Sea of Madness - Annie Cresta 70th Hunger Games

Chapter 6 - Scores

(Flashback)

* * * * *

I picked up his fragile frame and stared at his chubby face that reminded me of Finnick so much, he giggled in delight as I placed him down on the sandy banks. My best friend Finnick's and I lead his little brother down to the shore hand in hand. Teaching the little tot; Warrick was the greatest responsibility I had so far faced in my 8 years of life, and most definitely the most exciting.

"Who's a good boy," Finnick coddled as Warrick kicked ten meters with ease. Looking at the genuine emotions in Finnick's eyes I wondered If I would ever love someone that much, I also wondered how much Finnick would break if his little brother was taken from him.

* * * * *

As soon as I walked into the Training area I acknowledged the presence of the Head Game Maker; Ulvis Jod and his band of followers. They gazed down at me as though I was a piece of meat they were about to devour. I scuttled nervously into the centre of the room nervously awaiting their call to start.

"Annie Cresta, District 4, you have ten minutes to show us your finest skills," he announced sneering in his cocky tone. I pushed all my hateful thoughts to the back of my head and proceeded over the hand to hand combat station where I grabbed several dummies and heaved them into the centre of the room where I arranged them in a circle with one standing supreme in the centre. I grabbed a tin of red paint from the camo station and smeared in big bold letters over the centre dummy; WARRICK. Stressing out and breathing heavily I grabbed a set of knives and several coils of rope. As soon as I felt the rope in my hands I was able to recollect myself and focus on the situation, I craft three nooses out of the rope coils and fasten them around three of the outer dummies' necks. To finish it off I throw the knifes at the remaining dummies' hearts from an impressive 75 feet away.

I step away from the scene puffing from the effort and sighing from the relief of the commencement of the session. I smile at the game makers as they dismiss me. My throat drys up as I walk out of the dim room, What if I haven't done enough? Will they understand my message; That I will protect Warrick at all costs, Finnick doesn't deserve to lose him, he doesn't deserve to die.

* * * * *

"Gather Round, Gather Round, They're airing the scores!" Flavinia announces as she flicks on the television set. I run over and snag a spot between Tinna and Warrick, he gives me a look that depicts he's both excited and worried, I wonder what he showed the game makers. I ruffle his hair and issue a few words of reassure men, but I am interrupted by Reece, Typical.

"Guys Quiet!" She Shuses "They're starting!". And sure enough the first score is shown.

"Garnet Sheen, District 1 with a score of 9." Caesar Flickerman booms in his charismatic tone.

"Ambergris Gleam, District 1 with a score of 8."

"Athena Stone, District 2 with a score of 10!"

The boy from 2 whose name I can't remember gets a 5, low for a career and the two tributes from 3 get the same score as him. Suddenly I freak out with suspense, my palms sweat and my throat lumps, this score could make the difference between life and death.

"Annie Cresta, District 4 with a score of... 11!!" I am utterly shocked as my name flashes on the screen with the number 11 on it, everything spins around me as Warrick, Flavinia and the crew suffocate me in a massive group hug. As we sit down again I wear a goofy smile from ear to ear, I actually did it! I glance at Warrick to find him equally as nervous as I was.

"Warrick Odair, District 4 with a score of... 11!!" I smile with happiness, he is strong enough to win this game alone. We all jump up and flood him with hugs and cheers.

"Finnick would be proud," I whisper and he repies with a humble smile. We sit down go watch the rest of the scores; Jeremiah scores a 10 and Pine the boy from 11 gets a 8, the rest average about 5.

* * * * *

"To our Champions!" Reece toasts lifting her glass. I laugh and grin as I clink my glass.

"So what did you guys do in there?" Thread asks with curiosity. I look over at Warrick.

"Ladies First!" He chuckles and I sigh as I begin telling them of how I showed them that I would protect Warrick in the arena, I looked around the room and all their faces were filled with awe and respect, Warrick looked puzzled and shocked, but grateful all the same. I then asked Warrick what he did to earn such a high score.

"You know I just chucked some spears around at the targets," he mumbled. The others nodded at his comment but his nervous tone and the way his fingers fiddled when he talked suggested he was lying, there was no way "chucking some spears around" would have gotten him an 11. I had to find out what he was up to.