Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

The few seagulls awake at this hour stir when she gets up, taking flight to find refuge in the sky. They aren’t usually this skittish, but Annie figures they’re as nervous as the rest of the district on this day. It's reaping day, for the 70th hunger games to be exact, and this is the last year she is eligible. It brings a form of comfort, knowing that the feeling of dread looming over her ceases after today's sun has set. She has to make it through one last time.
If you were to be official about it, district four is a career district, meaning kids above twelve and under eighteen train and volunteer for the games. But Miss Mags, who has mentored almost every kid that has been reaped since she had won her own games, says district four is career in name only. It’s nothing like district one and two, for example. Annie's seen what those kids can do with anything that even remotely resembles a weapon. If it wasn’t so terrifying, she would find it quite impressive.

Lost in thought she arrives back at the small beach house, leaving the seagulls’ gawking behind her once the door closes. The silence is both deafening and welcomed. Her parents and brother are still asleep when she peeks her head into their bedrooms. It’s five and the reaping isn’t until ten, so she’s not surprised they’re getting the most of the well needed rest. Reif always did seem way less anxious about it than she was.
Annie kills time by cleaning the few fish she was able to catch when she went out to sea, separating the flesh from the bones and discarding the bones into a crumpled up paper.

Her father stumbles into the kitchen, undoubtedly tipped off by the light she had turned on. “You alright girl?” he asks, voice groggy and eyes half closed still. “Couldn’t sleep, that’s all. You should get some more.” Her voice holds slight amusement at the sight of her father so out of his element, a rough fisherman through and through now stifling a yawn. He doesn’t protest, giving her a quick wave before retreating back to bed. The fish had given more meat than she had hoped for and she decides to take it as a good sign. Perhaps this meant that today wouldn’t bring anything bad upon them. Annie finishes the breakfast ensemble, plating the fish with some chopped seaweed and topping each plate off with a piece of their districts bread. It’s a calming sight, a normal sight. Like it’s just another Sunday morning where they’ll have breakfast together. After breakfast Annie and her mother will clean up while her dad and Reif will head out to catch some more fish. But they won't, because it’s not just any other Sunday and they aren’t having breakfast because once the rest of her family emerges nobody seems to be hungry. The food gets tucked away, they’ll have the leftovers tonight.

-

Annie searches for Reif in the crowd and finds him already staring at her. He gives her a thumbs up and she smiles. It’ll be okay, she mouths, I’ll see you soon. She stares up into the sky, where seagulls fly circles above the group gathered at the beach. The sun blinds them all when it emerges from behind the large government building, and even the announcer, a woman from the capitol called Yara, seems to be taken aback. She stands atop a temporary stage, way too giddy about the whole thing. The capitol anthem softly plays, and large flags that bear the seal of Panem are draped over the building. The seagulls settle down on top of it.
A certain calm overcomes her, soothing the anxiety that’s been looming over her ever since she woke up this morning. “Ladies first!” the woman screeches, the same way every one of the announcers do when they pull the tributes from the pool. She wonders if they get a script if they have to follow, or if everyone in the capitol is this unbearable. Are these people born this way, or made to be like it? Yara takes the paper slip between two long, crooked and painted fingernails, struggling to open it. The paper flutters to the floor and Yara gives an unnervingly small smile, bending down to pick it up again, clearing her throat.

“Annie Cresta!”

Yara's voice echoes, thumping in her ears, until she doesn't recognize her own name anymore. Before her, people make way. They move and create a clear path for her to walk towards her demise. Their faces, a contorted mix of joy and relief and even empathy, distort more with every step. They no longer look happy, or concerned, they don’t even look human anymore. It seems that with every step she takes, the girls that she shared the same possible fate with have turned into grotesque monsters looming over her. Go on, they say, goodbye. It feels final. It probably is.

“Annie?” The woman asks in a sing-songy voice, as if it isn’t obvious. As if anyone would volunteer for her. She just nods, perplexed at the reality of it all. She didn’t even get to eat her breakfast.
The woman seems to pay no mind to her deteriorating mental state as Annie takes to the stage, and has fled over to the boys section where she greedily stuffs her rainbow colored claws into the bowl. “And for the boys..." There's a pause, as if she wants this moment to be remembered. "Reif Cr-“ suddenly, she halts. As if she choked on the words. Annie’s head snaps towards the woman, then to her brother. The words echo and bounce around aimlessly within her head. She must still be affected by the aftermath of being reaped, she must still be in shock.

“Reif Cresta.” The woman repeats, less enthusiastic than when she announced Annie. And Annie just stares. She stares at the woman and she stares at Reif making his way through the crowd. She doesn’t look at her parents, afraid that the sight of them is the one thing that will shake her out of this state of numbness and into complete hysteria. Despite that, she has a pretty good idea of what they are thinking, of what everyone is thinking. Never in the history of the hunger games have two siblings been reaped for the same games. It seems too calculated, too cruel. But she should’ve known better, the capitol isn’t above anything.

-

The door opens and she looks up, eyes bloodshot and puffy from crying. It’s not her parents, not yet, she was told she could say goodbye to them before they were leaving for the capitol. It’s Miss Mags, one of the victors hailed from district four and who she could only guess would become her mentor now. Her gaze is empathetic and she ties her hair into a bun before kneeling down next to Annie. “Hi Annie.” She says. Her voice is soft, kind and it almost brings Annie to tears once more. Kindness is bad, it presses her face to the glass for a premium view of the reality of it all. She’s barely able to spear a fish in the water- how was she to do something similar to her fellow tributes?

“I know what you must be feeling right now.” Mags continues when Annie doesn’t respond. “You’re scared of what’s to come and that is very normal, but I can assure you that I will do my very best to get you through this and bring you back home.”
Back home, Annie thinks. But if she’s going home, then Reif isn’t. There can’t be two victors, it’s one or none. “Reif-“ she begins, and Mags smiles a sad smile. “I know, but let's not focus on that just now, you've had enough to deal with today.” Annie knows Mags is brushing over the inevitable, but she is right. It’s no use to think of the outcome right now, it’ll only bring extra unneeded stress on her body. So she nods. “Thank you.” she says, voice hoarse from all the crying. Mags wipes away a stray tear. “You know Finnick, right?"
Barely, they had a couple of classes together but with him being a year older and a victor of the Hunger Games, people flocked to his side at any given chance. Besides, they didn't seem to have much in common. But Annie nods, taking deep breaths between every couple words. "The youngest victor ever." "That's right, he's a wonderful mentor." Mags smiled with her eyes, a hopeful thing given she went through her own fair share of trauma after her own reaping. Annie briefly wondered if it was an act, but banished that thought before she could ever entertain it. "Come on-" Mags said, slapping her knee lightly before pulling Annie up. "It's time to say our goodbyes."

Saying goodbye to everyone had seemed easier in her head, or perhaps it was Mags who had coached her on the best way how to. Miss Mags, someone who's positive demeanor she had put into question, had been an absolute angel in guiding her so far. She sat with Annie as she cried twice more and held her as her legs gave out. Not once had Mags told her to get it together, or even given her the slightest hint that she was overreacting.
When she met Finnick, Annie had thanked her lucky stars that she was assigned to Mags. The man had an attitude and seemed to think he was God’s gift to the world, but Reif seemed to like him and that’s all that mattered to her. Reif, her little brother, had interpreted this whole situation very differently than she had. He seemed excited, almost elated to be visiting the capitol. He spoke like a career, telling her what an honor it was that two siblings were representing their district. Representing, of course, meant dying. Reif was a determined kid but no fighter, and Annie hadn’t picked up a spear since she followed that mandatory self defense class a couple years ago in school. Whatever fame and luxury was coming their way, it was temporary.

A knock on the door shook her out of her thoughts, and there were their parents. The same dead eyes, red and swollen from crying stared at her as she walked towards the pair. Annie wasn’t big enough to wrap her arms around both, but she tried, pulling them as close to her as possible. No one spoke, not even Reif when he stepped forward to join the group hug. Her father was the first to speak, clearing his throat before stepping back. “We have something for the both of you.”

Reif’s gift was a necklace, deep blue shells tied together on black yarn. He seemed impressed, something which elicited the smallest smile upon Annie’s lips. She hadn’t seen them before. “And yours-“ her mother began, taking her hand. It was a silver bracelet with two charms, a fish and a seashell. Annie frowned. “This is yours.” Her mother just smiled, patting her arm before embracing her once more. Behind her, the peacekeepers had opened the doors. “Time’s up.”
Annie gazed at her parents, then Mags. The latter nodded, as if to say go ahead, while Finnick ushered the two out. “We’ll reunite on the train.” He said as the creaking doors shut behind them. Two silent thuds were heard as they walked and Annie turned her head towards the building. Finnick gently put his hand to her cheek, turning her gaze towards him. “I’m a much better view.” She felt color rising to her cheek, his lingering words clouding her thoughts. The thuds were long forgotten, her gaze glued to the floor. She heard Reif giggle. It seemed forever until someone spoke again. “This is us.” Finnick spoke, putting one arm around either sibling. The train, decorated with banners and the district four logo, was massive. There were people running around, luggage and supplies being ushered into the side of the train carts, it was an organized mess. It was overwhelming. Then the music started to play, and Finnick pushed them both towards one of the heavy doors. “Happy hunger games, kids.”

