Querencia | Finnick Odair

Chapter 10

The next morning at training, everybody is present, unlike the other day. Probably to prepare for our individual assessments.

I stroll past the stations, eyeing the gamemakers for the first time. I lock eyes with one of them. Plutarch Heavensbee. He smiles, I glare.

The one station I haven't visited yet is the sword fighting one.

With my best strut, I walk up to the various blades displayed. I grab two different katanas, looking which one was lighter, which one lay better in my hand. They clink together and it draws some attention from the surrounding victors. I choose the lighter one and change the settings for the simulation.

I step inside and get into the right stance, wrapping my hands around the handle.

The simulation starts slow, with one attacker at a time, but soon speeds up and I am twirling and slashing. I remember how my grandfather taught me.

On the fields, explaining that it is like a dance, fluid and elegant.

The results, of course, are not elegant, the fight itself is not a dance anymore. But there is an art behind it if it is trained right and not used to kill.

But it is always nice to think back to it, even though right now I am preparing to kill.

I slash through the last orange attacker, looking at the tributes that were watching. Last time they wanted to know what Katniss could do, this time I showed them what I could do. And it worked.

In some of the victors' eyes I can see respect, in some fear.

The Careers watched from afar, but most of the others stand closer. I blow my hair out of my face and put the katana back on the rack with a grin on my face.

The other tributes need to think I am ready to fight, ready to kill, that I am better than them and that they should steer clear of me in the arena.

Which would be a win-win situation because I don't really want to kill them anyway.

But we all have a game face and we all have to put it on. Finnick seems to be flirting with Katniss and Johanna is once again naked. Gloss is staring intimidatingly at the weaker tributes. As I said. Gameface.

Silas walks up to me, an annoyed expression on his face.

"You just had to show off, didn't you?", he scoffs.

I shrug. "Why shouldn't I?"

"You always act like you are better than all of us."

"That's because I am", I grin and stalk away, hearing a chuckle from the net making station, where Finnick sits.

I join him, sitting down.

"You are feisty today, hmm?", an amused tone swings in his voice.

"No, he just. I don't know, he irritates me. And I need the others to avoid us, so this is the best way."

He nods slowly.

"You weren't on the roof last night."

"Yeah, I...I just needed some sleep", I reply. After I stepped off the elevator last night Mariann caught me and wanted to know what happened, but I would only worry her more which is why I hid my hands and said a quick good night. Penelope, on the other hand, saw my motion and made me show her my hands. When I told her it was Snows she almost fainted and wrote an essay on her notepad on how stupid I was. I grew angry, which I regretted instantly because she didn't deserve it, but after that, I was drained and was once again scared if it would have consequences after all.

"My love. I know you. What happened?", Finnick questions.

I shake my head. "Not here."

"Talisa?"

Now he is worried. Great.

"Everything is under control. Now. I have an obstacle course to master."

Lunch is the best part of the day. People joke about their private sessions and there is lots of laughing. As District 9s victor I have to wait for quite some time until it's my turn, which is good because I still don't know what to do. I walk to the toilets and a pair of arms wrap around me. I grab the person's elbow, twist the arm and press them against the wall, releasing them instantly. Because it's Finnick.

"What the hell Finn?", I exclaim.

"Sorry love. I just wanted to talk. I am worried."

I take a deep breath, calming my spiked heart rate.

"Come on", I mumble and pull him into the closest hallway and wring my hands as I start talking.

"So, short version. Got a box, had a meeting with Snow, he pissed me off. I stabbed him a little."

Finnick's mouth falls open.

"You..you. What? He, you, wait", his eyes bore straight into mine. Looking at me like I am crazy.

"Don't look at me like that", I mumble, being reminded how my grandmother looked at me when I came home. Disbelief, a little disappointment, confusion and this question if I lost it swinging in within it.

"Sorry, it's just. You stabbed him?"

"It is what I said isn't it?"

A sigh leaves his lips.

"You can't be that reckless darling. He can punish you still. And I don't want anything to happen to you."

His warm hands clasp mine.

"We can't afford that", he mumbles.

"Finnick. What does he want to do? He is throwing us into an arena, it can't get worse than that. And I don't worry about him punishing me, because I don't plan on leaving that arena alive. I will fight, I will kill if I must, but in the end, it is you who will get out of there. And do not fight me on this. We talked about that. This time there will be no tricks, no poisonous berries. Only one", I sigh, "And it's going to be you."

Katniss would have to die one way or another for Finnick to win.
Finnick bites his lip. It is the same look I saw on Haymitch's face last night.

"What is it?", I ask.

"Nothing my love. We should head back. The individual assessments will start soon."
I nod. "I still need to go to the bathroom though."

With a quick kiss, he leaves.