AN:/ I thought this was the longest chapter so far, but I was mistaken. I tried to balance it out between the two characters this time round, so hopefully I managed that. Please be really kind to me and review this because then I can try to make it better and I also know what you think. It would be really helpful, so you know just take a moment to review (and tell your friends about this story). Hope you enjoy!
(Forgot to put this in the last chapter because I was stupid.) I don't own anything, except the characters I created. Everything else belongs to Suzanne Collins.
Chapter Four
Annie
Confused was an understatement! I had no idea how the arena could be flooding when there was barely any water in the entire place. I had to keep swimming, for my own safety. "Cresta you will pay for this!" one of the female careers cried to me, I couldn't tell which one, the water was rising rapidly and I was struggling to hear over it. Swimming was my only chance now, and being from District Four I was quite good at it, I just hoped I was good enough not to drown here. I just had to block out the careers.
Finnick
As my evening with Laurel came to an end, I started to feel horribly unwell as if something terrible was happening right now. "Laurel, my love. You don't mind if we watch the games now do you? I mean, I'm just trying to be a decent mentor after all." "Fine." She clearly hadn't finished with me, but I'd done what she had asked for. She switched on her television and there it was, my worst fear, I was right to be feeling unwell. The arena was flooding right in front of my very eyes. "Laurel I have to go." She sighed, "will you be returning baby?" I ignored her, too focused on dressing myself correctly. When I was clothed again, I stood to leave. "One last kiss before you go?" "Not a chance." What the hell had just come out of my mouth? That wasn't Capitol Finnick, that was District Four Finnick, the Finnick who was in love with Annie Cresta. Before I could say anything to make this worse, I left. Slamming the door behind me, I wasn't sure if it was out of anger at the Capitol or fear for Annie, or both. I had to get back to Mags before the games were over. This had to be the finale, if it wasn't the games makers were being rather stupid destroying the arena.
"Took your time" was all Mags could say to me when I returned, she was scared. "So this year it's flooding. How?" "They burst a dam." Neither of us could bring ourselves to hold an actual conversation right now. This was it, there would soon be a victor. "Come on Annie. You can do this. You can be the victor." I watched the screen. Nothing. I couldn't see any of the tributes, I couldn't tell if any were in trouble. "Come on girl, I know they hurt you but keep pushing through it." Mags was encouraging Annie, but her words were comforting me. "Please Annie, make it back. Be the victor. For me." I had tears streaming down my face, she had to make it back, I had to tell her that I loved her. "What did you say?" I looked at Mags, who for the first time in her life looked confused. "I want her to win Mags. For the District." "You haven't?" "What?" "You know bloody well what I'm talking about Finnick Odair." I knew exactly what she was talking about, but admitting it to someone made it real, too real. "You know you're not supposed to fall in love with one of the tributes!"
One cannon fire. Followed swiftly by another two. There had been eight tributes before this had started, there was five still fighting. The water was almost up to the top of the trees, the would have to stop it before long, I wasn't sure how the water was getting so high. Another cannon fire came, four remaining and I had no clue if Annie was one of them. Two more cannon fires followed shortly, they wanted to kill the tributes and finish the games and they were making quick work of it. Two remained, and we had no idea which two. Suddenly, the water started to go down like they were draining it from the arena but very slowly. One final cannon fire, there was a victor. I crossed my fingers.
"CONGRATULATIONS ANNIE CRESTA. YOU ARE THE VICTOR OF THE 70TH HUNGER GAMES!" She had done it; she had managed to swim for her life while all those around her had died. I was overjoyed. The hovercraft would collect her and she would be brought back to the games centre to be fixed up and reunited with the living. "We got a victor Mags! The most unlikely victor of them all."
I helped Mags out of her seat and we walked together to meet and congratulate Annie. She took my hand. "You fell in love with the right tribute." I gave her hand a squeeze, all words had escaped me. I was nervous; I didn't know what to say to Annie. Should I just tell her there and then when the eyes of Panem would be on me, including President Snow, or should I wait until later tonight and tell her privately. I had to go for the second option, it would be better and safer for the both of us, and if she were to say she didn't feel the same then at least I wouldn't be embarrassed in front of others.
Annie
I heard my name being called and I thought I was hallucinating. Surely I couldn't have won the games, I was just weedy pathetic and weak little Annie. But I had, I'd won. I was being transported away from the arena, away from all the pain and the horror. Though I knew I would never really escape it. I had survived though, and in this moment that was all that mattered. I felt myself getting light headed, it must have been from all that swimming and all the water I must have inhaled during my swim even though I can hold my breath for a long time.
I was excited to be alive. I would get to see my family again, they would be so proud of me. I can only imagine my little sister's face right now My mother would have been proud of me too, her little girl beat the Hunger Games. I would get to see Finnick too, I would get to see his face and his beautiful eyes, and I can just be happy with him there. My mind was dancing, but at the same time I was afraid and I didn't know why, I was alive and on my way home.
Finnick
The hovercraft came into view. It landed not so far from where we stood. First two peacekeepers exited, followed by Annie. Even soaking wet she looked beautiful. She ran to me and wrapped her arms around me. "Thank you" was all she said. I hugged her back, this is what I wanted. I wanted this perfection in my messed up life. She hugged and thanked Mags as well. She was shivering, "Could we get a coat or a towel or something over here? She's freezing." The nearest Avox was happy to oblige. "Is this real? Did I actually win?" she asked me. "This is real yes. You won. Congratulations." My nerves were getting the better of me.
Annie
I had been so excited to see Finnick but now that I saw him, he just seemed so distant. "Thank you for saving me Finnick." He nodded. "What happens now?" I asked him. "You get cleaned up, any injuries get fixed up, and then you get to meet your adoring public before you, along with the rest of Panem, get to watch the highlights of the games." I have to watch it all again, I have to watch people die again. I have to watch Christopher get beheaded again, seeing it live once was bad enough but now I see it all the time repeating in my head. I was scared, I was shaking. "Do I have to?" "Yes Annie, I'm sorry but you have to." He put a comforting arm around my shoulder. "It'll all be fine, I promise you."
He was wrong. I found the highlights physically painful to watch. During the highlights, my random movements that I couldn't explain decided that now would be a wonderful time to get worse. I had seen Christopher get beheaded one time more than I needed to, and without warning or knowledge as to why, I placed my hands to my ears and started screaming about the tributes and how they wanted me to help them but I couldn't because they were dead but they just wouldn't leave me alone.
When the event was over, I was reunited with Finnick and Mags along with my prep team and stylist. "Annie, are you alright?" Mags asked me. "I don't know. I don't know what happened or why but I couldn't stop it. All the tributes wanted me to help them and they were going to kill me because I couldn't do a thing to help them." I was breathing heavily and talking so fast that I wasn't even sure if I knew what I had just said. Finnick and Mags exchanged glances, she nodded in my direction and he, without saying a word, understood what she meant. I was so confused, I just started to cry. "I think you need to get back to the training centre for some well-earned rest." He offered me his hand, so I took it. I needed all the comfort I could get. When our hands met, I felt something funny, like an electric shock. He showed no emotion whatsoever, that hurt. I was starting to realise that he didn't feel the way I did, and worse that he wished I had died and Christopher would have been the Victor for District Four. Of course he didn't feel the same way, he was Finnick Odair, with his good looks and charm he could get any woman he wanted, so there was no chance he would fall in love with me. I was just a dreamed. "Annie, when everyone else has gone to bed tonight, I must talk with you, so please don't be alarmed if I knock on your door at a very early hour" he whispered in my ear before giving my hand a reassuring squeeze as we walked.