ODDS

ꜰᴀʟꜱᴇ ꜰᴀᴠᴏᴜʀ

7 months later

𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓼 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝓰𝓾𝓮𝓭 𝓶𝔂 sleeping mind more often as the day of the reaping drew closer. My thoughts terrorized me with memories from the arena. I killed Opal. If I really thought about it, I killed Sander, too. Sure, I didn't do it intentionally, but it still happened. Otherwise, it would be him laying wide awake in the early hours of the morning, drenched in sweat and tears, and I would be dead.

Oh, how I longed for the welcoming arms of death.

I guessed I would be getting my wish soon enough, because there was no way I would make it out of that arena for a second time.

And I knew it would be me in that arena. Mags was far too old and Annie would have been no fun for the Capitol audiences. No, I knew that Snow had chosen me yet again. It was inevitable.

For these reasons, on the morning of the reaping, I found myself laying beside Finnick. Covers were tucked in, indicating that he had gotten no sleep the night before. Not that I blamed him. I was lucky to catch an hour or two myself. We laid face up, our backs sinking into the soft material of freshly-washed sheets, which smelled, somehow salty and sweet, like the sea and sugar mixed together.

We were silent for the majority of the morning, wanting to savor the last bit of calm before the storm. I was aware of everything. The way Finnick breathed, shaking as he did so. The fan above us, spinning slowly and creating a draft in the already cool house. The creaking of the hardwood floors. The way my own chest shook as I let out another breath.

"We both know what's going to happen today." Finnick whispered. Even with his voice being so low, it sounded as if he were screaming compared to how silent the house was. To be honest, the entire district was quiet.

My head fell lazily to the left, gazing at his silhouette. He looked angelic against the soft rays of the morning sun, even if he was anything but. I knew what he was referring to. The conversation we had all those years ago came flooding back. Snow. The Games. Chosen. It's what got me in trouble for the second, and last time, with Snow. It had cost Calypso her tongue and her life, destined to become an Avox in the Capitol.

"Yeah." it came out barely as a whisper.

I watched his eyes blink a few times, his long eyelashes distracting me. I'd told him over the years how jealous I was that his were so long and curled. It only made him laugh and bat his eyelashes in an exaggerated manner.

"We need to be getting ready." Finnick suggested. He said it with no desire to actually accomplish anything. I nodded, feeling the same way.

"What did Cinder pick out for you?" he asked after a second. I giggled, turning to my side.

"A stupid little red dress." I replied quietly. "Like the one at that concert a few years ago, except shorter."

"Oh." Finnick said, his words tainted by his grin. "The one that made that super old guy hit on you? The guy with the puke green mullet?"

I laughed, grateful for the short distraction from what was to come. "That's the one."

Finnick hummed. "I liked that dress. You look good in red."

My cheeks felt hot as Finnick glanced my way.

"Alana?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't want to lose you."

My heart fluttered and my stomach felt odd. Finnick did this to me sometimes, complemented me and turned all sappy. I smiled, sadness creeping its way into the mix. It's one of the things I would miss about him.

"I don't want to lose you, either."

***

I stood on the stage, in front of all of District Four. In front of the Capitol.

The red dress was shorter than it looked, not even reaching my mid-thigh. It was fairly low cut, too, so I was showcasing a lot more skin than I was used to on my home turf. For the Capitol, it was probably nothing. They'd seen me in less.

Mags and Annie stood on both sides, the latter shaking like a lost puppy. Caspian had said he visited her last night, sure that she would be having a meltdown, like the rest of us. I held her trembling hand, and she calmed just a bit, much to my relief. I didn't want people to see her in such a vulnerable state.

Finnick and Zane stood on the opposite side of the stage. I noticed Finnick wore some sort of stupid sweater, held together with odd, metal pins. Secretly, he made a fake gagging face, and I smirked. At least he had his skin covered.

"Welcome, District Four, to the reaping of the 75th Hunger Games and the 3rd Quarter Quell!" Freya bubbled. I lightly shook my head at her. Even in her obliviousness, I had taken an odd kind of liking to her. It likened to having an aunt or something of that nature.

"Now, to spice things up a bit, we shall start with the men, this year!"

I had to fight the urge to roll my eyes. As if things weren't already spiced up, what with victors being the tributes.

Freya promenaded towards the bowl which held two names, reaching her hand in delicately. Once she chose on of the slips of paper, she returned to her spot in the middle of the stage.

"The male tribute for District Four is Finnick Odair!" she exclaimed. "How exciting!"

I saw Finnick lift his hand, smirking and raising his hand to the roaring crowd. He oozed arrogance, and I again had to keep from rolling my eyes. I had never liked his Capitol persona. Then again, I hadn't liked mine, either.

Finnick made his way to the center of the stage, placing himself on one side of Freya.

"And now, for the ladies!" she continued.

I watched her dainty hand reach into the bowl, my heart speeding up, despite knowing what was coming. Time slowed, allowing me to wallow in defeat. My demise was on its way, and fate would have me realize that before it played out.

"The female tribute for District Four is Alana Knight!"

I plastered a proud look on my face, playing on each feature as I'd learned to do for the sake of survival. Put on a show. It's all they wanted. I lifted my hand in a wave, swaying my hips as I made my way to Freya and Finnick. I stood, flipping my hair off of my shoulder with a smirk.

"Happy, happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor!" Freya drew out with her quirky accent.

There may have been odds, but there would never be any favor.