Here's the new chapter! I hope you like it! It's short... Sigh.
When I again woke up, I was in the hospital wing again. I rubbed my head then saw Finnick sitting beside me. "Finnick, what happened?" I murmured, watching him, wondering why my head was pounding.
"I'm so sorry, Johanna... Annie... She attacked you." He whispered softly, running his hand through his bronze hair.
I laughed softly, "Beat by the crazy." I smiled and looked at Finnick, seeing the dark look on his face. "Oh, sorry, Finnick."
He shrugged, "I'm sorry she attacked you. She normally doesn't do much unless your close to her."
"I heard." I answered and grabbed the mirror that I saw in Finnick's hands, looking at my face. There were many scratches and marks covering my face, obviously made from nails. I laughed softly, that girl is so very insane, isn't she?
Finnick watched me quietly, "You killed Noah?" I nodded and looked down.
"Annie loved him, didn't she?" Finnick nodded. "He loved her?" Nod. "You love her?" Nod. "She doesn't love you?" Nod.
He looked up at me, sadness filling his eyes, "And I guess that is for the best, isn't it?" He sighed, "I'm a monster."
"Annie would understand, Finnick." I whispered softly, not understanding why i would say it- I didn't know Annie, I didn't know Finnick.
"No, she wouldn't." He whispered softly, smiling bitterly. "She doesn't have the same...experiences as I do." He buried his face in his hands again. He shook his head then looked up at me. "Johanna... Do you want to go back to 7?"
I nodded slightly, "I have to go back, my brother, my aunt and uncle... I can't leave them." I murmured, looking at Finnick.
"So you have loved ones? That's good." He smiled sadly, "Having loved ones normally helps, at least a little."
I cocked my head to the side curiously, "Do you have loved ones, Finnick?"
He thought for a second before answering cautiously, "Yes... In a way. I love them...but they don't love me, not after what I did in my Games."
"And Annie?"
"No, not really. I don't think she notices her uncle... She doesn't go home often... He hasn't seen her for months." He looked at me. "I don't know who she cares about anymore."
I looked down sadly, "She cared for Noah."
"Yes, she did."
The next day, I returned home. Finnick and I were...becoming friends, I believe. At least he understood. When I got to my district, there was cheering.
So much cheering.
I smiled at them, waving and taking in the cheers. My family pushed through the crowd- Haden, Aunt Jade, and Uncle Liam. They looked...proud and healthy. Two things I hadn't seen for a while.
Liam's hair was still disappearing and turning into a light shade of gray. His dark brown eyes were no longer full of the wear and tear of working everyday at the mill but were joyful and bright.
Aunt Jade had cut her hair into a pixie cut. She was much younger than Liam and her hair was a deep brown with darker roots and her eyes reflected what Liam's had- they'd missed me and I'd made them proud.
The most change was in Haden. He looked much older than eleven- not in appearance but in demeanor. He had a tired look to his face but he was still happy. He didn't bounce around full of energy as he had before I'd left. He stood there, waiting quietly for Jade and Liam to hug me before listlissly wrapping his arms around me.
"Johanna... I missed you so much..."
"I know sweetie..." I held him tightly, happy that Haden was safe and finally happy. He'd had a hard growing up- never knowing our parents and always being made fun of in school.
I'd made him proud.
It was the least I could do for him.
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