Black & Blue || Finnick Odair

15

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' Hope is the only thing stronger than fear. '
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Venus screamed as she awoke from a nightmare, her voice echoing throughout the floor before Johanna's scream rang out. It was the girl from Seven's turn for punishment, the second time that day. She was next, then Peeta, before they would take a break. Her whole body ached and throbbed, new cuts littered her skin.

After she had made such an outbreak at the interview with Caesar, she was abused by peacekeepers under Snow's instruction. They had told her she wouldn't be allowed out of her room again until she could learn to keep her mouth shut, which so far wasn't working. She had screamed and yelled at every nurse who had came into her room and had tried to attack every peacekeeper that had come in to tell her to be quiet. It had led her to how she was in that very moment, tied down to her bed so she couldn't move and it worked well.

After taking a few deep breaths, she looked around the room the best she could to make sure there was no one else in there with her. Venus then looked to her side and saw the IV bag full of purple serum with the long plastic tube leading to the permanent needle in her hand. She rolled her eyes as she flexed her hand, dizziness taking over her mind before she began screaming loudly as the door in front of her opened.

'No! Please, just one day!' She cried as she struggled against her restraints.

The peacekeepers simply ignored her pleas and pulled the electric tasers from their belts, turning them on before they, one by one, began hitting her. The girl from Ten arched her back off the bed as she screamed, twisting and turning to try and get rid of the pain. Tears left her eyes as she yelled for them to stop, every inch of her body throbbing. Suddenly it all stopped, she pried open one of her eyes that was clenched shut but before she could look around an electric current hit her skin and stayed there.

Her whole body shook and her muscles spasmed. She screamed once again, the high pitch note echoing throughout the floor. Black dots invaded her vision as she looked plainly up at the ceiling as her body continued to shake, before eventually she couldn't feel a thing as everything around her disappeared. Her whole body seizing up as the electricity left her skin and the peacekeepers walked away like nothing had just happened.

Finnick smiled down at the little boy who laid beside him sound asleep, the book he was once reading sat limply in his lap. Tommy had spent hours talking to him about everything, the good and the bad. He had told him about the bombing and the horses, along with some stories of Venus. It had cheered him up at little but didn't make him feel any less guilty.

There had been no word about Venus since the tv appearance, no one spoke of her in the hospital and he still hadn't left to try and find out about any of the gossip outside of it. He couldn't get the way she looked out of his head, her eyes were sunken from lack of sleep and her cheeks were slightly sullen from the lack of food. Finnick knew she was hurting, that she was breaking but he didn't quite know how much.

'Finnick,' A soft voice broke him out of his thoughts; 'President Coin is holding a meeting and wants everyone there, are you ready to go?'

The man looked up at Katniss' mother who looked at him with a soft smile, her eyes kind as she walked towards the bed to help him out. Moving Tommy off of him, he sat up and slid off the bed before he turned to pick the Hereford boy up; Ms. Everdeen steadying him as he stumbled backwards. With a quick nod, the pair exited the room with Tommy in arms and walked towards the centre of the District.

As they walked the Everdeen woman looked over the boy beside and her and almost immeadiately noticed the change in his aura. He seemed happier and it was clear his new treatment was working. When Prim had to come to her with the idea of finding Venus' little brother and Annie Cresta, she had thought that it wouldn't have worked; but once again, she was proven wrong by her youngest daughter. They were still yet to find Annie, after District Four was on lockdown after a rebel attack; no one was allowed in or out.

Finnick didn't smile or look at anyone as they reached the busy centre, the whole District had gathered around to listen to their leader and her looked up at her respectfully as she stood a few floors up looking down at everyone. Though his attention was caught by the movement in his arms, looking down he saw Tommy rubbing his eyes tiredly as he looked around.

'Finnick, what's going on?' He mumbled.

'District meeting. It's ok, you go back to sleep,' The man cooed.

'Good afternoon. Thank you for interrupting your schedules,' Coin's voice bellowed through the  area causing Tommy to stir once more; 'I have an announcement for the citizens of 13. And to our welcome guests from 12... Katniss Everdeen has consented to be the face of our cause to help unite the districts against the Capitol. In exchange, I have promised several concessions. First, we'll assess all opportunities for the extraction of the Victors held hostage in the Capitol... Peeta Mellark, Johanna Mason...'

'Finnick, I made the deal for Venus too,' Katniss' voice came from beside him as the roar of disagreement throughout the District began.

'And Venus Hereford... Once freed, they will be granted full pardon for any and all crimes committed against the rebel cause.'

The shouts of the people got louder as they yelled out their opinions, hating the very idea that Coin had just presented.

'Good. That's good, Katniss,' Finnick stated with tears in his eyes.

'You're going to save my sister?' Tommy asked quietly as he looked at the Girl on Fire.

Katniss was shocked when she looked down at the little boy in Finnick's arms, hardly noticing him until now. He looked very similar to Venus; soft brown hair and vibrant greenish-blue eyes. She sent him a tight smile and nodded quickly before she looked away, closing her eyes briefly before she looked back up at Coin.

'If Katniss Everdeen fails to fulfil her duties, the deal will be off. Thank you for your attention. Please, resume your daily schedules,' The grey haired woman stated before she turned away from the microphone.

A bittersweet smile made its way onto Finnick's lips as Tommy hugged him and cheered, screaming to the world that his sister was coming home. He chuckled quickly as they made their way back to his hospital room, Ms. Everdeen leading him with a hand on his back.