so, I'm in Montreal for the next week so the next update won't be until next Monday. and wow, I just used the word next a lot.

I laid hands on her, I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength

- Eminem, Love the Way You Lie

Vic Jales knocks frantically on his door. Vic's father owns the bakery in town.

When Finnick opens the door Vic shoots out, "You need to come to the bakery... Annie, she's-"

He's out the door.

When he arrives at the bakery, he sees the problem immediately. Annie's standing in the middle of the store, a wild, crazed look on her face. There's a knife in her hand. Mr. Jales is standing behind the counter, his hands up, looking scared.

The only other customer in there is pressed against the wall.

When Finnick enters the bell jingles and she spins around. The look in her eyes is scary.

"Annie... what are you doing?"

She doesn't answer and Finnick advances slowly. "Annie. Put the knife down."

She glares daggers at him. He puts his hand out and inches forward. "Please, Annie. The knife. No one here... they won't hurt you. Put the knife down."

Her eyes blaze and he takes one step too far, because suddenly she's flying at him with the knife out. Vic gasps but Finnick has been up against this before, and Annie is much smaller than he is. He sidesteps and grabs a hold of her wrist, squeezing hard, pressuring, his fingers biting into her skin until she drops it.

She's crying now, and, knifeless, she drives her fist into his gut. He grunts and manages to grab her other wrist before she can punch him again.

"Stoppit, stoppit, stoppit Annie!" He cries, but she keeps going at him. He gets behind her and throws his arms around, trapping hers to her chest, and eventually she stops struggling.

"He's trying to kill me," she shouts, and Mr. Jales takes a step back. Finnick shakes his head.

"No, he's not. He's a nice man."

Annie gives another half-hearted jerk and then goes limp in his arms. Mr. Jales gives her a weary look.

"Finnick... look, you know I'll serve you any day, but I gotta ask you not to bring her anymore. I know it's hard, Finn. I'm so sorry about what happened. But... she's going to scare away my customers. And... and how do I know she won't attack one of us like she attacked you?"

Finnick nods. "I understand, Mr. Jales. I'm really sorry about this."

The next day when he sees her, she has bruises around her wrists and he has to go into the bathroom to sob quietly.