A/N: I'm so so so so so sorry it's been ages! So many things going on in my life right now, and I've written and re-written this chapter so many times. I'm not 100% happy with it, but I'm sick of writing it, so here it is.

Going to try to upload the next chapter in the next two weeks, which should contain the start of the games! And more on Annie after the Games, More of the Psychic stuff entering the story line again.

Happy Reading!

Love and Cat kisses,
Crazy Cat Lady :)

Chapter 5: Please Say Something

I think I've nearly fainted about 6 times since Tommin and I arrived at the training room. We walked in and the other Careers swarmed over us, asking names, introducing themselves, asking what we could do. I could barely spit out my name. Luckily, Tommin was calm and answered all the questions, yet still managed to keep some mystery surrounding us so they didn't think we were pathetic, easy kills.

The Careers were all impressed with Tommin's harpoon abilities. I admit, I was impressed too. He would have had a wonderful career on the boats if not for the Hunger Games.

Don't get me wrong, I'm going to try my damn hardest to get Tommin back home, but if you're a Victor then you don't need to work a day in your life. Neither does your family. You get so much money and food that you can live comfortably for decades. And, when Tommin gets home, no ship will take him on as a Harpoonist now. What self-respecting captain would hire a man who has enough money to support half the District when he could hire a man who is in need of money, and would probably work harder for it too?

Tommin showed the Careers his Harpooning talent, and I just stayed in the background. What talents do I have? Sure I can swim well, as every child of District 4 can. I can gut and scale a fish, like every person from District 4. I can make a fish net out of just about anything, I can set snares in water to catch fish, worms and other sea creatures, but I can't use a sword, or a bow and arrows, and I certainly can't use a harpoon. Soon, the Careers, especially the girl from 2, whose name I learn is Valiria, will start asking for a demonstration of my abilities so they can accept me fully into their alliance. But, for now, I watch them all show off their abilities.

Satin and Bronz, the district 1 duo, are both skilled with knives. Bronz is also talented with a mace. I shudder to think of the damage one swing from his mace would do to the little boy from 7's head.

Valiria and Atlas, her district partner, have some skill with just about every weapon you can name. Atlas is particularly fond of the sword, and he lovingly tells me that he loves the feeling of his sword cutting through something solid, like bone. I nearly throw up, but manage to smile. I have to remember that these people were raised to kill. They will actually like it. I think I'm looking a bit green.

Valiria's favourite trick is placing a knife between her teeth, twisting it around until the handle is fully in her mouth, then spitting the knife out like a dart. She can spit it quite far and hard. Imagine a spinning knife shooting towards your face, after being spat out of her gaping mouth. I see how she got the tiny scar in the corner of her mouth.

It's lunch time before any of the other Careers can ask me to show them my talents. Tommin quietly reassures me that I will be fine. We sit close together at the Career table, the others laughing and trading food. Tommin joins in occasionally, until Atlas and Bronz begin discussing who is an easy kill and who isn't.

"Obviously, the kid from 7 will be easy pickings. And the boy from 12 is blind! Blind! It's so easy I could kill him in my sleep, and he still wouldn't see me coming!" Atlas laughs loudly, insanely. I'm quite scared of him. Tommin grabs my hands under the table and I realise they are shaking. Not from fear, but anger.

Anger that this boy can sit in front of me and laughingly discuss killing a blind kid. Anger that people like Atlas exist. Anger at the Capitol for allowing this, anger at the Districts for not winning the rebellion 70 years ago, anger at everyone.

The anger must show on my face because Valiria suddenly stares at me.

"What are you so angry about?" she says, eyes suspicious.

"Just-Just angry that blind people are even allowed to participate in the games. It's no fun for us!" I lie. If they knew what I was really thinking, that I hated the games, I hated all of these disgusting bloodthirsty Careers, that I couldn't even kill someone to save my own life (literally), then I would probably be first on their "to kill" list.

Luckily, they seem to buy it, and launched into a heated discussion of the pros and cons of allowing disabled people to participate ("they're easy to kill" (Bronz). "Yeah but they die so quickly. It's boring" (Atlas). "And it's no fun cutting up a blind person; they can't see the artwork I'm turning them into!" (Valiria)). Satin is perfecting her reflection on the back of a spoon.

