When We Drown~Finnick Odair {Book 1}

Chapter Two

•••

"I don't have anyone to say goodbye to," Autumn told a peacekeeper as he pushed her into a room.

"Then just wait," one of the peacekeepers with his mask off told Autumn before closing the door. Autumn sighed as she walked over to the fancy and red fabricated chair. She ran her hand across it, mentally saying goodbye to her district.

The sound of the door opening brought her out of her thoughts as a red head and a young boy walked into the room. Autumn stood up at the sight of Annie and her brother. When the door closed behind the two, Annie burst into tears and rushed forward towards Autumn.

"Thank you Autumn. Thank you!" Annie cried out as she grabbed her in a hug. "But you shouldn't have volunteered," Annie continued, leaving the hug.

"Your brother needs you," Autumn told Annie, who was wiping a tear off of her cheek. "I don't have any family left. Don't worry, I'll be fine."

"I'm so sorry, Autumn," Annie cried, hugging Autumn again.

Autumn was surprised. This was the most the two had ever talked and definitely the most they had ever hugged. It was actually the first time they had ever hugged. And probably the last.

When Annie let go, Annie's brother ran up to Autumn and hugged her, tightly. This surprised Autumn.

"Thank you for keeping my sister alive," the boy smiled sadly at Autumn. She mirrored the smile but didn't say anything.

"Autumn," Annie brought her attention away from the young boy. "This ring, well I bought it from a small shop in town. It doesn't mean much to me, but maybe it will to you." Annie handed Autumn a thick, silver ring that had the form of a wave carved into it. It was simple yet beautiful. "So you never forget where you come from and what you did for me. It can be your token from home."

"Thank you, Annie," Autumn smiled at the girl, trying to hold back her own tears as she slipped it onto her middle finger on her right hand. The three of them hugged once again.

The door to the room then opened and Annie and her brother wiped their tears away.

"It's time to go," The peacekeeper spoke. Annie nodded, grabbing her brother's hand and turning towards the door. They got to the door before Annie turned her head back to look at Autumn.

"Autumn," Annie smiled softly. "We'll be rooting for you."

•••

Autumn walked through the crowds of District Four citizens with her head high, she neither smiled nor scowled but made her face show an emotion in the middle of the two. She listened to the men, women, and children chant her name, happy to have another career tribute enter the arena.

There weren't many cheers for Tyson as everyone knew he would die. He was only fifteen after all. That was much too young to survive the Games. But people failed to remember how old Finnick was when he survived the Games at the ripe age of fourteen. Autumn assumed that everyone forgot because it was just so easy to forget. Once you kill another person, people forget that you're a child because you no longer have the innocence of one.

Autumn couldn't help but feel bad for Tyson. The terrified boy couldn't stop his anxiety as he stepped on the train and whipped his head around to take in his new surroundings. Autumn saw his family crying as they hugged him a final time before the two of them were taken to the train, back when they were still saying goodbye in the town hall.

As Autumn and Tyson walked into the train, Autumn couldn't help but stare at the luxury of it all. District Four was a rich district and Autumn had always known a comfortable life, but she had never seen chandeliers and furniture like this before.

Autumn reached up above the wooden dining table to touch a glass chandelier that illuminated the entire car. The glass twinkled as the pieces hit each other. The glass was smooth under Autumn's finger tips and there wasn't a speck of dust on the chandelier.

"Be careful with that," a voice spoke. Autumn turned to look at Finnick Odair. He had his signature cocky smile plastered on his lips as always. "Amethyst wouldn't like it very much if anything in this car was ruined."

"The Capital has plenty of money to go around," Autumn murmured as she tore her eyes away from Finnick and continued to look around the car.

Tyson scrambled past Autumn and stopped in front of Finnick, shoving his small hand out towards his new mentor.

"Hi, my name is-" Tyson began.

"Please, let's have introductions over dinner," Finnick smiled at the boy, gesturing towards the dining table.

There were two seats on each side of the table and since Autumn was closest to the table, she sat down first by the window. Finnick moved, quickly, to sit on the chair next to Autumn. Tyson took his spot across from Finnick and Amethyst sat across from Autumn, next to Tyson.

"So uh-" Tyson attempted to start a conversation, awkwardly.

"How about you two say your names, ages, and what weapon you specialize in," Amethyst smiled as she spoke, excitedly. Finnick nodded, agreeing, as he grabbed a plate and started piling food onto his plate.

"Well, my name is Tyson," the young boy began. "I am fifteen years old and I specialize in swords." Finnick nodded before turning his attention to Autumn, followed by Amethyst and Tyson's eyes.

"My name is Autumn. I am eighteen and I specialize in knives and spear," She spoke without looking up as she too started putting food on her plate.

"Do you both swim?" Finnick asked. Autumn nodded.

"Yes," Tyson spoke. "But I've never been fond of water."

"You live in District Four," Finnick spoke, dumbfounded. Tyson looked at his plate. Everyone in District Four knew of how his five year old brother died two years prior in a drowning accident. Tyson hasn't swam since then. "Do either of you use a trident?"

"I do," Autumn spoke up, cutting into the beef sitting on her plate. "Not lately, though. My trainer wanted me to focus on knives because they are a more common weapon in the arena."

"Well I think this is just wonderful," Amethyst smiled happily as she sipped at her wine. Autumn looked up at Amethyst.

"What?" Autumn asked, dropping her knife and her fork.

"This is wonderful. Another Hunger Games. Two career tributes," Amethyst smiled with a sigh. "You shall have no problems in that arena."

Autumn forced herself to bite her tongue. She never thought about being a career tribute because she never thought about going into the Hunger Games. But Autumn was suddenly curious about what it felt like to not be a career tribute and entering the Hunger Games. Knowing you had no chance to come out alive.

Out of the corner of her eye, Autumn could see Finnick staring at her. Finnick knew what she was thinking, even though Amethyst was completely unaware that what she said had angered Autumn.

But Autumn knew it wasn't completely Amethyst's fault for think that way. That's the way the entire capital thought. She was raised to think that way and so were the rest of them.

Autumn picked her fork and knife back up and continued to cut into her food, suddenly unsettled by the rich flavors. She forced herself to keep eating anyways as she mumbled, "Yes it's wonderful."