Chapter Fifteen
Aies is impatiently tapping his fingers against the glass tabletop.
"Can you stop that." Finnick says annoyed.
"They said she would be back today." Aries whines like a small child.
"The day isn't over yet." Finnick notes.
Annie has been in the recovery room for two weeks. Not an unusually long time, the unusual part is that the recovery team has limited her contact with others. Only Mags has been able to see her and that was only a few hours after the game ended.
"I just want to see her all cleaned up. She had cuts and was very dirty when the game ended." Aries says.
"Was the blood too much for you then?" Finnick says annoyed.
Aries sighs.
"A little less would've been better but I really just want to see her nice and sparkly again, like a new coin." Aries says.
Finnick sighs and sits on the couch.
He too is wondering when she will come back. He doesn't know if keeping the mentors away from her is a new rule or if something is truly wrong with her. Lena won a few years ago and they didn't keep visitors from her.
He picks up a book and starts reading. He reads the same sentence four times before he feels a clap on his back.
"Hello there." Lena says with a smile.
"Hi." Finnick says. "So when you won what-"
"They didn't keep me hidden from others. Although I didn't have a broken arm or scrapes all over my body." Lena says.
"It wouldn't take that long for them to heal. She had a decent amount of food in the arena so she wasn't that malnourished." Finnick says.
"She was dehydrated though."
"If she was on an IV drip for a day everything would've cleared up." Finnick says.
"You should talk to Mags, she's the one who saw her."
"Yeah, and right out of the arena. She would look terrible, scared, and about fifty other things." He says.
"Well there must be a reason, maybe she attacked someone." Lena says.
"Maybe." Finnick says.
Once you're in a space where it is flight or fight response it can be hard to slowly transition into the world again.
The elevator dings and small footsteps can be heard.
"Annie dear!" They both hear Aries shout.
They don't hear a response though.
Annie walks over to the sitting room and plops down on the sofa not saying a word..
"Annie let me give you my congratulations. I'm so glad it was you who won for us." Aries says. Which isn't a surprise considering he hated Aden.
"Thank you." Annie says harshly. Finnick can tell by her furrowed brow that she wanted to say something else to Aries.
Annie looks perfectly fine on the outside. The scrapes and cuts she had are gone. They would've left scars on anyone else, but victors are meant to look picture perfect. However, her arm is still in a cast.
"You look so clean and sparkly, no more blood or dirt. The only problem is the cast but the citizens are already getting restless to see their new victor."
"Yes their victor." Annie says coldly.
"Your interview with Caesar will be in exactly three days. That gives us a chance to train-"
"I don't need any more training. I'm a victor now, I don't need these people's money or attention any longer. I don't care if I offended them, they just need to get used to me now. If they don't like it then they can just forget about me and obsess over the others." Annie says.
"You should find a better personality, you were not like this before the arena and anger is not an attractive-"
"If vanity could kill almost everyone in this city would be dead."
"Annie-"
"What you find attractive everyone outside this place calls hilarious. Look at you, with your green hair, silvery nails, and tattoo. You're the one who looks like the fool to everyone else outside the Capitol." Annie says.
Aries huffs annoyed. The girl who was so sweet and polite to him before the game is now harsh and cold. She doesn't care about what he thinks of her manners any longer.
"You two talk to her. Fix her!" Aries says and walks away angry.
"Fix her, such an interesting phrase." Lena says amused.
"It is easier if you play along Annie." Finnick says.
Annie picks up a book that was on the table.
"Making things harder for someone who loves the Hunger Games, how dreadful." Annie says sarcastically. "Maybe it is time for him to put up with unpleasant things." Annie says annoyed and opens the book.
"I like her better this way." Lena says with a smile.
"Something is wrong with her." Finnick says softer than Lena.
"Nothing is wrong with me Finnick, I am a victor." Annie says coldly and that's when he recognizes it.
"How many times did they make you practice saying that?" Finnick says.
He wouldn't call it brainwashing but sometimes with 'troubled' victors they keep them hidden and have them repeat phrases and certain mannerisms over and over again until they are satisfied with their work. How they achieve this is done in different ways a reward system or conditioning could've been used. They could've just locked her away in a room as well.
Her cold behavior could be a result of that or could be a personality change from the games. He's never seen anything so drastic, then again Gloss doesn't even speak to people unless he deems it necessary and according to District 1 mentors he was so full of life before.
Hopefully they didn't break Annie. Finnick thinks to himself.
He'll be sure to notice when she goes home. Once victors come home their behavior and attitude can change just from the familiar people and places. She will still have nightmares but hopefully won't be as cold.
Annie doesn't respond and just flips the page in her book which she clearly isn't reading.
