Chapter 52: Set the Board

Like exotic birds, Capitolites fluttered and chattered around her excitedly in a half-drunken state. But some were fixed to their spots with their heads turned to the screens around the opulent room.

"Can you folks belieeve the start this year?" A man dressed in muted blue and vivid yellow asked, looking around the busy room. "I never thought we'd see a real bloodbath under Crane."

"HA! Crane's finally gone and done it!" A woman giggled, rocking her body back and forth. "Cashmere, doll, your tribute is gorgeous! I love the hair!" She shrieked out with beady eyes as she swung her drink down before turning to the bartender behind her.

"I loved her dress at the interview much more…"

"Left little to imagination." Another woman chimed in with a few claps. "I really hope she comes back. She'd be real fun to be 'round!"

"It's like she's a younger you!" Another man in blue and yellow clapped his hands together. "So much finer but of course, you're still a looker!"

"Aw and here I thought I was everyone's favorite." Cashmere purred out with a coy giggle. Her smile slipped for a moment as she spared Sera a glance but Sera wasn't looking at her.

"And now, everyone's already looking for the next me! Well, there won't be one!"

Tuning out the conversation and laughter, Sera stayed away but not too far into the distance where she couldn't be seen, just off to the side like a forgotten prized vase.

The other mentors did the same, some mingling with the other guests for sponsors and some getting drunk, trying to forget about everyone in the room. Nobody wanted to be in the center of the room, not like Cashmere.

She took her eyes off the board in front of her to look at the walled screen at the lounge where wealthy and powerful Capitolites gathered to celebrate the start of the games.

Like a fool, Celsi on the screen ran straight to the Cornucopia when the games began, sprinting and going for a girl from Three. He grabbed a sickle—not a bad choice for a weapon. Slashed the girl's neck and foolishly decided to go after a career.

He was ambushed, tackled to the ground. His sickle landed next to him. The boy from Eleven didn't hesitate and grabbed it before sprinting off away from the bloodbath.

Celsi flailed around lost for direction. He heaved himself up and looked around the blood soaked grass floor.

His chest rose and fell as he took deep labored breaths, ducking as a tribute was flung his way.

Thinking she'd be an easy target, he tried to fight back and attack her, only to be knocked onto his back.

Taken off guard, Glimmer—Cashmere's tribute raised her dagger and stabbed him in his stomach repeatedly, blood staining the grass and his guts spilling out until another loud cannon was heard.

Just like that, Celsi was dead.

He didn't even last a day, let alone an hour.

Well, Sera did warn him.

She'd lost count of how many times she'd seen him die. It was the same every time and his death would lead to the end of the bloodbath and Caesar appearing moments later with a grim look in his eyes but a wide grin on his face.

"Miss Reza, your turn." A soft spoken Capitolite motioned his head towards the board. He wasn't really paying attention to the screen.

His eyes fixed on her neck, gradually getting lower and lower before Sera subtly placed her gloved hand on her chest while pretending to think.

"Ah, I think I might lose again." Sera said with a coy and nervous smile, biting her lips and checking his reactions. "I can't remember the rules again, um, can you go over them again?"

Off to the side, Finnick snorted and Sera ignored him. He wasn't even supposed to be there but like most Capitol festivities, somehow they always involved him and like always, men and women hung were stuck to him like flies. She didn't have to know them to know that one of them would end up taking him with them when they left and she couldn't do anything about it.

Everything she did back then was for nothing.

"Finnick, a little help for Seraphine?" Her opponent asked with a shy look. "She's struggling for her life with this game. I remember you weren't too bad with chess."

To them, Finnick was part of the entertainment and it was only fair that he'd do what anyone in the Capitol asked. Like Cashmere and Gloss, the two golden siblings who were being pulled and pushed by the other guests at the center of the room. And Sera, she was just an ornament; to be seen and admired but not touched.

"I'll pass. I didn't even win the last time I played and you know, I don't like to play a game I can't win." He said with a soft smile and knowing grin. A silent conversation passed with Sera between his words with each word that left his mouth. "Besides, I don't think she needs any help."

Sera flashed him a small secretive smile and moved her knight, taking that man's queen. He didn't even notice until he turned around to look at the board. Finnick tilted his head and silently gave that man a telling look. He did warn him.

