Pearls and Perils ・❥・Finnick Odair x Reader

Chapter 10

The sixty second countdown begins. I try to calm my rapid breathing by taking in my surroundings. Fortuna was right: mountains. They tower into the sky and appear as if they're enclosing us. Water. To my left I see a rocky beach, the coast line looks never ending. I'll have to find some other water source or pray for a filtration device. I look at the cornucopia, planning out my path and what I will take. I spot the trident and a bag nearby and decide that's what I'll aim to get. 30 seconds left. I survey where the other tributes are placed. I'm in between the boy from 9 and the girl from 12, not immediate threats. I see Micah about 4 people down, I know he must be scared but he doesn't show it in his stance. I can't find Ronan. The careers are scattered in all directions. 10 seconds. My heart pumps as I take my stance, ready to run. 5 seconds. I have to stay alive. 3 seconds. I'm going home. 1 second.

My left foot propels me off my platform as I find myself in a steady sprint. I keep my eyes fixed on the trident, determined to get it. I'm surprised when I'm the first to reach the cornucopia. I grab the trident and fling the backpack on my back. I turn and the boy from 7 is coming at me with an ax raised over his head, I'm surprised by my immediate instinct to spear him in the stomach. My first kill. I try to shake it off, but I cringe as I pull the trident out of his stomach. I turn to sprint, even faster than I did into the cornucopia. I run in a sporadic zigzag pattern to make me a harder target to hit. Once I determine I'm far enough away to be hit with a knife or bow and arrow, I straighten my path, heading for the forest right off the coast. Once I reach the concealment of the trees I slow down into a steady jog. I keep going until I feel like I've put an appropriate amount of distance between me and the cornucopia where I'm sure the careers are lurking. I catch my breath, trying to process my start to the games. I didn't plan on killing anyone in the bloodbath, and I'm horrified by how easily I did. My mind shifts to Micah, I hope he made it out of the bloodbath. I know he's smart, maybe he just ran away instead of into certain death at the cornucopia.

I decide to check what's in my backpack: water filter, ropes, and a small bag of grain. Overall, an amazing bag to have grabbed. Suddenly, the cannon booms. It scares the shit out of me, but then I remember it's just to signal the fallen tributes. I count the cannons: 9. Only 15 tributes left.

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The sky begins to darken, I decide that my current spot out in the open isn't very safe. I start wandering up a nearby mountain until I find a cave. I approach it with caution, trident in hand, anticipating that something or someone will jump out at me. Luckily the cave is empty, so I sit down behind a giant rock to conceal myself. I let myself eat a scarce amount of the grain, just so I'll have something in my stomach for the night. I'll go fishing and get water tomorrow. The anthem sounds so I peek my head out of my cave to see the fallen displayed in the night sky. All of the careers are still alive, no shocker there. Ronan is still alive, I envision him with the career pack still hunting down kids at this hour. My face lights up when I realize Micah is still alive, it would be great if I could find him at some point. I retreat back into my cave, curling up into a ball hoping to find some warmth there. I lay wide eyed, praying for at least a few hours of sleep. The boom of a cannon startles me, I can't help but wonder who it was.

By now my cave has succumbed to complete darkness. It helps me to feel more hidden, but puts me at a disadvantage because I wouldn't be able to see anything or anyone coming at me. My lack of vision has heighten my hearing, so when I hear a twig snap my heart nearly stops. I swear I could make out the sound of footsteps, and not from just one person but multiple. My fears are confirmed when I hear the mumbling of voices. Multiple people carelessly wandering the arena, who else could it be besides the careers? I quietly scurry further into my cave.

"Where is she?" I hear a feminine voice groan.

"I don't know but I want her dead." It's Ronan's voice, I can tell. There's only one person they can be talking about: Me. I try to continue spying in on their conversation but their voices and footsteps are fading away. The scarily close proximity of the careers to me is exactly what I needed while trying to fall asleep. I stay awake a few more hours reflecting on the horrors I've already seen, and trying to prepare myself for the horrors to come. I think of Cora watching the games, maybe even watching me right now. I think of my dad, probably shitfaced somewhere right now. I think of Finnick. I feel guilty that he might be ripping his fingernails off over me right now, or bending over backwards trying to get me sponsors. But the thought of him comforting me, holding me in his arms, is the thought that helps me eventually drift off to sleep.

Authors Note: SOOOOO SORRY FOR SLOW UPDATES! I haven't given up on this story I promise I've just been so busy between school and sports😩 hope you're enjoying tho!