*Alright, sorry this chapter took so long. I've been a bit busy, but this one is super long. So, this chapter has both Annie's and Finnick's Points of View. I hope it doesn't get confusing; I would like to dedicate this chapter to my friend Gracie, for being supermegafoxyawesomehot and an amazing friend :) Thanks to the anonymous people who commented. So, enjoy :D*
Chapter 10
Stranded
~Annie's Point of View~
3... 2... 1... And the gong sounds. Get off the platform, I have to tell myself in order to function. Run, I must keep saying. I run away from the Cornucopia, not wanting to get myself involved in the bloodbath. If the Careers are after me, I don't want to give myself up so easily. They'll have to work for my death.
As I run, I hear the screams and laughs from behind me. I try not to make out the words some children are saying but it's difficult to block some things out. "Please, please. Don't kill me," I hear someone beg. "Help! Someone, please, I can't do this!" I swallow my tongue, trying to fight back the heart wrenching pain. No one will help them. I must continue to run, away from the sound. Luckily, my speed makes up for my lack of other skills. Maybe not makes up for, but doesn't throw me out.
The trees offer a perfect cover, but I can't take refuge up there. I am no tree climber. So, I will have to make cover on the ground. Where can I hide? No, don't hide! Stand and fight, Annie! Who am I kidding? I couldn't fight or kill or even defend myself. I just have to do the only thing I'm capable of, I suppose. Run.
I run through the forest. The arena is mostly trees, with a mountain somewhere to the west. I could see small animals in the greenery, none of which have attacked me yet, thankfully. You never know with the crazy muttations of the Capitol. A harmless butterfly could be your untimely demise.
I keep my pace until I hear the faint trickle of water. As soon as I stop, my side bursts and I'm gasping for air. I walk a sluggish pace until I find the small stream I had heard., running my dirty hands through the fresh water. I splash the refreshing spring on my face and neck, cleaning all the dirt and sweat that had made a home in my hair. A number of kids have already died; soon enough, I will join them. Stop thinking like that, Annie. But how can I not, when I know that the Careers are after my blood? When I know that I stand no chance.
Time passes at a sickeningly quick pace in a blur of colors. I continue walking, searching for something. I don't know what exactly, but I might find it. And maybe 'it' can help me win.
The Sun sets in the sky and I lie against a tree, hoping to be able to rest my eyes. Then, as the fake sky's moon kisses the arena, the cannons fire. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve. Twelve tributes dead. They're unscathed faces illuminate the darkness above. District 5 boy shows up first. That means that the Careers from 1, 2, and Matthew are alive, along with the District 3 kids. Next, the girl from 6, both tributes from 7, District 8 girl, both from 9, a boy from 10, both from 11 and 12. So many lives just gone, forgotten, in one day's time. My hands reach into my pocket, searching for the piece of rope. To calm myself down, I tie more knots, until my hands get tired, followed shortly by my eyes...
My head jerks to the sound of a cannon. The light of the moon shimmering through the tree cover. Who is it this time to die? Then another. fire Two down. A sound from above jerks my head up yet again. A parachute gracefully makes it's way to my feet.
I open it gently, a longing burning from my chest. I had only now realized how hungry I am. The pain in my stomach only just stands in comparison to the pain in my ankle. I hadn't even noticed I had sprained it, as so much adrenaline was coursing through me. Inside the parachute were two things; three pieces of bread and a new piece of rope. I smile to myself and look into the distance, praying a camera will see.
"Thanks, Finnick," I whisper.
I take a closer look at the contents of the parachute. The bread is warm and crumbles slightly in my hand. I lift it to my nose and inhale the precious aroma of food. Then I observe the rope. It's just like the one I have, just fewer knots. It only has one. Wait, why would Finnick tie a knot in the rope before giving it to me? What's the point in a solitary knot in a strand of rope? The knot points directly at me, am I missing something? No, it's not pointing at me. It's pointing behind me.
Then, the sound of branches snapping at my back. I turn around, frantic. Am I about to face my killer? A breath of relief washes over me. Matthew stands, his hands raised in surrender. Chagrin swarms me, having noticed I was holding my line of rope like a sword. Smooth, Annie.
