Hi my fabulous amazing readers! I know, I haven't written in a month or so. I have had this case of writer's block that I couldn't shake off until now. Please forgive me. Here it is! Chapter 1! Hope ya'll like it!
Chapter 1- The Reaping
Annie's P.O.V
I'll be fine. I'll be okay. There are thousands of slips of paper in that bowl. To pick 1 of my 18 slips would be impossible, right? One more year, and the Capitol can't hold this cruel event against me. One more year, and Finnick can stop worrying.
I miss him, my Finnick. There are times when I can barely remember his face or the exact color of his eyes. Those times scare me. Through the years, I have to admit, I have given up on us from time to time. It was torture for both of us and I don't like to see him get hurt. I figured that ending us would end the pain. But as soon as I see the smile that no one else gets to see, I swear to never give up again. Finnick's smiles have been seen everywhere by everyone, but there is one smile he saves for me. It's the one that makes his eyes smile too. I can see his bright sea green eyes glitter as his face lights up. Only I get to see it, and it makes me try.
But today is different. Today is Reaping and the last thing I want to do is go down to the square and pretend as if it is a holiday. Not all of District 4 is fooled of the disgusting Capitol event, but there is enough to make you feel like an outcast when you don't cheer for the blood to start pouring. That's when most people start staring at you.
As scheduled, Mags has already left for the Mentor Meeting beforehand, as is Finnick. So there is no chance of parting words before the Reaping starts. The note she left for me is also as planned. Simple calming words overlapped with possible loving goodbyes. I hate goodbyes.
I slip on the same white dress I have worn to Reaping Day since I was 13. White lace, stops at the knee, pearl belt around the waist. Mags let me have it. Though sometimes I look at it and it reminds of the day Finnick got chosen. It reminds me of the times where I had to sit and stare at him helplessly through a television screen and only pray he wouldn't get hurt.
I bite my lip as I slip the painful dress on and comb through my strangled brown hair. That is the extent of the favor I choose to do for the Capitol; put on a pretty dress and slip a comb through my hair. I feel like a doll they plan to play with if I do more.
Finnick has been put through a lot of pain. I can see it. The way he has to force a smile to make it seem like he's okay just makes it worse. He shouldn't have to sacrifice anything for me, but President Snow made it as such. The painful part is that I can't do anything about it. The only thing I have been able to do for Finnick since his Game was just sit there and be quiet.
What I don't understand is that he can do something. President Snow has blinded him into thinking that he holds no power when in reality, Finnick holds the entire population of the Capitol in his hands. Just one slip of his many secrets coming out of Finnick's mouth can turn the entire country of Panem over to war against President Snow. But for some reason, Finnick has no idea he can.
I open the large door to face the Victor's Village. The place is stranded due to the "holiday" today. I straighten my dress and let my eyes shift to the brightness of District 4. Nothing has been the same to me since Finnick won. Now, I loved it when Finnick won. I rejoiced and cried tears of joy for hours, but this place hasn't been the same. The houses down the street don't ring with the same happiness they used to and the Reaping Square is even more haunting. The people still smile at me as I walk past, but the smiles they give aren't to please my day, they are just hiding their pity for me.
Choooo. The familiar sound jolts me from my day dream. It's the horn used to beckon innocent young children to their death. And of course, I blindly walk into the trap. I have no choice.
I walk slowly to the square. It's decorated same as usual; seashells and sand border the outline of the stage, the Capitol logo stamped and painted behind the podium, large screens taking up both the left and right view, and cameras at every inch to make sure nobody misses a thing and that everyone sees your torture.
"There you are!" Idelia, my best and only friend, says while blocking my view of the stage. Thankfully, she has been there for me quite a bit. Without her or Mags, the withdrawal of Finnick could drive me insane…
"Sorry, have you been looking for me?" I ask her.
"Yeah, I have. I can't believe it's our last year here." She says, her eyes darting every which way as we settle into the 18 year-old line.
