(A/N): As I mentioned in the end of Chapter 3, this chapter will be giving you a look at Finnick's point of view. Thanks to all of you who added my story to your alert or favorites list, and special thanks to cherrypieblues for your comment!
Xoxo ~teacuppig
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the plot or characters of from the Hunger Games Trilogy. All rights belong to Suzanne Collins.
Tap, tap, tap, tap. The clicking of Finnick's shoes clapping together calms his racing mind. He sits anxiously on an exquisite velvet couch, in the room where his friends and family would be visiting him to say their goodbyes. Then, he would be carted off to the capitol, and prepared and displayed for slaughter. Or murder. Either way, Finnick Odair would be gone.
On stage, he had thought it would be in his best interests to smile confidently and pretend everything was fine. Now, in the shelter of the Justice Building, his facial expression remains blank, while a violent war of emotions played out in his head; anger, confusion, fear, and helplessness as some of the biggest competitors.
Finnick's head snaps up as the door creaks open. It's his father, not who he was hoping for, but still, Finnick is grateful for a familiar face. The two of them have not held a steady relationship in quite some time though, not since the death of Finnick's mother.
"Son," Mr. Odair says gruffly, lingering awkwardly by the door. He then pauses a minute, staying silent.
"Dad," Finnick replies, though his tone is clear and calculating. "They'll only give you a minute to be in here, and this may be the last time you see me. Don't you have anything to say?"
Mr. Odair purses his lips, then strides quickly to Finnick and pulls him into an embrace. They are both rigid and reluctant, but the moment is real, and tears pool in Finnick's eyes until he blinks them away rapidly.
His father is the first to let go. He looks at Finnick one last time, mutters a quick "good luck", and then he is gone.
Several of Finnick's friends come to visit as well. They speak to him as if he is already a thing of the past, and make his heart sink with their teary-eyed farewells. No one believes he has a chance at winning; and he is starting to believe it himself.
That is, until the door opens one more time, and Annie Cresta, looking as beautiful as she did at the beginning of the Reaping, steps in the room quietly.
She came, Finnick thinks. So their few days of friendship had meant something to her.
Annie offers him a shy smile, and sits on an armchair across from the couch.
"Annie," he starts, "if I don't come back, I…" She cuts him off with a sharp glance. He blinks, startled. Never has he seen Annie look so determined, not even as she took the first jump off of the rocks at the quarry.
"Finnick," she speaks sternly, "I didn't come here to let you accept your own death sentence. You might as well be handing yourself over to the Capitol if you've already given up on the games."
She's right, Finnick knows that, but he still didn't see how he could possibly come home alive. Still, he keeps quiet and listens to her; afraid that she'll leave if he interrupts.
"I know you can use a trident well," she says. "Spears may not be much different. Just do something; anything, just try to come home. Please." She whispers the last part, and that's when Finnick looks up at her, and notices a few tears leaking from her bright green eyes.
"Hey," he says gently, "Annie it's okay. I-I'll do everything I can to win. I promise. And when I get back, we'll go to the beach and celebrate."
Annie laughs softly, and wipes her tears away. "That sounds nice. Okay Finnick, it's a deal."
He smiles at her, and then a Peacekeeper walks in, looking bored, and says, "Your time's up. Let's go."
Annie stands, and Finnick stands with her; not yet ready to let her go but clueless as to what to say next. Fortunately, Annie does, so she takes his hand in hers, gives it a light squeeze, and says, "I'll be waiting for you to come back," before the Peacekeeper loses his patience and drags her out of the room.
Speechless, Finnick sits back down on the couch. Everyone else had given him words of condolence, as if they were already mourning his death. But Annie had given him something different entirely. Annie, with her glowing personality and her eyes as deep as the ocean itself, had given Finnick hope.
Thanks for reading Chapter 4 (already!). I've been contemplating the next few chapters lately; write through the games or not? So I've decided to ask for my wonderful readers' opinions! Please, please, please, review and tell me your thoughts. I am completely lost as to where to go next with the story (that's why the chapters are so short).