Invisible String || Finnick Odair

i.

The water is where district 4 resided. It's where the little children grew up playing in the salty beaches. Where the sea meets land, and sand fills the void between water and stone. It's where two kids in particular used to sit every night, for 9 years until the annual Hunger Games commenced.

When Finnick Odair was 14, he was ripped away from his best friend. Elenora was only 12 when her other half left, and the water is where she stayed. Within the silence and the waves crashing along shore, Elenora would stand and listen after the broadcast announced a death, and would pray that it wouldn't be Finnick.

When she had heard the announcement that the winner of the the 65th Hunger Games was hers truly, she was distraught. She waited by the beach until she could hear his footsteps, and the two were united once more.

That was, until the 68th hunger games, only 3 years later when the pair were separated once more, when Elenora was picked as female tribute during the reaping. The pair had to be pulled apart by capital soldiers when she had to enter the arena, as the both of them knew the odds of her surviving were low.

The girl who could barely kill a fish was being sent into a stadium designed for killing. During her days it the arena, sponsors admired her awareness and skills as she trapped multiple tributes, including the careers from districts 1-3, in nets made from vines in their jungle scape. There, she only seriously hurt one, who she decapitated with her machete due to them cutting through the net.

She'd disarmed the rest of them, and forced them to eat nightlock, which ultimately allowed her to win her games, as every other tribute was gone. To say the least, the capital was in awe. She had been cautious and determined since the beginning, but yet enraged and ruthless to the end.

When her and Finnick had been reunited, the two were engulfed in each other's arms for hours, as they thought they'd never see each other again. After that, the two lived their normal life, mentoring other tributes together every year, with in total having 1 tribute each win their games.

Since Finnick parents had died during a shipping accident, the boy grew up and lived with the Jaune's, Elenora's mother and father, Harold and Mathilde, practically saw how the two loved each other.

And no, not sibling or friendship love. True love. Soulmates. Twin flames. Two people who would never be separated, and have the desire to always be with the other.

Annie Cresta was a local girl in the village who had been the winner for the games prior to Elenoras, and she had also been one of her mentors. Now, minus the fact Mags who'd also been one of her mentors, convinced Dalton, her district partner, that nightlock was safe to eat and got him killed, was rooting for Elenora since the beginning.

Annie had taught everything Finnick had forgotten or didn't teach to Elenora, and even included some tips for manipulating the high risk tributes they were allies to get them taken care of at the end. Which is what happened, only she wasn't so gentle with them as Ziva, the female tribute from 10, was the one to initiate the first kill on Elenora.

Clearly, she had failed as Elenora was currently walking along the beach in a hidden cove with Finnick, but that led Elenora to stabbing her in the chest with one of her arrows multiple times. Her first kill scared her the most to say the least, and she was grateful she only had to kill some like that only once more.

The rest of the tributes were either killed by careers or mutts, as leopards roamed the jungle biome everywhere minus the mile radius surrounding the cornucopia.

Post games, the then 15 year old was brought on the victor tour, which was torture as she wanted to go home, and then was lead to the capital for her victor dinner. Once she finally got home, she decided she and Finnick would live in her newer built victor home together, and use Finnick's for whatever, whenever.

The two always minded their business for the 6 years after Elenoras games, keeping to themselves and the Jaune family. But, the other victors and people through the busy district were eager for the two to become a so called couple.

They always held hands, spoke in sync on accident, got flustered by each other's flirty comments, and not to mention that they live in the same house.

Currently, the two were buying bread from district 12 at their bakery in the middle of town. While they were in mid conversation, gasps started coming from townspeople nearby.

The two stopped mid sentence and looked to see the commotion. Capital guards were walking towards the pair, and then requested the two followed them as it's was time for the 75th Annual Hunger Games reaping.

The two stood in the district dome at the center of the town, as they announced the typical game rules.

"Amid the last games rebellious acts, the two tributes picked will be from the group of victors from previous games. The reaping will commence in 5 minutes." The speaker announced, causing Finnick and Elenora to look at eachother from the opposite sides of the stage. Finnick was amongst 3 other males in their side, and Elenora was amongst 2 others, Annie and Mags. She knew either way, Mags and Annie wouldn't make it through the games.

Her main idea was to either A. get picked, or B. volunteer for Annie or Mags. Annie had a fiancé at home, and was expecting their first child within the next 3 months. Mags was an older lady who couldn't speak due to the impact her games had on her. She was the only option. No matter what male tribute was selected, she was going to make sure she was the female tribute.

"Now, welcome everybody to the reaping of the 75th Annual Hunger Games. May the odds ever be in your favor victors. For the male tribute of district 4," there was a pause as the woman pulling the names struggled to grab a paper and open it. "Finnick Odair." She read aloud.

He walked across the stage with a grin on her face, as she raised his hand in the air. The crowd went feral for the 24 year old as he was the best shot the district had to win. Besides, he was also the capitals prized jewel.

"Now, for the female tribute of district 4. Annie Cresta." She read from the paper. Annie started to cry and go into Mags side. Mags went to raise her hand and volunteer, as she started to raise it, Elenora pushed it down and stepped infront of her.

"I volunteer as tribute." She announced, causing Finnick to look at the girl like she was crazy. He knew that them being apart would break the both of them, but he couldn't help but feel as if these games could go poorly wrong for the both of them.

"Ooh! Very well then, you're tributes for district 4. Finnick Odair and Elenora Jaune!" The crowd went wild as the two looked at each other, for both hopes the two would return, or they realize the undying love they had for each other.

Mathilde was distraught as she watched her only child and her son figure be escorted onto the train by capitol guards. She sobbed into Horan's chest, and he comforted his wife as he watched the train leave the station. The two stayed there until everyone else had left, and they were the only two still amongst the dome, felling as if they had nobody left.

On the train, Finnick was pacing as he waited for Elenora to enter the main compartment. When she did, he looked at her in disbelief. "Why would you do that? Why would you volunteer?!" He said, slightly raising his voice. Mags and Annie were in their shared compartment, and they could tell the two would be talking for quite some time.

"I couldn't let Annie go in there Finnick! She pregnant and has a fiancé waiting for her at home. And mags barely survived her games, and now look at her! She shouldn't even be worrying about this stuff! She should be sitting at home knitting or doing cross word puzzles!" The girl argued back. Finnick could now understand her point, but still was slightly annoyed with her actions.

"Nora, I can't lose you in that arena. If you die, I won't be able to live with myself."

"And I won't die. I'll be right by your side the whole time, alright?" She comforted, embracing him in a hug while the sat down on the sofa. "There's going to be 2 victors this year, and that will be the 2 of us, ok? We'll make it through this, I promise." She comforted.

"Your shouldn't make promises you can't keep." He muttered in her shoulder. She grabbed his face with the two of her hands, looking at him in the eyes. His sad eyes showed a small spark of admiration as they scanned her facial features.

"It's a promise I know i'll stay true to."

12/3/23