Capitol Sweethearts [Finnick Odair]

- Reaping of Victors -

IT had been four years since my games in the arena. The wastelands still haunting me to this day despite being busy since then. The title of capitols sweetheart wasn't all the glory it seemed at the time. I had been used and bought by people with the means to do so. To give them a show and some fun. There'd be days when Cashmere, Finnick, and I wouldn't even see our homes for weeks being in the Capitol.

The resentment ran deep inside me.

But the star-crossed lovers from 12 gave me hope for a change, gave everyone hope. But that hope died when Snow announced the victors of the past weren't safe ever either.

Just a few days ago Mags, Finnick, Annie, and I all sat around to watch the announcement. The horror in Annie's eyes, Finnick throwing a vase, and Mags' heartbroken face still floated around my head. I still couldn't believe the Capitol would betray us. But I shouldn't have been surprised.

It is the Capitol after all.

•

Qetsiyah looked down at the bowl filled with the victor's names with a feeling of dread. District 4's escort Vivian Bellcreek stepped up and gave a sad glance at the victors and then taped the mic and cleared her throat.

"As usual... the female tribute first." She stuck her hand in and chose a paper. Everyone around stalled their breath waiting for the name to be called. With a long breath, the name was called, "Annie Cresta."

Qetsiyah's eyes widen as she looked at her shaking friend. Annie had been haunted by nightmares by the end of her games, despite running and hiding constantly she had witnessed death after death, and something in her snapped. She was not cut out for another round of the games. She knew that as her friend started to sob she was slowly being overcome with her fear of the games and the arenas. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She didn't know if she was ready to go back again and experience the games but she wasn't going to let her friend experience what she experienced again and possibly leave her sister an orphan.

"I volunteer as tribute!" The raven-haired girl shouted as she stepped up slightly. Annie gasped and fell into Qetsiyah's arms when the girl went to hug her.

"T-thank you." Annie breathed out. The redhead knew her friend, she knew if anyone would fight to come home it would be her. She had hope that her friend would come home.

"Come on." Vivian -the escort- beckoned the girl up. Qetsiyah glanced at Finnick but quickly looked back at her escort not wanting to see the look on his face. She searched through the younger crowd of boys and saw the brown eyes of her 14-year-old brother Dylan and her dad. Her brother signed, 'you got this, fuck them up.'

For a moment she smiled. Her little brother had always supported her and believed she was the strongest and the best. He was so elated when she came back and adorned a beautiful gold crown. She never told him of the horrors and nightmares she faced those three days.

"May I present to you our female district 4 tribute... Qetsiyah Blake."

||let the games begin||

[ps if you know me this isn't a regular chapter. I don't really do short chaps]