Never In Your Favour

Victory

The morning was awfully cheery and sunny in the arena, for a day we all knew was going to change so many peoples' lives. It was shining in district four, too, which I did think was a good sign.
As the tributes from district two and seven marched around the outskirts of the cornucopia, the tension in the air was palpable. They met at the main path leading from the woods to the golden horn, and, as the cameras zoned in on his face, I could see Darius taking a long drink from the vial with the heart stamped over it. I assumed it would heal him as he fought. That would makes things very difficult. Just then, he pointed out a jabberjay on a branch behind Freya. As she turned around, the camera cut to the bird.
'Aha' Said Caesar, 'if only our recently departed tributes from eight and nine had noticed that little trick a bit earlier, some of them might still have been here now!'
Darius and Freya turned to face the cornucopia, and she moved to kiss him but he turned to her and said
'Wait... until he is dead. For me?'
She simply nodded.
This time, there was no battle cry, and no sarcastic comments. Darius and Freya walked forwards and Finnick greeted them with a simple nod.
Freya, of course, volatile as she was, charged first. She lunged at Finnick with her blade raised, slicing a chunk of his ruffled bronze hair clean off. Knife and trident clashed; the blunt end of the three pronged weapon crashed into her foot, making her yell out, but her knife slashed across his torso, spilling an inordinate amount of blood. She laughed, getting cocky for a moment. Capitalising on this, Finnick did a forward roll, ending up behind her, before bending her arm behind her back, and throwing her to the floor, holding the trident to her neck.
'Wait!' Darius cut in. 'Kill me, not her.'
'Darius no!' She cried in protest. 'You can win this.'
'Finnick Odair, I give you full permission to kill me, and by all means keep the trident where it is until you have done so, for, you know, bargaining power' he said, seeming to find difficulty in speaking through his tears.
'Just... let me kiss her, one more time?'
I could see Finnick's eyes. He knew how important a last kiss could be, so he nodded.
Darius approached the frightened girl, and crouched beside her, placing a hand behind her head and running his hands through her dark hair. He leant down, and ever so gently kissed her.
It was then that the footage cut back to earlier in the day. The image was slightly faded, like a hazy memory, but we could now clearly see what Darius was doing whilst Freya was distracted by the Jabberjay. After drinking from the first vial, he smeared the liquid from the second over his mouth. Then the footage cut back to the previous day, and the note he had received from his mentor:
'The heart is an antidote, the skull is poison. Do with this what you see to be right.'
'My god.' Said Flickerman, as the cameras cut back to the arena in the present. 'Is this the ultimate betrayal?'
'Goodby Freya.' Smiled Darius, as he finished the kiss.
Her smile turned into a look of fear, as she felt the poison begin to seep into her bloodstream. It was quick acting, and Finnick watched in horror, as the girl began to foam at the mouth as Darius stood up to face him again.
Their eyes were locked as the canon fired.
'I couldn't let you steal that kill from me. It was the only thing keeping me going.'

They circled each other, never taking their eyes off the boy that was both their predator and prey. Darius had a sword drawn, but his left hand twitched at his back, yearning to reach for his bow. He began to advance, pushing Finnick ever-closer to the Cornucopia. In a Split second decision, Finnick turned and scrambled up the side of the golden horn, using the grips he had found from his days inhabiting the place. By the time he was on top, Darius had his bow drawn. He had five arrows left.
1
Finnick ducked at the arrow sailed over his head.
2
Finnick moved to the side a split second too late, and the arrow lodged itself firmly into his left arm.
3
He jumped straight over the arrow and it lodged in a tree far off.
4
Finnick made a spectacular front flip, and the arrow just grazed his nose, but he caught it, and waved it tauntingly in Darius' face.
'Looking for this?'
The boy from seven halted. He glared, seizing his final arrow, and sprinting to the golden horn, scaling it on the opposite end to Finnick. They now faced each other; Darius with one arrow and a knife, Finnick with his net and trident. Darius lined up his shot with Finnick's heart, and walked to the centre of the top of the horn.
Finnick tossed his net just as the arrow flew. The projectile sailed through one of the holes in the vines, and, although it didn't hit his heart, landed right in the centre of Finnick's chest. He knew better than to pull it right out, and instead staggered towards the middle, where Darius was desperately trying to free himself of the vine woven snare. Finnick was clearly dazed, as he stumbled around, clutching his head and his bare chest around where the second arrow had penetrated him. He only had the strength to raise the trident a few inches above his head. He paused.
He stared down at Darius, who was utterly still, and staring up at him from under then net.
'Please Finnick. Make it fast.'
That seemed to give him the strength he needed to bring down a devastating blow that went straight through Darius and into the roof of the cornucopia. Their eyes still met even in the last moments.
'Ladies and gentlemen, May I present to you, the winner of the 65th hunger games! Mr Finnick Odair!'

