**Here it comes, the arena...**

Neither of us speaks for a few minutes. We just stare at each other. Sitting down, just a few inches apart.

Finnick's hair looks like it was once done up quite nicely tonight, but now it has gone limp and hangs in his eyes, like back home on days when he didn't care what he looked like. The honey color in the tips of his hair makes the sea green in his eyes stand out just that much more. His lips look slightly chapped with traces of gloss still sitting on them. He's wearing a white button up shirt with the top two buttons undone. Paired with a pair of navy kakis. Around his wrist, is the bracelet I made for him out of spare rope for his tenth birthday, the same one he used as his token in the games.

He opens his mouth like he wants to speak, but no words come out. I know the feeling. I wonder if he came here to scold me; tell me he was right and I was wrong about Jem. Maybe he came to yell at me for setting myself up for danger that comes along with alliancing with a career. Or maybe he just wanted to say goodbye because he has a client he needs to meet with in the morning.

The room is completely silent. I'm about to tell him to leave me so I can get back to sleep, when his mouth opens once more. Here it comes. "Do you remember when I taught you how to swim?" He asks. His question actually catches me off guard.

"Umm… yes."

"In order for me to teach you, you had to trust me completely. Put your life in my hands so to say."

"We were in shallow water to begin with, but yeah I guess I did."

"Do you trust me now?"

"I don't know." It comes out of my mouth before I can stop it. I do trust him don't I? Maybe the Capitol has altered my way of thinking. Maybe seeing him in this environment has changed me.

He hangs his head slightly, obviously disappointed. "Annie, look. I know that things haven't exactly gone the way either of us planned, but I need you to trust me now more than you did then. You're going into the games tomorrow-"

"Really? I thought I was here on vacation." I say sarcastically.

He sighs. "You're going into the games tomorrow, and I'll be watching not only your moves, but everyone else's as well. I'll know more than you do because I'll be able to see everything that's going on. I will help you as much as I possibly can, but you need to trust me."

I don't say anything. I know I should. I know that he's only trying to help. But part of me just wants to be stubborn. His gaze meets mine once again, and I can see the pain, sadness, and vulnerability behind them. Words don't find my mouth. They're stuck in my throat as part of me chokes them down, and the other part just wants to scream.

"Annie?"

"I'm scared." There it is. I feel my cheeks flush with my outburst. The block in my throat is gone. "Everything is different here. It's changing everything about me, and you, and my opinion of you. Seeing you like this is so new to me! I thought I would be prepared for this, because really I expected it, but seeing and thinking are two totally different things, and sometimes with I think about it, it hurts so much I think I might burst! Then you're the old you again and I feel safe, like I'm home, but then the next minute it's like you belong here, complying with Snow's every command. And I know that you don't have a choice but at the same time I feel like you do! And then you say things to me that make me feel… I feel like I don't know you here. One minute you're the Capitol puppet and the next you're the boy from home who I fell in love with!"

His eyes are wide. I just said that didn't I? He opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. My cheeks are hot with embarrassment. My eyes feel moist and I can feel my heart beat all over my body.

"Please say something." I beg him, my voice faltering. "Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me I shouldn't feel this way. Tell me that I can't feel this way. Because I'm going to my death, and you're just my mentor and this shouldn't be happening." He remains silent. "Finnick please!"

His hand wraps around my neck in an instant and he pulls my face to his, our lips locking together. This has to be a dream. There's no way this is actually happening. No way is Finnick, famous Finnick Odair, and my childhood friend, kissing me. But he is, and I love it. His lips begin to move against mine and the feeling of electricity shoots down my entire being. Though slightly chapped from wearing so much product, his lips are gentle, warm and soft against mine.

I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer. He complies, and his hands move down to my waist, pushing me down onto the bed. He's slept in my bed before, but never like this. Before we were just friends, but now, it's completely different.

He's holding himself above me by his arms. They hold steady. Of course they are, he's done this multiple times with multiple clients. The thought makes me stiff. Finnick notices all too easily. "What's wrong?"

