Sea Salt and Roses | | Finnick Odair

Chapter 1

She looked out to the horizon of the setting sun. The pale pink sky was streaked with pink and orange clouds. The gentle sea breeze swirled around her as the water cooled slowly, lifting dark waves from her shoulders and tossing them up. Her sandals, as clear as the endless sea in District 4, rested a few feet away abandoned. Her beautiful face was pale and still, the small waves licking her toes which were digging into the sand.
There was a sigh behind her and someone lowered themselves down beside her. The girl didn't turn to look because she knew that person well.
His voice was peaceful like the rippling water in the sea, "On the beach again, Hillary?"
She smiled at him and nudged him playfully, "Yeah. What did you do useless?"
He laughed and replied, "I spent the day with Annie and Mags. Annie is getting better."
She nodded and said, "That's good."
The setting sun cast dancing shadows on their faces, obscuring them in the depth of darkness and shadows.
"Quarter Quell is coming up," said Finnick, "Five months now."
Hillary's shoulders stiffened up and she said, "I know. I hate it but I know."
"There's a mandatory broadcast on television tonight. Mags thinks it's something to do about the Quarter Quell." said Finnick with fake levity in his voice.
"You remember the victors last year?" Asked Hillary. She shifted and curled her legs under her.
"Katniss Everdeen. The girl who undoubtedly defied the Capitol and doesn't seem to have a clue on what she has done. Yeah. I think I remember."
"She doesn't have a clue on what she's doing." Agreed Hillary. "But the districts do. They're tired of waiting, you can see it. From the fishermen in 4 at least. Less than half of them turned up today. I don't know about the others but I know that 8, 3 and 11 are ready to make a move. This is bigger than her now but she's hope. We're all hope. We all won against the Capitol. I have a terrible feeling, Finnick. Something big's gonna happen. This is way out of control now. They can't bomb the districts to the ground like they did to 13. Katniss Everdeen made the Capitol...desperate. Snow's cornered, and a cornered animal is always, always the most dangerous."
:=:
The three victors crowded around the television, lounging on the sofa. Hillary's head was on Finnick's lap and Annie was laying down on the floor with her head resting on the sofa. I watched the screen as Snow walked onto the stage.
"On the 25th anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that their children were dying because of their choice to initiate violence, every district was made to hold an election and vote on tributes who would represent it."
"Barbaric." Whispered Hillary.
"Agreed." Agreed Finnick.
"On the 50th anniversary," the president continues, "as a reminder that two rebels died for every Capitol citizen, every district was required to send in twice as many tributes."
"Horrible," said Mags, her voice old and broken. "It was horrible."
"That was Haymitch's year wasn't it?" Asked Annie.
Hillary nodded slightly. Hillary was very close to Haymitch. He was a good man, despite everything, and almost a father to her.
"And now, we honour out third Quarter Quell," said Snow on the screen. A small boy dressed all in white stepped towards Snow, holding out a box. Snow lifted the lid, revealing rows after rows of yellowed envelopes, all lined up in crisp order. He removed an envelope which was marked 75 shining in red. Without hesitation, he broke the seal and read the contents.
"On the 75th anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest cannot defeat the Capitol, the male and female tributes will be reaped from the existing pool of victors."
Silence. That was all Hillary heard. Finnick stood up suddenly, sending Hillary to the ground. He stormed out and slammed the door shut, rattling it. Annie started screaming and gripping her hair. Mags's eyes held no humour in them. Just pure devastation. Hillary hurried to Annie's side and soothed her. She soon stopped trying to rip her hair out and collapsed into Hillary's arms. Hillary stroked her hair whispering reassuring words. Her eyes had tears that she refused to spill.
Annie wailed, "I don't want to go back in there, Hillary! I can't!" Hillary pulled Annie up and looked at her in the eye.
"Annie Cresta. Look at me. You're not going back in there. I refuse to let that happen. Finnick, Mags and you are the only family I have left. I'm not letting go of you. No matter what."
Annie looked at Hillary's eyes. They blazed with determination and affection. Annie said, "You're not thinking about coming back alive. I know my best friend enough. You're willing to lay down your life for the three of us? No. No. You can't...you just can't! Are you just going to throw your career away? Finnick needs you. Mags needs you. I need you!"
Hillary sighed and said, "Look, Annie. I couldn't live with myself if you or any of you got hurt. I'm going in there to fight. They killed my parents and innocent people. Its time I fight back. Finnick can survive without me. He's lost many best friends. I doubt mine would be of any significance. As for Mags, I know she will be devastated but she'll understand. You have Finnick and Mags. You'll heal Annie. Don't you dare say that you can't be fixed. True, the Capitol broke you. But what has been broken can always be fixed."
Annie looked and started sobbing again. She managed to choke out, "You're so selfless, kind and brave. I know you want to fight but not this way. Please don't do this."
"I have too. If it's not to fight, it's to protect Finnick. I'm going to make sure he comes back home. Alive. Not in a coffin." Annie looked at me and gave me a small smile.
"You love him. Don't you?"
Hillary looked shocked but nodded.
Annie broke into a huge smile and said, "Good. Keep him. He's a good one."