"Woah," Matthew says with a light laugh, "calm down there, Annie. You could really hurt someone with that piece of rope, there." He laughs once more, and I allow my shoulders to drop.
"You scared me!" I yell to him. I look down at my hands and see that they're quivering. He really did frighten me. I shake my head and get some breaths.
"Well, I'm sorry," he smiles warmly. "Do you mind if I stay with you tonight? We can set up camp together, if you want."
How could I say no? He is stronger than me, and he is my friend. I trust him not to kill me in my sleep. But, Finnick had told me that Matt would be the one to kill me, that he is working the Careers. I want to trust Matt, but I want to believe Finnick. One of them is trustworthy, the other is lying. Why would Finnick lie to me? I don't know... to help Matt win? But how would pitting me against him increase his odds? Matt has a reason to lie, but he's never been dishonest with me before.
The truth is embroidered and patterned with so many untruths, it makes my head hurt. So, I suppose I'll have to meet somewhere in between.
"Sure," I say, smiling at him. I'll have to be friendly... but not trusting. Not condemning him as the ruthless killer he very well may be, but giving him a chance. I have to be careful about this though. I can't rely on Matt in the least. I'll put my faith in Finnick first.
Matt had built a nice shelter, and I had weaved some baskets that we now sipped water from. Under the tree, the moon illuminating our faces, it's almost peaceful. As we sit, he tells me about the Careers, and how he left them for the time being. He told them he was going to go look for a place to set up camp further into the forests. He really just wanted to make sure I was okay. So he tells me.
"Annie," he says softly, leaning closer to me. I give him a quizzical look, but he goes on, "did you mean what you said in the interview? About the price of murder?"
"Yes," I say, without hesitation. I wasn't sure of much, but my morals were clear. "Why? Having second thoughts about your path to destruction?"
"Haha, I'm not going to die, Annie," he says, obviously trying to lighten the mood. But I want answers. As long as I've known Matt, I've never picked inside his brain.
"Dying? You really think that's the worst the arena can do to you?" I question quietly, the wind fluttering the dry leaves around us. "What if you won? Knowing the horrific things you've done, the awful deeds you've committed. Having to live with the full understanding of how many lives you've taken, and how many others you've broken in doing so. That's the path of destruction I'm talking about."
He stares at me intently, and I return the gaze. I believe every word I said to him whole-heartily. If he thought less of me for it, for my weakness, so be it.
"You've always been a good person," he says, putting his arm around me. I allow it, but like it had the night he comforted me, the touch felt wrong. A long pause passes before he says, "Do you remember when we met?"
Come to think of it, I don't. Our parents had introduced us when we were so young. I was 6 and he was 7. That was a little more than 11 years ago. "No," I answer honestly, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. How embarrassing. How good a friend am I that I can't even remember the first time we met?
"I know you do, your just playing dumb," he laughs at me. "Want me to enlighten you, Annie?" he mocks.
"Go ahead," I say back.
"Well," he begins as if about to tell a fantastic story, "my parents woke me up early that morning, telling me that we're spending the day with one of their friends." I look at him as he talks animatedly, gesturing his hands. I know the story is just as much for Panem as it is for me. "Of course, being only seven, I wasn't looking forward to it. It sounded extremely boring: hanging out with my parent's friends. But, I went along with them, and I realized we were walking to the beach.
"As we continued on, I saw a family there, sitting on a blanket. The mom was braiding the little girls hair, and the father was teaching his son how to weave a net. The whole day, my parents and the little girl's- which if you haven't noticed, is you- talked and did adult things. I didn't talk much to the girl either, she was too interested in the sea life in the ocean. Her brother and I talked some, but I really wanted to talk to her. I didn't though, not until I saw her the next month. We became pretty good friends actually."
I listened to the story in silence, noting my jaw drop when he said we met at the beach. 'I know you do, your just playing dumb' he said earlier. The dots were slowly connecting in my head, slowly turning into a message. Oh no, did Matthew think that... that when I was talking in my interview, about the special young man- did he think I meant him? Like a ton of bricks I suddenly notice the weight of his arm around me, crushing me. I know the pressure is in my head, he's not really crushing me, but I jerk away from him. Sitting further away now.
