I check my watch, after the umpteenth time, to see that a whole day has passed since Annie's partner was murdered. Annie learned how to fish because not only is she staying well fed, but Annie is also staying out of sight of the other contestants that are left in the running for victor.
"How many people are still left in the running for victor?" I asked.
Before anybody could answer there was a cannon fire. We look at the screen to see that someone was killed.
"Last I knew there were at least ten people left in the running." Cinder said.
"Including that poor soul who was just killed?" I asked.
"There are actually twelve contestants left." Orion said joining the group.
The moment Orion sat down there was a loud siren blaring over the speakers.
"What was that?" Cinder and I asked in unison.
"That would be the destruction of the damn on the east side of the arena." Mags said.
We all watched in horror the arena was overtaken by a huge tsunami which most is likely going to kill half of the contestants. But the issue was also two-fold: after the initial deluge, the water continued to slowly flow from the dam.
"Mags, how good is our girl at—"
"She can swim like a fish." Mags said cutting me off.
"Good to know." I said.
I didn't get a good look at the arena before the dam was taken out, but it looks like a sunken wasteland now. I'm beginning to wonder if the Gamemakers thought it was a good idea to blow the dam or was it out of the Gamemakers control. All I know is that someone is going to have to explain to Snow what just occurred, or Snow might not even care at all. This is nothing more than ratings boost to keep people glued to there TVs with bated breath.
"Is there anything you need from me?" I turned to Mags.
Mags waited a moment, and then nodded to our left. I took a moment before looking in the general direction that she nodded, and to no surprise I saw a few people that grace the Presidential Palace with their presence.
"I'm going to the bathroom." I said.
"Hurry back." Mags said.
I get up from the table and head to the bathroom. After I left one of those people walked over to Mags and asked her a question, while I head over to the table where Snow's men are seated.
"Can I help you gentlemen?" I asked as I approached the table.
"Mr. Odair, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." A man said.
"That's up for debate." I said.
"President Snow is wondering what you did a forte night ago." Another man said.
"That's a question for Rantipol. It was his job, and I was just assisting." I said.
"Assisting with what?" The first guy asked.
"Need to know gentlemen. Any and all questions should be directed to Rantipol." I said, and then walked away.
I went to the bathroom, and then went back to join Mags and the rest of the gang.
"Was that necessary?" Cinder asked.
"No, but I was wondering what information they had." I said.
"Which was?" Orion asked.
"As far as I could tell, they don't know much." I said.
"Try not to angry them. Snow has no problem punishing people back in 4 without provocation." Cinder said.
"I don't know anything about what Rantipol was up to." I said and left it at that.
It was pretty quiet the rest of the time we were in the Capitol, but things changed when we got back to 4. I'll get to that later because things were getting interesting in the Games. Annie was on the run from the Career pack, which had dwindled down to at least three people. The Career's had the jump, but Annie had terrain advantage. It comes as no surprise that the fragile bond between the Careers had started to deteriorate. As Annie dove into the water to escape what would have been certain death, the Careers turned on each other. What was unexpected was there was another tribute that had been stalking the group.
It was a blood bath, with the last tribute severely wounded and trying to follow Annie. It was a sad attempt, and if I'm being honest, it seemed like Annie might be luring the Career to their death. And to no one's surprise, the Career had slipped and fallen into the water. The Career must not have known how to swim, or the injuries were to great, because the boy had started weakly flailing and the slow and painful process of his demise by drowning had begun. From a distance the camera zoomed in on Annie, and from what we can see is that she was crying. Whether it was tears of joy that it was over, or that she is crying tears of sorrow is unclear, but the tears are flowing like a leaky facet.
Next, we heard the cannon blast of the tribute finally dying. We watched as the hovercraft came to collect the boy's body. As the hovercraft came to collect Annie, we heard Claudius Templesmith announce Anne's victory. My mind is distracted by Annie's reception when she returns home. Mags gets from her chair and then says. "Follow me."
