A Tale of a Boy and His Flower

Cynophobia

"Mr.Odair?" 

The man didn't respond. He was conscious, but his mind was not present. He was stuck in his thoughts, torturing himself. It didn't help that he'd just watched Peeta's interview. 

Boggs cleared his throat once more and tried again. "Finnick." 

Finnick didn't say anything. Boggs sighed and pulled him into the control room where Plutarch and Coin were. No one greeted them; their eyes were too focused on the screen in front of them. 

Finnick looked up at the screen. Caesar Flickerman was back, and he seemed to have returned with a new guest. 

"Hello, people of Panem!" he greeted, "Along with our beloved Peeta Mellark, who we saw earlier, we also have another special guest with us tonight. Someone we all know and love. Tonight I would like to welcome Amaryllis GreenShire!"

His eyes widened at the name and his stopped fiddling with a knot of rope in his hand. He held his breath as the camera panned over to the woman he loved.  

She was alive. 

He couldn't believe it. He had been almost sure she was dead. Everything he'd been wishing for was right there. She seemed distracted and unfocused. When Caesar got her attention again Finnick noticed the dimness of her eyes. They had once been bright but now they remained a dull cloudy color. 

"Now Amaryllis, many are confused on how Quarter Quell ended. Would you mind enlightening us?" Caesar asked.

Amaryllis seemed taken aback by the question and confused on how to answer. She didn't say anything. Suddenly her eyes seemed to focus on something off camera and she tensed up.  

"The Quarter Quell was a devastating loss for the nation of Panem." She sounded like a robot reading off a script. "There are no winners in the game of war." 

Everyone in the remained seemed to sit up straighter and inhale a sharp breath. 

"Unfortunately the Quater Quell was corrupted by the rebellion.." She continued. He glanced around the room and saw that everyone was watching intently, waiting for what she would say next. "A rebellion aided by the actions of Katniss Everdeen, Beetee Latier, Johanna Mason, Zach Felcher...and Finnick Odair."  

He inhaled sharply. Tears were brimming in his eyes. Finnick couldn't understand why she was saying this. The Amaryllis he knew would never say such things unless..they were forcing her to. 

She paused, and a glimpse of recognition flashed over her face. Amaryllis eyes switched from Caesar to whoever was behind the camera. Confusion was no longer subtle as she struggled for words. She began to mumble something in such a small voice that the camera could barely hear what she said.

"These radicals have betrayed all of Panem." 

Coin stood up. If Amaryllis continued saying what she was, her words might persuade the Districts back to the capital and away from Katniss. Especially after what Peeta had said.  

"Now Amaryllis, is there anything you would like to say about this rebellion?" Caesar asked. 

He waited with baited breath and studied her face. She seemed conflicted with herself as if she was stuck in her own inner debate. 

"Amaryllis?" Caesar said, "What do you have to say about the rebellion?" He asked again.

Her eyes locked in with the camera and she took a deep breath. She looked at us through the camera, she looked at all of panem. The dimness in her eyes left and the brightness returned at that moment. She locked eyes with him.