Sunlight poured in through the windows, stabbing at Finnick's closed eyelids in a ruthless attempt to wake him. He groaned and finally gave in, sitting up and untangling himself from the sheet. The room was warm, and familiar, but he felt like something was out of place. He yawned and he ran a hand through his wild hair, feeling like he hadn't slept at all. The house was too quiet, it felt too vacant. He looked at the empty spot in bed beside him and he sighed, deciding to drag himself out of bed.

His trudging footsteps echoed on the hardwood floor as he went to the bathroom, catching his reflection in the mirror. Yikes. He slowly removed his clothes and pulled open the door to the shower, half expecting to see someone else in there already.

"Good morning, love. Did you sleep well?" She would say with a smile, suddenly turning bashful. She'd make room for him and pretend that she didn't want her body to be pressed up against his with the water keeping them warm.

Finnick pursed his lips and he blinked, realizing he had been frozen in place for a few moments. He reached in and turned on the shower and got in, letting the water rush over his skin and hopefully wash everything away. When he emerged from the bathroom, he went to the kitchen, not caring to redress himself. His eyes glanced at a pile of mail on the counter and he overlooked it for the moment, opening the refrigerator and looking for anything he could eat. He snatched out an apple and bit a chunk out of it, crossing back over to the pile of the mail and absentmindedly flipping through it. He opened an envelope and felt his stomach drop as he pulled out a fancy piece of stationary.

The pleasure of your company is requested

at the marriage of

Miss Renata Kelde

To

Mr. Seneca Crane—

Finnick grit his teeth and he crumpled the invitation in his hands, feeling his hand shake as he clenched it. He wanted to tear it into pieces, as if doing so would cancel the plans entirely. Seneca had sent the invitation purely out of spite, a childish branding of the fact that he had Rini to himself now. The man had probably assumed that Finnick would not attend, that he would stay home and wallow in self-pity. He should know better.

A smirk crossed his face as he slowly uncurled the paper in his hands and peered at it again. There was a chance that he could jeopardize lots of things, but he knew that he had to show up. If only for the satisfaction he would get from Seneca's expression.

"Do you have parents?"

"Of course I have parents, everyone has parents." Seneca murmured as he rifled through a stack of papers he had in his study. As promised, he let his fiancé play interviewer. From the moment she had waked, she fired off question after question, hardly stopping to take her breath. "A mother, Sylvie, and a dad, Raphael. No siblings."

"Well, where are they?" She asked, curled up in his chair with a mug of hot chocolate in her hands.

"They live on the outskirts of the Capitol, though not as far out as we are. When I was going through school, I kind of lost touch with them so I could get to where I am now," He said, turning and sitting on his desk. He seemed like he was hesitating to add more, and only when Renata prodded him further with a raise of her brow. "I'm good at what I do, you know. Since I was a kid, I was…obsessed with manipulating things. I never really had a pet for a long time, because I would…" He shook his head, but there was a strange look of elation on his face. "Whatever I could manipulate, I did. Their food, their environment…I wanted to force them to adapt to survive. And usually they were so dumb, or I was too…let's call it 'extreme', for them to do it," He chuckled quietly.

A shiver of fear went down Rini's spine as she listened to him. "When did you start doing that to people?" She asked quietly, a little tremor in her voice. She noted his eyes brighten at her question and she felt a little sick to her stomach that he seemed to enjoy this so much. It was sick…

"I was involved with the process of constructing the arena before I became Head Gamemaker. I liked to take on big assignments. Set the bar as high as possible. The year that caused my shift to Head Gamemaker was two years before your Games. So the 71st. I don't think anyone will ever forget that finale," He had an excited and nearly smug look on his face. He took a deep breath and looked his young fiancé in her wide eyes. "They were starving, every single miserable tribute that was left. The cavern had little sustenance for all of them, and all that darkness can get to a person's brain. We herded them all down to center of the arena, and when they saw one another, something inside them snapped. It's amazing what people will do when they are starving." The curl of his lips was terrifying and Renata knew she didn't want to know any more, but he was going to tell her. "I didn't anticipate little Pietro from District Six being the one to come out of it. Covered head to toe in blood and the meat of the others in his stomach."

"Oh my god," Renata breathed and her empty mug slipped out of her hands and onto the floor, breaking into a couple of pieces. She covered her face in horror and shook her head.

Seneca pursed his lips and the sadistic smile vanished from his face. "What?" he asked with that tone of concern back in his voice. He reached for Renata's arm and frowned when she jerked it away from him. "Rini-"

"You're crazy!" She cried, shaking her head. She jumped to her feet and put a hand to her forehead. "How do I know that one morning I'll wake up and you've suddenly put me through one of your experiments?" She was shouting at him, unable to help it. He was partly responsible for the demise of innocent people. "And have you ever gotten your hands on a baby before? I would hate to think of what sick things you could think of to put one through. How can I marry you, or give you children when I'm afraid of you?" She swallowed as he just stood there and took her accusations, his eyes focused on the floor in front of her.

