A/N: I'm sorry this took so long! I had my exams and then got sick just after so it's taken me a while to get back up to speed, sorry! Thanks for your support!xoxo

The Capitol. The last stop. And thank God for that. I've had enough of the tour. I've had enough of those pills they've put Annie on, enough of Nikita constantly attacking me about something, enough of Tia scribbling in that bloody notebook! I need to get back to normality, or what I'm used to, anyway. But the Capitol will be worse than all the other Districts. She won't have to speak here, which is a blessing, but she'll have to listen to Snow speak, which may, in essence, be worse. We'll have to attend his party and talk to all the Capitol people like we actually appreciate them. It's an evening of lies.

Annie looks beautiful, as ever. She's back in blue, since that's what the Capitol loves to see her in. She can't start any kind of abnormal behaviour in the Capitol, rebellions don't start here. They have nothing to rebel against. The dress is reminiscent of her dress from the interviews, the netted skirt and icy blue colour. They're straightened her hair again, though, which I can tell she hates. Personally, I still like it, but my Annie will always have those wavy curls.

'Just remember,' Nikita says as we approach Snow's mansion. 'smile at everyone you see, even if you don't know who they are.' She turns to me. 'Especially if you do know who they are.' I swallow and just nod. I know what she means and from the way Annie's staring at the floor, so does she. There's a high chance there'll be some of the women Snow's sent me to here. That should be nice and awkward. They'll be other victors here, too, ones who fell in favour with Snow this year and merited a special invite. I was invited the year after I won. I think I enjoyed it at the time, all the lights and the food and the dancing. But then I realised it was Snow showing me off to everyone, letting them know that they could have this in a year's time. I'm surprised he even waited until it was legal. Snow makes the laws, he could have made a clause that eliminated me from the legality of the situation. I'm glad he didn't, but still surprised.

I take Annie's hand as we enter the party, I can feel her tighten her grip when we step into the mansion. There's music and bright lights and so many people. All those people. Tia's already here somewhere, along with a dozen other press members, they're invited to this every year.

'It'll be alright, won't it?' Annie asks me quietly.

'Yeah.' I tell her, but I feel like I'm telling myself as well. 'It'll be fine.'

And then I see Johanna. Why is she here? Even if Snow had invited her – highly unlikely in it's own right – why would she accept? Oh. Because if she steps out of line Snow's threatening Annie. I try and avoid her gaze. Nikita takes Annie away from me and starts parading her around, introducing her to various people across the room. I didn't really want to let go, but Nikita swatted me in the arm. I sigh and survey the room for myself. There's a buffet, but I've somehow lost my appetite, there's a dance floor, but Nikita's taken Annie away. There's nothing for me here.

'Finnick Odair.' I hear my name and turn around to meet the speaker. I don't know him. He's pale with jet black hair and intricately designed facial hair.

'Yes… and you are?'

'Seneca Crane.' He extends his hand and I shake it slightly unwillingly. 'The new Head Gamemaker.' Oh. That's how it is. Alec Hardwick's gone then. I knew he would be, and so did he after that incident before the whirlpool. He let Annie win when she shouldn't have.

'Congratulations.' I say flatly. He doesn't seem to detect the sarcasm and just flashes me a pristine smile. I try not to act as repulsed as I feel.

'I know.' He says. Conceited bastard. He brushes the lapels on his black jacket. 'Exciting stuff, I know. Next year's going to be a great year, I've already started planning it.'

'I should hope so, you've only got a few months left.' I tell him. He laughs like I was joking. I wasn't.

'Marvellous.' He beams at me, but his eyes are sinister. 'It's a fantastic arena design. It's so… innovative. It's so different.' And Seneca Crane is so modest about it. I want to hit this guy, knowing there's a high chance my little sister's life will be in his hands in a few months time. But he'd never understand. He'd never care.

'Excellent.' I say through gritted teeth. If he knows I don't mean it he doesn't show it. I want him to notice, I want him to argue with me, even though I know that's the worst idea considering who he is.

'I mean, it's no wonder Hardwick was fired, is it?' He continues. I suspect he doesn't know the accuracy of the word fired. 'The last arena was hardly a roaring success. What even was it? Was it a forest, a lake? And that whole business with freezing it for a night – why? It just wasn't consistent.' He decides. I nod along even though my head's stopped listening. I can't bring myself to care. I'm not trying to, though.

'My arena will be better.' He tells me confidently. 'This will get people back on board with the Games, I'm sure. Really inspire some more fans.'

'Great.' I mutter, staring around the room in the hope that maybe someone will come and free me from the riveting conversation with Seneca Crane and his beard of wonder. Maybe the arena will be designed on that. He's so self-important I wouldn't put it past him. I spy Tia approaching us and sigh with relief. Thankfully, she's not Johanna.

'Mr Crane!' She greets him politely, shaking his hand. 'If you'd be so kind, I think one of my colleagues is desperate for an interview with you.'

'Of course, of course!' He seems elated at the idea and dashes off across the room.

'Thanks.' I sigh as Tia takes his place in front of me, leaning against the wall. I've never seen her in a dress before. It's blue to match the streak in her hair.

