She jumped when a hand wrapped around her arm. Annie whirled away from her machine with one fist raised, ready to defend herself. "No reason for that now, love," Haymitch said, grabbing her wrist. "We've got places to be. C'mon." He tugged her away from the assembly line, startling the other workers.
"I'm assigned here for the next two hours." These Thirteen people were devoted to their daily schedules. How much trouble would she be in if she left?
"Finnick's going to need you."
Something in his voice made her heart stop. "Where is he?" She needed to be with him now.
"Come on, I'll show you." Haymitch surprised Annie by breaking into a jog, and she followed him, their footsteps echoing through the cold, empty tunnels of District Thirteen.
…
It's just a test. They can't hurt her. She's safe. No matter how many times Finnick repeated the phrases to himself, the screams didn't stop. "Finnick! Finnick, help me!" He couldn't help her. She wasn't here to help.
It had to be a recording or a jabberjay like in the Arena, but that didn't matter. Annie needed him, and there was nothing he could do. Useless. He had a mission he needed to complete; he could worry about this later. Hands shaking, he pushed open the door, weapon raised and ready to shoot. The screaming only intensified. This… this couldn't be a recording. It seemed too emotional, too real. His hands shook as he searched for his target, but still he pressed forward.
"Stop! Finnick, you're hurting me!" He felt warm, no, hot, like the building was burning around him. Finnick blinked back the tears that stung in his eyes, doing his best not to drop the weapon. He hadn't hurt her; he couldn't have, but that didn't matter to his rapidly-beating heart or narrowing vision. Finnick's gut twisted with the next scream, and combined with the pounding dizziness in his head, he was certain for an instant that he would collapse.
But he struggled for breath and pressed forward. It isn't real. It can't be. Finnick checked that he still had a firm grip on the rifle and pushed open the next door, weapon raised. Please be here. Please let this be over. The instant he saw the figure in the corner, he pulled the trigger.
The shaking didn't start until he saw the red gushing from the hole in the dummy's forehead. Her screams stopped, and he collapsed to the ground, struggling to keep himself from vomiting as tears streamed down his face.
He didn't know how long he stayed in that position before he felt a gentle hand on his cheek. "Finnick," a woman's voice whispered as soft lips kissed his jawline. "It's okay. You're safe."
He couldn't care less if he's safe or not, but judging by the warm body pressed against his, she was all right. Finnick pulled her into his arms, forgetting his test for the comfort she provided.