Chapter 37

Finnick

I'm running in the arena, sweat pours down my face and my stomach cramps but I still run knowing she's out there, knowing they have her. I get to field that would be pretty had it not been in such a deathly place. Annie's there, making chains of flowers and giggling, she's normal again and I slow wondering why I had been so worried. I sit to watch her and she looks up at me before her face turns to pure horror, I watch as she morphs into Nona and I pull my trident back, hitting her firmly in the chest. Somehow, she turns back into Annie as she falls to the ground and I scream running to her. I hold her while she bleeds out into my hands, staining them crimson. Her sea-green eyes open and with her last breath she says one sentence.

"The pretty ones are the most fun to kill."

I jerk awake, screaming and panting before realizing I'm in the capitol, in my bed and as safe as I could be outside of the arena. Well, sort of, at least there were no immediate threats. I taste salt and realize I'm crying and with shock I remember my dream. The nightmares had come to me ever since I won the games and they still hadn't ceased only changing to Annie. Mostly they are of Annie dying with me in the arena, at my hands. I'm shivering in my cold sweat as the thoughts that had been haunting me come back.

You're the reason she went into those games. You're the reason she's like she is.

I knew it was true, Snow wanted to ruin me, first with taking Telilah and now by slowly deteriorating Annie's brain. I knew of the devices he stuck in her head, the ones they told her would help her get better when all they were doing was making her so much worse. They were designed to keep her away from reality, and ultimately me. I had become more useful with my "job" conning the women close to the government to tell me about Annie. What she was going through, how I could help. A few sweet words and maybe some alcohol and they were all mine to manipulate. The time here had made me not care, I didn't think of them as people any longer. They were my pawns just as I was President Snow's.

Annie

I had more shots today, said to help me get back to the old me. I don't believe them, especially not Dr.C but I pretend I do anyway and let them prick me like I'm the sewing cushion my mom used to make us clothes and on occasion toys when we were younger. I don't see Finnick for a week because they say I'm deteriorating again and swear that his presence will set me off, make me worse. I honestly don't know if they're right or not. The truth and reality have become fuzzy to me, I can't make out which is which and that more than other things scares me the most.

Finnick

President Snow has requested another meeting with me and as I let my prep team dress me I feel the sense of dread. I know that he only calls on me in private to tell me more terrible news, and the only thing I've done wrong lately is wish to see Annie more. Unless, he's found out about the secrets I have been getting from the women. All of them about Annie but they threaten him nonetheless. Snow doesn't like to come in second when it comes to knowing things, and on this I have the upper hand.

I meet him in his rose garden and the smell that was once a wonderful perfume sickens me, threatening to have me retch all over the splendor of his mansion. What also bothers me is that he has such lavish living conditions and yet everyone in his surrounding districts that makes these things are in shacks and starving. He is quiet as we walk for the first few moments and I don't press him for what he wants, better to let him think I am fully at his service than to think I've gotten arrogant with my power in the capitol.

"Your Annie seems to be getting worse." He finally says and I flinch at the malice in his voice.

"That's what they say."

"Perhaps if she had…familiar surrounding she would be more at home?" He questions and at first I feel relief, Annie coming home to Four is all I want but then my stomach drops, there has to be a catch.

"I think it would do her well." I say cautiously, biding my time to see if I am truly in good standings.

"Take her home, Finnick. Having a mad girl here with us floundering over her makes us look bad. The citizens have grown restless of her. Do what you must in your district for her, keep her quiet in every means so as to show that she has simply…disappeared. As long as no word about the two of you get back to the capitol then you will be safe. But as soon as I hear rumor that the famous Finnick is in love with the crazy woman I will kill any and everything you and she love." He says his voice becoming short and almost bored as if the talk of killing loved ones was simply weather.

"And what of the interviews?" I ask referring to the ones Casear has with the tribute that wins every year. This causes a sly smile across his face.

"She will do them, and you will be in the crowd with your date. And then we will see her for the tour. Now leave me, I need some quiet."

And there was my catch; Annie would be safe but she had to get through the interviews first.

And I couldn't be there to help.

An; This seems boring – sorry for that and sorry for the wait! The last weeks of school have been terribly frantic and I'm trying to keep up my grades. Leave me suggestions and reviews. Eight reviews before you see the next chapter! I love you all. –Blurry.