Loving Revenge

Chapter 1

The Ocean's so beautiful. It's sad to think I'm not going to see it for a while. The day has finally come. The day that I volunteer. The day Sean's death will be avenged. The bell ring meaning that there's an hour until the reaping begins. I arrive at Annie and Finnick's, well mostly Annie's since Finn isn't around much, home and change into my finest dress. The white fabric reaches right above my knee. It looks good against my sun kissed skin. I'm not the same na\u00efve girl I was when I lost my brother I think to myself as my face is reflected in the mirror.  

Annie's downstairs covering her ears. She's told me how she relives the horrors of her time in the arena almost every time this happens. When she got back she broke down when she saw me. My brother got Annie to safety when the District 2 career was chasing them both in the final 3. Sean was so close to coming home but he made that promise to Finnick. Whenever Annie has a breakdown I have to relive that scene with her. 

"Annie I'm going to go now." She instantly snaps out of it and looks back at me. Her expression is blank for a while and then refills with sadness. I hate seeing her like that she's basically my big sister and now the only thing close to family. 

"Sephon, I know you can win this. Come back to us." There's a pause as she tries to gather what she wants to say next. "I love you." We hug for the last time since she refuses to go to the reaping. Too many memories for her. 

The blood from my finger seeps out as the peacemaker presses it on a piece of paper to be scanned. Once it comes back positive I go over to sit with the other 17 year olds. Vitali, our district's escort, walks on stage followed by Finnick and Mags. She looks even more ridiculous this year in all blue! Her skin is even blue and she has a huge starfish in her hair. Oh my!  

"Welcome, Welcome! We have a special treat today. A video! It has been brought to you all the way from the Capitol!" Thank goodness this is the last time I'll have to watch this from the audience.  

The video ends the same way it has since I can remember. "Now wasn't that wonderful." No seeing images of District 13 and the rebellion is not wonderful. "Well, let's pick our female tribute shall we." She walks over to the bowl that holds all the children's names.  

"Aqua Nobling," Vitali announces. The poor girl walks towards the stage shaking. I might as well get it over with now. "I Volunteer!" I shout "My oh my! A volunteer! Come up here my darling". 

I climb up the steps that I've been waiting to climb since the day I vowed to win these games. I know I'm prepared so why do I feel so nervous right now? Subconsciously, I'm playing with Sean's necklace. "What's your name miss?" The necklace. The only thing I have that's Sean's. Sean. "Sean- uh uh I mean Sephon Valentine". I just said my name was Sean in front of all of Panam. Great, I probably look like the dumbest tribute here.  

"Well, let's give a hand for District four's volunteer Sephon!" No one applauds and even the ocean seems to fall silent for a split second.  

"Now for our male tribute. . . Roman Lynch!"A small boy, who looks no older than 13, walks onto the stage. This is just cruel. We shake hands and the blue frenzy walks us into the justice building. I remember crying in this same room when I said goodbye to him. It seems as if the clock decides to tick slower just for me. No visitors, as expected. Finally, the peacemakers come escort me to the train station. As I step up the metallic steps I get a final glimpse of my home. Fisherman in the blue ocean, golden sand, all the things that make district four so special to me.  

"Okay you two this train travels at 320 mph so feel free to explore around. Oh! And your rooms are down the hall and to the left. We'll be in the Capitol lickity split". My room is definitely the first place I'm going. I seriously need to take a shower. 

The size is the first thing that gets me. You could fit half of the district in here! The room is covered in all white with occasional spots of blue and green. I guess they were going for a more home-ish look. While the shower was relaxing it's extremely difficult to work. Like, what were the capitol people thinking? Aside from that there's nothing to do. I could go and hang out with Finnick. Yeah, I'm going to go see Finn. 

He's sitting on his bed watching replays of the reapings. Why exactly? I don't know. "Hey come in if you want. Don't just stand in the door way." Well looks like I'm going to be watching the reapings. He rewinds it to the very beginning and pauses it.  

"Okay, we need to prepare for the games. So I want you to watch the reapings and tell me exactly what you plan to do. We'll figure out your angle and all that tomorrow." So that's how I spent the next hour. A tall boy and a blonde girl walk on stage from District 1. A trident or arrow can take him down easily. A very tall and well built blonde boy walks on followed by a small girl from 2. She looks no older than 15 but she has to be good at something to volunteer. I seriously can't think of how to kill them right now." I'm going to join the careers Finn so can we skip them?" He agrees and the decision making continues. I answer bloodbath for every tribute with the exception of the make from 11 and the girl from 12. This might not be so bad after all. Eventually, I fall asleep on Finnick and wake up with my head on his lap and him "braiding" my hair. Back home in 4 we used to lay down like this and just talk. He was my second big brother almost. Vitali walks in just then with the prep team. They all look so sick with jealousy that Finnick and I just burst out laughing.  

Viatli announces, "We're pulling into the Capitol so come on out my darlings." One peek out the window and it's like I'm looking at a rainbow. They're cheering and waving! What's wrong with them? I step out of the train first and wave at the crowd of colorful citizens. It's actually pretty fun until I feel the hairs on the back of my neck rise. I whip my head around to find a pair of icy blue eyes belonging to the boy from 2. He smirks at me before stepping off the platform of his train. The crowd instantly loves him and he poses for pictures with the Capitol creatures. They start to chant his name. "Cato! Cato! Cato!" He sends one more look my way before being completely enveloped by the citizens.