ODESTA

"Finnick, wait." My handler called out to me. I glanced at my watch.

"I don't do overtime, Lettina." I called back to her and kept walking. It sometimes surprises me at how casual I talk about my work.

"This is...a different case. She's more than willing to pay you more." Lettina said, her high-heeled shoes sounded closer now, hurrying. I don't believe this. I spun around to face her, she was now a few feet away from me and her perfume is pinching my nose. Too strong.

"Pay me more?... The bas-I mean, Snow never let me take overtime." I repeated what she said. I didn't know secrets in the capitol were leveled out now. But then again, nobody knew that I require secrets more than money for my...for my services. I looked at her, the irises almost invisible through her long, thick, pink lashes. She kept her gaze at the ground.

"Okay, well...the payment was second in priority. Um, Pres. Snow pushed this deal himself." She said, still not looking at me. That was unusual. Normally, Snow would not care who would do transactions with me as long as they pay me and him a good price. Why don't the bastard just kill me instead?

The moment I thought about it, I shook it out. No. She would be waiting for me. I can't let her down yet again. I shook the idea again out of my head. I would not function fine if I thought about Annie. I have another job to do.

"Finnick. It's just for an hour." Lettina whispered through her green lips. I sighed theatrically.

"It's not like I have a choice or anything." But my voice sounded close to broken than sarcastic and strong. For a moment, she looked up at me, and I saw pity in her eyes. Then she turned and walked back to her office. A 'good luck, Finnick' would have been great. Since when did I become too dramatic?

A black, sleek car was waiting at me outside, just like every time I'd do my job.

"Good evening, Sir Odair." The chauffer tonelessly said. I didn't answer. He didn't wait. The car started and its silent purr comforted me for a while. Okay, let's get this over with. I want to go back to my house and sleep.

The mansion was huge. It was almost as big as the bastard's home. I only saw pictures of houses like that on history books. I already have an idea what the inside might look like. Well, the bedroom, particularly.

A man in a vibrant red suit with a blue tie was waiting for me. He didn't say anything. He bowed down and opened the door for me. I stepped in and waited for him to close the door. The lobby was beautiful. There was a massive chandelier hanging in the middle of the room. But the man was already walking up the grand staircase. He turned to give me a look that I should follow him. I did, and my mind went blank. I moved like a robot, not feeling anything. I watched my legs move. I watched my hand turn the knob of a door. Then I saw her, already waiting in the bed.

As a routine, I whispered her name in my mind over and over again. Because only her name, only my memories of her, can make me get through this. I took slow steps. I watched the hands-my hands-reach out to her, to the stranger.

Annie. Annie. Annie, I'm sorry. Annie. I'll be home soon. Wait for me. Annie.

"Take me home as fast as you can." I said hastily to the chauffer. Lettina told me it's just going to be for an hour. It was my mistake for holding on to her words. She was a capitol citizen, after all. But, am I not?

I rested my head on the seat and closed my eyes, though I know that I can't sleep. Not when I had new experiences. I fought back the events that just happened. Then I let myself think of infinitely better days, of home, of her.

It was the night before the reaping, and I can't seem to set aside an unknown anxiety. I have never felt like this before. The reaping. What if i got picked? I decided I don't care, as long as Annie is safe here. "Hey, are you still with me?" Annie asked. I realized I already drifted away in my thoughts. We were sitting by our favorite spot, just a few feet away from the gentle waves. She was looking at me with a slight concern and annoyance. I smiled at her, and made her rest her head in my shoulders then I held her hand.

"It's the Reaping tomorrow, Finnick." She said matter-of-factly. "What if you got picked? Do you think you'll win?" She didn't sound insulting. Her voice was filled with confidence that she knew what my answer would be.

"If I got picked, Annie, I will win. And I will come back here. And you will wait for me...And we will marry each other and we'll have children...well, maybe not that." I said. I can't imagine myself and Annie watching our son or daughter in the arena.

She pulled away to look at me. "It would really be nice to have children,...in a different world besides this. Wait. Finnick, did you just propose to me? Not very romantic, you know."

I laughed. "When I get back, you will experience the proposal of the century." She smiled, the smile that i always find so endearing, and then it vanished quickly.

"But what if I got picked?" She whispered, almost to herself. I made her look into my eyes.

"Same thing. Well, of course, I'm still the one doing the proposal and all." Her eyes stayed afraid and anxious. She doesn't trust my outcome.

But what can I do? What is in my power to save her? Maybe...I can volunteer, and I can make sure that she wins. But that means I can't go home with her...Yet she'll be safe. Yes, i have made my decision. I can live with that.

"Do you trust me?" I asked her.

"You know i do." She whispered.

"Then I'll make you a promise. You will win. You will not die in that arena." I said, trying to put as much power in my voice.

She wrapped her frail arms around my neck and sobbed. She didn't say anything else, and we just stayed in our embrace under the stars. She knows me. I don't break my promises.

"Sir Odair, we have arrived at our destination." The driver said, his monotonous voice waking me up from the only reality that I have accepted. Annie is my reality. And this is my nightmare. And I will wake up from this.

I stepped out of the car and made my way to my house. When I flipped the switch on, I saw someone sitting at the purple sofa in my wide living room.

"Good evening, Finnick." Mags said. She wasn't looking at me.

"I'm sorry." She said, almost inaudible to where I'm standing.

"Mags, what is going on? Why in the world are you apologizing to me?" I asked.

"Are you not watching the television?...Oh no, you still haven't heard." She said, astounded. I stared blankly at her. I don't watch television.

"Annie..." Her voice broke. She has to clear her throat before continuing. But hearing her name was enough. Suddenly, I felt the whole world closing down on me, erasing any possibilities that I might wake up from this nightmare. Mags continued anyway.

"She got picked."

Not only did my world crashed. I felt myself crashing with it, shattered in a thousand pieces. Before everything went completely dark, I instantly remembered. It seemed like fate won't let me see her go down without a fight.

"Do you trust me?"

"You know I do."

"Then I'll make you a promise. You will win. You will not die in that arena."

I will fulfill my promise. Trust me, Annie. Trust your man.