Chapter Text

The train had been going for a few hours and there was still no sign of her appetite when lunch was announced. She had politely refused Reif’s request to explore the train, so there was nothing left to do but to give into the feeling of impending doom. The train sped past forests and abandoned towns so fast, she could barely make out what the world before Panem was supposed to look like. With eighteen years behind her belt she knew of the stories that the Capitol told them, but she had also picked up on enough discrepancies to know that most of it was made up. Propaganda, but who was going to rise up against the Capitol?
She tried reading, flipping through the endless supply of books the Capitol generously provided them with, but every story seemed to lead her to the same ending. Death. It seemed that with each passing minute, it was harder to separate reality from fiction. It just all seemed surreal.

Reif had found her in the library after he was done exploiting the luxuries the Capitol offered them before it sent them off to inevitable doom. “What do you think the others are like?” He mused, taking the book from her hands. “I was reading that-“ Annie protested, and Reif rolled his eyes in response. “I know you.” He said, pushing the pile of books in front of her to the side. They became a tangled mess of knowledge and Annie gave him an disapproving look. “You do?” Annie spoke in the same manner he was, cocky. Reif just nodded. “You are way too anxious to read anything but your own mind right now.” And he was right, she was an anxious mess. But who wouldn’t be? She wasn’t just about to enter the arena of death, she was about to enter it with her brother.
Before she could open her mouth to speak, Finnick appeared in the doorway. Reif’s mentor- or handler, perhaps, because Reif jumped at the very sound of his noise. It left Annie frowning, raising one eyebrow at the sight of it all. “You know-“ She said, before the God himself had a chance to leave. "You could treat him a little less like a dog."
He seemed intrigued, squinting his eyes just slightly before sliding into the seat next to her. "Annie-" His tone seemed uncertain, differing entirely from his body language. He propped his head onto his hand and settled into the cushions, directing all his attention to the redhead in front of him. "We went to school together, right?" The question seemed rhetorical, there were only a few schools in the district. He smiled, she nodded.

"I thought I remembered you."

"Don't lie to me."

"I'm not-" She held a finger, halting him mid-sentence. "Please don't." She wants to say more, admit that she's scared- not ready to die, but the more she says the more real it becomes. And she doesn't want it to be real. "Please don't assume me so gullible to fall for that, not when I'm already questioning my mind right now." Finnick seems to think about it, the glint within his eyes fading. He nods, getting up and leaving the room with Reif in tow. The room has never felt so empty.

-

When dinner comes around, her appetite still hasn't returned. She pushes a scallop from one side of her plate to the other with a fork and listens to the chatter of the people around her. Reif and Mags seemed to get along, their joyful remarks were infectious to even her. Her brother excelled in their new fate, soaking up every bit of temporary fame the capitol fed him, while Annie seemed to be stuck in a constant state of anxiety. "Miss Mags?" She felt Finnick stare. "I'm not hungry-" He was judging. "Do you think I could return to my room if there's nothing else we need to discuss?"
Mags her smile was sweet, her nod understanding. "I understand not being hungry, but the upcoming days you have the chance to prepare your body for the Arena. We'll try again at breakfast, alright?"

Annie feels almost guilty, looking at the untouched food on her plate, but her stomach is in knots and the food tastes like soot in her mouth. She nods, giving Mags a small smile. "Alright then." Mags concluded, smiling once more at her. "You are dismissed."

-

Their arrival had not been without press. Annie watched the other trains come to a stop beside theirs, briefly wondering whether the Capitol timed it so that every district arrived together. After a few minutes of total chaos, she decided that it wasn't above them to create such commotion. She watched as the tributes stepped out, stretching and waving to the cameras. District one and two were swarmed, buried underneath reporters and flashing lights. The lesser known districts, although photos were taken, had a more peaceful entrance.
Reif was one with the crowd, smiling brightly at each click of a camera, coming up with an answer for each of the ridiculous questions they asked. Did they enjoy the luxuries provided by the Capitol? Were they proud to represent their district in such a loved tradition? Annie rolled her eyes, gasping when Finnick slid his arm around her. His smile, although a bit uncanny, held charm. "Smile, princess. You're going to want the good publicity, trust me." And so she smiled, walking into the huge building fitted for the tributes alongside Finnick and Mags. She smiled until her teeth hurt and the doors closed behind them. "Well then-" Mags said, leading them into a large living area. "Time to get to work."

Besides the group training every tribute was supposed to follow, there was the private training with mentors. Each district was assigned a room with the necessary equipment and the mentors were free to fill their schedule in whatever was preferred, shared or training the tributes separately.
Annie followed closely behind Reif and Finnick who were chatting away, passing doors labeled “staff only” and “district one”. When they passed the second door, it flung open. She jumped back, startled and only barely avoiding a broken nose. Three people exited, whilst arguing, and clearly not paying attention to her. The girl, who she had come to know as Terra from district two, shouted profanities towards an older man. Slightly younger than Mags she had to guess, but he wore stress on his face. Dull, sunken eyes tried to shut out the yelling. She could tell. The boy seemed to try to diffuse the situation, getting between the two and shushing Terra multiple times. It resulted in a petty battle of Terra screaming louder and the boy holding up his finger each time. Hilarious, if Terra didn’t seem so intimidating.

Then they noticed her. “Annie, right?” The boy asked, staring a little too long. It earned her a foul look from Terra, although it seemed the girl's curiosity won when she spoke. “The district four siblings?” Annie nodded, turning her head slightly to the side to point at Reif who stood just as still as she had. Finnick just seemed impatient, but the sight of him relaxed Terra’s attitude instantly. “I didn’t know you were training people today...” She mused, closing the distance between them. “I would’ve asked for you instead.” A pang of jealousy hit her. Not for either Finnick or Terra, but district two were careers, they had plenty of people to volunteer and plenty of mentors. Finnick belonged to district four.

“I’m Ashlar.” The boy moved to gain Annie's attention once more. His voice was lower now, less forced. She met his gaze and shook his hand with the least bit of enthusiasm. He held a strong grip. “You didn’t answer me.” Answer what? She felt annoyance bubbling, whether that was because of Terra obviously flirting with what was supposed to be her mentor, or because Ashlar was taking her attention away from the more important things, she didn’t know. “Annie?” He tried again, turning his head slightly to meet her gaze. “Yes?” “Ah, so it is Annie.” She frowned. Behind Ashlar, Reif appeared to take her hand instead. “Finnick says if you aren’t inside the training room in ten seconds he’s going to make you do two hundred push-ups-“ Another frown, disbelief within sea green eyes. “And I don’t think he’s joking about that.” Ashlar winked as Reif pulled her into the training center. “Until next time, Annie!”

- 

His golden trident flowed like an extension of his arm. It was the same that won him the Hunger Games, that was used to purchase Finnick. It often resided as the mantlepiece of his home in Victor’s Village. Not by his choice of decoration, fitted there for whenever the cameras of the Capitol would intrude his life. Bringing it along with him was more for his tributes than anything. Its symbol marked his arm, along with his district. It eased their nerves, reminding them the odds could be in their favor too. He saw how it lit Reif’s jade eyes as his mentor handed it to him, and it gave worth to that cursed weapon.

“You’re late.” Finnick said, not as cordial as Mags in this room. The conversations outside hadn’t bothered him, it was far tamer usage than what he was used to from the upper districts. He had his share of tributes fawning over him, none of them reciprocated until they paid for it. “Every minute here counts.” Now looking at Annie, he spoke freely. “Those guys outside? They’re using every tool possible to throw you off. Even now. The games started with them ever since they were old enough to pick up a sword.”

Annie was given a dagger from his belt, coming with a smile as their eyes met. “So, we’ve got a lot of catching up to do.” Retreating back, he opened up arms upon the training floor. "Who's coming at me first?"

Reif practically shoved her out of the way to stand across from Finnick as fast as possible, and Annie retreated to the sidelines to sit against the wall. They were both dressed in black sweatpants and a white top, both donning the logo of their district. Like this, they almost looked like twins. She studied her brother, his stance way too aggressive against an experienced opponent like Finnick. The latter one seemed to amuse himself with it, a smirk upon his lips displaying the obvious. Finnick had him disarmed within seconds and the trident clattered to the ground, sliding over to her. Her turn.
The trident felt alien within her grasp, it was heavy and she had way too little experience with any close-combat weapons. Besides spearing fish, she had none at all. Perhaps the arena required a mindset more than anything. Once she locked eyes with Finnick she felt his challenge. Go on then, his gaze was practically pleading.

Her footsteps were light and fast, closing the distance between them in a matter of seconds. She let her eyes wander for two seconds, one to make eye-contact and one to stare at his lips. It had the desired effect, she felt him stumble, as if he were to reconsider his next action. Seizing the moment, she hooked her free arm around his to turn and pull him into her. The trident slid across his chest with the golden-plated pole pressed tightly against his neck while her hand firmly held onto both of his behind his back. “Don’t go easy on me again.” She whispered, taking her sweet time with her lips pressed against his ear. Once she released him, he coughed dramatically. She got a meager thumbs up. "Promise."
He kept his promise. Annie was floored, disarmed and humbled ten times over what she did to him and Reif had the time of his life watching it all go down. At the end of their session, Annie was chugging water by the gallon and Reif was counting stars circling his head.

"You know, the careers don't win every year." Finnick mumbled as he sat down next to them, gesturing for her to hand over the water. She obliged. "Aren't we technically careers?"