His smile crumbled in an instant but he tried to play it off like nothing had happened.

A nervous laugh and he tried to salvage his side by trying to move his bishop to take a piece from Sera's side but he paused. None of the black pieces that were valuable were anywhere close to his sole bishop, only the pawns were in the line of fire.

"Is there a problem?" Sera innocently asked, leaning back and sipping her cup of tea. "It's your turn."

"Y-yes. It's my turn." He put down the bishop and picked up his knight but paused again.

Only pawns were in his knight's path, nothing too valuable.

"Hahaha. You made a good move for someone who doesn't know the rules."

"Really? Aw, thank you. I guess I'm getting better at this game…"

"Or you have beginner's luck?" Finnick chimed in and the birds around him laughed in turn with a woman falling on top of him.

Just for a second, Sera looked at the lightheaded woman before she looked away but the disgust and annoyance was clear as day on her face. She ignored Finnick and could already picture his grin without even looking at him.

"Something wrong?" Her opponent and she couldn't even lie, only nodding in response.

The man grinned at her, not really caring and made his move, taking one of her pawns. She pretended to be upset before leaning back and looking at her options. But as her fingers delicately hovered over her pieces, she stopped.

Her blood ran cold and her face was stuck in that mask when a nauseating floral jasmine-like watery scent coupled with a sweet and spicy scent of tobacco hit her senses. Almost gagging at the cloying scent, she bit her tongue to stop herself and dug her nails into the flesh of her skin.

Her wide-eyed gaze met Finnick's; he almost jumped in to help her but a small pleading look was all it took for his face and heart to harden before he forced himself to look away. She'd never take his help, not in public; no matter what he did, he'd never change her mind.

All he could do was watch. Still he couldn't help himself. "Consul Redcliff—"

"You still have a lot to learn." Scarus' overbearing and husky voice vibrated in her ears as he leaned over her shoulder, his chest grazing with her shoulder. He ignored Finnick's attempts to distract him with ease, solely focusing only on his former charge.

A cold shiver went down her spine and her lips twitched painfully as she forced herself to keep smiling.

Smile. Scarus' hot breath in her ears. Smile. Finnick's forced look of disinterest and casual grin. Her insides were churning. Smile. The curious and invasive gazes of the guests and their whisperings.

Smile.

Just for a moment, he parted from her to observe the full board from above. Only then could she breathe. Opening and closing her fists, she barely managed to reach for the glass of water next to the chessboard. Being very careful not to spill one drop as she drank it slowly but her reprieve was gone as quickly as it had come once her damned opponent made his move.

Scarus leaned over her again. "Focus." He murmured into her ears. "Or you'll lose again."

"Consul, I think you should let Seraphine play by herself." Finnick tried again but he was ignored.

Long dried-blood colored hair falling on top of the gilded board like a curtain of aged blood. Scarus' arm brushing against her injured arm, she held back a gasp of pain.

She saw him grin, his scar twitching as he picked up her knight—her only knight and moved it from where it was.

No.

She was saving that piece for later but her body or mouth wouldn't move. And he didn't care.

Without asking, Scarus moved her knight and she had to physically hold herself back from fighting back. She dug her nails into the palm of her gloved hand. She stared hard at the board.

Helplessly, she could only watch in silence as her only knight was devoured by her opponent's bishop and she was left with no knights.

Scarus didn't even flinch. "It's okay." He murmured into her ears. "This is just part of the game. Watch and learn."

"But my knight…" She bit her tongue from saying anything more as his other hand traveled up to her neck, caressing it under the cover of her hair.

"It'll be okay." He repeated before he moved another of her pawns to the end—another piece she was saving.

He easily replaced the pawn for a bishop. She didn't want that. She was saving that pawn to turn it into a queen or another knight.

"Did you change your perfume?" He murmured into her ears as she tilted her head to the side, trying to get him off of her without making a scene. "Beautiful necklace, a gift?"

His cold fingers grazed Finnick's gift from the back of her neck, pulling it backwards like a tightening noose. She swallowed and stilled, suppressing a shiver that ran down her back when he touched her.

"Ah, this isn't fun anymore." Finnick tried again for the third time. "Maybe you should just play the game instead of Seraphine."

