Chapter Two
Finnick tried to continue with meager conversation while we road to the train station; James and I barely spoke though. His eyes flickered to mine across the seat every few minutes, why I did not know. Maybe he wanted to be allies; have me join his little Career pack, if he made one. James didn't quite give off that air of a Career tribute, though there was a certain power, a determination. It intrigued me and I could tell he would be of interest to the Capitol as well.
"We're here," Finnick chimed in a perky voice, one that I knew was fake. The way Finnick sat quietly, watching us; he knew what we were feeling. Maybe he had felt the same way during his games. Exiting the automobile, I could see a crowd forming on the outskirts of the train station, waiting to tell us goodbye as we left our home, possibly for the last time. Finnick kept a strong hold on both of our arms as we walked toward the Capitol train, the Peacekeepers forming a pathway, free of the bustling crowd.
"James!" A feminine voice screamed over the chatter. James's head whipped from side to side, scanning the groups of people; searching for someone. Finnick's grip tightened on his shoulder and the Peacekeepers moved closer in on us. James had a desperate look in his eyes, pained and enraged. The voice continued to call out for him as we climbed up the metal steps and into a beautifully decorated compartment. The Peacekeepers had begun to close the door, but not before James broke from Finnick's grip and screamed.
"Ana I love you!" His bellow rang out into the misty air before the Peacekeepers could stop it. One of the two pushed James back into the compartment before slamming the door, and he sank to his knees beside us. As I stood there, watching him, Finnick took his hand off my shoulder and kneeled beside James.
At that moment I felt a huge stab of anger invoke me that I stepped backward, stumbling. My fists balled at my sides as I steadied myself. The anger was coursing through me like fire, burning my veins; all I wanted to do was hit someone. Punch a wall, draw blood; laugh as they died before my eyes. It frightened me, but as I watched Finnick lead James to his quarters, I couldn't contain my fury. He had someone to love him, now did he? It must have been so much agony, his lost love, his little high school sweetheart. Watching him die, possibly kill me, on television in just a few weeks. At least his family cared.
"Annie?" Finnick's voice thrust me out of my furious stupor, and the anger was gone in an instance. He was staring at me with those perfect green eyes, and I realized I was shaking. "Annie, are you okay?" His face looked concerned, worried; I had never seen that expression on his face over the years of watching him in the Games. Even when his tributes were slaughtered in cold blood every year, he hadn't shown any emotions that differed from the usual provocative Finnick Odair.
"Annie Cresta, look at me." Finnick's voice was tainted with a bit of panic; I could see now how I must have looked to him; frightened out of my mind, sitting on the floor, shaking. A few moments passed where all I could do was look at him, try to convey the message I was trying to get out of my throat to him through my gaze. He seemed to understand, staring at me intently, his hands hovering over my shaking form.
"Just take a deep breath Annie, breathe." He whispered, placing his long fingers on my shoulders. I tried to do what he asked but continued to take shaking breaths, near to hyperventilating. It was ridiculous, but somehow I had lost control over myself. The day was coming to a close and it was all catching up with me; the fear, the anger. That was the moment I realized what the games could really do to me, what it had already done.
The beast that I'd chained up from my past was emerging, and soon she would escape.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey Guys, I thought I'd do one of these because it has been SO LONG since I've updated. I really have to say I'm sorry. Summer has been, well, boring, and inspiration has been a struggle. My collaboration writer Maddi has been having the same issues, so we are both just really sorry about the slow updates. Surely my stories will go back into updating season soon, especially this story and of course Camp Half Blood: Rebellion. Thank you all though!
~Lexi