"You don't fight like one." Before Annie had a chance to push him, both their heads turned towards the door. Without knocking, a woman with a ponytail that came to her waist walked in. A certain confidence exuded from her, both contagious and intimidating. Two people, a girl and a boy followed closely behind her. The woman grinned, opening her arms as Finnick got up. "It has been too long, Finnick." He returned her smile, pulling her into his arms. "Nice to see you too, Johanna."

Chapter Text

“Alright kids…” Johanna stood in front of a whiteboard, grin plastered across her face. Before her sat the audience, consisting of Finnick, Annie, Reif and two tributes from district seven, Jude and Briar. None, besides Finnick, seemed very eager. “District one-“ Nevertheless Johanna continued, tapping the screen twice before messily writing down the names and number of the district. Two photos popped up, a blonde girl that seemed to be around eighteen and a brunette boy of the same age.

“Volunteers?” Briar asked.

“Yes, Aurelia and Sparkle. His fans call themselves ‘sparklers’, can you believe it?” Johanna rolled her eyes as she spoke, but it seemed to amuse Finnick.

Then came the tributes for district two, Annie recognized them immediately. “Terra and Ashlar-“

Johanna’s head turns to stare, but her expression didn’t let up. “Yes. These four, like almost every year, will team up and try to kill all of you before even attempting to aim at each other. They’ve been trained by the very best since they were able to crawl and they have a team of mentors swarming around them.” She turns to face the crowd before her, tilting her head when she meets Annie’s gaze. “In other words, they are crazy skilled and have an insanely motivated team behind them… Now!” She regained her enthusiasm when she spins towards the whiteboard again, pulling up the names and photos for district three. “Surge and Lumen… both fifteen.” Two more photos popped up as Johanna pulled them into view. “District three doesn’t have many victors, so their mentors are Beetee and Wiress. They are-“

“Crazy smart?” Reif interrupted her, causing Johanna to glare at him. “Just crazy- and district four apparently lacks manners.”

Reif’s expression fell, color rising to his cheeks. Johanna’s rhetoric attempt at asking him if she could continue was met with a quick nod. Finnick was still having the time of his life.

“District five and six… Neither has shown to be big of a challenge-“

“But you of all people should know not to underestimate someone, Johanna.” Finnick interrupted her too, but didn’t get glared at. Johanna just smiled.

“District seven.” Johanna looked from Reif to Annie and then faced the two kids sitting across the couch. “You could become allies, if you wanted to.” Finnick propped himself up from the couch to look at all four tributes. “Allies are crucial in the arena, and although we aren’t going to train you together I think it’s important for all of you to really think about what you want to do in that arena, and if you’ll need help in that.”

Reif and Annie locked eyes before hesitantly facing the two across from them. Annie was the first to break the silence. “What does it entail?” Jude was fifteen, a determined kid but a young one. He seemed to pay little attention to Johanna’s speech, gazing out of the window every now and then. Between now and their little meet-up at the gym, Annie realized she hadn’t seen him smile once. Briar had. The polar opposite of Jude, her smile was contagious. It brightened her entire expression. She’d be seventeen, maybe eighteen, if Annie had to guess. She’d ask about that later.

Finnick answered her question. “It means that the unfortunate situation you’re about to be put into will be a little easier, with someone watching your back.” He smiled a crooked smile, one of sympathy. Whatever was going to happen in the arena, Annie didn’t expect to make it out. It would be nice to have someone there, besides Reif. She nodded, and district seven followed suit.

“That’s settled then.” Johanna seemed pleased, almost elated by their decision. Annie less so. No matter how positive they spun it, this meant they got to spend a lot more time together, it meant she could make a possible friend. It meant she’d have to eventually say goodbye to that friend. Johanna’s shrill voice shook her out of her thoughts and back on track. “District eight, tributes Velour and Satina. You don’t usually expect much of district eight…” By the way she tapped her digital marker against the screen, Annie could tell a plot twist was coming. “But the boy, Velour, he volunteered. Apparently it was his nephew that was reaped, thirteen year old kid. Would’ve been younger than Finnick.” Annie glanced over, eyeing Finnick for any sort of reaction. She knew he was reaped at fourteen and became the youngest victor ever, but she never heard his side of that story. He didn’t let up.
District nine, ten and eleven were given a small speech, nothing elaborate. She heard the name Snowpea fall in conversation. What seemed to be unusual was how Johanna dedicated a little of each segment to the mentors, people Finnick and her had come to know closely. It seemed personal, and not in a bad way.

“Twelve’s always been lost.” Johanna’s voice was dismissive, her expression one of annoyance as she stared at Finnick. Annie realized she had been lost in time. “What?” Now Johanna’s annoyance was fixated on her. “District twelve, weren’t you listening?”
By now it seemed the rest of the group, besides Johanna, Finnick and herself had left the party. Annie shook her head.

“Twelve, they don’t have many victors. They only have one mentor and he drinks himself into the same pit every year. Those kids don’t have a chance and Haymitch can’t get himself together enough to try and increase that.” Her words were vile, laced with poison and way too black and white for a grey situation. Finnick’s gaze told her to let it go, and so she did.

“I think I’ll find some dinner now. Thank you, Johanna, for the presentation.”

-

That night Annie laid awake, staring at the barely visible stars painted across the ceiling. They followed a pattern, one supposed to represent each district. The capitol put a lot of effort into making their tributes feel special before killing them off. Sliding over to the side of the bed, she put on slippers and grabbed a sweater from the chair. The room was dead silent when she walked up to the window, a harsh contrast to the people partying below. The streets were filled with all colors, whether in clothes, hats or banners. Lights flickered up and down the surrounding buildings, creating a rainbow of colorful flashes. It was a party, just not for them, and it made her sick.

Finnick stood in the hallway when she opened the door to leave, staring at a small notebook in his hand. He wore a robe that fell to the floor, dragging along after him as he walked. He didn’t even seem to notice her.

“Finnick?”

“Annie?” His gaze was aloof, his voice quiet. As if he was careful not to wake anyone else up.

“I couldn’t sleep.”

He checked his notebook once more before stuffing it in his pocket, nodding his head towards the dining room. “Come on then.”

Soft orange light hung low in the room, empty cups and crumbled up pieces of papers decorating the dining table. The light responded to their movement, brightening up slow enough to not wake up a still sleepy mind. She dragged one of the chairs back, taking a seat across from Finnick’s work station. “Thirsty?” he asked, pouring her a glass of deep red liquid. Purple, almost.

“What is it?”

“Wine.”

“I don’t drink.” Annie politely pushed the glass back towards him, but his hand stopped hers. “In a few days you’ll be facing the biggest challenge of your life. I say you should go in there having tasted good wine.”

She did as he asked, and immediately put the glass back down. It was bitter, harsh, a taste she wasn’t and wouldn’t get used to. It amused him.

“You’ve been busy.” She murmured, gesturing towards the mess before them. A mere statement to change the subject back on to him, it didn’t hold questions. She wasn’t expecting him to elaborate.

“Gotta stay busy.” His answer was met with a weak smile, neither had much energy to carry a heavy conversation. “Does it help?” She tilted her head as she spoke, meeting his tired gaze halfway across the table.

“Does what?”

“Staying busy, does it help with the memories- does it help with… moving on.”

She noticed his eyes widen for just the slightest moment, as if he was confused on how she could be so blunt about it all. Like she crossed an invisible line. Then he smiled. “I was fourteen, you know. The youngest victor they had ever had.” Annie nodded, remembering the comment Johanna had made regarding him earlier in the day. “I was a kid, naïve and way too confident in my own abilities.” He closed his eyes now, leaning back in the chair as if he were reliving fond memories. “The first few days were fine, fun even. I had food, water and no one coming for me yet. I got plenty of gifts. The Capitol loved me.” When Finnick opened his eyes again, they were empty. Void of emotion, his coping mechanism became obvious. “I didn’t have a real chance until they gifted me the trident.”

Annie thought back to their training session just the day before, the way Finnick had held that trident in his grasp like he was one with it. The movement flowing through him effortlessly. “I can only imagine the damage you did with that.” Her voice was soft, matching his volume. He didn’t seem to hear her.

“When I got that trident, it was over in days. I had them all pinned. And then I won.” Finnick smiled then, taking a sip from his glass. He had returned. “I know better than anyone just how terrifying this must be for you.” The sudden spotlight on her startled her, it let anxiety travel freely through her body for the first time they set foot in the capitol. Addressing the fear suddenly made it real, and she couldn’t let it be real. If this was real, it would mean that there was a chance she would lose her brother. If this was real, it meant there was a chance she wouldn’t return home.

“It’s not terrifying.” Her gaze was harsh, voice trembling.

“Annie-“

The chair clattered to the floor as she stood, drowning out Finnick pleas for her to hold on, to just wait a second. They felt empty, useless. There was nothing Finnick nor Mags could do to protect them. It was all a ruse, one big performance. They would dance for the Capitol until they were killed in the arena. She was no longer anxious, no longer sad. She was angry, and that hadn’t changed when the sun finally came up.

-

When she was finally ready to face the music at breakfast, both Reif and Finnick were missing. Annie would be lying if she said she was bothered by Finnick’s absence, but something was gnawing. Something was brooding. Mags pretended not to notice the uneasy expression upon Annie’s face and motioned for her to sit. “Did you sleep well?”

