Annie's POV

Peacekeepers lead me to the Justice Building. I'd never been inside before; and I'm not surprised to see it's nice - blue silk furniture, shells and sand dotting the room in vases. I don't expect any visitors. My mother is too frail to leave her home; Finnick is probably forbidden as well as the fact that that would raise questions. I finger my bracelet and sadly remember how I'll never see my Father again. So, it's much to my surprise when the door opens. It's my friend, a girl who lives in the slum areas around my house. She looks subdued and on the verge of tears. "I ran as fast as I could to get your mother, Annie. I know we aren't close friends, but we do both know what it's like to live in … you know. I knew I'd feel awful if I di- left without a proper good bye to my Mother." She blushes at her mistake and I only nod in confirmation at her words. She gives me a quick hug. "I'll say a prayer for you, okay? We can't afford to sponsor you but know all of us poor people are rooting for you." She smiles weakly and I reach out to hug her. I call out to her quickly, "My mother will be lost without me. Please visit her every once in awhile, just remind her… she's not alone. Explain to my Father what happened and tell him I love him." The girl bursts into tears and waves sadly before leaving.

My mother enters. Her frail, weak body looks barely able to hold itself up and I realize a few kids probably had to help carry her here. I feel a sudden burst of love for my neighborhood and gratefulness … that at least some people in the districts will care when I …. pass on. I hold my Mother while she sobs. We simply hug each other for ten straight minutes before I talk. "Mother, remember I love you. Please, remember who I am. I hope I don't have to turn … into a .. killer, but I may have to. Remember you still have Father. Finnick and Mags will feed you," She looks confused at my last sentence, and I quickly blurt out. "Finnick. I love him. We may have gotten married one day," I feel tears slip from my eyes at her shock and sudden grief. "I love you, Annie. I'll never forget you." Her last words to me. I call out a timid, sad, "I love you" back and listen to her choked sobs as they make their way down the hall. I expect to sit in this fancy room, alone, for the next half hour so I jump when the door opens again.

I see a tall, pretty, blonde woman, her tear streaked face bright red. "Hello," She says softly, her voice filled with desperation. "Please – help my son. He's s-so young. Only turned 12 last week," Her eyes overflow with shining tears as she continues. "We never paid much attention to h-him – he has younger siblings, and my husband and I work. We expected him to raise himself, and I know now what a horrible mistake that was. Please – he's never known care. He's sweet, gentle, scared and a bit nervous by nature. Witty and fun, though. M-Maybe you can help him. J-Just let him have a friend before he's killed," I don't hesitate whatsoever as I nod. Who could ignore a desperate mother's plea? Better yet, who could watch a small 12 year old die and not do a thing? Certainly not me. "I'll do whatever I can. I promise." She hugs me and thanks me over and over, and I realize I may have made my own survival a lot more difficult than it already was.

I'm herded out again by Peacekeepers – I try to make it not so visible that I was crying, but the Cameras catch it. I rush to the Tribute Train, and sigh in relief as the doors finally close. There's quarters for all of us and tables and chairs to sit on to watch the view as we make our way to the Capitol. I feel tears slipping down my cheeks as I watch the ocean go by. F-For the last time. I desperately try to hold onto the image of the bright blue water and warm sun so I can think of it when I'm miserable and dying, in the arena. I smile at the slow, lapping waves, thanking them for all the happiness they've given me over the years. Joy in a bleak life, Finnick .. My breath catches in my throat and I start to sob. My district escort coos and smiles kindly at me. "It's okay, dear! You're fine!" I take the tissue and realize Finnick, Mags, and my district partner are all staring at me mournfully. "Yes. I'm fine." I say reassuringly, though I fail miserably and sound like a scared child. I finally examine my District Partner and introduce myself. He's small, and looks bluntly more like an 8 year old then a twelve year old. I gasp as I stare at his face. His hair, his eyes, his skin. He looks exactly like Finnick .. and me. A mix of us - Finnick's bronze hair, both of our green eyes, my porcelain skin. His face even has features similar to ours – then I pinch myself. I'm delusional. Finnick and I will never have a child, and I've already been submerged in insanity if I believe a boy I'm going to sent into a death match with looks like us. Mags, Finnick, and even our normally oblivious District Escort are staring at me, looking for an explanation to my gasp. I shrug slightly and sigh. "I'm Annie," I smile at the little boy, "And we're going to be allies."

