Allied Hearts - Finnick Odair

Chapter 11.

Finnick was a natural when it came to all this showbiz stuff, adapting to each camera angle so he always had his 'good side' apparently it's his left, but I'd say all angles were perfect.

When it came to his interview the crowd were intrigued the whole way through, latching onto each word he said.

'So, anyone special back home Finnick?' Caeser Flickerman pried into his most personal details as he did with every Tribute. No one was spared from this invasive broadcast.

'Well I didn't until I came to the Capitol. Now I've found someone who holds a very special place in my heart' The audience loved the reply as 'ooohs' and 'ahhhs' echoed toward the stage.

'Well I think we all know who you're talking about! I like to see a young love story, I wonder if President Snow agrees?'

I can tell you right now that he definitely does not. His face was unimpressed the whole way through the interview whilst I was trying to conceal the smile that was beaming on the inside of me.

Before I knew it all the interviews were over and the Tributes were rushed onto the train to take them to the arena. The games would begin first thing tomorrow morning. And just like that the 65th hunger games had begun.

As I begun the journey home I expected or at least hoped my Father would be too exhausted at his old age to talk. After all it was after 9pm and isn't that late for pensioners? He had me when he was 60 so he most definitely was not in his prime.

'I don't know what all this ludicrous love stuff is about but I'm glad it's over Alia. Absolutely ridiculous honestly, absurd.' He was just throwing negative adjectives my way at this point, shaking his head like a little bobble doll.

'And if he wins? Not over then is it.' I should really learn that my cheek never really gets me anywhere with himself.

'Trust me, he won't win.'

'Good job I don't trust you isn't it Father.' Tutting at my response he turned around in a strop to look out of the window and not at me.

He was probably thinking how he'd love to get rid of me, only the Capitol had grown too fond of me. And luckily for the both of us, mine and Finnick's little scenario had won them over even more for the both of us. Therefore I wasn't going anywhere, Snow was stuck with his horrible daughter.

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That night I restlessly lay in bed unable to sleep a wink. Thoughts of the Tributes swam around in my head, it felt like they were all I had thought about for the last couple of days. Every night they haunted me relentlessly.

They must be so scared knowing they enter that arena alive to possibly never leave that way. I wandered if any of them were thinking the same as me, I could bet they were. I can't imagine they'll be sleeping very much.

Morning slowly crept up as I was awoken by Ava. She had hung up an outfit for me and hooked it onto the wardrobe.

'Am I going somewhere Ava?' I questioned her already knowing the answer.

'No Ali, you know that it's the start of The Hunger Games, in an hour to be precise.' Clearly she was in no mood for my teenage strop but that made no difference to me.

'Well that does not sound like an event I need to dress up for really.' I took a glance at my reflection in the mirror. My stripy pyjama top and shorts to match would be the outfit for the day.

'Oh Alia stop with your sillyness, hurry up before your Father comes on the hunt will you.' She almost hissed at me, we were in equally bad moods today.

'Fine, you're totally right.' I slugged over to my wardrobe and opened it. Pretending I was glancing at each article of clothing I grabbed my dressing gown and shoved it in over my attire. 'Id say I'm ready, wouldn't you Ava?'

Before she had the time to answer I was out of the door and sloping down the long hall way. I joint the small gathering there seemed to be in the dining room, helping myself to a seat in the corner away from the rest. No one uttered a word as I walked in, eyeing up my choice of an outfit. Fury flashed all over my Fathers face when he realised what I'd come dressed in.

'Are you ill dear?' He tried to make excuses up for me.

'No actually Father, I really have never felt better.' Smiling sarcastically at him I popped a few grapes into my smart mouth.

'Well let me apologise on Alia's behalf for her...' He tried to find the right words without exposing his true feelings toward me. 'Interesting attire. She's clearly feeling a little delirious.'

I rolled my eyes at him. Most of the Capitol disregarded it after a few minutes, too interested in The Hunger Games which was destined to start in the next couple of seconds.m

Besides that, a dressing gown and pyjamas were in no way as ridiculous as some of their own outfits.

I braced myself to see all the Tributes in that arena. The broadcast all of a sudden appeared on the far left wall in the hall. I frantically searched for any sign of Finnick, my breathing slowed down when I recognised his familiar face, he was also scanning the arena for any clue of what it was based around this year.

Each Hunger Games has a different theme and each year they seem to get more creative and even more evil however that was possible. The only thing that stayed the same each time was the Cornucopia. This was the centre of the arena where it all starts, weapons and survival supplies laid around it.

Something known as the 'Cornucopia bloodbath' always occurred at the start of each games, where Tributes compete for the most valuable weapons and supplies. As you get closer to the centre of the Cornucopia the supplies become more valuable to a Tribute whereas the ones dotted around the outside probably wouldn't be of much use.

Usually about 8-12 Tributes are killed in the bloodbath so I was praying Finnick would stay clear of the chaos.

As the countdown etched further and quicker to finishing my heart pounded. I never enjoyed watching The Games but I never had a choice, nobody did. Everybody in Panem was doing the same right now, some watching in awe, some in terror and some in entertainment.

Coming to an abrupt end the countdown halted as each Tribute ran in various directions. My eyes glued to Finnick as he swiped a close by rucksack which lay on the ground next to his podium. Rapidly he scanned around the arena to see what he was up against, I took this opportunity to do the same.

The whole space around them was in shallow water, weapons and bags floating away in the distance as lucky Tributes swiped them. Swiftly Finnick made his move, trudging through the water. As he began to go farther away from the Cornucopia it seemed as if the water was deeper, emerging him into it. He seemed to be chuffed with the arena setting as he took it all in, he was an expert swimmer so it would all work in his favour.

I was pleased too, I knew this gave Finnick way more of a chance to get out alive. He already had a huge advantage above the rest.

I'm pretty sure my Father was displeased with it as he would be thinking the same. Giving him a cheeky smirk I lavished up his beetroot face, nothing he could change now as much as he wish he could.

The camera panned on the bloodbath as we witnessed innocent lives taken, mostly by the hands of the Careers, each time the loud boom sounded through the air I flinched, another victim taken.

As the madness continued Finnick disappeared off the screen, clearly not as amusing than the chaos unravelling at the Cornucopia. All I could do now was hope he found shelter and wait anxiously for him to return back on screen.