CHAPTER 17
Back To FourOlive held Annie's hand as they listened to the elder victors talk about the deals they had. They didn't specify with whom, but it was clear enough who in Panem would have enough power to force the victors to do anything — President Snow.
Just as Rhett and Clem had said, the other victors began appearing. One after the other. The only one missing was Finnick, who none of the other victors expected to see long minutes after the explanation had begun. He didn't barge in like the others had done. Instead, he knocked and waited for Gianna to open the door.
She showed him the way to the living room, where he was received by more stunned looks than greetings, and motioned him to take a seat on the only free armchair left. He sat without a word, glancing from the victors to Olive, as if asking how much they had explained so far.
"Just our deals," said Clem, not needing any question to understand the young victor.
"We should move on, though. I doubt they care about our lives," pointed out Muscida, the fourth-oldest victor.
"Yeah, that would be great." Joe shifted in his seat, welcoming his daughter back by placing a hand on her back protectively.
"Long story short, whatever he asks you to do before your Victor Tour, accept," Rhett concluded simply.
"What if I don't? What can he ask out of me?" Olive asked, moving closer to the edge of her seat while tightening her grip on Annie's hand.
"Anything. He can ask anything, and you'll have to give it to him," Finnick muttered, running his hand through his hair tiredly. His eyes landed on Olive's, not doubting for a second before adding, "You'll give him anything he asks. Because if not, your family will be in danger."
"You're lying," Gianna said, hopeful that it was only a stupid joke from the victor's part.
It wasn't. Olive could tell that much. She knew none of them would bring up her family like that if they weren't being sincere. More Librae than anyone else, who kept looking at the floor as if looking anywhere else would make cry her eyes out.
"I wish we were," Ron answered, clenching his hands together.
"Don't you wonder why most victors don't have family or have lost one or two members since they won?" Libra questioned, finally raising her eyes. "It's not for some strange, bad luck. Our decisions killed them . . . I killed my brother and sisters by denying. Don't let that be your mistake, Olive."
"I–" Olive didn't know what to reply. She was baffled at all the information she had received in such a short amount of time. Her eyes glanced at her right, seeing her siblings and father already looking at her.
Now she knew what she wanted to ask. But, not convinced whether she wanted them to hear, she locked eyes with her father and whispered, "Please, take them to our room."
"Olive, no," Annie argued. "I want to stay here. I want to be by your side."
"Exactly," Theo backed her up.
"Really, Annie? You want to hear what your twin will have to do from now on to keep you alive? I don't. It's not like they're going to say, 'oh, don't worry, you just have to dress pretty and go to parties'." Olive caressed her twin's hand. "Please, I beg you all, go to the room."
It took a couple seconds, but Gianna got up, grabbed Theo by the hand and declared, "We do want to know, Olive. So tell us when you feel ready. I won't force you. Just know that if there was any other way to keep everyone safe, I'd take it in a heartbeat."
"Me, too, Gianna. Me too." Olive let go of Annie, who followed Gianna and their father with her eyes on the floor at all times, only raising at some points to meet Olive's.
When only the victors were left in the room, Finnick got up and sat next to Olive, resting his hand on her back to show her his support. She rubbed her eyes with her sleeve, and shook her head, not giving fear any time to take over.
"I'm all ears. What will I have to do?" She asked.
"Probably sell your body to the people around the Capitol," Finnick answered in a low tone. "That's the most common deal."
Olive froze in place. That wasn't entirely what she expected, nor was it too far-off either. What she didn't expect was the connotation Finnick's words carried. The most common deal. Did that mean he, who had won at fourteen, had it, too?
Of course, he has it. He's the Capitol's Darling, after all. She thought, burying her head in her hands.
"That's some next level of fucked up," she muttered. "First make us kill other kids, and now this? What will it be next?"
"Well, for instance, you can't admit to date, like, or even get pregnant or married while the public still has their eyes on you," Muscida said, with a particular bitter tone. It was clear she hated the Capitol to the point she couldn't even control herself.
"Can't say that surprises me," Olive muttered, while raising her head from her hands. She glanced at Finnick, but he had his eyes stuck at the older victor.
"It's not like you can't have a lover," Muscida gave a strange look at Finnick, and added, "But you have to be careful around the Capitol. Gossips start from the simplest and most stupid things."
Olive leant back on her seat, making Finnick take his hand off her back to take her hand. She stared at the victors up and down. Even if she believed and trusted what they had told her, it was still difficult to accept.
No one spoke, nor reacted as Librae got up from her seat. She walked up to Olive, sat on the couch's arm, and patted her shoulder. "We should let you take it all in. Things usually land on people better when they're alone. If you need anything, just come to our houses. Any question, any doubt, don't overthink it and ask for help, OK?"
