Here it is! As promised :) -Wendy.
Hey guys, this is Emma Lane!
It's really good to finally get this story out. I've written the first chapter you see here, and the next chapter will be written by Wendy.
We're gonna try to update as often as possible, but if there is a gap, we're sorry!
Anyway, this story picks up a few months after Wendy's last story, "together we are complete" Left off, and Annie's perspective on everything that's going on is told. SO please enjoy, and don't forget to review! (it only takes a minute)
Chow!
-Emma
(pssst! Emma! You didn't write a chapter title...so I added one, hope you don't mind!) -Wendy.
Chapter One: Thoughts.
Just jump.
I stand at the edge of Calypso's Cliff, and look over at the blue sea far below.
You can do it.
I've never liked standing here, at the edge of the world it seems. The land juts out over the water like some sort of giant diving board, and as I listen to the water below, I shudder.
Annie, jump.
No one has ever known about my irrational fear of heights, not even Finnick, my best friend who has been around me as long as I can remember, but it was always there regardless.
Of course, through the years Finnick usually tossed me over before I had time to scream, yell, anything; but today is different.
Don't think about it.
Finnick is gone.
Well, not dead gone, but he is so far away he might as well be. A little while ago he received an official looking letter, stamped with the seal of the Capitol. He left that afternoon.
Concentrate.
Just not having him here with me seems strange, that has always been our place, but I think that is why I came here today. I miss him, and love him so much that I needed to connect with something dear to him.
Finnick.
My mind is restless. I don't sleep well at night when he is gone, and if I do drop off, my hazy dreams are filled with bloody memories of his games.
Luna.
The little girl who saved Finn's life, passing away in his arms.
The Careers.
I hated them. I always have. They deserved the deaths they received in the end, and I don't think anyone ever misses them.
Wait, what?
I shake my head in frustration. These strange, revengeful thoughts are actually new to me. I don't know what's wrong. Maybe...
The time your mind failed you.
No. I'm never going back. I'm not fading again. I was younger than, my brother Robbert had just died, and Finnick had been reaped. I thought I would never see him again. I'm stronger now. Or am I?
You are.
Perhaps. At least, I tell myself that I am.
Oh Finn, I miss you so much.
But I mustn't think these things. I have a wonderful life, a mother who loves me dearly, even if she does occasionally overreact, and of course, Mags lives with us now.
Sometimes I feel like Mags is the only person in my world who never changes. She's like a rock, or a lifeline.
Hmmm...her?
Yes, well...
I shoot another glance over the cliff. The view hasn't changed much since the last time, but I've decided. I can do this. I will face my fears. Finnick always has.
Good girl.
Slowly, I walk to the very edge and stand there, my toes hugging the rocky soul. Not for long though, because seconds later, I fling myself into thin air and hurdle down towards the water, my eyes shut tight.
*Splash*
My body is plunged into the depths of the ocean, and I can feel bubbles rushing over my head.
Go up.
I agree with myself. Time to surface. Blowing like a beached whale, I pop up ont top of the water. It feels wonderful, and as always I feel slightly stupid for being so afraid to jump. Diving again, I swim around underwater, with my eyes open this time, and watch the sun rays ripple all around me.
Nothing ever changes here.
No it doesn't. This is one of the only places were I feel completely happy, completely at peace. Colors shift through the currents, and brightly colored fish swim below me, scattering when I wave my hand. Sometimes this life makes me feel like District Four is worth it.
Or not.
True, or not.
Hours go by, and I would never notice, but today I have to. Today, Poseidon, Ariel and their kids are coming over for supper and I need to get home in time to help mom with the food.
Get out.
Moments later I have to admit, I need to get home before dark, so I pull myself reluctantly onto the sandy shore and pull a long sweatshirt over my bikini. The sky is now full of clouds, big gray ones with a forbidding look about them and I figure that the weather changed relatively quickly since I got in swimming.
Hurry.
I need to get home before it starts raining, so I start running, which isn't easy in sand. My feet plow through the pebbles at the water's edge, and in the distance I can hear the ocean bell ringing.
The ocean bell was put up recently as a precaution against the weather after two men drowned in a storm. They didn't see the clouds until it was too late, and they were los forever.
Now the bell rings whenever a storm is coming, calling the fishers back to shore.
After about fifteen minutes, I can see the roofs of the grey, weather-beaten shacks that line the shore-front, and La light drizzle is coming down.
