Ten Years Ago Today
Finnick POV
My eyes open slowly, today is one of my least favorite days of the year. Ten years ago today I was a fourteen year old boy being reaped as a tribute. Today I'm a twenty-four year old man and I'm in the same situation. The only question is if I will be reaped again I have a feeling I already know the answer. Snow likes to play games with the victors and since I am a charming well known victor, not to mention beloved, it doesn't take a genius to figure out he might have rigged it to put me in.
I look down at Annie still sleeping peacefully. I'm surprised she fell asleep at all then again not so much. Annie and I spent most of last night talking and saying goodbye to one another. I don't want to leave Annie all alone if I die because I promised I would always be there to protect her. Annie cried a bit, but after the talking and crying Annie and I made love over and over again. We needed to say goodbye to each other and not just with words.
I kiss her cheek and she rolls over and smiles. She crawls over and leans on my chest, her fingers move in circles on my chest.
I kiss the top of her head.
"Good morning." I say like any other day.
"Good morning." Annie whispers and the circles she's drawing get smaller.
"Annie, it's okay." I say and kiss her cheek.
"I know... for now." Annie says. She kisses my chest and gets out of bed, she's still naked from last night and she looks so beautiful.
Annie leans down and kisses me before she goes to the bathroom and I hear the shower turn on. I close my eyes and listen to the drops fall on the bath. It's nice and relaxing and is helping me take my mind off the events that are going to come today. I hear footsteps and open my eyes. It's Annie coming from the bathroom and she's walking closer towards me.
"Come with me." She whispers and takes my hand. She kisses me. I can tell she brushed her teeth because she tastes of peppermint.
I won't dare disagree with her. If this means saying goodbye one last time I'll do whatever she says.
She takes my hand and leads me to the bathroom
The water droplets hit both of us making us wet. Annie takes the soap and draws the same circles on my skin while rubbing the soap in. I do the same to her and then kiss her.
Annie and I stay in the shower until the water is cold even when the water is turned off we don't let go of one another.
"I love you." Annie says finally breaking the silence.
"I love you too." I tell her.
Eventually we get out, dry off, and get dressed. Annie's wearing a nice sundress and I'm wearing my Captiol made clothes. We still need to look nice on reaping day. We are victors after all.
"What do you want for breakfast?" I ask her as I pull out one of the coffee cups. I'm trying to make this day as normal as possible but once the afternoon hits it won't be.
Annie's staring at me as if I spoke a different language.
"Ann." I say and rub her forearm.
"What?" She asks.
"Do you want breakfast." I say.
"I'm okay." Annie says. She doesn't always eat breakfast so I'm not going to say anything.
"I think I want to go for a walk on the beach." Annie says.
"Okay-"
"Alone." She says when I start to follow her.
"Okay." I say and kiss her. "Just come back before the… reaping." I tell her softly.
"Don't worry I won't be long." She says and kiss me. She puts on her sandals and leaves the house.
Annie was right she wasn't gone long and when she comes back in I can tell she was crying.
"Annie." I say and she goes over to hug me.
"They're getting everything ready the stage, the cameras, the people." Annie says and runs her hand up and down my back.
"That's what happens on reaping day." I tell her gently.
"I don't think I can go back there Finnick." She says. She kept saying this last night as well I honestly think Annie's best move would be to step off the platform before the game started. Snow isn't going to let her win again especially since this is an all star edition. He didn't like when the crying seventeen year old won so he won't like it when the same crying girl now twenty-two will win. I don't want Annie to see the terror of the arena when I know she is already cannon fodder. I would never tell her this though because I would basically be telling her to kill herself.
"You're not going anywhere Annie." I tell her and kiss her cheek.
The truth is I can't guarantee that. The other Victors including myself think the reapings are a set up and it's clear who Snow would place next to me. The person I care about most would be a move he would use proudly.
"But what about you?" She says softly.
"I'll be fine and I'll always be with you." I tell her and kiss her forehead.
Annie hugs me tightly and one hand runs through my hair.
"I want you to stay in District Four with me. Promise me that will happen." She whispers.
"I don't make promises I can't keep." I whisper and stroke her brown hair. "But in a way I'll always be here with you." I tell her and touch the necklace I wove for her on a hot sunny District Four day.
"That's not good enough Finnick." She whispers.
