A/N:

Towards the end of the chapter, there is a suggestion of suicide. If you are sensitive to that topic, feel free to skip to the next chapter once Finnick leaves to meet a client.

——————

Lunch was silent. Sylvia attempted to start conversations, but every time she did, Mags just lifted her hand, as if to tell her to stop.

When the meal was finished, everyone split up. Annie and Finnick stayed in the dining cart, while Mags and Gerald moved towards the living space. They had all decided to start working on strategy.

"Annie, we need to decide what you're going to be to the Capitol. Are you going to charm them with your looks? Are you going to impress them with your skill? Or, do you plan on making them feel bad for you?" Finnick asked.

They sat in the dining chairs, facing each other. Both of them trying hard not to fall apart.

"What do you think? I don't know if I can impress them with anything. I don't have that big of a sob-story. I mean, not one that I can tell."

Finnick hesitated before answering, he was unsure of what angle to use. "Well, we cant make them want you too much. That will force you into the live I have, and I will never let that happen. We'll go with an innocent angle. We'll show them beauty, not sex, and hope that it sells the same."

They spent hours talking about how to go about every last minute of the next few weeks, possibly the rest of Annie's life. They tried not to think about it that way.

Before long, it was time for dinner, and then time for bed. Finnick kisses Annie's forehead, before heading to a separate bedroom. He knew they didn't have to hide, Sylvia wasn't going to say anything. If Gerald knew what was good for him, he wouldn't say anything either.

The air in the train was still and silent, until morning came. Sylvia walked past each door, knocking loudly.

"One hour, everyone! One hour and then we are in the Capitol!" She announced, filled with enthusiasm.

Annie got up and dressed quickly, wasting no time. She looked through the closet of clothes, and found olive green pants, and a big, grey tank top. She decided that was good enough, and slipped on a pair of tennis shoes.

It was crazy, looking at the closet. There were so many sizes of everything, shoes, shirts, underwear. The amount of clothes in front of her was the most she had ever seen.

She was used to living in luxury, since she had lived with Finnick for years. This, however, was on another level.

Annie escaped her room, and walked into the dining cart to see a nice breakfast. She took a piece of toast, and spread some butter on it. Just as she took a bite, Mags walked into the room, and smiled at Annie.

"Good?" She asked.

Annie shook her head, "Very."

Mags sat down on the table and began to make herself a plate of food, while Annie moved towards the window, just watching. It wasn't long before Finnick was beside her.

"You know.. We're gonna get through this." He whispered, continuing to watch out the window. "I just wish I could take your place."

Annie set her head on his shoulder, "I know."

They approached the Capitol quickly, and Annie gasped as soon as she saw it.

"This is insane! How can buildings be so tall?" She asked, baffled by the scale of luxury around her. Gerald quickly ran to her side, having a similar reaction.

When the train came to a stop, they saw a large crowd of people standing on either side of a walkway.

As the five of them approached the exit of the train, Finnick warned the tributes. "They're all here to see you. So, smile and wave. Gerald, take a few hands and kiss them. Annie, you have to look confident, blow a few kisses to any one who's staring at you. Don't stop, though. We want to keep walking straight."

The two listened, and tried their best to charm the crowd. Finnick was the real reason everyone was there, though. People were calling his name, and practically fainting when he looked their direction.

Ha, Annie thought, he's mine.

At least, he was until later tonight.

———————

"You're shitting me, right?" Finnick exclaimed, staring Gemma in the face. "This is the tackiest costume I've ever seen. A fish? They're supposed to want to be her, not eat her!"

Gemma was Annie's stylist, and it was her first year on the job. It was typical for District Four to have some sort of tacky costume for the Tribute Parade, so Annie wasn't surprised.

Gemma scrambled around to find a pen, "I'm not sure what I can do to, uh, fix it, Mr. Odair. We only have a

f-few hours until showtime."

"Just put together a float skirt. Some sort of revealing top. Make her look like a goddess, not a salty piece of meat." He spoke with fury. This was the time for Annie to shine, and he wasn't going to stand for anything else. "I'm sorry, Gemma. I really am, but you know how important the Tribute Parade is. You can't send her out there looking like that. You'd be fired before the parade even started."

The hours between Finnick's tantrum and the parade went by quickly.

