The 70th Hunger Games

Chapter Eight

I wake up the next morning early. But for once I don't throw up. Instead I lie in Finnicks arms, who too is awake.

"It makes me smile to wake up next to you. You've possessed my heart and my soul, so much so that I love you like I never thought possible," Finnick says with such sincerity I want to sing.

"If you really do love me tell it to the world," I say quietly.

He leans in and whispers in my ear "I love you Annie Cresta."

"Why did you whisper it to me?" I ask, disappointed that he didn't shout it from the roof top.

"Because you are my world," he says and my heart melts. I want to sing and dance but end up laughing and then kissing him. He kisses me back with such love I feel like my heart might explode. Tears of happiness and sadness overflow at a pace that doesn't stop.

Finnick kneels down and strokes my belly. Gently he kisses it. "I love you."

The tears get harder. "I love you both," He says, his voice wavering. "Your both coming home to me I promise."

"How can a pregnant woman win against twenty-three other fit tributes, Finn, it won't work," i sob.

He stand up and looks into my eyes. "Because Daddy loves you. When you get scared or begin to lose hope, remember that okay? Promise me you'll remember that," He says sternly, but i can see the desperation in his eyes.

"I promise," I sob.

"Say it now," he demands.

"Daddy loves us. Daddy loves us. Daddy lov..." I say and then break down.

He pulls me in for a tight hug, wrapping him arms around me. "I promise I will do everything in my power to bring you back to me," he says, but his cheeks are wet too. He kisses me tenderly. I eventually stop crying and he helps me dress. He changes back into yesterday's clothes and we head for the living room. He takes my hand and holds it so hard i can barely feel anything. "Look what I found," He says brightly. A little too brightly.

"Come here my dear. I know yesterday was rough on you, but you have to best strong. You won't see Chris until in the games so follow his lead. Apart from that I love you Annie. With all my heart and I'll see you soon," Grandma says pulling me in for a long hug. Kyliea arrives and I thank Stan. Then I give Finnick a hug. "Remember everything I said okay?" he asks and I nod. Then we're gone. I might never see then again. But I said goodbye. That was the least I could do.

I am taken to the roof where a Capital hovercraft awaits. Kyliea assures me towards the ladder to which I am frozen to by an electric current. We are lifted up and am held still while a tracker is inserted.

As we fly I make sure not to look out the window. Morning sickness isn't on the day that the games begin. Soon the temptation is revoked, as the windows black out to prevent a sneak peak of the arena. Wouldn't want any tributes having the advantage now, would they? Not like the age difference makes it unfair or anything.

The hovercraft lands and the two of us are escorted through the underground into the catacombs that lie beneath the arena. "Launch room 4b," a speaker announces almost mechanically. More like stockyard, I think to myself.

I take a shower, and then Kyliea pulls my hair into a single ponytail. Although she has no say in the outfit, she somehow knows vaguely what I'll be wearing. When I ask her how she taps her nose and smiles. This year the outfit isn't that strange. We have a plain t-shirt, a thin blue jacket and stone trousers. That's it. "Now I know that you should only have one district token, but after I saw the lovely starfish I knew you must have both. Here's your necklace and stay still while I attach the starfish into your hair," She says. I fasten the necklace and stand like a statue as she places the starfish to the right hand side of my pony tail. "Food? Water? It could be a while before you get any more."

I feel so sick it's unbelievable, but she has a point so I get her to show me the more plain of the dishes and soon realize just how hungry I am.

Finally its time. "Ten seconds," the speaker says. I look up.

"Good luck. Remember I'll held start rumours, spread the word. I'll do whatever Finnick says in order to bring you home," She says.

She stays strong, but I know she feels like she could cry. Stylist grow attached to their tributes. To me, she's more than a Stylist. She's a friend. And she wants to help me even when I'm in the games. There isn't much else I can ask from her.

"Wait," I say. It's the starfish pin that does it. "Can you see to it that Mr Rif and Dekklan get the truth about all this. They deserve nothing less."

"Of course. I'll tell them personally," she smiles. I give her a hug of thanks before I walk over to the metal plate. As it begins to rise I take deep breaths. In out, in out. But that smell. I recognise it. Salty, like the sea air on a fresh and bright morning. There's grass too, with flowers and trees and wildlife. The two don't usually mix under normal circumstances, but then these aren't normal circumstances, there the Hunger Games, and this is the arena where anything is possible.

The plate comes to a stop, and for the first time I dare to open my eyes. The arena is the most beautiful I've ever seen. Way more spectacular than ever before. This time the Game makers have outdone themselves. I'm surrounded by the tallest, towering walls I've ever seen, made of dust, dirt and chalk. There's a forest just behind me, leading round to both sides and stops by the lake quick is in front, behind the Cornucopia. Lastly there's flowers and wildlife, and there's even warmth, though I'm not sure how long that will last. Could be changed at any point.

I look to my left and see the boy from three eyeing me. He looks from me to Chris to the Careers, then back to me. I nod sadly. He looks down. He seems to say, "Thought you were different."

To my right I see Chris. He's avoiding my eyes, looking at the Cornucopia. Has to be a Career. So do I. So I turn my eyes back to the metal horn in the middle of the clearing. 30 seconds to go. Those 30 seconds are the earliest I've ever sat through. This is it. They are about to start. I can hear my heart pounding in my chest.

And then the gong goes. I am frozen to my plate, while the other Careers continue slitting children's throats. Even Chris. I should run, join District 3, but something makes me stay. So I watch as the terror begins and grows, waiting for my turn to go.