Thank you to MsMKT68 and PrincessFabala for reviewing! It means a lot :)

From this chapter on until the rebellion, a lot of the plot line will be focused on Finnick's relationship with his sister, Rhea and Annie. Also, keep in mind that while Finnick may be 14, Annie is still 12. They won't be together for a while.

X. Alone Together

"It's not your fault."

"Yes, it is."

"Finnick," Mags starts off. "Did you tell Maya to fall in love with you."

I shake my head, uncertainly. Where was this heading? "No."

"Did you kill her because you wanted to?"

I shake my head once again.

"Then it's not your fault."

I don't bother saying anything back. There's no point since I can never win an argument against her; maybe it's because I'm only one fifth of her age, or maybe it's just because she's that stubborn. Either way, I love her like my own grandmother now.

The rest of the return trip back is silent. I throw a small ball at my ceiling and catch it, repeatedly. It's like knotting - it keeps my mind off anything and it distracts me. I can't knot anything anymore. The flimsy string of rope that Annie gave me is so tattered that it is barely secured around my wrist anymore.

A knock on the door removes me from my thoughts and Mags hobbles in. "We arrive in five minutes." Looking outside the window, I can see the ocean off in the distance. The thought of being back transports me into another state of overwhelming homesickness.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. "What do I do?" I ask her, standing up from the bed.

"Smile and wave like nothing happened. Don't say anything bad," she warns.

"What about Annie?"

She smiles sadly, "I don't know her like you do. We'll have to see when we get there."

"But… I don't know her." And I really don't. Sure, I know her full name and her favourite colour is green, and that she's a quiet girl who hangs out with my sister, but that's all. She blocks me out whenever I had tried to strike up a conversation with her.

I'm blinded with flashing lights and deafened by cheers as the train slows down at the stop in District Four. All I see is bright light and flashes of brightly coloured Capitol people outside, screaming my name at the top of their lungs.

Mags and Shelly each take hold of one of my hands. "Smile and ignore them."

When the door opens, it's overwhelming. Claustrophobia has never been an issue for me but right now, I'm being swarmed by dozens and dozens of unfamiliar men and women from the Capitol, who I have never seen before. The clicking of cameras is all I hear for a moment and I feel as if I'm being pushed through the crowd, rather than walking by myself.

I almost fall out of the crowd and as I just manage to regain my balance, I'm swept off my feet once again and I'm engulfed by a pair of long, feminine arms. "Finnick!"

"Mom!" I cry out, burying my head in the crook of her neck. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," she croaks out. I can feel her tears against my own skin and she hiccups. Pulling back, Mother holds onto my cheeks and it's now that I realise how much she really missed me. A lot would be an understatement. "I am so proud of you, Finn," she says softly and kisses my forehead. Though she speaks so softly, I can hear her over the screeches that erupt from behind us.

"Good job, son." Father's hand clamps down on my shoulder and he nods at me, proudly.

"Thank you," I reply, nodding back stiffly. I almost let out a gasp in surprise as he lifts me off my feet. I feel like a rag doll in his arms and it's like he's crushing my bones with every squeeze.

"FINNICK!"

I'm let down and I run towards the girl who screamed. "Rhea!" I laugh and engulf her in my arms. She squeals, delightfully and hugs me back. "You came back!"

"I told you I would."

"You were amazing! I wanna be like you one day."

"No, Rhea," I scold. "You don't."

She pulls back and gazes at me, almost admiringly. "Why not?"

"Because I say so."

I refuse to live in the Victors' Village. It's not my home and I already have the luxury of the abundant amount of money I've been rewarded. Unfortunately, I don't have a choice. My parents are taking in Annie. Our old home is too small - five people would be a crowd.

Speaking of Annie, the only glimpse I had of her was when we locked eyes after I was reunited with Rhea, and she had run away in the opposite direction. I want to so badly go up to her and apologise but do I really know what to say to her?

I manage to persuade my parents to take the largest bedroom in the house and I take the second largest, with Rhea next door to me. We decide that Annie will sleep in the room opposite mine.

"Looks like we're neighbours," Shelley walks up the stairs, holding one of our boxes. "Mags is right opposite you and next to her is Joseph Aelous."

"Joseph?" I repeat.

"He won nine years ago - our most current victor, aside from you. It's been a while since District Four has had any Victors. He won when you were four? Five? You probably wouldn't remember."

