Annie Cresta- Beyond the Sea

Chapter 16

The flash of the futuristic capitol cameras burned my eyes and I almost fell, but I did my best to ignore it and put on the show. This was New Annie's time to shine. I had put her away for the time I was alone with Finnick and my team, but now it's time to dust her off and see what she's got to show. I smiled and confidently took a seat next to Caesar.
"Welcome, Annie! May I say you look beautiful tonight!"
"Thank you! Isn't it lovely? My stylist made it by hand," I replied. A couple oohs filed up from the audience.
"Oh, yes! Quite impressive. I am familiar with Darcy's work. Okay, getting down to business.  Tell me, Annie: how did you feel during the chariot ride? I mean, you were underwater quite a long time". He smiled at me, his made up face sorta creepy in all the strange lighting. I brushed it off, pretending it was Finnick I was talking into, instead of all of Panem.
I laughed, reminded of that stupid nickname Uridecee gave me. "Well, Caesar, I am from District 4. I love to swim! Almost everyone does. So basically, I've had a lot of practice, and Finnick helped me learn, too. I don't really believe I'm that impressive. Especially not impressive enough to earn the nickname 'The girl who never drowns'," I told him.
Caesar smiled, and there were murmurs among the audience. "I kinda like it. What do you think?" he asked the audience. I could only smile as a few cheered at it.
"So, Annie, there's a question that's been on all of our minds." He rested a gentle hand on my knee. His nails were a bright orange. "Five years ago -when Finnick won- he said on his interview that you and him have a 'thing' going on". I laughed at the way he said that, and wiggled his colored eyebrows after. Caesar was just plain entertaining! But I nodded. Time to put on a show.
"He's my motivation. He won the games for me, and now I have to do the same for him. He's a great mentor, and I couldn't ask for a better boyfriend," I replied. The audience smiled, some people went "Aww." I hoped I was getting sponsors.
We went on like this. He asked me how I liked the Capitol, if I was afraid of the Games, what life was like back home, what I would do if I won, ect. Someone signaled him offstage, and he asked one final question.
"Okay, Annie, last question: you got an 8 for your training score. How'd you manage to do it?" he asked. My heart sank. I couldn't really reveal my trident throwing ability. Then the careers will know, and at the moment, that's the least thing I want happening. I needed a new strategy.
"Well I showed them I could survive, of course! Make shelters, hunt, use various items around me as a weapon. I'm very resourceful," I replied, but it was half-hearted. Suddenly, a buzzer sounded, signaling its time to end my interview.
"Well, that's it, then! Everyone, lets give a big hand to Annie Cresta, the girl who never drowns!" Caesar chanted, helping me out of my chair. I smiled and waved at the cheering audience, then ran backstage. My heart was racing with one thing on my mind: Darcy.
I ran past Giana and a couple peacekeepers, who promptly shouted at me, then back to the elevator. It was easily clear the cords connecting the elevator were cut. I looked inside. "Darcy! Darcy!" I screamed. But nothing was inside the elevator. Darcy was gone. Maybe they had taken her back?
I ran back to the district 4 house. I ran and slammed the door behind me. My prep team, Finnick, and Mags turned to look at me. Finnick was smirking, of course.
"Where the hell is my stylist?" I yelled before he could make a mocking remark. I realized I was panting.
"She should be in the audience or with you," said Dime. I shook my head. "She's not!" I  sat down on the floor, stripping myself of my shoes as if they were some sort of precious clue to find her.
Finnick's smirk disappeared. "Hey, what happened?" he asked. I didn't reply. I ripped off the fabric around my arm. It was starting to irritate me.
Finnick's face grew concerned. "Annie, who did that to you?"
"More like did that to US! They took Darcy!" My arm was starting to burn and I gripped it tightly, feeling the glass. "Let's just get you cleaned up first. Dime, can you go look for Darcy?," asked Finnick, looking down at me. She agreed. I nodded, and let him pick me up, feeling close to tears.
If my stylist is dead, that makes both of us dead meat.