Queen of the Underground - Finnick Odair

3 - Worn out velvet

The interior of the town hall was quite different from the rest of District 12. The only reference to mining is the paintings on the walls but even these have a luxurious style. The entire room seems to be decorated with as many things as possible, even if they made the space impractical. Why would anyone want a tea table without chairs? The couch I was sitting on was a velvety scarlet color and it was the only piece of furniture with clear signs of wear in the entire room. 70 souls had sat on this chair, wearing it out with the restless bouncing of their feet. The door opens disturbing my peace like a draft of cold air in a warm house.

"Two minutes per unit of visitation" says a male voice. The Everdeen family and Gale are my visitors, Prim runs jumping into my lap while she chokes up crying. That kind of guttural cry that only children can produce, the one that even a psychopath would feel sorry for. Katniss looks at me tentatively until I reach out with my free arm and hug her over Prim.

"You can win, I know you can," Katniss says. I shake my head weakly. "Don't you understand Andrea? The Hunger Games are a show and you have the role of entertaining. You are beautiful and young with skills that no one would expect. Hunting, orientation and explosives. Use it to your advantage" she says trying to convince me.

"Katniss is right. You have more skills than anyone we've sent recently. Surprise them, confuse them," says Gale.

"Enough. I can't do it, you don't understand. Christenson already hates my guts and doesn't even know me. I have 23 enemies in there. I have to settle my stuff in the little time we have left" I take a sharp breath. "Katniss, my father's arch is under the staircase. Use it as a replacement if something happens to yours. My mother's jewelry and the money I have saved up are under my mattress, use it as you all seem fit. And the most important thing is that you do not buy tesserae, do you understand?" during this last phrase I look twards Gale and Katniss directly, they nod weakly but not very convinced. "Mrs. Everdeen, her daughters and the community needs you. Do something to improve, so that our deaths are not in vain." Her gaze remains lost on the colorful tiles of the floor.

"Gale when you enter the mine try to avoid the 6th and the 8th floors the materials are frail and I'm afraid they will colapse. They won't listen to what I have to say about it" he nods. His mud colored eyes are full of darkness almost like a shadow had magically being casted upon them when my name was called. "They are recruiting young children, try everything before  Vick or Rory end up underground, ok? Teach them how to hunt if necessary" I take a breath and a sob escapes my lips. His knees buckle underneath him as he hears me and falls into my side, burrying his face in my shoulder while his tears stain my dress.

"Andrea you are smart. Come up with a plan to come back here please" he says while not lifting his face. I cannot respond I could not, and even if I would the possibilities that it worked were slim to none. 

"Times up" says the same guard, knocking loudly on the door.

"Please take care of each other," I say, hugging the three of them. The guard's boots click against the floor and we break the sorrowful hug. I lean down to Prim and kiss her salty cheek. "If I win, I'll buy you a little animal, love," she smiles weakly at me and the three of them are directed toward the door. I wasn't expecting more visitors but just after they leave Castor Christenson and who I assume is his wife enter the room although they don't move in my direction. He takes off his cap and I make a gesture of taking off mine even though I wasn't wearing it.

"Jamie is afraid of you Andrómeda" I can't help but chuckle. "Laugh all you want but he knows you work like any adult in the mine and you are barely 55 inches tall. Poison can kill in small doses Voltaire" my gaze was fixed on the metallic one of the man who looked at me without an iota of compassion.

"I don't think crawling will get me very far, Castor. Desert, ice, forest. It is not useful anywhere typical. The future is unpredictable but I think your son can sleep peacefully on my part. I intend to do everything possible not to participate anyway" now it is his wife who laughs.

"Girl, they will force you somehow. Or do you think that no one has tried it? Being moral is forgotten by instinct at the moment of truth" she separates herself from her husband and advances towards me but still keeps herself about a meter infront of you"I feel sorry for you, girl, and I know that my son is stubborn like his father. Remember, his favorite color is green" I frown at Mrs. Christenson's statement.

"I don't think I understand what you are trying to tell me Miss"

"I hope you do understand it if the time comes" her gaze remains fixed on mine while her husband remains silent in the background.

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