"How did he win?"

"Sponsors, just like you. He was only a few months older than you when he won and he managed to win the crowd over. He was a Career too."

I nod. "Explains."

We both set out respective boxes down onto the hard floorboards. Shelley hands me a sheet of paper and an envelope. "These are for you. Give the envelope to Annie."

"What is it?" I ask.

"Letters to you two. Maya wrote them one night in the Capitol just in case she didn't come back. I'll see you later."

When the door closes behind her, I run my index finger along the edge of the letter that has been addressed to me. I hesitate before unfolding it, then think, Screw it. Getting it over with earlier would be better than leaving it until later.

Dear Finn,

I'm assuming you're the Victor now, since you're reading this, or maybe you're Shelley because you're nosy. Well… Congratulations on being the victor.

I'm writing this letter to tell you a few things that I need you to know. First thing's first. Don't feel guilty. Please. I know you, Finn and I know that you'll be feeling guilty that I didn't make it out of the arena. What if I won and I was feeling guilty? Would you want me to feel like that?

I presume I'm dead by now because I saved you and for that, I don't regret it. I'm just happy that you're alive and at home safe. My plan was to get you out safe the entire time and I'm glad it worked. I know you promised Annie that you would try your hardest to get me out of the arena and I have no doubt that you did that, but I have accepted my death with open arms. I hope it was a quick death I had. Don't forget our promise, Finn.

Take care of Annie for me, please. It was part of our promise. I know it's a lot to ask for but… she has no one else for her, especially family. Take her into your Victor's house and I'll love you for forever and a day. Train her - Rhea, as well. You never know if they'll be reaped or not, and better safe than sorry, no? Teach them how to net, use spears, tridents, knives, and everything you know. I don't want you to waste money, paying for their training at the center. You'll be a mentor anyway, so you'll be a better teacher. Train them privately; I trust you with my whole life to do so.

Rhea's a sweet little girl, huh? Take care of your family for me, Finn. You know I love them like my own family. Be good.

One last thing, Finn… I love you. It's funny, huh? It's funny how our parents would always talk about the two of us being together, growing up and falling in love - and I did in fact, fall in love with you. I never expected it but… I can't control my emotions, I guess. I don't expect you to feel the same way about me. I just thought you had a right to know about this.

I want you to remember me, but to not wallow over me. I love you more than you will ever know.

Maya

I love you too, Maya.

I cry myself to sleep that night. I toss and turn during my sleep. I dream of Maya and I - what we could have been if it weren't for the Games. We got married, had kids and died together. It was the perfect love story, no? Rhea grew up to be a beautiful woman, and married a charming guy, as did Annie. I made friends with a few guys from school. Life was generally… perfect; everything I could have dreamt of.

And then, he appears. The boy with the brown eyes stands before me with an accusing glare. "You killed me."

"I-I'm so sorry," I manage to stutter out. "I didn't mean to."

He's joined by Carter, Indiana, the boy from Three and the girl from Twelve who was suffocated. Even in my dream, she is sickly thin.

"Why are you guys here?" I whisper.

"Because you killed us," Indiana replies. Carter raises the bloodied sword he had wielded in the arena and steps forward. Then, he thrusts the blade out towards me.

I wake up, screaming, with tear tracks staining my cheeks. It was just a dream, I think to myself. I don't even know if it can be considered a dream. It was almost like a nightmare to me, even the first half of it. My heart rate accelerates when my door creaks open a little, and I swear, I almost have a panic attack.

"Who's there?" I question the darkness, frantically.

"It's me."

Annie.

"Oh…," I say. "What are you doing up?"

She twiddles with her thumbs and purses her lips. "You were screaming."

"I'm sorry I woke you up," I apologise, honestly.

"It's fine… Are you okay?"

"Yes."

A lapse of silence comes upon us. It seems as if every conversation we have is tense and awkward, though I don't think either of us can really help it.

"Do you hate me?" I ask her, ashamed with myself. Of course she hates me. Why wouldn't she? I murdered her older sister.

But she surprises me. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because what you did was the only way to stop her from feeling the pain. I just hate that you came back, not her."

And those words stab me in the gut harder than I expect.

A/N: Short? Yes. Proud of it? Meh. I don't particularly like this chapter but I really hope it's okay. Please review your thoughts! :)