By the time the 72nd Hunger Games rolls around, Verina Calder is 18 years old and ready to stop being corralled into a pen like an animal every year. But will this be for the better or for the worse?

Day 1-The Reaping

Here I stand in the ring for 18 year olds knowing that once I am spared by the misfortune of someone else I will never have to stand here again. I look at the faces of the people on the stage: Drubidia, the Capitol escort equipped with her dazzling blue and green "oceany" garb. She's been the District 4 chaperone since my first Reaping Day with her horrid giant conch shell necklace "a tradition just as is the Games". By comparison to the other chaperones she isn't the worst. District One's Exlexa is horrificly frightening. My eyes rest on a more peaceful figure next, the famed Mags Sheffield, our eldest victor and female mentor. She won the 9th Hunger Games and is a revered character in our district. Someday I hope to grow old in peace like her. Her wrinkled smile is missing today, just like it usually is on Reaping Day. Next, my gaze flitters to Finnick Odair, our male mentor, whose own orbs rest upon my face. I drag my eyes away as fast as I can. You aren't supposed to look at him. You aren't supposed to think about him. Not in District Four. That's for the Capitol to do. He's the Capitol's boy. Hesitantly, I look back out of the corner of my eyes just to make sure I'm not imagining his thickening gaze. Maybe he's in his own world and doesn't notice he's staring.

"Ladies first!" Drubidia warns, strutting toward the female glass orb filled with paper slips. As her heels click on the concrete stage, I watch Finnick's air hike up from his chest and rest in his throat and the very same thing happens to me right before the name rings out. The paper slip is in her hand. "Verina Calder!"

Oh God, it's stuck. The air is stuck.

'Breathe, breathe' I think and a strangled cry escapes my lips.

"VERINA CALDER!" The other 18 girls push me forward and two Peacekeepers grab me by the arms and begin to drag me into the aisle. Once they realize that I am not putting up a fight I am released so that I can ascend the stairs on my own power.

"Yes, thank you Verina. Now for the boys!" Drubidia squeaks. I see Finnick and Mags look at me with sad gazes out of the corner of my eye. Now Drubidia has the male tribute's name in her hands. "Cove Eldin!"

Cove Eldin's screams consume me. I watch as the twelve-year-old boy hollers and writhes about in the corrall of young boys and Peacekeepers rush to the scene.

"Stop him. Stop him. STOP THAT." I say quietly, horrified. A strong male hand rests on my shoulder. I don't bother looking to see who it is but it is reassuring and calming as images of fire and Peacekeepers in white flash inside my mind.

"I volunteer as tribute." a boy from the 18s booms, stepping forward into the aisle way and raising his hand.

"Name?" Drubidia quips, straightening the microphone.

"Arno Firth." the red-haired male speaks up. His blue eyes glint with ferocity as he takes the stage. I don't pay much attention to what happens next due to my near failed attempts at trying not to pass out.

"I know you." the famous Finnick Odair says to me once I'm inside my farewell room. He sits atop the window box, looking at the sun and the sea outside. The light reflects off of his bronze hair as he sits with his right knee up to his chest and his right arm perched on top of it.

"I-I don't know you- I mean I know you but I don't KNOW you." I say, furrowing my brow. I cross my wrists and cross my ankles but then decide that both look awkward. How do you sit around a boy? Especially, a boy of this caliber.

"No. I know you. I know why you freaked out when that boy screamed too." Finnick insists, turning to look at me.

"Finnick I-"

"Cephas. Cephas Odair." Finnick says sternly, his eyebrows knitting together and disrupting the serenity on his face just seconds before. "My brother."

"I knew him..." I say slowly, looking down at my hands in my lap. I play with the hem on my light blue Reaping dress. "My best friend."

"You watched him die, didn't you?" Finnick asks, accusation in his eyes as he begins to stand up.