"Really?" The boy's smile is adorable. "I-I'm Dorien." As much as I tried to block it, I couldn't help but feel motherly towards him. He was cute, sweet, and helpless. It hit me with dread that only one of us could make it out of the arena alive. We all sit in silence, me not even glancing at Finnick, watching the sunset across the ocean. I sigh as we finally make way into a landscape of trees and grass. I can no longer see the thing that made me feel like home – and I never will see it again. I imagined so many District 4 tributes before me, probably thinking the same exact thing as me or being confident in seeing the ocean again – to have their dreams crushed. My heart drops into my stomach and my throat begins to feel sore. We go to have dinner – we're silent except for our half-hearted District Escort asking us what our talents are. "I have none." I mutter, and when I realize Finnick is about to object I stare at him sadly. Though I can't say it aloud, my eyes speak clearly enough. Lying won't help me now. "Me, either." Dorien sighs. Our district escort cheerily goes on about tributes whom have won out of pure luck, or discovered some unknown skill in the arena, but the excited and competitive gleam has gone out of her eyes. "What does it feel like to die, you think?" Dorien asks, surprisingly without fear in his voice. I want to lie and tell him he won't know for a long time. But I'm not that cruel as to give him hope. "I'm sure it's quick and painless. You go to Heaven, with all your lost loved ones. Your family will always remember you." He smiles slightly at this, and I continue. "They can be sad for a while, but not for long. They'll know you're not in pain and content. They'll move on, but you'll always be with them and waiting for them when it's their time to go." I look across the table and see Finnick's eyes shining with tears at my words.

Finnick's POV.

I'm numb with disbelief, but force myself to appear happy and jovial for our District escort and our little boy tribute. Mags and I both are fighting tears, no doubt, and Annie must be feeling shock and sadness already. The worst part is – I know how helpless and dead I felt when I was reaped. Now the person that I love more than anyone feels that way and I can't do anything. In the arena – I was scared. I felt like sobbing and calling for my Mother at times. I saw Tributes die from thirst, hunger, and every weapon imaginable. I killed some myself. Imagining Annie in the position of any of those deaths leaves me cold. I can't sponsor her. What if she gets no sponsors? What if I watch her die in one of the control rooms, dehydrating in the hot sun while I watch and can do nothing. It's so unimaginable it's unbearable. We'll work on an angle so she gets supporters. We have to..

As we eat dinner in silence, I focus on chewing my food and nothing else. Mags is still beside me, doing the same thing I am. I reluctantly drag my eyes up when I hear the puny boy talk. We haven't had any conversations since the awkward one in which the Escort asked what talents they had, and both responded they knew of none. I wanted to punch the arrogant woman in the face when she sighed, clearly disappointed she didn't have a pair of killing machines this year. I'm surprised, in a sad way, at his question. "What does it feel like to die?" He asks in a small, but brave voice. You'll know soon, I think, then want to pummel myself for my lack of compassion. The kid is cute, small, looks a little bit like me. It might earn him sponsors but considering he spent the first hour on the train crying, I'm not sure he'll make it past the bloodbath. That's why I'm confused that Annie asked him to be allies - he, of course, accepted immediately. I knew Annie had a motherly nature, but for her to be so quick to allow such a untalented being to take her protection puts her at a disadvantage. But I know she won't change her mind. She never does. My head snaps up immediately when I hear Annie talk. She's answering the boy's question. She shoots him a gentle, soothing smile before she speaks. . "I'm sure it's quick and painless. You go to Heaven, with all your lost loved ones. Your family will always remember you. They can be sad for a while, but not for long. They'll know you're not in pain and content. They'll move on, but you'll always be with them and be waiting for them when it's their time to go." I realize Annie is talking to me. Mags also, but mainly me. My eyes fill with tears. I'll always love you. I'll never move on..

After dinner, our escort immediately goes to bed as well as the 12 year old boy tribute. Annie, Mags, and I sit in a set of chairs by a large television, sipping water and milk and not saying a word. Annie whispers something to Mags and Mags' nods before giving her a quick hug. "Finnick," She says, her eyes glimmering slightly with tears. I get up, understanding her want to talk to me. We got to her room and lock the door, grateful for the sound proof walls that protect us from our nosy district escort.

We sit on the bed for a while, awkwardly embracing. Neither of us are sure what to say, so I bring up the subject of her ally first. She stiffens when I suggest she break it off. Rather than getting angry or upset she collapses in my arms. I've so rarely seen that side of her before all I can do is stroke her hair. "Oh, Finnick, I'm sorry. I never gave you enough credit, enough sympathy for what you had to do and what you went through. This is hell. That kid.. he's twelve. He's had a bad life because his Mom and Dad never had enough time to pay attention to him. He's been neglected and hardly knows what care and kindness is. Now he's going to die. I teamed up with him because his Mother asked me too. To make friends with him, let him know he had someone before he died. Hell. My heart's broken and I'm not even in the arena."

I wish I could comfort her. I wish I could let her know it's not that bad, that she'll be fine.

But I can't.