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Chapter 7

Crashing Sails

I walked back to the Training building, tired and miserable. Another Capitol woman to add to the list. Some more interesting information about President Snow. Not much more than I already had been told or figured out, but still, it was something. It had been a very long time since one woman had told me Snow's biggest secret.

In between her lustful kisses, she told me about his diabolical path to power. Him poisoning all who stood in his way, drinking the poison as to not be too obvious. But every poison has an antidote; his mouth, though, was blistered and bloody from all the years of tyranny. You could smell the blood from a distance, so he always had his prized white roses with him, hoping the scent would overpower the blood. There are no words to describe how disgusted I was... More than usual while in a Capitol woman's bed.

The large twelve story building rises above me and I enter. I see a familiar face waiting by the elevator, and I smile to myself. Johanna Mason, her brown eyes looki ng angry (as always), stands outside the elevator tapping her foot impatiently.

"Johanna," I say, walking up to her. She looks at me and a smirk replaces her grimace instantly. We had been good friends since her victor's tour when she came to District 4. We both had experienced terrible loss, though her's was far worse than mine.

"Finnykins!" she yells, hugging me. "So, how you been, sailor?" she asks, obviously flirting.

"I've been keeping busy," I say, winking.

"Well, I figured," she smiles, "Did you just get back from another- uhm- appointment," she questions, her voice dropping into a grave whisper.

"Yep," I say nonchalantly. I wait for her to keep talking about the subject, but she doesn't. One of the reasons we're friends.

"How are your tributes this year? Do you think you'll win?" she asks as casually as though we were speaking of the weather.

"Well, I'm not sure," I say honestly. "I'm mentoring a girl named Annie Cresta. I don't know if she's up for the Games."

"Yeah, I saw her in the opening ceremonies," Johanna goes on, "she's pretty. That dress made of netting didn't do her any bad either. I also hear that she's not too bad in the Training Center. Not as good as the Careers, naturally. Her looks make up for that. She must have plenty of sponsors lined up."

"She has quite a few. Not as many as I had, mind you," I say arrogantly, smirking.

"No one could ever compete with you, Finny. I saw the way you looked at her though."

What? How do I look at her? Johanna must be insane "What are you talking about, Jo?"

She gives me a knowing smile, "It's just that I can tell you care about her life. It's refreshing, actually. My tributes are going to die in the blood bath, for sure. They're a couple of weaklings."

I laugh at her, she can be a real bitch sometimes. We notice that the elevator had arrived a good while ago and we get inside. We continue small talk about her "small, weak tributes" until the elevator dings on the fourth floor.

Annie sits on the couch, talking again to Matthew. He winks at her, and she rolls her eyes. I stop a little before they see me as to eavesdrop on their conversation. I know it's frowned upon, but I could care less.

"So, how do you think your family is coping?" Matthew asks her, probably trying to comfort her. I wanna punch him.

"I'm not sure," Annie says softly, worry creeping like a shadow across her face, "I hope they're all right. My parents are probably distraught. Nico will be brooding his time away, sulking. He looked so mad in the Justice Building. And little Sophia will surely be crying, poor girl. I wish I could tell them I'm alright. But I can't lie like that..." her voice fades into the nightly air.

Matthew looks at her sadly; then hugs her. She doesn't shy away from the hug, which part of me wishes she would. I can't stand to see his slimy hands on her, who does he think he is? Feeling girls up like that? Your jealous, a voice inside my head tells me. That's crazy, I don't get jealous. Especially of girls that are going to be dead within the next week. I don't get jealous. I'm Finnick Odair.

As I walk into the social room, Annie retreats from the hug, probably not wanting to show any physical affection in public. Matthew casts me a piercing glare, but I only smirk at him. He says goodnight to us both, gets up, and leaves. Annie doesn't watch him go, she just stares at the black TV screen on the wall. Something changes in her eyes. She looks so defenseless.

I stand outside her room, pacing. She's been in there a long time, getting dressed and prepped for her interview. She had done surprisingly well in training, she's good at tying knots and snares. She should be, considering her family makes most of the nets for District 4. She hadn't made any allies, stupid mistake. I had told her last night that it wasn't too late to join the Careers. That was a mistake.

We were in the social room, the fourth floor of the Training Building decorated to themes of the ocean. White walls with wistful blues and greens and sea shells on the walls. She sat on the couch, staring at the TV, though it wasn't turned on. Her usually vibrant green eyes looked lost. For the first time, her calculating expression was gone. She just sat there, appearing so helpless. I hope they don't think she's weak, I thought to myself. She could be so easily killed. Does she know that?

"Annie," I said to get her attention. Her head looks at me, and her knowing expression returns once more. "It's not too late to join the Careers. You have a much better chance of surviving that way and-"

"Finnick," Annie said, her hair flowing down her shoulders, "stop. For the last time. Stop!" she begins to yell. "I am not a Career! I don't even want to go into the arena! Everyone can tell I'm going to die." As the words flew out in a quick blur of yells, a single tear swept along her face, and my heart sunk to the bottom of my stomach. How could I make someone so innocent and pure cry? I must be some monster; but before I can say sorry, she leaves the room. Leaving me there, alone, and suddenly very cold.