darkened horizons- finnick odair

one | haunted

———

It was quiet with soft light shining through the windows. Finnick hadn't uttered a word since President Snow's announcement. How could he? He was the only male victor from District 4, which meant he had to go back. He had to go back into the godawful Games and survive again.

Mags placed her hand on top of his, warmth exuding from her touch. He wanted nothing more than for her to remain safe. The only mother figure he'd ever had and there was a chance her name would be called. It wasn't fair. None of it was fair.

Snow was a damn liar, that's what he was.

A hand brushed a fallen strand of hair from his face, forcing him to meet her attentive gaze. Even if she could, she didn't need to say a thing. Her eyes said it all. A smile lifted her lips, nothing but love in her hold.

"I know." Finnick said, his voice shattering the silence between them. Mags tilted her head down, causing him to let out a breath. "I know." He repeated, pulling her into an embrace and pressing his lips to her forehead.

As the two separated, the old woman lifted her palm, pressing it to his heart. She knew exactly what she was doing, only furthering Finnick's uneasiness. He raised his hand, resting it on top of her's. Then he dropped his gaze and stood from the table. Mags was right. Dammit, she always was.

Finnick made his way to the front door, stepping outside. A brisk wind blew by, lifting stray strands of his hair. He began walking down the street, only one destination in mind as he passed the Winterton home just adjacent to Annie's.

He knew she'd be there. She always was. If there was one place she went before every reaping, every calling, every damn party, it was the field at the back of the Victor's Village. It didn't matter if the tributes they'd mentored had won or not or if she'd just returned home. She was always there.

Finnick reached the last stretch of cobblestone before the meadow, his eyes taking in all of the various wildflowers spread out in front of him. His feet found the dirt path, taking him farther into the greenery. As he strolled up the small hill, the rest of the field came into view.

And so did she.

He reached her in moments, his gaze taking in the dark pieces of her hair lifting slightly with the breeze. She sat in the dirt, her eyes glazed over— as if she could only focus on the granite just beyond her knees she'd brought into her chest. A bundle of daisies had been plucked from somewhere nearby, carefully placed in front of the headstone they both resided in front of.

Malakai Winterton; Beloved Son and Brother

Those were the words engrained in the granite. Those were the words that haunted her. Those were the words that had stripped them apart. And all of it was because of President Snow.

"'Live out the rest of your days in peace.'" Cass voiced, her gaze remaining on her younger brother's name. "What a load of bullshit."

Finnick didn't say anything momentarily, letting his eyes linger on her. He swallowed hard and shook his head as he sat down next to her in the soil. "It might not be you, Cass. It—"

"Don't." She interjected, snapping her eyes to his. "Finn, just— don't." She repeated, dropping her gaze back to the headstone.

He didn't say anything to that, allowing his gaze to return to the dirt. "I knew you'd be here because I know you. You forget that I know you, Peia." Finnick murmured, eyes shifting over to her.

He knew exactly what she planned to do.

Cass let out a breath, eyes anywhere but him. "There's no way in hell I'm letting Mags or Annie go back in there. I won't do it, Finnick. I won't."

"You and I both know Mags is gonna do the same thing if your name gets called."

She shook her head cynically and stood. "Then we're just gonna have to pray my name doesn't get called."

Finnick swiftly got to his feet, his green eyes focused on her and only her as he gently caught her arm. "Peia, I—" He let out a breath as she locked onto his gaze. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." She murmured, unable to do anything else but look at him. "If Snow's plan is to kill off my entire family, it's working."

"P—"

She didn't let him finish as she broke free of his grasp and started back towards the village. Her mother and little brother were both gone, only her, Rhett, and their dad left. It wasn't fair that she'd survived and they hadn't. It should've been her.

"Cass!" Finnick called out, hoping that she'd stop. That she'd turn back around and meet his fearful gaze.

It took everything in her to keep walking, to keep moving forward. If she could, she'd volunteer for all three of them. All she wanted were the people she loved to be safe. Snow had other plans though. He always did.

As Cass reached the door of her home, she let out the breath she'd been holding in. Then she pushed open the door and walked inside. Her eyes found her dad, a glass of whiskey poured for himself.

Sawyer lifted his head, locking onto his daughter's dark gaze. "I'll pour another glass, just—" His brow raised as she took the bottle from off the counter, lifting it to her lips and taking a swig from it.

"I'm gonna volunteer." Cass deadpanned, setting the whiskey back down.

"I know, baby. I know." He responded, a feeling of immense dread settling in the back of his throat. "Just come back to us. Please come back to us." He pleaded.

Cass lifted her gaze, biting down hard on the inside of her cheek. Her eyes glassed over and in moments, her dad had his arms around her, holding tightly to his little girl. He knew she didn't want to go back, not after everything that had happened.

Because going back meant the possibility of never coming home.

But it also meant she could protect what mattered most to her.