"We're going to be alright," I say, nodding.
She nods with me and adds, "I hope so."
"Name," The peacekeeper woman demands as we hit the front of the line.
"Annabeth Cresta," I say in monotone.
The woman firmly grabs my hand and pricks it with the needle. She forces my bloody fingerprint down.
"Go on."
I walk over to the back of the crowd, mind buzzing with nerves. It takes all of my effort to not faint as I manage to sit down. I glare at the Reaping bowl in the center of the stage. In it holds 18 slips with Annabeth Cresta written on it. 18 slips out of thousands. How could it possibly be me this year?
"Who do you think it could be?" Idelia asks as she takes her seat next to mine.
I shrug, "It could be anybody I suppose."
She nods with a frown. "Word has it that Demere has over 15 slips in the bowl this year."
I look to my left and find him, Demere; the boy that sacrificed everything. His mother and father both passed away shortly after his fifth sibling was born. He took care of them and fed them with a short paid job at the shoe store. I could have never done that; I couldn't have raised a family and kept money coming. I admire him not for his looks, but for his strength.
"Good news though; Finnick Odair will be mentoring this year," she says with a smile.
All of District 4 has somehow managed to fall in love with him. I have done it too, but in a different way. I don't drool at his feet when he takes off a scrap of clothing nor do I wait in a line to be with him. I don't have to. He is more than that to me. He is more of a person, not an object, to me. I guess that is why he and I still try; because our love is different.
"Well then, the female tribute will be quite lucky," I say with a half-smile.
Idelia laughs, "And the male too."
I roll my eyes with a smile and turn my attention to the reaping bowl. This will be my last year at the Reaping. For six whole years, Finnick and I have managed to keep me from having to go into the arena. That dreadful place has scarred Fin in more ways than none. Nobody else quite sees it but me. His heart beats faster, his eyes stand wider, and he talks a lot quicker. It's as if he's still paranoid of somebody attacking him. I try to calm him on some bad days, but he quickly denies it and forces himself to get better. I wish I could help far more than just soothing him, but what else would I do? What could I do? I swallow down the new lump in my throat and stare forward.
Our victors flood out of the Justice Building, their blood thirst more dominant now than ever. A loud praise from the audience echoes throughout the area as the excitement reaches everyone. Even Idelia smiles and starts clapping for the event to start. I don't. I just want to get out of here. As soon as I see Finnick though, I can't help but smile. He is barely allowed to make eye contact with me in public, but his appearance is enough to bring butterflies to my stomach.
The mayor, Erebus Thonter, hobbles up to the podium. He has gained a few pounds for the last 4 years. So, in a way, he kind of looks like a little round ball. The little hair he has left is sticking straight up and his purple suit is practically bursting at the seams. He literally looks like he could just roll around instead of walking. His plastically altered face stands stiffly in a fake smile. He clears his throat and starts the event.
"District 4, may I be the first to welcome you all to the Reaping of the 70th annual Hunger Games!" he starts. The audience roars in response as some victors smile and whistle. Fin gives his signature smile as Mags tries to do anything but glare.
"He looks great today," Idelia whispers as she stares wide eyed at Finnick.
I give a light laugh and turn back to the mayor. He goes on to talk about the meaning behind the Games. He explains why the districts deserve to be treated like pieces in a game board and how the event was started. This is truly the most boring speech ever given. Though, I am kind of relieved that there is time between filing into the square and the actual reaping. It would just take too much out of me to fall straight into that. I need this time to let my head adjust to the cruelty of the moment.
He finishes, hobbles off, and in his place stands Asteria, the Capitol escort. She gets much applause which I can see she more than appreciates. Every year, she goes for some sort of animal to base her outfit on. 4 years ago it was butterflies, last year it was zebras, and this year she's focusing on ladybugs. The woman looks like a train wreck. Her wig is the color of grass with moving ladybugs sprinkled on top. Her lips are nude except for a little circle of red with black polka dots. The same pattern adorns her puffy short dress and nails while her skin has been died light green. Her shoes, like every year, actually flap with every step. The amount of time and money she puts into an outfit she will wear one day could feed a family of six for three whole meals here. She doesn't care.
