The water is cold and merciless. It strangles my lungs and stings my eyes. So disorientating that I lose all of my senses. I sink lower into darkness and I am unable to move. I gaze in weird wonder as the water silks its way through my hands, sending blood tingling shivers up my spine.

Above the water, a pair of sea-green eyes stare down at me and I recognize them immediately, I breathe in to gasp but the water gives me an unwelcomed kiss, leaving no dry space. I try to move but I continue sinking, pleading with my eyes for him to save me, but he just stands and stares.

Can't he see that I am drowning?

I gasped and bolted myself into a sitting position, rubbing my hands over by body to check if it was dry. It was, apart from my face that was wet with tears as was my pillow. As my breathing slowed I tried to recollect where I was. At first I thought that I was at home because of the sound of the ocean, but I realised that it was Finnick's stone that was still making the noise. I peered out of the window and I guessed that it was just passed dawn, I turned the stone off and flipped my pillow over to hide the wet side. I hopped out of bed and headed to the bathroom. I turned my shower to boiling hot to rid my head of the nightmare. I had never had a nightmare about the ocean or even dreamt about Finnick. I just had to clear my head, and a scolding shower perfect for that.

I walked into the dining hall, rubbing my eyes and salivating from the smell of the delicious food. I was served my breakfast by a female Avox of porridge, syrup and chocolate chips and sat down next to Rio on the large table. Once again we were wearing the same outfits for training, black lycra leggings with a gold stripe down the side, a plain black cotton t-shirt with a large gold number four on the back and black combat boots. The boys didn't notice me as I sat down because they were too busy demonstrating the best techniques to stab someone with a spear or trident and practicing on each other with spoons. He seemed to be in a much better mood than last night. I smiled at his cheeky grin, prodding Rio with every strike and getting none in return.

"Boys," I heard a kind voice say next to me as Mags sat opposite me, her plate full of fruit.

I laughed as a reply. "Yeah, I know." I didn't actually. Not really.

With one final jab from Finnick in Rio's stomach the boys laughed and went back to their breakfast. Finnick greeted Mags good morning and noticed me in the process. His eyes shifted towards mine.

"Morning, Annie," Finnick said in a slightly deflated manner.

"Morning, Finnick." I tried to say with the same lack of enthusiasm as he did to me,

, yet I couldn't stop smiling looking at his eyes. I was completely fooling myself. I would just be a 70th Hunger Games tribute to him, and a dead one at that.

"How did you sleep last night?" He asked.

"Good thank you," I replied and went back to my food.

"Good." I heard him say, but in front of me I saw Mags with a mischievous smile on her face.

Why?

"Annie I-" Finnick tried to continue.

"So Finnick. Annie and I have come up with a plan of action," Rio announced with a proud grin.

What?

"Really?" The rest of us said together and I felt a slight kick under the table.

"Well, we would train separately. I would have Finnick and Annie would have Mags." Rio paused to stuff a piece of muffin in his mouth and we all looked at his thoughtfully. "Finnick can teach me the best fighting strategies whilst Mags can teach any about fish hooks and stuff."

"Fish hooks and stuff?" Mags asked in quite a negative tone.

"Well, that means that we can ally together and survive until the end."

"What about during training at the centre?" Finnick asked, searching Rio's face.

"Roughly the same plan," Rio replied. "Apart from the compulsory exercises of course." He smiled smugly, obviously pleased with his plan.

"I think it would be best if Annie learnt a skill. One to show the sponsors," Mags said.

"Yeah, and what if we get split up? I'd have to defend myself before we find each other again." I said, trying to keep my creeping panic at bay.

"She's got a point Rio," Finnick said, nonchalantly jabbing at a sausage with his fork. "It's a clever concept but you should learn some survival skills too. It could be the difference between life and death."

"Or I could just be like you and score high in the private training sessions, impress the sponsors, get supplies, kill people and live in paradise."

His confidence was so high. How?

"Well, if it's paradise you're looking for, you should get the hell out of Panem," Finnick replied bluntly, getting out of his chair and stalking away. Mags sighed, excused herself and took off after him, leaving Rio and me in silence.

"What d'you think Annie?" I turned to Rio and I saw the excitement in his eyes. There was so much to consider. You could tell that he probably a great fighter just by looking at his muscular physique, but he was also quite arrogant I guessed the type to rush into things without thinking. And there was no way that I would be able to survive on my own, the tributes were already laughing at me.

What the hell. It's not like I'm going to win anyway.