It was that action alone that would have dire consequences when I return to District 4.
Mags and I arrived at the site where the hovercraft would be dropping off Annie, and she was in bad shape. Annie's physical body wasn't in bad shape, I've seen victors that had lost a lot of weight, but if anything, Annie had lost a very minimal amount. You can't tell from looking, but Annie's mind had been broken in the arena. Mags tried approaching her, but Annie started screaming and tried to escape. The doctors we on Annie and injected her with a sedative.
"I take it that doesn't happen very often?" I asked.
"On occasion, though this is the first time I experienced." Mags said.
Two hours later the doctor came to give a diagnosis of Annie's condition.
"Your tribute has suffered a mental break, mostly like from watching her partner being killed in the manner he died, and now suffers from disassociation disorder. I'm terribly sorry." The doctor said and left.
"What do we do?" Mags asked.
"What do we do? Annie's father abandoned her the moment she became a tribute. Not much we can do." I said.
"Wow. Can't wait to move her to the village later." Mags said.
I got a call, and the id was from Scarlet.
"I have to run. I'll be back later." I said.
S.D.D.
District 4-
I arrived back after I heard rumors that Snow had decided to punish me for my involvement in Rantipol's little escapade. I found my way to the morgue to verify the rumor. As I reached the building, the door opened as the doctor was leaving.
"Doc." I said.
"Yes? Oh, Finnick Odair. Follow me." The doctor said, and then reentered the building.
The doctor looked at the attendant, and the attendant closed and locked the door as the doctor, and I went to his office.
"What's the word?" I asked after the doctor closed the door.
"Your family was murdered, but I was able to resuscitate your sister." The doctor said.
"What was the order for the hit?" I asked.
"You know I can't answer that?" She said.
"How long before you get Edel out of the district?" I asked.
"I can't answer that, and you know that." She said.
"When did they die?" I asked.
"The second day of the Games." She said.
After I escorted Callie to safety. I thought. "I was never here." I said.
"Later Finnick." The Doctor said, as I was unlocking her door.
As I was exiting the morgue, I could hear the training entering the station. I didn't see them, but I sensed that I was about to be approached by men working for Snow.
"Finnick Odair." A female voice said.
"Lead the way." I said, turning to see a woman flanked by five men.
I didn't argue or make a scene. The citizens of the district didn't need to get caught up in whatever Snow has planned. I followed the six of them out of the district, to the waiting hovercraft taking us back to the Capitol to confront Snow.
S.D.D.
Presidential Palace-
I stepped off the hovercraft and walked to the library. As I entered, I saw Snow at his desk reading a book.
"Ah, Finnick, so glad you could join me." Snow said, looking up from his book.
"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.
"Seriously, Finnick? Playing coy is not that tact to take here." He said.
"Why not?" I asked.
"You interfered with Capitol business. What did you think was going to happen?" He asked.
"You serious. I escorted a girl who had to be at least nine years old." I said.
"What? You're lying." He said.
"I was tasked with escorting a little girl. You telling me that my family was murdered because of a girl?" I asked.
"That's impossible." Snow said.
"I was tasked with escorting a little girl out of the Capitol." I said, sternly.
"Rantipol." Snow said.
"Yes, President Snow." Rantipol said, entering the library.
"Is it true that Finnick escorted a girl out of the Capitol?" Snow asked.
"Yes, he did." Rantipol said.
"It seems that I owe you an apology, Finnick." Snow said.
"Not that it would do any good." I said.
"You knew the risks." Snow said, a knowing smile on his face.
"Pretty certain this is a different situation." I said.
"No, the threats still apply. Just because you weren't entertaining Capitol citizens, escorting a high value target to safety is still grounds for retribution. You're dismissed." Snow said.
"Thank you." I said, and then exited the library.
"You really killed his adoptive family because of his involvement?" Rantipol asked.
"Don't think I'm not aware of your involvement." Snow said.
"What are you going to do about it? Go after Scarlet? That would be the dumbest move for you to make." Rantipol said, and then exited the library.
