A/N Hello Lovelies, here's another chapter for you all! I've got big plans for this fic, big huge fun terrifying plans! I'm also in the process of writing my novel, which I am SO Excited about! It's sort of a memoir-inspired fiction. It's honestly more for me than anything else, but if people are interested I might post it on a blog or something! Anyways, thank you all for reading this, for the support, the follows, and ESPECIALLY the reviews! They make my day, they really do. Enjoy! Yours, Alise

Adley's POV

The next few weeks pass by in a whirlwind of interviews, public viewings, hair and makeup appointments, and doctor's visits, leaving me with very little free time to do anything relaxing. Every free moment I have is spent wishing I was back in four, listening to the waves slowly crash into the rocks. I miss it terribly, I wonder how the others deal with it.

We have a free day, and I use this opportunity to finally explore the District Four apartment. I wasn't too keen on it before the games, but now that they're over… I lay in bed, longer than usual, and relish in the comfort that the soft mattress provides. No bed has ever felt this nice, this relaxing. I close my eyes and imagine the smell of salt water around me, calming me. I miss the ocean. Nothing in the Capital comes close to replicating its beauty.

Eventually, I pull myself off of the bed and walk over to my wardrobe, grabbing a towel and large fluffy robe before heading into the bathroom. I can't shake the dirty feeling of being in the Capital, or being in the games. Ever since I got back images of dirt and blood spattered across my face rush through me and the feeling returns. Fortunately for me, the showers in the Capital are wonderful, and provide refuge.

I walk into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. I quickly remove all of my close and reach into the large shower to turn on the water. As I wait for the water to warm and take a look at my wound. The long cut on my abdomen runs from in between my breasts to just under my belly button. I tenderly reach down to feel the scar, I wish I didn't have to have it removed. The games leave you with a feeling of imperfection, they leave you feeling different. This scare proves that I am different, taking it away would be like disregarding the horrors of the games.

The glass on the mirror begins to fog up so I step into the heavy stream of the shower, reveling in the instant warmth surrounding me. As much as I detest the Capitol, I can't help but find myself entranced in the delicacies of this place. In the bath alone there were several soaps of all different scents. I picked one that reminded me of home, it had a sort of salty smell to it, like the ocean.

I stay under the spray of the shower until the hot water turns cold. I step out, and wrap myself in the large robe, then I begin patting my hair dry on the towel. When I walk out of the bathroom I find Finnick sitting on my bed, a piece of rope in his hands. Instinctively I reach up to my robe to pull it further across my body. He notices my reaction.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He says. I stare at him, confused. "Tour is going to start early, they're expecting a cold winter this year in the further districts so they want us to get a head start, beat the storm." Oh.

"When do we leave?" I ask.

"Tomorrow." I groan. Luckily I have very little to pack. I came here with nothing, but have been gifted a few clothing items throughout the duration of my stay. Finnick points to a bag he brought in. "You can use that if you want." I nod at the bag, still gripping at my robe. He notices how unfortable I am and gets up. "Sorry, I… I'll leave." He starts toward the door.

"Finnick?" I call out of nowhere. He turns around. I can't figure out what I'm trying to say, my words end up coming out garbled and mixed, "How...How do you do it." His brows furrow, confused.

"Remember what I told you, before?" I shake my head.

"Finnick, I killed people."

"You did what you had to-"

"No I didn't." I say boldly. "I didn't *have* to do anything. I could have let them kill the others. I should have let them kill the others, should have hidden." I begin sobbing and shaking uncontrollably. He walks towards me and wraps his arms around my shaking body. I turn my face to stare him in the eyes, "But I didn't. I couldn't hide Finnick."

"I know." He plants a kiss on my head as I crumple into his arms. "It's hard, I know, I really do." He pulls away from me, still holding onto my shoulders and looks into my eyes. "Have you been sleeping?" I look away, avoiding his eyes. He knows the answer. "Are they bad?" I raise my eyebrow, "The nightmares, are they bad?" I clench my jaw and nod. The last one involved my entire family being nominated for the games before being ripped apart by Satin. "Do you want to talk about it?" I shake my head, tears streaming down my face.

A knock on the door breaks our embrace. Finnick slumps down on the bed, and Max walks in holding a letter. Finnick jumps of the bed, jaw clenched, and reaches for it.

"It's for her." She says. Finnick's hand drops away from the letter. He looks at Max for a few seconds, I can't tell what they are exchanging in their glances. But I see something very familiar, fear. Finnick doesn't even turn to look at me before storming out the door, slamming it hard behind him causing the room to shake. I jump as I hear something in the other room be smashed, against a wall I assume.

"I'll just leave it on the dresser" Max says, then walks out. She places the envelope on the dresser then walks out of the room, closing the door behind her. Outside I can hear her trying to yell quietly at him.

I walk over to the dresser and gingerly pick up the white envelope. The smell of roses and something else I can't quite place takes over me. I turn it over and rip it open.

"Adley Parkins,
The President requests your presence tomorrow morning before you leave for your victory tour. A care will be sent for you at 9 in the morning."