Annie was taken away to be "prepped". Her long hair was washed, and styled. They cleaned each bit of her body, and waxed each inch. She screamed in pain when they ripped of the paper, but the pain went away quickly.

You'll have to be tougher than that, Annie.

When they were done with her, she felt like an entirely different person. She was clean. No more salt in her hair, no more sand under her nails. She didn't like it. It didn't feel like her.

When it came time to get dressed, Annie was shocked at what Gemma had put together so fast.

It was a two piece outfit, and it was stunning. The top was two blue seashells, covering her bust, with a mesh covering that went from one bicep to the other, leaving her shoulders bare. The skirt was high wasted, and flowed down in an "A" shape. There were two slits in the skirt, so everyone could see her legs. The middle of it came down in a rectangle, and there was some rope netting sitting lopsided around her waist.

The skirt was a beautiful sea-green, and complimented the pure blue on her top. When Annie looked in the mirror, she hardly recognized herself.

There were faint traces of glitter all over her body, and her hair fell in loose waves all around her. She looked beautiful. Maybe she understood Sylvia a little bit more.. Some alterations are nice.

Eventually, it became time to load up on the chariots. Gerald was already on theirs, and he was shirtless, wearing shorts that matched the color of Annie's dress. "You ready for this?" He asked, offering a hand to help her up.

"I guess. Just don't let me fall off, okay?" She said, smiling towards him.

Both of them looked at all the tributes around them, and it was clear who had the best outfits. Everyone else looked tacky, while the two of them looked majestic.

Finnick came up to their chariot, and handed them a foam trident. "Put this in between you guys, and each of you have a hand on it." He said, smiling. "You both look great."

Soon enough, the chariots were off and running.

The whole experience was a blur for both of them, but Annie remembered looking towards one of the screens and seeing herself on it. It was a surreal experience, and it threw her off.

———————

When the parade was over, Annie and Gerald took long showers, enjoying the warm water and good-smelling soaps. Then they all joined eachother for dinner, and watched the re-runs of the parade, sharing comments on the other tributes.

Around Eleven O'Clock, an Avox came to deliver Finnick a letter. He picked it up, fully knowing what it was about. It was a list of clients, and a letter from Snow.

Finnick—

I'd like to apologize, now, for

Annie getting Reaped. It is very unfortunate

that she must face this fate.

Although, I am very glad you are joining us

here in the Capitol. There are many

people who have been waiting for you to join them.

I have attached a list of your clients,

please note that your first one is tonight.

And, might I add, your Ms. Cresta looked very beautiful tonight. Maybe she might have a following

as strong, and devoted, as yours.

—President Snow

"I.. Have to run out for something." Finnick said, after reading the letter. What did that mean? Snow was apologizing, because he did it. He must have known that I wasn't going to come to the Capitol, Finnick thought, so he rigged the Reaping.

And now, Snow was still threatening Finnick with Annie.

Mags looks towards him, fully knowing what he was off to do. Annie knew, too, but she didn't want to admit it. "Will you be back tonight?" She asked.

"I'm not sure, but I'll be back by the morning, for sure." Finnick grumbled, saying his goodbyes before rushing out. He looked at the address and decided it would be faster to walk.

He felt so helpless. It was all his fault. He thought that he could get away with staying home, with marrying the love of his life. Why was it so hard for him? Why couldn't he just get the chance to be happy?

Now he pictured it. Annie lying on the floor of the Arena, her throat slit, her eyes empty. He swore to himself, that if Annie died, he would too.

It was a selfish thought, but he knew he couldn't go on living with her death on his hands. Finnick was at peace with the idea of death, and had thought of it many times before. After waking from a nightmare, he often thought about how much easier it would be to not wake up.

He thought about how the Capitol would talk about his death. Would they hold a funeral? Then, on the other side, was how Annie would react. How would she keep on living? What about Mags? Who would bring her breakfast, and give her Christmas presents?

That was what had always saved his life, was the people who loved him, despite his flaws.

And if Annie dies... He couldn't. Mags would still need him. Yet, an existence without Annie didn't seem possible.

As Finnick walked to the apartment of his client, his head ran through every selfish possibility. He felt sick to his stomach, and he just wished for an easy way out.

There never is one, though.