01 ✼ Video

[brokennotmad]

[A young woman with dark semi disheveled hair, and large panicked eyes is shown when the video starts. She ventured out of the Welcome Hall, and well she's managed to get herself lost. She looks at her screen, her eyebrows drawing together. Her breathing is becoming erratic and it truly looks as if the fragile string in which tethers her to reality might at any moment snap.

When she begins to speak her voice is little more than a harsh whisper.]

No. Can't be right. No such thing as Gods. Just a way to break me, confuse me. [She lifts her hand up and though it's shaking, she runs it through her hair, further messing it up.]

Another Game. Has to be. Need to find water. Then shelter and Finnick. [Her gaze darts nervously around as she tries to keep to the shadows, can't be too careful.]

Comments

[brokennotmad]

[Annie's eyes immediately light up hearing his voice. She quickly turns her attention to the screen and a bright smile begins to form on her lips.

She knew he'd be there. If she was in a game, he was sure to be there too.]

Finnick!

[Her forehead creases for a moment.]

I'm lost.

[tradingsecrets]

[She's not lost. Nope, she won't be lost for long in any account. He doesn't bother to even put on shoes. He's already out the door.]

You're not lost. You're safe. We both are.

[He would find her. If it took all day he'd find her.]

I'm coming to find you.

[brokennotmad]

[Her fingers press against her lips for a moment. Safe? She's not really sure she believes that. But if Finnick says she is... He wouldn't lie to her.

She nods slowly, lowering her hand.]

I'll stay-- [She cuts herself off. She's not even sure where there is. She looks around again and draws back a little again as a couple of grey looking people pass her by.]

Where? I don't understand.

[tradingsecrets]

[He stops and watches her for a moment, and he starts to just speak to her. The best thing for them both is if Annie stays calm. It was hard for him to try and keep his attention from fritzing out at this point too. He just wants to find her.]

No one will hurt you Annie. I know it seems weird but when I find you I'll explain everything.

[A few more step and another pause. He needs to make sure she's okay first. His brows raise and he softens his voice, trying to cut the edge out.]

Do you remember that old fishing song from District 4?

[brokennotmad]

[Truthfully if Finnick hadn't said anything to her, it was very likely Annie would have been cowering in a doorway, covering her ears, completely shutting herself off from everything.

Thankfully, Finnick's always managed to calm her and keep her that way.

She's trying to keep focused on him and his voice, anything really to keep her panic from rising up and completely enveloping her.

She swallows and nods slowly.]

Yes. Sing it for me?

[tradingsecrets]

[He starts to sing it softly to her, leaning against the nearest building. His voice is a little shaky at first.]

The red sun rolls down over Ballyteige's waters
And the Saltees grow misty and grey.
At home, on the mainland, our wives and our daughters
Are wishing good luck on the day.
With the west wind long blowing
Our nets filled o'erflowing
From a shoal that broke under our lee.

So raise high a chorus,
The way lies before us,
With a boat full of spoil from the sea.

[He stops after the first chorus. She seems to be doing better, and so he stops in order to get her help.]

Can you show me on your camera what's around you?

[brokennotmad]

[She closes her eyes, just letting the sound of his voice wash over her and pull her back down and soothe her.

Opening her eyes, she looks a little more pulled together and she nods, turning around slowly so he can see everything she can.]

I just started walking. Wanted to find water, but... This place, it's so different.

[tradingsecrets]

[He starts walking in the vague direction he was able to make out. He'd find her, he wanted to hold her hand, to hug her and never let go. For now he keeps talking to her.]

This place isn't like our home Annie, but there is a small lake we can go to later.

[brokennotmad]

[None of this makes sense to her, and now with others talking to her, Annie looks more confused than ever. Nothing anyone is saying to her makes any sense and she'd really like just to pull away and get lost in her thoughts, but... Well she's trying to keep herself together for him.]

They don't seem to know me, Fin. I don't... Why don't they know me?

[tradingsecrets]

[He understands how confused she must be. He wishes he were there right now to turn off the bracelet and to distract her from things until she was ready. He listens to her, attentively as usual, as he nods.]

It's all right Annie. It's this place, there are a lot of different things here. It's safer, but some people don't remember some things. Katniss and Peeta don't remember a lot either.

It'll be okay though. I'm here and I remember.

[He stops again and hums a few bars of the same tune to her. He wants to hold her hand and make everything all right again.]

[brokennotmad]

[She's still not understanding anything. But she is trying, it's just not easy. Nothing makes any sense. Her fingers curl into her hair and she bites down on her bottom lip.]

Did they do something to them?

[But at least he remembers her. That's all that really matters because if he had forgotten her? She might truly go mad. She's tempted to start off in search of him but knows she'll just end up more lost.]

How far away are you?

[tradingsecrets]

[She's starting to get more upset. Because others are riling her up, it's harder for him to keep her grounded. He speaks softly, though a little more forceful than before so she keeps her attention on him.]

I'm getting close. I'll be there soon, just stay right where you are Annie.

Can you hum a tune with me?

[He asks this because it'll keep her focused on him for the moment. Until he can get her and explain everything to her.]

[brokennotmad]

[Her hands continue to creep up through her hair, she really just wants to block out everything but Finnick. He's the only one who makes any sense to her at all.

How could any of this be real? How could they not be in District 13?

It takes a few long moments for her to focus on him again and she drops her hands back down.]

I can do that. [And so she does, humming softly, but it's enough to keep her grounded for a bit longer.]

[tradingsecrets]

[Finally he's actually close now. He sees someone that he thinks is her. So, he smiles and moves towards the person and even though he can see her he tells her.]

Raise one of your hands in the air.

[Not that he couldn't get out of finding the wrong girl, but he didn't want to upset Annie or someone else if he could help it. But, he could already tell that this was her. It felt like her, the stance and everything, so how could it be wrong?]

[brokennotmad]

[Even for Annie that was an odd request, but she shrugs and lifts her right hand slowly up like he'd asked. She stops humming and one of her eyebrows lift.]

Why am I raising my hand?

[tradingsecrets]

[He cuts the bracelet video and reaches out gently lacing his fingers with hers as he comes to her side.]

Because I wanted to hold your hand.

[brokennotmad]

[and just like that, Annie's world is immediately brightened. She turns toward him, beaming and then, she's wrapping her arms around him, holding onto him tightly. She presses her cheek against his chest, and for a moment, she just listens to the steady beat of his heart.]

You found me.

[tradingsecrets]

Of course. I wasn't going to stop looking until I did.

[His arms wrap around her equally tight. Finnick presses his cheek to the top of her head inhaling her scent as he murmurs.]

It's going to be okay. I'm here now.

[brokennotmad]

[She's so happy that he found her. It was all beginning to overwhelm her. Her fingers curl into the material of his shirt and exhales slowly, the tension in her body slowly beginning to fade away.]

Good. Oh, Fin, I'm so... This is all- [She clings onto him a little tighter.] I don't understand what's going on.

[tradingsecrets]

There is a lot to explain, but for now we should go back and rest. You need to rest Annie, and then we can talk.

[One of his hands gently strokes down her back, as she refuses to let her go. She's here. She's real and not in the capitol anymore. She is with him, and more importantly, he has a second chance.]

[brokennotmad]

Okay. [Her voice is soft and she knows he's right but it takes her a couple of more minutes until she's able to unwrap herself from around him. She looks up at him, a smile beginning to form.]

At least we're together.

[Her eyebrows raise a bit.] Where are we going?