circus | finnick odair

encounter [1]

Pennia's POV

I clipped the necklace on, the trident shining in the morning light.

"So, Finnick Odair, huh?" Issac says, earning a grunt of agreement from Bentley.

I rolled my eyes at them, sticking my tongue out at the two boys sitting in front of me.

"Have you even met him?" Bentley says, playing with his dagger. "In person, not in your dreams."

"Yes, I have actually." I say, glaring at him.

"Really?" Prim says, scooting closer to me. "When?"

"A few years ago," I say, my smile suddenly faltering.

"Tell us the story!" Bray says, shooing the boys away before sitting next to Prim.

I nod my head, moving closer to Bray and Prim. I glance at the boys, who were still grumbling, before diving into the story.

~~~

It was a little over four years ago. I was fourteen, Thistle and Rosemary were seventeen, and Rylan was just shy of a couple months old.

It had been seven months after my parents' death and six months since Todrick had died; after my brother died, I lost track of time.

It was a dreary day; the sky was covered in clouds, blocking all the sun's efforts of shining through. Though, I remember the day like it was yesterday.

Thistle woke up early like he has for the last few months, going out to hunt for game and sell what we didn't need at the market.

Rosemary woke me up and made me breakfast but instead of sending me off to school or a friend's house, she kept me home. She babied me like she had since I was born, always fixing my hair or my shirt.

Rylan was extremely fussy that day, Rose told me he had a fever and not to worry, babies get sick all the time.

When I was in our small living room playing with my little brother, I could hear Rosemary's quiet cries from the kitchen.

I knew what was going to happen that day, I knew what was coming. And I also knew I needed to be strong, for Rosemary wasn't.

That day was the day the Victors Tour would be coming to District 8 and on that day, I would be seeing the boy my brother sacrificed himself for, his name was Kai.

Kai was a fifteen year old orphan from District 4. His parents left him there weeks after he was born. He was a wizard with spears and nets, he could make traps like no other.

Todrick met Kai the first day in the Capitol. They clicked instantly and soon became inseparable. They learned so much from each other, regardless of their three year age difference.

Todrick and Kai were much more than allies, they were friends. So when the gong went off, they found each other instantly, got what they needed, and ran.

They were an unstoppable pair of men, they were both too mature to be called boys. Todrick was ruthless, his only weakness was Kai; and that was what killed him.

In the end, after Todrick and Kai killed the last of the Careers, it was the moment that sculpted my life forever.

Before Kai could say a thing, Todrick had driver his machete into his chest, right through his heart, without a moments hesitation. Minutes later, my brother died in Kai's arms, his last words to us.