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Over the years, only one tribute from District 4 had won; her name was Annie, and I'd noticed that my sister had taken a liking to her. At first, I thought they were friends, but as time passed by, I could tell they were more than that. I would let Marina tell me on her own terms, though. She'd won the 70th Hunger Games, and had never been the same since. Well, none of us have, but it hit her harder and caused her to lose her mind. Sometimes, in the middle of a conversation, she would just stop talking, and cover her ears with her hands. I hadn't met this years winner; Johanna Mason, but she was intimidating. She'd fooled everybody into thinking she was weak; getting a score like Azure, but showing off everything she could do once the Games started. She was going on her Victory Tour now, and we would have to leave for the Capitol soon. Snow continued to use a Finnick and I's bodies, and it never got any easier. How dirty I felt, how awful I felt for lying to my family. However, whenever I had started getting Capitol gossip as payment, I saw a whole other side to Snow. I had always known he was crooked; you couldn't be in your right mind to be the President of Panem, and fund for children to kill each other every year; but now I knew everything. He'd poisoned his candidates; including the ones he had allied with he. He drank the poison from the very same cup to avoid suspicion. Now, his mouth reeked of blood from sores that would never heal.
***
I'd now come to know Johanna pretty well. I'd met her at Snow's mansion, and she had reminded me a lot of my sister. They hadn't met, but I was sure they would get along. She was intimidating, but the years I'd lived with Marina gave me an advantage.
"I just know my tributes are going to die in the bloodbath. They're weak." Johanna mumbles, sitting down on a sofa.
"All of Panem thought you were weak, but you showed them differently." I remind her. It was now the 75th year of the Games, and everyone's attention remained on the tributes from District 12. I think back to the girl who begged me to kill her, and wonder if the tributes knew her. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark were their names.
"Where's lover boy?" Johanna questions, and I roll my eyes. We still strayed from labels - every time we thought about it, we thought about the Capitol, and what Snow makes us do. This is no world for a relationship.
"Annie had a bad episode. Finnick's the best at calming people down. I know she'd prefer Marina, but this is the next best thing." I tell her. She nods, and goes back to watching the screen. The Games has began around an hour ago, and both tributes from our district were dead. It never got any easier. As hard as I tried, I couldn't help but to get attached to the tributes every year. Johanna seemed to handle the death of her tributes well. Though, Johanna never showed any emotion besides anger.
"I don't buy it. They aren't in love. This girl likes she wants to be on the other side of the arena than next to him." Johanna rolls her eyes. The two from 12 - Katniss and Peeta, are in a cave. His leg is badly injured, but he's with Katniss now.
"It's keeping them alive for now. Can't be too bad of an idea." I say, keeping my eyes on the screen. I think of Cato, the boy from 2, and how he reminds me of Blaze. I couldn't help but to wonder if there was more to him. I'd learned more about Blaze in the last moments of his life than in thirteen years. Was Cato just scared? Seeing Rue die caused something inside of me to snap. I suppose it was because she was younger, like Azure, but I had torn up the room I was in, only finding solace in Finnick.
"It's bullshit. Why are they so special that they both get to come home? I'm sure you would've liked to come home with whatever his name is...why them?" I sigh as Johanna rants.
"They've got the crowd's attention, and the Capitol just wants views."
*** A year ago it had come down to Katniss, Peeta, and Cato, who, before his death seemed angry at the Capitol. He's died, and everyone rejoiced that the star crossed lovers were able to go home and live happily ever after together, until Claudius Templesmith had announced that there would only be one victor. I couldn't say I was surprised - the Capitol had always been ruthless. However, when the lovers had brought the nightlock berries to their mouths, all of Panem watched in shock. The Capitol had to have their winner, so they had no choice but to crown them both.
I sat, watching the waves crash; which always calmed me, and thought of the upcoming Quarter Quell. The Reaping was tomorrow, and though I knew I couldn't be reaped, my nerves were still high. I manage to let out a smile as Finnick walks towards me, talking.
"The waves are beautiful but they don't compare to you, Cora." I smile. "Hey, Finnick." "Hello, light of my life."
