered what's was her relation ship with Finnick. Were they close ?

Mags was a short and rippled and had very bright comforting brown eyes and smelled like lavender and mint. A comfy silence hanged in the air for a while and Annie travelled back to the pink sky, with Finnick. She almost could hear the waves of the ocean.

Mirroring the situation she asked :

« You mentored Pearl last year, Finnick told me that. »

« Yeah I did, you cared a lot about her don't you ? No-one deserve to die this young. The Games can be so brutal »

Her voice lowered as she said the two last sentences, as if someone was listening.

Annie eyes filled with tears and anger filled her throat.

« Yeah your'e right this is so unfair ! Life is so unfair ! » she was thinking about her mom now. « I did care, I miss her so much. She was like a sister » she sobbed this time.

But she didn't care, she was just tired, this day had been too exhausting. Mags hugged her

« Annie it's alright. It's normal to feel like that. » The woman was so nice.

Annie sobbed harder, she wanted her mom. She wanted Pearl. But, they were dead.

No, for them she had to stay strong. She pulled away from Mags and wiped her tears. She managed to smile a little bit confidently.

« I had two nightmares today, that's all. I think I'm a bit nervous. I'm maybe eighteen but that's my only asset. I'm not good at anything… How I am gonna do ? Have you seen district's 1 tributes ? » said Annie in a confusing speech.

But Mags didn't seem to mind as she replied :

« You can swim right ? Finnick told me you swam like a mermaid. He was very impressed with your technique. It's a very good asset not everyone will have. There is always water in the arena. District 1 and 2 may be very good with weapons but they're weak against water »

For the third time of the day, Annie's face turned vermilion. Finnick didn't sound this laudatory this morning.

Mermaid, Annie wondered if he was referring only to the way she was swimming. Was it also a way to tell she was pretty and looked like one ? Even so, it was stupid. Finnick could think anything about her she didn't care.

She realised she had been lost in her mind too long.

« What if there is no water ? »

« I've been here a long time now, there is always water in the arena, even if it's a little lake. And for your fear of weapons, that's what training is for. In training you can learn how to fight, survive and kill. But you can't learn how to swim or fish. Never forget home. »

Mag's words made her feel better this time, she had a point she could fish and swim and who knows that could come handy in the arena. It had worked for Finnick, so why not

her ?

« I'm also very good with nets, my mom had a shop »

« You see » said Mags enthusiastic « Now time for bed, big day tomorrow. And don't worry I'm sure Finnick will give you good strategies »

Annie felt cold suddenly as the woman stood up.

« Mags wait ! Why aren't you my mentor ? I think we would work better together. I don't want Finnick as my mentor »

A mysterious smile grew on the woman face, making her look like a wise turtle.

« Give it time. You and Finnick are more alike than you think. You'll work together perfectly. I've no doubts. »

She didn't let Annie respond and left the room.

« Good night »

The following day at breakfast Annie met with Finnick, her unfortunate mentor.

« Remember what I told you yesterday, okay ? Just smile, but do not try to be someone else. Don't try to be seductive or sexy. Please that's important. Just be yourself, you have a smiling face it's going to be enough. People will love you. »

Annie didn't understand what his words were really hiding. But she nodded. She had to trust Finnick, since Mags thought he was good for her.

Besides Annie would have felt very awkward to act sexy. She had never been capable to pull off sexy, or at least the way sexy was seen in the society.

The rest of breakfast was rhymed with Magali's words about all kind of trivia in the Capitol. The two mentors nodded politely not hiding very well how much they didn't care. Wasper wasn't saying a word. She wondered what was his strategy with Mags.

The mood changed when Finnick noticed Annie's drink. She was drinking pressed lemons as she always did. (Thanks god the Capitol provided it).

« Did you put sugar in it? » said Finnick his eyebrows confused, handing her four sugar cubes.

« No thanks, I don't drink lemonade with sugar, the acidity of the lemon woke me up Besides I'm not a sweet person. » said Annie surprised at the offer.

Annie couldn't suppress her laugh when she saw Finnick's expression next. He looked at her as if she has just said

« I saw fairies yesterday we became best friends »

« You drink lemonade without any sugar ? What's the point ? Lemon are disgusting without sugar. They's sore, and attacks all your body. And you're not a sweet person ? Annie we have to do something about it »

Annie laughed again but realised he wasn't joking. He was serious. Dead serious.

