(Age 23, The 75th Hunger Games- Quarter Quell )
I felt my back lean against a tree while staring at the hovercarft collecting the body of a victor I didn't even know. Katniss and Peeta stayed in their position before wading towards me. They stayed in the shore line cleaning the monkey guts off themselves. None of them asked where Finnick went, however Katniss' eyes never left mine because of the machete gripped tightly in my hand.
She has no arrows, so it's not like she can do anything but wait for me to strike them down. I was considering it too. And I think she knew that.
My mind went through every possible pro and con. So far, I think I'll just kill them both and run away while Finnick's not here to stab me in retaliation.
Mind made up, I quickly stood only to feel a tug on my arm. I gulped, turning my head to find Finnick's warning gaze. Handsome and deadly. He promptly let's go and walks over to Katniss. He dropped about ten bloody arrows in the sand by her feet with a casual shrug. "Thought you might want these".
He doesn't acknowledge what I was about to do. Infact, he pretends it never happened. But I know that she knew what I was about to do, even if Peeta was oblivious. She wasn't. She knew I just had my chance and it proved to her that no matter what I do, I'll always be from District One. If I save her theres a reason behind it. She knows now that unlike Finnick, I can't be trusted. If I've got a weapon and they don't, then I'll do it. She's finally figured out that the first chance I get I'll slaughter them all. Afterall this is the hunger games and I want to make it out too.
She doesn't call me out, instead she glares at me before turning to Finnick with a small smile. "Thanks".
Peeta walks over and taps the spile into the tree beside me. For now we seem to be safe. I can't see the careers anywhere but I had heard a cannon this morning. I just hoped District Two hadn't killed off Gloss. Someone suggests using shells as cups and we all have makeshift cups of water while sitting on the beach. I'd never been to a beach before. Sand and water, it's pretty at least. I wondered if this is what District Four looks like. I've been there only once for my victory tour but only ever saw the justice building.
Katniss sighed across from me. "Why don't you three get some rest, I'll take first watch".
I felt my eyebrows rise at her. Why, so she kill me in my sleep? She's dreaming.
Finnick cleared his throat. "No, Katniss, I'd rather..". I turned beside me and noticed his eyes were glassy...Mags. Just how close were they?
Katniss stared me down while answering Finnick. "Alright, thanks Finnick."
Obviously she was planning to off me. I would be offended but because I'm trying to kill her all the time I can't find it in my to be offended. It's nothing personal, it's just the situation we're in and..who am I kidding? She annoys me. That's why I want to kill her. Her wanting to kill me back makes it even more exciting. I think it comes back to my time at the academy, we're taught to embrace competition to the point it becomes a personality trait.
I heard myself sigh but nobody thankfully heard it. Peeta was out like a light and Katniss glared at me. She laid down infront of Peeta with her hand clasping an arrow. I still didn't trust her not to do it.
"Velvet, get some sleep". I bit my lip and looked up into those pretty eyes. It wasn't a request but more of an order. He needed to grieve I knew that. He was too close from falling apart but Katniss...
He sniffed. "I'll be here, nothing will happen I promise".
Well isn't that comforting. My enemy promising me I'm safe under his watch. I sighed. "If I wanted to leave and go find Gloss, would you let me?".
He swallowed the tears lodged in his throat, actual slight fear washed over him. Something I could read in those eyes was that I can't leave, can't be left out of his sight. He cleared his throat. "You'd have to fight me".
I looked down at his trident, still stained in monkey blood before looking back into his eyes. Would I win?...
I had a feeling that out of everyone here including Gloss that Finnick would be the hardest to kill. At least to me. He's saved my life three times and sadly that's probably the most anyone has ever done for me in my entire life. More then whatever Cashmere's done.
I sniffed back at him and his face broke a little more. He probably thought I was starting to cry because I was scared. But I wasn't, it turns out I now cared about Finnick...more then I could ever care for Gloss, Cashmere or my mother. Because he's done more for me, showed me more kindess then anyone ever had.
With a heavy sigh I picked up my machete and handed it him. "In case she wakes, tell her I don't have a weapon... she may not shoot then".
He smiled with a nod but I could tell my tears were making him more remorseful. He didn't like me thinking I was a prisoner. Infact, I'd call the expression on his face regret. I promptly layed down and turned towards a tree with my eyes glued shut. I heard his heavy sigh but chose to ignore it.
I hated this. I hated being trapped in an arena. I hated most people in here. I hated that the one person I'm supposed to hate had been so fake that once I go to know the real him, I can't help but hesitate. But beyond that, I hated that I was mostly still the same. I didn't have two personalties like Finnick. I was simply Velvet Watts a messed up career, trapped in the wrong alliance.
I woke up to giggling and opened my eyes to see Katniss and Peeta eating in front of me. Above me was a green weaved roof, the same that the pair of them had. Infront of us were three weaved bowls, two filled with water the other with shellfish.
I whipped my head around me and found no Finnick. The dick left me with Katniss and Peeta? So much for his promise. However just as I started plotting his death he comes and sits next to me, another bowl of fish in his hands.
I avoided eyecontact and stared at the many bowls instead. I didn't know how to act around him now that I know I don't hate him.
Katniss scoffed from across from me. "Would've thought after that Rat you'd be excited to see proper food".
Well I can always count on Katniss to hate me. I smile at her with a shrug. "Just never been a fan of seafood is all".
Her mouth opens but she's quickly cut off by the sound of a wind chime. We all rise up our heads at the sound and the parachute falls amoungst the bowls of fish. Finnick was closest so he got to open it.
