The hunger games weren't easy.

But when I became a victor, all I knew was that I'm going home.

When they pulled me out of the arena, they bared my skin. My head was fuzzy, I felt as if I couldn't breath. I couldn't move. I was teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, trying not to fall into the deep abyss.

-I was running. My heart was pounding- this was almost the end. Maybe life would be like normal- all I had to do was win. Could I win? The only peson left was the one girl that was chasing me. Diamond, from district 1. She had a knife, a shield. All I had was a bow, with two arrows. Maybe this was my end.

Soon we were on the edge of a lake. I sent out a final burst of speed, urging my body forward. If I were to get in the water, I would win. I could feel it. I was close, only a few feet between me and the edge of the water.

Pain sliced through my ankle, I fell. I landed in mud and rolled over. Diamond pinned me down, laughing. "This is your end!" She laughed gleefully. Her eyes were full of insanity as she raised her knife. "I'm going to win. This'll be fun!" She giggled.

I couldn't let her win. I couldn't die because of the bloodlust of this one sixteen year old girl. I would be the winner. This would be her end, not mine.

I grabbed a rock that was close, bringing it towards her head. "I will win!" I growled out as she lost her grip. She screeched in anger and twirled her knife on me again. "NO!" She lunged, banging the butt of the knife against my head. I fell to the ground and grabbed another rock, lunging at her.-

"She's not unconscious yet, she's close." The voice seemed close- it was a man's.

A woman responded. "One second..."

-I rammed the rock against her skull and she screamed. Blood seeped from the wound as she fell. She wasn't dead yet though. After a few seconds, she jumped again at me and grabbed my hair, smashing my head against a boulder. My vision disappeared for a second. Then I saw everything again and remembered my counterpart- the male district 4 tribute- Vetro Wilks- an twelve year old boy. I heard again the last conversation we had before his death:

"Annie, will you promise something for me?" He had whispered, his ocean blue eyes on mine in fear.

"Yes, of course." I had replied, holding him- I was sixteen. I was like his older sister.-

Pain shot through my leg as a needle shot into my leg.

"No..." I moaned softly, groaning.

"It'll be okay." The woman reassured me as soft hands held me down.

-He took a deep breath. "I won't win. I know it. Annie- don't talk." He instantly quieted me. "Win. Promise me you will win- for me."

"I promise."

Seconds later, Vetro was dead. A career had smashed an axe through his head. I had to win- for Vetro.

I pushed her away and grabbed her knife that lay in the water, the waves lapping over the blade, cleansing it of death. It wouldn't be clean long. I turned to Diamond and attacked her, pushing her to the ground and holding her throat with one hand while repeatedly stabbing her with the knife-holding hand.

"You won't win! I promised, I will win! Victory is mine- for Vetro! For my family! For my district!" I screamed, ignoring the cannon that signaled Diamond's death, eventually running out of energy and falling on my side, sobbing. "Vetro, Vetro, Vetro... I won..."-

I had started crying again, "Vetro..."

"Now." A needle punctured my skin and I fell into the deep painless abyss of unconsciousness.

The next time I awoke, I was alone. I was in the apartment- the one that we had stayed in before the games; Vetro, Finnick, Mags, and me. The whole room was decorated in blues and greens, an attempt to remind me of my district.

-I ran through the cobbled streets of district 4, racing my little brother to the reaping. He's four, doesn't realize the importance and darkness the reapings hold. He's happy, who cares if I'm seventeen and I'm chosen in the reapings? At least he'll have some good memories of his older sister.

I hold him and wait out of the lines for my mother. She comes and takes him before smoothng my dress, a beautiful green that's said to bring out my eyes. I then go to the Peacekeepers, who take my blood before sending me to the roped off section where the seventeens go. I smile weakly at my friends, finally nervous- what if I'm chosen? What will happen? I'll die.

The time passes until eleven- time for the reaping to begin. The mayor repeats the speech he has to give every year, never changing it, always the same. Then the escort- Julius Wilks- goes to the microphone.

"Welcome to the reaping for the 70th annual Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favor!" He turned to the girls ball and pulled out a slip. My heart skipped a beat in fear as Julius wet his lips.

"And the female tribute for district 4 is..." Not me, not me... The thoughts ran through my head, dying when the name rang through the silent square, "Annie Cresta!"

