stretch my arms over my head, flexing to get the kinks out of my muscles.
I shift slightly on the large rock I am sitting on, looking down the cliff in front of me, all the way down to the water.
Feeling the breeze rush through my tousled hair, I close my eyes and breath in the salty air.
It's been a little over a year since the victory tour, and the sixty-seventh annual hunger games will be starting soon. I am now sixteen, and this year will be the first that I will be mentoring.
I sigh, I don't want to mentor, it's been hard enough without having to watch kids from my district that I have tried to prepare die in the games. Nothing can prepare someone for the arena, no matter how well-trained you are, you're going to leave scarred, one way or another.
I stand up on the rock face, and look down into the water.
I never used to come here. The people in district four call it "Calypso's cliff"
Legend goes that Calypso, the goddess of the sea would claim the souls of whoever happened to fall from this spot.
This of course is just a scary story to keep children from going near the dangerous cliffs.
I used to stay away from it like the rest of the children, but lately it has been my safe haven from...everything.
Nobody ever comes here, so it's a place where I can get away to be alone, and think.
The water below me is calm, barely rippling in the breeze.
I take a couple of steps back, taking a deep breath, I run forward and dive off the cliff.
Falling, it's the only thing besides swimming that makes you feel like you can bend reality.
For the few short moments that I am air born, I feel like I am flying. Then I hit the water, cutting through it in a clean dive.
Then I'm in the water, somersaulting and spinning through the smooth cool water.
I shoot up, and break the surface, flicking the wet hair out of my eyes.
Then taking another deep breath, I dive back under.
There's a coral reef here, one of the most beautiful ones I have ever seen.
I don't think anyone knows about it except for me, and I want to keep it that way.
I swim around the bright coral of all shape, sizes and colors. Schools of little fish swim past me, and I spot several starfish and sea horses.
I can hold my breath for a while, longer then most, which allows me to search the reef in detail.
I decide to go a little farther down, and come up for another deep breath, before plunging back into the still water.
I swim straight down, sliding through the water with ease. Soon I am at the bottom of the reef, and I swim along the edge for a while.
Suddenly I spot a large clam shell, balancing on the edge of the reef. I swim forward, and grab it. Then I kick off the reef and swim back to the surface.
Taking deep breaths, I swim around the small cove, created by the cliff, to a shallow section where I can climb out.
I sit on the hill leading up to the cliff, and inspect my clam shell.
It's about the size of my hand, ivory colored with a slight blue tint.
I pull out the knife Bruce gave me that day in the bar, I've never let it leave my side since he gave it to me, and whenever I go swimming I keep it strapped on my calf.
I use it to pry open the clam, and I gasp in surprise.
Inside is a perfect pearl, light pink, and slightly bigger than a marble.
I take it out, and hold it in my palm.
"I know exactly what to do with you."
I say to it with a smile, then I hop up, and start the walk back to town.
About an hour later, I can see the town.
The poorer people of the district, live on the outskirts of town, and the fishermen live even farther out, near the docks.
I stop behind an abandoned fishing shack, leaning against the weathered wood, I wait for several minutes.
I hate going in to town, I can't walk ten feet without being mobbed by my "fans" who either want to kiss, or kill me.
Both terrify me.
I groan as I realize what I'm wearing.
Since I was swimming, I am shirtless and have on only a pair of swim trunks. Not good.
I take a deep breath, and decide to just walk as fast as I can straight to my house.
Unfortunately that's all the way in victors village, across the town.
It will take me nearly an hour to get there, and I don't feel up to taking the back ways.
I brace myself, and begin to walk down the street.
After ten minutes, I begin to relax slightly, what few people who I've passed on the street, have ignored me.
The majority of the district's population leaves me alone. At least some people understand that my life is hard enough without being bothered by a bunch of inconsiderate people.
I slow my pace slightly, feeling the hot ground underneath my bare feet.
I take a deep breath, and let it out in a sigh. Just then I freeze, as I hear a collective gasp behind me.
I wince as I hear the all too familiar squeal of teenage girls.
I slowly turn around, and moan.
Why did I have to go home the same time the girls swim team ended practice?
At least fifteen girls from the ages of twelve to seventeen, are standing behind me.
It takes about three seconds for them to confirm that I am who they think I am.
"Oh my gosh! It's Finnick Odair!"
They all scream, and I turn and run for my life.
I run as fast as I can through the streets, the girls hot on my heels, I know once I make it to my house, I can barricade myself in and lock the door.
I still have a mile or so to run, and hopefully I will lose them by then.
No such luck.
I underestimated the stamina of a fan girl. They are still hot on my heels when I reach victors village. I run past Mags and Bruce's house.
