124 FIRST CLOUD

"Don't what, don't tell you the truth?" Caspia tears off her golden collar and flings it to the ground with a heavy metallic thunk. "It's their job to bring home victors, Finnick. Not people. Out of all the male candidates, you must've been the one with the best chance, not in spite of your age, but because of it."

"If that's the case, I don't see why Abalone picked you," Finnick retorts. "The Capitol doesn't have any reason to back you. No personality, no motivation, no friends. I think you're just like Alabaster: jealous."