Capital Nights

Episode 14 ~ A Plan in Motion

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Adrian and I both get off work from the week before the reaping till after our tributes die in the games. If one of our tributes wins, we get an extra few weeks off. We spend the week of the reaping running a tournament with the academy's seniors to see who gets to volunteer for the games. It's an unspoken rule that whoever we pick is the one that will volunteer but if someone volunteers before them at the reaping then there's technically nothing we can do about it.

Of course Rian gets chosen as our male volunteer. His training has plateaued over the last year but we promised Caesar to deliver him to the games. The girl's name is Carissa and she's top of her class. It's an exciting year when we get two trained volunteers, so Adrian is excited to mentor.

I've agreed to take over Mags's spot as a mentor and will be in charge of Carissa this year. I told Adrian I don't want to mentor Rian alone and he didn't question it. Even he knows Rian is a lot to handle.

The day of the reaping is here and Adrian and I make our way to the square early to meet up with Apple. She's dressed like various citrus fruits this year which is kind of ironic.

We take our seats on stage as the ceremony starts. Adrian and I don't make eye contact with the crowd but I catch a glimpse of Rian in the 18 year olds section. He towers above everyone else and already has his ruthless persona on for the cameras.

Carissa looks fierce too. I gave her a pep talk last night and she seems excited for the games. She told me it's an honor to fight for District 4.

"Welcome everyone," Apple starts as she announces the 65th Hunger Games and plays the war video. She quickly moves on to the drawing of the names after the video finishes.

"Samantha James," she calls.

"I volunteer as tribute!"

Carissa makes her way to the stage, standing tall and proud. She introduces herself to the crowd and Apple seems pleased with an eager tribute.

"Now for the boys," she calls.

"Theodo..."

"I volunteer as tribute!"

I expect to see Rian make his way to the stage but when I see Finnick walking up my face goes pale. I glance at Rian and he's furious. We may need peacekeepers to escort Finnick around until we leave so Rian doesn't kill him on the spot.

Why would he do this?

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In the justice building I'm met with a frantic Annie and Cliff. Thankfully, Adrian made sure to tell the peacekeepers not to let Rian back here for everyone's safety.

"You have to bring him home!" Annie cries as she hugs me. Cliff is even sniffling.

"Did you know he was going to volunteer?" I ask them. They both shake their heads no.

"Please try," Cliff tells me.

"I will try my hardest," I tell them.

"He's good with tridents!" Cliff tells me. "He uses them to fish every day!"

"He's also good at the knots you taught us," Annie states. "He's been practicing."

Adrian comes over to let me know it's time for us to board the train and I give a brief goodbye to Annie and Cliff. The two look devastated over their friend volunteering.

When I get on the train I immediately ask Adrian if he knew Finnick was going to volunteer before Rian.

"No clue, honestly," he said. "I'm just as upset as you are."

"In a way I'm relieved," I confess to Adrian. "I don't think Rian would have won." Adrian doesn't disagree with that.

"At the same time," I continue. "I worry for everyone's safety around him now. He's pissed." Adrian hums in agreement as Apple brings our tributes onto the train.

We sit down to eat in the dining car, no introductions needed. The meal is awkward and tense. Carissa is less than thrilled about Finnick's presence. Finnick is quiet and staring at his plate. Does he regret his decision? Or is he scared of what we have to say about it?

When the meal is done I pull Finnick aside.
"Are you mad at me?" he asks.

"Why'd you do it?" I ask back. He almost looks sad.

"I told you I had a plan to help you," he sniffles. I can't help but feel bad for him. He volunteered for me but if I knew this was his plan I would have stopped him.

"How is this helping?" I ask him, a bit annoyed.

"I'm gonna win," he tells me. "And after I win I can beat his ass so he never hits you again."

I groan in disbelief. The kid is adorable in his thinking but also incredibly stupid.

"Finnick I admire your efforts to get me out of my relationship but don't you think it would have been easier if we sent him into the arena? So he could die there?" I ask the boy.

He looks a bit dumbfounded by this.
"I guess that would have been easier," he sighs, realization hitting him. "Am I going to die in there?"

"Not if I can help it," I tell him. "Now let's go talk strategy."

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The next week goes by in a blur. Both Finnick and Carissa are well received by the capital. He keeps telling people he volunteered to beat my record of being the youngest ever victor from District 4, at 15 years and 9 months old. If he won he would be the youngest to ever win the games at 14 years and 3 weeks old.

Carissa warmed up to Finnick and has accepted him into the career pack with Districts 1 and 2. He scored a 9 on his eval so the rest of the group decided to take a chance on him. I warned him not to trust any of them and leave at the first sign of danger. Adrian and I have secured a lot of sponsors so if he needs to split off we can supply him.

Both of our tribute's interviews went well. Carissa went for the charming and alluring girl angle and Finnick went for the cheeky and fun boy. His stylist wanted to push a sexy angle but he's 14 so I wouldn't allow it. He's just a child, and the third youngest heading into the arena this year.

The night before the arena we give them both a final pep talk. They seem nervous so Adrian and I do our best to reassure them. How did Mags do it for so long? It's hard to instill confidence in your tributes when you know at least one, or probably both, are going to die in the next few days.

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We take our tributes up to the roof of the tribute center so they can board the hovercraft. Carissa gives Adrian and I a thankful nod before boarding. Finnick beams at both of us as he says, "I'll see you in two weeks."