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

6. Shades of blue

It wasn't until breakfast the next day that I realized what was about to happen in earnest. Instead, I would be sent into an arena to gett killed, all while an entire city watched for entertainment. Just the thought of it made me shake with fear which in turn led to me spilling the hot tea I just drank onto my hand. I gasped for breath and everyone's eyes shifted to me.
"Elizabeth?"
Jamie looked at me questioningly.
"I'm fine, it's fine, may I be excused?" They looked at me surprised at first, none of us had asked before, and I didn't know why I was asking now, but when Mags nodded I got off my chair and rushed into the nearest toilet.

I rinsed my hand in cold water, there were no blisters, but my hand turned a bright red color. Great, exactly what I needed.

~~~

The day is spent getting ready for the upcoming interview. Finnick and Mags coached us in what we could say, and just like before the parade we were thoroughly scrubbed and pumperd.

Someone painted my nales a pale pink shimmer, while another messed with my hair. My stylist, who I now learned was called Silvers, oversaw every little thing. No one was allowed to so much as move a hair without her approval.
"Elizabeth darling you are just going to love your dress!! I designed it just for you of course!!"
I just nodded in response.
"So so, that's enough, everyone out!! It's time for the dress!!"

Everyone who had helped her make me presentable disappeared immediately. It struck me then, that for being such a small woman, Silvers could command a lot of respect, I didn't really know why, but it felt like it somehow gave me hope.

After some worke on Silver's part, I finally stood there in front of the mirror. The dress was large, just the skirt itself was seven layers of lace, all in different shades of blue to give the illusion of the sea and the way it shifted in different tones of blue. The top was an illusion neckline, also in blue, and as I stood there in front of the mirror I couldn't help but run my fingers along the fabric of the dress.

"Do you like it?"
Silvers asked, and I thought I sensed a tinge of  worry in her voice.
"I look like a princess."
"I would say mermaid, but princess works too."
I jumped at his voice.
"Finnick, how long have you--."
"Long enough."
He smiled at me, surely to calm my now racing heart before continuing. "You've outdone yourself Silvers, but would they mind if I got some time alone with my tribute?"
"Ohh thank you. Uhh yes of course Mister Odair."
And with that, she walked out, closing the door behind her.

"They make you look older than you are."
"Whh, ahh, I liked the dress."
"Not just the dress, everything, all the makeup, you're only 12 for God's sake!"
"And you're 14, what's your point!"
"I'm almlste 15, and a victor."
"Well okay, I'm 13 then thank you very much!"
"Your birthday hasn't pass--, uhh forget it! I didn't come here to argue." "Yes, why did you come here."
"To escort you to the interview, and..." "And?"

"To give you this."
He pulled out a gold colored necklace from one of his pockets and I almost lost my breath. Except for the ring, I had never received a piece of jewelry. "Give me your hand."
"Why?"
"For God's sake Lizzy you must always contradict me!"
"Yes."
But still I reached out my hand.

So very gently, he took the ring sitting on my middle finger.
"Hey! That's actually mine!"
But he didn't answer, instead he just held out a finger.
"Turn around."
"Wh--."
"Lizzy!"

I turned around without any more contradictions and when he carefully threading the chain around my neck, I understood what he wanted to do with my ring.
"I thought maybe it would be better to wear it around your neck, since it was a little big."
How had he konwn?
But for once I didn't ask, instead I just said.
"Thanks."
"It's nothing, really."

So we stood there in front of the mirror. He so close that I could feel his breath against my skin and I, with my eyes fixed on the girl in the mirror in front of me.

Finnick was the first to break the silence.
"We should go, you don't want to let the capital wait do you?"
Carefully, I stepped down from the rise in the floor I was standing on and took his outstretched arm.
"That depends, do you think it would have made an impression?" "Probably, but maybe not for the better."
With that he led the way towards the stage.
The way towards my last night before death.

~~~

"Welcome to the stage, Elizabeth Whitmore!!"

When Caesar says my name I started walking. I came on stage and was immediately greeted by a blinding light, then probably hundreds of people.
"Elizabeth come sit down!!"
"Thanks."
I almost slapped my hand over my mouth at my answer.
Who on earth answered like that!!

But I was nervous, and nothing I said made sens enny more.
"So Elizabeth, can you tell me, how old are you?"
"I'm almost 13."
"Ohh, almost a teenager!! Those years are tough, am I right people!!"
The audience cheered to their heart's content and I felt so extremely small where I sat.

"Do you have any family?"
"Yes, at home in the 4 there is me, my mother, my father and my brother." "Ohh big brother or little brother??" "Little brother."
"And do you think they're watching tonight?"
"Yeah…Maybe not Ian, he's only 4." "Ohh adorable!! But if hes watching what would you like to say?"
"That, that I will try to win, just like I promised."
"Isn't she adorable folks!!"
More cheering.

"But you Elizabeth, now to the question we all want ansetd, how did you manage to get that 11?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"Of course!! Of course we want to know!!"
Cheers almost like screams filled the space and I leaned close to Caesar as if to whisper a secret.
"I cast a spell on the game makers." "No!!"
"Oh yes, it's true!"
"You mean we have a witch on our hands?!"
"Witch, I never said that Mister Flickerman!"
"Truly you didn't!! But before our time is up, would you mind spinning for us so we can see your beautiful dress?"

"Not at all, it would be a pleasure." "The floor is yours!!"
So I carefully stood up and started to spinn, when the audience got to see the different shades I was met with oooos and ahhhs.
"Magnificent!!"
Then a little bell rang, my time was up.
"Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for District Four's very own Elizabeth Whitmore!!"
Smiling, I stepped off the stage.

"You did great Lizzy!!"
"I was terrified."
"In that case it wasn't a sin, you made a great impression!"
"Thanks Finnick, But do you know what I want to do now?"
"I have a guess."
"I want to go up to my bed on the 4th floor and go to bed!"
"Then that's exactly what we're going to do."

But despite what Elizabeth herself had said, she didn't sleep much that night, and when she did, she had terrible nightmares about what would happen to her inside the arena.