Prompt: President Snow pays a visit to Annie in District 4
[I had no idea when to set this, so I hope this makes sense! It was kind of interesting trying to find a good place to make Snow visit. There were different choices, but I challenged myself a bit with this. Hope you like it!
Seriously though, thanks so so much for the prompt! I really needed this and I seriously hope I don’t disappoint! O.o]
Annie had mastered the art of crazy. In fact, she was so perfect in this act that only Finnick and Mags knew she really wasn’t insane.
And apparently President Snow.
This wasn’t to say that she didn’t have her moments of insanity. Of course she did. The Arena would haunt her for the rest of her life. Now, the Quarter Quell would as well. She wasn’t in the Arena, but Mags—poor, brave, loving Mags—and Finnick were there and she could do nothing but watch them die. She knew from the moment that Finnick was picked that President Snow had rigged the system. And it became even clearer when she had been reaped. She couldn’t even think when her name was called. It was just like when she was reaped in her own Games.
She hadn’t even gotten to say goodbye. And now Finnick was as good as dead. She sat in the empty room, trying to reassure herself that Finnick would come home. She tried to ignore the voice in her head saying Finnick would die and so would Mags and there would be nothing worth living for ever again. It was that voice that made her feel crazy, even though Finnick told her countless times that she was okay.
Then she heard the knock. A loud, confident, steady knock. She ran to the door, automatically thinking it was Finnick even though it couldn’t be because he was in the Arena. “Fi—“ she stopped when she realized that it wasn’t Finnick, but in fact, President Snow. She held the doorknob tightly, trying to keep her balance. “President Snow,” she whispered, backing up as he walked inside.
“Miss Cresta,” Snow spoke slowly, and Annie could smell the blood even from her respectable distance.
She fought hard to keep from gagging, “Yes?” she squeaked, feeling faint. She could see Charles’ head rolling down, blood splattering everywhere. No! She squeezed her eyes shut and then looked at Snow, her knees trembling.
“You were supposed to be in the Arena,” he sat down in the spot Finnick usually sat and grinned a bit. “Wouldn’t that have been fun?” he leaned back. “So, my dear, you must know something is going on,”
Annie froze, not understanding. Was she supposed to know something? She’d done so well staying away from any of the Capitol’s business by being crazy! “I don’t understand,” she stammered, her eyes wide with fear.
“I see,” Snow smiled, and Annie swore she could see blood on his teeth. “Poor, crazy little Annie, doesn’t know anything about what her Finnick is planning?” he chuckled as Annie clenched her fists.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Annie spat, hoping she looked as insane as she felt. Hearing Finnick’s name and smelling the blood scented roses made her feel light headed. All those memories she’d done such a good job of hiding were making their way back to the surface and Annie felt as if she could explode at any second.
Snow stood and stepped towards Annie, leaning towards her so their noses were practically touching. “If I find that he has anything planned, you will pay,” he stepped back, “I’m glad we had this talk, Miss Cresta. It was lovely seeing you again,” he walked to the door and then turned back to Annie. “The tributes may look strong, but I will break them, Annie. And I know the one way to break your beloved Finnick,”
Annie’s eyes filled with rage as President Snow left. She understood him loud and clear: If anything went wrong in the Arena, she would pay the price. And Finnick would be the first one to hear of it. “Oh, Finn… what are you planning?” she whispered, staring at the door.
