𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐫

TWENTY-FIVE

xxv. Finnick

Finnick had dreaded the moments in which visiting hours were over. The thought that everyone else was out there, doing something, anything, while he was stuck within the confines of his hospital room. He craved to hear any other voice besides his own melancholy voice that never seemed to possess any other tone than one of heartbreak. He hated it. Any other feeling of pain he had ever experienced in the arena would never be able to even come close to the one he felt sitting alone in the silence. Helplessness was the one thing he had only just now realized was the worst feeling.

He tried everything to suffice the emptiness he felt without the presence of those he loved. But the knot between his fingers would only give him burns on his skin, while the dreams would only inevitably turn into nightmares. It all only ever fueled the wildfire inside him that only Annie and Ace could suffocate.

For once in his life, he craved the attention of others. It was an odd feeling, wanting to be in the public, rather than wishing to be isolated from it all. The spotlight had been on him for so long, there was never a day where the strangers didn't surround him, watching his every move. There was never a day before he was admitted, that he wished to be anywhere else but the silent, somewhat peaceful room he'd been put in. He told them he was fine, but they didn't believe the lies that left his mouth. All he wanted was to be able to leave, even for only a moment. But his mind just wouldn't allow it.

And luckily enough for him, his wish came true.

A knock on the door of his room was heard, causing his head to shoot up from the fixed position it'd been in for hours. A small smile of excitement had graced his lips as a quick burst of relief had passed through him. Annie and Ace were finally here. Or better yet, it was the doctor coming to tell him he was finally being discharged.

"Come in!" He called out, his voice hoarse from the hours of not speaking.

Finnick's hopes were crushed in a second, as neither of his options was true. It was his nurse, the same one who would come in every few hours or so to check up on him, feed him, etc.. She was about the only form of human contact he had whenever Ace and Annie weren't up for meeting with him. Disappointment had plagued him at the sight of her.

It wasn't that he disliked her in any way, if anything, he thought she was quite a sweet lady. Her short brunette hair had somewhat reminded him of Aurora, not to mention the fact that she held the same sweet aura that Aurora had. Everything always seemed to tie back to her in the end.

"I'm sorry to bother you Finnick, but President coin has an announcement and wants everyone in the Collective," the nurse told quickly, yet with a calm tone in her voice. Down the hall, Finnick could hear the other nurses, as well as Mrs. Everdeen ushering the other patients together.

"Everyone?" It was concerning, what announcement was so important that President Coin needed to gather everyone to hear.

"Yes, everyone. Plus, I think it's about time you take a walk rather than stay cooped up here in this room." The disappointment that Finnick had once felt, left with her reassuring words. A small, relieved smile formed, one that was barely visible.