"How do I know you're not just treating me like another client who just admitted they have feelings for you?" My voice cracks.

Finnick smiles gently and pushes a piece of my hair out of my face. Then brings one of my hands to his heart. "It doesn't beat this fast when people tell me they love me even though I don't feel the same." I open my mouth to speak but he stops me. "I guess you're just going to have to trust me."

I want to trust him. I do trust him. "Stay with me. Please stay here. Don't go." Tears escape my eyes. He wipes them away easily.

"Anything for you." He lays down beside me so that we're facing each other. Even in the dark, he's a glowing God. It almost doesn't feel real to have him here, after confessing how I feel about him. And he reciprocated. "You should get some sleep." He says softly. And I do want to, but I need to tell him about Jem, or at least, find out how he feels about it.

"Finnick, about last night…"

"You don't have to explain anything Annie. I'm not going to make you talk about it if you don't want to."

"I don't mind. Not with you anyway."

He smiles a bit. "Okay."

I take a deep shaky breath. "I was in the living room. Jem came up the elevator. I wasn't expecting him because the rule was that we can't go onto any other Districts floor. I was shocked to see him, and I wasn't entirely sure what he wanted until he said that he always gets what he wants." Finnick moves one hand to rub my back. "And he said he wanted… me." I look at Finnick. He doesn't say anything, wanting me to finish before he speaks, but he looks pained. "I tried to run from him but he overpowered me. Told me to fight him off. I think he likes fighting… in that way." I fumble with my fingers breaking eye contact. "He started kissing me, touching me…" Finnick stiffens. "And then he started talking about the arena and how there would be no one to stop him from taking what he wants, and then you came in. I couldn't think about anything, I just needed to get away from him." More tears come out. "I thought he was going to…" I can't say it. Finnick brings me into his chest. He knows what I mean. Rape. It's only ever happened a few times during the games. Horny teenagers bent on hate all knowing that only one can come out, so why not have some fun first?

Finnick's hand strokes my hair as I breathe deeply trying to calm down. He's warm and comforting. The closest to home I've felt this whole time from being here.

"I wasn't thinking when I came in." He says into my hair. "I heard you struggling with someone so I went to see if you were okay. I saw him on top of you and I just saw red. Getting him off and away from you was the only thing on my mind. Nothing else mattered. I didn't even realize how the whole ordeal would have effected you in the long run, I just had to get you safe in that moment. Then I saw how small you looked, once he was off you. I came to my senses and took him out of the room. Nearly killed him actually. Mags came early and overheard the shouting. She called security and they hauled me off him.

"Then in the shower, you had this look on your face, like your mind was just dead. Your eyes looked clouded and blurred. I tried talking to you but you didn't even flinch. You were stone Annie, and I was terrified that I lost you."

I nuzzle into his chest more, hoping to hide away and never resurface. "Why didn't you come tonight?"

"I wanted to. But Snow made sure I was booked. I saw you right as you walked on, and heard you talking to Caesar. You looked so beautiful."

A giggle comes out. I don't giggle. "I figured you'd say that. Tyler did too."

"He's a smart young man." Finnick's voice sounds happy for a moment. "I only watched your actual interview all the way through on a screen in the lobby, when they were recapping and my clients' time was up. You were very good with the crowd."

"Thanks."

"They've already added you to the Tribute Memory Wall."

I look up at Finnick. "Really? Even though I'm not in the arena yet?"

"The games is more than just the arena Annie. It's everything after, and before, beginning when they first pull your name out of the bowl."

"Oh."

He kisses my forehead. "You'll be okay."

"Are reassuring me, or yourself?"

He chuckles. "A bit of both I suppose." Then a bit more serious. "Don't go for the Cornucopia. The Careers know that you're alliancing with Xavier, but they think you're really going to side with them so they won't follow you. And Xavier can't know that you're in an alliance with the Careers either, so if you go to the Cornucopia and they don't go for you he'll get suspicious."

"Don't I need supplies of any kind?"

