STILETTO┃Finnick Odair

Chapter 8

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ:*

The moments before I am sent into the arena for the Quarter Quell Games are tense, each passing second feeling like an eternity. Maenora and I walk side-by-side together down a long hallway. I am wearing the tribute suit, my hair slicked into a ponytail. I try to keep my mind steady as. We get to a clear glass tube. I start to walk towards it, but Maenora grabs my wrist and turns me around.

"Calissa. Listen to me. You are not doing this to win but to survive." shes says, her voice merely a whisper.

I nod and the countdown begins.

"I have something for you." Maenora pulls out a small golden heart locket. "I hope it gives you strength, hope and a reminder of who you're fighting for."

I take the locket in my hands and open it, revealing a tiny picture of Theo, his smile frozen in time..

"I thought it might give you some comfort... May I?" she gestures for me to turn around. I do. She delicately places it around my neck and clasps it. "Carry him with you, Calissa, You are not alone."

I smile at her. She wraps her arms around me in a tight embrace. As we part she squeezes both my hands.

"I know you can win this. Everyone knows you can win it. But I want you to remember the bigger picture. This is not the average Quarter Quell." The speaker announces 10 seconds until launch.

Maenora releases me, there are only mere seconds left. I take a deep breath, clutching the locket tightly in my hand, and step into the tube. The cold metal surrounds me, and I feel a surge of adrenaline. The last thing I see before the piercing light is her smile.

The sound of my own breath fills my ears, drowning out the noise around me. I can feel the anticipation building, the weight of the Games pressing upon me.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ:*

The tube slows and I am standing on the platform. Everything is bright, I adjust my eyes to take in my surroundings and see that the cornucopia is on water, the tributes are standing on individual platforms all facing towards the large black cornucopia. I look for familiar faces, I can't see Ryder, he must be on the other side. I look three to my right and see Katniss, she's panicking. I turn to my left and 2 down there is the guy from district 10, the person who insulted Theo. And I remember what I said to him.

As the countdown begins, my gaze meets his, and there's a flicker of realisation in his eyes. A small, defiant smile tugs at the corner of my lips as I hold his gaze, unyielding.

"Let the 75th Hunger Games begin. May the odds be ever in your favour."

Ten... Nine... Eight... 

I stand tall, my body tense, ready to face whatever challenges this twisted arena has in store for me. 

 Seven... Six... Five...

I remind myself of the promise I made to fight, to survive. To do it for Theo.

Four... Three... Two...

I take a deep breath. With each passing second, I feel the weight of the Games bearing down on me.

One...

The gong sounds.

The resounding sound fills the arena, shattering the silence. Without hesitation, I dive into the water, feeling its cold embrace around me. My arms cut through the liquid, propelling me forward, as I swim towards the center, towards the Cornucopia.

I am the first there. I sprint to the weapons and see a long sword, I sheath it on my back, I also see a dagger harness that I quickly throw around my shoulders.