~~

Naturally, there was a huge celebration in district four that night, and I of course enjoyed it more than anyone. My Finnick was coming home! Generally, the victors had two days of rest, followed by the day of the interview and game highlights, then a day of travel, before coming home. That meant he would arrive a day before his birthday! I couldn't be happier.

The next two days passed like a dream, and it wasn't long before highlight and interview day arrived. The usual tacky show music played as Flickerman strutted out with an insufferable grin and began to speak.
'Well well, what a two weeks it's been! I don't think any of us were surprised when our dashing young victor pulled through! You all love him, and I must say I am totally here for it, haha! Now I'm sure you'll be excited to hear that I have the man himself here with me tonight, for the annual exclusive interview with the victor of the games! I present to you, winner of the 65th hunger games... Finnick Odair!'
He raised a hand to the side door of the stage, and there, outlined by what must have been every light in the entirety of Panem, was my Finnick. He wore nothing on his chest, but his stylist had made the choice to put him in the same smart trousers he wore in his original interview. He grinned as he took the chair next to Caesar, running a hand through his regrown hair, and flashing his perfect teeth.
'Wow, just wow.' Gasped Flickerman, staring at Finnick, then the audience. 'How can a boy so dashing be so lethal? Tell me Finnick, what is your secret.'
He stared at Caesar, seriously.
'Well, in the games you have to drop all your feelings about humanity. When you're out there, you can't be a normal person. You're doing what you're doing because you have to. Otherwise you'll die - that's just the brutal fact of it.'
'Well spoken.... Now, you're the youngest victor we've had in the history of the games! That must make you feel pretty special, huh?'
'Dyou mean special in the sense that I'm the youngest murderer you've had? Well, only just. I happen to be turning fifteen the day after tomorrow.'
'Uh well... the youngest victor let's say, hmm? Fifteen? That's exciting isn't. Now, how about that special lady waiting for you at home, will you be with her when you return in all of your glory?'
'I hope so.' Finnick said, looking right at the camera. 'If you're watching, I can't wait to see you again.'
'You really won't tell us who this girl is?'
'Oh, I really won't.' Said Finnick with a chuckle.
'I see, well, no matter how persuasive I think I am, it seems I really can't get this out of you. Now, as you all know, this year, the crowning is set to take place after the interviews and highlights, so make sure you tune in at eight this evening! Let's start with the first day! Memories, death and glory, it's all to come in this exclusive showing offff 'THE HUNGER GAMES HIGHLIGHTS'.
As usual, the 'show' started with the anthem, and the usual video about why the hunger games took place every year. Shots of the Capitol and footage of the rebellion played, showing crying widows and dead husbands. We were reminded once more of how much we owed the Capitol, even though they had already taken so much from us.
Then began the footage from the reaping. Naturally, the first three districts all had volunteers. Actually, this year marked the first in 10 years where district four did not provide volunteer tributes. It was sickening watching all those children walk to the stage, knowing they were all dead but one. If even a pair from one district were allowed to win, it would be so much less heartbreaking.
Throughout the footage of the games, Flickerman asked Finnick his opinions on the other tributes. His voice caught a little when Freya was mentioned.
'I didn't know her well,' he replied, 'but I know that what Darius did was wrong. I would never, never pretend to love someone and use that to kill them. That's a new level of barbarism.'
'Spoken like a true Romeo.'
After a few hours of this, I couldn't watch any more. It was so obvious that Finnick hated seeing any tribute get harmed, let alone seeing himself murder those innocent children. When I saw the tears rolling down his face at the death of Joyce, as he watched how he stabbed her, I switched the set off and passed the time in the ocean until the crowning at eight.
Flickerman opened the screening again, talking about something to do with Finnick having had a special meeting with President Snow prior to the ceremony. I wondered what that could've been to do with.
Nevertheless, as Finnick emerged in his triumphal robes and had the beautiful golden headpiece set on his brow by Snow, I couldn't help but gasp. He looked so majestic, and it made me truly realise how much I yearned for his presence in my life again. After all he had been through in the games I wanted to hold him.
I did notice however, that as Snow placed the circlet on Finnick, the boy flinched a little. That only made me ever more concerned as to the content of their 'special meeting.' That, however, I thought was a matter that could wait until we had been properly reunited.
As the anthem played and the after party began, I headed off to bed, wishing the next travel day would pass swiftly, so the following evening would come, and I could see him again.