Querencia | Finnick Odair

Chapter 5

On the train we eat in silence, Mariann's eyes are a little puffy from the silent tears that ran down her face when I said goodbye to her children. I think they might even show it on TV. Emotions are a big thing there and it would be great for me because the women of the Capitol will be in tears and try to get me back to these beautiful children.

Later we settle on the couch and watch the recaps of the reapings.

Gloss and Cashmere are the tributes from one and I let out a small, almost silent fuck.

Next are Enobaria and Brutus.

Beetee and Wiress.

I hold my breath when District 4 is shown.

"Ceridwen Flanagan", the escort calls out and from somewhere I know the name.

Then Mags volunteers and my jaw drops. Finnick's name is called out and I stand up, throwing the glass in my hand at the screen while cursing and tears filling my eyes.

These Games seem like Snow's small personal vendetta against me. All the persons I know, all of the people I get along with are put in there. I don't even know what exactly he hates about me. But it sure feels like he is punishing me personally with the tributes.

Mariann takes my hand and pulls me close, hugging me, trying to calm me down.

I sit back down, my hands curled in fists, my heart racing and my blood running cold.

Johanna is chosen for 7 which is obvious since she is the only female victor, she is cursing the whole ceremony and I have to smile. I missed her. I haven't seen her in a long time.

Then there is us. Mariann's name being called, me volunteering, our discussion, Mariann's tears. And I was right they show me hugging the children, saying goodbye. They do not show the fight, but the bloody nose in the background is somewhat giving away what happened. Now Mariann is crying and I squeeze her hand.

The other tributes I don't know very well. Torri isn't the female chosen from ten, but I know Seeder because she was a mentor one year and Cecelia, but to her I only talked once.

I retire to my room for the night and find a book with a note on it.

You are so brave.

Don't do more stupid things.

You are my only friend

-Penelope♡

And there I go, more tears filling my eyes. I take a quick hot shower and then get into bed, falling asleep surprisingly fast.

In the District 12 train

"Cashmere and Gloss, brother and sister. Won 63rd and 64th Hunger Games. Deadly", Haymitch explains and goes on. His face twists when he sees Mags volunteering for her granddaughter and Finnick being reaped. He could only imagine Talisa's pain.

"Johanna Mason. Deadly. Not friendly."

And then they get to District 9.

"Talisa Moreno. Absolutely lethal. And Silas Morrigan. Not so lethal, still a threat."

Katniss straightens. "Any weaknesses?"

"Talisa? Not really. She is skilled with many weapons, has never stopped training. She has strong allies. I would advise you to get her as your friend."

Peeta narrows his eyes. "Isn't she the one from the victory tour?"

Haymitch nods. "Yes, she is a friend of mine and I will beat your asses with a broomstick if either of you gets out of that arena and it was you who killed her, although, as said, that is a very hard task."

"Why would she volunteer? Is she one of the ones that like fighting?", Katniss questions.

"Nobody, not even the Careers, really like fighting. They are no different from you, especially her."

That shuts Katniss up.

They continue the screening and see the scene in which she hugs the two children.

Haymitch chuckles at the bloody nose of the peacekeeper behind her.

"Are they her children?", Peeta asks.

"No, they are Mariann's. Maybe you understand now why she volunteered."

Katniss swallows hard. She had judged the girl too quickly and the blonde girl reminded her of Prim.

"She really loves them doesn't she?", Peeta mumbles.

The next morning, District 9 train

I am woken by Penelope who cries silently while braiding my hair that reaches my waist once again, but I feel small droplets on my back and turn around, pulling her close.

"You are my friend too. But I need to be strong, prove to Snow that he isn't winning. Not this time."

She nods and holds out green cargo pants, heavy boots and a black shirt. I put in my earrings and look in the mirror. I look like a soldier, ready for war.

I smile. "Thanks", I say and put on the necklace. She takes it in her hand and points at the ring.

I nod slowly. "Finnick"

She gasps and I see that she is holding back tears once more.

I eat a big and healthy breakfast with fruit and vegetables, lots of calories.

My body is very calm this time around. No nausea, no headaches, no bad dreams.

The Capitol citizens go wild when the train arrives, I stay seated. They say they love me so much and yet they celebrate the fact that about 23 people will try to kill me.

The train stops and we line up at the door, I hold my head high and ignore the cheering, the calls of my name and walk straight to the car that takes us to our prep teams.

I had them around for my victory tour, but the constant crying is really getting on my nerves. They had absolutely no problem with sending me into the Games last time, they shouldn't have one now. Maddox is shaking which makes the waxing a whole lot less pleasant. Everything else is going the usual way.

My hair is curled and pinned, gems build into it and my make-up dark with the popular red lip.

I feel like I felt the first time. That I am presented as a piece of meat. I've gone through that and I am sick of it. And I am sick of my hair. It is curled and twisted and straightened and always in my face. It is something that makes me sexy.

I am sick of all of it. But alas, here I am, in a silk robe waiting for my outfit.

Keaton enters.

"I am so sorry, darling", he says.

"Yes everybody keeps saying that", I grumble and Keaton gives a simple nod, opening the bag.

"I had guidelines given to me", Keaton states as he pulls the dress out and I sigh.

It is a mostly sheer golden fabric which I assume will be skin tight with golden beads covering my breasts. Then the fabric stops and rows of beads connect the upper part of the dress with the skirt that is covered in beads to cover me, but then they get scarce and at the bottom, where the dress gets slightly wider in order for me to be able to walk, are no more beads.

It is completed with a cape in the back that has golden stitching that reminds me of the wheatfields in 9.

But first I am led to lunch which consists of tomato soup, garlic chicken with oven vegetables and chocolate souffle. And Keaton talks. About how he and all his friends are sad that they will lose us, that it is much harder to place bets this year, but many people want to sponsor the tributes and that I should be fine.

"I would think so. They have paid for me before", I mumble between bites of my souffle. Keaton says nothing and we return to the dressing room thirty minutes later.

The more minutes pass with the final details being adjusted the more I fidget. At the carriages I can see my friends. All of the friends I ever had to be honest. Johanna, Gloss and Finnick of course. Maybe even Cashmere and Enobaria, even though these two would kill me if they had to.