"Let's give one big District 4 round of applause to our mayor for the wonderful speech!" she starts in a loud, high pitched voice. I almost burst out laughing when her wig starts shaking with her excitement. The little ladybugs on it wiggle back and forth.
"Now, the time has come once again to select one lucky young man and woman for the amazing honor of representing the wonderful District 4 in the 69th annual Hunger Games!" The people surrounding me bark out in excitement. I personally passed up the whole 'Career Training University' thing, but Idelia, along with the rest of the people my age, dove right into it. "Shall we start with the boys this year?" She puts a hand up to her ear as the loud begging roar comes from the boys' side of the square. She laughs and clears her throat, "If you insist."
She toddles over to the male bowl. Though I know I shouldn't be quite nervous yet, my heart beats so loud that it numbs my senses. I am not a boy, obviously, but it still feels like my name is going to get pulled from that bowl right now. Asteria twiddles playfully around the edges and dives in, picking one unlucky name out. She toddles back to the microphone, rips open the paper, and reads out loud.
"Demere Nemone!" She shouts as she scans the crowd. Out of habit, I scan to hear someone volunteer, but no one does.
Demere looks to his feet, his face pale and light green. He looks as though he might puke. But when he looks back up, his face is strong. I guess he must have pulled it together somehow. He walks stiffly on stage. Young sobs can be heard from the front of the square. My heart sinks as I see that the sources of the tears are Demere's young siblings. How his face stays strong is a wonder to me.
He makes it up to the stage as Asteria puts a bony green arm around his shoulders and leads him to the microphone.
"What a handsome lad we have this year!" She says into the cameras and turns to face him, "How old are you boy?"
"Sixteen" he says shortly.
"Well I think you'll give the other districts a run for their money this year. Let's hear it for Demere Nemone!" And with that, Asteria shoves him off to the side and clears her throat, "And now, for the girls."
Finnick shoots me a quick glance of hope as my heart beat multiplies. My breathing becomes rapid and my palms start to glaze over with sweat. It can't be me this year. I've come so close to passing the Reaping forever! I am not going to get chosen. I simply cannot and will not have my name plucked from so many others. Asteria circles her hand around the bowl, building the anxiety. It won't be me. How could it possibly be me? No. Never.
She rips open the paper and reads. "Annabeth Cresta!"
That's my name. Maybe I misheard. Maybe she said someone else. But as I see Finnick and Mag's eyes polish over with tears, I know; it's me. My heart beat intensifies as I stand. Idelia grasps my hand and keeps it intertwined with hers, but I shake it off. I must look strong. My senses dull. My ears ring with the intensity of the moment and my vision blurs with the strong beating of my heart. It takes all of my power to walk straight as I near the stage.
Asteria puts the same surgically altered arm over my shoulders as she did with Demere and leads me next to him. I do not dare look at Finnick even though his gaze boars into me. If I do sneak a glance I know I will break. Just like a china cup onto the hard wooden floor, I would break into a thousand pieces with one look. So I stare straight ahead, past the cameras and the crowd and into the mountains.
"Now come along, shake hands you two," Asteria says with a look to both of us.
His hand slowly stretches outward. I hesitantly grab it; not trusting anyone at the moment. His palms sweat and his fingertips vibrate. He's nervous too.
"District 4, may I be the first to introduce to you, your courageous and strong representatives for the 70th annual Hunger Games!" A loud applause booms over the audience, "And, as always, may the odds be ever in your favor." The audience gives Asteria a standing ovation. The victors stand and applaud too. Of course, they are cheering for our death.
We walk through the Justice building. The thick steel doors close behind us. I look over at Demere. He looks as though he can't hold it in anymore.
