The Capitol Star • A Finnick Odair Story

Fourteen

Weeks had passed, and Arias head was filled with lies, filled with false memories. She sat secluded in the corner of her cell, refusing the small piece of bread they gave her once a day.

Footsteps and screams echoed the hall. Guns shot and Arias eyes barely could stay open. Her door was kicked down and her head slowly lifted open. The brown haired doctor she saw just weeks ago let in what looked like peacekeepers, but instead of white, they wore black.

Her brow furrowed and her eyes squinted at the figures that stomped towards her. A strong figure picked her up and threw her arms around his neck.

Her eyes tried to see through the mask but she couldn't begin to see a face. He clicked the mask open and a familiar face stood before her.

"Gale?" She whispered.

"Come on let's get out of here." He stroked her hair once before running out of the room, gun in one hand and Aria tightly wrapped in the other. The doctor nodded at her and smiled before running after them, onto a helicopter.

"Gale-"

"Shh shh Aria don't talk. You're severely starved and your body is decomposing. Don't waste your energy." He placed her in a bed and let her sleep as they gave her liquids through her IV.

Aria stayed asleep as they landed in thirteen. They strolled her bed out and into the elevator, trying not to wake her. They traveled into a large room with many beds, including one with Johanna and Enobaria. Peeta was brought to his own personal room, too disoriented to even be in the room with everybody else.

—

Aria slowly awoke to a nurse by her bed. She tried to get up in a panic but the nurse pushed her back down.

"Aria Aria calm down! You're safe you're in district thirteen now. You're safe."

Her head slowly rested back down on her pillow as the nurse assessed her. Aria was too tired to fight with her.

"Just relax darling, just relax."

"How long have I been out."

"Just a day and a half sweetheart. We've been feeding you through your tube, I can see you're fat starting to build back up." The nurse handed her a little mirror and Aria looked up at herself, her face not as bony as before, but still not the same.

"Come, you're dirty let's give you a bath." The nurse slowly helped her up and into a wheelchair as they traveled to the washrooms. A tub waiting for Aria with steaming hot water. Aria flinched back and gripped the nurses arm.

"No. No please." The memories started to flood back like a wave.

"It's okay Aria. We can wait if you'd like, for the water to cool down. Is that alright with you?" The nurse stroked her shoulder.

Aria hesitated before agreeing. The nurse helped her undress as her body ached. Her skin was peeled and fleshy from the unhealed burns. She stared at the small scars from the many needles they stabbed into her arms. Her ears rang as the nurse scrubbed her back, cleansing her from any of the dirty memories of that place. When Aria exited the bathtub, the water was murky with dirt and blood. Aria felt clean. Clean of the trauma.

Aria was tightly wrapped in a silk gown and the nurse blowdried her hair very lightly for her. Aria felt warm and safe. Her hair was back to its original curly state, a little frizzy from the heat, but that all went away once the nurse put some cream in it.

"Is Peeta safe?" Arias voice croaked.

"Yes darling he is."

"Can I see him?"

"You'll have to wait dear. You will be able to soon okay?" The nurse smiled at Aria and all she could do was nod in return. She laid back in her cot and wrapped herself tightly with a blanket.

Johanna sat on the edge of her bed, writhing underneath the fabric of her robe.

"This sucks."

"It's better then being in the Capitol, don't you think?"

"I guess."

"You guess?" Arias blood boiled as she sat up a bit. "How can you just guess??"

"Yea Aria it is better. Is that what you want to hear? WERE TRAPPED HERE. WERE NO WHERE CLOSE TO FREE ARIA. DONT YOU GET THAT?" Johanna stood up furious.

Arias lip trembled but she won't show it.

"I'm just happy to get out of there. At least we're not being tortured." Aria brushed her blanket back to its smooth state and Johanna glanced at her burned skin.

"Yea. I'm sorry I don't know why I just exploded before."

"It's alright."

—

Hours passed by and the same nurse she saw just earlier that day came waltzing back into her space.

"How are you feeling dear? Ready to have visitors?" The nurse smiled at her.

"Is Finnick here?" Arias eyes searched the nurses.

"Yes he is! He'll be delighted to see yo-"

"No! No he hurt me. Look at my neck." Aria pointed to it and the stitches of her wound were flared up.

"Okay, okay calm down. We won't make you see him. Peeta requested you, said you're the only one he wants to talk to."

Aria nodded slowly, reaching to pull the blankets off and placed her feet against the cold metal floors. She shivered and the nurse lead the way. You could hear Arias feet padding against the floor, but nobody seemed to be in the hallways. A room with security stood alone at the end of the hallway.

"Here we are," the nurse turned around and opened the door. Aria hesitantly looked at her before stepping into the room. Bright lights shone down onto her skin as her eyes landed on a cot. Peeta laid there, his face bruised and beaten, looking as if he hadn't eaten in months. He was thinner than the last time she saw him.

"Peeta?" She mumbled, running over to his bed and throwing herself onto him.

"Aria??" He cried, tears pouring down his cheeks. His hug didn't feel like the last time, since there was nothing really to feel, "Aria you need to get out of here! They're trying to hurt us!! Katniss is coming for us Aria you need to leave!"

He frantically grabbed her shoulders, shaking her violently and sobbing, choking out his words.

"I will Peeta don't worry we will. We'll be safe from them." Aria mumbled, grabbing his face tightly, placing their foreheads together.

The long window behind them blocked what they couldn't see. Katniss stood with Finnick as she covered her mouth to hide the sob that was scratching to escape her throat. Finnick's jaw clenched and he turned around, walking quickly out of the room and slamming the door.

He trudged all the way to President Coins office as he blew open the door. She sat with Plutarch across a long table, discussing strategies for Katniss's mockingjay project.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER??" Finnick ran up to Coin, grabbing her collar and shaking her violently. Guards came rushing in, grasping his arms and pulling him back.

"Me?? You mean what did the Capital do to her," Coin straightened her jacket and sat back down, "You need to remember who the good guys are."

"You let this happen!! You waited until the LAST minute to get them out didn't you??? We could have saved them sooner!" Finnick shouted, tears building in his eyes.

"Finnick, we couldn't have done anymore than we already have," Plutarch stood up, walking over to where he was held, "Get out."

The guards threw Finnick out and shut the door quickly as he scurried back up and slammed his fists against the door.