All eyes turn towards me in my circle of friends. My younger sister starts crying from the thirteens but I walk up to the stage, my body numb, my mind full of jumbled thoughts.

This has to be a dream, it can't be real. I can't be a tribute- it's not possible. Not- possible! As I look to the stage again, my eyes met the stunning sea green eyes of Finnick Odair. The nineteen year old victor of the Sixty-Fifth Games. He watched me, eyes full of pity. My eyes sweep to Julius and I shake his hand before waiting for the name of the tribute to accompany me. I take one long look at the district I'll be leaving.

The town is nice- we're a favourite of the Capitol. Not too big, as our district is smaller than others. The hills rise once the town ends, on one stands the twelve houses of the Victor's Village. Trees speckle the land then the wide open sea swallows the land in the distance. Will I ever see the sun again?

Will I?-

I sit up in the bed but don't move, reluctant to leave the safety the bed provides. Winning the Games could be a dream- what if it was? What if... What if I haven't even gotten into the arena. I look around the room then start crying when I realize this isn't a dream. I have won, I have killed, I will go home. I won't really be Annie Cresta from district 4, I'll be Annie Cresta the victor.

There's a knock on the door. I watch the door as it slowly opens and the old woman, Mags, steps in. "Annie?" She smiled, seeing that I was awake. "Are you hungry sweetie?" She watches me, waiting for an answer. "Annie?"

I don't answer. Am I hungry? Does it matter anymore?

Mags leaves after that, closing the door and I hear whispered voices outside my room. I hear snippets of the conversation.

A man's voice, "Why? They... okay... are you... right?"

"Talk... maybe... listen." Mags.

Silence for a couple seconds before there is the sound of footsteps. The door opens again, a head poking in. Instead of Mags, as I had expected, it is Finnick.

"Annie? Are you okay?" He came in, his bronze hair falling in those sea green eyes. "Annie?"

I don't answer. I don't know anything. I can't...feel.

He comes into the room, closing it softly. I notice little things- things I wouldn't have noticed before the Games. The Games make you value the little things. The way Finnick's hair is untidy- sticking out in many different ways as if he just got out of bed. The way he walks. When he sits, the way he watches me before speaking. The slight tilt of his mouth as he smiles reassuringly, as if he's completely put together yet trying to hide the broken pieces beneath a curtain.

"Annie, why won't you talk?" Why won't I? Why would I? "Annie..." He softly puts his hand on mine. I look at his hand, loving the reassuring warm, caring feel of it over mine. Then I remember who he is. Who he really is.

-It was the day for training. Our mentors should be there at the breakfast table yet Finnick's seat is empty. We begin eating, Mags talking animatedly about how we should try to be part of the Career pack. To show off our talents now. Get them to side with us. She told us that I would have an easier time than Vetro because I'm older and more likely to win. Neither of us talked- we were scared of the other tributes, especially the Careers (the boys were very large and the girls looked very cruel).

Suddenly, Finnick burst into the room. "I'm sorry I'm late, Mags, I was..." His eyes rested quickly on Vetro, "busy with work." He finished his statement. I could tell Mags knew he was lying, so did I. Yet Mags eyes were full of pity whereas I couldn't fathom pitying him for playing with all those women.

He winks at me, a large smirk on his face. My face twists in annoyance and he shrugged casually before sitting down beside Mags and I. He started getting an abundance of food. He looked at me, "What has Mags told you two?" His hair stuck out in a bunch of places- bedhead. He'd probably just gotten out of bed with whatever her name was.

" More than you've cared to share." I answered bitterly, smiling to myself when his eyes widened in surprise.-

I pulled my hand back quickly then cursed to myself when Finnick smiled widely. "A reaction, I'm breaking down the victor's walls!" He laughed.

I watched the wall quietly, annoyed. He didn't help me win. He was probably sleeping with everyone that would as he paraded about the Capitol. I looked away from him, wanting to hit him.

But I couldn't. I wouldn't be the monster that hurts others, I won't speak so that I will never hurt anyone ever again.

I will not be a piece in the Capitol's games.

Review Please! I hope the hyphens helped. Answer the poll if you want another Broken Souls! I can't decide who I should do next!

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