Chapter 2
I could hear my heart beating heavy as I slowly lifted myself off of the cold floor. I looked over at Annie who was in the same spot as she was when I had left her. Frozen. This is what she did, what her mental disability caused her to do. She would just sit there, blank. She wouldn't look around, she wouldn't speak or eat. She just sits, lost in a distant land where no one could reach her. She could be like this for days, even weeks. I slowly walk over to her & treat her for shock, like I was taught to. Slowly I lay her out on the couch & prop her head with a pillow. I call for our maid to bring a warm towel & gently place it over her cold forehead. Tilting my head I look down at her & brush her hair out of her pale face, but she only stares up at me- not even at me but past me. She looks so… dead. Part of her brain shut down, & you'd think her body had too if it weren't for her deep breaths that give her away. I can feel my eyes beginning to well up with hot tears as I look down at her numb face.
It brings me back to the agonizing month that she was like this- after the Hunger Games. The first day home she had let me hug her as I wept & stroked her hair, but once I released her she stood there, with the same empty expression. I led her to her bed & where she just laid there for the rest of the day. It took me hours to coax food into her, salting most of them with my tears. I never cried over anything before she had been reaped; now from that day on I cry myself to sleep each night. She eventually overcame this with time & patience. I could only do so much for her: feed her & help her dress, & after that she began to walk down to the beach to just sit there the whole day until nightfall, where she would stare out to the sea. Finnick caught onto that & started to come every day for her. He would sit next to her & weave them a blanket which she still has, & build a fire to keep her warm. He was so persistent & patient that slowly, day by day, she gradually began to open up, like a flower blooming into her old self once again. But she's never been the same.
Suddenly a dark feeling of doom crashed down upon me. Finnick. He is the only male victor still living in District 4. He has no choice but to fight once again in the Games. How could I get her better again if he isn't even here for her? I look down at Annie. She must have realized this before going into shock. I wish so badly that I could join her. Well, clearly she could never go back into the Hunger Games like this. I would never let her. There is only one thing that I can do now.
It's snowing hard outside but I'm determined to break my way through this blur of whiteness. I stop & stare up at the large house standing before me. I swallow & bang my fist hard on the clean red door. It opens slightly & a little wrinkled face pokes out into the frost to greet me. At first Mags looks a bit ruffled, but her bright face breaks into a wide toothless grin as she recognizes me. She tugs at my arm & gestures me into her house. The door closes behind me & I'm surrounded by a wave of warm, welcoming me to sit & relax. Mags, still smiling, offers me a warm cup of tea which I gratefully accept & thank her. I begin to tell her my reason for coming when she seems to either not hear me or ignore me & instead waddles into the kitchen. She's so elderly, at least 75 -80 years old & she's around still walking without any support from a cane or walker. I can't decide if this makes it easier or harder for me to do what I came to do.
"So uh, Mags…" I begin as I plant myself onto one of her green kitchen chairs. "I'm sure you have heard about this year's Quarter Quell…" I swallow hard & try to calm myself down. This is for Annie. I think to myself. I wait for Mags to respond & continue as her small head bobs up & down. "And uh, as you know, Annie is… well she's sick, mentally ill." Oh, I can't do this… She looks so, small & so sweet. How can I possibly ask her to give up her own life just to save Annie? As I look up I see her staring at me, still grinning. How can she still be smiling? After everything she's been through… I open my mouth to say something but nothing comes out. She comes to sit next to me & puts her hand on mine & nods. She knew what I was trying to ask her, & she was accepting it. She would take Annie's place in the 75th Annual Hunger Games. I feel the loss already. Mags had been one of the kindest people I have ever met. I remember she would stay with Annie when she was having a rough time on one of the Victory Tours when I had to run out for something. Always looking after her, comforting her, & now she was willing to sacrifice her life for her. And all I could offer in return was a last hug goodbye.