Hey guys, here's chapter four of Moment In Time!

I hope I did this relatively well, and you like it!

So, I saw the Hunger Games the movie at midnight, and I first I was extremely disappointed, but then I saw it again, and I thought it was relatively good. Like three stars out of four. I mean, I'm a Hunger Games obsess-o so whenever they got something wrong my friend and I would spaz cause it was really annoying. Waiting to see the movie was the most fun part though, we made friends with some random people and it was really fun! The hunger games are everywhere, and I'm kinda freaked out, but excited. Sorry, I know you don't wanna hear about my personal life, but yeah the movie was okay. They left a lot out, but the games were extremely accurate, and I got freaked out.

None of these characters belong to me, but Parthenia, and Nero.

Without further ado, Chapter Four! Hope you like it!

/Finnick/

I stand there mortified. It takes me a moment to comprehend what just happened. My name was just called, and now I'm waiting for someone to call out "I volunteer". Though the air is silent and tense. I stare at the ground and wait. I know everyone is watching me, and when at least ten seconds have passed, and the clapping starts, I know no one will volunteer for me. No one is coming to save me.

I frown for a moment, and dart my head around. Everyone's eyes are glued to me, like I'm some sort of monster. My heart begins to pound, and I know now I need to go up. I keep my head up, and slowly walk to the podium, as if it's the grim reaper calling for me to come.

I get to the steps, and Parthenia Craftline's eyes glisten as she looks at me. Her smile is huge, almost larger than ever. She walks up to me in small, swift steps. I'm sure she would run if she could, but her tight skirt prevents her from doing so. She grasp my hands and shakes them eagerly, almost too eagerly. I shake back, a fake smile on my face. I have to seem confident get get sponsors, to survive. I let go of her hand, and then walk up next to Calla. I stare at her through the corner of my eye, and recognize her from the market. She has auburn hair that reaches her waist, and a small button nose. Her lips are formed into a straight line as she waits. She is probably gorgeous to anyone else, but to me, I can't find her beauty. I just find a competitor. I listen as the clapping subsides, and in the crowd, I catch a small glimpse of Annie's face. Her expression is sad, and I see tears forming in her eyes. My heart nearly breaks as I see her, and I need to avert my eyes to stay composed.

I feel the camera on my face, and know my competitors are probably watching me right now. I straighten up a bit, but I don't know how intimidating I am. I'm pretty tall, and still growing, and I'm pretty strong I guess. I'm only fourteen though, so how tall and tough could I be?

I wait there, and our mentor comes up. I stare at the ground, and expect to see some man's giant feet come into my view, but instead I find dainty small ones that are wearing slippers. I pick my eyes up to see an around seventy-year old woman, Mags. Why is she here? I look at her confused, and cock my head. She is, well, older. Why don't we get a young mentor, or someone else? Mags turns her head and meets my eyes. Her eyes are a bit remorseful, under her wrinkles in her skin. She shakes my hand, but the way she looks at me makes me feel like she is my grandmother. She gives me a sense of belonging and comfort. I never knew my grandmother, she died before I met her. I guess how I feel right now to Mags, I wonder if maybe she will become a grandmother-like figure in my life, if I were to survive. Mags releases my hand and walks away. She shakes Calla's hand, and then stands beside Calla and looks forward.

Now anthem begins, as it always does, and I place my right hand over my hand. The song is old, and it's plays with static almost overcoming the sound of the orchestra playing. I listen to the music, but I'm dazed. What could this mean? I could die in a matter of weeks, or actually about one week, or maybe even less than a week. My eyes widen for a second, and I look at the ground, almost in shock. My days are numbered. I could be dead in a matter of days. This fact hits me like a ton of bricks being thrown at me. My lips part as I try to absorb all this pressure that has just been placed on my shoulder. I could not die; I promised Annie, but I didn't think that the odds were really in my favor... I can't promise anything to Annie, now that I'm in this position.

