Sleep when it finally comes is restless, and full of dreams.
With the victory tour so close, my mind relieves all the horrors of the arena. Every life I took, all the fear, and anxiety I felt in the arena, comes flooding back in a swirl of memories.
The Lake Mutt, Luna being pulled underwater by the eel, Weasels knives, Annita's bloody body, and worst of all, hunting down the careers and killing them. As I dream of pinning Alexia to the cornucopia, my mind flashes back to the interviews, and how she twirled on stage like an elegant ballerina. Then I am standing by Luna's broken body, only this time she is still alive, and she is pleading with me. I watch in horror as I raise my trident, and stab her in the heart.
I sit up in bed gasping, covered in sweat. I look at the clock: 4:00 AM
I sigh and roll out of bed, pulling on some jeans and a sweatshirt, I go downstairs, and decide to go for a walk.
The streets are empty, all the dock workers don't usually start until five.
I inhale deeply, breathing in the salty sea air.
I decide to go to the one place that calms me. The sky is turning from black to grey as I reach the beach.
I walk along the shore slowly, savoring the feeling of sand beneath my feet, and the sound of the waves.
I know exactly where I'm going, and soon I can see the tall dune in the distance.
Walking up the side, I sigh as I reach the top, and sink into the hammock. Here is where I will stay, this place is where I belong.
I take another deep breath, and let it out in a sigh. Soon I am lulled to sleep by the sound of the ocean, and the gentle sway of the hammock.
The dreams return with a vengeance, and this time they are even more twisted.
I see myself in Weasels place, slicing and torturing the other tributes with glee. I hunt down the week tributes, and slaughter them without mercy. I push Luna into the lake, and watch her get ripped to bits by the lake Mutts. As Annita lies dying, she yells my name, pleading with me to stop but I silence her forever with my trident. Then I see Robbert, standing behind Annita's dead body.
"Finnick. What's happened to you?"
His eyes are so sad, and he looks so disappointed in me.
"I told you not to change. Now you're the monster, and I don't want you to be around Annie. She deserves a better friend."
I yell in anger, and throw my trident, piercing him through the chest.
"Finnick!"
I turn around, and Annie is standing behind me, staring in horror at my blood-covered body.
"What have you done? You killed Robbert! How could you?"
I look down at my blood stained arms, then back up at Annie.
"I...I did it for you...you wanted me to win..."
She shakes her head, taking a step back.
"No. You did this for yourself, you are no better than the careers. You kill for fun. You're a monster, a capitol creation...a Mutt!"
I step toward her, shaking my head.
"No! I did this for you. I'm not like them...I'm not!"
"Finn! Finnick can you hear me?"
The dream fades away, and I jerk awake, falling out of the hammock.
I drop onto the sand hard, and cough as I try to regain my breath.
Annie rolls me on my back, and brushes the sand off my face.
"Are you alright? I woke up really early and went to your house to see if you were up. But you weren't there, I figured the only other place you would go is here, and when I showed up you were yelling and jerking around on the hammock. I couldn't wake you, so I tipped you out of the hammock. Sorry about that by the way."
I sit up, and shake the sand out of my hair. Then I rub my forehead, trying to ease the growing ache in the back of my head.
"What time is it?"
She shrugs.
"When I left your house it was almost five-thirty. So it must be almost six by now."
I stand up, and brush the sand off my clothes. Then I grab her hand, and pull her down the dune.
"We have to hurry. My team is coming to get me ready around six, and I better be home by then or we are in big trouble."
We go directly to my house, running the whole way. By the time we get there, the sun is starting to rise.
Once we're inside, we both collapse onto the couch.
"We made it."
Annie says with a smile. I look down at my sand covered clothes.
"Well, sort of. Have you said goodbye to your mom yet?"
She shakes her head.
"She's going to drop by and say goodbye to both of us before we leave."
I'm about to reply, when the doorbell rings.
"Well, they're here."
I answer the door, and my prep team dashes in.
"Aren't you excited!"
"We can't wait!"
"Oh it's going to be so fun!"
They all start chattering at once about all the parties they are getting to go to, and little things like that. I'm still holding the door open, and Dalia walks in at a more reasonable pace.
"Morning. Did you sleep well?"
I smile.
"Just fine. How did you sleep?"
She shrugs.
"I don't sleep much. Let's get you and Annie looking fit for the tour."
They split up. Petunia and Violet work on Annie, while Fuchsia and Dalia work on me.
Soon they have us cleaned and dressed up.
The weather is kind of chilly, so I am dressed in a pair of heavy black pants, and a grey sweater vest over a white button down shirt. My hair is styled in it's usual wave, and they sprayed the highlighter stuff in my eyes.
I wait in the living room for Annie, with Fuchsia and Dalia. She appears with Petunia and Violet.
She's dressed in a Dark purple dress that reaches her knees, a pair of black leggings, and furry grey boots. A soft white coat completes the outfit. Her hair is straight and silky, and she has some light makeup on.
"Annie, you look great."
She grins, and twirls.
"I think I might get to like this. You don't look so bad yourself."
A knock sounds on the door, and it turns out to be Mrs. Cresta. She says goodbye to Annie and I, telling us to be careful, but to have fun. Then Mags and Brutus show up followed by a bunch of camera wielding reporters. Annie and I smile and answer a few questions, then we are whisked off to the train station. We board the train, and take one last look at district four.
"We'll be back before you know it."
I tell Annie reassuringly.
"I know we will. But I want to have some fun first! Come and show me around the train, I've never been on one before. It's marvelous! I've never seen anything so grand."
I grin, and show Annie all around the train.
That night, after a wonderful supper, Annie and I retire to our rooms.
"Goodnight Annie. I'll see you tomorrow."
She gives me a hug.
"Thanks for everything Finn. Goodnight."
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