Keeping the light behind the red

by Paulys

Annie Cresta is in love with Finnick Odair, the handsome victor forced into prostitution by the Capitol. No, not in love, obsessed. After her victory, he helped her overcome the traumas from the Arena, thus creating a bond under which she feels entitled to do whatever she needs to do to keep him by her side. Even killing.

1. Prologue

Prologue: Red dreams

Since the day I won the Hunger Games, red invaded my world never to leave again. It appears in my nightmares, the red gleam of the blood from the tributes that in my madness I spilled. Tributes that now get their revenge by spilling my own red, Sean's red, my dead district's partner, or, eventually, Finnick Odair. My light.

He helped me to endure the red, immersing me in the blue sea of his eyes full of love. Bewitching me with his beauty, his gaze and his voice. He held me when no one else did, helping me despite my reluctance, always present, always obliging. Except in those days when he got called to the Capitol. Terrible nights for me.

It turns out, that now I know the reason for such habitual absences. What those harpies do to him... Red has multiplied by a thousand in my head. But it's not so dark anymore, on the contrary it became satisfactory. Like a path, a way to keep my light.

And so, every night I dream of spilling the blood of his lovers, removing the obstacles of my way in an increasingly cruel fashion. Until I wake up and I see that I actually didn't do anything, that my light is still away from me, carried away by different colors. And that I am doomed to loneliness.

I can't stand it anymore. Seeing him smile on TV destroys me. Waiting for him day after day is no longer enough, nor receiving his kisses and words of love when he gets home. I need more.

I need to get rid of them. Eventually it will help him, he will never have to leave again, he will stay with me and we'll be together forever.

And for that I only need to make my red dreams come true.