My name is Finnick Odair. This year I'm 24. I'm a hunger games victor, I'm a murderer. I'm a fisherman. President Snow forced me to sell my body to capitol ladies and men, but I used this against him: I made my clients sponsor Annie when she was taken from me to the hunger games, and now they pay me with one thing that is more precious than money or jewels: Secrets. One day I'm going to use them against him. My girl, Annie, has become unstable after her hunger games. I'm taking care of her and protecting her.

Months after Annie came back, Mr. Cresta got a heart attack and passed away. She called us in the middle of the night and started screaming on the phone I ran into her house to find my father on the floor, breathless… lifeless. I cried for days… now I lost my father too, and now Annie stays mostly in my house or Mags', and rarely stays in her Victory Village home.

A few years ago, in the 71st hunger games, the games right after Annie's, I finally got a friend. She was 16 back then, her name is Johanna Mason. She won using her wits; her strategy was a bit like Annie's: She pretended to be weak and not a threat, the difference is that Johanna is as skilled a killer as I am. She's aggressive and pushy and too honest, but her heart contains so much kindness and traces of suffering only I got to know. Now finally there's a friend of my age to be comfortable with on my capitol visits; of course Annie hasn't become a mentor because of her mental state.

Two years later, also on her 18th birthday, Johanna was made the same offer I was made… the same deal. Johanna refused and she lost her entire family. Since then… we're best friends.

Annie's now better. At least she knows I'm around, and when she starts seeing things which are not there, and covers her ears for no reason, once she notices I'm there, she fears no more.

Last year, I saw traces of another friend in the victor: A district 12 poor malnourished girl who seemed smarter than usual… her wits were enough to guarantee her to go home with her district's male tribute who claimed to be in love with her, and so she pretended. Yet it was clear that she doesn't love him: Her eyes didn't have that spark I see in Annie's eyes when she lays her eyes on me… the spark which indicates a true love that is not made up for nothing.

-"Not necessarily smart," Said Mags," She probably just has a smart mentor."

Of course, we both know Haymitch Abernathy. Before my hunger games, Mags made sure I watch his tape; he was a really smart tribute.

-"Haymitch never really cared about his tributes so much, he usually considers them utter idiots."

-"Then he must have seen something in those two kids."

-"She seems good to me. She's a better fighter than the Mellark boy, I like her archery, but the boy seems smarter… Everdeen seems like she's only following Haymitch's instructions."

-"There's something more to them, Finnick. I think the boy is moved by a real love to her. The confession with Caesar was definitely a strategy, but it seems to me that he was serious about it."

I look at Mellark on the screen as the girl is taking care of a huge wound on his leg, caused by the sword of some district 2 boy career. Katniss Everdeen seems way too professional about it… but Peeta Mellark is looking at her in a way which indicates a deep love. I also notice that Everdeen is too virtuous she reminded me of Annie a bit: The way she avoided looking at Mellark's naked body while she was healing him… it was sort of funny.

-"I think this girl is the beginning of a spark." Said Mags by the end… after we were speechless while the Everdeen girl caught those nightlocks with her hands forcing the game makers to make her and her fellow tribute victors.

-"You mean the thing with that little girl from district 11 or the nightlocks?"

-"I mean both."

She looks at me in a meaningful way and I understand immediately.

It's been years since someone dared to fight the capitol so much. The Everdeen girl dared not only to show the capitol people their cruelty when they kill such a little innocent girl like that District 11 Rue, but also to give them a take it or leave it offer leaving them with only her two choices: Her and Mellark or no victor at all.

-"That girl is going to suffer."

-"She's sixteen. Won't be long before she'll be offered the deal."

-"More than that. That girl is endless trouble."

I listen to Mags and I hope Katniss Everdeen causes more and more trouble. Because once she'll start causing trouble, I'm on her side.

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

When we went back to our district, it was unbelievable how accurate Mags' prophecy was. Our district started an uprising.