"Doesn't matter, as long as she can string a few sentences together and not cry during the recaps she'll be fine." Lena says and stands up. "Aries is probably just disappointed that his new doll isn't how he wanted her to be."
Lena looks at Annie.
"Hold out on him for as long as you can. Playing with Aries is funny for everyone."
Annie still doesn't bother looking up at them.
"Of course Finnick is right, playing along does make it easier for everyone in the long run." Lena say surprising Finnick.
Annie places the book on the table and stands up woodenly.
"I'm going to my room only disturb me if it is important." Annie says with no emotion.
"We aren't your servants!" Lena shouts angrily.
"Something's wrong with her." Finnick says.
"Relax, she'll probably return to normal when we are in 4."
"The way she's walking all woodenly and her voice is so emotionless."
"What, you think they drugged her with something to make her more reasonable."
"Not reasonable, easier to deal with. I remember a client was talking about a drug to put someone in a trance like state."
"She's not in a trance Finnick she's just readjusting." Lena says.
The next few days aren't much different from the day Annie returned. She is still talking in a cold and dark sarcastic manner. Her responses are kept short and to the point.
"Today is the recaps they planned a nice pink dress for you to wear." Aries says still displeased with Annie's new attitude. "Or is that not to your liking?"
"Just give me what you want me to wear." Annie says unamused.
The more time that has passed the more Finnick thinks they did something to her when she was in recovery. While her answers are sometimes cold she is always obedient and never fights the decisions.
He wants to test his theory.
"Annie I want you to do something for me."
"Of course, what is it." She says.
"You're not even going to ask what I want first."
"Why? You want me to do something so I'll do it."
"What did they do to you in the recovery center?" He asks.
"It's not of your concern." Annie says.
"What if I ordered you to tell me."
Annie stands up.
"I should go, apparently I have a pink dress to try on."
"I'm taking that as a yes." Finnick says.
"Take it however you like." Annie says sadly and walks off.
"Interesting conversations you have with that girl." Lena says over hearing them.
"They did something to her."
"I'm starting to believe you but-"
"But?"
"It's going to wear off probably on the train ride home." Lena says.
"Unless they beat her into submission."
"Annie wouldn't break in two weeks."
"Maybe."
"Besides, who knows how many drugs they have like that here. I've heard they use Avoxs as test subjects." Lena says.
"I know." Finnick says having heard the rumours too. They cut out people's tongues for breaking a law or being labeled a traitor. They lose their voice and their free will. They would be perfect test subjects because you couldn't hear them scream.
The train goes click clack as it races back to District 4. The journey takes a total of four days when the train goes full speed.
Finnick looks out at the landscaping grateful to see nature instead of tall buildings made of metal. It feels like he's been riding this train longer than two days, maybe it is because of the shrill screams of Annie that wakes him and everyone else at night. Maybe it is because he is growing tired of being around Lena. Or maybe it is just because he misses home. He doesn't have anyone waiting for him, but he enjoys the sound of the sea more than anything else.
"Pass the apples." Lena says at the breakfast table.
Finnick hands her the basket.
"No Annie again." Zayden says because Annie hasn't joined them for any meals.
"I've checked with the train attendants and she has been eating." Finnick says.
Zayden nods satisfied with this answer.
"Why doesn't she join us then?" Lena asks.
"Perhaps she wants to be alone right now." Mags says softly.
"Well that's all fine and dandy. I just wish she would stop screaming at night." Lena complains.
"I'm actually grateful for it." Finnick says without thinking.
He gets three pairs of eyes looking at him with three very different emotions.
"I mean because when she was in the Capitol she was so unemotional. It's nice to see she can still feel something." Finnick says.
"Yes I suppose, but fear isn't always a good thing." Zayden says.
"If she can be afraid it means she can also feel happiness." Finnick says.
"The screaming just irritates me." Lena says.
"She watched Aden get his head chopped off and then get drenched in his blood. Would you be okay sleeping?" Finnick asks annoyed.
Zayden and Mags leave the breakfast table not interested hearing them bicker like children.
"I didn't wake up screaming. Unlike the tall tales I've heard about you screaming when you came home."
Not just when I came back home. Finnick thinks to himself. It's not every night anymore but Finnick still has various nightmares sometimes in the arena, sometimes with clients, and sometimes with Snow.
"They aren't so tall." Finnick says.
"Obviously." She smirks. "You're too sensitive." Lena says.
"Earlier this year you were taking your clothes off for me." Finnick says annoyed.
"I never said being sensitive is a bad thing." She says.
Finnick rolls his eyes.
"I think you're sweet on this girl."
"No, just worried."