"Alright," Olive muttered, looking up to see Librae smiling at her. The victor gave a look at the rest and soon everyone was up, saying quick goodbyes, and leaving to their own houses. All except Finnick, who didn't budge from her side. "I don't want to be in this house right now."
He glanced at the ground, and a second later slightly perked up, "I know a place you might like."
Olive rubbed her hands together, trying to drive away the numb feeling that had taken over her body. She then nodded, got up to glance at the doors and back at Finnick. "Can my siblings come? I doubt they'll leave me alone for a few weeks."
"Sure, I'd like to meet them, too," he answered, turning his head to watch as Theo's head popped out of nowhere at the top of the stairs. He had probably been spying on them, something both had been expecting him to do. "What do you say, Theo? You can stay stuck to your sister like glue if you want to. It's not really that far away."
Theo came running down the stairs, which prompted Gianna's voice, from upstairs, to appear to tell him to calm down. He didn't listen, though, as he soon was jumping directly into Olive's arms.
"Can I really go?" He asked, hopeful. "Please, Olive. I want to go."
"Sure thing, Theo." Olive raised her eyes to meet Finnick, who was smiling at the situation right before his eyes. "We'll all be going."
Annie was the next one to run down the stairs, Gianna trailed close behind with a disapproving look in her face. Their father stayed close to the bottom of the stairs, giving each a hug and a kiss on their temples as they left the house to follow Finnick around.
They walked out of the Victor's Village in the forest's direction. Gianna and Olive couldn't help but glance over their shoulders, trying to make sure no one was watching them. It wouldn't be good if anyone saw two victors and the family of one of them breaking the law by stepping out of District Four's perimeter.
"Don't worry so much. No one's ever around here," Finnick assured just as they reached the fence, which, judging by the sound, wasn't electrified at the moment. "Perfect, I didn't feel like crawling through the tunnel today."
"Tunnel?" Olive questioned as she bent to go through the wires of the fence.
"Yeah, there's one between some bushes up north, around twenty or twenty-five metres away from here. They're not the best, but do the job when the fence has power, or you need to hide," Finnick replied as he helped Theo and Annie get through the wires.
"So you, a victor, break the law often?" Gianna asked, folding her arms while walking to stand beside Olive.
"Not as often as you did." Finnick chuckled. "There was also a time in my life when hunting and trading was my only mean to survive. And, you know what they say, old habits die hard."
Gianna gave her siblings a doubtful look, which Olive dismissed immediately. She knew they could trust Finnick. So far, he hadn't shown any signs or proved the contrary. Without thinking twice, she continued to follow her friend around the forest.
They didn't walk much, though, as they soon arrived at a small clearing, which had an enormous tree at one side. None of the siblings had ever seen one like that, neither heard of it. However, Finnick's amused face declared that he had, and found it funny how they didn't.
"That's what you wanted to show us?" Olive asked, walking closer to the tree to see it better, which Theo beat her to, as he was already touching the wood and trying to climb it.
"Not exactly." Finnick approached her and extended his hand. "I'll show you."
Olive took his hand and let herself be guided to the side of the tree, where an opening let her see the inside of it. She got inside after Finnick, being closely followed by Theo, Annie, and then Gianna. As many as they were, the tree still had enough space for all of them.
"Wow," Theo mumbled, turning to look everywhere. "I've never seen a hollow tree this big."
"Yeah." Annie nodded, then turned to face Finnick. "How did you find it?"
"Walking around. In this forest, you rarely find anything, it's more like it finds you." Finnick shrugged with a quick laugh. "You're more than welcome to come here whenever you need it."
"Sharing a secret with Finnick Odair, I feel honoured," Gianna said drily while rolling her eyes dramatically, which made Finnick snicker. "What's so funny?"
"Just thinking that you and Olive are a lot alike." He sat back, resting his back against the tree.
"Hey." Olive elbowed him playfully. "Don't be mean."
"I'm not," Finnick argued while raising his hands in the air as a joke.
Jokes, chatter, and silly games continued until noon, when they had to go back, as Theo's belly wouldn't stop roaring, demanding food. The rest complied, some more grateful for going back to Victor's Village than others. Even if she was hungry, Olive enjoyed being in the woods, protected by the incredible hollow tree from anyone, accompanied by her friend and siblings. Those few hours out in the woods had been exactly what she needed to clear her head.
And all thanks to Finnick. Olive chuckled as another thought appeared in her mind. Finnick to the rescue.