As I get closer to the docks, I can hear the shouts of the men and women unloading their boats. One man, a friendly fellow I've known for years calls out to me,
"Annie, a bit late are we?"
I smile and reply.
"Not a bit actually, I had a free day and needed some me time."
"Well," He says, I need some me time too, but the only place for that on a boat is with the fish, so it's a good thing they aren't that talkative."
This brings a rowdy laugh from the others unloading around him. I smile, wave and move on. Mom is undoubtedly waiting by now, and I can tell it's getting darker. So I press forward.
The streets are getting muddy and people are pushing past me, eager to get home before the dark,and I find myself being shoved between them. Thank goodness it isn't far to the victors village.
By the time I reach it though, the rain is coming down in earnest and I feel it trickling down the back of my neck. A cold shiver rushes down my spine.
"Ugh...cold."
I mutter, and slog towards my house. The lights are on downstairs, letting a warm glow out into what little yard we have, and I break into a run, dashing through the puddles, up the walk, and in the front door.
That's when I notice that Ariel, Poseidon, their daughter Lily and son Eric are already there. And all of them are looking at me in a rather shocked way.
I stare back at them for a minute in a rather shocked way as well, but thank goodness for Poseidon, who breaks the silence with a laugh as he says.
"Well Annie, I like your outfit."
I look down at myself and blush slightly as I find I'm wearing only my cover up over my bikini. Ariel pokes Poseidon as she scolds him.
"Dear, really?"
He shrugs and I pull myself together quickly.
"It's okay, I um, didn't have time to change clothes, so it's my fault really."
Just then, my mother bustles into the crowded foyer chatting to no one in particular in a conversational voice.
"Ariel, Poseidon, how are you? I didn't expect you so soon, or I would have woken Mags from her nap. I was just thinking...uh...Annie?"
"Yes mom?"
"I think you had better go upstairs and change, don't you?"
I grin.
"That would be good."
She nods back.
"Go on then."
Poseidon winks at me as I push by to get at the stairs, and I stifle a grin. He's so laid back, someone in a bathing suit coverup doesn't affect him in the least. Well, he's gone through the Hunger games, so not much bothers him really.
I leap upstairs and hurry into my room, where I close the door and open my closet. I can hear the others moving around downstairs and talking, so I figure if I take my time, I won't be missed.
*Tap tap*
I look up sharply. Someone is knocking on my door.
Ignore, it's probably just Lily playing around, she does that sometimes.
*Thunk thunk*
Well this isn't convenient.
"Who is it?" I call. No answer.
"Is someone out there?" Still nothing.
"Okay..." I frown and just stand there for a minute, listening.
*Wham! Wham! Wham!*
"Well, who is it?!" I yell at the door.
"It's Mags young lady, and if you don't open this door, I'll break it down myself!"
I leap for the handle. When Mags sounds like that, she means business. When the door opens, I see her standing there with her arms crossed, and a frown creasing her brow.
"I'm sorry about that, I explain. "I didn't know it was you, I thought it was Lily."
Mags doesn't answer to that, but instead shifts slightly.
"Can I come in?"
It isn't really a question. I hold the door open further.
"Sure."
She walks in and immediately proceeds to make herself comfortable on my bed.
"Ahh, that's better."
I twist my hands, and eye her. A few minutes go by. Finally I speak up.
"So...what's new?"
Mags grins.
"I don't know, I came to ask you."
"You came to ask me?"
She nods.
"Alright, but I'm warning you, it isn't very interesting."
Mags shakes her head.
"No, I wanted to talk to you about something. Someone actually."
I have a feeling I know what she wants to say. She pats the bed beside her.
"Sit down."
The bed squeaks as I get settled.
"I have a feeling that you think you know what I'm going to say, don't you?"
Mags says. I smile and nod.
"Well, you're probably right. Tonight I want to talk to you about Finnick."
Finnick is more or less a touchy subject for me, but Mags knows him almost as much as I do, so...
"Where were you this afternoon?"
"At Calypso's Cliff, I went to...swim."
"Just to swim?"
I feel my face getting hot.
"No, I didn't just go to swim. I went for peace and quiet, and to think about Finn. I feel close to him there."
Mags nods slowly.
"I thought so."
"Is that a problem?"
"It all depends on how you look at it. You know that the reaping is coming up, right?"
I shudder.
"Yes, in two days."
How could I forget?
"Mmhmm. That is what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Alright, go ahead."
"Annie, we need to be careful, very careful as a matter of fact."