'No trouble.' She answers with a shrug, watching as another reporter is talking excitedly at Seneca Crane. She looks back at me with something I can't read behind her eyes. She takes my hands a presses something into my palm. I go to look but she shakes her head ever so slightly. I put whatever it is into my jacket pocket, trying to be as discreet as I can. Whatever it is, it's small and slightly sharp. Without another word she smiles, turns around and wanders off into the party again, blending back into the sea of people. Curious girl.

I lean back against the wall and watch the action unfold around me. I take a glass of something off a passing tray and just sip at it for a while. Annie's been pushed onto the dance floor with someone I can only assume is important, while Nikita watches them and converses with other supposedly important people. Annie's got a false smile plastered across her face but I somehow don't think anyone cares if it's real or not. I see Johanna sitting on her own at the other side of the room, downing a drink in one and scowling at anyone who so much as looks like they're about to speak to her. She's wearing a green floor-length dress and I've never seen her look more uncomfortable. She catches me staring but she doesn't give me a unique expression, she just looks like she doesn't care anymore. I inwardly fight with myself for a moment but I know I need to speak to her so I force myself across the room and sit down beside her, ignoring the glares I'm getting in return.

'Enjoying yourself?' I ask her quietly.

'No.' She says flatly.

'Why are you here, then?' I cut straight to the point, which almost inspires a smirk from Johanna. Almost.

'Because I was invited.'

'You didn't have to accept.' I say stupidly. She just looks back at me and raises one eyebrow. Of course she had to accept. 'Right.' I sigh and lean back in my chair.

'You can go back to ignoring me, Finnick.' She tells me quietly. 'Actually, I'd be thankful if you did.'

'You know I can't do that.' I say honestly. 'You're doing all this for Annie, I couldn't be more grateful.'

'Then will you do something for me?'

'Anything.'

'Can you leave me alone? Please?' She asks me, her voice still quiet and sincere. I watch her eyes and realise she's serious. This isn't Johanna being her usual sarcastic self, she means it. She wants me to stay away, after she's done all this to save Annie. As much as I complain about Johanna, after all the trouble we've caused, I still don't want to cut her out of my life. I… can't. She means too much. We've been through too much.

'Is that really what you want?'

She nods and remains silent for a while, just staring at the party that seems to be happening all around us but not including us. 'For now, at least. I can't deal with Snow and you at the same time.'

'Like we're the same.' I mutter. She flashes me a glare and I immediately regret trying to diffuse the situation.

'No, you're not.' She hisses. 'But I need to focus on doing what Snow wants, at least until he's lost interest in Annie. After that I can deal with you.'

'Deal with me?'

She shakes her head and says nothing. I suppose that's something I'm not supposed to know. But she's putting Annie first so I can't complain. She's doing everything she can to make sure Annie's alright. I owe her enough to do what she asks.

'Alright.' I say slowly. 'I'll leave you to it.' I get up from the chair and straighten out my suit. 'But thank you, Johanna.' I tell her. And with that, I walk out of Johanna's life. It's surprisingly easy, considering I count her as such as close friend. But I know she's doing it for the right reasons and I know I'll never be able to thank her enough for what she's doing for Annie. I take a deep breath and push Johanna to the back of my mind and don't turn back as I walk away. I cross over the room to catch Annie at the side of the dance floor. She looks slightly flushed but I have a feeling Nikita's been pushing her to dance with anyone and everyone. She manages a smile as she sits down. I copy her and watch Nikita chatting animatedly with someone I don't know.

'Alright?' I ask her quietly.

'Sure.' She nods but I somehow don't believe her. 'I met the new Head Gamemaker.'

'So did I.' I reply darkly. 'Quite something, isn't he?'

'Yeah.' She answers flatly. By this point I think we're both quite aware that Seneca Crane will be controlling my sister's fate in the next Games. I know her too well to think she'll let someone else go into an arena that's been specifically engineered to make sure District 4 does not win. She knows the only honourable thing to do is for her to volunteer. In a way I'll be proud of her, but at the same time I wish she wouldn't. No one wishes their loved ones into the Games.

As if on cue, to appear at the worst moment, the room is silenced for President Snow's address. I stare at the floor to stop myself glaring at him, it won't do anyone any good if I do.

'Thank you, everyone, for coming.' He starts with a lie. He doesn't thank us at all. He doesn't care. 'And once again, congratulations to Annie Cresta, our District Four winner, who celebrates the end of her Victory Tour tonight.' Annie takes her cue like she's supposed to and stands up to take the applause. She nods in polite thanks to the President before she sits down again. I can see her arms shaking as she tries to stop herself. I reach over and take her hand in mine.

'And congratulations are also in order for our new Head Gamemaker, Seneca Crane.' Another round of applause is made for Crane. I don't join in. 'He has a tremendous task ahead of him but I have no doubt he will rise to the challenge.' Snow takes the white rose from his lapel and places it on the balcony railings before continuing. He looks me directly in the eyes, locked in a glare for a few seconds, before we both look away. 'The next Games will be a new era for the Hunger Games and for Panem.' Translated, that means there'll be a whole new wave of pain for the Districts. 'And I hope you all continue your enthusiastic support.