Annie rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, forcing a smile. “Great, the beds are comfortable.” Mags nodded.

“Finnick will be training you separately for the first part of the day, so you have a small hour more of free time. In the afternoon you’ll both be heading to the training center for your group training. I heard district seven is in the running to be your ally this year.” From the corner of her eyes, hidden partly behind the paper she was reading, Mags was gauging Annie’s reaction.

“Johanna filled us all in on the other tributes-“ She groaned when reaching over the table, grabbing an apple from the huge bowl of fruit they had placed on the table. Within minutes it was replaced by the people running in and out of the room. She wondered if they ever got a break. “And Finnick reminded us of the importance of allies.”
Despite what Annie personally believed, she knew allies as well as sponsors to be crucial in the games. Especially for people with less experience than the career tributes. She took a bite of the apple. “So yes, I suppose we’ll be allies with seven.” The gnawing feeling tightened her stomach, but she couldn’t directly place it anymore. The lines had blurred the moment she stepped foot on that train and everything had become anxiety-inducing, even the most mundane tasks.

“Well…”

Annie stared intently at Mags, who folded up the paper in front of her. “That’s good.”

Dread hung low in the room and Annie decided to eat the rest of her breakfast on the go. She flew down the stairs, passing the doors to each district’s training room until she had reached district four. Finnick and Reif, they were clearly talking about something instead of working out. She could hear them if she pressed her ear against the door.

“What are you doing?” Johanna’s voice was low, as if she wanted Annie to know she was there but didn’t want to tip off the men inside.

“I was…”

“Spying?” A grin played upon the woman’s lips now, complimenting the sparkle within her blue eyes. “It’s okay if you were, I won’t tell Finnick that your brother hurt your feelings by asking to be trained separately from you.”

Annie shook her head. “It’s just a separate training session, he didn’t specifically ask for it.”

“Oh did he not?” Johanna faked her surprise, holding one hand to her lips. “I mean… Me personally, I’ve never heard of these separate training sessions. It’s usually when someone specifically asks for it.” She laid emphasis on the last part of her sentence, pouting at Annie. “You’re not scared your brother’s already turning on you, right?” Before she had a chance to respond, the door beside them opened.

“Annie-“ Both Annie and Johanna looked over at Finnick standing in the doorway, his face lighting up with both amusement and surprise. “I hadn’t expected you here yet.” Behind him, Reif slung a backpack over his shoulder. “Mags said-“ As Annie spoke, she saw Reif exit through the back door.

“Reif!”

“Hey- hey…” Finnick’s arm around her waist held her back, gently guiding her into the room. “He’s fine I promise, he just needed a private chat. That’s all.” Annie didn’t seem convinced, and neither did Johanna. The latter stood in the open doorway, arms crossed, awaiting an answer. Finnick shut the door on her.

She could just hear Johanna’s protests fade away as Finnick led her to one of the back rooms. Different than the one Reif exited through, this one held a few lockers and two benches. He motioned for her to sit.

“Reif feels that it’s not the best idea to keep training together.” Finnick held up a finger, dismissing Annie’s protests before she even made them known. “It happens Annie, he’s likely struggling with seeing you as a tribute and as his sister. Perhaps this is his way of making it easier for himself.”

Her lips part to speak, to go against what he said. But she comes up blank. If this is Reif’s way of coping with going into the arena, who is she to blame him for that? She nods, pointing at the door. “Can we start now?”

Finnick frowns, reaching over to pull her into the seat next to him. “I get it, you’re scared and this hasn’t helped. Trust me if I knew how to make this easier for the both of you I would in a heartbeat, but I can’t work magic.” Annie smiles, rolling her eyes.

“And you can’t just run away from me when I say something you don’t like.” He’s stern now, placing his fingers underneath her chin to turn her face to him. “I mean it, Cresta.”

She nods slowly, aware of the bright red color upon her cheeks. His smirk is contagious, coaxing her into displaying a bright smile. “Let’s go get you ready for your group training then!”

He's up before she is, slipping his fingers between hers to pull her into the adjoining room. When asked about any hidden skills, she comes up blank. They train with spears for a while, throwing them into moving targets. His body pressed against her as he teaches her to best stance for semi-close combat. Hyper aware of what he's doing and the effect he has on people, she barely keeps up. Finnick teaches her his way to make a fish hook and the best way to spear someone when they’re stuck in a net. He pushes her to the very edge of their district, profiting off her knowledge about ropes, knots and makeshift nets.

She arrives ten minutes late to the group training, sweaty and out of breath.

Storming in with Finnick in tow, they come to an abrupt halt in the main room where all the tributes are explained the use of this room. “This is my fault-“ Finnick begins, but he’s waved away by one of the presenters. “So sorry!” He touches Annie’s arm as he’s escorted out, giving her a big thumbs up.

Annie is led to the front of the room, pushed by two people she’s never seen before, where district one to four are standing. Reif avoids her gaze, yanking his hand away as she tries to grab it.

“There isn’t a set schedule, you are free to mingle with whomever you’d like to work with but we do not allow tributes to fight each other. If you want a human opponent, please refer to one of the coaches on the side.” The woman points to a line-up of men and women standing near the far right wall, but Annie doesn’t see it. She watches Reif in disbelief, his face stone cold.

“You’re allowed to move freely through the stations set up, each station has a designated expert that can teach you the basics. If you have questions, please refer to me as I will be monitoring your presence here.” The woman stretches out her hand to allow everyone to pass. “You will spend exactly four hours here. The game makers will be watching you but today will not count towards your overall score. You will get the chance to prove yourself on that tomorrow.”

On the sound of a loud alarm, the tributes disperse into the room. The group splits, with the careers running and giggling in a group. They push each other aside, laughing as they hoard the close-combat weapon station. Annie’s eyes scan the room, she sees Aurelia’s long blond hair in ponytail besides Terra’s small braids. Sparkle and Ashlar push each other around, play-fighting with the swords available. The woman walks up to them, seemingly breaking apart their fight to point at the coaches. Then she sees it, the fifth person.

In the middle of the career group stands Reif. And suddenly everything is clear.

Chapter Text

“Are you serious?”

Immediately, the attention of all five is fixated solely on her. They smile, wink at each other as if they had been waiting for this. Reif doesn’t smile. His face remains stone cold, void of all emotion. Terra is the first who speaks. “What, are you upset your brother betrayed you?” She steps forward and Annie follows suit. Briar’s attempt to grab Annie’s arm is met with a glare from the redhead.

“He didn’t betray me.” Annie spits the words, laying emphasis upon betrayal. She’s small next to Terra, barely reaching her chin, but neither seems to be particularly taken aback by it. Terra rolls her eyes, stepping aside to mockingly bow towards Reif. “Ask him what’s going on then.”

Before her, the young man he had grown into turned away from her. Confusion laid evident upon her face, her expression free to read by anyone staring and snickering. Their mockery didn’t bother her, not even when they jumped aside in an overly-dramatic fashion to get out of her way. She tried to reach for his hand, but he stepped aside. “Reif?” Her voice was hollow, sharp and too loud in the sound of silence. The tension was high, she could feel their eyes burn in the back of her head and yet- that didn’t bother her as much as her own brother ignoring her. What happened for him to switch so drastically? What had they told him?

They both stood eerily still, only mere inches away from each other. There were a million things she wanted to say, but none she wanted to share. At this point the entire room had caught up on what was happening. She heard footsteps approach her, then a hand lightly touching her shoulder. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you and everyone else to continue with the training regime now.” The group disbanded, some obediently and others with loud protests. Perhaps it was the right call, perhaps this just wasn’t the moment to have a conversation like this. What was she going to do anyway? Convince him right here on the spot that he was making a mistake by latching on the career pack? District four wasn’t a career district, not like that. He knew that. Surely he knew that.

Briar was the one who eventually led her away. She let her this time, following her towards one of the first stations. A man greeted them with a warm smile. He smiled with his eyes, they crinkled in the most delightful way. If aging was in her future, she would like to age that way. “I’m Sei, and I specialize on submerged traps. If there’s anything you’d like to know-“

“Annie comes from district four!” Briar’s enthusiasm snaps her out of her thoughts immediately, catching her gaze. They both nod at Sei, who claps his hands together. “Then I’m sure you’ve seen your fair share of these, am I right?” He displays an array of nets, needles and fish hooks, all neatly tucked away in their own compartments. Annie nods once more, turning her attention to Briar. “Would you like me to show you?”

Briar’s enthusiasm is contagious. The brunette nods enthusiastically, squeezing her hand. “And then I’ll show you how you can split a tree in half with just one axe throw.”

They sit around Sei’s station for a bit, issuing in a small break to get Briar a band-aid after she accidentally hooked her own finger instead of the bait, before taking a stroll around the room. It’s size, something Annie hadn’t noticed before, was overwhelming. The ceilings were ages away, with tv screens hooked on every corner. They displayed each of the tributes momentarily, following them around with the dozens of camera’s hooked into the walls. She saw the boy from eight throw spears through dummies like it was his second nature, the girl from ten throw a knife in every bullseye the training center had to offer and then- Reif. He stood nervously on one of the mats, opposite of a coach. The group he had aligned himself with hung around and over the fence. It seemed they were all taking turns.
“Your brother right?” Briar’s voice is soft as her touch, the hand on her back guiding her away from the screen. She nods, they walk in silence.

