Blood by the Sea

Chapter 1

Fresh fish, district four’s renowned seaweed bread and some water; most victors do not eat like the poor. I guess I live by habit. Soaking up the fish oil with the rough bread, I took my last salty bite before clearing the table. I sat alone and almost forgot about the empty seat opposite me.

 One thing most people wouldn’t know about me -the sex symbol of the capitol, Finnick Odair- is that money is of little importance to me. That’s why when collecting my winnings I tried, with an abundance of force, to donate my money to the outlying districts. An image protruded into my mind; an image of myself, attempting to push through a barricade of strong peacekeepers in order to persuade the almighty and ruthless yet sadistic president; President Cornelius Snow. I remember his puffy, pale lips and his snake like eyes. I remember his venomous words that he spat at me. I remember the stench of blood and roses, like a sick perfume. I remember his power, looming over me. He was intimidating and intense. He was a perfect Patriarch. 

After calming down, he had spoken carefully and with clarity, “Finnick Odair, don’t you realise the potential danger you could cause? Imagine the response. If one daring young man were to go against the system, what would happen to that system? Think of it as a china teacup, Mr Odair, one tiny crack and the whole thing breaks into a thousand tiny pieces. Do you want to be the one who causes that crack? Do you honestly want to act in defiance and in your wake cause destruction, war and terror? Do you want to see perished bodies under a pile of ashes? Or perhaps screaming children in burning pain? Do you want to see your entire life, everything you know and love massacred then obliterated?”
 “You Snow-you-you are a despicable and filthy snake! You are a disgrace to the system. YOU are causing the crack.” I pulled free from the restricting grip the peacekeepers had on me and punched Snow in the face. For one moment, he looked outraged but he gathered himself and spoke with a quiet menace.
“Take him to room 31.”
I cursed as I was dragged, struggling, from his office.

I could remember the fear, overridden by hatred that fuelled me to stay up the whole night. I remember the peacekeepers holding me back as Snow decided my punishment the next morning. I remember the beating of my heart and the sweat dripping down my back.
“To determine the fit punishment, we spoke to some of the public who watched you in The Hunger Games. Without, of course, letting them know it was vital information that would be used to tear your very world apart.” Snow smiled sickly.

I wouldn’t make eye contact with him. Instead, I stared at the lavish purple floors.  

“Well Finnick, they seemed to think you were very...ravishing and handsome...to use some of their words. Some blushed when your name was mentioned, others very intruiged. One even fainted. It appears the women of the Capitol are would do anything to be with you.” Snow said, the smile widening. I still didn’t make eye contact. But I looked up slightly. My heart was racing. I bit my lip as I dreaded what he was hinting at.
“In what way?” I breathed.
“Emotionally, spiritually, verbally, physically...”
“No,”
“It only seemed fair to let the women of the capitol to have what they want,”
“You are sick and malicious!” I spat, “I refuse to do it!”
“I’m afraid you have no choice, Mr Odair.”
“I think I do!”
“Really? Would you like to see her dead?” President Snow said. A projection of Annie Cresta, appeared out of nowhere.

The shock was too much. They couldn't hurt Annie, they couldn't. 
"What do I have to do?" I said, gathering my emotions and swallowing my pride. 
"Every two weeks, a train will come and collect you from your district at noon and bring you to the Captiol. From there you will stay in a luxury apartment, under close monitor, for another two weeks. On most nights, you will visit the smitten women of the Capitol, and you will act the part. Show them the gorgeous and charming victor of the previous Hunger Games, driven by his masculine urges. Tomorrow you will be returned home, and in two weeks, you will be collected and brought back here."

I bit my lip, to keep from crying out in protest and disgust. But Annie, I had to do it for Annie. I could see her sweet face through the projection, and my heart leapt. 
"Be prepared Finnick," President Snow said, closing the projection. "For I am capable of things you can not begin to fathom. Miss Cresta has lovely skin don't you think?"
I clenched my fists, and could feel my nails dig into the skin of my palm. One single drop of blood stained the carpet. 

President Snow came to my side, and squeezed my shoulder.
"Sometimes the strongest men, are the easiest to persuade."