"A Phoenix must burn before it rises."
OR
In which two tributes not only find their way back to the Hunger Games, but back to each other.
Finnick Odair x Fem OC
Catching Fire
Book 1 in the 'Phoenix' series
Started...
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Phoenix hadn't noticed how quickly time had slipped away until it hit her all at once, now understanding that hours had passed by since she had been taken from her bed. With a tracker already embedded in her skin, Phoenix looked down at the mark it left behind. Her heart began to race as the weight of everything crashed down on her. She knew that the tracker would have to be ripped out, not just from her arm, but Finnick's, Katniss's, and Peeta's too.
Her focus broke when she felt Tilda behind her, tightening her high ponytail before slipping out of the room without a word. Phoenix knew what this meant, and a familiar anxiety settled in, one she hadn't felt since her first Games.
Tilda returned to the room, holding a grey and black wetsuit. "So water," Phoenix said as she slipped off her robe and stepped into the skin-tight suit. "That's what it looks like," Tilda replied, zipping it up the back.
The final call for the tributes echoed, breaking the almost awkward silence that had settled over the room. Phoenix stiffened, her gaze drifting to Tilda, looking for any kind of comfort. To her surprise, Tilda stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her, holding her as if she were a brief shield, protecting Phoenix from what she was about to face.
Even if it was only for a moment.
"You bring that crown home," Tilda whispered into Phoenix's ear before stepping back, giving her a reassuring smile.
Phoenix watched Tilda reach into the pocket of her pants, pulling out a small gold ring. Through worn, the ring still caught the light with a faint shine as it slid onto her finger, and Phoenix knew exactly who it belonged to.
Once the cold metal settled against her skin, she looked back up at her stylist. She met Tilda's gaze, sending her a silent nod, as if to thank her.
A sigh escaped Phoenix's lips as she turned and stepped into the glass tube, her heart beginning to pound. The doors closed behind her, cutting her off from everything familiar. She placed a hand against the glass, as if Tilda, the new stylist she failed to connect with, was her last hope to escape these Games. But as the platform began to rise, Phoenix ran her hands along the glass, wishing it would stop.
But it didn't.
Suddenly, a bright light flashed, nearly blinding Phoenix as she struggled to focus and figure out where she was. "Let the 75th Hunger Games begin," the announcer's voice boomed, just as the final countdown started. The numbers ticked down, and Phoenix took a deep breath, finally getting a clearer look at the arena waiting for her.
Surrounding the podium she stood on were miles of water. Phoenix squinted her eyes, looking past the water to see a beach that was bordered by a dense jungle. There was no time to question the arena's layout as she glanced at the people around her. She was surprised to see Chaff next to her instead of Cassian.
Listening to the countdown, she scanned the platforms for any sign of Finnick, but he was nowhere to be seen. Phoenix curses under her breath as she tries to convince herself that she'll find him soon, she has to. Trying to settle her nerves, Phoenix tried to focus and prepare herself for the long swim ahead.