Unfortunately I didn't notice the slight step in the pavement, and I trip falling head over heels onto the sidewalk.
Instantly I am jumped on by the girls, unable to get up I struggle helplessly against the overwhelming odds.
"BRUCE!"
I scream at the top of my lungs.
"BRUCE!"
I hear a door open above the shouting girls, and within a few seconds, strong hands are yanking me out of the center of the girls.
I see Bruce, for a split second, then he pushes me behind him.
"Leave him alone you bunch of skanks!"
The girls cry in protest, but Bruce gives a few rough pushes back towards town.
"I said get lost!"
They hurl some nasty comments, and turn to go.
Bruce turns back to me, grabs my chin and tilts my head to the side.
"Jeesh. You'd best come inside and let me clean that up."
I follow him into his house, and he tells me to wait in the living room. He shows up a minute later with a first aid kit.
I wince as he wipes the side of my face with a damp cloth.
"Ouch! Do you mind?"
He smacks my hand away, and continues to wipe my face.
"Stop whining you big baby, I have to clean this cut."
I frown.
"A cut?"
He puts down the cloth, and picks up a bandage.
"Yeah, you must have split open your skull when you hit the sidewalk, you also have some bruises."
I wince as he wraps a bandage tightly around my forehead.
"Those bruises will have to heal up on their own. Well that's the best I can do for you."
I stand up.
"Thanks."
Bruce stands up, I notice that I'm taller than him now. He squints at me for a minute, then starts chuckling.
"What?"
He pats me on the shoulder.
"Nothing, it's just with that bandage around your forehead you look even more dashing."
I shove him, and he starts laughing.
"It's not funny."
He grins.
"Yes it is, come on, you should go get into some dry clothes."
I thank him, then hurry over to my house.
I freeze when I see a shiny black car parked in front of my house, I stand for a minute, trying to figure out who that could be.
There's no one outside, and as far as I can tell through the tinted windows, there's no one in the car.
I walk slowly up to my house, and open the door.
There is a peacekeeper in my living room, and an official looking man wearing a suit.
"Finnick Odair?"
The suit asks formally.
"Um, yeah."
He ushers me into the room.
"This way please."
Normally I would be asking questions but there's something about this that makes me uneasy, so I just follow the man upstairs and into a small sitting room.
He closes the door behind me, and I'm left alone. Or so I think.
"Good afternoon Mr. Odair."
My blood chills at the voice, and I turn to see him sitting in one of the armchairs.
"President Snow."
I say shocked. He is wearing a spotless white suit, with a lovely blood-red rose tucked in the pocket.
He smiles, and the room fills with the overpowering scent of roses and blood.
"Why don't you have a seat? Then we can talk more comfortably."
I nod, and slowly take the seat across from him. He puts his fingertips together, and watches me for a minute.
"Well, you certainly have grown up."
I shift uncomfortably, there's that look in his eyes, the same one he had at the crowning ceremony. Like he's planning something, like he knows something.
"Thank you."
Is all I manage to mutter. Another awkward silence.
"Excuse the personal question but, are you currently dating anyone?"
I blink in surprise.
"Um...no."
He raises his eyebrows,
"So there's no special person in your life right now?"
I shake my head, and I see a flicker of something in his eyes. Triumph? Joy? Satisfaction?
"I see..."
He says, hissing the last word. I resist the urge to shiver.
"Well, the reason I came to visit you, is I have a little favor to ask."
I'm really nervous now, the president wants a favor from me? What could he possibly want?
"Yes?"
I say, trying to keep my voice steady, indifferent.
"Well, you have attracted a lot of attention in the capitol, and I have some friends that are...interested in you."
I swallow, trying to keep the fear out of my voice.
"Interested?"
He nods slowly.
"Very interested. They would like to become...aquianted with you. All you have to do, is come to the capitol when you are called, and do what they ask."
I know he can see the panic on my face, the terror in my eyes.
"You will be rewarded for your...services."
Is he asking what I think he's asking? He wants to sell me? Give me to some rich person in the capitol to do whatever they want?
"You want me to become a prostitute?"
He shakes his head.
"No, no...let's not use that unseemly word. You will be a...significant other, to whoever can meet the terms."
Yeah, a toy for the rich.
"You would get to visit the capitol many times, be given the richest of food and service, you will be treated like a king."
I shake my head, standing up.
"No. Absolutely not. I will not become some playboy for your rich friends!"
I turn, and my hand is on the doorknob when he replies with a dismissive air.
"How's Annie doing these days?"
My heart stops, and every muscle turns rigid.
