Hey readers! I am so sorry for my delay. I love all of you, and I am still going to finish the story. It's just that I am in the Pre-I.B program in my high school (freshman year, so I have a lot to get used to) which means I have at least 4 hours of homework nightly, and like 10 hours over the weekend. I'm also in an acting troupe which takes up most of the weekend. UGH I'm sorry you guys :( Well, here it is, the next chapter. Thanks to all of those who have supported me and have read and reviewed! xoxo

This chapter is dedicated to Hannah526. Happy Birthday sweetheart :)

Chapter 14- I'll Carry Your World

Annie's P.O.V

I'm in a room. A brick room. No windows, no doors, no escape. A single picture takes up the wall to the left of me; a picture of President Snow. Blood drips from the frame, slowly makes its way to where I stand, and covers my feet. My bare feet. I'm naked. I look around. I'm completely naked, in front of a picture of Snow himself.

A boy sits in a fetal position in the corner to the right of me. I try and cover myself as he lifts his head. Finnick. No. Why is he here?

Why am I here?

Where am I?

Finnick stands, a black cloak covering himself from head to toe. The hood of the cloak shadows his face, making him a black ghost, glaring at me through the darkness.

"Do it," President Snow's portrait speaks.

I look at the picture, and suddenly, its eyes move to make contact with mine. Finnick unsheathes a bloody dagger from his cloak, and drops his hood. He's smiling. He slowly walks towards me, making waves of the blood from underneath us.

"DO IT!" Snow repeats.

I crouch in a corner, the cold brick cooling my bare back. I try and scream, but realize I can't speak. No escape. I'm at my most vulnerable in front of the darkest of evil and the lightest of good in my life.

Finnick lifts the dagger, the blood on it now turned to black. He sends the thing towards my heart. I let out a soundless scream as the room shifts, and I see white.

"Annie! Annie!" Demere's voice makes its way through my thoughts.

I awake with his eyes hovering over mine. It was all a dream, a nightmare. His eyes glaze over with concern and- to my surprise- he lifts me into his arms.

"It wasn't real. It wasn't real," Demere says as his arms tighten around me.

I bury my head in his chest, closing off the world. Faint smells of pine and sea water fill my senses and calm me almost immediately. He hasn't loosened his grip, waiting until I'm ready. After a couple moments, I am. I lift my head and take in my surroundings.

Demere searches my face, worry still made clear on his expression.

I give him a reassuring nod. "I just- it was just a nightmare."

He nods back. "My parents always made me describe my nightmares to them, saying it would help if I let it out, but it just made me feel worse to be honest."

"Yeah, I don't think talking about it would help either." I look around and see Hektor and Larissa still asleep. Devi has yet to return. "Did I wake you?" I ask.

He shrugs. "Actually, Hektor just woke me up to keep watch. I was already awake."

"I can help you," I offer.

"No, I got it. Why don't you go back to sleep?"

I sigh. I am exhausted. Comforting Larissa last night took a lot of energy from me. Getting her to calm down and stop sobbing was surprisingly hard. I didn't know she was so close to Argo. Shivers still run up my spine from the image of Finnick's deadly smile. I look at Demere and realize I can't close my eyes again for a while. The darkness and dreams offer no comfort anymore.

I shake my head. "I can't."

Demere's eyebrows knit in concern. "Yeah, you're right. Well, at least you can keep me company, right?"

I smile and sit back to back with him. He has eyes to the north and west, and I have eyes to the south and east. It's perfect really, we have become a good team.

It'll hurt when he dies, the voice says.

My heart sinks as I hear it again. I thought my nightmare would be enough of self-torture today.

I stay silent.

You know, he will have to die. Unless you are stupid enough to risk your life for his, he is going to have to die, and you're going to be there. You're going to watch him. You're going to have to see the light drain from his eyes.

I desperately squeeze my eyes shut and lift my hands to my ears, blocking the world around me. I squeeze my head between my hands. White lights dance in the darkness of my eyelids.

Leave. Me. Alone.

Dearie, I am you. I am in your head. I don't think you realize I am never leaving you alone… It's such a shame, isn't it?

I don't respond.

You fight with these children, convincing yourself that they are your enemies. That they will be the people that eventually kill you. You tell yourself that they are the bad guys, when both of us know that the real enemy here, the one that will probably end you, is me. And I, dearie, am you. So, in a way, your worst enemy is yourself-

Shut up! I yell.

-And you can never escape yourself.

Someone's hands rake at the ones covering my ears. I keep them on, desperate to reach my sanity.

Sanity. Sanity. Sanity.