Scarus lifted his head and he lazily turned to look at Finnick. "I'm only helping her. I don't know if you know…since you two—" His gaze flickered to Sera's, his hand still around the chain of her necklace—Finnick's gift. "—aren't that close, you wouldn't know but Seraphine is absolutely atrocious at this game."

"I'm not…that bad." She barely managed to get out. "I've beaten you once."

He pulled on the chain, tightening it like a noose. For a moment, she couldn't breathe. Finnick almost jumped but Scarus loosened his hold a little and said. "Beginner's luck."

"But she still beat you." Finnick reminded him with an uneasy smile.

"Ah, that's true. Beginner or not, she did beat ya, Consul." One of the women around Finnick chimed in and Sera had never been so glad. "There's no fun in you playing for her. We want to see Seraphine play, not you." A soft murmurs of agreement went through the room.

Scarus' body shook, either with rage or laughter—Sera didn't know. But after a few seconds of silence, his cold laughter was heard throughout the room. He let go of Sera's chain, letting it fall back against her skin and she shuffled closer to the table.

He stared at the woman who had talked back to him down and rose, towering over her. "I didn't think I asked any of you about a silly little game."

"Well, if it's a 'silly little game' then I guess I should just quit." Sera gracefully elbowed his chest and stood up. "I don't think it's fair that you waste your time helping me."

"Ah, but for you it's not a waste of time."

"But you said it was a 'silly little game', Consul." Finnick echoed back with a small grin and popped a piece of sugared fruit into his mouth. "That is what you said, silly little game and I don't know if someone like you wants to waste their precious time on this when we could all be watching the Hunger Games!"

Scarus eyes dipped low in disinterest but the corners of his lips twitched up into a small polite smile.

Thud.

"Sorry, my bad." Haymitch stumbled onto a guest, quickly catching his bearings and patted his 'victim's' back. "Hello."

An awkward tension wove itself around the room with Haymitch's ill-timed greeting. He looked around the room, the most awake Sera had seen him in years. His hair wasn't matted for once and his clothes weren't wrinkled or stained with something strange.

Haymitch was sober.

Something she had only heard but not seen until then. Sera and Zephyr glanced at each other across the room before looking away. She turned to the room, her eyes scanning the floor and each of the guests along with the other victors and entertainers like they were pieces on a chessboard, stopping at Finnick who watched her in silence.

Clearing her throat, Sera made a passing move on the forgotten board. "I guess the games are over or someone else can take over, Johanna," She turned to Johanna who'd tried to blend in with the walls, not caring about the awkward atmosphere. "Would you like to play?"

"Sure but I'm kinda terrible at this game so here goes nothing," Johanna smiled sweetly, only to come over and throw all the pieces to the ground, leaving only the black king on the board. "Checkmate. Is that how you play, Consul? It's not that hard. I don't know what the fuss was about. If Seraphine is that bad then maybe you should play with someone who knows the rules " She said to Scarus.

A few snickers could be heard before laughter roared through the room.

Johanna quickly moved away but not before brushing past Sera. "Win your own fights, next time." And Johanna was gone, disappeared back into walls or the crowd.

Maybe it would've been easier to move Cashmere, Finnick or Zephyr across the room rather than Johanna but the end result would've been far less entertaining. Cashmere wasn't intimidating and as for Zephyr and Finnick—she wanted Zephyr to stay far away from her problems and Finnick to be a passing stranger in front of everyone else.

The small party roared back to life and the floodgates of chatter burst, music grew thumpingly loud as laughter grew even louder.

Haymitch stared at Sera, observing her from across the room. He didn't approach her. Though she'd prefer if he did. At least she'd be free of Scarus.

"I guess the game's over." Finnick said, looking for Johanna. "Why don't we play something…more fun than a silly little game, Consul?" He motioned to a passing avox and made gestures before he turned back to Scarus. "What do you say? You and me play another game? A much…more fun one." He tacitly gestured to the women next to him.

What was he doing?

Scarus' mouth twitched in silent rage, bursting with words he couldn't say and his eyes darkened as they fell upon a lax Finnick. "I don't like your games…" He spat out, eying the men and women stuck to Finnick like leeches they were. "We both know we don't…common interest."

"I'd argue on that."

"So chess or no chess?" Sera playfully butted in, sitting back down.

