"Move over," Taiya complained as she kicked Kenna.
"Why?" Kenna complained as she shoved Taiya's foot away.
"You're over the line," Taiya gestured to the space between the couch cushions.
"Who cares? You're basically sitting on top of Finnick anyway."
"Ok," Finnick interrupted. "You two are ridiculous. Come on," he lifted Taiya and moved her to the other side. Separating her and Kenna's petty argument.
"I don't understand why this is mandatory viewing," Taiya complained. "I mean seriously, I do not care about Katniss bloody Everdeen's wedding dress."
"I'm not voting," Kenna confirmed.
"Neither. She can pick her own wedding dress, she doesn't need us doing it for her."
"Do you have ideas for a wedding dress?" Kenna asked.
Taiya hesitated, Kenna didn't know anything about the reality of their life in the Capitol. She knew some, but not everything. She'd also never dared to ask.
"It's complicated," Taiya answered, and Kenna chose to leave it at that.
"Let's get Katniss Everdeen to her wedding in style!" Caesar Flickerman cheered. "Stay tuned ladies and gentlemen for the other big event of the evening. That's right, this year will be the 75th anniversary of the Hunger Games, and that means it's time for our third Quarter Quell."
"That must be what the mandatory viewing is for," Taiya realised. "Not this dress nonsense."
"Maybe they're announcing the rules?" Finnick suggested.
"The last quarter quell was your aunt right?" Kenna asked.
"Yeah," Taiya nodded. "Haymitch's year. They had 4 tributes from each district. Double the tributes. I wonder what they'll do this year." It was no doubt going to be something horrific.
"They read a card," Finnick explained and the two girls looked at him. "They say that all the rules for the Quarter Quell were written back when the Games first started. They're pre-determined. The reigning President reads the card to announce the rules. That must be what's happening."
"Great. So we watch Katniss parade around in wedding dresses and then the announcement of the Quarter Quell. Shit night."
The Panem anthem then begins playing and Taiya and Finnick both stiffen on instinct as President Snow appears on the screen. He runs through the usual speech, lecturing the nation about the 'dark days' before the Games, how the laws were made and the Quarter Quell's marking a significant anniversary as a reminder of those killed in the initial rebellion.
His words were pointed. Targeted. It was more than just District 4 rebelling. This was widespread across Panem.
He then recaps the 25th Hunger Games and then the 50th. Taiya swallowed thickly as he explained. Two rebels had died for every one Capitol citizen, and as a reminder, the districts had to send double the tributes. 47 dead and Haymitch was left as the one standing.
"And now we celebrate our third Quarter Quell," the president announced.
"Celebrate," Taiya scoffed angrily and Finnick took ahold of her hand.
"As a reminder that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of the Capitol."
Taiya looked over at Finnick, this was what she'd been saying. It was how Snow wanted people to think.
"On this, the third Quarter Quell Games, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors in each district."
Nothing.
She felt nothing.
She heard nothing.
She didn't hear the scream that flew out of her mouth. The wail of despair.
She didn't feel her whole body begin to violently shake. She didn't feel Finnick collapse off the couch.
She didn't notice Kenna in front of the two of them, trying to bring them back to reality.
She didn't feel herself collapse next to Finnick and hold onto him as if their lives depended on it.
She didn't hear the wails from Annie's home across the street.
She didn't notice the stony silence from Tyler, Buck and Todd's houses as the three men all had their own reactions of despair.
She didn't feel anything.
Just numb.
"Victors shall present themselves on Reaping Day, regardless of age, state of health or situation. Thank you," the President smirked before Kenna leapt up and turned off the television.
She looked down at the two wailing tributes curled up on the floor.
"What do I do?" Kenna asked, but didn't receive a response. She heard wailing from down the street and she looked desperately towards the sound. "I don't want to leave you," Kenna cried. "I have to… I have to help Annie. I'm sorry," Kenna apologised before running out. Annie didn't have any coping mechanisms, she needed help more than Finnick and Taiya did.
"Finnick. Finnick," Taiya cried as she grasped at his hands. "Come on, come on," she sobbed as she pulled him to his feet.
"Tay…"
"Come on please," she pulled as they stumbled out of the house and down to the pier. She jumped off the edge and into the water, pulling him in with her.
The water hitting their skin was enough to wake their brains from the fog. As they came up for air they stared at each other.
Buck, Todd, Tyler, Finnick. They were the options for the males.
Mags, Taiya, Annie. They were the options for the female tribute.
At least one of them wasn't going to make it to the end of the year.
4 months. That's all they had. 4 months.
District 4's training academy had been closed down in order for the victor's to have exclusive training rights. Taiya, Finnick and Tyler had an obvious advantage. They'd kept up with training like they had done as teenagers. They were in fine shape.
The same could not be said for Buck, Todd, Mags and Annie.
These Games were different. Usually, the Games consisted of able-bodied tributes. Teenagers. Children.
Now, it would consist of drunken fools and mentally unstable victors. It'd be filled with middle-aged tributes well past their fitness prime.
People like Haymitch were at a disadvantage. Chaff was at a disadvantage.
The only ones with a chance were those from a Career district or ones who had recently won.
The victors were her friends. Some victors were closer than others, but Taiya had spread her friendship wider than most. How was she meant to go up against Johanna if she ran into her in the arena? She knew neither of them would be able to do anything.
What about Cashmere? Gloss?
The Games she'd already participated in were damaging enough. She didn't have the mental capacity to repeat it.
If she was reaped, she didn't see any way she'd be able to survive. Even if she won.
