A fate worse than death~~A Finnick Odair story~~

5. Naha

"Wait you did what?!"
"I kissed it!! I thought it would turn into a prince, how could you know that only happened in fairy tales!!"

We had shared stories around the dinner table to calm our nerves. Tomorrow we would have our private lessons and I was terrified!!
I mean yes, I could somewhat throw knives and spears, but what I was technically good at wouldn't be worth any points. The game makers apparently didn't like watching people weave together fiching nets.

I was screwed.

Jamie on the other hand seemed to have the opposite problem, he didn't know which ability to select, which one was best and would give him the most points. But he seemed to lean mostly toward the sword.

Most likely he had learned it at the academy, but on the off chance that I happened to be wrong, I had chosen not to ask.
"Elizabeth?"
It was Mags and my focus immediately shifted to the older woman.
"What do you think the you will be showing?"
"I think, I think I'm going to throw things."
"Throw thing? What kind of things do we talking about?!"
Finnick was immediately on guard, but knowing Mags already knew what I meant, I couldn't help it.

"Oh you know, vases, knives, stuff like that, a really good show!"
"I can't decide whether I should laugh or cry for the gamemakers."
He know, the smile playing at the corners of his mouth had already revealed him.

~~~

Then it was time. A terrified feeling filled my stomach as I sat in the waiting room with the other tributes. I consoled myself with the fact that I wasn't the youngest, that must mean I wouldn't be the worst, right? Jamie must have sensed my nerves, because he took a light hold of my hand and squeezed it. "You'll be great Lizzy."
He whispered.
Then he had to let me go, it was his turn.

I was stressed, I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream, bite my nails, just do something!
But I couldn't. I couldn't show the other tributes how god dame scared I was. Not hear.
I couldn't, I wouldn't!

Then he came out.
Jaime was done, I met his gaze and he smiled back at me. I didn't know if it was because things had gone well for him, or if it was to reassure me, but in that moment I didn't care. I stood up and walked through the door which closed behind me.

I stepped into the middle of the room and looked up at the small box in the wall where they sat.
They were enjoying some kind of cake and didn't seem the least bit interested in me.
"Elizabeth Whitmore, District Four."

After stating my name and district I went to the knivestande I picked up three and then went ahead and brought a spear too.
Then I walket to a target, putting a good distance between me and it.
Then I put the spear down, stood as Jamie had taught me, and threw.

The first one in the stomach, then second in the throat and the last one in the head. I was really proud of myself, it had taken me almost a week to learn, but I had done it, it was better than what I had performed in training and when I stood to face the box while pick up the spear, I saw it.

No one was looking. No one was interested in me, not even a little, I had just done my best and it wasn't enough to even catch their interest. Irritated, I shouted.
"Hello!!"
No reaction, no one evan cared.

So before I could even think about what I was doing, I had planted my feet firmly and thrown my spear. It hit the wall, about half a foot from someone's face and now, now everyone was staring at me in.

"At least look at me before you kill me!! And remember my name!! Remember Elizabeth Whitmore!!"

Then I went out. I didn't make it more than out the doors, away from the game makers and the other tributes, before I threw myself into Jamie's arms. He had been waiting for me outside and now I was crying, I was crying and shaking, quite sure that just now hade signed my own death sentence.

~~~

That evening we ate in silence. I didn't know if it was because everyone was as nervous as I was, or if it was because of something else. We made quick work of dinner and then settled in front of the TV, everyone except Finnick who first went to fix himself a drink. So as he sat down Jamie said in a joking tone.

"Aren't you too young for that?!"
He smiled widely, but Finnick didn't, Finnick didn't smile at all, instead he just said.
"No."
In the most monotone tone I've ever heard.
"Okay jeez, I was just kidding."
But Finnick still didn't smile and we remained in a now awkward silence.

So the TV turned on and we were greeted by Caesar Flickerman's face. "Welcome welcome welcome! To the scoring of the 66th Hunger Games, with me your amazing vers Caesar Flickerman!!"
The audience's aplouds sounded like roar and Caesar smiled widely.
"Let's get started, shall we?"
More aplouds.

Both the boy and the girl from district one got elevens. District 2, 10 and 9. District 3, a 9 and 5. At five the crowd booed, but it had been given to the boy, the boy who looked to be even younger than me.

"Now on District 4, last year's winner!!"
Aplouds.
"Handsome Jamie Petters has got, drum roll please!!"
We all sat and held our breath, even Evernis had joined us.
"A 10!!"
We cheered and almost screamed in joy at Jamie's number, but then Caesar continued.

"And sweet little Elizabeth Whitmore has got!!"
Here too, he stopped for dramatic effect.
But as long as it wasn't lower than a fifth, I'd consider myself lucky.
Jamie held my hand tightly and finally Caesar opened his mouth again.
"An 11!!!!"
Evernis clapped her hands, Mags and Finnick cheered, Jamie hugged me and I just stared at the screen in disbelief, but there it was, a picture of me with a big 11, I had gotten an 11.

All the other tributes just floated by, but I didn't care.
Evernis said we should celebrate and Jamie agreed, so we did.

Later that night there was another gentle knock on my door.
"Come in."
Finnick opened it and leaned against the door frame.
"I belive congratulations is in order." "Thanks."
"Now what did you do?"
"Huh?"
"To get an 11, for real I mean."

I almost felt a little insulted, at his words, did he meen that I couldn't have gotten an 11 for my knife and spearskills?!
"Nothing, or what I said!"
He entered my room and sat next to me on the bed.
"You're a lousy liar."
"I do not lie!"
"Elizabeth?"
"Okay fine, maybe I changed the target!!"

He frovned at my words.
"What, there wasn't much targets to choose from, was there?!"
"Yes..."
"Elizabeth!"
"There were lots of faces..."
"Did you throw a knife at the game makers!!"

"No!!.......It was a spear."
"Elizabeth!!"
"What!"
"What do you meen what, you threw a spear at them!"
"You're the one who said make an impression, make them remember you!! Those were your words!!"
"But I didn't mean--!"
"It worked didn't it, I got a fricking 11!"
"Well, yes, but, uhh God I can't bear to have this conversation now!"
"Would it kill you to say good job?!" "Yes!"

And with a smile on his face and those as parting words, he started to walk towards the door.
"I'm not going to let you have the last word in this!!"
"Too late!"
"Naha!"
"Yaha!"
"Naha!"
"Yaha!"
"Nah--."
"Don't forget the interview tomorrow!!"
And with that he closed the door behind him.
"Stupid prick."
"I can hear you!!"
Shit!
"You don't say!"

In her bed, Mags smiled to herself. She could hear the young ones arguing through the door and it only made her happy.
They sounded like children, they sounded like what they were supposed to be.
It had been a long time since she had heard Finnick like that.
Not since,
that one day, the fathfull day when he hade came home to an empty house in the Victory Village.