Sea Salt and Roses | | Finnick Odair

Chapter 7

It was interview day today. I wrung my hands as Mona put the final touches to my dress. This time, my dress was a stunning ballroom dress that was made of silk and when I moved, it looked like the waves rolling. I smiled.
Johanna sauntered up to me and looked me up and down. She commented, "Mona is talented. My stylist is an idiot. District 7. Lumber equals trees. So here I am! Dressed as a tree trunk." I smiled slightly. She slapped me playfully and said, "Don't laugh! It's not funny." I shrugged and hugged her. She returned my hug and I heard a male voice from behind me, "Hello ladies." I turned around and Finnick froze. I cocked my head at him and laughed slightly. Johanna was observing both of us very closely. Johanna knew how to strip you down to your core under her gaze. Unlike mine. Katniss came in and everyone stared. She wore a wedding gown. Intricate details flowered her magnificent wedding gown. But I knew what was underneath. Oh boy. I smiled at Cinna. He winked at me. I walked over to him and whispered, "You know that you can be potentially killed for doing this right?" He looked at me impressed and replied, "Is it very noticeable?" I shook my head and said, "Just to me. Be careful Cinna. Snow won't like it." He smirked and said, "That's the point." I nodded and gave him a hug and stood behind Finnick. He smiled and gave my hand a small squeeze.
As I saw Cashmere and Gloss deliver their speech and words, I sighed. Say what you like about them but they were good people. The Games destroyed who was inside them. Everything was hidden by a facade to survive and save the ones you love. I clenched my fist. Soon, it was Finnick's turn. He gave me a small smile and stepped onto the stage.
"I understand that you have a message for somebody out there. A special somebody. Can we hear it?"
"My love,
you have my heart
for all eternity
and if I die in that arena,
my last thought will be of your lips"
I smiled at that. He knew just how to make the crowd go crazy. He stepped onto the raised platform behind Caesar. I took a deep breath as I heard Caesar call out, "We all love her! The Black Rose, Hillary Skywood!" I stepped onto stage and took Caesar's hand. He laughed and sat us both down. He made a few jokes and said, "I see nothing but pain and heartbreak in your eyes, Hillary. Do you have anything to say?" I nodded and said, "You damn well sure I got something to say." I looked to the audience and delivered my heart and soul out to everyone. The Capitol, the Districts and Snow.
~Finnick~
When Caesar asked if she had a message left to give, Hillary looked to the audience and told them, "So many of you have seen me grown up from that timid girl at the beginning of my Games to the girl that I am here today, standing before you. How can you send one of your own children that you know so well into the arena? Not one, but twenty four of us?"
Caesar tried to stop her, but she stood up and went to the edge of the stage, as people started cheering her on. "Cashmere and Gloss are brother and sister. How can you watch family kill each other? Finnick and Johanna are so young, and have their whole lives ahead of them. Katniss and Peeta are engaged, for goodness sakes. How can you watch youth and love die for so many years in a row? But then, now, there's also the adults and elderly. Mags has grand children, and so many of them have their own children. What happens to them when their parents die? Do they get reaped, too? Do their whole families get wiped out by what you call a game? Do entire lineages disappear from the district for entertainment? Our innocence taken away from the first blow to a child. One that has not yet to see the world to its full potential."
The entire crowd grew silent, and Caesar tried to pull Hillary back again. She gave him a hand signal that required one more moment as she turned to the audience and said, "Mankind repeat the same mistakes. Over and over again. By dividing us. You separated us into Districts and you separated us from our families and friends. All for what? A sick game. I paid my dues. We all did. We pay for them every night, with our nightmares and with our addictions. And what I'm here to tell you is that the Games, they don't ever end. But it's about damn time they did." With that she stood up and did a pirouette. It may mean nothing to the Capitol but to the Districts, it meant everything. It meant that they had the Black Rose on the side of the rebels. And I was as sure as hell that President Snow recognised the special symbol of the Black Rose.
I was watching her from behind in amazement but also fear to what might happen to Hillary. The woman I was so madly in love with. Everything she said was true. Every word. The Capitol saw pain as entertainment. They saw death as a filthy game. As I was swimming in my thoughts, she stepped next to me. I smiled softly at her as I glanced over to her. The interviews went past in a flash. I laughed softly at Johanna's outburst. I'm sure Hillary was holding in her laughs as well. Then came Peeta announcing that Katniss was bearing a child and her wedding dress going up in flames. Oh no. The rebellion had already started. Finally, as the icing on the cake, we all stood in an unbroken line, hand in hand. Then with a dramatic ending, the stage lights went out.
I walked slowly to the elevator that will take me up to the fourth level. I stepped out and walked to my bedroom. I fell asleep instantly. Fearing of what may happen tomorrow. What may happen to Hillary tomorrow.