'As for the press and media correspondents here tonight, I hope you have everything you need and thank you for accepting these invitations. My thanks equally goes out to the previous Victors among our guests, you will always have the continued support of the Capitol.' He makes a half-hearted wave of his hand to the crowd. 'Thank you. Goodnight.' And with that he takes his leave.

Back on the train everything seems much more calm. Annie's been asleep for hours, so I gently lift her off me and go back in search of my jacket to find whatever it was that Tia gave me earlier. We're still in the station and won't be leaving until morning to give Nikita and Tia enough time to unload their things off the train and go home. I find my jacket hung up on its hanger and push my hand into the pocket and find the sharp object. I take it out and hold it up to the light to see what it is. It's a snowflake decoration. I don't know where it came from, or what it's supposed to mean, but Tia always seems to be one step ahead. This is meant to tell me something, I just need to work out what.

A noise outside the door breaks my thoughts. It's only a slight noise but considering what time it is, I can't see why anyone should be about. I put the snowflake back into my pocket and quietly open the door and glance both ways down the corridor. There's no one there. I shut the door and creep into the living area – still no one. But there's a folder on the table that wasn't there when I left earlier. It's not labelled but I open it anyway, my curiosity too strong to stop. It's Tia's finished article. My heart skips a beat when I see it's title.

Broken, But Not Beyond Repair – No Thanks to Us. What's she playing at? This isn't the article she was sent here to write, I'm certain of that. The light isn't good enough for me to read the whole article but I catch certain extracts and photographs.

Annie Cresta is, by all accounts, a lovely girl. She has her share of problems, like we all do, yet hers are so much more than that. As a Victor she will want for nothing, according to the rules of the Hunger Games, set out by our President. However, when I met her for myself it is clear that there are many exemptions from the list of things she can have. It would appear psychiatric care doesn't come under that list. The closest thing I saw to any kind of help was a bottle of sleeping pills. Off the counter sleeping pills. The kind the likes of me and you could pick up from a convenience store. And that's the best we can do for our Victors?

I want to stop reading because I know Tia should never have written this. It's only going to lead to trouble. But there's something in my head that tells me I need to read it, if not for Tia's sake. She's gone to great effort to write it and put herself in so many crosshairs to do so.

It's not all bad for Annie, though. Her saving grace comes in the form of fellow Victor, Finnick Odair, though his story has not been without heartache. From the small snippet of their lives that I've had the privilege to witness, he'll go to any lengths to protect her. Finnick's own reputation seems to precede him wherever he goes, yet we shouldn't judge him for it, there's a longer story behind him than I have the paper to write it. But know this – he's not what you think he is. He treats Annie the way she ought to be treated and from the moments I've observed, I've never met more of a gentleman than Finnick Odair. And I'm sure I never will.

I can actually feel tears behind my eyes. Tia's been so hard to emotion along this whole journey and she writes this? Although even mentioning the idea of my reputation being false will get us all into trouble. I can't even began to fathom how she knows about it. She seems to know everything she shouldn't.

Amongst the other Victors I've had the good fortune to meet, I have to single out Haymitch Abernathy of District 12, ever dismissed by the Capitol as just a drunken oaf. I can assure you that he is anything but. He is another example of a Victor who has been let down by the Capitol. He's been allowed to grow drunk and bitter in 12, rotting away in a lonely house in a lonely village that he shares with no one. And yet he sees no help from the Capitol. If anything, he should be admired more than most, as he is the only District 12 Victor – why isn't he the most admired? He comes from a District where poverty is the norm and it's a struggle to survive within your own District, let alone in an arena. But the one thing he wouldn't want from the Capitol is our sympathy. He should not be pitied. He should be admired.

I can't read any more. I can't do this. Tia's going to get herself killed if she publishes this. Not to mention anyone involved. Nikita, for a start, I presume Snow will see this as partly her fault for not keeping an eye on her. How she could have done, I don't know, since Tia never let her notebook out of her sight.

We owe something more to our Victors. Making them fight for their lives is a horrific experience that leaves lasting scars, mentally and physically. No Victor can win without paying a price, look a little more closely and you'll see it. The cracks in the façade. And that age old statement may the odds be ever in your favour? It's clear from looking at some of these Victors that the odds are never in their favour. The odds are, if anything, constantly stacked against them.

And that's where the article ends. I swallow back the hollow feeling inside me. A part of me is desperately thankful to Tia for seeing all this, for proving that some people in the Capitol are different. But she should never have written it. I just hope this hasn't gone out to many places. I happen to glance out of the window above the table when a light flickers to life on the station platform. I move a little closer as I see a solitary figure step into the light. I nearly shout out when I see who it is. Her eyes meet mine and I can tell it's an apology. She doesn't need to apologise. I gently push the folder off the table in the hope whoever else is there doesn't find out we've got a copy of that article.

She raises one eyebrow and her voice rings out in the crisp silence of the night.

'The odds are never in their favour.'

And a shot rings out as Tia drops to the ground. Dead.