A/N Please review once you've read! I love critique and praise alike! Enjoy reading! *All rights to Suzanne Collins*
"Annie!" Finnick screamed, the harsh, raw sound tearing at his throat. The screams of Annie Cresta increased ten- fold in volume. "STOP!" Finnick shouted hysterically. "Leave her alone!" Tears of panic streamed down his golden cheeks. He crashed through the under growth, screaming Annie's name as loud as his lungs would permit. "Don't worry, Annie! I'm coming! Hold on! Please, Annie, hold on!" his screams grew louder. Eventually, Finnick could not bear her tortured screams anymore! "STOP! Just stop hurting her… PLEASE! I'll do whatever, but just stop it!" He clamped his hands over his ears. Finnick tried and failed supressing his tears. Suddenly, Annie screams stopped. Finnick's head snapped up. "Annie?" he croaked, his voice hoarse from yelling and shouting for her. A ghostly pale figure glided from the shadows. It was Annie. And her serene white gown was splattered with horrifyingly dark blood.
"No…" Finnick whispered. Then his voice rose to a shout, "No, Annie! What've they done to you?" Annie's wide, bright eyes shone with tears.
"I'm sorry… I love you! Please, remember me, Finnick Odair. You'll do that for me, won't you?" Annie said, softly. A single tear escaped her beautiful sea green eyes. She turned on her heels, the speckled dress swirling about her. Gracefully, Annie Cresta walked away.
"NO!" Finnick shouted, his legs moved automatically towards her. "Don't go, Annie, PLEASE!" he begged. She was merely walking yet he could not keep up with. She stopped suddenly in her tracks and reached for Finnick's cheek. "It's time to wake up Finn. You need to wake up Finnick" her voice became a shrill cry. "Wake up! Wake up! FINNICK ODAIR, WAKE UP! FINNICK!" Her hands were on his shoulders and she was shrieking at him to wake up. A terrifying scene met his eyes. Annie, his dear, sweet, beautiful and stubborn Annie Cresta, was coughing blood. It all happened so fast! Finnick held Annie, desperately trying to staunch the steady flow of blood. But the attempt was fruitless. It felt like a nightmare, yet the hands grasping his shoulders felt so real…
Finnick woke with a start. He was drenched in cold sweat. Mingling with the sweat were tears. He had been crying. Judging by the rawness in his throat, he had also been screaming. It was then that he saw her. Annie Cresta. Her ocean like eyes were sparkling with tears, her auburn hair cascaded around her shoulders in gentle if slightly rumpled waves.
"A- Annie?" Finnick gasped, still shaking from the terrifying nightmare. Biting her lower lip, tears brimming, Annie nodded. She could not hold it in any longer.
"Oh Finnick! I- I thought you were having a heart attack! You were thrashing about screaming my name! I thought it was all my fault!" Annie gasped, trembling with tears. She was perched beside him on his bed, this made it easy for Finnick to pull Annie to his chest and rock her gently, whispering words of comfort in her ears. She was cocooned in a bundle of blankets. Her fingers curled into his shirt and she whispered quietly, "You really are okay?" He nodded, though Annie's haunting screams lingered in his mind. "What were you dreaming about?" she asked wiping away his tears with her soft fingers.
"It was no dream, a nightmare is the only way to describe it. It was about you, Annie… you were screaming as if you were being tortured but I couldn't find you. I screamed and screamed for you." Tears dripped down Annie's cheeks once more. "Then I found you or rather you found me, but you were covered in blood. You said that you loved me and I should remember you. Then you left." Tears were back in Finnick's eyes. "I ran after you and you told me to wake up. You began to scream 'wake up'. Soon you were shaking my shoulders and- and… Oh Annie! You began to cough blood and I tried to help, but I just couldn't save you! I'm sorry, Annie!" He shook with emotion. Now it was Annie's turn to comfort Finnick. "Sshh. It's okay. I'm here, Finn, I'm here. You've got nothing to apologise for! I love you, Finnick Odair. And a nightmare is not about to change that." She crooned gently, stroking his silky hair.
"I love you too, Annie Cresta." He smiled the crooked grin she loved so much. Annie's finger stroked his cheeks and pushed a stray lock of hair from his for head. Her slim, dainty fingers came to rest on his lips. It was amazing, Finnick thought, how soft Annie's fingers were despite the endless nets she would weave and knots she would tie. Finally, their lips met. Annie tried to express every emotion, every ounce of passion she possessed into that kiss. His fingers twined into her hair and ran down her back. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she pulled back to look at him. Her emerald eyes were so beautiful, so intense, it only made him love her more.
"That is the sort of thing that keeps me sane- in the limited sense of sane that applies to the crazy Annie Cresta!" she smiled slightly, "You keep me 'sane', Finnick Odair."
"Just as you keep me sane- in the limited sense of sane that applies to the crazy Finnick Odair! You keep me sane, Annie Cresta!"
Annie laughed. It felt good to laugh again, "You're so original, aren't you?"
"Original or just truthful?" He asks, laughing as well.
"I'd like to think it was the latter. Sounds like destiny." Annie said dreamily.
Annie tried and failed to stifle a yawn. "I think I'm going to have to go to sleep now." She said tiredly. Annie went to leave the room but Finnick clutched at her hand.
"Please, Annie, don't leave! Stay with." He said, eyes wide and desperate.
She nodded and burrowed down into Finnick's chest, arms draped around his body, his arms holding her so close, he could smell the sea salt and wind in her hair. Finnick fell asleep first with Annie's warm weight pressed against his chest. Annie drifted off later, listening to the gentle rise and fall of Finnick's breath and the steady and reassuring thump of his heart. Yes, things were never easy in Panem, but Finnick Odair and Annie Cresta had each other, and they kept one another sane. They loved each other.
A/N I hoped you enjoyed reading my Finnick and Annie one shot. Please review, like and follow if you did!