"Alright," Tyler said quietly as they all gathered around the morning of the reaping. "We're all in agreeance," he said to the victors gathered on his couch. "No volunteers. We take it as it comes. Just like we always do."
"Not always," Taiya interrupted.
"Not this time," Tyler stressed to her. "No heroes."
Taiya was the only able-bodied female victor. Mags was too old. Annie was unstable. At least with the men, they all had a chance. Mags and Annie had none.
"Taiya," Finnick grabbed her hand and she looked at him. "No volunteering."
"I know," Taiya nodded. She didn't want to volunteer. Mags and Annie meant everything to her. But she was easily ruled by fear. And she was beyond scared of the Games. She knew if it came down to it she wouldn't be brave enough to volunteer just to save them.
There was only one instance where she'd volunteer. Only one. You could consider it stupid. Because if she did do it, she'd ruin whatever chance they had of a happy life. But she wanted to be with him no matter what. She'd do her best to get him out. Even if it meant her own demise.
She understood now what was going through Theo's mind. She could recognise the stupidity of the decision. But she needed to be there. She had to help him in any way she could.
Finnick was watching her carefully, he didn't believe her. The only comfort he had was that the names were read with females first. It may stop her from doing something stupid.
"Moxie," Taiya whispered backstage, summoning their escort over. "I need a favour."
"What can I do for you darling?" Moxie asked as she blinked, waving her ridiculous butterfly eyelashes around.
"I need you to do the reaping for the men first."
Moxie let out a high pitch giggle. "I can't do that my dear. It's not tradition."
"Moxie. I need you to do this for me. You owe me."
"What do I owe you for sweetie?"
"You use my name all around the Capitol to get advances in designer clothing. I know you do. If you don't want me to ruin your name with these designers, you'll do what I'm asking."
Moxie swallowed, she prided herself on the relationships she'd cultivated with designers, which made her especially important in her friendship group.
"Fine," she relented. Her status was too important for her to risk. "Fine. Just don't say anything," she scowled before storming off to the stage.
"Move," a Peacekeeper harshly instructed from behind her as he reached forward and grabbed her arm.
Taiya ripped her arm away. "Don't touch me," she snarled. "I broke a Peacekeeper's arm once," she smirked in his face. "I'm sure I can do worse now. So don't touch me," she glared.
"Woah, come on, come on," Finnick hurried over and ushered her away. "Really not a good time to start picking fights."
"Who cares? They're going to try and kill us anyway. It doesn't matter."
"Yeah, but let's not make things worse," he sighed as they looked over at the Peacekeeper who was watching them carefully.
Taiya looked him up and down. "You look good."
"Thanks, it's the cardigan," he smiled softly.
"Whoever knitted that's a genius," Taiya stuttered.
"Yeah well, they're about the only person I actually care about."
"Don't say that," Taiya discouraged.
"Well…"
"It's not true. We have people we care about," she said quietly.
"I know. But I just can't afford to think like that right now," he smiled softly.
"To the stage!" the head Peacekeeper yelled out, declaring it was time.
"I love you," Taiya held his hand. "More than anything."
"I love you too."
Who cares what the Peacekeepers saw now? It wasn't going to stop what was happening, so she leaned up and kissed him. This very well could be their last kiss in the safety of their home district.
"Please don't get reaped," Taiya pleaded.
"I'll do my best," he smiled before they separated and made their way to stand on the stage.
Taiya glanced behind her as she took her place on the stage and made eye contact with the mayor. He was sitting in her dad's old spot. As she looked, she could almost swear she saw her dad's ghost smile and nod at her. So she gave the new mayor a smile that he grimly returned. He didn't like what was happening either.
"Welcome. Welcome," Moxie cheerfully announced. "As we celebrate the 75th anniversary and third Quarter Quell of the Hunger Games. Now to shake things up a bit, I've decided that today, we'll start with the gentlemen," she clapped before tottering over to the bowl that contained the 4 names.
Taiya could feel the four of the men look at each other in confusion, not understanding why Moxie would change things now.
"The male tribute from District 4 is… Finnick Odair."
A choked sob erupted from Taiya's chest. She stumbled backwards slightly and both Mags and Annie had to grab a hold of her hands to keep her stable. She still had to perform in front of the cameras. People in the Capitol were watching, she couldn't let herself look weak.
She shook her shoulders briefly and pushed them back, standing tall again. A proud victor.
"And now, for the ladies," Moxie declared as she walked towards the three women. She made brief eye contact with Taiya before looking away.
Moxie may never have witnessed Finnick and Taiya's romantic interactions, but she'd still been around them for many years. She knew there was something, and she understood the gravity of what was about to happen to them.
She pulled out a name and walked back to the microphone. Taiya gripped Annie and Mags' hands tighter.
"Annie Cresta." Annie immediately broke down, she raised her free hand to cover her face as she began to scream out sobs.
Taiya felt Mags' hand begin to pull out of hers. It was time.
"I volunteer!" Taiya declared, stepping forward.
"A volunteer," Moxie smiled. "How wonderful. Come, come," she ushered Taiya over.
Taiya took a step forward when she felt a tug on her hand and turned back to her friends. Mags was frantically shaking her head.
"It's fine Mags," Taiya nodded.
"Taiya," Annie cried.
"Look after Annie," Taiya instructed Mags before she walked towards Finnick.
She could read his eyes before she even got close to him. There was a mixture of emotions. Fear, rage, disbelief, sadness. Every negative emotion seemed to leak out of him. When she got closer he reached out and pulled her in for a hug.
"Act," she stuttered in his ear and pulled away as they raised their hands together into the air. His grip on her hand tightened. She knew the gravity of the decision she'd made. She knew what this would mean for them.