Dahlia's Pov:
I walk back to Finnick's house in victor's village. I've just spent all day at the docks alone because Finnick was summoned to the capital. He said he'd be back by now, and I fully intend on being there to make sure he is okay.
I am forced to make "visits" to the capital often now, just as Finnick was afraid of. He was furious the first time I was forced to go. Yelling about how Snow can take this from him but that he couldn't stand it being take from me. I remember when I came back he tried to hide the tears in his eyes as he apologized for not being able to protect me.
But in the last year the districts have begun to rebel. We haven't discussed it much, as an ounce of defiance from us could result in one of us dead. But we both silently support the districts even if district four hasn't begun its rebellion yet.
I pick up my pace so I can get there in time to watch the quarter quell announcement with Finnick. I finally get to the large house and shake the mud off my boots before letting myself in.
"Finnick? Are you home yet?" I ask to a seemingly empty hall.
Finnick peers over the wall smiling. He lifts me up and spins me around. A giggle escapes my lips before their met with his and we share a passionate kiss.
"Someone's in a good mood." I say out of breath.
He smiles spinning me around.
"I just missed you." He says kissing my forehead.
"I missed you too." I say wrapping my arms over his shoulders.
He places his hands on my waist gently. He hums a slow melody and we sway to his tune, it is perfect, too perfect. As if on que we are interrupted by the TV flashing with the capital symbol. I flinch at the sudden sound and we break apart to focus on the announcement.
We both take our places on the couch as the broadcast begins. President Snow walks onto the stage.
He clears his throat then begins, "On the seventy-fifth anniversary, as a reminder to the rebels that even the strongest amoung them cannot overcome the power of the capital, the male and female tributes will be reaped from the existing pool of victors."
It takes me a second to process what he said and for a moment we sit in silence. Before Finnick abruptly stands up, and angrily launches a nearby vase across the room. His reaction sets off something in my head and suddenly I just want to be at the docks. Before I know it I am sprinting down the path I know all too well.
I barely notice the rocks digging into my bare feet as I race desperately pushing against the wind. As I approach the docks I breath in the ocean scent and the moment I get to the water I dip my feet in. They are bleeding from the jagged rocks that still sit lodged into my bare feet.
The salt water stings but I ignore it. I need to be in the water, the only thing that stayed the same after my games. Finnick treated me like I was fragile, and the other people from our district placed me on a pedestal. The ocean stayed the same, a wave of consistency in a world of inconsistency. Little wisps of hair fly into my face but I ignore them staring in front of me trying to focus on the small ripples on the surface of the water.
I don't know how long I'm sat there before Finnick's voice echos through the docks, "Dahlia! Dahlia! Where are you?!" He calls. I can barely hear his words, they're almost like they're underwater.
He rounds the corner and his eyes land on me. He rushes over and pulls me into an embrace. I lean my head on his chest letting tears fall. I pull my feet from out of the water and curl up in his arms. Unaware of the blood that's drips down the wooden dock.
"Oh my gosh! What happened!? Did I hurt you?!" Finick asks panic filling his voice as he looks at his hands that are covered in my blood.
I look up confused but quickly realize why he is freaking out. He thinks I stepped on the glass shards from the vase, and that's why I ran alway.
"No. You could never hurt me. I just cut my feet on the rocks on my way over." I say showing him my badly torn feet.
"Why didn't you tell me?" He asks inspecting them, and getting blood on his hands in the process.
"It's not important." I say, trying to hide the tears still streaming down my face.
He sighs and picks me up careful not to put pressure on my feet. I see tears in his eyes as we enter the house again. He grabs some bandages and carefully wraps my feet.
"Finnick?" I ask as he ties the last bandage.
"Yes love?" He answers sitting next to me.
"What happens if we get reaped?" I ask nervously looking at the broken pieces of the vase on the ground along with a few picture frames.
"That won't happen." He says kissing my forehead and pulls me into a hug his arms wrapped protectivly around me.
"You don't know that."
"I don't but thinking about you, back in that hell hole, is too horrible to even imagine." He says burying his face in my hair.
We sit like this for a while until I eventually fall asleep.
The reaping:
I quickly pull on a purple dress and high heels before braiding my hair in two long French braids. I make sure my necklace is on right and quickly make my way out the door and towards Finnick's house.
Finnick is waiting for me outside. When his eyes fall on me his face breaks into a bittersweet smile. I can tell he is worried.
"You look stunning." He says spinning me around.
"You don't look too bad yourself." I say smiling as we walk to the justice building.
When we get to the justice building we are moved to the stage were the bowls of names are. There is only one name in the boys bowl well there are three in the girls. Mags, Annie, and me.
Please keep Finnick safe. We all wait as the video plays. Finnick and I exchange nervous glances as we wait.
"Now let's start with the boys." The escort says taking the paper out of the bowl.
"Finnick Odair" She says.
Finnick puts on his signature smile waving to the crowd that erupted in cheers for their victor. I awkwardly wait as the cheers die down.
"Now for the ladies." She says putting her hand in the bowl.
My heart is beating out of my chest. I can barely breathe as I'm brought back to my last reaping. Finnick's stance changes to reveal his nervousness as he shifts from one foot to the other anxiously.
"And the female tribute is." She says pausing for dramatic effect.
This only makes my anxiety skyrocket. My mouth goes dry and I feel every eye on me.
"Annie Cresta" she announces.
I fill my heart drop. Annie had always been close to Finnick. But what really causes me to panic is when I see Mags about to put her hand up to vollenteer. A wave of adrenaline kicks in and I lift my arm.
"I vollenteer as tribute." I say confidently.
I see the smile fall from Finnick's face. The expression that now rests on his face is full of panic, concern, and fear.
"No Dahlia, please." He says quietly so that the microphone doesn't pick it up.
All of a sudden all my courage left me. I realized what I just did, but I can't back out now.
"A vollenteer! Perfect!" The escort announces.
Finnick pulls me close and I smile and wave to the crowd. Sealing my own fate. As we are ushered to the train I feel as if I may just drop dead at this exact moment. Why did I do this to myself?