People started to gather by the sea, like I used to do with Annie because it's hard to observe, and start talking about a lot of things… I knew that their talk is not only about Katniss Everdeen and her spark, but also about me, Mags and Annie. About Mags and I being forced to prostitute and being taken away from our beloved ones, and about Annie losing her mind. Annie never got prostituted because of her mental instability and because I'd give Snow better deals so that doesn't happen. I used my popularity and high price to get some profits from Snow, like extra protection for my Annie and Mags.

Some people wanted me to be the leader of the district 4 uprising… I'm the suitable face: The strong, young and suave district boy who was destroyed by the capitol beyond repair and who's roaring for his revenge. I'd go to their gatherings and support them sometimes, but it wasn't always safe… I had to make sure I wasn't watched first. It wasn't long before we started to refuse giving our products to the capitol.

We were not enough. They can live without seafood for sure. What we need is the districts that produce more crucial products: The livestock, the clothes, the weapons…

We were attacked by peacekeepers a lot. Yet our district is very big and so is the population, it was hard to control us. They sent us more severe peacekeepers, but they needed more, much more than violence to vanquish the spark that Katniss Everdeen has ignited. Yet I would only be their leader right here, Katniss Everdeen is the real leader of all the districts. I long, day by day, more and more to meet that girl.

When she came to 4 on her victory tour, I never got to officially meet her, only contemplate her holding Mellark's hand drawing their love story on the beach. I was sure she was watched, and the capitol won't let me meet her anyway, she's the cause of the rebellion and I'm a man who wants revenge, after all, and when troublemakers meet, more trouble happens.

Today is the announcement day of the quarter quell. Who knows what it will be this year… it'll be uglier I'm sure, and that's because I'm sure if our district rebelled, then a few others must have, too.

Mags and Annie were here. I turn the TV on, and there's Snow and the sick anthem which plays every time I have to face death. A boy from the capitol is standing by him. Snow starts talking about the dark days and the past quarter quells, as I start eating my dinner, a fish sandwich, more nervously I once slammed the sandwich on the plate violently. Mags was expressionless and Annie was covering her ears… only this time I didn't blame her.

I finally encourage Annie to take her hands off her ears because Snow finally took a piece of paper from the box the white dressed boy was holding, and starts reading.

"On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from their existing pool of victors."

Annie understands and starts reacting before me. She just covers her ears again and starts making crying sounds, yet no tears fell from her eyes. I know from my experience in a certain state of shock and disbelief the mind refuses to even let the eyes cry.

I look at Mags when my brain finally starts to decode. When I realize there is no male victor in district 4 alive but me. When I realize Snow has finally decided to sacrifice all the money I'm bringing him in order to prevent the bigger trouble I might cause.

How much of a relief I death, how better is it than the world where I'm living? I guess I'll know.

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

I finally succeeded to put Annie in bed… I had to sing her a song, tell her it was a bad dream and caress her hair before she slept. In the end, the pain was only mine and Mags' to share.

-"She slept?"

-"Yes. I guess it's only me and you, now."

-"I guess. There's something I needed to talk to you about, Finnick."

I sit on the sofa by her side and look in her eyes.

-"I won't let her go into that arena. She won't be able to handle it."

It takes me seconds to understand her.

Mags is 80 years old. She goes back into that arena, she's dead. Annie is only 23, but she's already unstable that seeing more death which will be probably worse, including mine, will certainly and inevitably push her off the edge of madness. Both of them are the only women I love… they're my family. I'm dying in this anyway, and I know Annie won't make it out of there alive either.

-"Do you think he'll let you get out of there?"

-"After I've involved in that uprising in the district? No."

-"Who do you think he'll make the game makers go for?"

