Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games

The train is moving fast. Everything outside is blurred. Even the rain that has started to fall looks like a gray mist over the forest. I hear some shuffling behind me. Tyler has made his way into my room and looks very scared.

"Hey." I say trying to break the ice. He doesn't say anything, he just stands there looking at me. He is not a career, but neither am I. He's smaller than me by a lot, he's barely had a chance to live his life. I've had my time. I won't come out alive. But he will, he'll be the youngest winner District 4 has ever had. And I'll be coming home in a black bag of plastic. The thought scares me, but when I think about it, I'll be helping him come home and see his family, so I guess that's worth dying for. "Do you want to sit down?"

"Yea." His voice is trembling. Eyes red and puffy, cheeks blotchy and his nose is running. He makes his way over to where I am sitting and plants himself next to me. That's when he starts crying. His face dives into his hands and his whole body is shaking. "I don't want to die." He gasps. Without giving it a second thought, I pull him into me and put my arms around him. His heart is pounding very fast. His cries become louder, and he keeps repeating "I want to go home. I don't want to die." I squeeze my arms around him tighter and rub his back.

"You're not going to die. I'm going to watch out for you." I whisper into his hair. "I'm going to make sure you come home. Alright?" He calms down a bit. "It'll be okay. I promise." He looks up at me, tears mixing with his sky blue eyes.

"You promise?" He asks.

"Yes. I will not let anyone touch you." He lets out a few more cries and then it's just breathing. I rock him back and forth gently. He's so small. If I had seen him without knowing him, I would have guessed him to be 11 at most.

There's a knock at the door. "Time for dinner." Finnick says quietly. I glace over my shoulder and look at him. He looks much younger than he did a few months ago. His hair is messed up, his eyes are bloodshot and he stands without confidence.

"We'll be right there." I tell him. He nods his head and walks out.

"You hungry?" I ask Tyler. His stomach growls in response. "Come on. Let's go." I take his hand like I did Brooke's only just an hour ago. Five hours to go. We'll get there just before midnight.

We walk down the corridor and into the next car where Talika and Mags are waiting for us. We dish up. The food is very rich, and very tasty. Tyler is eating everything he can get.

"Slow, boy." Mags tells him. Everyone in the village talks about Mags as hard to understand, but I find her speech rather comforting.

Halfway through, I'm stuffed and that's when Finnick walks in. Not the Finnick I saw this morning or a half hour ago, this is the Capitol Hunger Games worthy Finnick. He looks like he couldn't be happier.

"How's the food here? I hear it's to die for!" Finnick exclaims. Mags shoots him a look. Talika couldn't look more thrilled to have her money making champion back. And I begin to question which Finnick I'm going to see in my last week of living.

He ignores Mags, and my stares. "Come on everybody!" Talika jumps out of her seat. "Let's go watch the selections!" That's what the Capitol calls the reaping.

We all travel down a car to the entertainment area and gather on a plush sofa watching a giant screen. They show District 1 first. The male looks very tall, very strong and very handsome. The female looks like she could be a girl version of him and though she has blue eyes, there is a darkness there that anyone can see. A true death glare. District 2 is about the same. Both volunteers, both tall, strong, and have looks. I'd say all of Districts 1 and 2 are 18 years old.

District 3 passes, with both tributes looking very small and very frightened, they can't be more than 14. Our district comes, and I watch myself walk up to the stage. Everyone can tell I'm not a career, and the sad look on my face doesn't help my image. But when Tyler walks up, I look like a warrior compared to him. District 5, 6, and 7 pass with nothing memorable. Finnick and Mags are talking in their corner and taking notes. District 8 has a boy that's huge and has muscular arms, but when looking at his eyes, I don't think he wants to kill. District 9 comes up with an odd pairing, but a sad one. The girl is 18, and the boy is 12. The announcers say they're cousins. District 10 and 11 pass as well. The boy from District 12 is about Tyler's size, and the girl can't be much bigger.

If I had to bet money on anyone it would be any of the careers or the District 8 boy.

Tyler looks very green and suddenly runs out of the room. I stand up and run after him. He's puking his guts out in the hallway leading to our rooms. I suddenly wish I hadn't followed. I'm starting to feel faint when a pair of arms grabs me and pulls me in the other direction. Away from my room. I close my eyes enjoying the ride suddenly aware of how tired I am.

"Annie." Someone's calling me. "Annie you have to wake up." I don't want to. But I open my eyes anyway and Finnick is standing over top of me. I'm in a bed, but not mine, well, I'm on a bed. "Annie, you need to get changed and sleep. We'll be in the Capitol in a few hours, so sleep while you can, trust me."

