𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫, Finnick Odair

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅

Aphrodite took a deep breath, her resolve hardening with each step as she entered her home. The warmth of the fire flickered across the room, casting shadows that danced eerily against the walls. Her mother sat on the couch, her figure silhouetted in the firelight, as if she were part of the shadows themselves. She was perfectly composed, her gaze fixed on the flames, her expression unreadable.

"Mother," Aphrodite's voice was steady, though her heart raced. "You are to leave immediately."

Her mother didn't flinch. Instead, a low, humorless chuckle escaped her, as if she'd been waiting for this. "Leave?" Her mother's voice was soft, laced with a calm cruelty. "If you try to make me go, Aphrodite, I will take Otto with me. And you, my dear, will be robbing him of the life he deserves."

Aphrodite clenched her fists, feeling the familiar ache of anger creeping up her spine. She met her mother's gaze, unyielding. "You don't get to use Otto as leverage," she replied, her tone sharp. "Not after everything."

Her mother turned, a faint, cold smile playing on her lips. "Everything I did was for you, for us. I secured your future. I ensured you'd be strong enough to survive, and you did survive."

Aphrodite's heart pounded in her chest, her hands trembling as she fought to keep her emotions in check. "You didn't secure my future," she hissed. "You stole it from me. You sent me into that arena, knowing full well what it would do to me. You took away my childhood, my freedom, my sense of safety—all for your own twisted sense of pride."

Her mother's expression shifted, her smile fading into something darker, more calculating. "I prepared you for greatness, Aphrodite. And look at you now—a victor, a symbol of strength. Otto deserves the same kind of protection."

"Protection?" Aphrodite's voice broke, a tear slipping down her cheek. "What you did was not protection. It was manipulation, control. I was a tool to you, a means to an end."

Her mother rose from the couch, her figure casting a long, menacing shadow against the wall. "And what exactly do you think you are doing now?" Her voice was quiet but venomous. "You think you can just take control of this family? Of your life? You're still just a child, Aphrodite. You don't know what it takes to survive out here, not truly."

Aphrodite took a step closer, anger burning in her chest. "I survived the Hunger Games, Mother. I think I know more about survival than you ever will."

The words seemed to hit her mother harder than Aphrodite expected, a flicker of surprise flashing across her face before it was quickly masked. "You only survived because of what I did for you," she said, her voice growing colder. "Every sacrifice I made, every decision I took—you wouldn't have lasted a day without me."

Aphrodite's face twisted with rage, her hands shaking with the effort to hold herself back. "Is that what you tell yourself to sleep at night? That I owe you my life? That everything I suffered was somehow a favor you did for me?"

Her mother scoffed, crossing her arms. "Aphrodite, don't be so naive. This world isn't kind, and I gave you the strength to face it. Without me, you would be nothing."

At that, Aphrodite's control broke, and she stepped forward, her voice shaking. "Without you, I might have actually had a chance to live. You were supposed to protect me, but instead, you sold me out for your own ambition. You betrayed me."

Her mother's face hardened, her lips pressed into a thin line. "You can thank me later," she said icily, her voice devoid of any warmth. "I did what had to be done, and one day, you'll understand."

Aphrodite shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "I'll never understand. And I'll never forgive you."

For a long, tense moment, they stood in silence, the air heavy with anger and resentment. Her mother's gaze turned colder, and she lifted her chin, her voice filled with quiet menace. "Then I'll take Otto and leave. You can play your little game of independence, but you'll regret it."

The words stung, but Aphrodite met her mother's gaze with unwavering resolve. "No, you're not taking him," she said, her voice firm. "Otto stays here. And if you even try to take him away, I'll make sure everyone knows the truth about what you did. You'll be stripped of everything."

Her mother's eyes flashed with fury, and in a swift movement, she grabbed the nearest object on the mantle—another delicate glass vase—and hurled it at the wall, shattering it into countless pieces. The sound echoed through the room, and Aphrodite flinched, but she didn't back down.

Otto, who had been standing quietly in the corner, gasped, his small frame trembling as he watched the scene unfold. His wide eyes darted between Aphrodite and their mother, confusion and fear written across his face.

Seeing Otto, Aphrodite's heart broke a little, but she held her ground. She took a step back, her gaze never leaving her mother's. "Leave. Now."

For a moment, her mother just stared, her face a mask of fury and resentment. But slowly, she turned, her movements stiff with barely concealed anger. Without another word, she swept past Aphrodite, her heels echoing against the floor as she made her way to the door.

When the door closed behind her, a tense silence fell over the room. Aphrodite let out a shaky breath, her anger giving way to exhaustion. She sank to her knees, her hands trembling as she reached for the shattered pieces of glass on the floor.

Otto approached her hesitantly, his small hand reaching out to touch her shoulder. "Aph... are you okay?" he asked, his voice small and uncertain.

Aphrodite pulled him into a hug, her arms wrapping around him tightly. "I'm sorry, Otto," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so, so sorry."

He hugged her back, his small arms offering a comfort she hadn't expected. "It's okay," he murmured, his voice filled with innocence and understanding beyond his years. "You're here, and that's all that matters."

For the first time in a long time, Aphrodite felt a sense of peace. She held her brother close, letting his presence calm the storm within her. The world outside might still be cruel and unforgiving, but in that moment, with Otto by her side, she knew she would find the strength to face whatever came next.