He slowly took a few steps towards her, his head tilting up so he was looking into her eyes. "Renata," He murmured, taking hold of her neck with his hand. "I will never ever hurt you." His grip was firm on her neck and he was stroking her skin with his thumb. "You're safe with me." His smile was surely meant to be reassuring, but that and the look in his eyes frightened the young girl. He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers, and when he turned away from her she had a few tears on her cheeks.

"How many dresses did you make?" Renata gasped as she watched the team of several men carry in garment bags. Ever since Fascal had arrived, he had been ordering them around, telling them where to put what and not to track mud inside the house. The living room was already bursting from all the dresses that had already been set down, and Renata breathed a sigh of relief when the last one came through the door.

"I just had so many visions of you in all of them, I couldn't stop!" Fascal exclaimed, showing her his weathered hands. "I'm thinking you could wear at least three of them throughout the big day."

"Three?" She gasped, wrinkling her nose. "Why on earth would-"

"Shhh shush shush!" He grinned, covering her mouth. "If you want to finish going through them before it gets dark, I would suggest keeping your complaints to a minimum." He laughed when she rolled her eyes and he took his hand away, motioning for her to approach the sea of dresses.

There was a large mirror placed in the middle of the living room and Renata looked at herself in it as Fascal fastened the first dress on her. The skirt was so large that she couldn't help but giggle a little at herself.

"You look delicious, I don't know what you're going on about," Fascal wrinkled his nose at her. "Like a cupcake." He grinned when she shook her head and then helped her out of it, immediately putting her into another. "Are you excited to get married, sweets?" He asked after a while, having found one dress that she liked so far. "Where is your dear husband to be, anyway?"

"He left this morning to work," Renata answered, running her hands over the delicate lace of the dress. "Early this morning."

"I can see why, you're not exactly right off the beaten path," Her stylist murmured, unzipping her. "It is beautiful out here; I can see why he saw the appeal."

She nodded and pulled up the sleeves of the next dress, not really seeing herself in the mirror. She wondered why Seneca did choose a place so secluded from the Capitol. Perhaps he truly did choose it for generous reasons, but when she thought more about it…she had no idea where she was. If she needed to get back to town, she would have no idea where to go. It was completely disorienting and she swallowed, gasping quietly when Fascal pricked her with a pin and tears burned the back of her throat.

"I'm sorry!" He gasped and quickly got her out of the dress before she could bleed on it. "Have you been listening to a word I've been saying?" He sighed when she gave him an unconvincing smile and he shook his head. "Where have you gone to, Rini?" he murmured, not sounding entirely kidding.

"I'm still here," She said, not meeting his eyes in the mirror. "Same old Rini."

Fascal pursed his lips and he put a bandage over the spot he had nicked her, "More or less." He got her to meet his eyes and he stared at her for a moment, a knowing look in his eye. "You can tell me anything, lovey. I'm here for you. You're my muse, remember?" He smiled and turned her to face him, shushing her gently when he saw the tears clinging to her lashes. "Things will look up, my mermaid. Don't fret…" He held her close by her shoulders and he kissed her forehead.

Renata sniffled and she rested her forehead against his, taking a few shaky breaths. "I've just got…wedding jitters, I suppose."

"If you need anything, and I mean anything…I'll do it for you."

"I need you to take me to Doctor Kasnik."

"Welcome!" Seneca beamed as he opened the front door to the little family standing there. "Please, come in."

"Thanks," Cecil grunted as he led his wife and children inside, his eyes wary of his surroundings. The interior was warm and inviting, which surprised him. It was too normal for what he had been expecting.

"I'm hungry," Aria said to her father, looking to Seneca when he chuckled. She shrunk against her father's side, watching the strange man with wide eyes.

"There is quite a dinner to be had, I assure you. Rini was listing off as much food as she could think of for our celebration. We are very happy to have you here with us, and for such a joyous occasion."

"Cecil!" A voice came from the hall. Renata emerged in a white ensemble that made her look a few years older, and her hair was twisted into an elegant updo. She smiled widely and walked over to them, giving the man a hug.

"I…" Cecil managed, at a loss for words. She didn't look like she was suffering any. If anything, she looked like she had been faring better since she had left Four. "It's so good to see you," he finally whispered, smiling and stroking her cheek.

"I'm so happy that you all are here," The redhead smiled, kissing his cheek before stepping back and smoothing out her clothes. She was carrying herself differently, and the amount of times her eyes flitted towards Seneca made him purse his lips. He didn't buy into her being so in love that she couldn't help looking at him.

