Chapter Seventeen: Promise Kept

Finnick Odair was lazily leaning against the wall on the other side of the rooftop, his eyes locked onto her form as his hair was teased by the breeze. The shadows played with his figure and the little sun left highlighted the older teen's face. He was handsome, there was no doubt there, but his whole posture screamed SAD to Maize. Sad and defeated. Her heart clenched painfully behind her breast.

"You have a wonderful voice. You're one of Seeder's tributes this year, right?" he asked.

Maize nodded, "Yes and you're Finnick Odair... Seeder's spoken highly about you."

He shot her a boyish grin as he approached her and leaned against the railing beside her, "Did she now?" he asked rhetorically.

She hummed under her breath in agreement. This was her chance, possibly the only chance she would have to warn him. "Do you ever wonder what it would be like when this is all over?" she whispered softly, barely audible over the howling wind. Maize didn't turn to look at him as Odair's head turned to look at her own.

"The Games?" he asked, "I assume I'll still be here and you have a one out of twenty-four chance of making it out."

"No. When this is all over." she emphasized softly, "When there are no more Hunger Games, and the Capitol no longer controls us."

This time she did peer to look at him. His eyes were locked onto hers, his expression grim and voice firm, "No. You probably shouldn't be talking about this you know. The audio may not work up here, but it's never a good idea to talk anti-Capitol ideals, especially before going into the Games." Odair warned.

Maize didn't avert her gaze, "I'm not. Just stating a fact."

If anything, Finnick Odair only looked even more confused.

"Soon, very soon, it's going to end. The people are restless and angry. Like a mockingjay, they will be filled with and carry the tune of rebellion." she promised softly. Odair was now looking at her intrigued.

"Do you have a secret worth my while 11?" he whispered softly, his entire posture cautious.

She turned her gaze back to the almost blank horizon, the sun barely visible now, "I was in the front row when you visited my District during your Victory Tour." she stated, "I made a promise to myself then, that if I ever had the chance to warn you that I would."

"Warn me?" Odair looked confused, wary and suspicious even as hints of fear swirled in his eyes, "Warn me of what?"

"I know things." she confessed, "I know things that I shouldn't, always have. The same way that I know that this year's Hunger Games will end with a flood and tributes drowning in their sorrows. The same way I know what they make you do."

Odair flinched away from her, "What are you-"

"When the time comes and you find yourself following her into battle, be prepared, do not stay behind. The bowels of the Capitol are a dangerous place to find yourself in. Don't die before your free." she whispered urgently, "You, of all of them, deserve to see it. To see Snow fall from the sky."

Maize used the Victor's confused state to sprint to the elevator and go down to her floor. She did it. She warned him. Only time would tell if the youngest Victor to survive the Games would make it through the rest of adulthood.

That morning Maize was greeted by an excited Goldie. Tomorrow evening would be the live interviews with Caesar Flickerman, their last chance to truly entice the Capitol and win Sponsors before the Hunger Games began. It apparently was also Goldie's favorite part of the Hunger Games routine. After a hearty breakfast and a mango-flavored shake (which was now officially her favorite of all the shakes she'd tried), Goldie had ushered her into the bedroom and helped her change into a constricting floor-length ball gown and high-heeled stilettos, before the escort then instructed her on how to walk, sit properly, how to address the audience and play coy. While she hadn't worn heels in this life, Maize had enjoyed wearing some low heals to parties during her first. It had taken her about half an hour to feel comfortable enough to strut, swinging her hips in a seductive manner, from one end of the room to another.

Apparently, her dress for the interview was going to be provocative (Maize was already dreading it) so Goldie was trying to impart some 'wisdom' down upon her on how to be sexy and make all of Panem want her! Goldie's words, not her own. Maize wanted all of Panem to look away when it came time for her to have words with Caesar Flickerman. She internally cursed the fact that she'd been born a girl and had to suffer wearing heels and 'sexy' outfits.

By the time it was the afternoon and lunch was served Maize's feet were killing her. Throbbing in time with her heartbeat. Hopefully the heels Orion made her wear weren't going to be that high. The one-on-one time with her Mentors after lunch wasn't too bad. They mainly went over her strategy for the interview. They were going with the sexy approach (gag). Apparently, Maize had all the right curves in all the right places, and when she was wearing heels... well height was no longer a problem then. She had gained more healthy weight and muscle in the last week than she had in probably her entire life. And it looked good. Maize had a pretty face and a nice voice, apparently, it was a cocktail of wonderful qualities to help her ensnare the love and attention of the Capitol and more importantly Sponsors.

Seeder and Chaff took turns pretending to be the interviewer and ask her various questions. She created a coy but gentle character, with just a smidge of the sexy that her stylist was trying to impart, that answered any and all questions about herself that would endear Maize to the (selfish, empty, soulless) people of the Capitol.

Maize had perfected her role by the time it was dinner.

Now all that was left was tackling the real thing.

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