Masked Enemies

Chapter 14

*spoiler alert*

This chapter contains PG-13 material in it- if you don't want to read about suicide, then I suggest not reading this chapter. It'll explain everything later.

Finnick

Katniss and I walk up the stairs to the meeting room. The guards let us into the room. They open the doors to a large room with a large table located in the middle. Around the table past victors of the Hunger Games talk quickly and in hushed voices. They turn their heads and glanced nervously at me when I walk in. I am confused to why they are doing this, but I take a seat next to Johanna anyway.

A blonde woman with a petite build started the discussion.

"Welcome, victors. I've called every single victor alive here to discuss the matter of President Snow." President Alma Coin announced loudly and calmly.

Every single victor alive? Then where was Annie? Perhaps I had missed her. I scanned the table once again. She wasn't there. Maybe she was just late. At any moment now, she would come bursting through the doors, see me, and run up and kiss me. I'd see the light that shone in her eyes glow even more. The light that warmed my heart.

"We have gathered here today to discuss very, pressing, matters." Coin said, interrupting my thoughts. "I have decided to host a Hunger Games, but this time, with Capitol children. I would like to pass this by all the remaining surviving victors before putting it in action."

Remaining surviving victors? Then where was Annie? My heart began to pound faster. I felt my breathing get a little unsteady. Maybe Coin was talking about the tributes in the Quarter Quell victors.

"Oh, and I almost forgot. Let's take role? All remaining victors of any Games should be here." Coin said. "Haymitch Abernathy?" Haymitch raises his hand.

"Katniss Everdeen?" Two seats over from me, Katniss raises her hand.

They keep calling names, and with every name I get more and more worried. Where was Annie? Why had she not come to see me?

"Last but not least, Finnick Odair." I raise my hand suspiciously.

"Where's Annie?" I ask, my insides tingling with uncertainty and doubt.

Everyone averts their eyes. Well, everyone except for Katniss. She stares at Coin with just as much confusion as I'm looking at her with.

"Where's Annie?" I ask again, but I am unsuccessful in receiving an answer.

I grit my teeth and ask one more time. "Where. Is. Annie?"

Johanna looks at me, her eyes full of tears. This is strange. I've never seen Johanna cry before. A tingle of dread spreads throughout my body. Something bad must have happened to Annie.

"I-I'm so sorry, Finnick." Johanna's voice breaks. Now I'm really scared.

Haymitch finishes her sentence for her. "Annie's- she's dead."

My heart starts pounding so fast, I think that soon it may pop out of my chest. My palms get all sweaty and I am breathing very, very fast.

"No. No. No." I whisper to myself. I stand up abruptly, walk to the door, push it open, and run out of the room. I can hear Johanna and Katniss calling for me to come back, but I ignore them and find a quiet room. I lean against the wall and sink to the floor, groaning.

"Annie." I say. Sobs shake my body. I rub my eyes and let the moisture from my tears sit there and dry. It didn't really matter to me. I didn't care if the President just walked in here and saw me. Nothing mattered. Only Annie did.