"She's doing fine."
I say just above a whisper.
"Good, wouldn't want her to have any...problems."
I turn slowly back around, my eyes hard as stone. My voice is like ice.
"Don't you dare touch her."
He raises both hands.
"I won't lay a finger on her...providing you coöperate."
I shake my head, and he stands up, walking past me, he opens the door.
I hear him pause.
"Tell her I said hello."
I hear him take several steps.
"Wait."
I close my eyes tightly, clenching both fists, then I turn around.
"Fine. I'll do whatever you want, as long as you leave Annie out of this. You don't bother her at all, understood?"
He smiles, a cloud of blood and rose scent hovering around me.
"Of course. I'll see you soon."
He walks down the stairs, and I hear them leave in the car.
I don't know how long I stand there, completely numbed by what I've just agreed to.
Annie can't know, she would never let me do it.
I hear the front door open, and someone runs up the stairs.
"Finnick?"
I'm staring blankly at the floor, as Bruce walks up. He grabs my shoulders, and gives me a gentle shake.
"What happened? I saw the president leaving your house. What did he want?"
I look up slowly, and tears slowly fall from my eyes.
"I had to...he was going to hurt Annie...I had no choice."
He shakes me hard.
"What did he make you agree to?"
I push his hands off of me, and step away from him.
"He wants me to be a love slave to the capitol!"
Bruce closes his eyes, and drops his head.
"Can he even do that? Oh never mind, he's the president!"
Bruce sighs, and lifts his head.
"That little..."
He utters a few curse words, then runs his fingers through his hair.
"I thought you had a couple of years left at least, your mature looks deceive you."
I frown,
"What do you mean?"
He shrugs.
"Since you look older than you are, they're starting you off early."
I stare in shock at him.
"You mean they do this to the other victors?"
He nods slowly.
"They couldn't with me, didn't have anything to use against me."
I shake my head slowly.
"What am I going to do? He threatened Annie if I didn't do what he said."
Bruce shrugs.
"There's nothing you can do. Unless you suddenly stopped caring about Annie, he will always have something against you."
I shake my head again.
"That's never going to happen...so I guess I'm stuck huh?'
He nods.
"Unfortunately yes. The only thing you can do, is go through with it, and remember that you're saving Annie's life by doing so."
I take a deep breath.
"I'm going to go see her if that's okay."
He nods again.
"She can't know."
I nod, and he leaves.
I wait several more minutes, then get dressed in cut off jean shorts, and a white T-shirt.
I head over to Annie's house, and take a deep breath before knocking on the door.
As usual, Annie answers the door.
She smiles her bright cheerful smile.
"Hey Finn!"
I return her smile, forgetting my problems when I'm around her.
"Hey Annie."
She covers her mouth with her hands and giggles.
"Oh please Annie, not again."
She continues giggling.
"Sorry Finn...I just can't help it."
I sigh. Ever since my voice dropped, several weeks ago, Annie can't talk to me without giggling.
"Come on! It's been over a month, you better get used to it because it's not changing back."
She gets her giggles under control, and crosses her arms.
"You're right, sorry. I guess I should get used to your 'man' voice."
She starts giggling again, and I glare at her.
"Well at least I'm not turning into a woman!"
She scowls at me, and it's my turn to laugh.
She's been in denial about growing up, but like it or not, she's becoming a young woman.
"That's not funny Finn."
I grin.
"Fine, I won't tease you, if you don't tease me."
She holds out her hand.
"Deal."
I shake her hand, and she hops down the steps.
"So, what are you here for anyway?"
I shrug.
"Just dropping by. Did you want to hang out?"
She pretends to contemplate this for a while, then smiles.
"Sure, why not?"
I laugh, and we run to the beach.
When we get there, we dash down to the shallows, and splash water at each other for a little while. Then we start walking up the beach like we've done so many countless times.
"Annie?"
"Hmm?"
"I might have to leave for a little while."
She frowns,
"Where?"
I hesitate before answering.
"The capitol."
She stops, and turns to me.
"The capitol? I thought we both agreed we hated the capitol?"
I shrug,
"I don't know, you seemed to enjoy yourself on the victory tour."
She crosses her arms.
"Well I did. But only because you were there, I would never want to go back. Everything is too fake."
"I won't be gone long, probably only a few days."
She thinks for a minute, then looks me in the eye.
"What for?"
I can't keep her gaze, and I drop my eyes as I answer.
"Some TV interview I think. Like I said, it shouldn't take more than a few days."
She gives me a long look, then turns and starts walking up the beach, calling over her shoulder.
"Well hurry back, I don't want you going all capitol on me."
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