"Only go for something if it's right next to you. Other than that, run away. Find Xavier and run."

"This isn't going to be easy is it?"

He sighs. "No, I don't think it will be. You should get some sleep. You need to get up in four hours."

"It doesn't feel real."

"It is."

"I don't know if I can sleep."

"I'll stay here with you if it will help."

"Yes, I'd like that."

Finnick did stay the rest of the night. And I did fall asleep again, but only briefly. And it wasn't a very good sleep to say the least, even with Finnick there. I couldn't stop thinking about the games, Jem, Tyler, my father, and the chances of my survival. Not very good.

Talika doesn't come banging on my door when it is finally time to get up. Finnick wakes me. He's a much better alarm clock than she is.

He leaves me to get showered, and dressed. I just put my hair back in a simple pony-tail like at the reaping. Ezzré left part of my uniform in the closet for me: some kind of light-weight flexible boot so I can run easily, a pair of dark blue pants with heat reflecting ability, and a long sleeve brown top. Finnick observes these few items when I have them on.

"Expect cold nights. Possibly cold weather over all. These boots suggest rough terrain."

I'm shaking. "Okay."

"You'll be fine Annie. Don't worry."

"Easy for you to say."

He smiles. "You won't be with Tyler in the hovercraft. They take one tribute from each district in each craft. I'll walk you down there, and then…"

"Then I go to the games."

"Yeah. Then that. I'll be watching from a control room. I'll get you sponsors and they'll get you supplies. Okay?"

"Okay." I swallow hard.

We make it to the elevator and down to the lobby without me falling over from shaking too hard. I find it to be an extreme accomplishment. There are a few Peacekeepers in the lobby. Probably to keep tributes from running, or letting crazed Capitol fans out? We walk down the hallway we used to get to the interviews, only rather than going down a flight of stairs, we go up. A set of large doors open, and we're at a landing strip of sorts. There sits the hovercraft. I get a glimpse of someone walking up the ramp. I'm next.

"Remember, find Xavier and run. Okay?" Finnick asks holding my hand. I can only nod my head. He turns me to face him. "I'll see you soon." Then he pulls me in for a hug, drawing a reaction out of the nearby Peacekeeper. Yeah, Finnick Odair is hugging me. Suck it Snow.

One of the Peacekeeper's comes and takes hold of my arm pulling me away from Finnick. We break apart, and I look back at him. A hopeful expression on his face, but underneath, there is no denying the sadness. I may never see him again. He may have to watch me die on live television. Or hear about it when he wakes up from sleeping. Then hear about it from his clients and Snow and everyone back home for the rest of his life. How he let poor Annie Cresta die in the games.

We're at the ramp. I take one last look, and head up.

Inside the lights are dim. There are seven others already here. Boys and girls from different districts. A woman on board wearing a medical uniform directs me to a seat next to the boy from District 9. A twelve year old boy who shouldn't even be here. Across from me is another boy, I think he was from District 5. Athena sits next to him, and one more down is Dominique. At least I didn't have to sit this ride with Jem.

The last five pile on, and two other medical looking staff walk around with some kind of gun. "Give me your arm." They say to everyone. They get to me, and I do as I'm told. They shoot something in my arm. It doesn't hurt too bad, but it definitely feels weird. The girl from District 11 who slapped Caesar looks pale as she asks them what it is. A tracker. Excellent.

Just then the lights fade out and a blue floor light comes on as the engine revs. Athena and Dominique look excitedly at each other, but don't look at me. Maybe Jem told them what happened. Xavier isn't on this hovercraft either. His counterpart, I think her name was Kendra, looks my age or just a year under, but she's a tiny thing; faded strawberry blonde hair, light brown eyes, and freckles everywhere on her petite frame. She's one of the many tributes on this hovercraft that are having trouble hiding their emotions.

I can feel our take off. It's the stomach dropping in your butt feeling, but at the same time, it's in your throat. No one speaks.

The ride itself is fairly smooth. There are no windows, so we have no idea which direction we're actually going in.

