Annie counts the positives first. She loves her dress. The music is gorgeous. This is her last night in the Capitol, so her escort will allow her to eat anything and everything she wants. That's three.
Next come the neutrals. The holiday they're celebrating tonight makes absolutely no sense. Annie has never heard of it in District Four, but as far as she can tell, it involves a man in red, deer, a baby, a star, and lots of presents. The man she's dancing with has an annoying voice, but he's very nice, so she supposes that makes him a neutral. Since this category won't count for or against the total score, they have to be zero.
Finally, the negatives. She begins to mentally tick them off, but soon stops. Annie's not sure why she thought that keeping score of the good and bad facets of this party was a good idea. There's no way the good can win, not with what will happen tonight. Not with what's already happening to Finnick.
She glances over to where he dances with a woman whose skin is dyed an awful combination of red and green. That seems to be a popular color scheme tonight; it must have something to do with the Christmas holiday. Annie does her best to keep her hatred out of her eyes as she presses her body too close to Finnick's, but she doubts that she is successful. She tries not to watch her claw-like nails run down his chest or the grin on his face, but Annie can't miss the pain in his eyes. He's told her what these people do to him, and will do to her, and it makes her want to kill something. Or, more accurately, someone.
Her eyes narrow when they come to rest on the reason for their suffering. President Snow looks out over his party like the reptile he is. He smiles when he sees her, and Annie can almost see the blood running between his teeth. She shivers and turns back to her dancing partner. "Cold?" he asks.
"Just a breeze," Annie lies. They think the victors choose this life, and she doesn't want to get her family killed by breaking that illusion.
He smiles, and Annie sees far too many teeth. "I'll make sure to keep you warm tonight."
Four hours later, when she stumbles out of his room with aching legs and tear-stained cheeks, Annie will wonder why she ever thought the man would be kind.
.oOo.
A/N: Happy holidays! This was based on an anonymous request on Tumblr for an angsty drabble about President Snow forcing Annie and Finnick to go to a Christmas party. Thanks for reading, and to everyone who has reviewed, followed, or favorited.