CHAPTER ONE!

A STORM IS BREWING.

HER FINGERS SKIM ACROSS THE SAND AS SHE SITS AMONGST IT, the sunlight searing her lightly tanned skin. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore bring her great comfort, the simple presence of the ocean a symbol of peace in her life no matter what she is truly feeling. She's been sitting her a while now, unable to find a reason to leave. Sometimes she wishes she could simply live amongst the waves and never leave, they could shield her from the horrid world she is forced to live within.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" A soft, melodic voice flows through the air behind her. She recognises it instantly and allows a smile to pull at her lips. "I know I'm handsome but I'm sure you could find something else to ponder,"

"Sorry, I wasn't thinking about you this time," She teases in response, the person sitting on her right. "Maybe next time though,"

Finnick chuckles as she rests her head on his shoulder almost instinctively, his presence greatly appreciated at this moment. Days like these are normally the ones that they love and cherish, where they can just be in one another's company without a single care in the world. Unfortunately, there is a certain atmosphere that surrounds them today and it's all because of the dreaded Hunger Games. The reaping, which she would have to attend, is in mere hours.

"I know I'm always on your mind, it's okay to admit it. I promise I won't tell your parents that you're in love with me," Finnick smiles his usual bright and teasing smile, pouting when she slaps his arm gently. "Ouch,"

"You're an idiot. You're aware that my parents love you right? Tell them that and they'll push for marriage," Rosalie responds quietly.

"That wouldn't be so bad. I think you'd actually be pretty lucky,"

She rolls her eyes at him - she's entirely serious however. Her parents absolutely adore the Victor and her brothers get on well with him as well. Having Rosalie become an Odair would be amazing to them.

"Where's your smile, sunshine?" Finnick questions after a few moments of silence, her sullen face causing him to frown lightly. "The Rosalie I know would've out shined the sun by now,"

"The Rosalie you know is still here, just a little worried," She breathes and he looks at her. "Asher put his name in a few more times this year so we could get some more meals. I've lost count of the amount of times his name is in there and Carter - he's stressing out about it,"

"Hey, it's Asher's last year. I'm sure he'll be fine and then he won't have to worry about it anymore," Finnick tries to assure the girl and she shakes her head.

"Maybe but Carter still has a few more years left. He's fifteen, Finn. He'll think it's his responsibility to get us more rations soon and then I'll have to worry about him,"

"And what about you?"

She lifts her head off his shoulder and looks at him, their eyes connecting and she can see the sincerity in them.

"My name is only in there the amount of times it is required to be. Ash told me that I wasn't allowed to be in there anymore than that. I should be fine," Rosalie comments.

"My name was in there three times, Rosie. Only three and I got picked, I just worry you will have the same bad luck,"

"You shouldn't worry so much about me,"

Rosalie gently pushes her younger brother's hair out of his face as he sits there almost frozen. It's the same every year, Carter has an immense amount of trouble with the idea of being sent to his death — just like everybody else. However, it's truly a task to get him to leave the house and the only way to do it is if somebody holds his hand every step of the way. Rosalie will stay and comfort him until they get separated at the reaping and after that it's Asher's turn.

"Do you like your shirt? I managed to pick it up at the small market in exchange for some of the clams I found at the beach," Rosalie asks softly and the younger boy looks up to her with tears in his eyes, nodding slowly. "Good. I made sure it was blue because that's your favourite colour,"

"Do you think any of us will get picked today?" His voice is timid and croaky, his eyes not leaving his older sister's as she crouches in front of him.

"Unfortunately there is no way to tell, C. But have faith,"

He wraps his arms around her and pulls her into an embrace, one that is so tight it almost hurts her. Asher walks into the room and smiles at his younger siblings, placing a hand on Carter's shoulder.

"You'll be fine, C. Come on, Mum and Dad are waiting for us outside," Asher speaks to his siblings and Rosalie nods, getting to her feet and holding her hand out for Carter.

Her little brother grabs her hand and the two of them head out the front door towards their parents, Asher trailing behind. Their mother gives them as soft smile, gently laying a hand on her son's cheek as a form of comfort.

"Come, children. The reaping begins really soon," She speaks in her normal, soft tone.

The small family walk towards the town centre in a close knit formation, Carter practically hiding beside Rosalie. Her heart aches with each step, knowing that his worries continue to grow as they move closer. The grip that he has on her hand has grown tighter, astronomically so and she squeezes his back.

They reach the tables where they will sign in and Rosalie holds her hand out, allowing the small incision to be made on her finger so they can check off she's here. She hisses lightly but allows it to happen anyway. She stays by Carter's side whilst he gets his done and then pulls him away from the crowd, her hands cupping his cheeks.

"You're going to be fine, C. You'll most certainly be going home tonight and when we get there, we'll play some silly games, ok? Hide and seek like we used to when we were kids," Rosalie speaks before gently kissing his forehead and hugging him to her tightly.

Asher smiles softly at the two of them and hugs his sister the moment she lets go of Carter. "If he gets picked, I'll go in his place,"

His voice is quiet so that Carter cannot hear him but loud enough so she can. Her eyes fill with tears as she rests her forehead against his shoulder — terrified that she will lose one of her brothers today. With Asher, she doesn't have to hide her fears or tears.

Rosalie pulls away and wipes under her eyes, giving her brothers one last hug before moving to her parents - gently kissing their cheeks. It's then she has to head off to her section. She's squeezed between all the seventeen year olds in District Four, all of them filled with fear.

"Welcome! Welcome to District Four's reaping for the 68th annual Hunger Games!"

The escort for District Four is a bubbly woman named Ziggy Flickersmith who has been coming here for some years now. Her long blonde hair is stuck up in some Capitol specific hairstyle with makeup smudged upon her face - an incredible amount Rosalie notices.

"Before we begin today's proceedings, we have a video from President Snow!"

The familiar music begins to play around the place.

"War, terrible war. Widows, orphans, a motherless child. This was the uprising that rocked our land. Thirteen districts rebelled against the country that fed them, loved them, protected them. Brother turned on brother until nothing remained. And then came the peace, hard fought, sorely won. The people rose up from the ashes and a new era was born. But freedom has a cost and the traitors were defeated. We swore as a nation we would never know this treason again. And so it was decreed, that each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up in tribute, one young man and woman, to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice. The lone victor bathed in riches, would serve as a reminder of our generosity and our forgiveness. This is how we remember our past. This is how we safeguard our future."

Ziggy claps her hands as if it is the best thing she's ever heard, a bright smile adorning her face. She doesn't seem to notice, or care, about all the miserable faces around her but instead basks in the glory that is the Capitol. It make Rosalie almost despise her.

"Now! It's time for us to select our tributes who will have the upmost honour of representing District Four in this year's Games! Ladies first!"

Time seems to slow down as the woman struts over to the first bowl, gently lowering her hand into it so her fingers skim over the pieces of paper. She the pulls one out and walks back over to the microphone. Rosalie watches as she pries it open with a smile on her face.

"Our female tribute for District Four -"

She takes a break almost as if to build suspense.

"Rosalie Barton!"

Note!

Hi! Thank you for reading! I'm really excited to start this new story and I hope you guys will enjoy it!