crashing waves (finnick odair)

Chapter 3: Promises, Promises

Finnick's P.O.V.

I feel like choking as I watch her face. The blood drains from Celeste's cheeks, and her already fair skin goes ghastly pale. The girl next to her is worse though, shaking and ill and about to faint.

I hate myself for being grateful it wasn't Celeste's name that was called. After everything, all I've done-

"I volunteer as tribute."

What the fu-

Bile rises in my throat as black spots dance in the corners of my eyes. I try to breathe, but the only air that comes in are wheezes. I cannot make any of it obvious. My smile is plastered on, but I feel my entire being crack and crumble.

No, no, no. This is a nightmare. This cannot be happening.

Existing in a living nightmare well and truly is the only explanation.

But how is this a nightmare when she looks so damn beautiful? I think bitterly as I watch Celeste approach the stage. The light breeze is tinged with salt, and it helps her light purple dress flutter as she walks.

She looks like her mind is anywhere but here. Celeste stares ahead of her and nowhere else. Her movements are stiff, and her breathing is shallow. Her eyes tremble, but nothing else does. I'm proud of her. She looks strong. I know her well enough to know she's afraid, but to everyone else? She is as unrelenting as the sea.

She climbs the stairs to the stage, and she won't look at me. My fingers go to the weight in my pocket, and my stomach drops. I was going to give it to her after. I had promised...

It seems plans change.

"Well, aren't you a beautiful young lady?" the idiotic, annoying district escort Yelena squeals into the microphone. Celeste can't help but side-eye her, which makes me smirk. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

"Celeste Vale," Celeste says monotonously into the microphone that is shoved into her face. A chill runs down my spine at the finality of it all.

Yelena hums, thinking. She clicks her fingers and taps her shoes, shaking her heavy head of lime-green curls all the while. Celeste just stares straight ahead. I follow her line of sight. The ocean is visible in the distance.

That's nice.

"Vale, Vale...I know that name," Yelena ponders. She gasps suddenly. "Oh! Yes, that's it! Last year, District 4 had a Vale! Were you related, by chance?"

Celeste gives her the coldest glare I have ever seen. It actually manages to frighten me. For a moment, I have a thought that I'm mildly ashamed of: Good, sponsors will see this and think she's capable of killing. As poorly-timed as it is for the moment, however, I'm not wrong...

There goes my year off mentoring, I think with a sigh. Hudson, who was going to take his turn mentoring this year, and I make eye contact. His eyes widen in realization when I glance quickly at Celeste and back at him before inquisitively inclining my head, and he nods.

Easy enough.

"He was my older brother."

I wince at the sound of her voice. It's razor-sharp and hard as rock, and she sounds like she would strangle Yelena where she stands if she could. Still, ever unable to read the fucking room, Yelena giggles with delight and does perhaps the stupidest thing ever by clapping.

Celeste seems completely unmoored from reality, and I don't blame her.

"Well, he was remarkable! Perhaps you'll be just as promising of a tribute as he was!" Yelena rambles. She leans into Celeste and shoves the microphone into her face, eagerly awaiting a response. "What do you think? Do you suppose you'll be anything like him?"