I tighten my jaw as the song comes to the end, and the center starts to clear ever so slightly. Calla and I immediately look at Mags with a big question mark planted on our faces. Mags face darts from my face to Calla's, and she places a hand lightly against our backs. "Now," She says, her voice like velvet. "You two go to rooms where family and friends will visit you."

My stomach seems to tie into a knot right then and there. Who would visit me? My mother perhaps. Nero would, my mom would make him. Would Annie? Would she have the bravery to do it? I feel bad thinking so, but I don't believe I will be seeing Annie. Based on how she looked at the reaping, she didn't look in such good condition. She didn't look...Secure. I want her to come, and say I will fight to win for her, and only her. I want to tell her a million things that I've always wanted to tell her, and the thought of her not coming, and not being able to tell her, nearly breaks my heart.

Mags leads us to the rooms which are behind the reaping podium. She walks Calla to her room, and me to mine. Mags opens the door for me, and lets me in. She is in utter silence, but it's nice. I believe she knows better than to say a flamboyant, "It's okay! You'll win this thing!" That's perhaps the last thing I want to year in a moment like this. Anything anyone says is like a buzzing to my ears, worthless comments and such. I think Parthenia tried to say something to me while she was shaking my hands, but I didn't hear her, or wasn't listening. Mags waits until I am fully in the room, nods at me quickly, then shuts the door.

The room is dark, and ahead of me is a loveseat with crimson cushions and a golden support holding it up. Directly across from it, is a single chair that is black. I walk over to the single chair, knowing that's where I was to be, and sit in it. I feel so alone in it and chair has a hostile feeling to it that is undeniable. I recline in it and rest my hands on the arms of the chair. I peer around the room and look at it's high quality features. The curtains covering the pale light are maroon colored, and are thicker than any blanket that I have ever slept in. The floor is covered with a rug that is turquoise, and has green imbedded in it's stitching to create a design of swirly seaweed. The walls are cream colored, and there are lamps around that have not yet been turned on. I see tissues, and then I roll my eyes. How typical. I know that the capitol has provided all this furniture for us, probably because the capitol takes a liking toward district four tributes. We are commonly victorious and perhaps that made the capitol decide to make our room extra comfortable for our intense tributes. I feel something else though, as I glance around the room. I feel like the capitol is mocking us by providing the tributes with the items from the capitol. It feels like they are trying to welcome me into their new environment, and are giving me a "sneak peak" of what's to come. I think to myself in halfhearted humor, where's the dead bodies and bloodbaths? Where is everything that we know we are entering?

Annoyance pangs me as I scowl at my surroundings. I dislike the capitol at such a high rate sometimes. It felt funny getting worked up over furniture when what's to come is far more dreadful than velvet chairs that actually support your back, or curtains that actually block the light.

I sit, drowned in my own thoughts, worries, and anger until the door squeaks open, and I see a black silhouette appear. Then, as the figure walks out of the streaming light, and the door closes, I see my mother there. In the bad light I examine her face and see tears have been streaming down her cheeks; the we trails remaining from before. Her blue eyes are pink at the rim, and her nose is red as she sniffles. She pushes a strand of hair out of her face, and back into her sleek pony tail as she lets out a slight sob. I see her and my heart nearly melts. I have never seen my mom in this type of condition until now. Her lips are curved into a frown, and her cheeks are rosy from holding in all the sobs. I run to her and give her a large hug. She grabs my neck and buries her face in my chest. Then she looks up at me, her lips parted as she rests her hands on my cheek. "My dear boy," She murmurs. "I'm so sorry."

I manage a weak my smile as I shrug and a calming, "It's okay," slips out of my lips. It doesn't seem real to me. The reply just seems like words. I guide her to the loveseat and sit her down in it. Then I get up and move my way over to my chair. She grabs my hand, and grips it tightly and rubs her thumb in circles by my thumb. She cries for a few moments, and I just wait, watching her in somber. She tries to speak a few times, and then is overcome by sobs. After a couple attempts she manages, "Fin, honey," Then she breaks down again.

