As Cecilia observed the coastal scenery transforming into vast woods, a sudden tap on her shoulder sent her heart racing. Reacting instinctively, she swiftly turned around, seizing the hand that had touched her. In one fluid motion, she twisted it and pushed the boy against the window she had just been gazing out of. With her forearm pressed against his throat, she hissed, "Who are you? What do you want?" while locking eyes with his ocean blue ones.
"Wow, easy, tiger," he said with a smirk, revealing charming dimples that played on his face.
"I'm Finnick, Finnick Odair, your mentor," he added.
"And what does my mentor do besides scaring me to death?" Cecilia asked, releasing him from her grip, her eyes still wary.
"Apologies if I scared you. From now on, I'll do my best to take care of you," Finnick answered, his tone soft and caring.
"Good luck with that, gorgeous," Cecilia said playfully.
"With your reflexes and skilled hands, I don't think we need luck," Finnick replied, genuinely impressed.
"And I think you need a reality check because I won't be a pawn that President Snow controls. I am not going to kill other children just for his entertainment," Cecilia answered harshly, her tone firm and resolute.
Finnick's expression shifted. "You need to fight, otherwise, you don't stand a chance in the arena. Even if you can hide, they will push you in the direction they want, and then they want to see action. Nobody escapes the Capitol - nobody ever escapes the Hunger Games," Finnick explained.
Cecilia hardened slightly, motivated by Finnick's words. "I won't compromise my principles for the Capitol's sick games. I need to be true to myself, no matter what they throw at me," she declared, a spark of defiance in her eyes.
Finnick nodded, a shared understanding passing between them. "I get it. That's exactly how I felt when I was reaped. I was only 14, thrown into the arena, forced to fight. I didn't want to kill those children, but I needed to. It was either me or them."
"So, you're saying I need to be more selfish, kill them to survive because my life is worth more than theirs?" she asked, upset.
"No, I didn't say that - it's just the way it is. You can either be the hunter or the prey. And if you don't want to survive for yourself - I strongly advise you to find someone else to do it for, someone you want to get back to, someone you need to see again," he told the girl, offering a different perspective.
She regarded Finnick with a somewhat understanding yet not fully convinced expression. In this moment the compartment's door swung open, revealing Dylan Havelock, the male tribute from district 4.
"Hey, you're OUR mentor, right? So, no secret tips there," Dylan remarked, his gaze sharp as he observed them. He then noticed the disheveled state of Cecilia's hair, drawing conclusions from Cecilia's encounter with their mentor.
"Or am I interrupting? I've heard of this. Tributes selling themselves for just a vague promise that their mentor would get them out of that hell. Believe me, sweetheart, it's not worth it", Dylan stated, maintaining eye contact with Cecilia.
"I'm not selling myself, you idiot," she retorted, rolling her eyes at his insinuation.
"Finnick Odair," their mentor said, taking a step towards the boy and extending his hand.
"Dylan Havelock," he responded, shaking Finnick's hand.
"And Dylan you can believe me when I say having sex with a tribute isn't my way of operating," Finnick made clear, addressing the lingering tension.
YOU ARE READING
The Jabberjay's Ballad: Love against all odds | The Hunger Games • Finnick Odair
ActionCecilia Fiore, a resident of District 4, has always dreaded the possibility of being chosen as a tribute. Luck spared her until what she believed would be her last reaping day. However, her name is unexpectedly called, thrusting her into the deadly...