She needed to get control of the situation again. She hated losing control and whenever either Finnick or Scarus were in the room, she felt helpless for different reasons. It wasn't always like that.

If only Scarus was still her guard, things would be so much different.

"You know you'll lose if you play against me." Her former guard grinned slyly and took her former opponent's seat.

"Then it can't be helped." She said, placing her hand under her chin. "Besides, it's all fun and games. Nothing too serious, Consul. Not like we're playing a game of life…and death."

She spared a quick glance at the hanging screen and went back to the game. Katniss was on the screen, she appeared more than any other tributes that year. Seneca's favorite maybe or the object of his ire; it was too soon for her to tell which Katniss was to Seneca.

It seemed to Sera that the attention was almost always on Katniss or the Career pack with a few glimpses here and there of the boy from Eleven in the middle of wheat field doing nothing and Faline.

That boy had the right idea—stay out of everyone's sight and survive on your own—no allies, no one to rely on, less things to worry about. But when the screen turned to Faline, her heart clenched. Constantly looking over her shoulders, moving around with not enough food to get by but just enough water to survive.

Sera had sent her a water purifying pipe to drink from a couple days ago and some dried meat courtesy of Dr Jadewell who was kind enough to agree to sponsor Faline without anything in return. Emilia and Eos chipped in for the purifier and that was all they could do.

Three sponsors for Faline, no more, no less, just as Sera had promised. The result wasn't pretty. Faline had already started withering away just like the other remaining tributes.

Her thin build had whittled down in a matter of days and she looked more like a twig with bones jutting out, her shiny fiery red-orange hair had dulled and appeared more like muddy orange that was brittle and dry while her cat-like amber eyes had lost their sheen and appeared bulging as her small face became even smaller.

She looked awful. Her lips cracking and drying as she looked around, eyes and nose out for whiff of any food she'd find or trying her damned hardest to find a flowing source of water like Sera had advised. Then she was gone. The cameras switched away from her and back to the careers and Katniss all gathered in one place.

Seeing Katniss, Sera was a little surprised. Maybe it was because that girl was already thin and looked like she hadn't had a proper meal in years, she didn't look all too different. A few scraps here and there but nothing of note. While the careers looked carefree as if they were children on a trip.

"Think your tribute might need a sponsor." Scarus noted, watching Sera's movements like a snake watching its prey.

"Are you offering, Consul?" Sera turned away from the screen and from Katniss to look at the man in front of him. Face marred with a deep red scar yet somehow handsome if only he wasn't so rotten from the inside. "I appreciate the sentiment but I already have enough sponsors secured."

"Then maybe you should send her something."

"I did. I sent her a few things already."

"That's not gonna be enough and you know that."

"I didn't know you had experience as a mentor, Consul." Finnick interrupted just as she was about to speak. She turned to him with a dark look but again, he ignored her.

"No, but I'm an avid fan of the games." Scarus cooly replied, reaching for a glass of gold colored sparkling drink. "I know how to play it."

"But you don't know how to win it." Sera and Finnick said at the same time, surprising each other. In silent surprise, they stared at each other with Finnick grinning ear to ear and Sera rolling her eyes with a fond smile.

Glimmer snickered and turned away. Her quiet laughter was enough to bring attention to their little corner. A small crowd gathered around them, some leaving the little bubble of conversation they were having with Haymitch. Desperate Haymitch tried to hold on and reignite their interests but they were gone, only two to three remained with Plutarch who Sera hadn't even noticed, hovering around the room.

Her eyes met Plutarch's and her blood ran cold. Finnick. Cold bloomed at the tips of her fingers, infecting her being as she sat there frozen, only looking at Finnick from the side. Did Plutarch—no, he wouldn't have. He shouldn't have.

Like a wingless swan, she forced herself gracelessly to look at Plutarch. He wasn't focusing on her or Finnick. No, he was too busy with Beetee or Zephyr to even look at her or Finnick. Cold seemed to melt. Maybe he didn't tell Finnick. No, he promised he wouldn't. He promised.

"I think I know how the games are won." Scarus rose from his seat, almost towering Finnick. The two were nearly the same height but the scar on his face made him much more intimidating compared to the carefree Finnick.