"Let's do it." I agreed and we shook hands. "But I will at least learn one skill…to defend myself."

"Deal." Rio grinned, and I smiled back.

We got down to the training area at 9:45 where most of the tributes were already. They were wearing the same thing as us, except with their own tribute numbers on the back. There were a few stragglers but Districts One and Two were sticking together, obviously their alliance was formed instantly. I felt a nudge at my elbow, it was Rio, glaring at the Careers.

"We don't need them Annie. They all just turn on each other in the end anyway."

I stared at him for a few moments. Isn't that what we're going to do if we are the last two?

I just nodded and leaned up against the wall, waiting for all of the other tributes to show up. When they did we all joined together in a circle, the Head Trainer Kellis began talking to us about our training methods. I didn't listen because I was too busy glancing between the other tributes, and they were all doing the same, no one took more of a second to look at me, except for the other Careers who I believed were imagining the ways that they were going to kill me. When I caught eyes with the crimson haired girl I turned my attention to the ground, letting my messy hair fall in my face. I didn't bother tying my hair up, it wasn't like I was expecting to do much anyway.

The two training days were a blur. Apart from the compulsory exercises I mainly focused on learning how to identify berries and making snares and shelters, sometimes Rio joined me, but most of the time he was training and fighting with one of the training staff. I hardly noticed the Gamemakers when they came and they mostly focused on the other Careers and Rio, showing off to try and scare the other tributes. This strategy actually worked because they stayed out of their way. Much to the Careers pleasure. I went to the knife throwing station and learnt how to throw knives, which I was actually better at than Rio. Every time I got one on target a crease would form in his forehead and his throws would get a lot more hectic than before.

"We can't be good at everything and one, Rio," I said when he missed his last target.

"Yeah but everything and two is in the arena, Annie," Rio replied with a serious expression on his face.

"That's why us splitting up the skills is easier?"

"Exactly." Rio smiled.

After lunch at the bow and arrow station I thought that I was alone, until the girls from Districts One and Two turned up. The crimson haired one, named Satin, had intense brown eyes and was from District One Satin who looked bitchier than the ice blonde one who just looked menacing. She was called Maeve, with pale skin and forest green eyes. In the video of her Reaping, they zoomed in on her parent's proud faces and they had dark hair and skin so I had to assume that she had albinism. I suspected that they were either seventeen or eighteen.

"Annie, right? District Four." Satin asked.

I nodded meekly, lowering my bow.

"It's so lucky that you having Finnick Odair as your mentor," Maeve commented and began to giggle along with Satin. It was probably because I was blushing. "We saw the way that you looked at him before the opening ceremony. It was soo cute," She mocked. Her glare was as sharp as daggers.

"It's such a shame you will never see him again after you leave for the Games. But I guess that you don't see him much due to him always being with his girlfriends." It was a double team of insults. I realised it worked just as well as their fighting skills. I had to ignore them.

I raised my bow back up and faced the target, facing away from the girls.

"Oh you didn't know." Maeve pretended to act shocked.

"Of course I knew," I replied bluntly, with my eyes on the target about to shoot.

"Just don't call out his name when we will kill you. That would just be embarrassing if he is too 'occupied' to hear it." The girls giggled.

That last comment broke my concentration and the arrow went completely off target into the sideboard, which sent them into fits of laughter.

"Victor of quickest death in Hunger Games history. Annie Cresta," Satin mocked. The two girls laughed again and strutted away.

Don't let them get to you. Don't let anyone see you cry.

I wiped my eye wish my shoulder and set up to shoot again. The arrow still went off target. Apparently shooting wasn't my strength.

At breakfast on the second day of training, Finnick and Mags decided for us to have private training sessions right when we get back from the Training Centre. Back on the District Four floor, Finnick and Mags were waiting for us, with Mags sitting on a couch and Finnick pacing in the middle of the room. Rio and I looked at each other and shrugged, I tried to take my place with Mags before Finnick placed a hand on my shoulder and stopped me in my tracks.

"Mags thought that it would better if we train together," He told me in a low voice.

"Oh, okay." I replied as Finnick lead me out of the room. I turned back to see Rio reluctantly sit next to Mags and she raised her eyebrows at me.

The room we were in had low lighting and all of the furniture was pushed to the walls. It was also linked to a balcony that overlooked the glittering Capitol. I stared out into the horizon, trying to envision District Four.

"No point in trying to escape," Finnick said matter-of-factly. I turned back towards him looking confused. "There is a force field set around this entire building." He grinned whilst stretching his arms. "Three tributes tried to run away during the first ever Games." He started to laugh and expected me to laugh too, but my face was filled with disgust.

