Annie Cresta- Beyond the Sea

Chapter 17

Finnick carried me to the bathroom and set me down next to the sink. It felt good to be in his arms after everything that's happened. I watched nervously as he opened a cabinet and retrieved a first aid kit. Uridecee, Dime, and Siren also came in the bathroom, all looking concerned, closing the door behind them. The bathroom was then crowded and squished. Finnick was crushed against the wall.
"Um, guys.. Only one prep team girl at a time please," I told them, my face smushed up against the mirror.
"Fine," said Dime. She and Uridecee fled the bathroom, but lingered at the doorway and watched. Siren stayed by my side, comforting me and Finnick took out a pair of tweezers. He turned to me. "Just relax, Annie. This won't hurt a bit," he said, and gripped my arm. I winced a little at the pressure.
I shut my eyes tightly and didn't look, but I knew it was happening because I felt a burning sensation in my arm. It felt worse than when I first cut my arm. Siren comforted me at my side.
"There. All done," said Finnick once he finished. I opened my eyes and looked. In the tweezers was a piece of glass that was fairly big. I stared at it, fascinated.
"Why do they make the lightbulbs so big?"
"Who knows?" Finnick replied, wetting a clean washcloth with warm water. He gently pressed it to my arm and it stung at first, but then I sighed, feeling the burning slowly drain away.
"That feels better," I breathed. Siren put her hand on my shoulder as Finn disinfected the cut, then took out a bandage and wrapped my arm in it carefully. I felt a lot better already.
"Thank you," I said. He smiled at me and started to put away the first aid. "Just be careful, okay?"
"Hey guys, are you up for searching for Darcy?" Dime asked before I could answer.
I smiled and slid off the counter, suddenly eager to start on that. "Let's go".
I raced barefoot down the hall, Finnick and my prep team following. I lead them to the elevator. The shiny metal doors were tightly shut, and it looked as though nothing had happened.
"The wire was cut. We fell to the bottom floor, and someone or something pushed Darcy. She hit her head. I had to go to the interviews, but when I came back for her, she was gone," I explained.
Finnick thought a moment, then said, "Well, she might be- oh no.." his face suddenly grew pale, the way it always did when something was wrong.
"What is it?" I asked. He turned to me, fear stirring in his sea colored eyes. "The careers may have taken her," he stated quietly.
"Dont be ridiculous," said Dime, waving a hand nonchalantly.
"Yeah. That's illegal," Uridecee chimed in.
"Uh, I don't know, guys," Siren looked up at us. "A lot of people do illegal things". Now she was staring directly at me. "Especailly careers, because they can get away with it."
I could feel my face draining color. "The careers.. Took her? But what would they want with Darcy?" I asked. Suddenly all eyes were on Finnick. He was staring at the ground.
"Revenge," he said. "What else? They want revenge on me, and they're trying to make sure Annie doesn't get any sponsors."
"A little late for that," said Dime with a hint of a smile. "At least your interview went great."
I paced in a circle. "Well then if they did take her, we have to get her back somehow".
Finnick looked up at me, startled. "Annie, I won't let you go into their territory. It's severely unsafe," he pleaded.
"Then, I won't. But I'm not letting you go, either," I snapped. "Remember, it's you they want revenge on".
"We'll go!" said Dime, raising a hand cheerfully. Clearly she, Siren, and Uridecee were in agreement on this. But I was against it.
"No way, guys. I lost my stylist, I can't afford to lose my prep team, too".
"I actually think it's a good idea," Finnick input suddenly. "We can come up with a plan. They're pretty smart, you know, and I think together we can work something out without anyone getting injured."
"How?" I asked suspiciously.
"I already have a few ideas in my brain!" He gave me a trustworthy half smile. "Please?"
I sighed. "I guess I don't really have a choice."
"Yay! Thank you Annie!" exclaimed Siren. They all tackled me in a group hug.
"Just be careful," I whispered.
"We will," Uridecee assured me. "I promise. We won't let you down".
We returned back to the District 4 house, where my prep team went to get ready and plan for Darcy's rescue. Meanwhile, I was getting homesick.
I missed the ocean behind my house, swimming in its waves with Finnick, and I even missed Alana, in a weird sorta way. I worried I would never get to see any of that ever again. I took off my golden necklace and stared at it a while. Tommorow was the beginning of the 70th Hunger Games. I might never see Finnick again..