"Rini," Seneca said.

"A-are you hungry? I'm sure you are after such a long day," The redhead said, looking a little flustered.

"I'm sure they would like to relax first, darling."

"Oh, yes! Of course, let me show you to your room. Well, it's more like your own little house," She laughed, twisting her fingers nervously. "Here, let me show you-"

"I'll show them, love, why don't you set the table?" Seneca suggested, setting a hand on her shoulder. He gave her a nod and a stern look before leaving her in the kitchen.

Renata swallowed as she went to the table, holding a bunch of plates in her arms. Her hands were shaking as she set one in front of every seat, trying to remember everything that Seneca had told her. She wanted to please him and follow what he had told her to do, but she knew that Cecil would be picking up on her strange behavior. She blinked and gasped when Seneca was suddenly in front of her, taking a plate from her hands. "I'm sorry, I was-"

"There's nothing to be sorry about. You're doing fine," He said, setting silverware by each plate. "Remember what I told you, Renata. You're happy here."

After they had rested for a while, everyone sat down at the table for the bounty of food. The kids were especially excited for the sweets that awaited on the counter.

"This is where you live now, Rini?" Aria asked, swinging her legs and not realizing that she was kicking Seneca's leg.

She smiled and nodded, "Isn't it pretty? I can't wait until spring. I'm going to have picnics down by the lake every day, I think." She watched Aria and Polom eat with the expensive silverware, finding it a bit funny. "I can't believe how much you all have grown. I don't think I've noticed it since now. Vic is feeding himself now? Oh, my…" She sighed and smiled, sitting with her back straight.

"It's cause you don't see us every day no more," Polom said matter-of-factly. He had eaten so much that Renata was certain it would start spewing out of his ears.

"Well, I guess you'll have to come see us more often then, hm?" Seneca murmured, shooting Aria a look when she kicked him again. "Be careful, there."

"Do we have the privilege of using the train whenever we please now?" Leona asked, sipping at her wine.

"Whenever you want to visit, just call us here and I'll make arrangements. There aren't any times when you aren't welcome here, except for during the honeymoon," He slipped his hand with Renata's and winked, making her blush. "Right, darling?"

She smiled and nodded, avoiding Cecil's throughout the whole dinner. "Right."

"Perhaps you and Rini could stay with us sometime as well," Cecil murmured, looking out of his element. "We would be happy to have you in our home. Treat you to some real District Four living."

Renata looked at him and she smiled wide, nodding. "I think that would be fun! Have you ever seen the ocean, Seneca? It's beautiful! You'd love it, oh, please? Please, could we?"

He raised an eyebrow at her and then smiled, chuckling quietly. "Yes, I believe we could. I'll hold you to that invitation, Cecil."

By the time they had gotten through dinner, and had dessert, the kids had fallen asleep and Leona had taken them to their rooms. Renata lingered in the kitchen, washing up the plates. She jumped, not having heard Cecil come up beside her.

"You nearly scared me to death," she laughed softly, drying her hands on a towel. "Did you enjoy dinner? I'm so glad you're h-"

"You have already said that quite a few times, Renata," He interrupted her, his weathered face stoic. "Do you mind if you go off the script for a minute?"

She swallowed and stared at him with wide eyes, knowing that she couldn't say anything to convince him otherwise.

"I don't like this. I don't like it one bit. Trust me when I say that I will be trying everything I can to come up with a way to get you out of this. Whatever he's said to you, whatever he's going to do to you, he can't get away with it. It's not fair, it…it's against the rules," he swallowed, putting his hand to her cheek and stroking it with his thumb. Her freckled skin looked like porcelain, and she like a ghost.

"There are no rules, Cecil," She whispered back, putting her hand to his. She slowly began to pull it away from her face, dropping her gaze to the floor. "And besides…I'm happy here."

Well this was interesting. Many questions that will need answering. What is Finnick going to do when he shows up at the wedding? Why does Renata want Fascal to take her to the doctor? Hay fever? Highly unlikely. But yes, all will be revealed in the next chapter...hopefully! Review review review!

ALSO! An important announcement. So listen closely. In addition to Undertow, I will be working on a new Hunger Games story! Dun dun dun! In collaboration with the always amazing Cosette Everdeen (srsly she's great), I will partly be writing a story! It will hopefully be up within the week or so, and it will be posted under her account since she's the more adept writer asigrjlkja it's true just look at her. I could probably give you more details about it, like its closely related to the Hunger Games book, but with a few minor changes teehehehe but I guess you'll just have to read it damn. So check her profile for it every so often, maybe take a peek at For Everything a Reason (that story is my baby, folks, give it luvins I promise i'm not leading you astray. Ashtray?), and as always stick around for Undertow and beyond! Next stop, the wedding!

-Kelsey :3