This chapter is a wee bit racy. Nothing over a teen rating, but I'm just letting you know that it's there.
Love the comments :) Thanks for the support!
_
There were seven this time.
Seven women for seven nights. Seven women who showered him in jewels and money for the pleasure of his company. A new watch, a new suit, and more money than he needed.
And more secrets. Secrets were much more valuable a commodity to him. Still not something he'd willing sell his body for, but something valuable to have.
The last girl of the week was Mindy Rosewood, wife to Olivus Rosewood, this year's head Gamemaker.
Olivus was out for the night at a party Finnick was supposed to be attending as well. But the Capitol was sure to excuse his absence for this "job obligation".
Mindy had her own flat in the heart of the Capitol and everything in it was pink. Pink and furry. Finnick felt like he was inside of a cotton candy machine.
"I can change the color anytime I want with a push of a button," Mindy said with a girlish giggle. "But pink is so in right now." She laid her self out of her pink fluffy bed, positioning herself in what Finnick could only fathom was her attempt at a sensual pose.
"So," she purred, trailing her fingers around her comforter, "are you ready? I've waited a long time for you."
Finnick occasionally wondered just how long his waiting list was, but figured that would be a rude question to ask.
Mindy made a grand gesture of her unbuttoning of her dress. Finnick figured that might take a while, since there were at least fifty buttons down the front of her silver garb. Trying his best to maintain an interested expression, he felt his mind beginning to wander.
He thought of District 4, as he often did during his "meetings". He thought of why he was doing this: to protect his mother and father. And now Annie as well, he supposed.
Annie: he felt like he was betraying her. He wasn't sure why, but he felt this horrible guilt welling up inside of him.
Suddenly he imagined Annie lying on the bed instead of Mindy, slowly unbuttoning her own gown. Her sea green eyes piercing his as the gown slid off her bare shoulders...
"Looks like someone's interested," said Mindy with her girly giggle. Finnick shook himself back to reality, sort of surprised at that little fantasy that had played in his head but very intrigued by it. Mindy had undressed herself and was staring very fixated at Finnick's pants.
He noticed that he'd become aroused.
Mindy thinks she did that. Someone thinks highly of herself.
He smiled and walked towards the bed.
Let's get this over with.
/
Finnick's mother was a very nice woman. Annie could see a lot of her son in her, and she liked that. But Mrs. Odair was much fussier than Finnick. She insisted Annie stay over at least twice during the week. She seemed to be really bothered by the fact that Annie was staying alone for so long. Annie said it didn't bother her, she'd grown used to it, but Mrs. Odair did not seem convinced.
Annie wondered what Finnick's father was like. There were pictures of him in the house. He looked like Finn, but larger and less lean. He had a nice smile and kind eyes and a scruffy beard. Annie would like to meet him, but probably wouldn't for a long time. It was fishing season and nearly all the me were gone.
Annie had never known her father. Annie's mother and father were never married, another reason why people didn't like her mother. Annie liked to think he still lived in District 4 somewhere, unaware that he had a daughter. No one could just abandon their daughter consciously.
Well, so she thought.
So she hoped.
Annie lay in bed, unable to sleep, her mind rushing with a thousand thoughts. The Games would be soon, but Annie was not invited to be a mentor. Or be interviewed. There would be no special segment on her or how she was doing. They would act as though she'd never won the Games. As though she'd never existed.
"So, Annie," Caesar Flickerman said with his cartoon like smile. His hair was bright blue and his suit covered in sequence. "You look stunning. Doesn't she look stunning folks?"
The crowd cheered as though she were someone of importance. Someone noteworthy.
All because she'd hid out in a cave for two weeks and swam her way to victory.
"How do you think you'll be greeted when you return?" He asked, "Any special boys out there?" The crowd giggled.
Annie said nothing, simply staring away. She saw Sam standing in his green suit he'd worn for his interview. He smiled and waved, like a good tribute. He looked at Annie, waving some more. Slowly, a slit opened up in his neck, blood pouring out like a waterfall.
"She's a secretive one, isn't she?" Caesar said and the crowd laughed awkwardly. "So, Annie dear, how did you feel when you won?"