"Feeling better?" He asked, slowing their pace by holding her hand, so they'd put a bit of distance between her siblings, who were up in the lead, and themselves. "I was being serious before, Olive. You can come here whenever you need. And you can come to me, too. Anything you need, any problem, or dilemma. Just come to me. I'll do my best to help you."
Her eyes raised from the ground to meet his, locked to hers like glue, no sings of ever wanting to look away. With a warm smile, and the sincerest tone she could remember to have ever used with anyone outside her family, she whispered, "Thank you, Finnick." She pulled his hand as she stopped in her tracks. "But, if you ever need something, you better come to me, too. Whatever you need, any problem, or dilemma. Just come to me. I'll do my best to help you."
"Don't copy me." He chuckled.
"I'm being serious here, idiot," Olive smiled, not budging as she locked eyes with him. "Let me help you, too."
With his free hand, he rubbed his chin and then scratched the back of his neck. "Alright," Finnick muttered. "If I ever need help, I'll go to you."
"Great. Now, let's go before they think something weird," she said, pulling him along as they tried to catch up with her siblings.
They passed through the fence and walked back to Victor's Village, where Joe was expecting his kids to come back with dinner ready and about to be served. When Finnick was about to say goodbye in their front door, their father opened it.
"Finnick Odair, right?" Joe asked.
"Yes, sir," Finnick replied rapidly, noticeably nervous.
Their father stepped forward and patted Finnick's shoulder. "Thank you for bringing Olive back." His eyes were watery, almost as if he had cried recently or was about to cry. "I made more food than I should've, want to stay for dinner?"
"Um, I . . ." Finnick doubted, but then saw Olive smiling at him, and his eyes were back at her father. "Sure, thank you for inviting me."
The rest of the day was spent similarly to their time in the woods. Although no one mentioned the tree, just the games they had played when they were out. Somehow, the siblings had decided collectively and silently that the tree would be their little secret with the now second-youngest victor of District Four.
"Finnick, you'll come over tomorrow, too, right?" Theo said while rubbing his eyes.
It was already nighttime, way past the little boy's bedtime. But that didn't matter in that particular day. The four children and their father stood in their entrance, wishing goodnight to their guest, who was leaving to his own house, right across from theirs.
Finnick turned and ruffled Theo's hair. "Sure, and I can teach you how to handle a spear if you want."
"Being taught by a victor, I wonder how cheeky you little brat will become," Gianna snickered while running her fingers through his hair to put it back into its usual controlled messy hairstyle.
"Finnick, could you teach me, too?" Annie asked, surprising the rest of her family.
"Annie . . ." Olive muttered, worried, but decided that it wasn't the time or place to talk with her twin about it. After all, she knew that if her sister, who could barely hunt, wanted to learn how to handle a spear, it wasn't just for no reason.
"Sure." Finnick nodded. "Olive? Gianna? Are you two on board with the classes?"
"No, thanks, but I'd love to watch," Olive answered, then glanced at her older sister.
"No need either. But, I guess that it could be fun to watch," Gianna muttered, still using her analysing look on the poor boy.
"Then I'll see you all tomorrow." Finnick waved as he went out of their house to go to his own.
Olive waved back and closed the door. She then turned to her siblings, and went with her siblings up the stairs to her room, where they laid two mattresses on the ground, one next to the other.
Gianna laid Theo on the improvised bed closer to the door and tucked him in, then laid down beside him. Olive and Annie took the improvised bed closer to the window, where they slept right next to each other. Their father decided to take a spot right next to Theo, and wished all of them goodnight.
Minutes passed, slowly but surely sending everyone to sleep. All but Olive, who tossed and turned on the bed. Sometimes, she watched the outside of the window, others she glanced at her sister, who slept peacefully while holding her twin's hand.
It still bothered Olive. The sole thought that perhaps she would wake up the next day without any memories. Or that maybe it was all a dream, and she would wake up from it the moment she opened her eyes. Sometimes, things that were too good to be true, were actually fake. She didn't want to believe her reality was just a dream, but what if it was?
With those thoughts still lurking in her mind, she closed her eyes and forced herself to sleep. The relief and happiness she felt as she opened them the next morning, still in the same room as her siblings, and all her memories of the day before intact, couldn't be expressed.
She was back to District Four. She was safe. Her family was safe and sound. Now that she was a victor, they wouldn't starve to death, nor freeze during winter. Her memories about the Arena could be gone, which that felt like a mild inconvenience compared to everything else. She would remember at some point, and, even if she didn't, they weren't extremely important memories, nor pleasant ones. As long as she didn't forget anything else, it would be fine.
But, of course, it was too good to be true.