« I'm sorry to announce you that, but lemon is actually my favourite food. I always eat or drink without any sugar. That's the point. And sweet things makes me nauseous I dislike them »

« Well I'm sorry Annie I don't think I can be your mentor anymore », he left the table dramatically. But this time Annie noticed the huge smile on his face. Everyone at the table exploded in laughter, even Wasper.

« Finnick is very fond of desserts and he adds sugar cubes in every drink. I try to put a stop to it but he wouldn't listen to me » laughed Mags.

The train arrived in the Capitol. A mass of colours was waiting for them. People of the Capitol were gathered around to welcome them, waving and screaming at them. Annie smiled as Finnick told her too, and waved back, so did Wasper. When the crowd noticed a glimpse of Finnick it became a wild animal. Finnick winked and blew kisses at them making it wilder.

Annie was naked in a room, waiting for her prep team and stylist. Awkwardness had taken her all body and as usual it was blushing. This time she was a light pink.

« You have so many freckles » said a voice

Annie turned around to see two people, one with silver, the other with gold skin. The voice belonged to the man, who was wearing a gold wig un-matching his silver skin. He was also wearing a peacock blue suit made of fur. The woman next to him, opposed him with a silver wig, on her golden skin. She was was also wearing fur, her pink coat made of it. Under it she was wearing a weird tile dress.

Annie couldn't hide her laugh and suddenly felt comfortable in her nakedness.

The woman caught the expression of her face.

« This year's trend, is Mitch and match, un-matching colour. I can't wait to be next year, I've heard rumours saying that next year the trend will be yellow again » she sighed

« By the way I'm Luna and this is Prill, we are your prep team. You'll meet Olga after we make you look presentable. She'll be your stylist »

Her prep team jumped on her and for what seems hours they made her presentable. They erased every hair of her body, with a weird hot things feeling like tape and hurting like hell. (Thanks god Annie wasn't a very hairy person).

Then at her greatest delight they cut just a little bit of her very long hair, asking her tips to have them long. ( Not dying them was her response)

But unfortunately as Prill had told her in the begging they had to remove all her freckles putting a with cream on her body. When she saw her naked self in the mirror she didn't recognise the person. Her skin was withe and shinny and any of her imperfections were visible anymore, ( even though she wouldn't call them this word, especially her freckles, that she loved ). Her hair waving along her back seemed the only thing making her look like her old self. Annie didn't like being so smooth, but she thanked them anyway they have been working with her for hours.

Olga, her stylist arrived. Her skin was a light pink, and she was wearing a simple silk green dress, opened on the back. Her makeup was rainbow.

Olga seemed a bit nicer and less judgmental than her prep team. She spend hours on Annie's body too until she could see herself in the mirror again.

Annie looked like the ocean. Her hair were waving more than usual, and she had lenses making her eyes greener. Her makeup was simple, a bit of eye-liner, a pink lipstick and blush with false eye-lashes making her eyes bigger they already were.

Her outfit was a weird dress catching the light and moving from green, to blue, exactly like the sea. Annie thought it was the colour of Finnick's eyes. The dress had a neckline in the front and the back. At her greatest enjoyment the front of the dress wasn't showing too much but just enough, and it was very long, going down to her feet hiding her shaky legs. The back of the dress was opened and revealed blue sequins on her skin.

Annie found herself beautiful, almost forgetting she was dressed for a Parade, so people could see her before her inevitable death.

The Tribute Parade was held into the Training Center. Chariots held by horses were waiting for them. Wasper was wearing a suit in the same colours as her dress, his honey hair died in the blue of Prill's suit. Annie looked around her and recognised way to easily district's 1 tributes, who sadly looked scarier in real life. District one was luxury, and to represent it, the two eighteen years old tributes were both wearing a cloak made of amethyst.

Annie settled down next to Wasper who looked scared. His face was frowned in concerned and his all body was shaking. A wave of affection inhabited Annie again and as the Chariot started, she took Wasper's hand in hers. He hanged to it as if it was an anchor.

The Chariot went for a ride around the Center and Annie saw twenty time more of people than in the train station. They were all waving and screaming their names when they passed. Annie still holding Wasper's hand, did what Finnick told her to. She just smiled, being herself. It worked, when she saw herself in the big screen. She looked like some kind of goddess coming from the sea. But she didn't look sexy or seductive, she looked like someone nice, someone you could trust. Finnick was a genius, she looked sympathetic, enough to bring sponsors, but not enough to seem an enormous treat to her opponents. As the ride of the twelve chariots ended in front of President Snow's mansion, Annie realised Finnick wasn't such a bad mentor after all.