Mags words come out in a rush, like she had been keeping them pent up inside for a long time. I frown.
"Why?"
She looks slightly worried, which bothers me, because Mags always seems so confident, but here, now...not so much.
"Poseidon and I, we've been talking about the upcoming games, and what they will be like and all. You are aware of course, that you and Finnick have to keep a low profile as far as your relationship goes, right?"
"Yes." I reply. What is she getting at? She twists her hands together.
"Well, to be honest, I'm worried about you. Do you remember last month when you were seriously ill? Finnick missed a Capitol trip because he wouldn't leave you. I'm sure you remember, but anyway, not long after you got better, he received a letter stamped with the President's seal."
I feel my heart sink.
Oh dear.
"After he read it, he looked very worried. However, when I asked him what it said, he wouldn't even tell me. Annie, I was one of his mentors. We've known each other for a long time, and he trusts me more than anyone. Or at least he used to."
"So." I venture. "How do you know that this letter was something to worry about? Maybe it was just a message for more days in the Capitol."
"Perhaps. Mags says. "But I don't think so. You see, after he read the through, he had a fearful look come over his face, and I heard him whisper; 'no, you can't have Annie.'"
She falls silent for a minute, then looks over at me.
"Annie, I think that Finn's letter was about you."
I feel a pit start to grow in my stomach.
"So, am I in trouble?"
"Possibly. I hate to think what went on in our estimable President's mind, but I'm hoping that the worst that will happen might be extra Capitol weeks. However, putting into consideration our present state of country, I'm afraid that we don't have that luxury."
I shake my head.
"But it seems so stupid. Finn just stayed behind because he was worried about me, not to purposely ignore President Snow."
"That may be Annie, but no one around Snow knows that. There are rumors of..."
Here Mags hesitates and looks around the room as if it might have eyes.
"Uprising, and the gamemakers and government officials are afraid."
"Do you really believe that?"
"To be honest, I don't know what to believe right now. It could be true, but I personally think that it would be to early for any sort of uprising. The districts simply aren't strong enough for that...not yet."
My room goes silent, and I sit on the edge of the bed, thinking about people in Districts far away. Perhaps there are men and women at this very time, meeting in the night, planning and dreaming of a future that they might not live to see. A future that none of us might see.
Mags breaks the quiet, unexpectedly changing the subject.
"So, how do you feel?"
I kick at the rug fringe.
"I feel fine."
"No signs of a relapse than?"
I look at her out of the corner of my eye. Somehow I get the feeling that Mags knows more than I think she does. Actually, I've thought that for a long time. Finnick probably told her.
"Well. I say, "I did feel a little strange today. I keep getting these weird thoughts in my head whenever I think about Finn's games...or the people who were in them."
No, no Finnick...don't go!
I clap my hands over my ears and sit very still, the images and voices fade away.
"Go on." Mags prompts. Slowly I lower my hands.
"My mind sometime plays tricks on me. Sometimes I feel like things are there that really aren't, or someone is talking to me and there isn't anyone in the room, and then this happens."
"What happens?"
"I need to cover my ears. It makes me feel better...like somehow I can shut it all out."
Mags looks thoughtful.
"I see..."
Just then, we hear a voice floating up to us.
"Annie! Mags! Where are you? Your dinners are getting cold, and we have company. We've been waiting for you."
Mom.
"Apparently." Mags says. "They have been waiting for us. We are needed in other places. Our presence is desired at the supper table."
There is a twinkle in her eye as she says this. I poke her.
"C'mon then, let's go."
Mags heaves herself up off the bed, and straightens the kinks from her back.
"I'll race you downstairs."
I stare at her.
"You'll what?"
Mags sighs.
"Don't tell me your hearing is going. I said I'll race you downstairs. I have more in me than you think girly."
Shaking me head, I make for the door.
"On you mark. Get set."
"Hang on." Mags says as she walks over to me.
"Annie, I think it would be better if you didn't tell anyone about our conversation tonight. However, if you need to discuss anything, let me know. So, do you know what to do?"
I nod.
"Be careful and watch my back."
Mags nods.
"Right. Good. Now...Go!"
She takes off running down the hall as fast as she can.
"Hey!" I yell. "No fair, I wasn't ready!"
"Too bad!"
Her voice is fading.
"Last one down gets the seat farthest away from the air conditioning vent...and you know how hot it gets inside, being summer and all."
With a shout of protest, I take off after her. Who would have thought that Mags could run so fast?
And so, life goes on.