At lunch, she sits with district seven, eight and eleven. They exchange pleasantries and try, to the best of their ability, to not think about the face that they’ll face each other in a matter of just a few days. It’s nice for as long as it lasts.

Briar keeps her promise after they eat, tugging her along to one of the virtual augmentation rooms. The woman there presses a few buttons and like magic, they are in the middle of a forest. Briar seems to light up beneath the trees, and shows her how to use an axe in every possible (deadly) way. At the end, Annie knows about a hundred different ways how to drive an axe into someone’s skull from a distance. And then the buzzer sounds. She watches Reif leave with the group, squeezing past to find him before he’s able to hide behind Mags and Finnick, but there’s no sign of him once she reaches the door.

-

The door swings open with a loud thud. So loud, that she actually decides to check if she didn’t make a dent in the wall. Mags’ eyes follow her. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah- where’s Reif?” Her fingertips lightly touch where the door handle hit the wall, it’s seemingly all steel. “He’s with Finnick, come sit. I’d like you to meet someone.”

Next to Mags sits a woman. She smiles at Annie, getting out of her own chair to pull back Annie’s. Before them on the table lay an array of notes and fabrics. “You’re-“ “Lotus!” She interrupts Annie with a bright smile. “Your stylist.”

The designs laid out in front of them are intricate, some of the most beautiful she’s ever seen in her life. Her eyes flicker from the notes to the prototypes and eventually back to Lotus. Mags seems almost as excited. “You made this.” It wasn’t a question, she spoke in pure awe.
Lotus holds up one of the dresses, a shimmery soft blue mermaid dress. Seashells and woven fishnets as it’s top leave little to the imagination. “We wanted to go for a Mer-Kingdom kind of idea, with you being from district four and all. Atlantis.” She draws out the last word, her eyes sparkling. “Do you want to try it on?”

The dress fits her like a glove, hugging her curves in an elegant way. The long train that Lotus added flows as she walks, as if the waves were making her walk on water. All three of them remain silent, simply in awe of the presence Lotus managed to give her. “It’s-“ “Beautiful.” She interrupts her again, wiping away a single tear. Annie grins. “We still have to do your hair of course.” Of course. Annie takes a step back when Lotus ruffles her orange curls, “what do you think, Maggie?” Both their heads turn towards Mags, Annie both confused and amused at the nickname. “Yeah, what do you think Maggie?”

Then, the door opens again, bringing in a gust of wind. In the middle stand Finnick, Reif and another woman. “Lily!” Lotus squeaks, waddling over to take the other woman into her arms. Finnick’s grin is obnoxious as ever as he walks over, settling Reif into one of the chairs before turning his attention towards her. “I see you’ve been busy.” He gestures towards the dress, letting his gaze roam freely. She ignores it, turning towards Reif who still hasn’t given her a sliver of eye contact since yesterday. “Where have you been?” He turns to face her, gaze as cold as ever. “You don’t get it, do you?” She frowns, taken aback by his sudden ability to speak again. “We’re not getting out of here together. I’d say I’m distancing myself from you so that you won’t have to feel bad about killing me but we both know that you couldn’t even get close enough to attempt it.” She opens her mouth to speak, but he shakes his head. “I’m working to get out of that arena and go back home, I suggest you stop pretending we are still happy siblings that stick together and do the same.”

Besides the sounds of Reif’s boots against the marble floor, everyone is silent. He slams the door when he exits, the loud thud echoing until Mags speaks. “Annie-“

“It’s fine.” She takes a deep breath, turning towards Mags with a smile. “I promise, I’m fine. I think we should just finish up this dress since everyone is already here.”

The rest of the afternoon she dips in and out of the conversation, allowing her thoughts to take her elsewhere. To sandy beaches and earlier years. To safer places. When Lotus is finished with her, she thanks her with a hug that is reciprocated in a way that made her realize she had missed physical comfort like this. She sinks into her embrace. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.” Lotus lets her hang on, brushing manicured fingertips through her hair.
The look is ethereal, certain to garner attention at the first reveal. “When, um-“ She turns slightly towards Mags and Finnick with a crack in her voice, refusing eye contact. “Tomorrow.” Mags answers, her voice soothing as ever. “Tonight there is a party, but you don’t have to go if you don’t want to-“ “Yes she does.” Finnick interrupts her, sliding past her to lift Annie up. She gasps as he sways them around the room, twirling her dress around the both of them. “You absolutely have to go to the party, all of your fellow tributes are going to be there and it is the perfect moment for you to get some sponsors. Look at me.” He doesn’t let up, twirling them in circles until she meets his gaze. “I’m gonna be sick!” He winks. “Then let me show you how to dance properly, tonight.”

-

“This is it?”

Blue and green lights flash over the garden leading up to the rooftop where the party is held. It’s absolutely packed, groups of people crowding around the few bars and pool in the middle. Annie frowns, looking at Finnick. “You didn’t tell me it was a pool party.” “Oh it’s not- not really anyway.” His hand rests on the small of her back, guiding her through the crowd until they reach the bar. He was right, there is almost nobody in the pool, just a few people sitting around it. Waste of water.

“What are you drinking?” His voice snaps her out of her thoughts. “Water.”

“Mai!” The blue-haired bartender perks up, smiling bright at Finnick. “Two of the district four specials please.”

The bartender nods and disappears, returning with two yellowish and blue drinks. As she mixes them they become a sea green. “That’s water?” She asks suspiciously, eyeing Finnick who seems as relaxed as ever. “This is a party in your honor, with a drink in honor of your district-“ He hands her one of the glasses, clinking it against his. “I say cheers.”

The taste is vile, it’s both way too sweet and burns her throat with how intrusive the alcohol is. She scrunches up her nose, taking in the drink she’s holding. “Who made this?” Finnick nods towards the bartender, who seems to have moved on to the next patron. “No-“ She sticks out her tongue. “Who’s idea was it to have this drink represent district four?” That seems to amuse Finnick, but he shrugs his shoulders and lifts his drink. She follows suit, downing it within a few more sips. “Do you know each other?” She mumbles, nodding at Mai. Finnick smiles and shakes his head. “Sort of.” With a simple hand in the air he garners her attention again, ordering another round of drinks for them.

.
.

The lights were dazzling, red and orange streaks flickering down to illuminate the hundreds of people dancing within the smoke. There were people singing, raising their glasses in the air and yelling above the music. Couples around them kissed, their bodies so close to each other that it left Annie jealous of such a love. Of such passion. She had lost Finnick a while ago, he had disappeared in the blur.
Suddenly, two girls swarmed her on either side. One of them was Terra, she recognized her voice. The other one seemed to be twice as intimidating. The girl tribute of district one.
“Hey there four~” Their breath reeked of alcohol, the same sweetness that burnt her own nostrils. “We have a question for you.” Terra smiled and nodded towards a big blur in the distance. “How good is he?” Annie frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Oh come on, you’re telling me you aren’t hitting that?” They way they spoke was undoubtedly fueled by the alcohol, but something didn’t feel right. She shook her head, looking around for someone- anyone else to talk to. The blonde girl leaned in, pulling her in for a hug and blocking her view. “If you don’t soon then I might…” That earned a cackle from Terra, the sound was deafening, trumping the loud music. “Who knows how long we have left, right?”

Who knows how long we have left… The girl’s voice echoed in her thoughts. She let the two of them drag her across the room towards the bar where two men jumped up to greet them. “Look who we have- who’s that?” Annie glared at the hostility within his voice and he seemed to lighten up immediately. “Four.” Terra’s tone was playful, dismissive as she dove into the arms of one of the men. They kissed, getting into it as if none of them were standing right before them. The girl from one rolled her eyes, pushing past to get to the bar. It left her alone with the other guy. “Amelia?” He attempted, gauging her reaction. Her turn to roll her eyes. “Annie.” “Close.” Sure. She skips after Aurelia, climbing on one of the bar stools. The blonde seemed unbothered by her presence, staring down at her a few times. The bartender passes them each time and Annie notices it’s starting to bother the girl beside her.

“Mai!” She blurts out. The blue-haired girl grins, holding up her finger before returning mere seconds later. “Back for more already? You and Finnick seemed like you were heading home.” That seemed to raise some eyebrows, but Annie shrugs and turns to her neighbor. “What do you want?”

Another shot glass hits the bar, joining the other empty five and knocking one over. Annie and Aurelia had been joined by the other three at this point. They called her ‘the superior ginger’ and seemed to tolerate her only through alcohol, but that feeling was mutual. The harbored resentment felt muted, paused almost. As if they were all able to set their differences aside for one night fueled by alcohol. So when Ashlar slid into the seat next to her, putting his hand to her forehead to mention how ‘hot’ she felt, she didn’t protest. She let him flirt and engaged as much as possible. Until she felt a sharp pain pull her right out of it, sharp nails pinching her earlobe to tug her away from the bar. She curses Finnick’s name, spitting vile words about how she was just getting to know the career pack. Except it wasn’t Finnick, and when she was let go she was met with Johanna’s furious expression. It left her throat dry and undoubtedly sober.

“What the hell was that?” And really, what was that? She didn’t have an answer nor explanation.

“I’m scared.” She admitted.

“Everyone is.” Johanna spoke candidly. “Just don’t let boys like that make you a target, Annie.” She spoke like Finnick did. Everything was dizzy.