I sighed quietly in relief to myself and Tommin squeezes my hands. I know Tommin isn't like these other Careers, he doesn't like killing, he will hate himself for doing it, but he can live with it. I couldn't. I'm squeamish with fish blood, for god's sake!

After lunch (which was very nice by the way, plenty of hot, meaty stews, fluffy bread rolls, and my favourite cheesy ball things that had a hard shell, but poured out melted cheese when you bit into them), we returned to the training room, and the Careers stared at me expectantly.

"Well" starts Valiria, "It's your turn to show us what you can do, Tiny".

She's making fun of my size. I may be on the short size (5 foot 2), and I might be shorter than Satin (who is the youngest in our group at 14), but I'm not that small. I think she's trying to intimidate me. What she doesn't realise it that I've been intimidated since I saw her on the re-cap of the Reaping's.

I gulp nervously and struggle to think of something to show them, anything. Tommin comes to my rescue.

"Show them how you skin a person".

He says it so calmly, as if he's saying 'show them your new puppy'. I almost gape at him, but I control my face.

I realise what he wants me to do. In district 4 every child learns how to skin animals when they go to school. It's something every child has to do. We skin fish, seal, dolphin, even squirrel or rabbit if we get one from the market. I've skinned animals plenty of times. I can skin a dummy.

I go over to the knife rack and choose a knife that looks like my fishing knife. I turn to a dummy and begin cutting the outer layer of padding off it. All perfect, neat cuts, just like when I skin a fish, or an eel. I have to keep telling myself that I'm skinning a dummy, not a person, or I might start screaming. Who could skin a person?

Once I have skinned both legs, Atlas tells me to stop. He whistles.

"That's quite a talent you got there. Wouldn't want to get on your bad side." I try to grin evilly at him. I don't know if it works.

Valiria is still looking at me suspiciously, as if she doesn't believe I've done enough to be a Career, so, on impulse, I say "That's not all I can do."

Satin looks at me curiously.

"What else can you do?" I feel stupid again. I shouldn't have said that. My mind races to find an answer, anything. I catch a glimpse of a girl making a snare at the trapping station, and I have an idea. I take a deep breath.

"I can make an underwater trap that can capture a human." Tommin looks at me strangely, but then realises what I mean. He knows I can make a decent trap for large fish, and must have worked out that if you have enough rope, you can make one big enough to snare a human.

"It's true, she can!" Tommin backs me up. Even Valiria looks slightly impressed.

"Let's hope the Arena has plenty of water in it so we can test your trap." Says Bronz.

For the rest of the afternoon Tommin and I wander around to other stations, learning new things. I learn what to eat, and what not to eat. Tommin learns some moves with a sword. I practice snares for land animals, and make pretty camouflage patterns with paint. I'm joined by Nymph and Atiyan from 12 at the edible plants station. They stick close together, Nymph's hand always touching Atiyan.

I make conversation with Nymph, and she shows me a way to crush a particular leaf with spiny edges into a paste that can take the heat out of burns. In turn, I show her how to make a basic fish snare. We talk about silly nonsense, but I feel myself beginning to like her. Atiyan is nice too; he laughs easily and can tell you what kind of leaf I'm holding just by the smell on my fingers. More people join our little group at the edible plants station; little Jay from 7, Zeah and Flax, the siblings from 8, the girl from 10, the boy from 6. We're all laughing at a joke of Atiyan's when I realise something: I can't make friends.

Oh god, Annie! You can't make friends! All these people have to die for Tommin to get home! Even little Jay, and Zeah and Flax, the brother and sister from 8. Even me.

Terror overwhelms me. How can I let all these children die! How can I sit here, laughing at jokes, when we are all going to die in a few days?

I feel a scream bubbling up in my throat. I clamp my mouth shut and race away, to Tommin, who is over at the climbing rope with Bronz and Satin. He sees my look of terror and leads me away from the other Careers, shielding me so they can't see the panic and terror written on my face.

"Annie, you need to calm down now, if the Careers see you looking like that they'll kill you straight away." His voice is calm, soft. I force my face to relax.

"Breathe, Annie. Tell me what's wrong". I can't believe Tommin is two years younger than me; he seems more mature then I am right now. The little blond boy I used to tease with Sarlie is gone, and a man has taken his place.

"How-how can I let all these people die, Tommin! I can't do it!" I stammer.