"Seeing is different from being in there." Finnick countered, peeling himself away from his admirers to stand in-between Sera and Scarus. "Trust me, what you see on the screen is only…half the show. It's easy to think that the games are simple when you…and everyone who isn't in the arena doesn't see what really happens. Speaking as a seasoned mentor, sponsors and their gifts can only get you as far as they can, the rest is up to the tribute."

She was so tired of them already but it seemed like she was the only one. At least, Plutarch and Zephyr seemed to be enjoying themselves. She should've stayed at the Training Center or gone to the clinic.

She almost slumped her head onto the table; Emilia's etiquette training wouldn't allow her to. Her assistant's shrill voice with her strong Capitol accent was drilled into her head. 'Sit up straight, chin up and smile, no matter what.' Emilia had said time and time again so really she couldn't even glare at either of the men but as if he'd read her thoughts, Finnick grinned at her playfully, raising his glass before continuing to provoke Scarus.

Picking up a pawn, she moved it away from Scarus' path since he was distracted. She'd save her pawns from him and let him take her other pieces. Scarus seemed to catch on even with Finnick's verbal blows but he didn't have nearly enough pieces left to go after her pawns. He roughly knew her strategies well enough and she was aware of him.

Finnick held himself back and waited for Sera to finish Scarus and win the game. He knew she could and he couldn't wait to be the front row witness to his loss. But to his silent surprise, Sera got up and grabbed sparkling blue drink, holding it up to him in silent cheers.

"That's it." Sera moved past him. "That was my last move, I think I'm done now and besides I don't think anyone's in the mood to watch us play a silly little game."

"W-wait." He tried to grab onto her wrist and stop her but she slipped through his fingers like always. "The game…it's not over. You can't leave a half-finished game, not when you were so close…"

"Close?" Sera echoed with a coy laugh and the room echoed back the same gesture. She felt like she could breathe a little easier now that she was back in control. "Close to losing?" And some of the guests laughed. "You said it yourself, Consul, I'm not that great at this game and I'd rather avoid the public humiliation to lose in public." She fixed her necklace and brought her hair over her shoulders. "And I'm a victor. It'd be even more embarrassing for me to lose."

"So you're scared? Here I was thinking if you'd won, I'd sponsor your tribute."

Finnick chuckled. "Now, that's unfair because if Sera lost—"

"Seraphine." Scarus darkly corrected and Finnick bit the bottom of her lips as Sera resisted the urge to break the glass in her hand and use the shards to stab Scarus and watch him drown in his own blood. "Seraphine was actually winning."

"Was I?" Sera questioned, twirling a strand of her hair and tilting her head to the side. "Aw but I already gave up. I guess you can sponsor someone else instead. I don't know, maybe someone from Eleven? Or um, Two or One."

"Two and One have enough sponsors."

"Aw, well there's always the two Twelve tributes…" She offered and through the gaps of people, she spotted Haymitch. He flinched and slowly turned with a disinterested look but he was clearly listening. "I don't know if those two have enough. There's Eleven as well."

"Twelve?" Scarus said with a barking laughter and the guests around him mimicked him like she'd told the funniest joke in Panem. "Come on. Twelve?" Sera spared a glance at a quiet Augustus who blended in comfortably with the crowd.

"You're better off investing in coal than betting on Twelve!" A woman in a peacock coat chortled.

"At least you'd make a small profit on coal!" Another man hollered.

"I'd sponsor and bet on Twelve if I want to lose my family fortune!" One of the women hanging off Finnick snickered. "And you know what, maybe I will bet on Twelve today just for the fun of it!"

"Didn't Twelve get the first 11 in the training scores?" And like clockwork, Augustus the voice of reason and knowledge spoke up. "Not even a career like me managed to get an 11. That's…uh…pretty big deal, don't you think so Consul?"

"Maybe." Was all Scarus said before everyone moved on and the small pocket of people around Haymitch grew bigger till and Sera slipped away in the crowd, away from Scarus' gaze and reach.

In the sudden chaos, she left the lounge and slipped outside through the back entrance, leading to an empty street with no soul in sight. It was slightly damp outside like rain had just stopped and the air was cold but fortunately it wasn't freezing. Signs of the change in season were in the air and only a few weeks until summer ended.