-"Maybe Enobaria or Cashmere or Brutus. They're bringing him much less money than I am, but at least they're not trouble makers. You know, I think you, Annie and I are a too complicated trio. If two of us die, there is no way the third will be able to live. If I die and you die, Annie's case will go hopeless. She'll have nobody. If both of you do, I'm lifeless and useless, I have nothing to live for or protect that my death will be more of a relief than my life. If Annie and I die, well I guess…"

-"I'm just as lifeless as in your case." She says, smiling darkly.

-"Exactly. So if I could choose it, I'd choose that you, Annie and I go into that arena together and die together and end all this."

-"You've surrendered to the thought of dying, I see."

I drink from her cup of ginger and none of us minds it, and I think for a minute.

-"Well I don't know. I mean I'm young, right? I could have married Annie and had a child with her and we'd have our own cabin by the sea, while you're living nearby with your husband, Anton, who loves you. Only not in this world. I never had a shot at life, did I? Then maybe in death… in heaven… I'd get some of that. It's better than going on with a life that is as miserable as mine, right?"

-"You still remember Anton's name." Said Mags. Not asking, only stating a fact. I don't find a need to answer.

-"Well since I'm going to die in there, my boy, there are some things I always wanted to tell you but never got the chance."

I'm still silent.

-"I want you to know that I love you like a son… that when your parents left you to me before escaping to the sea, I felt I finally had a son. An egoist part of me that I'm still ashamed of wished they wouldn't come back so that I'd never lose you. And when they never came back and we received news of their death, it wasn't to be discussed to me that you'd become my son. Do you know you look like Anton? He too had bronze hair, a tan, golden skin, incredible sea green eyes and a rare natural beauty. I imagined you were my son and his, and I loved you like you were mine and his.

I saw you come of age and become a better man, and then they decided to take you away from me and throw you into that arena. I was horrified… I couldn't imagine losing you. I knew you were too good to kill but still I wanted you to stay alive for me. And I saw you show your powers and come out of there a victor, I knew your life was ruined by death, yet I was happy you were alive.

I saw you grow a better man, trying to resist the stains of blood on your past and be happy. And I saw you become their slave… used just like I was and prevented from the girl you love. I felt like I failed to protect you… like I should have been a better mother… I should have stopped this. Yet I saw you resist… and I saw you struggle to keep Annie alive in the arena. I saw you resist your love and desire for her in order to protect her and protect us. For years you've been used against your will and you managed to stand up to life like a real man.

I want you to know, son, you deserved happiness. You deserved a good life. You're the best man I knew… you're strong, brave and smart, you managed to stay sober in front of things no one could imagine. If anybody in this world deserves to live to see a good sun finally shine on it, it's you. I wanted you to live that moment… I wanted you to marry Annie and have your own family… a boy who looks like you and a girl who looks like you… and they're both grown up with no danger of hunger games, with their great father and their tender mother. And because you won't, Finnick, then my life has been useless."

I listen to her saying all that and wonder if she's right… about my being great and stuff. I broke down so many times, but I managed to keep it for myself. Does that mean I'm really good? Maybe I'm not that bad. Maybe I'm not different than Mags. I faced the same things she faced… I did the same she did to protect her family.

My voice was shaky when I talked to her not because I wanted to cry, but only because I wasn't sure what to say, this time.

-"You're speaking like you've been any less great. You've faced the same things and made the same choices."

She smiles to me.

Only when she does, it gets fully into my mind that I'm losing my life. I don't know how I feel about this, it was miserable. Maybe God is saving me better things, somewhere?

-"So, Coriolanus Snow…" I say looking at the ceiling where I know a camera is certainly planted. "I know you or your men are watching this. I'm going to die in your arena anyway, right? So then I have nothing to fear. I want you to know I hate your guts and I hope you vomit your own blood and die. May the souls of everyone you tortured, including mine, haunt you to hell." I said it fearlessly and I went to my room.

