Chapter 1

Waking up

After I had been announced the Victor and carried away by the hover craft, I didn't remember much. All I remember is a needle being thrust into my right forearm, and entering what seemed to be a never ending nightmare episode. Being in a drug enhanced sleep didn't change my reoccurring dreams. It was the same. Just like being in the Games again but more controlled.

Mutts were everywhere. My district partner, lying in the arms of another tribute drenched in her own blood. The careers chasing those that were trying to flee from the bloodbath at the cornucopia. Being one of the few tributes in the 65 annual Hunger Games contained the knowledge of how to swim, this arena was simple and it was almost as if they had a section especially made for me. The arena was huge, almost never ending. A giant circle like a big ant hill, beside a pond, with an island in the middle of the water, under a magnifying glass. The section I thought was for me was the water of course. Mags had told me that they were finishing up some of the arena when the tributes were reaped. After the saw my potential they may have added the water to favor me.

After all, what better than a victor who benefits not only for the games but for the Capitol? I guess the odds were in my favor. My mentor Mags was one of the few people close to the head game makers so she got hints here and there about how the arenas were set up. She didn't exactly tell us because that would give us an advantage but she did hint us on what we should prepare for.

As soon as the gong rang out I sprinted to the cornucopia with ease and got my hands on one of the few things I was pretty handy at, the mace. Just a spiked ball on a chain but it was petty lethal. I didn't see a trident but I wasn't anticipating on hanging around for the blood that was so thoughtfully painted on the grass near the cornucopia. It made me sick to see that. I could smell it over the water and the sweet smelling flowers that were yet so deadly and poisonous.

Mutts running toward me, as I'm running into the islands jungle that promises a new horror that awaits me. As I push through the shrubs ad tangles of vines I see a parachute. A gift from the Capitol. I look around to see if anyone else has entered the horrifying jungle but how could they. I had a good advantage of claiming this spot of the arena. And no doubt they had no idea how to swim. I walk over to get the gift but then all of a sudden it's gone, and that when the real terror starts.

I see Annie crouched down holding something to her heart. With a red sticky substance; flowing freely over her body. Then I realize she's crying out in pain.

"ANNIE!" I scream but it's too late she's already gone I run to her but she's being dragged deeper into the jungle but the Capitol created vines. More mutts I think to myself. How could Annie be here? She wasn't reaped! My worst thought shown right before my eyes has no doubt broken my sanity, and I can already feel the tears pouring down my face.

Then I see my father, all I wanted my whole life was to live up to his name and make him proud. Now there is no promise I would live another day or hour for that matter. I see more blood and look for any sign of wounds that may have been inflicted on him but there is none. He's carrying something smothered in blood. No its Annie!

"Annie!" I yell as I sit up in a white bed. I have no doubt I'm back at the Capitol. I move my hand up to my shirt that is drenched in sweat, pull it off and throw it on the ground. I don't care what these people think. After what I have been through, what THEY put me through, why should I?

I take a shower but I sit in it for a long time pondering my thoughts and dream. The perfect weapon to use against someone like me, take their thoughts and turn them into their worst nightmare. They may think you will just forget about everything that happened in the arena but no matter how much you wish it was true, you can't.

I guess I'm back in the training center because I hear my escort and Mags talking about how this might help the people back in district four. It's not like we didn't get enough before but we had a few people who were struggling.

I push the door open and make my way through the hallway until I'm at the table where my little 'party' awaits me. I'm still kind of sleepy but I guess that was from whatever they put in me to make me sleep so long. I slump into my chair and I know I mustn't cry. Why should the Capitol have the satisfactory that I am not only alive but that they have cut deep into me creating scars that can't go away?

Speaking of which I look down at my body to notice it's smooth and perfect. Not a scratch. Odd I remember open wounds on my arms from my last battle in the arena. The one that determined who was the victor. As I look up I notice Mags and my ridicules escort eyeing me cautiously. Mags looks older, like she hasn't seen sleep in years but she is only 60 something, maybe even late 50's.

She knows what I am going through. She has been through it before and won just as I have. I never really thought of Mags in the Games but I don't want to. Mags is a part of my family and I don't even want to think of what the games did to her, doing to her. Being forced into the games for starters, then after reliving them through other tributes going through the same thing she went through. Helping them, get to know them, and watching them die. I wouldn't wish this upon my worst enemy let alone Mags.

I shudder at the thought and push it away. I don't want to think about the games anymore. If anything I wish I could just forget them completely.

Mags looks at me with her eyes filled with concern. She knows how I feel but not how I will react. She pushes a plate of food in my direction without saying a word. I guess I hadn't noticed before but my stomach was roaring at the smell of food. At first I didn't want to eat it but my hunger instincts took over and I devoured the food within minutes. I looked up pleading for more but I couldn't find my voice. So as a substitute Mags speaks to fill the silence.

"I imagine how you are feeling Finnick. I know, I've been through the same thing". she says in and understanding tone. I guess somewhere between me eating and Mags talking my escort vanished. I don't care she's just another pet the Capitol has formed. I'm glad she left though, because it felt like a huge invasion of privacy. Something that belonged to Mags and I. She wouldn't understand. Instead of her going into the games she watches each year and cheers them on.

My expression must be hard to read because them Mags is telling me that I will be alright. She is comforting me? Why? Shouldn't she be just as mad at the Capitol as I am? But then again it's not like she can do anything about it. So why should she waste her anger on a lost cause?

"Look. You won and there's not much time for reflection and talk about how bad it is" she starts "But I'm guessing you don't really want to talk about that do you?" She asks. I nod my head but I don't dare say a word. I haven't talked yet so I don't know what I will sound like so I stay mute. "Good. We have better things to do then sit around talking about a lost cause." It's almost like she was reading my mind.

She looks at the clock so graciously hanging on the wall that looks so much like the one in the arena that counted down to the start of the Games. A reminder I tell myself. It tells the victors "No matter how hard you try we will NOT let you forget your time in the games. You can't escape this." The Capitols message I think to myself.

I look at the ground then up at Mags. She points out that we have only a few hours until the actual crowning of the victor. I must have been asleep longer than I thought because I always remember a day or two put in between the end of the games and the actual crowning. No wonder I was starving.

"So you should probably know that a lot of people want to meet you. Most of them are girls." She says with caution, waiting for me to catch on. I get it almost as instant as it came out of her mouth. "Now since your only 14 your untouchable… but you can't stay 14 forever now can you?" she speaks with a sigh of relief but also there is a hint of worry in her voice as well.

I know what the Capitol will do to me now that I have won the game. I am attractive and muscular for a 14 year old. Well soon to be 15. Wait! What day is it? I look up at the clock and see the calendar attached with the day glowing so you will know what one is right. The 18th! It can't be only a week ago it was the 30th of July. Well I guess time fly's when you're in the Games. Never the less I'm one step closer to being another piece in the Capitols games. Even though I am out of the arena the games are still playing. It never ends.

Mags must have seen the surprised look on my face and knew exactly what it meant. With one eyebrow raised she looks at me and says "But you're not fourteen anymore are you?" I look at her and shake my head no. "Are you ready for this Finnick?" she asks out of curiosity. I look up and smile, nodding my head. If I can somehow make a deal with the capitol to ensure Annie's safety then this is what I have to do. All Mags can do is to suppress a smile as I end the conversation with one simple sentence that will mean the rest of my future determined. There is Pain in her eyes but she knows that I am doing this for a reason, otherwise I wouldn't agree to it.

"Well, Ladies and Gentlemen let the hunger games continue" The words come out like a death sentence but I have been warned of what I will be getting myself into. And I am ready to take this on.