Dead in the Water | An Odesta Fanfic

Chapter Thirty-Three

Annie woke to the sound of her curtains being pulled open, and the room was flooded with light. It was nearly sunset, but the sun was still hanging above the sea and the world outside was bright. Finnick stood at her window, making quite a ruckus for someone in a room with a sleeping person.

"We're going out." Finnick announced. "Your mother brought over your dresses weeks ago; they should be in your closet. Meet me downstairs when you're ready."

"I'm sorry?" said Annie, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "What do you mean, going out?"

"Going out." repeated Finnick. "Orders from your mentor."

"I thought we were done with that."

"You're stuck with me forever, sweetheart." Finnick told her. He threw open the last set of curtains. "Now, downstairs in ten minutes, or I'm dragging you out of here."

But Annie stayed in bed after he left, letting the bright sunlight from the window wash over her face. What was Finnick Odair playing at? Why wouldn't he just leave her alone? Annie just wanted to be left alone to listen to the voices in her head.

I want to go outside, Annie.

Annie laughed. "Good morning, Kai."

Afternoon. You've been sleeping all day. It's about time you got up.

"What do you think?" she murmured. "Should I go?"

I like him. Finnick is nice.

"Of course you're taking his side. You always do."

There was no reply.

Kai's voice faded away into the constant chatter of voices that were always clanging around in her mind, spouting nonsense and broken words. A few tears rolled out of her eyes and down onto the pillowcase, as Annie traced the edge of the bandage on her arm. She didn't really need it anymore, but it was easier not to look at the scars. She didn't need any more reminders of just how crazy she was. The voices in her head and the constant eyes on her were enough of a reminder already.

She didn't hate the idea of going out. The thought of finally leaving the house even stirred up some faint curiosity in her. But did it have to be with Finnick Odair? They hadn't done much else besides argue ever since they'd met, and by the way things were already going, it didn't seem that today would be any different.

But faint curiosity was the strongest emotion she had felt in a long time, so Annie pulled herself out from under the covers, moved across the room, and found herself in front of her closet. She picked out a light green dress, the same one she'd worn to the reaping, as if that might somehow change her back into the person she used to be. Not a murderer, not a mad girl – just a girl from District 4, holding tight to her brother's hand as they walked to the town square.

"But Heron's name is in the bowl three times now, because he's turning fourteen today. What an awful day to have a birthday, don't you think? But at least he'll be done before the rest of us. That's what he always says, anyway. But he had to start a year before we did too, so it's really no different at all. It's not as bad as Morgan – her name is in five times, because she had to take out Tesserae for her family after the storm last winter ruined all their boats. Cora should be okay, she's younger than all of us –"

"Kai!" Annie snapped. Her head was throbbing. She'd had a headache all morning and the bright summer sun certainly wasn't helping any. But the Capitol didn't accept something so meaningless as an excuse to miss the reaping. "Can you just be quiet?" He went on like this every year. "Your friends will be fine. You'll be fine. It's the older kids that need to worry."