𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫, Finnick Odair

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌

"APHRODITE, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE!" Sam's voice pierces through the trees, filled with terror and desperation.

"SAM! WHERE ARE YOU?" Aphrodite shouts back, panic rising as she scans the forest. Shadows stretch long around her, cold and unfeeling. She starts running, the underbrush crunching beneath her feet, but Sam's voice keeps drifting further away.

"APHRODITE, PL-PLEASE..." His sobs tear through her, haunting and raw.

She stumbles, her knees hitting the cold forest floor, a sob escaping as she tries to push herself up. Tears blur her vision, and the forest spins around her. And then, another voice—softer, achingly familiar—breaks through.

"Aph, what's wrong? Please, stop."

"Otto?" she whispers, glancing around in confusion. Her heart hammers in her chest as his voice echoes, but the forest around her is silent. The shadows grow thicker, swallowing Sam's cries and Otto's gentle voice until there's only darkness.

Aphrodite sits up, her breathing uneven as she clutches the sheets, her skin clammy. She's back in her room, safe—yet the weight of Sam's pleading voice lingers, sinking into her bones. It's been a week since she returned from the Capitol, but the nightmares have clung to her, winding around her mind like the vines in the arena. She raises a shaky hand to her face, brushing away a stray tear as her door creaks open.

"Aph?" Otto's voice is soft, hesitant. He's just seven, but somehow, he seems so much older at this moment. His small frame stands at the edge of her room, watching her with worried eyes that remind her so much of their mother.

Aphrodite swallows, a knot forming in her throat. "I'm sorry, Otto..." Her voice wavers, each word a struggle. "I... I keep waking you up. I didn't mean to scare you."

Otto steps closer, his eyes never leaving hers as he climbs onto the bed beside her. He reaches for her hand, squeezing it gently. "It's okay, Aph. I don't mind," he says, his voice soft yet steady. "You've been through... so much."

The corners of her mouth twitch, and she looks away, embarrassed by the tears pricking at her eyes. "I just... I'm supposed to protect you, and here I am, breaking down in front of you."

Otto wraps his arms around her, his tiny frame radiating warmth as he rests his head on her shoulder. "You don't have to protect me from everything, Aph. Sometimes... I can help you too."

Aphrodite takes a deep breath, feeling the tension ease, if only a little. She pulls him closer, allowing herself to lean on him, even if just for a moment.

Otto watched his sister carefully, giving her a gentle nudge. "Come on, Aph, you've gotta get up soon. Finnick's coming over for breakfast, remember? And Mom's already bouncing around the kitchen."

Aphrodite closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a sigh as she tried to ground herself in reality. "Right. Breakfast," she murmured, managing a small, shaky smile. She couldn't help but feel the pressure; she'd only been home a week, and already her mother was holding her up to some impossible standard—one that Finnick, in her mother's eyes, embodied perfectly.

Otto's tone softened as he watched her. "Hey," he said gently, "it's okay. You're... you're still you. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're not enough."

Aphrodite nodded, giving her brother a grateful look. "Thanks, Otto." She took a deep breath, forcing herself to stand.

⋆༺𓆩⚔𓆪༻⋆

As everyone settled around the breakfast table, Aphrodite kept her gaze low, pushing a few strawberries around on her plate. Her mother was a whirlwind of energy, practically buzzing with excitement as she poured juice, arranged pastries, and kept stealing glances at Finnick with admiration.