Changing Tides- A Finnick & Annie love story

A life beyond the tides

The vicious waves crashed against the shores of District 4, the sunrise peeking over the horizon, and the promise of a new day always reassured the people of the districts, as it meant another day of life for them and their family's. But not today. Today was the one day of all the year that all parents and children feared. Because of this day, children woke up, trembling, scared for their lives, because today, was the reaping. The tides and seagulls woke a restless Annie Cresta from her slumber. She opened her heavy eye lids and looked up to see her panelled ceiling. The warm sea breeze comforted her and blew in through her bedroom. Annie lived with her sister and father in a small wooden ranch house on the beach, just a few minuets walk from District 4's square and Justice building. Annie's family lived rather wealthy lives compared to their fellow friends in the district, as Annie's father was a fish monger, and worked hard to feed his family. Annie's mother passed when she was only 7, and has only a few memories left of her.

"Annie! Annie you fish head. Wake up!" Snaps Rose, Annie's 19 year old sister, as she enters her room and jumps on her bed.

"Just five more minuets" Annie mumbles as she pulls the covers over her head.

"You don't have five more minuets, you have the reaping in an hour" Replied Rose, as she yanks the duvet of her. The word 'reaping' made Annie leap from her bed. Her heart began to beat manically. She got changed into her reaping dress and then they sat on the porch of their ranch house and watched the sunrise over the beach, eating porridge.

"Rose, what happens if I get picked?" Annie asked as she finished her bowl.

"You won't get picked Annie, there are hundreds of kids, you won't be the one picked" Rose comforts.

"That's easy for you to say, you're not eligible for the reaping anymore so you have nothing to fear" She adds.

"Nothing to fear?! Annie! I could loose you! Of course I fear, but you won't get picked, I promise" She replies, as she places her hand on top of her sisters. "And I'm sure if you did, someone would volunteer for you"

When it turned 8am, Annie and Rose headed towards the justice building where they held the reaping each year. Rose stood in the crowds, her fingers cross behind her back, praying for her sisters safety. Annie on the other hand stood in the crowd with other 16 year olds. She looked back briefly to see her sister, holding a brave face. Her father could never attend the reapings, as he heads out on his fishing boat at first light and doesn't get back till all hours. The reaping was crawling with peacekeepers, and all of them all the more strict after District 4 introduced a new head Peacekeeper, a cruel man who shoots anyone who comes out of line. Shortly after, the arrival of the Capitol V.I.P's enter the stage outside the old, grey and eroding justice building. Reyna Wilson was District 4's escort, a very eccentric woman with bright orange hair, dyed white skin and over decorative facial make-up which made her look like something from a fantasy story Annie had once read. Following Reyna on the stage were a few other Capitol V.I.P's that Annie didn't know the names of, but then, walking up onto the stage was a tall, tanned, ashy blonde haired boy, whom she indeed knew the name of. Finnick Odair, the 18 year old who won the 65th hunger games five years ago. He had a reputation amongst the people of the Capitol, and is known as 'The capitols sweetheart' as every woman wanted to be with him. He walked onto the stage and sat down on a chair next to one of the V.I.P's and grinned out to the crowd. His teeth were as shiny as diamonds, and his eyes were as green as the seaweed that Annie collects to sell to sea merchants. Annie remembered seeing Finnick at school a few times, he was a few years older than her however so were in different classes, but Annie remembered seeing him in the playground, running around with a stick, pretending it was a trident. Annie remembered having a bit of a crush on him when she was younger, there was coming about his ashy hair and crystal clear eyes that had an affect on her. She thought of it as nothing more than a foolish childhood crush. After a while, Reyna walked up to the microphone and tapped it twice, creating an echo amongst the crowd. She flipped her long orange hair over her shoulder and smiled, showing her pearly white teeth.

"Welcome to the reaping for the 70th Hunger games!" She droned on. After she began speaking about the importance of the hunger games, the peacekeepers played the same dreary video that they played every year. A video that is meant to create sympathy amongst the districts, but instead, it creates anger and fear.

"Right! Now it's time for me to draw the name of our first, brave and courageous tribute!" Said Reyna as she walked over to the female reaping ball. Annie had only one name in the reaping ball, as she does not require the terreraes that adds your names into the balls. A terrerae is a token, the peacekeepers give you food and your name is put in the reaping ball 5 times, increasing you chances of being picked. But Annie never took a tesserae, and her name was only in the ball once.

Reyna swirled her hand inside the reaping ball, then quickly and swiftly, pulled out a slip and walked over to the microphone. Annie's heart began to beat loud enough that she was afraid others could hear. Reyna opened the slip, and with one breath, called out the tribute name for all of the District to hear.

"Annie Cresta!"