Johanna seemed to catch on, sighing deeply before tugging her along. She found Finnick within a matter of seconds, pushing Annie towards him. “Here you go.” He seemed as confused as Annie felt, lips parted as if he were going to ask a question. Johanna had already left. “Where-“ “Bar.” Annie vaguely gestures towards the bar they sat down at together. “I’ve been looking for you.” He seemed sober. She shrugged.

His fingertips caress her cheek, tracing her jawline. “How much have you been drinking?” She shrugged once more, rolling her eyes when he checks her pupils. “We’re leaving.” Not like she had a choice, but she follows suit. As they pass the bar, Aurelia and Terra whistle and yell. She blushes as their words flood back, as Finnick's strong grip on her waist guides her away from the party. Who knows how long we have left, right?

Finnick doesn’t speak one word, not when they walk back, not when she stops and sits down on one of the benches in the hallway to take a breath and not when he unlocks her bedroom door. He hesitates, undoubtedly frowning at the zipper at her back. “I’ll go see if Mags-“ “Can you stay?” Their voices sound horribly loud in the silence. The music still echoes within her ears. He lingers, running one hand through his golden locks. “Yeah- Give me a second.”

He returns in a t-shirt and sweatpants, two pillows tucked underneath his arm. “Where are your pajamas?” Suddenly she’s self conscious, gesturing towards the couch next to him. An old shirt and blue shorts lay crumpled on the side. He gestures, she follows. “I’m just going to zip it down for you, okay?” She nods slowly, grateful for the soft, orange rays being the only source of light in the room. He is careful, holding her hips steady as he pulls the zipper down. “Here.” He’s turned away, pushing the bundle of clothes into her arms. “Go get dressed in the bathroom.”

The light in the bathroom reveals a mess. Her flushed cheeks are a harsh contrast against pale skin, with messy curls sticking to her sweaty face. She looks terrible. Did he notice?

She splashes water in her face, letting the dress hit the floor. The absolutely gorgeous fabric looks bleak against the marble tiles. So does her face. “Breathe.” She whispers, hastily getting into the old pajamas. Why didn’t she just grab new ones? The capitol would’ve sent one within a few minutes. Too late now.

When she turns the door handle, she half expects Finnick to have left. He obviously did this as a mentor rather than anything else. She would’ve been delusional thinking that it was anything more than that. But he sits in her bed, the two pillows propped up against his back. “What-“ He looks up at the sound of her voice. “What are you reading?”

“It’s called ‘Why the birds left’, it’s a memoir.” He smiles, setting the book aside. “I got you some water.”

Grateful, she takes the bottle from him and downs half of it right away. “Thirsty?” “Trying to sober up.” He makes an ‘ah’ sound, taking the bottle from her. “I suppose that is my fault.” That earns him a glare. “You just started me on it, I threw myself into that abyss.”

He nods slowly. “Yeah, Johanna said you and Ashlar-“ Stopping midway, he meets her gaze. “You got along.”

“It’s really not like that.” Reaching over him, she grabs the water bottle from the nightstand on his side. “I mean he was making out with Terra just before that. Who, by the way, is really interested in you.” A smile creeps up as she speaks, the ridiculousness of it all sinking in. Here they sit together, in her bed, talking about people who could not care less about either of them if it weren’t for a hook-up or a sponsor. He catches on. “What’s funny about that?”

Annie rolls her eyes. “It’s not funny, it’s just the way they said that. They asked me if I had ‘hit that’ yet and they totally would have, you know with being unsure how long we’ll live.” Finnick propped himself up. “What did you say?”

“No-“ Taken aback, she stares at him. “Obviously.”

Finnick shrugs his shoulders before relaxing into the pillows again. “Could’ve said you did. If you don’t know yet, my name carries quite a bit of weight around here.” She rolls her eyes. “And lie?”

He winks, turning towards her. “You know, it doesn’t have to be a lie.” A violent cough overthrows the conversation, Annie patting her chest to try and calm down, waving his concerned hand away. "Fine-" She mumbles through the coughing. "Fine..." It takes a few seconds before she can breathe again, Finnick patiently waits with a smug smile on his face. She hates him for it.

With a weak thumbs up, she signals it's all good and he takes the water bottle from her again. "That really got to you, didn't it?" He mumbles, maintaining the smug smile. Annie just shakes her head. "You just seem to think you have the same sort of impression on everyone." That seemed to intrigue him. "And what impression is that?" He props himself up by his elbow, leaning in slightly. She sits still, watching him transform. It's fascinating, the way he can go from his normal self to this persona he must have created for himself. "You're doing it now." She gestures vaguely to all of him. "The attitude, the smug smile. You turn into the man everyone wants within seconds, it's almost-" The words are lost on her. "It's almost like a defense mechanism. Like people aren't allowed to see who you really are, so they see this confident, attractive man and they- they want him. They want to be him."

It's silent. Finnick's smile had faded, he had no intention on replying. They stare at each other for another few seconds before he lays down into the pillows. "Come on." He pats the spot beside him. "You clearly need to sober up still. Let's sleep."

Chapter Text

Writhing seaweed mingled with blue waves, creating a symphony of colors as they crashed into the seashore- kicking up sand and shells alike. Her feet didn't get wet, not even when the cold waves covered them bare. It was only a simulation after all, the conjured up water sending a very real shiver down her spine. It wasn't Finnick who knocked on the glass, causing her to leave the temporary bliss such a simulation offered. It was Reif, smiling awkwardly to wave her over. Annie smiled back, her fingers gliding over the panel controlling the simulation. The clear blue sky disappeared, leaving the sounds of waves crashing into the sand echoing within her mind.

"Two just finished, we're up after three so I was told to come get you." His voice was familiar, the soft kind of speaking that reminded her of better times. A man now, forever a boy in her heart. She saw him skip excitedly after her father, his little feet leaving little prints in the damp sand. She saw him standing in the doorway, pillow in hand, ready to ask her if he could spend the night by her side. She saw the absence of what he was, the bitterness of reality forcing him to become distant. She smiled regardless, nodding. Neither spoke as they walked back, Annie didn't try to reach out anymore. They sat together in silence, like two strangers that had outgrown the need for a sibling, and then his name was called. And as he walked, there was no skip in his step and no little prints left in damp sand.

A loud voice echoes over the speakers, pulling her back to reality. "Annie Cresta, district twelve."

As she enters the room, the lights dim- chatter dies down and people focus their attention on her. Reif is nowhere to be seen, but the room carries the remnants of his presence. The people up there, staring down at her, know him. She wastes no time, ruffling through a display of what seems to be a dozen or so different fish hooks. Nets hang from the ceiling, tied in an array from large to minuscule knots. She sits down, draping the net over her lap with a bunch of hooks next to it, and carefully gets to work. After a few minutes, and to the boredom of certain panel members, she holds up a deadly net trap. No fish would survive, any mammal would be injured- trapped, but none of the people seem impressed. If they were, they certainly hid it well. Annie thinks of the mind games that play such a big part in this entire ordeal, would these people be playing them too? They wave her off before she can answer her own question. Dismissed, she drapes the net over the floor, useless on dry land. They watch her leave, judgemental eyes cutting into her back.

That night, as the ratings flood in with a massive crowd cheering for each district, Annie and Reif sit side by side on the couch. Mags, Finnick, Lotus and Lily lounge around the same, tall couch. You could fit fourteen people on this couch alone, Annie had thought as they walked in. A bowl of popcorn and a few half empty glasses of some sort of alcoholic, pink drink are the only things occupying the table. Finnick reaches over Annie, slapping Reif's hand. "Stop nail biting." He hisses, voice drowned out by Caesar's loud intro music. To nobody's surprise, both the tributes of district one were given a score of 9, followed closely by district two with a 8 and a 9. Three scored lower, and Annie could've sworn she heard Reif snort. His face flashed on the screen for a second, the numbers floating up and down the screen until one settled: Reif Cresta, a score of 8. The room burst out in cheers, Finnick jumping up to hug her brother, who couldn't contain his excitement. Glee dripped from his contagious smile onto hers as she smiled at him. Then her score came up: Annie Cresta, a score of 4. The celebrating didn't stop, no one was or acted surprised- Reif even pulled her into a hug. She sunk into his embrace, certain this was the last hug she'd ever get from him.

That night, Annie had drowned herself into the wine she swore tasted like vinegar the other day. Mags had gently inquired whether she'd like a glass and Annie had given her the bottle instead, avoiding any further questions and disappearing into the kitchen. She stood over the kettle, watching the water come to a boiling point and wondering if this was the last time she'd have tea. Probably. Doubt there'd be tea in the arena. "Hey." Finnick gives her a small smile, putting his own cup on the counter. "Mags said you went to bed." "I tried." The wine was making her dizzy. Finnick grabs her arm, steadying her. "Annie?" She meets his gaze, where concern meets blurred lines. She reaches out, shamelessly caressing the side of his face. Finnick closes his eyes as her fingers brush through his hair. “Annie.” Stern, but he made no move to stop her. Golden curls glittered within her grasp, soft as she cupped the side of his face. She would never see this face again, never hear his voice again. And he'd be forced to do it all over again next year. Sobriety had come to her in the form of a sick and twisted feeling within her stomach, and as she turns away she regrets ever touching a drop of wine.