"Annie" Tommin's voice is low, and steely. I don't think I'll like what he has to say. "You don't have a choice. They will die; everyone here will die except one of us. You or I will die. We will all die. And there is nothing you can do about it! It's been that way for years."

His voice is still quiet, but vicious. He's trying to drill into me that I can't save these people; I have to let them die if I want Tommin to come home. I promised Sarlie I would help him get home, and that means letting little Jay, blind Atiyan, and sweet Nymph die. That means escaping the Careers at the first possible moment. That means throwing myself on a sword, or a spear, in front of a mace, anything to help Tommin survive.

I think I became non-responsive for a bit then, because when I take in my surroundings again Tommin is shaking me and frantically whispering my name. When he sees me respond the look of sheer relief on his face frightens me.

I remember him saying he'll "look after me", at the train station after the Reaping, and I suddenly realise that he is going to try to help me win, help me return home.

We are both trying to help the other survive. It's unheard of.

But, Tommin forgets that I can't kill.

He will be the person who is left standing at the end of the Games.

He will be the person crowned Victor.

He will ride the train back to District 4.

He will see Sarlie again.

He. Will. Survive.

Tommin. Not Valiria, not Atlas, not Nymph.

Not me.

We finish in the training centre two hours later. I'm not sure I've said a word since Tommin tried talking sense into me. I watched the Careers plus Tommin throw knives, swords, maces and spears around for a while until we could leave. Tommin and I ride the elevator in silence, and as soon as it opens I head straight for my room, barely hearing Finnick and Mags calling my name worriedly.

I just can't talk. I don't want too. If I try to talk about the Games or anything related to them I might just scream and scream.

My hands are shaking too much for me to open my door. I let out a frustrated sound that comes out more like a sob. And then Finnick is there, his arm around me, opening my door and leading me inside. He closes it behind us and holds me. I sob into his chest and he strokes my hair, mumbling soothing words.

When I am calm he leads me to the bed and makes me sit. He leans against the wall, watching my face. I don't know what to make of his expression. Is he mad? Sad? Confused? And that other emotion, the one I can't yet name, that sits in his eyes as he looks at me.

"Annie" he whispers. I look down; I can't stare into those tortured eyes.

"I'm sorry" I say. He looks confused.

"Why are you sorry?" He asks. I frown, I'm not sure why, I just feel like I should apologise.

He comes closer, kneeling on the floor and griping my hands, eyes staring into my soul. I feel myself leaning into him, as he does the same. We are so close, if I moved an inch forward our lips would be touching. Finnick leans forward. Slowly, so slowly, and our lips touch–

–The door slams open, and Finnick and I spring back. It's Tommin, his face unreadable and his eyes dart between us, seeing Finnick still holding my hands and my tear stained face.

"Dinner's on the table". He says gruffly, his eyebrows creased. I don't know what's wrong with him.

"Are you ok?" I ask, worried about him. His face softens.

"Fine, Annie. Come eat, you barely ate at lunch". He leaves.

Finnick gives me a reproachful look. "You didn't eat at Lunch?"

"They were laughing about killing Atiyan. The blind boy" I whisper.

"Oh, Annie". He hugs me, and pulls me to my feet. "Come on, let's fill you up with food so you don't faint on me". He gives me a cheeky grin, and I feel better.

We walk out, Finnick still holding my hand, pulling me along slightly. Mags grins when she sees us. Tommin frowns. I'm not sure what's wrong with him.

We eat a steaming buffet of roast meats, rich gravy, sweet vegetables, a red soup of some kind, and flaky pastries. Dessert is bowls of creamy, cold ice cream in every flavour, with puddings and cakes and chocolate sauces. I've never eaten so well in my life as I have this week. Finnick smiles as he sees my face light up when a bowl of chocolate pudding is placed in front of me. He steals a spoonful and laughs at my astonished face. I take a spoonful of his ice cream, and suddenly we are laughing and eating out of each other's bowls. Mags joins in on the laughter. I am actually feeling happy, forgetting the Games, the Training Centre, even Tommin. Until he roughly gets up from the table and strides off down the hallway.

We all stop laughing. "What happened?" I ask.

Finnick frowns. "I'll go talk to him". He follows after Tommin.

Mags and I sit quietly. We hear some shouting, but I can't make out the words. We look at each other, worriedly.