I look at our hands intertwined with each other, and realize that I'm trying to comfort her, when it was supposed to be vice versa. Nevertheless, I couldn't watch my mom in this state, so I exhale, and mumble honestly, "It's okay Mother, you don't have to-"

My mother cuts me off sharply as she lets go of my hands and says quickly, "No let me finish dammit!" I close my mouth immediately. I know she didn't mean that in a mean way, I believe actually she was talking more to herself than me. She composes herself as she wipes her eyes and tucks some loose hairs behind her ears. "Finnick," She breaths, calming down. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," She cries. She sees my confused face, and elaborates. "I was not there for you as a child, and that wasn't fair to you. I should've been a better mother... I should've let you have a childhood while it lasted. I was upset by your father's death... And I was just so young and careless. I'm so proud of you, and you've turned out to be a great man. I want you to know that I love you, and I always will. Fight as hard as you can out there. I will be cheering for you, alright?" She says, smiling weakly now. I nod, and smile back.

"I love you too Mama," I manage. She makes a slight squeal when I say "mama", and I just avert my eyes quickly before I see her cry.

Then the door squeaks open, and a peacekeeper's grim voice says gruffly, "Next visitor has to go now if you want to finish with everyone."

My mother yelps and complains that she spent to much time crying, but I assure her it's fine. She gives me a big hug, and then I watch her petite self walk off. Perhaps for the last time...

Next, Nero walks in, as expected. I'm sure he didn't want to come, but my mother probably had a fit and made him. I see his huge muscular body walk in as he comes over to me. He doesn't sit in the loveseat, but keeps his distance. His eyes are narrowed as he stares at me. I look at the ground, waiting for him to say something, anything. Silence wallows between us for about a half a minute, and he finally utters, "You're lucky."

My eyes shoot up, as I spit out a cruel, "What?"

He rolls his eyes, as if the reasoning is so simple, but I am completely bewildered. I thought going into an arena of death is a bad thing, but apparently not. "Father was picked, you know that right?" I nod. My father was picked and I didn't know that until a couple years ago. We used to live in a victor's house, but my father died and Snow kicked us out of the house and put us in the one we have now. Personally, I like this one better, but it was devastating for everyone else in my family. My brother Lancen volunteered to try and get us back in a victor's house, but he died in the games. Nero purses his lips and says, "I wanted to volunteer when I was eighteen, to keep on the tradition, but some bastard did it before I could. So I guess I ruined the Odair legacy. We were all supposed to be picked." He sneers slightly at the thought of him being left out.

I glare at him, and exclaim, "Nero, this legacy is not a good thing to be kept. Our brother died from this, why would you want the same fate?" How could he not understand what he says is foolish.

He sighs as he whispers, "I don't. I wanted to start a new Odair legacy, because the one that Lacen started sucks. I wanted to win. I felt like if I won, if you go reaped, so would you, and my children would carry it on." I begin to understand, and he further comprehends what he means. "I don't believe winning is about being impulsive, and being smart. I think most of the people win because they have pride in themselves, and their family, or their district." He stares at me, almost a little bitterly. "I think you are lucky for being able to start that." He says.

"How do you know I'll win?" I say. He shrugs slightly, though I nod, understanding now. I wouldn't consider myself lucky, but he has a point. I sit there waiting, for him to say something else, or for me to say something else, but nothing comes to mind. Nero walks over to me, gives me a pat on the back, then turns to leave.

The door closes, and I wait there for probably half a minute. Then I stare at the ground, and think for a bitter moment, perhaps I'm done. Perhaps Annie would not be coming. Anger raged through my veins as I scowl to the floor. She couldn't be strong when I need her most. It is selfish of her not to come. I snarl at the ground and listen to the silence.

