Author's note: So… it's been a while. I'm so sorry for that, but life just gets in the way sometimes. :) I hope this chapter makes up for it though!
This chapter contains a flashback. This will be shown in italics.
Also, is anyone interested in joining a HUNGER GAMES ROLEPLAYING FORUM? We're like a really close family who are always looking for new members, and there's still plenty of characters to choose from. Also, it is extremely fun! If you're interested, pm me and/or check out the forum at forum/Hunger-Games-Roleplay/116078/
And now for chapter 12. :)
Edited on 7/23/14
Chapter 12: Searching for a Solution
Day 6
It's dark now, but I don't know whether I sleep or not. I keep seeing Caspian dying over and over again, and each time I do, someone screams. This terrifies me, and as soon as the screaming stops, I peer out of my hole but see no one.
Day comes and I no longer have to watch Caspian die again. I don't want to be here. I want to go home, but I can't. Why can't I go home? Why? As I think about this, I wrap my arms around my legs, rest my head on my knees, and rock back and forth as quickly as I possibly can.
Rope. I need rope. I don't have any rope. The rope was in Ester's backpack, which I don't have. Why don't I have rope? I need it. So, instead of rope, I take strands of my hair and braid them together. Then I tie a knot at the end. When I try to untie it like I would have the rope, I can't do so without it hurting, so I start a new one.
Soon the parachutes start coming, but I ignore them. After a while, dozens of them are spread out all over the ground, but I don't want them. Not a single one. Why don't you get it Finnick? Why? Why can't you give me what I really want? I don't want these parachutes. I don't want to be here. I want to go home, and if I can't do that, I want to die.
Annie's struggling, and it's killing me. She seems to be reliving Caspian's death and every once and a while she lets out a scream. What worries me the most is that Annie doesn't seem to know she is the one screaming. She stop after a few seconds and peers out of her hole in bewilderment.
As soon as morning comes, the screaming ends, but then Annie begins to rock back and forth franticly. After a while, she begins to mutter something about a rope. Then she begins to braid her hair and tie it in knots.
Meanwhile, I try to send parachutes to her. I send everything I can think of; broth, rolls from District 4, sleeping pills to help her fall asleep tonight, another water bottle, etcetera, but everything is rejected.
Soon Annie is screaming at me, perhaps without even realizing it. "I don't want them!" she screeches. "Not a single one! Why don't you get it Finnick?" She begins to bawl, and her words become unintelligible. She's breaking my heart, and there's nothing a can do about it.
Around eleven in the morning, Mags goes to lunch while I continue to watch Annie. Soon afterwards, Gamemaker Charlus turns our attention to the main screen, where the girl from 12, Ember is currently being shown, but I struggle to keep my mind off of Annie. Meanwhile Ember is being attacked by poison leaf frogs. These colorful mutts from the Capitol are so toxic they disintegrate leaves when they land on them. They also have a tendency to land on humans and when they do, they secrete a poison that burns and disintegrates the victim's skin, allowing the poisen to enter the bloodstream. If enough frogs land on the victim, this poison is most often fatal. Unfortunately, the victim's death is often slow, and Ember's is no different. Charlus realizes this, and allows us to return back to our tributes.
Annie is sitting in her cave when I return to my monitor. She's doing fine – or better than she was doing at least – until Ember's cannon sounds. Then she curls up into a ball and covers her ears, staying that way for several minutes. When Mags returns from lunch at five minutes to twelve, I am reluctant to leave Annie. However, Mags assures me that she will look after Annie while I'm gone, and I'm forced to go to the cafeteria.
During lunch, all I can think about is Annie, and I can barely eat. I know I should though, since I can't expect Annie to eat without doing so myself. I sit secluded from everyone else, and I don't even notice that someone is sitting next to me until they tap me on the shoulder. Looking up, I see it is Perseus, Annie's stylist.
"We have to do something about Annie!" Percy cries. "She's suffering out there!"
"Shh!" I hiss, and then lower my voice. "You never know who might be listening. Besides, do you really think I haven't tried to help her? I've been trying everything, but nothing is working."
"I could go to the Capitol. Maybe they'd take her out of there."
"No, they won't!" I snap, still keeping my voice low.
"But she's just a child! I can't just sit here and do nothing!" Looking around the room, I notice people are now staring at us. If Percy notices this, he doesn't seem to care.
"There's nothing you can do Percy." I sigh, but he doesn't listen.
"There has to be something!" he exclaimed. "I can go to the gamemakers and –"
"No!" I snap. "That would just get you in trouble, or worse killed, and wouldn't help Annie in the least."
"I suppose you're right." Percy says. We sit in silence until Percy stands. Breaking the silence, he says, "Well, there must be something out there that will bring Annie back to reality, something that will remind her of reasons to live. Whatever it is, I hope you find it." With that, Percy leaves the room, once again leaving me with my thoughts.
For the majority of the final nine tributes, the rest of the afternoon is uneventful. Around three in the afternoon, though, Angus from 10 and Harelson from 11 are driven together by the gamemakers and much to the delight of the Capitol citizens a fight breaks out between them. They are well-matched, and the fight lasts several minutes. Finally, Angus' sword pierces Harelson's heart, and Angus escapes with only a few cuts and bruises. Because there are now only eight tributes left, interview teams will be going to districts 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 10, and 11 to interview the remaining tributes family and friends. In addition, Caesar Flickerman will most likely be interviewing the mentors tomorrow as well, something I am not looking forward to.
Back on my own monitor, Annie is once again covering her ears from Harelson's cannon shot. A half an hour passes before she finally uncovers them. Meanwhile, I'm still searching for a way to help her. I continue to repeat Percy's words, something that will remind her of reasons to live, over and over again. Suddenly, an idea comes to mind. I think of something that just might help Annie, but I'd have to find it first. Luckily I have a pretty good idea where to look. I ask Mags to watch Annie for me, and then I take off toward the training center – and Annie's old room. If this doesn't help my tribute, I don't know what will.
Boom! What's that noise? I know it means something, but I can't remember what. All's I know is that I don't like that noise, and I cover my ears with my hands to make the sound go away. Not long after I uncover my ears again, another silver parachute floats down right past the enterence of my cave, and I can tell it's different from the others. Though I'm not sure why, I go see what it is. I climb down from my cave and pick up the parachute. When I do so, I let out a gasp.
Picking up my shell-shaped necklace, a flood of memories come flooding back to me. My little sister Ava who gave this to me. My father who made it for her. Finnick, who I chased around our apartment in the training center just to get it back from him. I don't want to die anymore. I want to live. These people care a lot about me, and I can't disappoint them. Suddenly, I remember all the reasons I should try to live, and I am now determined to do so.
Author's note: Sorry if the end is kind of rush, but I have to get off the computer soon, but I wanted to post this today.
Hopefully, you can expect another chapter early next week. :)