"They grabbed him from my house. They killed MY family too. I would have also been dead, but I mean, look at me now." I explain. "I know what I did was wrong. I was a coward. I hid in the closet and when I came out they were all on our front lawn.. I-"

"-They killed your...your family?" Finnick asks crossing the space between. How many?" Finnick shouts, grabbing me by my shoulders and shaking me. His sea green eyes glistening with forming tears of what I assume is desperation.

"Three. My mom. My dad. My older sister."

"Fifteen. Fifteen. Fifteen." Finnick chants. He pulls me close to him in an awkward hug - my arms stiff by my sides. "You're coming out of this alive, Verina Calder. My number will stop at 15." he hisses.

"O-okay" I gasp, thoroughly confused at this turn of events.

"Times up! Mr. Odair, get on the train. Ms. Sheffield is waiting for you. Ms. Calder, there are no more visitors for you." a male Peacekeeper shouts through the door.

"Oh.. thank you." Right. No one came to say goodbye. Just Finnick Odair.

"My tributes! So old you two are. Verina and Arno. The 18-year-old fighters from District 4!" Drubidia blubbers about as she serves various items of food for Arno and I that the both of us have never seen before. "Will you be teaming up?"

"Oh. I-I don't know him." I say, wiping my mouth on my napkin as some soup came up with the surprise at her question.

"Yeah, no. I'm a Career guy." Arno says with a haughty laugh. Finnick's face darkens and Mags looks a bit put off as her fork clatters against her plate.

"Excuse me, muscleman, but I don't think underestimating the clearly strong will get you anywhere." Finnick says, crossing his arms across his chest and raising an eyebrow.

"Really now? Clearly strong?" Arno laughs and crosses his freckled, muscular arms. Everyone at the table looks at me, sizing me up.

"She's practically Johanna Mason's District 4 counterpart." Finnick says pointedly. "Meek and mild but ultra fiery."

"Ooh I see it!" Drubidia says quietly from her seat, oozing with excitement over the Games in general.

"Yeah, so watch yourself, Firth." Finnick says, taking a bite of a roll and a spoonful of soup.

"Manners, Finnick!" Drubidia squeals as Finnick dribbles the soup down his chin and over the bowl.

"Sorfgy." Finnick says through his napkin and Mags slips out of the room without a sound.

"Well whatever, I don't need mentors to win the Games." Arno says with a ferocious bite of his roll.

"Hah! You say that now but you won't be when your ashes are being spread over Cape Herring!" Finnick exclaims, pointing at Arno. He picks up a roll in his right hand and fires it right at Arno's face. "Stupid!"

"FINNICK!" Drubidia yells, slamming the empty plate that she had just taken from me down on the table.

"Drubidia, may you please show me to my room as you offered earlier?" I ask politely.

"Yes, dear Verina." Drubidia says shakily, piling up the china. "Excuse us, boys. Don't kill each other."

"Oh, actually Drubidia, may I show her to her room? I would like to speak with our beloved Verina." Finnick says, speaking politely to get his way.

"I think it's highly inappropriate to speak to a young woman in her quarters, Finnick Odair." she scoffs, fixing her hair.

"I see no issue, Drubidia." I say and Finnick's hand is on my shoulder again, leading the way.

"Well, he's an ass." Finnick says as he slides the door to my room behind him. "Don't worry, this just means Mags and I can both have our attention on our victor."

"Don't have so much faith in me." I breathe and plop down onto the large, comfortable looking bed.

"Psh, why not? I have a brilliant idea. Johanna part two. We play the same role she did. Innocent. Fragile. Scared. Victor." he says, crossing his arms. "I know you have skills. List them off."

"I'm good with a trident?" I offer. "The only thing I've ever practiced with at school is knives. The trident stuff I've done at home for years."

"PERFECT."

"Are you sure?" I ask hesitantly.

"Positive. It'll work perfectly. I'll elaborate tomorrow, love." Finnick says, giving me a quick hug and kiss on the forehead. "Sleep tight beautiful victor." and he's gone.