Then the door flings open and I look up to see Annie right before she wraps her arms around me. It takes me a moment to catch up to reality, but I wrap my arms around her too. I immediately regret that I thought she wasn't going to come. She rubs her hands along my spine and I hear her breathing heavily. We remain that way for a moment before she picks up her head and I see her. She's not crying now, or at least for the last ten minutes because her eyes aren't puffy or red. Her tan cheeks are flushed, and her nose under the little amount of freckles is a slight red color. She stares at me seriously for a moment, and then she smiles weakly. Her hands reach into the pockets of her dress, and pulls something out. Her right hand is gripping something hard, and she holds it out. She slowly loosens her grip on the object, and I see the sea shell we met on the first day we saw each other. She said it was good luck, and made me keep it because she said I needed it. But how did she get it? It was on my dresser this morning and I forgot to take it. Maybe that is why I got reaped; I forgot to take my good luck charm.

I grab it out of her hands from it and ask her, "How did you get this? It was in my room."

She blushes and admits lightly, "I climbed up the tree by your room, and went into your room through your window." She laughs at my shocked expression, and then she smiles. "Now you can't die, you have our pinkie swear, and your good luck charm. In our rule book, it is technically impossible to fail." She stares at me while I examine at it and I see a thick string hanging off of it. I give her a questioning look and she responds quietly, "The gamemakers allow one object from your country to wear or have, so I thought you could use this." She pauses and lets me look at it. "I thought it might've been easier for you to wear it if it was a necklace, and it would be less likely to lose," She whispers. She asks me quietly, "So will you wear it?" She looks at me hopeful, and I nod. I take it and I put it in my pocket.

I stare at her, and feel a lump in my throat. To think I'd never see her again. I reach out my hand and place it on her cheek. She leans into my touch and closes her eyes. "Annie," I say quietly, "I'm still scared, even though I know this is good luck. I don't know what's going to happen in there. There has got to be twenty three other tributes who have good luck charms. I might die, I can't promise you anything. I'll try though..." I say quietly. Her eyes shoot open and she looks at me wearily.

"Fin, I believe in you; you're stronger than all the others, and smarter. You can use your net skills to trap people, and you're good with knifes, you use them with the fish. And you're a fast runner, we know that." She pauses, and her hands touch my neck. "Please just come home, if you can." She says, her voice shaky. She places her hand on my cheek, and rubs her thumb on my jawline and smiles sadly. "I'll be waiting every day from ten until two, until you come back."

With that I wrap my arms around her and close my eyes. I grip her hard, because I never want to let her go. I never want to leave her. I breathe heavily and she leans her head on my chest. I know my heart is beating fast, and I know that hers is too. She slowly releases me and she kisses my head for about three seconds, and I smile at the feeling of her lips on my skin. It feels warm and I feel happy for the first moment in the last hour. She hadn't ever kissed me in any way shape or form. Though she knows that we love each other, in a complicated way. She pulls away from my head, and whispers, "Something to remember me by, when you're at the capitol with all those pretty girls."

I snort, knowing none of them could compare to her natural beauty. No one could compare to her amazing personality, and the magic within her soul. I look at her hands and see they are trembling so I quickly grasp them and look at her in the eyes. This is so hard for me, and I bet it's just as hard for her. "I'll come back for you, Annie." I whisper and I pull her back into my arms again.

Then the door to our room opens and the peacekeeper comes in and immediately grabs Annie by the waist without warning. He starts dragging her away, and she looks at me frantically. She says quickly, "Finnick, I'll see you soon okay-and whenever you get lonely in the games know I'm thinking of you!" She says, and I nod start to stream down her face, and I feel my heart melt.

My one beacon of hope is being dragged out of the room. "Annie!" I say, and I quickly try to run to her and grab her hand, but the peacekeeper pushes her through the door.

She yells, "I-" but the door is shut before she can finish. I back away from the door and look at it dazed. I may never know what she was going to say. I pull the shell out of my pocket and stare at it. This will give me good luck, and I will win. For her.

Okay, I hope you liked it! I tried to make it kinda sad, but Finnick has to be strong because he's, well, Finnick.

I really hope you like it, and as always please review. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, I hope you like my story! :)

-New Lights