He looks at me, his face in possession of a very confused expression. I feel my hands moisten with my nervousness. My heart rate quickens. How can I explain to him that I wasn't talking about him in my interview? That I was talking about someone else. I was talking about Finnick.
Though I didn't remember my meeting with Matt, I could still envision the day I saw Finnick for the first time. I was playing in the sand on the beach, not caring about the reaping. It was my first, and I hardly cared. The sand castle I was building was far more interesting. I looked out into the water for a moment, seeing a young boy not far off, with a trident in his hand. I looked for several moments, then went back to my sand castle. As he walked onto the dry sand, I looked at him again. Even as young as I was, I could appreciate his beauty. I looked down running my fingers through the grains of sand. I looked up only when I knew he was gone. "He's different," I said to myself, like I usually did.
I then saw him when I was with my friends. They all giggled as he winked, but I just looked at him, still knowing that he was different. I couldn't explain it, -well, I still can't- but I knew.
The flashback passed in less than a second, Matthew still looking at me. I don't know what to say. How to break it to him. But, I open my mouth to try-
"Annie," he cuts me off with a smile, "you don't have to say anything. I get that I made things kinda weird," he laughs again, "just get some sleep. I'll take first watch."
I lie my head down on some soft grass, my eyes wide and confused. I would have to tell him, sometime. But, somehow, I couldn't. I couldn't get the words out, I just blanked. I'm not good under pressure, I guess.
My last thought before I go to sleep is what Finnick is thinking. Does he know that it's him I meant, not my district partner? Or did Matt's story trick him just like the rest of Panem. I say a silent prayer that he hasn't been fooled.
Finnick's Point of View
I button my shirt, feeling miserable, as I always do. I don't let it show, of course. I have a reputation to uphold. I smile once more at the Capitol woman before walking out the door. As soon as I leave the room, I run my fingers through my hair, disgusted with myself. I had to leave the mentor room to come fulfill my duty. I had to leave Annie.
I got the buzz on a small beeper right after I sent Annie the parachute. I squeezed the beeper tightly in my hand, too angry for words. They expect me to leave my job for some Capitol scum? I had to do it though, that was clear. That's always been cleared. I took a look at the screen to see Annie spinning around and eying Matthew. I was overjoyed she noticed the knot in the rope. I was enraged to see Matthew acting all buddy-buddy with her, when we both know that he is going to slit her throat sooner or later. It was night time now, so she might be sleeping. She also might be on watch.
I speed walk all the way to the mentoring room, leaving the Capitol woman's room long behind me. I enter and notice all the other mentors there, sitting at there stations. Each mentor has there own section where they watch and intervene by sending parachutes. Johanna was nowhere to be seen, her tributes dying in the initial bloodbath.
I look at the screens of my fellow victors. My stomach drops and my jaw follows in pursuit as my eyes take in the scene. Annie and Matthew, sitting comfortably under a tree, talking like old friends. They are old friends, but still. She should know better than this! I told her to be careful, and now she is allying with him. Not good; how do I get message to her to get out of there? Or to possibly kill him in his sleep?
I smile at the thought, then rush to my screen, turning it on. As it comes into focus, Matt puts his arm around her. She looks at his arm on her shoulder. I can see the hesitation in her eyes, though she usually never hesitates about anything. Good, I tell myself. Maybe she doesn't completely trust this guy.
"Do you remember the first time we met?" Matt asks arrogantly, moving some hair out of his eyes with his free hand.
"No," Annie responds a second later. Ha! She doesn't even remember meeting you; must suck, huh? I realize that I'm laughing a bit, that the other mentors are watching me. Oh well.
Then the slime-ball keeps talking, "I know you do, your just playing dumb," he laughs at her, smiling at his own humor. Did he just call her dumb? The nerve of him, insulting her like that. I know it wasn't really insulting, but it still got me mad. "Want me to enlighten you, Annie?" he looks at her, smirking an eager grin.
As he begins to tell the story, I get mad. This is all for the cameras, I know that. Does Annie? He's playing her. She's too smart to fall for it though. This act, the "good guy flirting" thing he is doing tears at me. He keeps telling his tale, probably spinning and twisting the truth to make it sound more interesting. "I realized we were walking to the beach." I hear him say.