"You think that's funny?" I asked and he replied with a shrugged. I knew that it was best just to drop it. "So what are we doing?"

"I'm teaching you how to fight," he said cracking his knuckles.

"I thought you were going to teach Rio."

"But I don't trust him. It's probably just me but you should be prepared."

"I thought it was Mags' idea."

"I never said that I didn't agree with her." He held his hands out with his palms to me with a serious expression. "Hit me."

"What?"

"Come on."

I breathed in deep and threw a wild right punch to his left hand and cracked my knuckles. I gasped and shook my hand from the pain. Finnick raised his eyebrows at me with an expression of disbelief.

"I can't believe we are from the same District." He laughed. His his face fell flat the moment I began turning towards the door with tears brimming in my eyes.

"Hey, wait!" He called grabbing my hand, twirling me around to face him. "I'm sorry. You're just…different from the…other girls I know." He looked so sincere, but I couldn't help but reply three words in my head.

The other girls.

Potentially too different to stay alive.

"What do you mean?" I questioned, my voice was hushed. My gaze with directed towards his. Finnick swallowed. Suddenly his face changed to a shocked expression, like he just processed what he said for the first time. When he saw his hand on mine, he dropped it like it burnt him and turned to pace backwards. Whilst he was distracted I swiped the stray tear away from my eye.

"It doesn't matter." He shook his head and put his hands back up. "Hit me again." I punched his hand again with my left one and it didn't seem to hurt any less. "You need to clench your fist tighter," He said reaching for my hand but quickly drew it away. "S-so it doesn't break when it hits something."

I nodded, followed his instruction and tried again.

An hour later I learned how to uppercut and throw hooks and by then I was beat. I stepped out onto the balcony and rubbed my aching hands.

"You okay?" He said appearing next to me with two glasses of ice-cold water, offering one to me.

"Thank you," I said and gently procured it from his hand and took a big swig. We both stood in silence as we stared at the setting sun. It gave me time to process everything. Somehow someone being beside me made it easier. A form of relief, knowing that I wasn't alone.

"Were you nervous Finnick?"

"Huh?" He said turning to me. "Of what?"

"Of the other tributes," I said, looking at the glass in my hands. "Were you scared of them? Because, you were only fourteen and yet you still managed to kill them. So I was just wondering-"

"Yes." He answered flatly, staring out again. "Most of them didn't mess with me because they were in the same position that I was in, or because I was a Career. But some used to glare at me to try and put me off from what I was doing, and sometimes it worked."

I thought back to the Careers. And Satin and Maeve's teasing.

"What did you do?" I asked, turning my attention to his cold expression.

There was a short pause.

"I killed them. More brutally than the others."

"Oh," I breathed as my only reply and looked down again.

"Hey," he said softly and tilted my head towards him. "I know you aren't a fighter Annie Cresta. But just like with the nets you made back in Four, if you put enough of your heart into something it turns out great. "Just remember that in the Arena." His eyes were searching every single millimetre of my face and I was transfixed

"How do you know about my nets?" I uttered in disbelief.

He grinned. "It's not like us fishermen were going to catch fish in our pockets, Annie, that's just absurd," he said, flashing a pure boyish smile. It was so familiar to the one he had as a boy. This time I smiled in return.

"Annie!" My mother called from the front room of the shop. "Do you have those nets that we made earlier?"
"Which ones?" I called back, taking my attention away from the trickiest net that could ever be made. Considering I was only nine it was pretty impressive, even though I had been working on it for three days.

"The ones with the smallest holes," she replied. I grabbed the box from my left and brought them through. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the customers. A well-built man with a bushy beard and a kind smile. Next to him was a boy with sea-green eyes. I held in a fearful squeal.

"Here you go." I said as I passed my mother the box and disappeared into the back room as quickly as I could, not even acknowledging him.

"She's just shy." Mother said. That wasn't entirely true. I was just shy around him.

We were silent. Finnick was still holding up my face and both of us were staring into each other's green eyes. I had only truly realised at that moment that his eyes were clouded in secrecy and something almost heavy for him to bear. Just as before, Finnick took a look out towards the Capitol and dropped my face. I didn't stop looking though. He chugged down the rest of his water and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

"We should probably go eat," He said looking away from my face and stepping towards the door.

"Yeah. Sure." I answered, trying to not look too deflated. From the corner of my eye I saw him look around out of the balcony and shake his head disapprovingly.

What is up with him?