I could see the look of pain on Finnick's face along with two deep gashes across his shoulders and right leg. I mentally whacked myself for being foolish enough to leave a rope lying on a beach forbidden for anyone to come across, other than Peacekeepers or the Mayor.

"Is this your cable?" The taller of the two Peacekeepers asked me, his voice deep and strong, his face a mix of rage, furry, and I could almost spot a hint of sympathy in his eyes, but ignored it, figuring it must have just been in my head. He dropped Finnick down and lifted the net with both hands, as if to say, 'This isn't the same type of rope that is sold in the stores.'

Out of the corner of my eye Finnick placed his bruised and bloody hand down on the ground, lifted it and tapped it again, telling me to save myself, to lie, and to let him take the blame, but I am not losing my hunting partner anytime soon.

I stood up shakily, looked him dead in the eyes and nodded my head, preparing for the worst. He could beat me, whip me, send me to the capitol, or kill me right here.

Walking over to where I was standing, I leaned back, almost cowering in fear as he slapped me once across the face with his rough glove. I could feel my eyes tear up and taste the blood in my mouth as he pushed me to the ground, and kicked me multiple times. In the stomach, in the knee, and once in the neck, causing me to thrash out and whimper in pain. Seeing my misery was his cue that he had done his job well done proceeded to leave forest, his sidekick trailing along beside him, kicking Finnick before leaving.

Once they were out of earshot, I screamed.

I screamed and screamed until I was breathless. Until I got all the days anger and sorrow out me. Then all was silent. All that was heard was the rustling of the wind through the trees.

Until Fin looked me right in the eyes and mumbled so softly so that I had to almost lean in to fully catch what he was muttering.

"You shouldn't have taken the blame Annie, you need to stop being so heroic sometimes." He got up trembling, worn out from the previous events and crawled over to lie down beside me, leaving a trail of blood behind him, proof of the previous events.

"It's my fault they even got us." He whispered again.

"It's my fault I left the rope."

"It's my fault I didn't take it with me."

"It's their fault for caring." I ended wiping the dried blood and dirt from my face, along with the wet tears, for I hadn't realized that I was still crying. I was numb with pain and sick with fear, and looked over at my friend to see him tearing up too, and I looked down as I saw blood leaking from his body, he looked pale and weak.

I stood up, dusting myself off. Looking up at the slowly dimming sky, I thought about how fretful our mothers must be, we had been gone for almost five hours.

"Annie," He croaked out, and I only sat there and watched him get up, reaching his hand out to me, and I could only feel myself reach back and be pulled up off the ground and into a stiff hug.

"We should probably head back." I nodded back to him, releasing myself from his firm grip. I threw his arm over my shoulder as I helped him through the woods. It would be a long way to his or my own family's house, and partially carrying him would take some more time as well. I figured we wouldn't be back home until an hour's time.

Treading through the trees on a dull light from the forest canopy was hard enough, but carrying someone also was even harder.

I occasionally stopped to regain my strength and allow Finnick to rest in the leaves, than picking myself back up and restarting my journey. As I kept walking I could see a faint light in the distance and knew that we were slowly approaching our destination.

Mother was going to be disappointed that we didn't get her or Mrs. Odair any food, but it was that or our lives, although I'm still not sure what the better option was. More or less crawling up the steps, I pounded my fist onto the door, demanding that someone opened it. I could hear people talking from the inside and threw my fist onto the door harder, shouting for my mother.

Slowly, the door opened and my mother looked down at Finnick, mouth agape, and me almost to shocked to speak. Then from around the corner came Mrs. Odair, who looked worried, but not surprised and rushed us inside.

"Explain." Finnick's Mother looked down at me as my own mother placed Finnick on the couch and started feeding him concoctions and wrapping him in bandages.

"We went fishing, and we heard voices, so we ran. Everything would have been fine, if I hadn't left my netting, but of course, I did." I short handedly told her.

I got up and walked over to where Finn was lying on the couch and crouched down in front of him, laying a hand to his forehead, and accepting no fever, tugged on the ends of his sleeves, waking him from almost falling asleep.

"Promise me you'll catch me a fish soon?" I asked him, hoping he'd be back on his feet soon, because as good as berries were, we wouldn't last three days on a diet of only them.

"Sure, I'm healing quickly. I'll be fine by tomorrow.

"You should heal up though. Rest. You got to be able to stand at the Reaping tomorrow, they're not going to let you sit."