No. No, he can't honestly think that she was talking about him in her interview. Of course not! That's ridiculous. I let the jealousy envelope me for a few moments, then press forward, desperately wanting to murder him. I struggle to listen to the rest of the story, willing myself to stay calm. She looks at him with a slightly bewildered expression, but she is obviously intent on the tale. I try to keep my face placid, not wanting the other mentors to look upon me strangely.
When he finishes his story, Annie looks off into the night. Oddly, she jerks pulls away from him. I let myself smile a little, but not enough to get my hopes up. She opens her mouth to speak, but by the look on her face, she may have not been able to say anything. Is she embarrassed? Is what he's saying true? It must be, because she listens to him when he tells her to fall asleep. She would've corrected him if she didn't feel what he insinuated.
My chest turns hollow and I slump in my seat. I tell myself to inhale and exhale. I sit down and stare at the screen, wanting to scream. I don't know what to do. I just want to hold her in my arms and tell her not to trust him. To trust me. I decide just to watch her sleep. Watch her peaceful breathing.
I know I won't be sleeping at all tonight.
~Annie's Point of View~
I awake to a cold hand covering my mouth. I panic, screaming. Only a muffled gargling sound escapes through the clasped hand that holds me. Another hand covers my eyes, and everything goes dark. I cannot see anything, all I can hear are the grunts of my attacker as I struggle against him. He pushes me forward and I am forced to walk in front of him. Even though both his hands are being used to cover my senses, he is still much stronger than me.
As I continue trying to break loose, thoughts flutter through my mind. I don't know how, but I manage to think straight. Who is this? Where is he taking me? Matt was supposed to be on guard. Did he kill him? Why would he waste his time dragging me somewhere? Why not kill me along side Matt?
I silently say goodbye to Matthew, knowing he is gone. Either that, or he ran away. I can't blame him for that. He should win. And even if he is alive, and he may not be, the goodbye is still valid. I know I will never see him again. I am walking towards my death.
Minutes pass and I continue to walk, to struggle, to scream. I try to bite the hand of the person holding me, but it's no use. He holds me in a way that I cannot escape or harm him. I am defenseless. He is in control.
I hear voices further ahead, arguing. I tune my ears and strain to listen over the roaring sound of my heart.
"He'll be here with her anytime now. I still don't get why we have to bring her here. Why not just have him kill her in her sleep? It's pointless," says a girl.
"It's all about the show, Dazzle," a boy responds happily. The both giggle until I know that I am in front of them.
My snatcher throws me to the soft ground and I fall on my hands and knees. I take in deep, calming breaths. Inhaling the sweet smell of the dirt. I refuse to look up at the Careers. I will not give them the satisfaction of seeing my face as I die. But, it seems I have not choice as a pair of hands grab my arms and hold them to my side, making me face them.
Dazzle, smiling like a lunatic, a bloodthirsty fire in her eyes. Glint, her district partner, the same expression, just more subsided. Both district 2 tributes, smirking at me with an evil grin. This is it.
"Good job, Matty," purrs Dazzle, looking at me.
No, she's looking behind me. I hadn't thought of who was holding me until now; I feel his hands gripping me tightly, no point trying to run. He didn't run to save himself, or try to save me. He brought me here. He betrayed me. My friend, my childhood friend, sacrificing me to the dogs. No, he isn't just sacrificing me to the dogs, he will devour me along with them.
I keep my face expressionless. Again, not wanting to give them any sign of weakness. I owe myself that much to die bravely. I owe it to my district to die like a tribute, not the cowering girl I am.
"I should have known you're a liar," I direct at Matt, who still stands behind me. I have yet to see his face, nor do I want to. It would be too painful. I thought I could trust him. Maybe not entirely, but I never thought he would really turn me over like this.
"Give it a break, princess," Glint says to me, swinging an ax at his side. "I suppose I should let you give your little speech. It will be your last." He smiles and I feel a lump in my throat. I can't talk, my trachea tightening with every inhalation. But, I know I have to. It will be my last.