“You should get some sleep.” Finnick’s voice yanked her back to reality, dissociation evident within her gaze. “Now’s not the time to think about any it.” He whispered, looking over his shoulder. “I could get you something that will put you to sleep until you have to get ready.” She shakes her head, the wine tasting bitter in the back of her throat. “I’d rather spend my last few hours conscious enough to reminisce on the things I loved in life.” Morbid, sure, even she had to admit it. But realistically she was a dead woman already, and she never was one to play pretend. Finnick swallowed, seemingly hesitating. “We’ll say our goodbyes tomorrow.”

Annie did spend that night reminiscing. They weren’t fond memories, nor ones she would have liked to remember right before her deathbed. No, these were spurred on by stress and anxiety. She had not slept a wink, haunted by every last dreadful moment that had occurred within her short life on this earth. Lotus was silently combing her hair, occasionally attempting to make eye contact with her through the mirror, but Annie just stared. When Mags entered the room, holding a black bodysuit with the number 4 on it, only Lotus looked up. The stylist braided her hair whilst Mags did the chatting, grabbing a box with nail care supplies as a way to distract. She neatly filed Annie’s nails, her voice sounding further away with each sentence spoken.

“Annie.” She looked up, the two women smiling at her. The smile didn’t meet their eyes. “You’re done, sweetheart. It’s time to go.”

They walked through a long hallway, passing a bunch of recently abandoned rooms. At the end of the hallway stood a line of people wearing the exact same suit she was wearing. Reif, Lily and Finnick were stationed in a corner, Finnick grabbing her brother in a tight hug whilst Lily tried to wave away upcoming tears. Mags grabbed her hand and squeezed it, turning the girl towards her. “Whatever happens, this is not goodbye.” Her gaze was intense, it pierced right through her. “We will meet again, somewhere- someday.” The older woman pulled her into a hug then, breathing with her. “Do not underestimate yourself, Annie Cresta, you owe yourself more than that.” Annie wrapped her arms around Mags then, nodding.

Lotus was patiently waiting, smiling softly and opening her arms. She smiled back. “Thank you for everything.” Voice barely a whisper now. “You’re so welcome. Go win this thing and come back, alright? I have many more ideas I did not get to put you in.” Lotus’ request put an actual smile on Annie’s face, the temporary rush of glee soaring through her body. Finnick met her smile as she stepped back from Lotus. He did not ask if she was ready, nor did he make her promise to come back. He hugged her in silence, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I won’t forget you, Annie.” Was all he said. Then a loud voice filled the room. “All tributes are to be headed to the elevators, you will be entered into the arena in approximately ten minutes.” She casted a last glance at the team who had tried their hardest to prepare her for the upcoming few days, their soft smiles and gut-wrenching waves of goodbye. What must it be like to watch people walk so willingly towards their death? She waved back.

“Ten.” A man guided her to a small, black platform to stand on. “Nine.” She looked to her left, where the girl from district ten ignored her gaze. “Eight.” To her right stood Reif, he nodded. “Seven.” The voice seemed to become louder with each passing second. “Six.” Breathe, Annie. “Five.” Just breathe. “Four.” The lights dimmed and she no longer saw anyone. “Three.” Sounds within the distance. “Two.” She tried to focus on the sounds, tried to drown out the voice. “One.” With an immense speed, she shot up, re-appearing within a huge forest. In the middle of it was a large clearing, sunlight cascading down on the huge pile of supplies. Weapons, food, backpacks and the like. Through the trees, she could see... Sand. Like they were on an island. She assessed the situation, scanning the crowd that was about to be released for Briar. No sign of her, not close enough to see at least. Then the signal went off and people ran for the supply pile, Reif included. “Reif!” She yelled, shocking herself by doing so. He ignored her. “What are you doing?” Hissed someone, grabbing her arm. Annie looked up to see Briar standing next to her. Next to them, the boy from district 10 fell to the ground, blood dripping from the knife wound in his chest. Briar tugged on her arm again. “We have to go! Now!”

Chapter Text

Behind her, she hears someone yelp out in pain and her head snaps towards Jude who drives his knife in the chest of someone she doesn't recognize. Not right now. He snatches their backpack from the ground and only by the mercy of Briar tugging her along, does she feel her feet start to move. Left, then right, then left again until they are sprinting at a record speed towards the forest. The noises don't seem to die down, no, they only seem to get louder. Blood curdling screams haunt them like a roaring fire, and she can't seem to drive any of it out. They run until she feels the blisters on her feet start to open up, but they can't stop yet. Not while those screams are still so close. Eventually the forest runs out and they reach a sandy shore with the endless sea looming over it. Jude points out a cave and goes to check it out with Briar whilst Annie falls to her knees where the sea meets the shore. The smell of salt water hits her nostrils and for the first time since they entered the arena, she feels like she can breathe again. Her clothes dampen as the water laps at her knees, washing away the blood on her hands and arms. Who's blood was that? She wasn't injured, not as far as she could tell. Two pair of feet appear next to her. "The cave is clear." Jude states, and Briar kneels down beside her. "We figure it's a good starting point. We would need to get a source of fresh water, but-" she points at the vast, open sea. "Plenty of fish in the sea."

It gets dark way too soon, as if the cycle of day and night is somehow different here, and they settle within the cave. The wind howls and sings a haunting echo, but she feels that the smell of the sea, of home, grounds her. Jude unpacks the backpack, laying out a hunting knife, some rope, a flask which comes up empty, an even bigger flask that is even emptier, some matches and a few cans of food. "I can work with that." Her voice is hoarse as she points at the rope. "I could try to make a net, or we could use it to tie the knife to a large stick and make a spear, I can catch us fish with a spear as well." They decide on the spear idea and whilst Briar and Jude band together to find some driftwood to make a fire, Annie settles within the ocean. She's remains deathly still in the pitch black water, silently praying whatever comes by are fish she would be able to capture and not huge, mutt sharks. The water comes to her waist and she closes her eyes, feeling the calm waves silently crash into her body. There's movement near her right leg and she breathes in ever so slowly, rising the spear and looking down into the ocean with only some moonlight to guide her. The spear pierces through the body of the fish, its rainbow scales glittering in the moonlight. Its not a bad catch, not her best work but they make do, roasting the fish over the open fire Briar put together and sharing the spoils. The taste reminds her of home and whilst she wishes she had some water, her mouth had become bone dry, she finds peace in the fact that today could have gone a lot worse. Then the anthem plays.

All three of them rush outside of the cave, waiting to see the tribute posters. The anthem plays throughout the morbid display and Annie has to put in effort not to throw up her recent meal as she thinks about the people in the capitol celebrating these deaths. All the careers are alive, which was no surprise to her, but seemingly so are both tributes from district 3. She thinks back on the introduction to the tributes that Johanna did, Surge and Lumen, both 15. She finds herself silently praying those kids are alright. An audible sigh of relief leaves her lips as district 4 is skipped and there's no mention of any harm done to Reif. District 5 had lost their boy, district 8 their girl and both tributes from district 9 have fallen. She saw the boy from district 10 fall with her own eyes so that was no surprise, but she covers the horrid look on her face with a hand covering her mouth as they show the girl from district 11, a small kid who she had come to know as Snowpea. Briar squeezes her shoulder and the anthem falls silent as they show the last fallen, the boy from district 12. "That's seven." States Jude, heading back into the cave. Annie's gaze meets Briar's and the two girl silently follow. She offers to take the first watch, no sleep having come to claim her, and watches fire slowly die down for a few hours. When she gets up to get another piece of driftwood, Jude awakens from his slumber and tells her he'll take over. The realization that she might be tired after all hits her and she goes to lie down in the sand, fiddling with the seashell on her bracelet until sleep becomes her.

The next day she rises early, her ears perked at the sound of seagulls. They fly high above the cave, and while she doesn't want any people to be alerted to their position, she's grateful for the familiar sounds. Briar sits at the edge of the beach, her feet in the water and her back turned to the cave. She smiles as Annie goes to sit down next to her. "Were you able to sleep?" Annie shrugs. "A little, though lately I've been having a lot of dreams." Briar nods, seemingly in agreement about the dreams. "Me too, and they're never any good." She lets out a soft chuckle, shivering at the cool water washing over her feet. "We need to find fresh water today." She says, and Briar nods. "Jude's out scouting the edge of the forest now. I offered to come with but truth be told, he's better camouflaged in a forest than I am. That man can move eerily silent." They sit in silence a while, with Annie's mind occupied with questions about Reif's whereabouts. He was alive, but if he was with the careers, how long would he be left alive? Would they have figured out they were on an island, send Reif out to the beach to utilize his skills the same way Jude and Briar did with her? What would he do if they ran into each other? She shakes the thought from her mind, parting her lips to ask Briar another question until they hear the commotion behind them.

Jude jumps out from the trees, breaking into a sprint that fails as he tumbles over in the sand. From the bushes, two people emerge. She recognizes them. "District 6." Briar whispers. They carry two large backpacks and both hold a weapon in their hand as they, ever so casually, stroll over to where Jude is now attempting to get up. Annie and Briar rush over, both hauling Jude up by one arm each as the two people from district 6 come to a halt before them. "That's nice of you." Says the girl, who Annie knows is named Cali. Her gaze is piercing, with deep, dark brown eyes staring into her very soul. "We caught him getting into our supply." The boy, Vilnius, tuts, pushing the handle of his dagger against Jude's chest. "So you chased him down..." Briar starts, and Annie finishes. "To leave him alive?"

