𝔞𝔪𝔭𝔥𝔦𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔢 ✩ 𝔣𝔦𝔫𝔫𝔦𝔠𝔨 𝔬𝔡𝔞𝔦𝔯

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CHAPTER FOUR

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All of a sudden, Odelya found herself slowly climbing up the stairs to the daunting stage. Such a simple action seemed almost impossible under such circumstances. Ever so aware was she of the noise made by her strapped heels clicking against the polished wooden floor.

Hundreds of eyes were on her, not one of a flattering nature, just one of pure pity. Pity for the girl being sent for a bloody execution like her parents and her siblings, pity for the brother who would soon be bereaved of his entire family.

Pity was meaningless to her.

A thousand thoughts swarmed her mind, thoughts of the ocean and the pure freedom which it immersed her soul with. Thoughts of her family, with whom the majority she was soon be reunited in the heavens.

Thoughts of the bluebells which Mama used to plant in the patch of now upturned grass behind their home - if by any miracle Odelya were to survive, she would never let a single flower perish once again.

Her eyes upturned to view those who stood upon the stage waiting for her: Tarquinia, of course, a hideously extravagant woman. The mayor of District Four, a mere cowardly puppet in the Capitol's show, and the two living victors: Mags Flanagan and Finnick Odair.

Odelya knew the elderly victor as though she were her own grandmother, even before they met Finnick had enthralled her with tales of Mags' kindness and generosity. She knew that Mags had taken in Finnick after the loss of his parents and raised him as her own. Also, that she baked the children of the District mince pies every Christmas and even housed lonely orphans over the holidays. Whenever she was around Finnick's lovely home, Mags was often there also, cooking something delicious and offering signs of wisdom to the two.

Oh, Finnick. Her beloved sunshine had looked so devastatingly distraught when her name had been read out. He stood up in horror and let out a cry of agony in ignorance of the cameras watching his every move. Finnick had tear streaks on his golden face as he watched her ascend the staircase.

Of course, Odelya recalled his games in her nightmares, he was the youngest victor in the history of the Hunger Games and was skilled with fighting using a trident, especially in water.

But her Finnick had played such a vital role in her life since her schooldays, he was in her class and especially memorable was he from the training sessions they were rather literally forced to partake in.

Fast friends had they became, especially after he had bandaged Odelya's knee up after he she had been injured by a horrible boy in training. Said boy wouldn't turn up to the next session of training, there were rumours that he was at home with a concussion.

Odelya was under no illusion as to who had delivered such an injury to the boy.

He would not be the only one to not show at school, for after Finnick's games there was no such sighting of him within the school grounds. Some thought he was too enamoured with his Capitol lovers, some thought he was too infatuated with his newfound wealth to remember his humble roots.

Anyone with any level of intelligence knew the only true love Finnick had in his heart was held for a certain mermaid.

"Come now, my dear, no need to be frightened," Tarquinia said in an immensely patronising tone, reminding Odelya that she had seemed to stop halfway up the stairs.

Finnick looked as though he wanted to reach out to her, hold her in his arms one time again before she became a fellow pawn in the Capitol's sadistic game. But he didn't, for he couldn't.

An awkward little walk later, she was stood to Tarquinia's left, facing a sea of faces, she couldn't seem to make out Reign. He was the only person there of whom mattered.

"Now, time for the boys," Tarquinia swung her hips as she strutted like a peacock over to an identical glass bowl, now filled with thousands of blue slips.

"And, the lucky male from District Four is... oh dear, Reign Castellan."

No.

Odelya prayed to the God of the Ocean that this was some cruel mockery, that her baby brother, the only family she had left, was not to be sent to a brutal death alongside her.

She wanted to cry out for Reign, to scream for him to run, hide, escape from this evil world. But it was no use, soundless words escaped from her lips.

How luckless could one family be? Four children, four reaped. Reign was the baby of the Castellan household - he was her lifeline, the only person who got her through the darkest of days.

Odelya had promised him his safety. She should have known that such a promise could not be fulfilled.

However, a great miracle sounded as soon as Reign began to make his way to the stage to join his sister.

"I volunteer as tribute."

Relief encompassed her, yet the fury from which fuelled her previously still lingered. Yet, this time was directed inwards at herself. Of course, Reign had his safety guaranteed for another year but this poor boy, brave boy, had willingly dug his own grave.

But this guilt for the solace caused by such courageousness was also replaced with the sense that such a boy was the newfound hero of her heart, for he had saved her brother from such an abhorrent fate.

Odelya recognised the boy almost instantaneously, despite not having spoken to him for the past few years. He was a kind boy for doing this for Reign and herself - there was absolutely zero doubt in her mind as to his reasoning.

His hair was coloured similar to that of a raven, which she remembered as he stepped out from the crowd to march his way up to the stage. He had rather piercing, emerald green eyes and his jawline was that of something which could cut glass.

Climbed the stairs did he much faster than Odelya had, and he took confident strides across the stage to take his place at the right side of Tarquinia.

"Well, well, it looks like District Four has a very special volunteer. What's your name, my dear?"

"Apollo Loire."

"And why did you volunteer today, Mr Loire?"

"Because siblings don't deserve to get caught up in a fucking genocide."

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