"I know, but whatever happens you'll be okay." I whisper.
"What if I go in there." She whispers.
"I'll protect you." I tell her. If Annie gets called in there no way in hell will she be going in alone. I'll volunteer and protect her for as long as I can. I know there's this crazy plan being set up to somehow break out the arena but Annie… I love her. But is her life more important than thousands?
I push her closer to me thinking of the answer because it should be no, but I couldn't leave her in there alone.
I'd rather die than see anything happen to her, but what if I died in front of her. I think to myself.
That was the last nail in the coffin during Annie's games once she saw her partner get beheaded she was done and I can't be the reason that happens again.
The clock in the square is starting to ring signaling it's time to head to the square for the reapings.
Annie looks at me scared.
"It's okay to be scared Annie." I tell her and lace our fingers together. "But we can't run from this." I tell her.
She squeezes my hand.
"We should've taken your boat and sailed it far away from here." Annie whispers.
We wouldn't be able to leave, District Four has coast guards and she knows this as well.
We don't speak on the way down mostly because I've already said everything that I needed to and if I repeat some of it she will start crying.
I stop us before we get into the square because I can see tons of peacekeepers waiting at the entrance probably to lead us into our pen.
I kiss Annie gently.
"This won't take long Annie just remember to breathe." I say and kiss her forehead. I kiss away a tear that falls from her eyes.
She hugs me tightly again.
"It won't take long." She repeats.
"That's right." I tell her.
"We can meet back at the house after." She says.
"Yes if we can." I say.
Annie nods.
Another bell rings.
"We need to go in before they send peacekeepers after us." I tell her and kiss the top of her head.
Annie nods and kisses me.
"I love you." We say at the same time.
I let go of her hand so we can part ways. I watch her walk over to Mags when I go to my section with the other two male victors.
"Welcome to reaping for the 75th Annual Hunger Games and the Second Quarter Quell." Our escort says slightly sad but I can still see the excitement in his blue eyes.
"First the ladies." He says and puts his hand in the large bowl with only two slips of paper in it. No matter who gets chosen it's just one more person on the long list of names I have of someone who will be lost.
"Annie Cresta. Victor of the 70th Hunger Games." He calls out sounding pleased and I can imagine why. Seeing someone young instead of someone elderly in an arena would be more exciting.
I look to Annie and hear a small cry escape her lips and her legs give out.
"No." The victor next to me says and grabs my wrist. "You can't go over to her all of Panem is watching." He says with annoyance. Zayden, an arrogant winner, and one who has disdain for Annie.
I sigh and shake his hand from mine.
If I went over there right now to help a weak girl it wouldn't look good for my image or it might. I guess Finnick Odair going to help a weak pathetic girl would pull on some heart strings, but not many.
Before the peacekeepers can take her away Mags points to herself and mumbles something.
"A volunteer come up Mags come up." Our escort says slightly disappointed. An elderly women in the Hunger Games isn't exactly the star he was looking for. Neither female would be ideal for his all star version.
"Now for the men." Our escort says and shoves his fingers into the glass bowl that holds only three paper slips. I get a feeling that all the pieces say my name.
"The tribute for the 75th Hunger Games will be..." He takes forever to open the card and when he does a big smile is on his face; he's pleased. "Finnick Odair. Victor of the 65th Hunger Games and the youngest ever!." He gushes "Come up Finnick."
I do walk up and wave happily at the cameras to make the Capitol girls swoon over me once again.
"How does it feel to be here again?" He asks once I'm on stage. He didn't ask Mags anything because it's hard to understand her speech
"I can't wait to bring home the title again." I say and wink into a camera.
"That's the spirit." He says and claps me on the back.
I look out at the sea of people watching me; some disgusted and glad to be rid of me, some feeling sorry for me, and some are just glad it won't be them this year.
My eyes find Annie still in the women's area to be reaped. She's all alone and I can see her wipe her eyes.
Ten years ago today I was standing on this same stage with these same people staring at me. Except when I was looking out at the people I was looking at my sister who is now dead. She 'drown' got caught in a fishing net. My ass that happened, she was killed by Snow's minions because I didn't do what I was told. Then my Father's boat got caught in a storm with a few other men. Not that messy but it was too convenient especially when the news went around the boat marina. A guy said the ship was scheduled for repairs but the peacekeepers ordered them to get more fish. Some BS about not meeting the quota which is untrue. Our fishermen meet the quota because once they do they get to keep the leftover fish.