As soon as I see whats inside I feel uncomfortable. It's bread. But not just any type of bread, bread from District One. Every district has its own type of bread so by easy elimination everyone would know it's from one of my sponsors... approved and sent by Cashmere.
Because apperently seafood just isn't good enough. Materialistic. It drives that message home, is that what sponsors think I care about? I can't believe Cashmere approved this. I mean, I am materialistic but this is almost...cruel. I heard a scoff from Katniss and I sank a little against my tree in shame. Which obviously I shouldn't do when a sponsor gives you something, otherwise I might not get anything again. So I smiled at Katniss before staring up at the sky. "Thank you lovely, people of Panem."
I turned and stared at the bread in Finnick's hands.
Is Cashmere telling me to stop screwing around and find Gloss? To remember you're from District One? Finnick had left me my machete. The career thing to do would be to fight it out. Finnick notices the look on my face while debating something in his head. He then makes up his mind with a smirk. "It's from Haymitch not Cashmere".
I feel myself raise an eyebrow. "How do you know?"
Finnick's eyes light up in amusment and he hands me a card.
I can feel myself scowl as I read it.
Wouldn't want the princess to starve.
- H.
I instantly scrunch up the note with a huff. I then noticed that Finnick is staring at the bread still with shaky hands. It means something to him. Maybe it's the card but I have a feeling it's the bread because his eyes won't look away from it. Most likely not the note because he let me read it. No. This bread, bread from my district means something to him...it's a message. A message meant for Finnick disguised as a gift for me from Haymitch. But why?...what is it about? obviously it's to do with me.
I look up towards Katniss but she's just as confused as I am. She nodded to the little ball of paper next me and I sigh before throwing it at her face.
Seeing the tiny ball of paper fly was enough to wake up Finnick. "This'll go well with the shellfish."
He handed me a piece and I looked down at it with a smile. Almond sourdough bread with a sprinkle of crystallised sugar on top. Home. Expensive, overdone, beautiful and sparkly. All in a bit of bread. The almond so it tastes better, more like a cake. Sourdough because its more expensive and crystalised sugar to represent diamonds. Luxtious bread. The bread of my district.
I looked up to find Katniss glaring at me. I felt my head tilt in confusion before I remembered I just threw Haymitch's note at her. I giggled. "Sorry. You should try the bread though. Afterall you wouldn't want to offend Haymitch".
She tried to hide it but I could tell she liked the bread of District One. She liked it, but she hated that she loved something that was so obnoxious. I knew the bread of twelve was grain like balls that looked like shit. It was hardly even bread so this was probably another reminder of our differences.
When I was muching on my second slice it occurred to me that like Finnick said this came from Haymitch Abernathy. While yes, it's technically meant for Finnick which I know they don't want me knowing, it felt odd.
I didn't know Haymitch. I'd watched his games allot growing up, I'd watched everyones games. But his was a quarter quell. My whole life used to centre around the games growing up. So, my fanatical little career self in training watched it, many times.
But Haymicth had just insulted me and ordered in bread from District One. A stranger, A victor like me, but not one I'd ever spoken to. He wasn't connected to my District, Cahsmere or Mavis in anyway. Since it's from him, it would've been either him or one of the District Twelve sponsors who paid for it. He would of then had to order this bread from a District One representive. That would've been Cashmere or Mavis. I knew how this worked having been a mentor for four years myself. All that work, all because I complained.
What is it to Haymitch Abernathy if I'm happy here or not?
...oh. Oh. Before I went to sleep I'd asked to leave. The bread is from my district, it means me. It's a message from Haymitch to Finnick about me. Wouldn't want the princess to starve?
Wouldn't want the princess to starve...
Keep me happy! The bread, as soon as I complained it rained down. Just after I'd confessed to Finnick in tears that I wanted to go, if he'd let me go. Haymitch didn't know I was crying because of Finnick's kindness. Afterall, I'm so hard to read. What with helping people one minute and trying to kill them the next. No. He thought the tears were an indication that I'm so miserable and scared that I'll run at my first opportunity.
Holy Shit! Haymitch Abernathy wants me to be in this alliance with Twelve and Finnick!
And the bread mixed with the card is a direct message to Finnick to keep me here!
Why the fuck would Haymitch want that?!
A loud snap echoched into the arena and I instantly felt my stomach drop. I heard that sound in my nightmares every night.
I screamed. Screamed so loudly that Finnick, Katniss and Peeta dropped everything in alarm. Finnick had his arms around me in seconds but I didn't stop screaming.
I-We had to get out of here before we drown. I looked into Finnick's concerned eyes and yelled. "R-Run!"
But they didn't. Instead Katniss and Peeta stood as we heard a scream on the other side of the arena join me. They looked on in terror, too scared and confused to move. Like I had in my games but I'd seen it before, I wasn't transfixed like they were. No point out running it but I'd down right try! The wedge infront of us looks as if its shaking, vibrating...and then I see it. The actual giant wave from my nightmares. From my games. It comes towards us snapping and toppling trees in a roar of water. Finnick can do nothing but watch it as I continue to scream, powerless encased in his strong arms. He was standing now but he didn't let me go just held me.
BOOM.
I stopped screaming when I heard the cannon. The water washed over the cornecopia and came twoards us. But it was nothing, it just barely hit our knees.
I could feel everyone still looking at me. Both Peeta and Katniss. I can feel Katniss' acusitory glance, she wanted to know how I'd known. But I couldn't look at her or anyone. I was so scared and terrifed. And then I said it. Turning to him with tearshed eyes I said something . Something that had me dreading what lies within that water. Water I'd probably forever associate with horror. "Finnick, do you think the head is still in there somewhere?".
