Lost at Sea || Finnick Odair x OC (DISCONTINUED)

Forty-Two: party rockers in da houseee toniiiiight

DAPHNE

°•. ✿ .•°

It's hot today. Sun beams down on me as the seven living Victors of District 4 march down the road, making our way to the square. Ladies are first, with Mags leading, and the men are last. Peacekeepers flank us, making sure we don't run away. I've chosen the clothes I wore for my first Reaping; a white, short-sleeved button up, and a dark green skirt that falls to my ankles. My hair is done in two wraps to commemorate my dead siblings. I don't wear anything else. I've abandoned my jewelry. It sits in a box in my house, tightly stored under my bed.

The district has been forced to gather. This is the one year that they're the safe ones. Peacekeepers line the border of the entire square, keeping everyone in check as we all march onto the stage. I feel their eyes trained on me like I'm some sort of dog being led to the slaughter, which I suppose I am.

We take our places on the stage. I stand between Mags and Annie in a little pen on the left, and the four men are in a similar pen on the right. Finnick is only two down, smiling confidently at the crowd. I suppose I should do the same, but I can't bring myself to.

"Welcome, everyone!" Kiernan laughs. I hate his stupid voice, his stupid pink hair, his stupid purple tattoos, his stupid everything. "Welcome. Today, we have a very special event! We honor the 75th Hunger Games, and the third Quarter Quell!"

Nobody claps. What's so special about this?

Kiernan doesn't really know what to do. "How about, since it's so special, we switch it up this year?" He stalks on over to the male bowl, which has only four slips of paper within. He dips his hand in, and bounces on over to the podium.

I shake my head. I already know what it is. It's just my luck, right? Things always seem to go wrong for me.

"Finnick Odair!"

Peacekeepers start shifting their guns suggestively, and the crowd cheers. Finnick smiles confidently, his hands pinned behind him in his creamy sweater, and he waves to everyone as we walks on over.

At this, I am finally able to smile. Not a confident, cocky, seductive smile like Finnick has right now. I can only play my part in the Capitol. The Wild Woman. I start laughing, bringing my hand up to cover my mouth. Annie stares at me. She trembles, clearly not wanting her name to be drawn, but she seems utterly perplexed as I stifle laughter. Laughter that is so intense, tears start seeping out of my eyes.

Kiernan huffs. "And now, for the ladies!" These words make me finally shut up. I clear my throat, and right myself.

I glance at Finnick. He's facing the audience, but he keeps stealing glances at me. Not you, he told me several weeks ago. I can't let it be you.

"The female tri-"

"I volunteer as tribute."

I've already stepped forward. The crowd gasps, and so do Mags and Annie. Finnick's eyes are on me, and he continues to smile like he's excited to be my partner in the Games, but his eyes are absolutely manic and terrified. I'm smiling now, still feeling absolutely joyous at this turn of events. Of course this is happening to me.

I knew this would. I knew I was going to do it. I knew even before Finnick's name was called out. How could I let Annie, a mentally unstable woman whose life hasn't even started, go into that arena? Or Mags, who's just had a stroke, and deserves to live out the rest of her days in peace? How could I live with myself like that?