Snow was fuming that he had no leverage on Rantipol. With what's on the horizon, no leverage on Rantipol is the least of Snow's problems because a tribute from the useless district in the near future was going to cause more problems for Snow than even he could imagine.
S.D.D.
Capitol-
Four years have passed since Snow ordered the death of my family, and I've become a shell of my former self; albeit Annie, through her mental haze, has taken a shining to me. It's been a bit of a dark time for me. I was mingling with the guest and other victors when the newest victor to join our ranks comes with an update. And by newest, I mean the victor to win the Hunger Games last year.
"Hey, did you see the reaping." She asked.
"No, what happened?" Orion asked.
"There was a bit of a stir coming out of District 12." She said.
"Oh." I said, my interest piqued.
"What's her name?" Ibiscus asked, joining the conversation.
"Katniss Everdeen." Mags said.
"What's so special about Katniss?" A victor from District 1 asked.
"Katniss volunteered as tribute to save her to save her sister." She said.
"Huh? Really?" I asked.
"Really." She said.
I listened to the rest of the conversation, but in my mind, I was thinking about Katniss Everdeen and her selfless actions to save her sister. I'm trying to comprehend Katniss's play. District 12 usually sacrifices tributes that are less than desirable for the Games. So, my guess is that Katniss knows that she has a ghost of a chance at winning the Games. In her mind, it's better to be the sacrificial lamb than her sister.
I put the thoughts of the actions of a desperate tribute out of my head and think of other things. I turn to see Annie walk by. I see Annie look in my direction, and in her own usual way, wave at me. I wave back, and then say. "I'll be right back."
As I was making my way to Annie, one of Snow's stooges walked onto the balcony and say. "The President has called for the tributes to prepare for the opening ceremonies early. So, if you would please follow me."
I keep walking to Annie, and she waits for me to come to her so we can walk together.
"How are you doing?" I asked, as I approached.
"I've been better, but this is your tenth year, so are any of us really better?" Annie asked, her voice had a sultry tone.
"Of course, we're not bet any better off, but my time spent with you always make it worth wild." I said, as we started following everybody out.
"I like that." She said.
We walked and talked with relative ease, but I got the sense that everybody was watching. Not that it mattered to me, I was just walking with my fellow victor. They can't do anything to us, and Snow has nothing to use that would compel me to bend to his wishes. Still, I do what I can to keep the heat off of Annie.
An hour later, we were on the balcony waiting for the ceremony to begin. The usual conversation and banter was going on, but a lot of the tributes were waiting to see Katniss Everdeen. Moments later, I saw Snow and his crew take their seats, and not long after that the music started to play and then the doors to the Remake Center opened.
We watched as the crowd goes wild when the first chariot exits the Remake Center. The chariots exit one by one and the crowd cheers wildly every time one come on screen. That was until 12. When 12's chariot exited everybody was in awe. Katniss and her partner—Peeta Mellark—were dressed in all black, and somehow, they were on fire but not being burned alive.
Fascinating. It's almost like her stylist we going for a certain nickname. The Girl who was on Fire. Interesting if you ask me. I thought as the crowd started cheering for Katniss and Peeta, and using their names I might add. The crowd had even stopped cheering for the other tributes and cheering solely for Katniss and Peeta. I smirk and look towards Snow. He wasn't looking at me, but I could see the furrow in his brow. I can tell that Katniss is going to cause him problems. How much has yet to be seen.
The chariots had entered the Training Center, and the usual meet and greet was happening before we retired for the night.
"So, Finnick. I have to ask." Orion said approaching me by the balcony.
"Katniss Everdeen?" I asked.
"Yeah. What do you think her odds are?" He asked.
"Katniss has a meager frame and stature, but her spirit and entrance are going to make her a contender." I said.
"That's if she doesn't get wiped out in the opening moment of the Games." Orion said.
"It's fascinating, really." Mags said joining us.
"Fascinating, indeed." I said.