"Matt," I say, without looking behind me, "I can't say I expected this." Stupid way to start, Annie. Oh well, keep going. Keep talking. "I knew you were capable of terrible things, otherwise you wouldn't have volunteered. But, this is evil. I hope my death satisfies whatever blood-lust you all share." Again, my throat squeezes shut, and a small cry escapes me. They smile at this, but I will my voice onward. I will say something horrible to them. Something insulting, "I hope the guilt doesn't destroy you. I hope, whichever one of you makes it out, is happy. Not that you deserve to be." I take a deep breath. There. I said what I believed. I do want them to be happy, even though they are wicked. I had wanted to insult them, to mock them with my final breath. But I couldn't; I want my last words to be meaningful. And I know what I want them to be.
"Bye, bye, princess," Glint hisses as he raises his ax.
My heart quickens and I feel a sudden urge to live overcome me. I can't die. This is all I think in the second he swings. I don't want to die, I don't want to die. I cannot die. So, I duck. I can't bend much, Matt's arms around me, but I lower my head to my chest. I expected the sound of metal whizzing through air. But I hear a sickening thud. A cannon in the distance. And the arms around me loose their grip and disappear completely.
Air fills into my lungs in broken fragments. I'm alive. I'm free, but that sound. That thud. I turn around and see Matt's severed head lying on the floor, looking back at me with a confused expression. I can't feel my body, all I know is that I am responsible. I am the reason he is dead, head apart from body.
I wretch and scream in pain. My eyes race around, seeing colors and shapes that make no sense. I double over, and look at my arms. Droplets of blood decorate my arms, jacket, and as I search my body, face. I throw up on the floor, cringing. I hear, but not completely, the sound of the Career voices. I can't process anything but guilt and pain. A lot of guilt, only numbed slightly by pain.
"Kill her, stop staring like an idiot and kill her, Glint," someone screams.
I close my eyes. I deserve death. But, what is death? I witnessed it... but what is it exactly? To not be alive? I must be dead already, because I will never live again. A ear-splitting cracking sound pierces my ears and my hands shoot up to cover them. I look up to see what's going on through my teary eyes. I must be crying a lot, because the whole arena looks underwater. I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but choke on the air. No, it's not air. It's water. Did I cry that much?
I swim up to the surface, coughing and hacking away the water in my lungs. All around me, filling the arena like a bath, water spews in, covering all the trees and land in seconds.I must have cried a lot, to fill the whole arena. I decide it's best to lie on my back as the world drifts around me. I don't want to cry anymore. Then, a cannon sounds. Who fired a cannon? Why? Oh, right, I'm in the arena. That means someone died. Who?
How did they die? Who killed them? Maybe they drowned... but if they drowned... I killed them. Because the water is my fault, my tears. I cry a bit more before mentally yelling at myself. I can't fill the arena anymore that it already is. Another cannon. I lay on my back, the water carrying me. Are all these deaths my fault? I sink deeper into my depression as the water refuses sink me literally. It shelters me still, cradling me like an infant. A cannon blast.
How long have I been lying here? Minutes? Hours? Days? I don't know... I don't know. More cannons sound and the sky turns to gray, then black. One more cannon sounds and I hear a deep voice spoken from all around.
"Your victor for the 71st Hunger Games, Annie Cresta, Distict 4!" the voice booms.
Annie, that's my name. Is it me they're talking about? Maybe, but I don't care. I'm too tired.
A light comes closer to my eyes. I feel my body being lifted, being raised into the skies. Am I dead? No, I still feel all the pain and guilt from my life. Heaven would be nothing like that. Unless this is Hell...
"Annie! Annie! Please, are you there!? Answer me!" I hear a gentle voice screaming. Though it's gentle, I hear the frantic pulse behind it. He's saying my name. I know who's voice that belongs to, I just can't put my finger on it. I see a beautiful face in front of mine next. One of an angel. I must be in heaven. As the face focuses, I see him. He looks at me, his eyes shocked and scared.
I smile at him and whisper, "Finnick."
"I'm here, Annie. I will always be here," he whispers into my hair.
I close my eyes, and clutch tightly to the rope I've had in my hand through it all.
*Ok, that was really long. I hope you liked it :) I will be updating in a while, thanks for reading!*