Finnick POV
One second, I was praying Annie would survive the fight with the Careers. I saw the axe flying towards her face, and my breathing slowed, my heart pumped rapidly. And then Dorien was dead, his head chopped clean off. I liked him. But I didn't really care about him – Annie filled every available place in my heart, my brain. He took an axe for her, he sacrificed his life for hers. And for that, I fucking owed him a lot. I hoped he was in a better place – his death was painful, but it was quick. We all heard his short speech about his sister, and that brought tears to even the District 1's mentor's eyes.
None of us were quite sure what would happen next. Even the Careers seemed shell-shocked by the turn of events, none of them had expected such an undying act of loyalty. I didn't know what Annie would do. I expected her to run while the Careers were distracted and hope for the best.. but I guess I under-estimated how attached she became to the kid that saved her life. It makes sense now – his past was horrible, she was like another older sister to him, he saved her life.. twice. They bonded over the Games. He knew her deepest, darkest secret.. me.
She went psychotic on the Careers. She began to attack them, and I could hardly watch. What are the chances of a smart, but mainly untrained girl beating three massive Careers? I was wrong. All four were unprepared for her attack, they assumed she would get her butt away after her ally's death. She stabbed the boy from 1, used simple trickery to kill the boy from 2, and knocked out the girl from 2 with a punch to the head and later slit her throat. She jumped on the girl from one and clawed her face as roughly as she could manage. As I glance at the small section of the screen dedicated to one, puffy pink tissue replaces the tanned skin that was formerly there, despite treatment from the best medicine. It'll scar, and it'll certainly take the Capitol more than three days to heal it if she is to win.
Annie.. I've avoided thinking about her. She's been faring horribly. Everyone knows what violent nightmares she's been having. All of Panem has watched her shriek. Dorien's name, followed by, "He doesn't love you anymore, you disgusting monster..,". I wish I could comfort her. I want to be transported to the arena. Even if it means me facing another Hunger Games, or dying at the hands of that scarred Career (though I could beat her in a fight any day), I want to be there with Annie. She's been lying on the grassy forest floor for a day now, but the Gamemakers are cutting her slack. Everyone is impressed, in the districts and the Capitol, that a girl with such a low training score, a girl that was discounted, killed three Careers and gravely wounded another at one go. But there are only four tributes left, and I know it won't be long before the final battle is to be held. My eyes widen as Annie wakes up and slowly staggers up. She glances at her wedding ring, bites her lip and some tears begin to fall out of her eyes. She hesitantly blows a kiss to the cameras, and my heart flutters.
She has to win. I wouldn't care if she killed every damn tribute in the arena, I'd still love her. But I can tell something's not right as she begins to get the feeling in her legs again. Her eyes are distant, cloudy. She's emotionless, and I can tell there's a big fight underneath the surface to keep that act up. I push a few buttons and send a canteen of water and food her way. I'll try to send her more before the inevitable final battle, as soon as I figure out what she needs. A smile lights up her face as she sees her gifts. But after she finishes most of the food and water, she seems to realize what's about to happen.
She'll have to fight. She'll have to kill. Again. She grips a knife and leans against a tree, breathing slowly. She begins to travel, conveniently heading in the direction of District 1. Before she can reach 1, a final battle between the other tributes left, the District 6 boy and the District 11 girl, ensue. I know it'll be a lengthy fight as both are strong and armed, and I realize I must have less than an hour before the Games are over. I frantically get a taxi to Snow's mansion and I knock at his door.
A servant allows me in and can tell by my tone of voice that it can't wait. I'm immediately allowed into Snow's … rose garden. He stands, his back stiff, and to me. I immediately fall to my knees. I don't want to degrade myself, but I will do whatever it takes. "Mr. Odair, you're here later than I thought you would be." He smiles evilly, knowingly, at me. "Please, you have to let her win. I love her. Without her I am nothing. I won't function anymore. I won't be normal. I won't be charming Finnick, I'll be deranged Finnick," My eyes silently plead with him. "The Capitol likes her. They think she's pretty, and they think it's amazing that she beat three Careers and got rid of one's pretty face in 15 minutes.. and the District 1 girl, if she wins, it'll take weeks for the scars to be fixed. I swear.. I'll take on double the amount of… clients." It's low of me to bribe Snow. But Annie had almost won on her own… I wasn't doing her any favors. She wasn't weak. My words were true. Snow didn't like to admit victors had any logic, but by now Annie was a crowd favorite… and she was certainly the most attractive tribute left. "It'd be so easy to kill her," He sighs longingly. "But you've always been my favorite, Mr. Odair. The girl could've won on her own, but I know you're not taking any chances.. you're lucky you bring a modest amount of wealth and publicity to these Games and I. But cross me and Ms. Cresta… or should I say Mrs. Odair? Won't be so lucky." He licks his blood-covered lips and shoos me away.
I glance at my wedding ring and silently cry tears of relief and joy. Annie.. was.. going to win. We could spend the rest of our lives together. We could have a child. We could swim in our spot together. We could plan a wedding.. a secret one, maybe, but a wedding all the same. Somehow, the Gods had ruled in my favor. Annie was going to be a victor. I could kiss her, I could hold her again. She might not be the same after the Games; but she's still the Annie I loved. After this, we'd live together in either one of our Victor's Village homes. We'd have to be careful, secretive but it'd still work. The girl I loved was going to live. In no time, I was back to the tribute room. I could hardly keep the smile off my face. I, coldly and horribly, didn't care about District 1's death as long as Annie lived. 6 and 11 finished each other off, one died because of a knife wound and the other because of poison. I didn't know how the Gamemakers were planning to kill One off, but I truly didn't care.
I was expecting a quick death and a quick crowning of a victor when suddenly a massive, ear-shattering explosion was heard. Suddenly, a wave of bright blue water descended upon the screen.