"Now, I bet your loved ones would like to say a goodbye, even though I'm sure one of you will be back soon. Here you are," Asteria says as she leads us to separate rooms.
I file into mine and immediately collapse onto the red velvet couch, rung out like a washcloth. I have to admit, after everything is said and done, I don't know why I was so surprised that it was me. President Snow lives to torcher people. I'm just the next in line with Finnick. I should have known. I guess I fooled myself. And now, here I am, stuck just sitting on a stupid red velvet couch while my limited minutes float away.
Suddenly the door barges open, "I should have volunteered."
I look up to see Idelia. Wet tears stain her pale face. I immediately stand and hug her as she sobs into my shoulder.
"No, I wouldn't have let you." I whisper as I hug her closer.
"But I was the one that trained! I was the one that could've saved you!" Idelia says as she lets go.
"Idelia, I would have died if you volunteered for me, you know that." I say as I get her a tissue.
She grabs it and struggles with something in her ears. When she stops, she holds something in her hands. She opens up her grasp to reveal a pair of earrings. They are simple yet beautiful. A simple white pearl dusted in shimmery silver dust sparkles against the daylight through the window.
"For luck," She says as she puts them in my hand. Without hesitation I put them in my ears.
"Thank you Idelia." I say as I hug her again. I realize now that she has been more than a friend to me all these years. She has been a sister in a way.
"Time's up," A peacekeeper orders as we let go.
"Just get water, get a weapon, and you'll be fine. I'll see you when you come back, okay?" She says quickly as a peacekeeper grabs her out of the room.
"I promise I'll come back!" I yell as the door closes.
I sit in silence and stare out the window. I fiddle with the earrings she gave me. I look around the room and stroke the soft velvet couch. I have to distract my mind so I don't break. My name is Annabeth. Some call me Annie. I'm 18. My father died. My mother died. I live with Mags. She is Finnick Odair's grandmother. I have fallen in love with Finnick Odair. I wonder if he will mentor me. What if he doesn't? What if I never see him again? What if I die a brutal and bloody death all for him to see?
My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach and beats rapidly. I rush to the door, hands shaking. Maybe I can run and find him, just to say goodbye. If I open the door and run really quickly, the Peacekeepers won't have time to trap me until I get to him.
The knob twists and the door slams open, but I didn't do it. I can hear a couple Peacekeepers yelling in protest, but the door closes, and the voices become quieter.
"Annie." I look up to see Finnick's sea green eyes staring back at mine.
I immediately hug him. I feel safe in his arms, as if nothing could ever hurt me with him there.
"Please forgive me," Finnick says as I let go. He shrinks down to his knees and tears cascade down his golden face.
"You didn't do anything Fin," I say as I sit down on the floor in front of him. I put a finger under his chin and tilt his eyes up to meet mine.
"I did to. It's all my fault. This is all my fault. It's always my fault." He takes my hand in both of his and looks down again.
I stroke his hair, "Finnick, you couldn't control any of this. Nobody could." A tear slowly trickles down my own cheek and I wipe it away immediately. It's my turn to look strong.
"One person. One person can control this, and I made him mad." Finnick says as his face looks back up to mine.
"Who? Fin, I don't understand." I say with a trio of tears sliding down my cheeks.
"Snow. President Snow. He rigged it because I made him mad." Finnick shakes his head and puts a warm hand to my cheek. "I love you so much Annie. I swear on my life that I will do anything and everything in my power to bring you back home. Safe and sound."
He slowly leans in and kisses me. It's that kind of kiss that just speaks louder than words ever can or will. He pulls away and tucks a loose strand of hair away from my face.
"Can you trust me?" Finnick whispers as he looks deeply in my eyes.
"Fin, I will always trust you. No matter what." He grins and lightly kisses my forehead.
"Good. Because I am going to be the best mentor to you a tribute has ever had." He says with a smile.
Finnick Odair, my mentor. How lucky am I to have the Famous Finnick Odair to mentor?
How lucky am I to have him forever?