She moved quickly to get away and turned a corner to an alley with little surveillance—Eos had thought her where to go when she wanted to slip away but even then, it was nothing compared to Harp's help. Harp knew more about Capitol's ins and outs than anyone she knew. Harp knew how to move under the cover of darkness.

And she wasn't the only one with that idea.

She could hear faint but hurried footsteps behind her, keeping up with quick but graceful pace. She didn't care to turn around to check who was behind her.

Just that Scarus wasn't the one on her tail. He wasn't quiet.

"Are you not gonna slow down? Or do I have to run after you?" Finnick's hushed voice almost made her stop but she bit her lips and carried on.

"Doesn't really matter what I say, you'll do whatever you want." She couldn't help but say and she regretted it the moment those words left her lips, causing her to stop abruptly and turn around. "I…didn't mean that. I meant—"

"You meant what you said." Finnick finished for her even though that was not what she meant. "You're only apologizing because you think I'd get upset—you'd be half-right about that. I don't always do what I want."

"I know that but I just—"

He took a step forward, reaching out to caress her cheeks. "You have no idea the self-control I exercised back there."

"That was self-control?" She laughed in disbelief.

"For me? Yes."

"Your standards are very low."

"Well, I came back to you even though you told me to leave time and time again so…"

"You're never going to let that go."

"No." He grinned and looped his arm around hers, gently dragging her through the damp and dark alley. "So where are we going? Back to the apartments or the Training Center? I don't know this path and I hope you do because it looks very dangerous."

"And here I thought you'd know your way around the Capitol."

"Oh, I do—just the insides of the Presidential Palace, Corso, Alea and a little bit of Clavis." He pulled her closer and hurried his pace. "But if you ask nicely, I can tell you the entire layout of each of the Senate members' houses and apartments."

"That's funny because I only know the streets."

"Your team?" He guessed accurately and Sera nodded. "It's good. You have good people around you. I don't really have a team."

"You told me you didn't like having people around."

"Not the ones from my team—they weren't that good." He admitted. "I don't know if you remember but my escort was…very close to Minister Thistlewood. He died in that little stunt you pulled."

"I'm not sorry about it."

"I know." He patted her hand. That smile on his face not fading once as he spoke. "You should've taken out Icarus Redcliff."

Abruptly, she dug her heels into the ground and halted. "Wait. I thought you didn't approve of what I did."

"Only because Annie was there, otherwise it was a good show."

"Oh so if Annie wasn't there—"

"I'd be okay with everything you did that night." He stood in front of her, just close enough to touch.

She nodded. Well, she didn't exactly factor Annie Cresta into any of her plans and even so, she didn't regret pushing that poor girl into the depths of madness. Maybe at first, there were regrets but now she didn't really think about it much. Besides, Annie was one of the lucky ones. The ones that slipped under the radar—the damaged ones that no one in the Capitol wanted to play.

"I'm not apologizing for that. I was running out of time back then. I had to do what I had to do."

"I know but I would've appreciated a little heads up. I could've prepped myself and Annie a little."

"Things were different back then. You just wanted me to sit still and wait for you to sort things out for me."

"I was trying."

"I never said you weren't, Finn but I couldn't wait for you forever not if it meant you putting your own neck on the line for me."

"Because you didn't want to owe me."

"Because I didn't want you to get hurt! Or lose you!" She harshly whispered back in anger. "You could've gotten hurt if you tried to help me out back then. You already lost everything, did you forget? All you had was your life."

"My miserable life?" He echoed back. "That's all I had but I had you! And I lost you!"

Her eyes shook, she closed and opened her fists, wanting to dig her nails into her flesh to numb pain with pain. Tears almost seeped out of her eyes but she blinked them away, turning away from him.

"...You…didn't lose me." She croaked out.

"No," He agreed softly. His eyes fell low and a wave of sadness washed over him as he struggled to breathe.

"You…walked away." He said slowly. "And then I spent almost four years completely alone. I had no one. Not even Annie when I went back home, she was there but not really. Then there was Jo but she wasn't…she didn't know me at all. You walked away because you thought you were protecting me but all you did was damn me to loneliness and now I can't tell if you're going to do it again."

She heaved out a pained breath and struggled to find the words to speak but she found none. He was right. She could never argue against that but somehow that wasn't what she was focusing on.

