A/N: I'm so sorry I didn't get this chapter in earlier. I had a friend sleep over last night and tonight is my high school homecoming dance, but here's the next chapter. By the ways, thank you to all of you guys who follow, favorite and review- it really makes my day. Also, don't hesitate to leave ideas for this story in the reviews. If I like it, I'll use it and give you credit. Enjoy!

Annie

I have a dream. In it, I'm comforted in Finnick's arms at the beach. The calm wave makes an aggressive transition to large and brutal. They knocks onto us, and as soon as it returns back to calm, I find that Finnick was swallowed up from the seawater.

I wake up screaming.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry," I immediately mumble. "I didn't want to wake-"

Who was I apologizing to? I look around. No one. I was alone in my ice cold cell, I realized.

I think it's been somewhere around two weeks now in the Capitol. No one's bothered me since I was requested to Snow's office, the same day I discovered why I was even here. Despite the headaches, hunger, mild thirst, and boredom, I'm okay. I haven't been physically harmed. Or at least, not yet.

If I could talk to Finnick for just one minute, I need him to know that he has to keep going. That I'm alright here, though I'd easily pick sleeping with him over the thin filthy mattress that they call a bed here. That I love him and I'll be with him as soon as I could.

I wish I could believe I could have a chance to. But I can't.

A little ding sounds from my cabinet. I crawl over, pull it open, and find a bruise apple and small glass of water that isn't the cleanest. I take a few bites of the apple and manage down some of the water. It has a horrible aftertaste, but then again, doesn't everything in the Capitol?

I have daydreams about being safe with Finnick for a few hours before the most unexpected turn occurs.

My curiosity bursts when I first hear the angry talking coming from a voice that is obviously owned by a woman. I head over to the gate of my cell and try and view the conflict going on.

Two Peacekeepers have a plump woman with light brown skin locked in their grip and are carrying her over in my direction. She struggles to get out, but Peacekeepers are so strong it's impossible to.

She is thrown into the cell across mine and one of the Peacekeepers lock her up. After that, they dismiss from the area.

The woman huddles herself against the wall and rubs her temples with her fingers. She had the same outfit as mine covering her skin, except hers is a dark red color. I wonder why.

I study her for a moment. Something in me screams familiarity to me, though I can't put my finger on it exactly.

"Excuse me?" I say softly.

She looks up at me. Her large eyes are glossy with tears. "Annie? Annie Cresta?"

If she knows me, I must've seen her before. "Yes, that's me. You seem familiar."

"I'm Portia, stylist for District 12. I believe we met at the ceremonies for the Games last year?

The name continuously reruns in my head. Portia...Portia... "Oh! I remember you now," I say. "Yes, we met."

Portia smiles. "Such a shame they locked you up in here."

"Yeah. I guess." A bit of silence passes between us before I ask, "Why are you here?"

She sighs before whispering, "Red clothes. I'm going to be executed."

My heart sinks fast. "Portia...I'm...I'm so sorry. That's completely unjust-"

"It's okay, Annie. It's okay. I lived a fine life. It has to...come to an end somewhere."

Portia. Having to have a place in this world. A cruel, despicable world. I meet on the verge of crying.

"It's not okay, though. You didn't do...do...anything. How could he...they?"

"Annie, honey, there's nothing you, I, anyone can do now," she whispers. "I have to accept my fate."

No. She can't. I wouldn't accept my fate just like that. Portia looks the sort of woman who wouldn't harm a fly, so why would they execute her?

"Annie," Portia says. I look up at her. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"I've seen you with Finnick and well...I was wondering if you two were, you um, know. Together?"

The thought of Finnick makes my heart ache again. To not have him here with me. Or me with him. Explaining the story could take ages. I just give a brief nod of my head in summary.

A very childlike smile plasters on her face. "I knew it! I'm sorry...I just was curious...oh, you two are such cuties!"

For a while she recalls a tale and I feel bad for pretending to listen. My mind feels fuzzy, drifting off to someplace...

I hear cries of terrors echoing inside. Mikee, various tributes, Finnick returns too.

Shake it off, I tell myself, don't let it reach you, Annie. Don't. Have. A. Breakdown.

I try picturing Finnick keeping his arms locked around me trying to comforting me in these types of moments. It starts to work, I can feel the horror of memories slowly vanish. The world seems sharper now.

Portia is wrapping up her story, and only a few words I can catch are "sweetheart", "unfortunately", and "Dani".

"So yes...I am terribly sorry Annie, for you being placed in here. You don't deserve it. Not...at all."

I shake my head. "I'm okay. It's...you who shouldn't-"

I'm sliced off by the handful of sounding footsteps hurdling our way. I don't need to be asked to predict who it could be. Of course, returning our way is a clan of Peacekeepers. This time though, Ed returned with them.

No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.

"Miss Portia," Ed says with...sympathy? "Please...come this way."

They help Portia up and they take her along. The last thing I see cross her face is a slight grin.

I can't shake off the tears that arrive. Innocent. Pure. Gone. Portia. No. Bring her back. Please.

She will never be back.

Minutes later, Ed arrives solitary to my cell.

"President Snow insists that the fellow prisoners are to view the execution. I'm here to collect you for it."

I shake my head.

"Miss Cresta..."

"He's executing an innocent woman! Why would I agree to view such a thing?" I cry out.

"I have no say in this. The President gives me a chore, and I do it. He is very skilled at consequences for those who don't obey."

I replay the words in my head. All I can receive from it is that Ed isn't working here voluntarily. He must have a loved one at home that he wants to protect. Like Finnick being a, um, Golden boy. Wanting to protect them.

Of course I find myself standing up to go. For Ed's sake.

He unlocks my gate and I follow him out.

I know I will not be okay by the end of this.

Story Question: Thoughts on Ed?