Against the Current (Finnick and Annie)

Chapter 15~Annie

It's the sound of shouting and yelling that finally brings me out of my nightmares. I'm too shaken up to register what they're saying though. Even though I'm awake the images continue playing around me.

Finnick was in my dreams. He tried to save me from the wave of water but even he wasn't strong enough to fight the rapids. I grabbed on to his hand for a second but then he was swept under and I was left stranded and alone.

The sound of my heart is beating too loudly in my ears that I don't understand the shouting voices. But as I begin to calm down I realize that I recognize them. Some of the other victors from Four are here and they're not happy.

"I don't want any of your stupid food!" A man yells. There's the sound of a crash like he threw his tray of food at the wall. "You think this will make kidnapping me okay? Like I should thank you for taking me to the luxury of the Capitol? This is bullshit!"

Other people are shouting too but this man is the loudest. I think it's Pluto. He has a bit of a drinking problem and things easily set him off.

I jump a bit when a compartment in the wall opens and a tray of food with a glass of juice comes sliding into the room. The compartment closes again and the person continues on. The food looks good. It's a plate of waffles with a side of fruit. But I want to see who else is on the train here with me before I eat.

I go to open the door but find it locked. A sense of panic begins to overcome me, and I start to hyperventilate. I'm really trapped. It's like I'm being held captive. No wonder everyone was so mad when they got their food. Suddenly it doesn't look so good anymore.

This is bad. This is really really bad. I'm going to the Capitol. They think I have something to do with what happened in the arena. The arena! I don't even know what happened to Finnick or what even happened to Dad and Luke. I don't know if any of them are okay. They could all be dead. Then I'll truly be alone.

I never touch the food and just sit there on my bed with my knees tucked tightly into my chest. I try to keep from falling apart completely but it's hard when all of the people I love are in danger.

It only takes the rest of the day for us to arrive in the Capitol. I hear a new outbreak of commotion and my door opens to reveal a group of four Peacekeepers. I see Pluto with his hands cuffed in front of him surrounded by six Peacekeepers.

"Annie Cresta come with us," the Peacekeeper commands.

I hesitate for a moment but I don't have much choice. I follow them. They don't bother cuffing my hands but there's still no way to escape. They would catch me in a second.

When we exit the train I notice that we're not in the main train station. This one looks like it's underground. I guess they didn't want the Capitol people seeing a bunch of the victors flocked by Peacekeepers. No doubt news about that would spread like wildfire.

I peek around the shoulders of the Peacekeepers escorting me and notice more people getting off of trains. They're some of the other victors from the other districts. I notice that there's none from One or Two.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask. Of course I don't get an answer.

This is ridiculous. I have no idea what's going to happen to me. They took me against my will. The least they could do was give some sort of acknowledgement. Usually I'm afraid to speak out against the Capitol but now I feel like I have nothing to lose. Mags is gone and I don't know anything about the rest of the people I love.

"Tell me where we're going," I demand. I stop walking. The Peacekeeper in front grabs my arm but I wrest it from his grasp. "Tell me where we're going."