Annie Cresta- Beyond the Sea

Chapter 3

I get my finger pricked, and they smear it on paper, a little, scarlet slash. It'd mean nothing if I were actually picked, but still hurt, nonetheless. They shove me into the crowd of nervous teenage girls facing the stage. The boys lie next to us, and I could practically feel their nervousness like heat from a fire. Not that we wern't, I mean.
I could see Finnick sit down in the mentor's chair onstage. He caught my gaze, smiled, and waved. I smiled back, without any hesitation. He gave me a thumbs up and mouthed "good luck" as District 4's escort, Jayda Pickering, made her way to center stage in a bright, fuchsia suit. Capital fashion. It was amusing to make fun of, but today I just wasn't feeling the love. I smiled at Finnick, mouthed, "Thanks" and turned my attention to Jayda, though it would much rather be on the former.

"Welcome everyone!" she mused into the microphone. Murmurs of conversation fell over the crowd.

"Let's play the video," she breathed, eyes simply popping out of their sockets, and on the big screen behind her showed the same video President Snow makes us watch every reaping.

But I was getting nervous.

Calm down, Annie! She hasn't even gotten to picking yet!

My mind calmed a little, but my heart drummed on a little quicker than usual, and I knew that this state was only temporary because I've been a whole lot more fired up than this.

Sooner than I would like, the screen went back to the Capitol Seal, and the video was over.

"How about gentlemen first this year, for a change!" Jayda said cheerfully. I could see all the girls taking a temporary sigh of relief, and all the boys hold their breath as Jayda's six inch fingernails skimmed the top of the bowl.

Finally, she picked a slip of paper from the top. She took it out and read the name aloud.

"Dallas Sunferman!"

A boy that looked slightly older than me but younger than Finnick made his way onstage. You can tell he was scared (but who wouldn't be), he was shaking and his face was awfully pale. He had dark brown, almost black, hair and bright green eyes, freckles dotted his almost white face. Tears befell his face in uncontrollable amounts.

I saw Finnick get his attention and give him some encouraging words, because he smiled shakily. His skin, however, remained an unhealthy tone of gray.

"Now for the ladies!"

I just took a deep breath and closed my eyes, although my heart seemed to be going a mile a minute. I listened to Jayda's hand rustling the bowl. I touched three fingers to the gold seashell around my neck, only focusing on the hope that lays in the grasp of my fingertips, and the tribute that now lays in Jayda's.

I could hear her unfolding the paper.

"Annie Cresta!"

My eyes shot up to the stage. Panick struck me like a tsunami. I looked directly at Jayda. Did she really just call my name? Or- or there had to be another who shares my name?

My glance darted to Finnick, and immediately I wished it hasn't. He was completely horrified. Stark fear was slapped across his face. His normally cheerful ocean-blue eyes had turned ice cold and frozen with fear. Everyone knew why, too. Only three years before, he himself had been the victor of the games. He knew the pure hell I was going to be put through, and the maddening life that comes after if I survive. Unless someone was going to volunteer.

But nobody did.

I dragged my feet slowly to the stage. I felt dizzy and out of place. My heartbeat was drumming so fast it was sickening. This couldn't be real.

Dallas and I shook hands with a nervous glance, then Jayda grabbed them and said loudly into the microphone,

"I give you this years District 4 tributes for the 70th annual Hunger Games!"

Although my vision was getting blurry, and I wanted to melt on stage, I could hear District 4 rooting for us.

But were they cheering to support us? Or because they didn't get picked themselves?