"I'm sure he's ok". Says Mags, patting my hand reassuringly. I'm not sure which man she is talking about. I'm not even sure which one I'm more worried about.

They both return a few minutes later, looking calm. They look at me, and glance at each other, both nodding slightly. I'm not sure what that means.

We finish dinner in silence and Mags and Tommin leave together, talking about the training session as they leave. Finnick gently helps me to my feet, and walks me to my room. We stop outside. I don't know what to say. I'm curious about what happened with Tommin, but I don't know if I should ask him about it.

Finnick cups my face with his hands, stoking my cheeks. He stares into my eyes for what seems like forever, before suddenly crushing his lips against mine. I respond immediately, winding my arms around him as he pulls me closer. We are kissing hard, passionately. I never want to let go, never want to stop kissing him.

But, of course, we must break apart. We are both breathing heavily, my face feels flushed. He pulls me in for a hug, leaning his chin on my head. He kisses my forehead and opens my door.

"Goodnight, Annie". He grins at me, that beautiful, cheeky grin, and walks down the hall. I just about fall through my door, still on a high from the kiss.

Just before I fall asleep, wrapped in my silky sheets, I think of how much I love Finnick. We may not have much time left together; I go into the arena in three days' time. But before I go, I'm going to tell him. It'll be the last time I ever see him, and I want him to know. I love Him.

The next day passes in a flash. I haven't quite worked up the courage to tell Finnick yet, I'm thinking I'll leave it till after the interview with Caesar Flickerman. That will be one of the last times I see Finnick before I am taken to the arena the next morning.

The training session passes quickly, the Careers throw more weapons around, Tommin joins in, I watch from the sidelines. They leave me alone after seeing the skinning incident. Lunch was a blur, more laughing about "easy kills".

And then it's time to impress the game makers and get a training score. I am quite nervous about this; I need at least an 8 for the Careers to leave me be, on their team. Any lower and I'm out, and a first target. Tommin assures me I'll be fine. I know he will be.

When it is my turn to be called in, I nervously stand in the middle of the Centre, wondering what I should do. I remember talking about making a human trap yesterday, and decide I may as well give it a go.

I gather rope, rocks and a spear. After a few minutes I have created the biggest fish snare I have ever made. I set it up, push the dummy into it, and watch as it is speared, upside down against the wall. I force down the bile in my throat at the thought of a human being in that trap, and head over to the dummy, fishing knife in hand.

I start at the feet again, carefully peeling the outer material away from, the dummy. My hands shake, and my knife slips a few times, but I'm not screaming, I'm not fainting or throwing up. I chant in my head "it's just a dummy, it's just a dummy, it's just a dummy".

I stop when I reach the waist of the dummy, and the bell tings to let me know my time is up. I exit without a word.

Back in our apartment I huddle in a ball on the couch, between Finnick and Mags. Tommin sits in the arm chair. We are gathered around the screen, ready to see our training scores.

The anthem plays, and Bronz's face appears on the screen. He has a 10. Satin gets an 8, just scraping into the Career pack. Atlas receives an 11, his face leering out of the screen at me. Valiria is a 10, unsurprisingly.

District 3 both get 6's. Tommin's face flashes onto the screen. He gets a 10, a great score. And then my small face appears. I grip Finnick's hand tightly. A 9 appears. I stare at it, wondering if they've made a mistake. The 9 stays on the screen. I've done better then Satin! They will all be looking at her now, not me. I can relax a bit. Tommin smiles at me.

"See, you're better than you think, Annie". I don't know if I like that compliment.

The girl from 5 gets a 5. I remember her fainting when she was Reaped. The boy, surprisingly, gets an 8. The Careers will be after him, I think.

The tributes from District 6 get a 6 and a 7, 6 for the boy, 7 for the girl. The huge girl from 7 gets a 7 only. I am surprised, but then remember that I noticed she might have a problem with her mind in the Reaping re-runs. Jay gets a 3. I feel like crying, but Finnick rubs my hand with his thumb, sensing my emotions.

The brother and sister from district 8 both receive 5's. District 9, a 4 and a 6. District 10 produces an 8 for the female, and a 6 for the boy. More targets for the Careers. The boy from district 11 receives a 10. I remember thinking he would be harder for the Careers to catch then they thought, in the Reapings. The girl gets a 6. Atiyan gets a 1. I feel sick. Nymph gets a 7.