Snow left my Mother alive to threaten me but Snow didn't know she was sick and already dying. When Snow did find out he offered her the best medicine to give, but I declined because I didn't want to be indebted to him any more. When I came home from the Capitol trip I found her dead in the living room. I can't prove if Snow arranged that because why would he kill her if I was already being an obedient slave. I always had a feeling she was poisoned, but it's not like they do autopsies here so she was put to rest out in the sea for eternity. I had nothing left, just Mags but she wasn't the same. I contemplated suicide often and tried more than a few times.
However, today I'm looking at Annie still in the reaping pen all by herself. She's still slumped on the ground with her hands covering her mouth.
"Shake on it." He says and we get taken to the Justice Building. At first I think they're just going to take us to the trains because they go past the front entrance but they go to the side entrance instead for some reason.
"Sit down." The peacekeeper says and shoves me into the mayor's office.
I smirk it's even the same damn room I was shoved in ten years ago.
I don't know if anyone will visit me. I don't know if Annie will be allowed because of the conspiracy rumors that victors are planning a takeover. I tried to convince her everything would be okay, but I was right all along. This reaping was a total set up. Even if my name didn't get called Snow would've known I would volunteer to go in with her.
I bang my fist on the mahogany desk making papers fall to the floor.
"How can an old man control us so easily." This idea reeks of Snow and I don't understand why he just didn't order an 'accident' for Katniss. Any victor with a brain understands that's why he's doing it. He needs to silence her and since it would be more suspicious if she dropped dead he has to go all out.
"Get off me!" I hear Annie shout from the hallway. I can't imagine her running back here without permission. Annie bursts through the door and runs into the bookshelf. A flower vase falls to the floor making a mess but she doesn't care and neither do I.
She runs into me hard. She could've been a brick wall for all I knew. I can tell her cheeks are damp. She was crying and I hate making her cry. I kiss the top of her head
"Victor Cresta you aren't allowed back here." The peacekeeper says annoyed. How she got back here I will probably never know.
Annie squeezes me tightly at these words.
I recognize this peacekeeper he'll take any bride you give him.
"Ten thousand for ten minutes with her." I say not bothering to look at him. I place a stray hair behind her ear.
"25,000." The peacekeeper says.
"Fine whatever." I tell him. He could've asked for every last cent I had, I don't need my money if I'm dead. Besides, it's not like anyone else is entitled to take it. "Annie will make sure you get the money." Finnick says because he allowed Mags and Annie take money out of his account, not that they need any, they have their own winnings.
"Good you've got ten minutes." He says and leaves the room.
"Finnick why-" Annie starts
"You snuck in here to see me, I just want to ensure you get what you want." I tell her and kiss her cheek.
"I had to give you something." Annie says.
"What's that?" I ask her. Those green eyes and her brown hair, she's pretty. No… she's down right beautiful. she's the most beautiful person I've ever seen. The only problem is the redness in her eyes that makes me see she was crying.
"This." Annie says and takes off the necklace I wove for her so long ago.
"You don't want it." I say confused. I would assume she would want it now to think of me whenever she saw it.
"I'll get it back when you come home." She whispers and a single tear rolls down her cheek. "Use it as your token."
"Okay, I will." I whisper and kiss her.
"I love you." She whispers and her grasps tightens.
"I love you too." I kiss her. "So much."
"Tell Mags thank you." She whispers.
"She already knows." I say.
"Tell her anyway." She says and sniffles.
"Don't cry Annie." I whisper gently.
"They won't stop." She says referring to the tears.
"They will and the next time you cry I hope it's because I'm with you again." He says softly.
"Tears of joy?" She whispers.
"Yes." I tell her and kiss her. Her lips are salty from the tears but still so lovable.
Annie holds me until the peacekeeper takes her away.
We get herded to the train station and I get on the familiar train. I sit down and look out the window I'm not going to talk to Mags just yet,I think she wants some time to think.
Ten years ago today the same outcome, the same room, the same escort, the same train, the same person who was there the first time. It's all the same and yet oh so different I look out the window as District Four gets smaller and smaller. This can't be the last time I see it because that would mean it is also the last time I will see Annie.