Hope

CHAPTER FOUR

Finnick impatiently tapped his glass as he waited for Abigail to return from her first day in the training center.

Of course, he was waiting for Ronan, too. But Abigail seemed to be the only thing on his mind these days. It was wrong, he knew that, but she was different. She could change things for the better. She had that fire in her.

His plan was already rendering itself useful. Finnick had done his rounds today with his regulars in the Capitol and Abigail was a favorite among the sponsors. When people asked him about her, Finnick made sure to praise her in the best way possible.

Abigail was mysterious to everyone but him, and it made the entire country ask him about her. Finnick liked holding that power.

When he saw her dark braids enter the room, he immediately stood. "Tell me everything," he spoke, catching the group following off-guard.

Mayfair chuckled. "Well someone's a bit eager," she joked, though the rest of them hadn't found it funny. Clearing her throat, she smoothed out her dress and said, "let these two wash up first before dinner."

Finnick sighed, nodding before placing himself in his seat once again. From across the table, Mag's began to sign with him. "Tread carefully," she said. "The boy deserves a chance, too."

Finnick knew his favoritism was wrong. When he asked the question, all he cared about was Abigail's answers. What was she good at? What did she need to work on? Strengths and weaknesses of the other tributes?

Physically, Ronan had Abigail beat. Statistically, he didn't even stand a chance. What did that mean for her?

"How do you do it, Mags?" he asked, referring to the sixty years she has spent mentoring kids knowing they would be dead within the month.

She sighed, shaking her head. The crows feet around her eyes were more pronounced now. She was a woman of many years, but mentoring was really what aged her.

"Hope," she signed, "it's what helped get someone like you out, even if we lost Annika."

Annika was his district partner. She was dead as soon as the canon went off.

"Was it a good thing, after all?" Finnick questioned. His countless nights in the Capitol sleeping with men and women had taken a heavy toll on him. Perhaps he shouldn't let that fate reign true on Abigail. Or worse.

But perhaps she would be the one to end it.

Mags' sad eyes veered towards him. She looked at Finnick like a son, and he looked at her as a mother. Together, they were family.

"Your time is yet to come," her hands waved. Finnick gave a small smile as his tributes returned.

Abigail's hair had been removed from her braids, leaving her dark locks wavy and her bangs covering her forehead messily. Beside her, Ronan had washed his hair, as water dripped down the sides of his neck and he wore a dark muscle shirt.

Finnick had to admit, Ronan was stronger than he thought. He could be a viable contender seeing that his emotions cleared up.

But he didn't know what it was like to starve. That's what almost killed Finnick during his games.