I go straight to bed after the training scores. Tomorrow is the last day before the Games. I will be primped and prettied up for my interview with Caesar all afternoon. The morning will be spent strategizing with Finnick, Mags, and Nina Bendine.

I sleep badly, and when I wake, it shows. I don't eat much for breakfast, and Finnick is not impressed.

After breakfast Nina Bendine drags me away, while Tommin gets to stay with Mags and Finnick for coaching.

Nina dresses me up like a doll and forces me into the highest high heels I've ever seen. She makes me walk back and forth, back and forth across the room while she twitters on about smiling and waving and looking happy and blah, blah, blah. I think I've twisted my ankles a million times before Tommin arrives to swap.

I skip out to Mags and Finnick, happy to be free of Nina. Mags gives me a welcome smile, Finnick still looks unimpressed that I didn't eat my breakfast. Whatever, he can sulk all he likes. But maybe I'll eat lots of lunch just to make him feel better.

We discuss my strategy for the interview. Finnick immediately says no to sexy, fierce and mysterious. I feel quite insulted. He doesn't think I'm sexy? I'm not interesting? My lip starts to tremble a bit.

"What, I'm not pretty, or interesting?" I can feel moisture gathering in my eyes. Why would he kiss me if he doesn't think I'm pretty? Does he do this with all the female tributes? Trick them into thinking they are desirable, and then tell them they aren't? Is it some tactic for the Games?

Finnick realises he has hurt me, and immediately flies to my side, grabbing my hands.

"No, no, Annie! I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever set eyes on! You never do what I expect, you always surprise me, so you are interesting. I just don't want to see you, up there on that stage, being someone you're not. You aren't flashy; you don't need attention to feel good about yourself. You don't make people question who you really are, and you told me yourself you couldn't kill someone. I want you to be Annie, not some fake girl made from a strategy. I want you to be my Annie. Brave, funny, surprising, sweet, beautiful, caring Annie." Mags has left the room sometime during his little speech, but I barely notice. Several tears have spilt over, and trickled down my face, and Finnick gently wipes them away.

"I didn't mean to hurt you; I just don't want you to be something you're not. I want you to be Annie. Can you do that?" I manage a nod, and we don't do much more talking during our coaching session. We sit, and he holds me while I try to get a grip on my emotions. For some reason Marcin's face floats in my mind, making me feel worse, unstable. My hands are shaky.

Soon enough, Elida, my stylist comes for me. She is very unhappy to see I've been crying, and scolds Finnick. She4 drags me off, muttering about stupid men and puffy faces.

I am scrubbed, shaved, lathered in creams and powders, my nails are trimmed, polished and painted. My hair is washed, dried and washed again. My Prep team scrambles around me, chatting happily. Elida inspects me every now and then and occasionally says things like "more powder here", "Her eyes aren't dark enough", or "it needs to be curlier".

Finally, Elida herself attacks me with make-up and hair products until I'm covered completely. She stands back and examines me.

"Perfect" She says, eyes sparkling. I blush.

"Now for the dress! You'll love it". She squeals, making me close my eyes as she places cool, silky material over my head, and then wheels a mirror in front of me.

The dress is beautiful. It is hard to tell the colour, it looks blue one minute, and then sea green the next. I can't work out if it's the lighting, or my eyesight, or if the dress is made of some special, colour-changing material. The sea green colour matches my eyes. Tiny silver jewels line the tiny straps, and are sprinkled sparsely over the fabric of the skirt. The waist is covered with the same silver jewels. It is floor length and flowing, with a slit up the side to the middle of my thigh and Elida has placed strappy silver sandals on my feet (so much for the heels training, Nina!). My skin is shimmers with teeny tiny glitter particles. My hair is swept up in an elaborate up do, with the several long curls tumbling down my back. A glittery silver band runs across my forehead and into my hair. My eyes stand out, and are lined in black and shimmery green coats the lids. I look like a goddess.

My mouth is open like fish. I don't even recognise myself. Nina squeals with joy.

I am herded out of the room by men in white, and Tommin joins me. He looks dashing in a suit with a green tie. I smile, and he smiles back.

I see Finnick up ahead and suddenly feel nervous. What if he doesn't like my dress?

I duck behind Tommin, trying to hide, but he steps to the side, allowing Finnick a clear view of me. He looks stunned. I glance over my shoulder, in case someone else has entered behind me, but no one is there.

