Sea Of Secrets [1]

Nineteen

My body clung to the metal ladder as the rain poured down on me, leaving a blood trail on the ground. Katniss had been taken in another hovercraft, and is going to be treated for her injuries.

The nurses and doctors helped me up into the hovercraft, and laid me down on a cold bed. They ripped off the clothes that were now glued to my body from the rain, and started to work on my wounds. The wound on my shoulder was already almost healed, but the leg and side wounds were bleeding all over the white exterior. My body shakes and the nurses try to calm my body, but I'm too cold.

"Stay still!" One says and the others try and hold my body down, one nurse once dressed in white is trying to get something out of the bite on my leg. I hear a snapping sound as a huge tooth is ripped from the muscle. I scream at the sight and lay my head back down to let the darkness consume me.

{~}

I wake in a white room, with an IV stand next to me. Clear fluids are being pumped into my body. My eyes are having a hard time adjusting, so I blink a few times to let them clear.

The only color that is in the room is a mans clothes as he stands in the corner watching me. His eyes are a sea green, and his hair a sandy blonde.

"You're here" I croak, surprised at the sound of my voice. I have never sounded so hoarse before.

"You were screaming a whole lot while they were taking the teeth out" he says with a grin "didn't know you were such a cry baby" he walks over to me and I smile, punching him lightly on the shoulder. He smiles down at me, all his straight teeth showing. "I'm glad you won" he says as he hugs me, and I surprise myself by clinging to him, not letting him go even though he tries to wiggle out of my grasp.

"I'm glad I won too" I whisper into his neck. He smells of sweet honey, and fish. I let go of him, only flinching as he places a kiss on my forehead.

"I'm so sorry Coral" he says as he takes a seat next to me. "I didn't-"

"I really don't want to talk about it Finnick" I close my hand around his, taking in his warmth. "I'll have a lot of time to talk about it later" I smile at him, and his eyes become sad.

A small knock distracts me from his gaze, and an older man comes in. He is swearing a baggy shirt, and to match that are his torn pants. His hair is long and blonde, wavy like the sea.

"Ah , Haymitch" Finnick stands, but I refuse to let go of his hand. With his other hand, she shakes Hatmitch's, grinning up at him. Haymitch comes over to me and sits down at the end of my bed. I look at him in wonder, knowing all the tales that Katniss had told me over the past week or so. He was a drunk, and a mean one at that.

"Well you look like crap" he starts with his deep voice, obviously hardened by the liquor.

"I could say the same about you" I smile at him, and earn a smile back.

"Katniss has told me a lot about you Coral, you saved her life not once, but twice. You are a snappy young gal" he laughs. "It's nice to meet you, but I'm here to tell you that we are having the victors ceremonies tonight, so you need to come and get ready" his eyes are sad, dark. He knows that the games never really end, that I will have to be reminded of them every year, every time we go to the different Districts to see the families of the fallen tributes. This will never be over. His eyes say it all.

I walk with Finnick , him holding the back of my hospital gown shut , and I am too numb to care that he saw what lies underneath. I walk with Haymitch and I grab his hand for support, because my leg still hurts. It is healing, but not fast enough. Somehow I feel like a little kid again with Haymitch, like a daughter holding her fathers hand. I let go of his hand quickly as the thought comes to mind, erasing it.

My stylist is already waiting for me, and I see my prep team smiling at me. I try to smile at all their kind congratulations and praises , but my face is not willing to cooperate.

Finnick stays in the room, and soon I see Mags come in when I am getting my hair washed. All the grim and filth has now left my body, and in a way I want it back, to feel covered up and hidden.

{~}

"When can I see Katniss?" I ask as I am being fitted into my dress. It's long and dark purple, with a few sparkles on the front. It's plain, but I love it. It would have looked great on my mother.

"When you get on stage" Alessandra says to me and she zips up the back of my dress. I look at myself in the mirror and see a ghost of a girl that I used to know. The girl I used to know was kind, and couldn't hurt a soul. Now the girl who is standing in front of me is ruthless, and doesn't care about what impact her words have. She just doesn't care anymore, I guess that's what happens when you get everything torn away from you.

I am rushed under the stage , and placed waiting to be lifted up. This is just like the beginning of the games, being lifted into the arena. I am not happy about this, but fearful as memories come back to my mind.

The crowd cheers as Caesar comes onto the stage, followed by our escorts, prep teams, stylists , and mentors. Katniss is next, and before I know it I am up on the stage smiling and waving at the crowd.

I run to Katniss and hug her, not wanting to let her go. If I were to ever have a sister, I would want it to be her.

The crowd cheers and hoots at our appearance. Katniss and I take a seat at our respected chairs, holding each other's hands. Haymitch and Finnick come to sit by us, and again the crowd starts up, knowing that they helped us along into winning.

I sit through the three hours of re-watching the games. I cry at myself as I watch as I kill off innocent people. I cry when Rue dies, I cry when we won. I don't cry when I see Sam die, knowing that he would have killed me if he had a chance to. This year, they make it about friendship, the bond of sisters.

I cling to Finnicks hand as President Snow comes to join us on stage, holding two crowns. He first comes to Katniss, putting on her crown, then comes to me.

"Congratulations Coral" he says as he goes to put my crown on, I snatch his wrist pulling him in closer. The audience sees this as a hug and they cheer and some even touch their hearts obviously moved by the moment. I see this as my change to kill him. But I don't, that can wait.

"I bet you didn't expect to see me here" I whisper into his ear. I let him go and he places the crown on my head.

{~}

I head onto the train, hugging Katniss goodbye as she goes on her own. I will miss her, but I will see her soon when we go on the victors tour.

I immediately head to my room, closing the door lightly so no one hears. I crawl into bed and draw the covers up to my chin. I will be returning home, to no family, to no friends.

I look up as the door opens only to see Katniss standing in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" I ask as I move over in the bed to make room for her.

"I bribed them into letting me on here, I told them it wouldn't be fair to have the capital see us apart" We laugh at what she says as she lays her head down on the pillow. "Maybe you can come live with me and my family" I know this can't happen, but I wish it could.

"May the odds be ever in your favor" I say before going to close my eyes, and we again both laugh because we know that the odds are never in anyone's favor.