Water. Water was filling her lungs. She thought she was going to drown in the cave all alone. But she started to swim. She swam to the top and breathed fresh air. Cannons rung like horrible music.
"I don't remember. I was too busy swimming."
The crowd laughed like she was telling a joke. Annie stared at them, bewildered suddenly feeling very like a fish in an aquarium with strange creatures watching her.
She started laughing too, laughing and laughing and laughing until she couldn't stop. It wasn't even funny but she couldn't stop. Not even when everyone else had stopped laughing.
She was still laughing as they escorted her off stage.
The last thing she remembered was Caesar saying, "Oh! What a surprise! Our golden boy, Finnick Odair!"
Annie woke with a start, sitting up and panting.
Someone was standing in her doorway.
"Finnick?" She said, squinting at the silhouette. She wasn't even sure why she assumed it was him. He wasn't due back for hours.
"Bad dreams?"
"Finnick!" Annie felt relief flush over her. "You're back."
He stepped into the light, a smile on his face, "I'm back."
She looked around the room, "Your mom made me stay here."
Finnick shrugged, "She's a worrier."
He must've just gotten back. He was wearing some billowy white shirt and tight black pants. The outfit made him look like the cover of a romance novel.
She studied him, "Is there glitter in your hair?"
His hand jumped to his head, "Quite possibly."
"I missed you."
His face softened, "I missed you too."
Several long moments passed and neither said anything.
"I'll leave you to sleep then," he said, backing out of the room.
"Or you could stay," she said quickly. "If you want, I mean."
His eyes brightened, as though he'd been waiting for her to say that. "I'll stay. Anytime you want. I'm right here."
/
THE FOLLOWING RECORDING IS EXTREMELY CONFIDENTIAL. DISTRIBUTION OF IT OR ANY OF THE INFORMATION IN ITS CONTENTS IS PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.
FRIDAY 3-17 22:34
EMERALD HOTEL
ROOM 221
Odair: President Snow, what an unexpected honor.
Snow: Always good to see you, my boy. How is your mother?
Odair: Well, sir.
Snow: Good. Your father, heard from him lately?
Odair: He's out fishing, as he always is this time of year, sir.
Snow: Of course. And Miss Annie Cresta, how is she?
Odair: Fine, I suppose.
Snow: You suppose?
Odair: We don't talk much.
Snow: I see. I suppose that's for the best. You don't want anyone interfering with your career, do you, Mr. Odair?
Odair: [PAUSE] No, sir.
Snow: And if a significant other were to cause...issues with your career, we may just have to mend those issues.
Odair: How so, sir?
Snow: Remove them, of course. Can't have them interfering with business. [PAUSE] But you've nothing to fear, have you, Mr. Odair? You have no personal relations on your own time, do you?
Odair: No, sir.
Snow: Good. [PAUSE] Annie really is a beautiful girl. Could've been a darling of the Capitol. Could've had a career as great as your's. Ah, well, we shall see no more of her. Some say I should just kill her. Make it look like she did it herself. People would believe it. It could be so easy.
Finnick: [STRAINED] Why are you telling me this, sir?
Snow: Quite a temper, Mr. Odair. I thought you didn't care about Miss Cresta. [STANDS] You already have clients lined up for every night you're here for the Games. I hope you prove satisfactory. [WALKS TO DOOR. STOPS] I could still kill her. Ah, it would be so simple. So very simple. [CLEARS THROAT] I'd be careful if I were you, Mr. Odair. Many lives depend upon it.
END RECORDING
/
Finnick held Annie in his arms. She was fast asleep but he couldn't sleep at all.
He threatened to kill. He knows. He knows.
Of course he knows. He always knows.
I won't let him touch her. Not a single hair on her head. Not a single nail on her finger. Not a single cell in her body. She's my-
What? She's my what?
Finnick looked at her lying there and thought of that fantasy he'd had of her in Mindy's hotel room.
It was shocking and intriguing all at once.
'Some say I should just kill her. Make it look like she did it herself. People would believe it. It could be so easy.'
"No," Finnick whispered to her. "I won't let them. I won't let anyone hurt you. You're safe here. He can't get you here. Not while I'm here."
Yes he can. You know he can.
"He can't get you. I won't let him."