The sounds of waves reach my thoughts at last. The slight feeling of sand sinking between my toes, beckoning me to come to the water, comes to me. Golden hair, tan skin, and green eyes, crinkled at the edges due to a blinding smile appear in the darkness. A beach – our beach- slowly comes into view behind him. Behind Finnick.

He smiles my smile. He smiles the smile that only I get. His big hands clasp over mine immediately and he pulls me close to him. His lips brush over mine, and my body warms over. The chill of my voice and my nightmare melt. I am with him. I am with my Finnick.

He lets me go, but his hand lingers on my wrist. I look down. A string of pearls adorns my skin. I admire it, and look up at him, prepared to give my thanks, but he has vanished into darkness.

I come to my senses. My hands become limp as I give into whoever is trying to remove them from my ears.

"Annie, please. Just open your eyes for me."

I do as this voice says and slowly part my lids. Demere's face is in front of mine, beads of sweat forming at his hairline.

"I- I am so sorry Demere," I say, trying to form words.

"Don't apologize. Are you okay?" He says.

I nod. "I am now."

He breathes a sigh of relief. He stays silent for a moment, looking at the ground. It looks like he's trying to decide something. It takes a while, but he finally lifts his eyes to meet mine.

"You can't let anyone know this happened."

I am taken aback by his words. I wasn't even thinking of our other allies, or the cameras. The cameras. They captured my whole episode and televised it to all of Panem. Finnick saw this. Finnick saw my break down. My heart beat intensifies. So did President Snow. So did my friends back at home. Everyone saw.

"I know, and you know. That's it," Demere says.

"But the cameras," I say.

"Don't worry about them. The only people that matter right now are the tributes wanting our faces in the sky. If you tell anybody, they'll manipulate you, Annie. They'll tear you apart."

"I know," I say.

"Don't even tell them," he says with a nod towards our sleeping allies. "I have a feeling they aren't trustworthy."

I nod, and breathe in and out. Demere brushes a strand of hair from my face and gives me a reassuring grin.

"It was just a one-time kind of thing, Annie. It won't happen again."

I look at him and squint my eyes. "How do you know?"

He shrugs. "Because you're strong."

I nod again. He's right; I'm stronger than this.

"Just pretend nothing ever happened, okay? And it will eventually feel like nothing ever did."

"Okay. I need to get my mind off of this, though."

He pats the dirt next to him."Then let's keep watch."

I sit next to him, comforted by his presence.

Something triggers in the back of my mind. When he said that I could be manipulated by whoever knew my loss of sanity, was he excluding himself? Would he ever manipulate me? This is a game that only one person wins. He'd be stupid not to use my new weakness against me. What's stopping him? I wouldn't blame him- I might do it if I was in his place.

I shake my head to clear my thoughts. Put it past me. Put it past me. Nothing ever happened, Annie. Stay strong.

Just to make sure, I silence my thoughts, preparing for my voice.

Emptiness- no whispers.

I breathe a sigh of relief and make myself comfortable in the dirt.

I look down at my wrist, wanting to see a strand of white pearls from where Finnick touched. Instead, I see dirt and a few spots of dried blood. I look straight ahead, ignoring the heaviness in my core, yearning for my Finnick.

Thankfully, Demere interrupts my thoughts. "How are your wounds?"

I look to my shoulder, where the beast bit me, and uncover it. A light pink crescent moon adorns my pale skin. He and I both smile.

"Whatever you shot in me worked," I say.

He nods. "And what about everything else?"

"My ribs aren't sore anymore, and I can move my ankle around. I'm healing quickly."

Demere's grin brightens. "Good. Now is when the Game really starts, Annie. Now we have allies, we've been here, what, three days? The bloodbath is over, we have a solid camp set up, and we've received sponsor gifts. It all starts now."

"And we've lost an ally," I say.

He frowns. "Yeah…that too. Regardless, health is critical at this stage in the Games."

I look at him. "When did you become an expert?"

He shrugs. "I've done my studying."

The sun rises to my left and I squint as the new light shines upon our little spot. I hear rustling behind us as our allies wake up. Demere looks at me, a warning look. It says remember, nothing happened. I give a small nod, agreeing. Time to put on a mask and hope it's enough.

Suddenly, the forest silences. The usual drum we hear obliterates. At first, it's peaceful. I am surrounded by serenity. But then, my heartbeat quickens.

And that's when the world beneath me begins to move.

Please excuse any typos or errors. Nobody is perfect and I was trying to get this to you guys as quickly as possible.

I love you all!

xoxo

FinnickandAnnieForever (My actual name is Karlee :D)