I'm in the arena.

At least, I think I am, but it's so incredibly dark that I can't see anything.

Where am I?

I hear the sounds of a cannon going off in the background. I have to be in the arena...why else would there be cannons?

"Annie..." a voice whispers eerily.

It sounds like Ellie.

Why is Ellie in the arena with me? Isn't she...dead?

"Annie..." the voice whispers again. I try to find the source of the voice, but I can't pinpoint the exact location. Suddenly, Ellie appears in front of me. She's wearing a simple white dress, and it's giving off a mysterious, out-of-this-world glow.

"E-Ellie?" I ask hesitantly.

She's holding something behind her back. I don't know what it is. "It's your fault I died," she growls. "If you hadn't been Reaped, none of this would have happened. I would still be taking care of Mother."

She advances.

I back away.

"What are you talking about?" I ask. "It's not like I asked to be Reaped!"

"This is your fault..." she hisses, then raises whatever she's holding at me.

It's a dagger.

"And now you'll die for what you've done," she says, an evil smile plastered on her face.

It can't be Ellie! Ellie would never do something like this!

My eyes widen in horror as I realize what is about to happen.

She moves forward, and then I can feel the pain in my chest.

So much blood...

The last thing I hear is a cannon going off before everything vanishes.

I wake up screaming and drenched in cold sweat.

It was only a dream.

"It was only a dream," I say aloud, but the pain in my chest would not go away.

I hear footsteps. Is Ellie really coming to kill me? I draw the bed sheets closer to me. Hide from this nightmare.

The door to my compartment slides open, revealing Finnick Odair in his underwear.

He's practically naked. But seeing Finnick without clothes is hardly the problem right now.

"Annie?" He asks, his voice filled with alarm. "What happened?"

I don't answer.

He's probably figured out why I'm acting this way, because he walks in and sits down beside me, and pulls me into his arms. "Shh," he soothes. "It's alright. You're safe."

I shudder. He rocks me back and forth gently. "It was awful," I croak. My voice is hoarse from the screaming. I sob into his chest. "F-Finnick?" I ask.

"Yes?"

"You don't think Ellie blames me for her death, do you?" I don't give him time to answer. "She has to. She said so herself...that this is all my fault. Oh, I'm a dreadful person...Ellie's dead because of me...She's going to kill me..."

"It was only a dream," Finnick says sharply.

I shake my head. "It was real," I object. "Why else would there be cannons? Oh, I'll never get out of the arena alive...Ellie, I'm so sorry..."

"No, Annie. You will get out of the arena alive. And I'm going to help you, not just because it was what your sister asked. Because...if anyone is to blame for both you and Davis getting Reaped, it's me," Finnick mutters.

What is he talking about? Why would it be his fault? "What do you mean, you're the one to blame?" I ask.

Finnick shifts uncomfortably, but he doesn't speak. "There are ears everywhere," he says quietly. I stare at him, mystified, as he continues, "I'll explain it to you when there's a more appropriate place for...private matters." Loudly, he adds, "You should get ready. We're going to arrive in the Capitol any moment."

"And what about you? Are you really just going to step out of the train in nothing but...that?" I gesture at his underwear. I'm feeling better, with Finnick there to comfort me. It's amazing how spending only two days with someone can change all your opinions about them. I know that I don't hate him anymore, especially if I'm depending on him to help me win the Hunger Games. If I can win, that is.

Smirking at me, he says, "Oh, but the Capitol loves it when I'm wearing nothing but this."

"Well, I don't," I retort, but I can feel my cheeks burning. "Go and change, before someone gets the wrong idea. Someone like...Locketta."

Because that is when Locketta looks into my room, just in time to find Finnick Odair sitting with me on my bed. "Well, isn't this the cutest thing?" She asks in her think Capitol accent.

I push Finnick off the bed. "It's not what it looks like!" I protest.

"Oh, really?" Locketta winks at me. "Finnick, please leave, so Annie can change. We're behind schedule already."

I exchange a glance with Finnick, who gives me a cheerful grin. "Oh, I wouldn't mind staying," he teases.

"Hey!" I say, then pick up another pillow.

He holds his hands up in defeat before he turns and leaves the compartment. Locketta watches him leave with a dazed expression, as if she's dreaming about him. "Just pick whatever you want to wear, Annie. Your prep team will be taking care of the rest later," she tells me, then she too hurries off. Probably to see Finnick dress.

I study the dresses in my closet. They're all too fancy. There's a particular white dress that hauntingly reminds me of Ellie's dress in my dream...Definitely not one I'd want to wear.

Finally, I decide on a light green one. I slip it on, quickly wash, and join the others by the exit.

"We'll have breakfast first," Locketta was saying to Finnick as I arrive.

Davis nods to me in greeting. "Thanks for the wake up call," he comments.

"What?" I ask, puzzled.

He smirks. It looks too much like Finnick's. "With all that screaming."

"Uh..." I'm at a loss for words. He appeared to be joking about it, but my nightmare isn't something to joke about. "At least Locketta won't have to say how behind schedule we are now," I manage.

"She complains about being behind schedule even if we're early," he points out.

I can't help but smile.

Would I really have to kill Davis in less than a week?

I can't kill someone I know...someone whom I can call a friend...As a matter of fact, I don't want to kill anyone...

I can only hope that another tribute will be the one to kill Davis.

Thanks to both Davis and Finnick, I am no longer thinking about my nightmare. Besides, the view of the Capitol is breathtaking. I'm distracted enough.

"Welcome to the Capitol," says Locketta brightly, just as the train doors slide open to the cheering crowd.

Disclaimer: I am not from the Capitol, so of course I don't own the Hunger Games.

They're finally in the Capitol! Next chapter will involve Annie's prep team.

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