𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐫

TWENTY-FOUR

xxiv. Old Friends

Days felt like nothing but wasted time to Finnick Odair. The four pristine, white walls that surrounded him every hour of every day made him believe he had begun to go insane. He tried to leave, he told everyone he was fine, but to no avail. As Katniss said, he had "concentration problems." His mind was constantly filled with the horrors of his past, along with the never-ending worry he held for his best friend who at that point could've been dead. In truth, he didn't think she could last a day in the Capitol, under their torture.

Finnick wasn't allowed outside the hospital until his mind was "fixed." Day after day it was the same thing. If he wasn't in therapy or eating, he was sleeping, getting lost in his dreams to relieve himself of the horrors of the real world. The nightmares, however, had never left, but they felt far more satisfying than the nightmare he was living in. At least in his dreams, he could see her. He'd do anything to see her, to know she was safe.

Katniss, on the other hand, was doing far better than Finnick. She had been released only about a week after they'd arrived in the District, getting her own living compartment with her family. Finnick envied her freedom. Whilst he was trapped within the small hospital, she was out there becoming the Mockingjay. There were many nights he missed the thrill of the fight, of having something to fight for. For now, all hope had dissipated.

District Thirteen in itself, held a depressing aura. Everyone was forced to wear grey, identical jumpsuits, while Finnick, along with the other patients, wore pristine, white hospital gowns. In the dining hall, tables and portions were assigned based on a person's weight, age, and work they were to do. It wasn't surprising that the District Twelve refugees were given larger potions than anyone else. They all were skinny, malnourished even, with coming from such a poor home.

There weren't many of them, however. The bombs that the Capitol had decided to drop on District Twelve wiped out most of all the buildings, as well as the citizens. It was a horrendous thing to even think about. What was already poor and run down, was demolished just to spite the Girl on Fire, to get rid of the rebels. Luckily enough, Katniss's so-called "cousin" as she had told the Capitol, had managed to save a hefty group of people, all of which traveled to District Thirteen with him.

Finnick hadn't heard much from his own home. Of course, there were rebels rising within all of the districts, but the Capitol hadn't done anything to District Four just yet, and he was grateful. He wouldn't be able to handle the news of his home being destroyed, considering he was so unbelievably connected with the place. It was where he grew up, where he met the love of his life, where he lost his family and found his new one. He hoped that after this whole thing was over, he would have his home to return to, even if he wasn't able to get her back.

In terms of District Four, Finnick had the chance to speak with Annie and Ace. Their reunion was short, but special none the less. They were all he had left after losing Aurora. In a way, he found their presence to be a painful reminder of the two girls he loved so dearly. After finding out of his return, the two wasted no time to visit their friend. They didn't expect to find him so broken and empty, it shocked them.