I was walking along the off-white sand, my toes sinking in every step I took, the thin line of water kept touching, turning the sand cool. It was reaping day. The day everyone else was up in arms, I don't blame them. I used to be like that too before. Now I didn't have anything to worry about however, I was safe. I'd already won their worthless games. I'd already beaten them.
HownaiveI was.
My immediate family was safe, I was safe. Nothing could happen that would make this day frightful. At least, not for me. I glanced up then, at the girl. Annie. I smiled at her. I always smile at her. She dropped something out of her pocket, something I couldn't see. Annie ran towards me, she flung her arms around my neck, burying her face in my chest. She seemed nearly in hysterics. This wasn't at all like the girl I knew.
The girl I knew was poised and refined, quiet and introverted, her emotions nearly always inside. I could feel my face tense up in confusion, I didn't fail to wrap my arms around her. Her sobs wracking her body finally brought me back enough to speak.
"Annie? What's wrong?" I pulled her softly to sit down with me, nearly on my lap.
She didn't dare let go. I was confused, what did she have to worry about? I mean, it was reaping day but that didn't make sense. Surely the Capitol would protect her. What had she done to them?
"I have a bad feeling about today, Finn. I don't know why I do." She took in a breath, shakily breathing it out. "I'm scared."
I smiled down at her, letting out a chuckle. "Nothings going to happen. Nothing canhappen, Annie." I ran a hand through her messy brown hair lightly.
We sat there then, for what seemed like hours. Now of course, I'd have done anything to get that back.
"We'll be just fine, Annie Cresta."
"Annie Cresta!"
Time stopped, along with my breath, no one was moving. No one pushed her forward, no one helped her up, no one said anything. It was eerie, the way everyone had suddenly turned towards her.
It only lasted a few minutes before I could hear the boys around me whispering, asking who it was. I could have punched them. I walked fast towards her, pushing others out of my way, her face was blank. She locked eyes with me, and that's when it happened. That's when I saw my Annie fall apart for the second time today.
I stopped in my tracks at the hysteria that came through her. She was sobbing and when the peacekeepers went to grab her, it was like their hands were a burning, seering fire. She was scrambling and through her midst of feverishness she was reaching towards me, her hands extended as if to say.
"Take me away."
The peacekeepers did exactly that. Only not where she wanted to go. I knew where she wanted to go. She wanted to go to the wishing well, herwishing well. Where she'd sit and whisper lullabies to no one but herself.
Once they forced her unto the stage, she collapsed her head resting in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. All I wanted to do then, was wrap my arms around her and whisper soothing words. I couldn't. I couldn't even volunteer, to make sure she won. To make sure she lived. That was when she looked up, directly at me. Her eyes were wild, and open with fear and something else.
That was the first time I saw my little mad girl.