A fog in her mind and the sudden burning pain in her arm, she struggled to make out her thoughts correctly. She could hardly think about how Finnick felt but instead her mind kept asking her if Finnick knew what she was doing. If he knew what Plutarch and Zephyr did. If he knew that she was poisoning herself.

Blood rushed to her head. Her mind went blank. Silence was all she could hear. She couldn't even hear her heartbeat or the quiet drips of the sudden late summer rain that had started to fall.

"D-did Plutarch say anything to you?" She questioned as if she was in a daze.

"What? Plutarch?" Finnick breathed out in confusion. "I haven't spoken to him in weeks. Sera, what are you—" He cut himself off as if he saw something strange. "What happened?"

So Plutarch didn't tell him…

Relief flooded her and she let out a sigh, reaching out for Finnick and taking his head into hers. She held onto him tight. "Nothing. Nothing happened. It's just…the usual things."

"Is it time?"

"Not yet." She answered. "Another year or two."

He stared at her in silence, studying her every move and gesture while his thumb caressed her hand. "Another year? Is that why you've pulled that stunt back there?"

"I didn't have a choice." She laid her head against his chest in silent defeat, her fingers gently tracing the fabric of his shirt as she spoke softly. "Katniss Everdeen needs to survive at all costs even if it means I let Faline die."

"Faline?" He muttered that name quietly. "Your tribute?" She nodded.

"I just can't stop thinking about her, Finn," She confessed, her voice tinged with sorrow. "Faline, my tribute... She was like me…when I was younger. You remember, right?"

Finnick held her close, his arms wrapped around her, providing warmth and comfort in the cool darkness. He pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head, his voice a soothing whisper. "But she wasn't you and you did everything you could. But the Games... they're cruel, and we can't control everything."

"I know, but it's just...any other year, she'd have a fair shot at winning."

"But the Games' rigged this year." He laid his head on top of hers and sighed. "You can't do anything about that. It's not right, I don't agree and if it was up to me, I'd do everything to change it but that's not the right or strategic choice—not the choice you make."

"No, it's not."

"No, you're not the type to regret things like this. You told me yourself a few minutes ago." He said, reminding her once again of the 70th Games.

Her fingers tightened on his shirt. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

Finnick's embrace tightened, his heart aching for the pain he knew she felt. "I'm here for you, Sera. Always," He murmured, his lips brushing against her hair. "You're not alone in this…just don't push me away. It's already hard watching that bastard touch you with those hands. If he wasn't some wealthy Capitol folk, I'd actually end his life."

"You wouldn't." Sera lifted her head to look at him with a sad smile. "You're better than that."

"No, I would've tortured him." He countered with a grin as he cupped her cold face in his warm hands. "Like I said before, you have no idea how I held myself back there. I was gonna cut his fingers off when he grabbed your necklace—" He touched the chain on her neck, dragging his fingers down to the pendent of the two yarrow blossoms hanging from her neck. "I wanted to cut his hands off."

"I really should've poisoned him…" She murmured softly, her eyes glazed over.

For a moment, she wasn't there in front of Finnick but laying on silk sheets that didn't belong to her, looking up at a painted ceiling that she didn't own. Her name sounded unfamiliar as it was called out repeatedly.

Moans and pants being heard in the midst of her name. Rough but unmarred hands in her short hair, pulling it towards him as Scarus' sweat-drenched face became clearer in her vision. He drew her in for a vicious ki—

Arms wrapped tightly around her, providing a reassuring anchor amidst the storm of emotions. Finnick patted her back, muttering words of comfort and drawing her back away from memories of that one night she wanted to burn from her memory. She inhaled his familiar scent, he smelled like summer—the sea and the sun, salty yet sweet.

"Sera," Finnick whispered into her hair. "It's okay. We have another year…one more year and we just need to ride out the wave and we'll make it. Soon, it'll be over. You and me, we'll be fine, okay?"

"One more year." She echoed. Katniss needed to survive. Heck, she'd make sure even Katniss' partner—Peeta would survive if it meant she and Finnick could be free of all of this. "One more year." She repeated as she pecked Finnick's lips.

He pulled her in again and bowed down to reach her level before planting another soft kiss on her lips. "One more year." He said, parting.

Plant Dictionary

Yarrow - A symbol of love, 'I love you in spite of everything'