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

Annie spent the next days crying in her room. Mags and I told her she wasn't going there, but even if she won't go, would her pain be any less than if she loses me and Mags? She only cried and screamed in her bed, she'd only eat if I fed her myself while singing her a song or telling her a story; mostly stories of happy fishermen living with their wives and children happily and then they find golden fish and become rich and similar things.

A few days later came the reaping. I don't want to remember the details of that day, I only remember Annie was reaped and Mags volunteered, then the one card in the bowl of male "Names" was pulled and, of course, it was holding only my name. The people of the district started yelling our names in anger and almost attacked the stage, for Mags and I are loved for supporting the uprising and helping the poor before. We were taken away from the stage instantly, I'm sure the capitol cameras never aired that.

We were not allowed to greet our beloved ones this time, for more and more humiliation. Thank God I'd greeted Annie earlier this morning, of course because I was dying anyway, I feared Snow no more; I greeted her just like a young man would greet the love of his life knowing he's never going to see her again.

When we arrived to the capitol, we went first to the remake center, as usual, to be put in our parade outfits. When I entered my room, an unexpected company was there.

A game maker I know only by looks but not by name, Haymitch Abernathy, the mentor of district 12, and more importantly the mentor of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, and finally a stylist I know also by looks; he was simpler than any capitol citizen I've ever seen, with no make up at all except for a golden eye liner. He had a dark skin and a handsome face. His name was Cinna.

-"Sit down, Finnick."

Usually when a game maker speaks to a mentor or, in this case, a tribute, it's with titles. This made me realize the discussion wasn't that official.

What were those three doing in my room?

-"I'm Plutarch Heavensbee, the new head game maker."

I salute him, still stunned.

-"Pleasure to meet you, sir." What happened to Seneca Crane anyway?

-"Of course you know fellow mentor, Haymitch, and perhaps you know Cinna after his head turning designs last year."

-"Ah, of course. A big part of miss Everdeen's charms came from your… creativity, Cinna. I'd like to congratulate you and Haymitch for the victory of his tributes."

-"Thank you, Finnick." Says Cinna smiling to me politely.

-"So, gentlemen, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure of your visit?"

Cinna smiles and Haymitch laughs. Only Plutarch starts to explain.

-"This conversation is not official, Finnick, loosen up. This room is not watched by any capitol cameras."

My body goes stiff. Where are we going with this?

-"Districts 4, 11, 3 and 8 are uprising and the others are close to following."

Most of this is not news to me, yet I cheer up. Is there hope that after my death maybe the sun will shine on this country?

-"I'm the head of an undercover group of spies in the capitol. This country won't survive for long if this city and its power is not thrown down soon. Would you be able to take your place in this, Finnick?"

-"You mean… in the rebellion?"

-"Yes."

-"But that makes no sense! I'm dying in a few weeks from now, remember?"

-"We'll send hovercrafts to rescue you, miss Everdeen, Mr. Mellark, and whoever from our side that will be alive by the time of the rescue mission, from the arena."

-"Wait. You're telling me that you're rescuing us from the arena? Why?"

-"Because you're important to our cause. You are a young man who suffered for years from every kind of psychological torture, Mr. Mellark is the boy who loved a girl enough to start a rebellion and Miss Everdeen is our token… our Mockingjay. Of course, the rest of the tributes are important to us too, but we must ask you to do your best to protect Miss Everdeen and Mr. Mellark in the arena. It can't go on without them. I'm sure you appreciate."

Katniss. The girl on fire. The mockingjay. The girl who'll lead this rebellion. If her life means one day I'll be alive and happy with Annie and our son, like I've always dreamt, or even that I'll die but Annie will be able to live in a peaceful world, and there will be a hope for this country I'll follow her to the end of the earth and protect her with my own life.

-"And you're telling me those hovercrafts will rescue us… from where will you bring them? And where is it that will be safe from the capitol, anyway?"

-"A place that holds a weapon the capitol fears more than anything. Maybe like… district 13?"

.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.