Finnick's POV

My last days of training had gone well. Each morning I would locate Brit, greet her with a smile and continue our rounds of the training area together, figuring out whose weakness counteracted whose strength.

"I think we make a pretty good team," Brit smiled one day. I looked at her and grinned back in approval, though I was aware my joy did not meet my eyes.

Only one person comes out of that arena.

Mags' words rang through my head. She was right after all, the friendship I was making now may very well be my demise.

I couldn't have asked for a better mentor.

She knew when to talk, when to listen, when to be hard as nails, and when to show me the affection I grew up craving.

The lights outside had faded, leaving behind only a dusty pink glow on the distant mountain lines. If I didn't know better, I would say it was beautiful, but I was aware of the disfigured citizens that paraded along the pavement below it.

Tomorrow was the day.

Tomorrow I would find out if I had what it takes to be able to shut off my humanity, and become something that I hoped I would never have to show to the world. I looked down at my shaking hands, wondering if would be able to stand the sight of them covered with another's blood, teaming with the crime and guilt of my act.

"Kid, dinner time!" Mags yelled through my slightly ajar door. Picking myself up off my bed quickly I shuffled out into the hallway and through the dining room doorframe.

Amalia already sat there, her eyes downcast with Henry at her side looking equally as miserable. Mags shot them a disapproving glance, and I could almost hear her raspy voice speak

Don't act like you didn't know this was coming.

In a way I felt bad for them, two star-crossed lovers torn apart by a force no one could fight and live to tell the tale. But Henry knew, he knew what was going to be the end result, and yet he had let his own feelings take priority. I watched his hand reach for hers and slide them both beneath the table. She looked at him sadly and smiled.

Silence fell down on us like a thick smothering blanket, lack of moisture gluing my mouth shut as I tried to shove a few snatches of bread down my resisting throat.

"You'll need your strength. Both of you." Mags grumbled, looking at both Amalia and I with a furrowed brow. Amalia's eyes glistened and I swore that in moments tears would be trailing her cheeks, and a lump grew consequently in my throat. I pushed my chair back hurriedly and mumbled an apology as I sprinted from the room, feeling my lungs beg for air that I was unable to inhale. Hyper ventilation ensued as I broke through into my room and stumbled to the balcony on the far end, collapsing in a heap behind the large glass door.

The city moved and heaved below me in nighttime motion, unaware of my turmoil, complacent with its usual schedule as I sat here feeling my bones groan in exhaustion and terror.

I looked around the room as my breathing slowed, spying the large fire place poker and staring it down with deadly eyes.

I could end this right now.

I scrambled to my feet, feeling the floor sway beneath me as my lack of oxygen sent stars into my field of vision. I walked forward with as much determination as I could muster, aware that I heard voices in the hallway approaching my room. They didn't seem to register though, and I continued towards the weapon I sought.

My hand wrapped around its cool handle, the metal feeling at home in my fingers as though it were the shaft of a trident.

I want to die on my own terms.

I flipped it around so that the tapered end was pointing towards my abdomen, my muscled arms extended in front of me and tensed to strike when I told them to.

My hands shook, the poker teetering dangerously to each side as another tremor shook my body.

3…

I let out a deep breath. Tears spilling down my cheeks.

2…

I realized I didn't even anyone to subconsciously say goodbye to, though I was subconsciously aware of a door creaking open behind me.

Here we go…

"FINNICK, NO!"

Annies POV

The waves lapped at the beach, taking grains of small stone back into the sea with it. Tomorrow was the day that I would have to watch my best friend fight for his life. I wasn't sure if it had really sunk in yet, if I had fully realized everything that was about to happen. I didn't think I would until I saw his face on the screen where it should never have been.

"Annie, honey, time for bed."

I listened to my mother obediently and picked myself up from the sand as she turned around and began the trek back to our house.

The moon shone brightly above me, seemingly larger and more iridescent than usual. Though it was beautiful, I felt a looming ominous lurch in my gut as I looked at it.

"It's pretty tonight isn't it," my mother said lightly, carrying the basket of shells she had collected. I murmured in agreement and rung my hands in my dress, feeling the material scratch against the callouses I had acquired from making nets for my father. My parents tried not to mention Finnick anymore, though I knew they had been quite fond of him. He was polite, quiet and protected me fiercely; anything a parent could have asked for in their small daughters friend.

"Finnick, I don't think I'm going to school today," I said quietly, an ashen look on my face. He gazed at me curiously.

"Why not Annie? It's not because of those girls is it?" Anger seeped into voice on the last phrase, and I knew without having to look that his eyes had narrowed.

I shifted my weight uncomfortably from foot to foot.

"We're going to school." He said firmly, and snatched my hand up in his and marched me towards the sterile looking building ahead. Whispers followed behind my small back as we entered the front doors and sped towards our classrooms. Children snickered as I passed, and I could feel my cheeks burn in embarrassment.

"Finnick, I want to go home." I said quietly, tugging at his hand. He looked down at me sadly.

"Ok, but we need to do something first."

We rounded a corner, and there stood a small group of 4 girls. They each had flowing blonde hair, quaffed and brushed to perfection as the examined their perfectly shaped nails.

"What's your problem?" One of them asked, glancing at Finnicks angry face and slowly trailing down to my averted eyes with a knowing smile.

"I might ask you the same question, or do you have the intelligence level to answer," Finnick fumed.

The girls faces turned to masks of rage at the insult he threw towards them, breaking their small circle to form some kind of defensive looking line.

"Money doesn't make you smart ladies, and if I hear about you tormenting any of the younger kids again, the peace keepers will hear about and I promise it won't be in a pleasant way."

The four girls flapped their mouths in silent words; afraid to say anything after Fin had brought the peacekeepers into the equation. They looked at each other, eyes bulging from the petite faces as they turned on their heels and strode away angrily. Finnick let out a deep breath and looked down at me.

"Thanks," I smiled, "I think."

Finnick chuckled and dropped my hand as he steered us both towards the general direction of our classes.

The flashback surged in my mind as both my mother and I walked through our front door. My heart was heavy, knowing that I may never be able to have memories like that anymore…

The main character of them was no longer there.

Thanks for reading guys! Please drop a review off and tell me what you think or if you have any ideas you would like to share! Sorry these are so short, but my mind works to fast for me to be able to sit down and write hugely long chapters. Anyways! Thanks again! :D

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