We land after about a half hour, and it's a very soft landing. The lights come on, and the engine shuts off. The ramp opens, and two Peacekeepers come in. They walk to the closest tribute; the boy from 3. They escort him off the hovercraft. They do this one tribute at a time. Probably to avoid early fighting. When it's my turn, only Dominique, Athena, the boy from 9 and the boy from 6 are on board. Both the Career girls snicker at me. I don't give them the satisfaction of watching me react.

The two Peacekeepers guide me to a gray box in the middle of the platform. When the door opens, I find it's actually an elevator. We ride down a few floors I think, until they open. Then a new set of Peacekeepers escort me, and the others go back up to collect a new tribute. These Peacekeepers guide me down what looks like an industrial hallway until we get to a door that has a large pink 4 above it, and my name stuck on the door. We passed a few other doors on the way down, but they were empty. They also had tributes' names, but some were blue numbers and others were pink. Gender controlling at its finest.

The door opens and inside, is Ezzré. He's leaning on a gray table in the middle of the room looking at something. But when he hears the door open he looks up at me. Then ushers me inside.

"Hello Annie. How are you this morning?" He asks once the doors close.

"Little nervous." I say voice shaking.

"It's understandable. Come." He gestures towards the table. There are a few snacks laid out for me, and two more pieces of clothing. A light-weight black jacket, with heat reflecting abilities, and a pair of gloves. "I think it's safe to say your arena will be cold." Ezzré says with a sad smile.

"Yeah, I've gathered that much."

"10 minutes to launch" A voice says over the intercom.

I can feel my heart in my throat. It's pounding so fast I shouldn't be standing. Ezzré gets me to drink some water as I put the coat on and shove the gloves in my pocket.

"It'll be alright Annie. You were the best water goddess if I ever saw one." Were. He doesn't think I'm going to win. Heck, I don't even think it.

"5 minutes to launch" That voice again. I begin to pace back and forth. Ezzré encourages me to eat something. I don't. But I do shove the snacks into my zip up pants pocket when he's not looking. They never said that was against the rules. It's just some dried beef, a small thing of bread and a package of assorted nuts.

"1 minute to launch" I can't do this. No way can I do this. It's just too much. A single teenager expected to take on 23 other tributes, many of which, have a better chance at living than I do.

"30 seconds to launch" the glass door to the tube in the corner of the room opens. What if there's no opening at the top? What if it just keeps moving me up up up and I get squished to death? Then I wouldn't even have gotten a chance to survive.

"Annie, you need to go." Ezzré says calmly.

I can only nod. My legs move without my brain's permission. Walking towards the glass tube that will take me into the arena.

"10 seconds to launch" I'm inside. The glass door closes. My ears are ringing. Ezzré smiles kindly at me and waves. The pad begins to move, and I have to press against the glass walls to keep from tipping over. My stomach is turning. Soon Ezzré and the room is gone, and the tube is completely black, except for the opening at the top. It's white, and really bright. It takes about 20 seconds to reach the top. And when we do, I'm blinded. It's so bright up here. But I can already feel the cold, and my jacket kicking in to provide body heat. There is snow everywhere. A mountain is ahead of me. There are rocks layered around in the snow. Trees are dotted everywhere. What looks like a lake lays behind me, with thicker trees beyond that. And to my right there are ancient looking buildings and huts.

The cornucopia is packed with multiple different things. There are sacks on the ground, weapons towards the middle, and even larger weapons at the center.

A clock lights up in the middle of the cornucopia with the number 60, but it doesn't move. I quickly look around. Rae is four people down my left. Xavier is two down my right. I don't see Jem. Dominique is six down my right, and Athena is two down from Rae. Tyler, I can't find either.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The voice booms. Everyone crouches down, ready to go. "Let the 70th annual Hunger Games begin!" I have 60 seconds. 45 seconds before everyone goes crazy. 30 second before I'll be in danger of someone killing me. 15 seconds before the bloodbath begins. The gong sounds. Run.

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