Reyna watched the screen of her television tensely, awaiting the special conditions of the 3rd Quarter Quell. She paled instantly as Snow read out the card. The existing pool of Victors... As in, she had to go back to the arena. It felt like a hit to the gut, knocking all of the air out of her. There were only so many female Victors left from District 4. But, unlike her, most of them had families. She knew right then and there what she would do.

It was the day of the reaping and the tension was palpable, hanging over everyone in front of the Justice Building as much as the heavy fog that had rolled in earlier did. It was stifling, suffocating. Pearl Sequina stood on the stage, between the two large glass bowls.
They look a lot like fishbowls, don't they? Reyna thought idly, standing with her hands clasped behind her back. She wore a deep blue dress that rippled off her figure. The wind tugged at it and her long hair gently.

She looked ahead with no emotion in her blue-green eyes, save determination. The drive to protect the other Victors. It was a tiny act of rebellion: to go into the arena on her own terms.

"Gentlemen first!" Pearl said cheerily as ever, walking over to the glass bowl on the left. She wore a ridiculous outfit of coral and salmon shades, and her hair was bubblegum pink. Bleh. She reached into the bowl and dug around with her perfect nails for a bit before pulling out a slip and opening it up. "The male Victor from District 4 to be competing in the 75th Hunger Games is..." She flashed a smile at the crowd. "Finnick Odair!"

Reyna's eyes filled with panic. Why couldn't it have been anyone but him? He stepped up with a smile (read: smirk), making half of the girls in the crowd swoon.

Pearl smiled again and walked over to the girls' bowl. A moment later she pulled out the white strip of paper and smoothed it in her hands to remove any crinkles. "And the female competitor is..." Reyna bit her lip in anticipation. "Mags Flanagan!"

Mags stepped forward. "Any volunteers for either the male or female spot, respectively?" Pearl chirped in a bubbly voice.

Reyna's hand shook before she forced it still and raised it, lifting her chin. "I volunteer as Tribute!"

Mags looked at her pleadingly, but she wouldn't back down. They switched spots. Reyna suddenly felt like the world was tilting, a buzzing noise filling her ears. They were escorted off of the stage, but not allowed to see their families or friends. It wasn't like they had any, in any case.

Faster than she thought possible, they had been herded to the train with their mentors and already had begun to speed to the Capitol. She felt herself yanked up and roughly shoved into a room, the door slamming behind her.

Reyna looked up to find Finnick's green eyes boring into her like blue fire. He shoved her against the wall angrily. "What the hell were you thinking!?" He hissed out through gritted teeth.

"I-I-"

"How could you be so selfish?? You were supposed to stay safe, back home!"

"Finnick-" she tried to soothe him.

"No, don't 'Finnick' me! You've put yourself in even more danger, and Snow's been waiting for his chance to kill you ever since you humiliated the Capitol in your Games!"

Everything he said was true, and they both knew it. Reyna dropped her gaze, making him sigh and relax his hold on the collar of her dress.

"You won't lose me. We're best friends, Finnick. We watch out for each other."

"I know." He was calmer now, though still obviously agitated and tense. He leaned against the wall on one forearm. "Just... Don't do anything crazy, alright?"

"Alright."

The two Victors, their mentors and Pearl sat around the expensive wooden table on the train. It was laden with rich, delicious food. Reyna particularly liked the salmon fillets with spicy cream sauce.

She had secured a spot between Finnick and Mags, because she didn't know the male mentor and she didn't want to sit next to Pearl.

Just as she was thinking how stupid it was that people in District 12 were dying of starvation while they feasted, Ms. Sequina spoke up.

"So, Reyna, how is your little sister Delilah? I heard she was the sweetest thing around before the Capitol invented candycakes!"

Reyna stiffened, her appetite gone. Finnick grimaced at what he knew would come next.

"Oh, she's doing fine. You can visit her for me, if you'd like. She's with Elizabeth and Abigail and my parents. 648 Bellflower Street." She cut through the warm atmosphere with her voice, a razor of ice.

Pearl actually looked confused. She frowned, tilting her head to the side. "Isn't that-?"

Her tone was scathing, bitter. "The cemetery? Yes. You'll find them in the family mausoleum. It has a trident carved above the doors. When you visit, leave sunflowers for Ellie, hydrangeas for Abby, and primrose for Del. My parents get water lilies."

Everyone but Finnick - who had been with Reyna to visit her family many times - sat in shocked silence. Mags reached under the table to clasp Reyna's hand, a gesture of support.

Thank you. She tapped against her mentor's wrist.

Be strong. Mags replied. Reyna nodded discreetly.

They ate dinner in silence after that. Nobody really wanted to bring Reyna's temper to surface again, after all. That is, until Pearl couldn't stand the tension any longer. "I'm sorry, Reyna."

That was all she said, and it didn't exactly make up for her ignorance, but maybe this one Capitol person wasn't so bad, after all. Reyna nodded softly, meeting the other woman's eyes. That was enough to make the tension ease a bit, if not clear entirely.