The anxiety was overwhelming. He didn't think Johanna's tribute could swim. He sincerely hoped Johanna's tribute couldn't swim.
It came down to the two of them; Johanna's tribute; who's name he thought was Birch, or some other kind of tree, and broken little Annie Cresta.
The water was freezing, Annie's lips were blue. Her finger tips were blue. No doubt her icy submerged toes were blue also.
"Come on." He whispered, staring at the screen.
It was only him and Johanna, left in the room. Johanna snorted as her tribute went under again, muttering, "Idiot."
She didn't care what happened to the boy.
Finnick cared about his tribute.
It was unusual, for a mentor to care so much about his tribute. But this..this was different. He wanted her to win.
He needed her to win.
They were out of supplies, sponsers, and almost out of hope. Annie had clearly given up already. She had given up a week ago, when Pier was...murdered.
Beheaded. Decapitated. Call it what you want, but either way it was awful.
It replayed in Finnick's head, the horror, the unrealistic amount of blood.
He watched Annie's broken sea green eyes, which were once lively. Now they just looked broken.
They had destroyed her innocence.
The arena was silent- both tributes had disappeared underwater.
There was a shriek, and Finnick panicked. His eyes were glued to the screen, staying awake on an utterly huge amount of caffeine, and pure adrenaline. He was running on his own fear.
Boom.
A cannon went off, greatly increasing Finnick's anxiety.
"And may I announce, the victor, of the 70th Annual Hunger Games, Annie Cresta!"
He was frozen.
He was completely numb.
Johanna tsked. "Shame. Poor girl, would've been happier dead."
Finnick barely heard her.
If he did, he would've certainly told her off.
But he barely heard her.
"She won." He whispered, and Johanna rolled her eyes.
"She actually won."
Annie's voice rang in his ears, things she had said directly to him. They went from when they were young, until before she went into the arena.
I can't swim.
I could teach you the knot, it's rather simple.
No, no, they're dead, Finn.
Don't let them change you.
I'm not one of your girls.
Oh, shut up, Finny.
Those are for the horses.
Aw, is the almighty Finnick Odair scared?
I'm not nervous.
I'm lying. Of course I'm nervous, Finn.
It's okay. I'll be fine, I promise.
She wasn't okay. She'd never be okay.
He ran. He ran, and ran, and ran, just so he could get on the hovercraft before she did.
Annie surfaced under the water, her head popping up. She looked around and up at the hovercraft, afraid.
"I'm not dead." She said quietly, and Finnick bit his lip. Surely she knew the hovercraft was here to get her out. Surely, she wouldn't think they were here because they thought she was dead.
"I'm not dead." Annie repeated, slightly louder. Peacekeeper's decended down the ladder and grabbed both of her arms.
Finnick called for them to stop, leave her alone, let him help her.
No one seemed to hear him. Annie was pulled up the ladder, kicking and shrieking and screaming.
When they finally got her in the hovercraft, Finnick pushed them away and embraced her. She shrieked and fought for her freedom, but he didn't let her go, no matter the pain she caused him.
She was trembling, shaking so much, but not from the cold.
She eventually relaxed, only to start sobbing into his shoulder. He shushed her gently, rubbing her back.
"I'm sorry." He whispered into her hair, but she didn't seem to be really with him.
She wasn't really there, and it hurt him to see her like this.
So broken.
She never responded, and a doctor cleared his throat and said something about 'treatment', and 'Annie'.
Finnick looked at the doctor and simply shook his head, no, not now.
It was a solid ten minutes before he finally got her to stop sobbing. The occasional tear dripped down her face, and he wiped it away gently with his thumb.
"Annie," He began softly, "You're going to have to go with this man now, okay? He needs to see if you're okay."
She looked at him with those broken eyes, and didn't respond. She's not here.
She wasn't really there with him, she was far away in her own little imaginative arena.
Come on, Annie. Come back.
He led her behind the doctor, following him.
The doctor introdouced himself- though it's not like Finnick heard him.
The doctor walked with a hazy Annie into the room; shutting the door on Finnick. Bewildered, he knocked once, twice, and then three times.
He started banging on the door, and when he heard Annie's scared whimper from inside, he stopped, and buryed his face in his hands, sliding down the wall.
He couldn't stop the tears from coming.
Someone's hand came gently down on his shoulder, and he was shaking. He looked up slightly, seeing the familar face.
Johanna.
How did she get in here?
And why?
She looked much different when she wasn't teasing him, insulting him, or making sarcastic remarks.
It was different, almost weird.
She almost looked... sympathetic.
"Jo." He muttered, wiping his eyes.
She just nodded and sighed.
"Why are you here?"
There was a long pause before she gave an honest reply.
"Because you're the closest thing I have to a friend. And you're hurting. And I don't like it."
He layed his hand on her shoulder, and then embraced her gently.
"Jo?"
"Yeah?"
"You're my best friend."
The corners of Johanna's lips curved up in a smile.
"I know, Finnick. I know."