"What do I wear? I'm in your room remember?" Finnick tosses me a night shirt and a pair of shorts. They're his.

"I'll wait outside while you get changed." He says then leaves. I quickly change out of my dress and lay it on the bed and pull on his shorts which are too big for me and his shirt which smells really good. Then I take a moment to slip into the bathroom. It's surprisingly huge for a train bathroom. I use the toilet, and then rummage through the shelf for an extra toothbrush. I find eight others, all used. In the very back, I find one unused toothbrush. It's smaller than all the others, but I found it kind of pretty. All the others had some kind of jeweling or sparkle, and this one was a misty green, like fog over the water on a spring morning.

I walk to the door of the bathroom when I catch a glance of myself in the mirror. My hair is still up in a ponytail. I remove the elastic holding my hair in place and shake it out. I didn't realize how long my hair had gotten. I guess it's better that it's long, because this way it's easier for whoever my stylist is to mess with it. It's easier to cut hair than to add it. My mother says my hair is beautiful chocolate waves just like dad's, but mine is a lot longer. I never really saw myself as beautiful. Just average. I have no real impressive qualities. Green eyes are common in District 4, olive skin tone is common as well. So is brown hair. I have nothing spectacular about my looks and I've never been too graceful. I guess the District 4 female tribute will just be another plain girl this year.

"Are you okay?" Finnick asks through the door.

"Fine." I say. Then walk out and practically run into him. He's shirtless. Typical Capitol Finnick. "Can I go back to my room now?"

"Nope. I just came from down the hall, and Tyler had way too much to eat. He puked in the hallway twice, in his room once, and on your door. So they're cleaning it up right now."

"He only ate that much because he's scared."

"Just like you are." Finnick says.

"I am not! I was reaped big deal! I'll be coming home alive or dead, probably dead and I've accepted that." I yell at him.

"Don't you pretend not to be scared. Hell, even I'm scared! I told you I was going to do everything I could to get you home alive and I will."

"Why do you want to help me so much? Tyler's so young and has barely had a chance to live his life."

"You haven't had much of a chance either. Remember, it's because of me you're in this."

"Why do you keep saying that?"

"Because it's true!" He's yelling back now. "It's my fault because I was careless and stupid. I'm the reason you're here!"

"What are you trying to do? Help me or turn me against you?"

"Do you hate me?" He's whispering now.

"No."

"You should."

"Finnick I could never hate you. Even if I tried. You're my best friend." He looks at me smiling, but it looks forced. He reaches out and cups my cheek with his hand. Then he leans in and kisses my forehead. And then he's gone.

I lay in his bed for what feels like a few moments, but suddenly the train isn't the only thing making noise. I open my eyes and look out the window. We're here. The Capitol.

I reach for my green dress and change into it. Then I reach for the elastic again and pull my messy hair up as best I can. I run down the hallway and see Finnick and Mags standing with Talika, who looks overjoyed to be home. Tyler comes slowly walking down the opposite hallway and still looks pale. Finnick catches sight of me, he has a shirt on now. And for the slightest second, his eyes light up, but then he turns away.

"Alright kids! Let's head on out!" Talika squeaks. The train doors open and Talika practically jumps out. The crowd is louder than I've imagined. People wearing different colors and of all shapes and sizes. What is this place? Then Mags walks out and she seems to be ignored. Finnick pushes Tyler on out after and when the crowd sees him they cheer. Then it's my turn. I step outside and am bombarded by flashes, roses, and screams. I start my way down the path with peacekeepers keeping me safe. Suddenly the crowd goes silent, and I turn around to see Finnick walking down the path minding his own business when he stops. He turns to the crowd, smiles, then whips off his shirt. The crowd loses it. Apparently they have 3 volumes here. Loud, louder, and Finnick crazy.

When we finally make it to the training center we are ushered through the lobby and into a giant elevator. Talika pushes the 4 button and explains to us that because we are from District 4 we naturally get the fourth floor.

When the doors open, we are met with bursts of bright colored furniture and walls. The sitting room has a giant television screen and three sofas. Brightly colored carpets and rugs and odd paintings that looked like a toddler drew them hanging on the walls. Since it is almost midnight, Talika rushes us down a hallway to get beauty sleep for the opening ceremonies tomorrow night. We pass more odd paintings and then we come to the Victors wall. The wall is brightly lit and appears to change colors. On the wall there are pictures of every past victor District 4 has had. The pictures are of each victor after they've been crowned by President Snow. Since Finnick is the most recent victor, his is front and center and larger than anyone else's. But as I get closer to the wall, something odd happens, I can see my reflection through it.

