Warning: This chapter is violent and very dark.

Annie opened her mouth in a silent scream as she clawed through her hair. Long, barely-healed cuts zigzagged their way up her arms, and Annie froze for a moment to admire the beautiful contrast of the scarlet patterns on her porcelain skin. When she bit her lips in concentration, she could taste blood on her lips. Seannan's blood. How could she be so selfish? Seannan would need his blood if he wanted to come home.

No, you're mad, a small, sane part of her whispered cruelly. Seannan's never going to come home. He's dead. You let him die.

Annie let out a choked sob. "No, no! Please be quiet."

The voice did not stop. You can lie to yourself, Annie, but you know it's true. Seannan's never coming back. We both watched him die. I think you even enjoyed it.

"No I didn't! I didn't want that!"

You're mad, Annie Cresta.

She scratched at her ears and temples, desperate to get the other woman out, but the voice never left her, always burrowing a little deeper inside of Annie just as she reached it. The woman continued to whisper to her, repeating the same things over and over so insistently that Annie began to doubt the truth.

Maybe Seannan had died. Maybe she had enjoyed watching Seannan's death. She had volunteered, after all. She must like the thrill of killing, the joy of watching the life dribble out of another and knowning that she had ended them. Her tongue poked out to caress her lips. Yes, she loved the scent, the taste of blood. Surely she could find some more?

Annie gathered her pack and supplies, surprised to find a dozen silver parachutes littering the ground around her. "Thank you, Finnick," she laughed. She stuffed the bandages, food, and water she found inside the canisters into her pack. Her mentor must have sent her these packages while she was talking to her new friend. Finnick obviously approved of her new ally. She trudged into the water with her knife in hand, intent on finding the other tributes.

You're mad, whispered the woman again. Annie smiled. That thought no longer bothered her.

"How is she?" Finnick asked as he ran into the room. He was surprised by the silence from his former mentor. "Mags, what's wrong? Is Annie okay?" The old woman turned and gestured him towards the monitor. He smiled at the image of Annie gathering the supplies he had sent her over the last three days. "Mags, this is fantastic! She's better, I know she is."

"I worry about that girl," Mags said.

Finnick turned back to the woman to see tears in her eyes. "Why? She's up again, she's interested in the food we've sent her, and she's going to hunt down the other tributes. I think we might have ourselves another victor." Finnick smiled, but Mags shook her head slowly.

"You didn't hear her earlier." Mags bit down on her lower lip to stop herself from crying, but a few tears still leaked out of her eyes. "She kept screaming and laughing, talking to nobody. After three days of silence, she was suddenly alive again. It was horrible, Finnick. She was absolutely manic. Then she got up, dusted herself off, and it was as though nothing had ever happened. I don't know what's happened to her, Finnick, but I don't think Annie is really better."

"Mags, it'll be fine. Everyone talks to themselves in the Arena. Yes she was quiet for a few days, but she always kept drinking, so she's at least hydrated. She had a lot to think about, but now she's done and she's ready to win this thing."

"I hope you're right boy, I really do." Mags still looked unconvinced.

Finnick gave her his most charming smile. "I don't need to hope, I know I'm right. I'm going to go find some more sponsors. Keep an eye on Annie?" He kissed her on the forehead before practically bouncing back out of the room. Despite Mags's worries, he knew everything would be all right.

Annie allowed herself a small smile as she walked towards the heart of the island. She could feel, no she could smell, the other tribute. This was the one she'd been looking for. The boy from Seven had to die for what he'd done to Seannan. Annie gleefully cut through the tall grasses with her sword, anxious for any sign of the boy. He had done well to hide from her for this long. Annie had searched for two days for him, but now she could sense that he was close.

She heard the snap of a tree branch behind her and span to see Amethyst staring at her. Before he could raise his weapon, Annie's knife had buried itself in his chest. She watched his eyes widen as he stumbled. Annie sat down on a patch of soft green clover and waited for Amethyst to stop convulsing. Once the man had gone still and his eyes vacant, she dug the knife out of his chest and licked a long stripe along the blade. Wonderful.

You're mad, Annie Cresta, the woman whispered again. The cannon blasted, but Annie did not walk away from the corpse. He wasn't the Seven boy, but Amethyst had certainly been a lovely surprise.

"Amethyst, are you all right? Did you find her?" Annie knew that the voice had to come from Luster, but she couldn't determine which direction it was coming from.

She glanced back down at Amethyst's body and immediately wanted to vomit. She'd done that. She had killed the boy who'd been nothing but kind to her and to Seannan. Annie dropped her knife and moved backwards several steps. You're a monster, the voice whispered gleefully.

"I didn't want to be. I just want it to stop!" she screamed. "Please, please make it stop!"

Maybe the Gamemakers heard her, because the next thing she felt was a crushing pressure against her back. Annie allowed herself to be claimed by the wave, to feel its power forcing her under. For long moments, she considered staying under to kill the voice. Her own death seemed a small price.

But Annie had been born and raised in Four, and the first lesson that was drilled into every child was to keep swimming. She broke the surface and took several deep breaths as she surveyed the Arena. For as far as she could see, there was only open water. The islands had been entirely eaten up by the sea.

She spotted a flash of orange and went to investigate. Luster was floating with the aid of an orange vest, her back to Annie. The voice spoke again. Just two more, just her and the boy from Seven, and we can go home. It won't be hard, will it Annie? We've done this before.

"No, I don't want to." Luster turned towards her. Annie felt her heart stop as the other woman reached for a throwing knife. She dove back underneath the water just before the blade hit her. Annie swam towards the other woman's legs and pulled Luster down underneath the waves. The two women met each other's eyes as Annie held Luster's wrists still. Unable to cut or stab Annie, Luster was helpless. Her eyes narrowed at Annie before her body went limp. She only released the other woman when she heard the sound of cannonfire.

Annie gulped in air as she came back up. Only one more to –

"I would like to introduce, ladies and gentlemen, the victor of the seventieth annual Hunger Games, Annie Cresta!" a voice boomed.

Annie looked up to see a huge black hovercraft looming above her with its claw extended. She screamed and thrashed as the iron grip locked itself around her, pulling her up into the hovercraft's gaping mouth to be devoured. You're mad, Annie Cresta, the voice whispered again. Annie watched in horror as the men came towards her, needles in hand, to put her down like the animal she was.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Extra thanks to everyone who reviewed - I really appreciate it! Please, leave a review and tell me what you think. See you soon!

~finnicko-loves-anniec