Cali chuckles, "only to find out where his supply was." A chill runs down Annie's spine, then an idea pops into her head. It's bold and she's not bold. "Do you have food?" She inquires. "That's hardly any of your business, red." "Annie." She corrects the boy. "Jude went out looking for water, fresh water, but food we have plenty." She points at the sea, then fishes the spear out from his backpack. "Let's be- allies." It's too bold of a statement, she knows. But what else does she have to lose beside her life?

For some reason, the two are actually considering it. They share a knowing look with each other before Cali speaks. "We have camped out near a stream, not too far from here, with the boy from district 8. Water aplenty, but food is scarce. If you truly can provide a food source, then you three are welcome to join us until the career pack is dead." Her facial expression carries relief, and she nods. Briar and Jude nod too, and the group heads into the cave to pack up the remaining supplies until Vilnius holds up a hand. "Cali, I'm not a hundred percent sure our camp would be better than what they have here." Cali's expression sours. "It's a cave." He seems to consider this, but then points at the only entrance. "It's hidden, well guarded and we'd not alert anyone of a fire with smoke rising above the trees." And so it's settled. As Cali, Vilnius, Briar and Jude head out into the forest to pack up camp and grab Velour, the boy from district 8, Annie fishes. Three more mouths to feed, but three more allies and a fresh water source gained.

Velour turns out to be an excellent cook and is able to clean the fish in half the time Annie is, which leaves her both impressed and a little bit slighted. But it gives her more time to fish, and make traps. Cali has a backpack full of rope and a box with paperclips that Annie is able to expertly weave into a proper fishing net, garnering them double the amount of fish than she was able to get with just the spear. That night, when they're gathered around the fire, eating the fresh fish and passing around the flasks full of cold, fresh water, Annie's mind is for once not occupied with fear, or anxiety. Cali's laughter at Jude's joke echo within the cave walls and she finds herself smiling at the sight of pure joy on Briar's face. For a while, they're just a group of teenagers that ended up in a bad situation and they're making the most of it. She settles within the small pit of sand she has cleared out for herself when the fire dies down, with Briar opting to take the first shift, and falls into a semi-peaceful sleep. Until the rumbling beneath the sand wakes her from it.

Chapter Text

Finnick paced back and forth, ignoring the large screen that showed the games. The cameras flickered between each one of the groups; the career pack; the two kids from district three; a few lone wolves and eventually, Annie's group at the beach. He heard the noise first, Annie's familiar mumbling she'd mutter when she'd be woken up by something. His gaze is glued to the screen as the chaos unfolds, a huge wave crashing over the arena. It's dark, even darker once the waves blush out the last remaining bit of fire. Their screams are muffled as he sees them go under, seawater filling their lungs as each one of them fights against the current, struggling to swim out of the submerged cave. He sees Annie grab Briar's arm, who's trying to drag along Jude's unconscious body. It's futile, the current is too strong and they aren't strong enough to drag another with them. Cali and Velour are. They struggle to drag Vilnius with them but they manage. Finnick sees the panic on Annie's face when Briar refuses to come with, and recognizes the heartbreaking expression on her face as Annie makes the decision for her, dragging her along and leaving Jude behind.

They emerge, gasping for air, in what is no longer the arena they knew. The closest he'd describe it as would be a swampland, with only the trees sticking out of the water. The meadow, the beaches, every bit of land they could set their feet on is completely submerged. Finnick tries to recall how many of the tributes would be able to swim when the first cannon shots fire. One, two, three, four, five, six... silence. Jude is one of them, that much he knows, but as he sees Annie and Briar swim over to where Cali and Velour are attempting to hold up Vilnius his body, he realizes that whatever water has gotten into his lungs, they won't be able to get it out like this.

"Help us get him up!" Cali's voice breaks as she tries to hold him against the tree, do anything to push the water out, but she can't find her footing and his body is too heavy. "He's-" Velour tries, still holding his other arm, but she intercepts. "No! He can swim, I've seen him swim, we just need to-"

Finnick watches as Annie and Briar each take position next to the other tributes, but after a minute it's Briar who says it. "He's gone, Cali. Just like Jude." Then, and only then, does it seem to hit her. She lets go of him and he peacefully floats in the water until a hovercraft shows up, raining down leaves on them as it lowers itself to collect Vilnius his body. They manage to find a tree that has branches low enough for them to get a quick respite. Finnick thinks of Jude and the cave but never takes his eyes off Annie. She's quiet, hasn't said a word. He knows her thoughts are with Reif and whether or not one of those cannon shots were for him.

The sun is slowly starting to come up, allowing for them to see the damage done to the arena. The water stretches far, seemingly covering all of the arena grounds and leaving them with little to no option when it comes to traveling. Velour is the first to break the silence. "We just lost our fresh water source." They all share a look and Finnick covers his mouth, biting his fingernails despite scolding Reif for it earlier this week. He grabs his keys, leaving a quick note for Mags, and heads out.

-

When the afternoon rolls around they have managed to set up somewhat of a new camp. Velour has many hidden talents besides cleaning fish and has proven to be an excellent tree climber, using some tarps and rope to create a surface area for them to rest on. Despite a lot of hubris having floated to the surface, none of them have found a flask with water dobbing around somewhere. "I could try to dive back down." Annie breaks the silence. They lay in pairs on their tarps, drying in the sun. Cali sits up, propping herself up by her elbow to stare back at her. "You don't know how deep it is, I mean these trees were massive to begin with." Briar nods, squeezing her hand. "Plus, you don't know what's down there." "I say let her try." Velour doesn't open his eyes, resting his head on his hands behind it. "We had four flasks of fresh water, if she even manages to get one we'd improve our odds."

Annie peeks over the edge of the tarp. The water is eerily quiet besides a few small fish swimming along the surface. "I think this might be our best shot." She mumbles, sucking in her teeth. "They released the tsunami this morning, right? So there could be mutts in the water, but it'd be in their best interest to give it another day before more deaths occur." Briar sits up, glancing over. Annie gives her a reassuring smile. "I'll be back before you know it." She steps from the tarp onto a branch and decides to climb a little bit higher, silently praying it won't be pitch black in the cave while the sun is still out. She leaps from the tree, diving headfirst into the water. A school of fish swarm around her, leaving behind a trail of bubbles. The water is clear for the most part and she spots the cave a little below her. With long strokes she reaches the entrance quickly. It's semi-dark and whilst she can't fully see inside, she holds contact with the cave wall as she swims further inside. Two backpacks are empty, their supplies scattered and she decides to take her chance with the other two that are still secured, hooking them around her back and waist to distribute the weight. She struggles with looking at the dark corner where she forced Briar to leave Jude, guilt heavy on her mind, but when her heart finally wins it over her brain and she floats over, there's no one there. She hightails it out of there, only slightly being burdened by the two backpacks tied around her body, and when she emerges from the water three curious faces are staring down at her from over the edge of their tarp. Her smile is bright as she holds up the two backpacks and Velour jumps in next to her, giving her a boost up the tree.

They hang the backpacks from two branches, letting the water seep out of it before emptying the contents onto their tarp. "Not bad." Cali muses, holding up her knife. Annie had to admit, it truly was not a bad haul at all. Three flasks which were almost filled to the brim with fresh water, a couple of knives, some cans of food, a box of waterlogged matches, a spool of wire, a first aid kit and two sleeping bags that were attached to the packs. By nightfall, everyone is dry and they share cold beans from a can that Briar managed to get open with a knife, only barely avoiding taking two of her own fingers. The anthem plays and Briar has to remind her to breathe, she doesn't until it's clear that Reif is still alive. The fallen include Aurelia, the career girl from district 1, the girl from district 5, Vilnius, Jude, and both the girls from district 10 and 12. "Is that the first career death?" Annie's voice is hoarse. "Yes." Velour confirms, taking a knife and carving something into one of the trees. He mumbles a string of unintelligible words. "That leaves eleven tributes, including us. Three careers, four-" he halts, glancing over at Annie. "Four if we count your brother." She swallows, he continues to carve in the tree. "Both the district three kids and the guy from eleven." Cali sits up, scooting closer. "You think he's by himself?" "I don't see him teaming up with the careers." They decide to call it a night. It's cold, but not unpleasantly so, and with Velour and Annie having done the most work today, the remaining four decide on them sleeping in the sleeping bags first. Cali and Briar stay up to keep watch together, switching halfway through the night.

Annie yawns and gratefully takes the flask Velour offers her. "Thank you." "I'm the one who should be thanking you." He says, whisper quiet. The forest is eerily silent and she's rather grateful for it, yearning for the warmth the sleeping bag brought. She takes a few sips before handing it back to him, when they hear leaves rustling. Both of them immediately jump up, watching a small parachute flutter down from the trees. It's attached to a medium sized burlap sack which falls onto the tarp with a quiet thud. They stare at each other before grabbing it, being careful as to not wake the others. The sack is filled with fresh fruit, a few loaves of bread and four bottles of water. A warmth that she hasn't felt in a while spreads through her body, and she smiles, looking up at the sky. Velour shares in her amusement. "I wonder who's sponsor this is." "Whoever it is..." Annie whispers, taking an apple in her hand and admiring the shiny fruit. "Thank you very much."