ɪɴᴄᴇɴᴅɪᴀʀʏ | ꜰ. ᴏᴅᴀɪʀ

𝕀𝕟𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟

          My body shoots upward in a gasp, sweat dripping down my forehead. The nightmares haven't ceased and i'm worried they never will. Winning the 70th hunger games will do that to you I guess. At least I got a few hours of sleep in, even if its on this uncomfortable couch. Untangling myself from the blanket, I hear the door being unlocked. Just as it swings open I can almost taste the salty air of district four. Walking towards the door i'm greeted by the smiling face of the one and only Finnick Odair. 

            Finnick is one of those people that you either love or hate, there's no inbetween. I've lived with Finn since I was 17, shortly after my own games.  We both decided that it was best that we weren't alone. At first it was strictly platonic but, as the years went on it grew to be so much more. Our circumstances were very similar in the sense of every trauma we shared. Snow thought of us as desirable victors, Finnick only being 16 at the time. He didn't even get to celebrate his birthday before being pulled away to do Snows bidding. 

        Living in Victors village did have its perks. I can just look outside to see the beautiful blue crisp waters of the ocean right at my feet. Even the sand which gets trekked around the house has its moments. You can guess who gets it everywhere and who cleans it up most of the time.  We also live a few houses down from Mags, who I quickly became close with. She's like the mother I never had and I'm thankful for her everyday. We all even go as far as taking turns cooking dinner every week. Its not much but, we both our earning combined, Finnick and I are more fortunate than most. 

    "Hey, I got those-" Finnick starts "What's wrong, did you have another nightmare? Do you wanna talk about it" He finishes as he sets a bag down on the table closest to him. Walking to wrap my arms around him "I'm fine, its probably just the anxiety of the quarter quell announcement"  Only nodding he turns and heads toward the kitchen, just to come back with a few cookies. I can tell he is just as anxious about it.  

"Well, if you wanna talk about you know i'm always here for you. I thought you might like some desert before dinner."  He grins cheekily. He knows me all too well. Taking the cookies, we head back over to the couch. Quickly swing my legs over Finnicks lap, I find it hard to get the words out. 

"I- I was back in the games and the fire was blazing" I begin as i'm thrown back into the nightmare.

           I did this. More like I was forced to do this. The smoke was blazing in a thick hot heat. The wooden building surrounded by very few trees was embalmed in a fiery blaze. The loose knife belt tied around my stomach grew heavier as I heard the screams coming from inside the building. I drew the rest of the career pack, the only tributes left standing between me and home, to the old saloon. Hoping they wouldn't notice it was a trap I began to lock and seal every door and window there was. Snapping and jamming every lock except for the entrance. 

         For some reason they thought it would be a good idea to make the games into the old west. Which was definitely not the worst map but, it could've been better. Who am I to complain, it's only the place where we're sent to die. Drawing the career pack here was not easy but, if they wanted a hunt I was going to give them one. They were very blood thirsty this year, not to my surprise. I had to do this quick or I would burn with them. Quickly lighting the match on the second floor, I let it hit the floor to start the small fire first. Running back down to the entrance, I am hoping the smoke will start quickly so I can finally end this. 

          Slipping out quietly I find a little hiding spot with a clear view of the saloon. I watch as the tumble weeds roll away from the saloon. Almost as if they know, what is hopefully about to go down. As I quiet my breathing, I hear the distinct laughing of the dead men walking.  

"EMBER! Hey, Ember we just wanna talk! I can either make your death painless if you come out now OR  you can hide until we find you. I'm gonna skin you limb from limb and watch you bleed out slowly!" They make their way closer to saloon."Come on boys, I think she's in here! She better hope she isn't."

       The others continue to laugh as Ethan the leader of this pack continues to yell my name. They finally make their way into the saloon seeing the smoke coming from the inside. Idiots. Making sure to quickly but, quietly make my way to the only thing that can keep them inside, I place the steel crowbar I found in the handle. Finally locking the door completely, set another match aflame, continuing to set them around the house.

     "EMBER! EMBER PLEASE!" They yell as they try to break the windows upstairs. It's too late, now they wanna plead. The pleading I would hear for years to come. "EMBER, PLEASE, EMBER, WHY DID YOU DO THIS" Frowning at what I had just heard. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, it was Finnick. 

         "Finnick! Finnick! I'm coming, hold on. Just hold on a little longer!" I try the door but of course it won't budge. Tears form in my eyes as I hear the screaming of my beloved. Even over the burning blaze, I can hear him.  Sobbing, I fall to my knees with my hands yanking at my hair. 

         Pulling out of the night terror, I look up to notice Finnick has tears in his eyes. In a swift motion, he pulls me towards him cradling me as I begin to sob. Once we've both sat there for a while, holding on to one another, I perk up at the door bell. Guess its time to pull myself together and go eat dinner.