"Ahh, you've found it!" Talika comes up behind me. She then touches Finnick's picture and the whole thing changes. It's a screen? It changes to a huge wall of Finnick Odair. It shows the opening ceremonies, his interview, training score and footage during his games. It's practically a capitol approved biography of Finnick. I go back to the home screen with all the pictures and click on each of them. The same thing happens with theirs. It really is quite neat, but the reason it's there brings me back to reality. Then once back on the home screen, I find a small marking at the bottom. The Fallen. I click it, and before me a list of names and years appear. I scroll through the list and freeze when I come to one in particular. Sebastian Cresta – 52nd Hunger Games. My mom took my dad's last name when she had me, but changed it again when she married Don. I kept my dad's name. Curiosity over took me and I clicked his name. The screen changed again and I'm brought to a similar looking page to that of the victors, but this has a biography, how many he killed and where they were from, training score, any allies he had, and his best moments on tape up until his death, which was also on tape. I've never seen what my dad looked like. So when I see a boy in a picture a year older than me, I gasp. Our hair is the same shade of brown, our eyes the same deep green, and the slightest dimple when he smiles that he passed on to me. Mom was right; I really do look like him. I look over at the information posted for him. His training score was a 7. Not bad, but not great. For the opening ceremony they dressed him and his district counterpart as a storm on the sea. It says how he made 8th place, and about his alliance with the boys from 9 and 12. They were like him, 18 years old, but nothing special. He was the longest survivor in his alliance. Then he was killed by the District 1 boy. That boy won that year. Apparently his sister had won the year before. They were both volunteers. His interview with Caesar Flickerman was next. I had to watch it.

"Our next guest is also from District 4. Please welcome Sebastian Cresta!"

I watched as my dad walked out onto the stage. He was wearing a Navy suit with hints of dark gray. He walked very confidently. Hi dad.

"Welcome Sebastian! How are you enjoying our marvelous Capitol?" Caesar asks.

"To tell you the truth Caesar, not that much." Caesar looks surprised and is speechless for a moment. Dad continues. "I haven't been able to see a whole lot, I guess I was just disappointed when they said I couldn't leave." Dad smiles. The crowd laughs lightly at this.

"Ahh. I see. Now tell me, do you feel ready for this competition?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Caesar looks almost a bit relieved.

"Now, one more question, do you have a girl back home waiting for you?"

Dad swallows a little. "Yes, actually I do." Some of the Capitol women shriek in protest.

"Tell us about her."

"Well, she's the most amazing girl I know. She's been my best friend for as long as I can remember, and I was planning on marrying her someday. But that looks like it might not happen now." The crowd screams in protest. Caesar quiets them down.

"Why do you think that won't happen?"

"It's just something I feel. I hope to make it back to her. And eventually start a family with her" sooner than you think "but the farther away from her that I am, the more lonely and bound I feel."

"Bound?"

"Yes, bound to play the games, and bound to either die or live in which case I'll be bound to the Capitol making it harder to see her when I want."

"Well I wish you the best of luck. Give it up for Sebastian Cresta!"

Dad walks off the stage and mouths 'I love you.' to the camera. Then the screen goes black."

"Sebastian?" Finnick's voice from behind me makes me jump. "Why are you watching his interview?" He looks at me concerned. "Annie what's wrong?"

I feel tears in my eyes. "Do you know of him?"

"Yea, I watched a lot of the videos to get an idea of what it would be like. I was only 14 when I went in so I was feeling a bit nervous." He says the last part sarcastically. "Do you know him?"

I shake my head sadly.

"Where from? You weren't even born when he was in the games."

"My mother knew him."

"Was she friends with his girlfriend? Nobody ever did figure out who that was. Some started to say it was made up."

"She wasn't made up." How could he not know? Didn't he see resemblance, or maybe the same last name?

"Then who was she?"

"She was my mother!" I scream at him. A look of realization crosses Finnick's face.

"Sebastian…?"

"Sebastian Cresta was my father." I look him dead in the eyes. That's when my knees give out and I start crying. I haven't cried yet since the reaping so it's a bit overdue.

"Oh Annie." Finnick coos. Then he gently picks me up and brings me into a room with a giant bed and window. He lays me under the covers and kisses my head goodnight.

That night brings dreams. Dreams of my mother. Dreams of my father. Dreams of my father in the games and me watching helplessly on the side only to let out a scream seeing that the one killing my father is Finnick. When my father's cannon sounds, Finnick turns to me dragging his trident in the ground behind him. He smiles and moves to stab me.

I jolt awake sweaty. The capitol clock reads 4am. I should try to sleep again. But I'm afraid. For once in my life, I'm afraid to dream of what the future might bring.