Sea Salt and Roses | | Finnick Odair

Chapter 5

I had just come back from a walk on the beach and I was waving goodbye to Finnick before entering my home. Usually my house was bursting with happiness but not today. I felt the presence of death and pain. It gave me shivers down my back. With my heart in my mouth, I ran into my house in the Victors Village. I wish I didn't. My brother, Tom, lay on the kitchen counter with numerous deep cuts and bruises but worse of all, a decapitated head. I covered my mouth and nose. I screamed. In the mixture of the rusty, metallic smell of blood, lay a white rose and an envelope.
I opened it with shaky hands,

Dear Ms Skywood,
You have two choices, prepare for your first customer on your bed tomorrow night. If not? Well, you'll see.
Sincerely,
President Snow

I dropped the letter and ran to Finnick's. I banged on the door and Mags opened the door. She saw my tear-stained face and guided me in. She sat me down on the couch and gave me a cup of tea. Silent tears ran down my face. Mags returned tugging a confused Finnick. Once he saw me, he dropped everything and ran to my side. He stroked my hair as I explained everything to the both of them. I gave him the letter to look at and his once reassuring sea green eyes became rage-filled. He crumpled the letter in his fist. He pulled me into a hug and said no more.
:=:
I suffered on the bed for years. Men after men, customer after customer. Bruises littered my once flawless skin. I never did tell Finnick about it. I traveled where my customers went. The Capitol, the other districts... I joked about it. Not taking it seriously. Hiding it behind a mask. They say I'm brave. They say I'm fearless. None of that is true. None of it.