"Annie" He stammers, reaching for my hand. "You look breath-taking."

I try to answer him, but I am whisked away to take my seat for the interview.

Satin is up fist, dressed in a striking purple dress. Her strategy is sexy, with plenty of leg showing, and she flirts with Caesar. I wrinkle my nose; glad Finnick didn't want me to do that. Bronz, dressed in a Bronze suit (how original), is charming, but mysterious. Valiria and Atlas are both fierce. She, dressed in gold, and Atlas looking huge in dress shirt and tie.

I tune out for the District 3 interviews, I am too nervous to focus. My name is called and I am pushed onto the stage.

Caesar welcomes me warmly.

"Annie, how lovely you look this evening!"

"Thank-you, my stylist worked very hard." I stammer out.

He asks me basic questions about my life and my family and I answer calmly, until he asks about my reaction when Tommin was reaped. I freeze for a second, then catch Finnick's eye, and manage to calm myself.

"Well, Tommin is my best friends little brother. I just didn't expect to be coming here with someone I knew. District 4's pretty big, you know" I manage to smile.

We chatter on for a few more minutes until the bell rings and it's Tommin's turn. He walks confidently, and easily makes small talk with Caesar, cracking jokes and being Tommin. The audience loves him.

The rest of the interviews fly past in blurs to me; the girl from 5 in a soft pink dress. Elya, the giant girl from 7, struggling to speak in her interview and Caesar going his best to make her look good. Jay, the tiny 12 year old, charming Caesar, and making me feel sick that he will die. Zeah and Flax, the siblings from 8, dressed too alike, speaking too similar, making the audience feel for them. The boy from 11, with the training score of 10, his eyes glinting as he remains mysterious. And Nymph, dressed in sky blue, talking happily about life in 12, how Atiyan is her friend, that she'll help him. Atiyan himself, being led to the seat, Caesar looking almost uncomfortable. The anthem playing, and returning to our apartment.

Somehow Finnick always knows when I'm ready to fall apart, and is always there to catch me. I enter the apartment and think I'm going to break down in a huge sobbing mess, but he takes my hand, sits me down and gives me a cup of hot chocolate. He talks to me about trivial things while Tommin and Mags look at me with concern. It's like I can't respond, even if I wanted too. I just stare, hands curled around my mug, listening to Finnick talk softly to me.

"What's wrong with her?" Tommin whispers.

"It hasn't been this bad since after Marcin died". Finnick whispers back. He looks worried. I try to reassure him, his worried look worrying me, but nothing comes out.

I know I'm weak. I don't cope with bad things very well. I've always been like this, it just intensified after Marcin. I shut off, like my mind just stops. I can hear and see and sort of feel, but I can't respond, can't do anything but sit and stare, sometimes I shake and tremble.

Finnick's seen it a few times, especially after Marcin. Sometimes I just stop, and it happens. It's like I'm triggered by something. A colour, a smell, a memory. I remember Marcin and his body and I just stop. Or something happens and I can't cope, like when Sarlie's Gramma died, Gramma Tammin. She was like my Gramma too, and when she died a few years ago I shut off too. I guess the games are making it worse; this is my 6th or 7th episode since my name was read out. Most were small, a few minutes of me frozen in place, just staring. Tommin probably assumed I was just lost in thought.

Maybe I was already going insane. Maybe I was insane before the Games, before everything that I saw, before the Capitol changed me.

I guess I'll never know.

Eventually, Tommin and Mags go to bed and I am able to respond again. I know it's now or never, I need to tell Finnick.

"Finnick?" I squeak. Great start. Come on, Annie, pull yourself together. It's your last chance. You're not coming back out of that arena alive.

I steal myself, and spit out the words in a hurry.

"I won't get another chance, and I need you to know. You've been there for me when I needed you, you're still here when I need you." I frown a bit, not sure where I'm going with this speech. "I just, I have to tell you before I go. I think…I think I love you".

I squeeze my eyes shut in the last bit, too afraid to see his reaction. He is silent for a long moment, and I crack my eyes open a sliver. He's sitting there, looking stunned again. Well, that's twice in one night I've stunned him. I count slowly to twenty in my head, and he's still sitting there, his yes slightly glassy. I am quite worried now. My hands start to shake.

"Please say something" I whisper.