"Well you are already feeling a little better because whatever they did to her did wear off." Lena says.
"Yeah." Finnick says.
"Well I'm going to leave you here to sulk." Lena says and stands up.
Finnick rolls his eyes.
Annie comes out for a late lunch hours later. Finnick was sitting in the room reading a book. He was waiting to see if Annie would come out to eat anything.
He doesn't particularly like the book he is reading, it's about a young man who goes off to save his village from a large dragon reeking havoc. When the man returns home with the dragon's head the king grants him all the riches he could ask for as long as he marries his daughter. He already promised his lover when he returned that they would run away with the riches he would earn and never come back. However, before the young man even answered the king's question the daughter accepts him because of his beauty and bravery. He stays out of fear that the king will send guards after his lover to kill her. The rest of the story is the man wondering if he did the right thing. Should he have turned down the villagers demand and let the dragon destroy it or go off and save the day ensuring everyone else's happiness but not his own. The book is apparently part of a collection but Finnick doesn't care enough to finish it. He will never know if the young man and his lover get back together for their happily ever after.
"Finnick" Annie says rather loudly.
"What?" He asks and stands up confused.
"I've been saying your name for the last five minutes."
"Sorry I was reading." Finnick says.
"Was it a good story?" Annie asks
"If you believe in happy endings I guess." Finnick says dryly.
"Okay." She says and picks at her food. "Can you sit with me, I want to tell you something." Annie says.
"Sure." He says and pulls out a chair. "What's up?" He asks.
"I wanted to thank you."
"For what?" He asks confused.
"Saving my life I've thanked everyone else already."
"Saving the best for last I take it." He teases.
"Don't do that it's annoying." Annie says and takes a bite.
"Do what?"
"The self ego thing, it's annoying."
"Sorry bad personality trait." He says.
"It's annoying because it's a facade." Annie says.
"Interesting choice of words." Finnick says surprised she noticed this.
"You cared about your tributes and not all the spoils in the Capitol that is different from the rumors of your personality." Annie says.
"I guess. But I… the mentors didn't really save your life at the end of the day it was all you."
"I would've died without some of those gifts." She says.
Finnick doesn't respond
"So this book you were reading, you seemed disappointed that it has a happy ending do you not believe in them?"
"I'm a realist, it's highly unlikely that every person will get a happy ending. Especially in a world like this."
"I thought we were talking about your book."
Finnick doesn't respond.
"Do people like us get happy endings?" She asks.
"Depends on how you look at it." Finnick says.
"I don't think I'll ever be happy again." Annie says and eats quietly. "Did you know that the average human body has about one and half gallons of blood in it."
"Annie-"
"I asked the people while I was in the recovery room, they couldn't, no wouldn't tell me how much blood Aden's body had left it in. I wanted to know because there was so much on the ground and my body. I thought no way there could be anything left, right?"
"Annie…" Finnick says alarmed by her thoughts.
"I can't talk like this to normal people because they'd think I'm crazy. Why is it crazy to want to know how someone died." Annie says her voice is getting higher.
"Just take a few deep breaths, you'll feel better."
"No, I won't." Annie says.
"You will once we're home." Finnick says.
"Is that true, because I don't think it is."
"Why would you say that?" He asks.
"Because the memories and nightmares will follow me wherever I go. I could be anywhere in the world and it wouldn't matter."
"It will get better with family and friends surrounding you. The people who know you best are the ones who will help the most." Finnick says.
He remembers his family and how they were there for them. He knows Annie has family around to be there for her. He knows someone will be there for her.
"But they don't know what it's like… in there." Annie says softly.
"District 4 has more than one victor." Finnick points out.
"I don't like Lena and I feel like Zayden is a judgemental person. I wouldn't want to bother Mags-"
"Mags is an old woman, she likes having visitors and there's me. I know I'm not your favorite but I can listen. Sometimes it's better to have someone listen to you and not give advice. I know you don't like hearing my voice so I can be a good listener."
"I have a different perspective about you and the others now. I was wrong to judge you Finnick you're different and I wouldn't mind hearing your advice."
"Alright." Finnick says.
"Okay." Annie responds.
It takes Annie a long time before she finishes her lunch. Sue doesn't speak again, just sits there in silence with Finnick. The journey to District 4 is almost over but the journey for the new victor has just begun.
END OF BOOK ONE
A/N: Okay folks I am going to write a sequel about Annie's victory tour and her falling for Finnick. It is going to be in both their POVs. I have a few things worked out for it already. The working title is 'Burned Memories' because when something very good or very bad happens it is always burned into your mind. Thanks for reading this story I hope you all enjoyed.
Until next time
-Susan