[3 YEARS LATER]

HER NAME was a title sold to hundreds. Her body just property belonging to the Capitol. Her identity was a price tag for anyone foul enough to claim. Francesca Lou Odair was desirable in the Capitol; everybody wanted a piece of the 72nd Victor.
And piece by piece, Francesca was stripped of her innocence. Playing a piece in Snow's game was a never-ending punishment. And she wanted Snow dead for what he had forced her to do.

After her games, Francesca had a Victor Tour for months, until a new Victor was claimed in the next games. The new current Victors were a pair from District Twelve, two star-crossed lovers who had refused to win the games without each other— Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen. And, even though she hadn't met them in person, Francesca already hated them for being successful in winning the arena together because Frankie was never lucky enough to get that chance.

And, just like she promised, Cherry would always be everywhere.

Francesca couldn't outrun her. Cherry was everything: the flowers, the lake in District 4, singing,  strawberries, sun rises, a fresh breeze, the smell of lavender. Frankie couldn't escape the girl she loved; Cherry had always had that effect on people. The girl was like no other, delicate yet fierce. Her silence was loud and her words even stronger. Francesca knew she would be haunted by Cherry in every lifetime, and she was okay with that. She liked being reminded of her, no matter how painful it was. Cherry was still living in the nature surrounding her, flowing in the air that provided her oxygen.

She kept her alive.

The siblings had moved into the Victors Village together, rarely returning back to their usual home on the shoreline. It was best for Francesca to be away from water; she had frequent nightmares of drowning or being eaten alive again. Plus, their house wasn't a home without Mags; Francesca hated talking about the woman's death because she was like a mother to her.

Mags' death was publicly announced as a result of another stroke, though Francesca knew it was a result of her refusing one of Snow's requests. It was a few weeks after Frankie had won the games, after her leg was healed; Snow had given Francesca her first customer. The customers would pay her for her forced work, though Francesca knew now to never refuse. Because Snow would kill a person she loved. 

Mags was killed and it was her fault, for not agreeing to be apart of Snow's prostitution plan for her (and many other Victors.) Nobody knew the real reason Mags was dead, not even her brother. Frankie hoped that Mags forgave her, because she was struggling to live with herself.

"Breakfast?" Annie Cresta, Finnick's girl friend, questioned curiously. She won her Games too (70th), and was living with them in the Village. Her Games had made her crazy, as everyone said, though Francesca chose to be kind and welcomed Annie as a friend. She knew that Annie wasn't mad, she was just suffering with PTSD— Frankie knew how it felt.

"Uh, no thanks." Frankie shook her head, sitting at the kitchen table besides her brother.

"You have to eat, Lou." Finnick said softly, "You'll feel sick if you don't."

Frankie shot him a glare, before returning to Annie, "Fine. I'll have a pancake, please." She knew her brother was right— today was Reaping Day and, for two years, Francesca had refused to eat and thrown up every time. Victors were never reaped for a second time, though Francesca hated the familiarity of it and the anxiety that followed.

"We're going fishing before the Reaping," Annie said, placing a pancake in front of the girl before sitting opposite her, "Would you like to come with us?"

Francesca looked at Finnick. Her brother quickly caught onto her fear of deep waters and the unknown Mutts that could be lurking beneath the surface. The girl shook her head, "No, thanks."

"It'll be good for you." Finnick suggested cautiously. He paused, "It's been three years, Lou. The last time we went fishing, you did great."

"Yeah, I lasted a whole minute without freaking out." Frankie retorted sarcastically, "That's great for me."

Finnick glanced at Annie, who seemed to be able to convince Francesca to do certain things. Annie had a way with her kind words, which almost made Francesca agree with them; she reminded Frankie of a mother-figure and, without Mags, Annie was the only woman left to fill that role.

Annie glanced at Finnick, before looking at his sister; she agreed, "I know it's horrible, Franks, but you can't keep living in fear. We'll be here with you, like before. Okay?"

Francesca paused, "Okay, fine."

After breakfast, and a few secret crying sessions in her bathroom, Francesca had prepared herself to go fishing. It used to be her favourite activity, but even holding a trident reminded her of the 72nd Hunger Games.

The three walked towards the sea, Finnick and Annie's walking pace slowing for Frankie. The Capitol had gifted her with a metal leg, which was a fitted prosthetic. After weeks of getting used to it, Francesca could walk normally again, though sometimes the prosthetic would be uncomfortable and the girl would have to remove it. Usually, at the Village, Frankie found it easier to travel with two crutches, though the metal leg had its benefits too.

Finnick removed his t-shirt as soon as they arrived back to their old house, rushing towards the shoreline and letting the water swallow him whole as he ran in. Annie and Frankie were left at the shoreline, the red-haired girl placing the empty basket (for any collected fish) down onto the sand.

"He's a show-off." Frankie remarked, trying to hide her fear through sarcasm, as she watched her brother effortlessly swim in the water.

Annie chuckled in agreement, before noticing her change in demeanour. The girl reassured, "I'm right here, Franks."

Frankie took a brave breath, before stepping into the shallow water. Because she used to love swimming, Finnick requested that the prosthetic was waterproof and unfazed by water movement, though Francesca hadn't swam since the leg was created.

Francesca wished the mission was achieved when the water hit her shin, because that's where she felt comfortable. Though, she knew that Finnick was secretly watching her from within the waves of the sea; her brother just wanted her to overcome her fears, though it was never that simple.

Annie questioned patiently, "Wanna take another step?"

"I don't— I don't know." Frankie could hear her heartbeat drumming in her chest. She felt so embarrassed and ashamed but she couldn't focus on anything but that stupid fucking swamp. Kipper died in that swamp, her leg was torn off in that swamp, Dara was eaten, and Nico died at the shoreline. Stop! Francesca took another couple of steps, the water rising to her thigh.

"Here," Annie offered out her gentle hand, "Hold onto me."

Francesca cautiously held Annie's hand, her body trembling because her mind couldn't tell the difference between the arena and the fucking lake. Frankie panicked suddenly, "Wait! Wait— don't pull me in. Don't pu—"

"I'm not," Annie interrupted clearly, "I won't force you in, I promise. You're in charge here— I'm following your lead."

Finnick noticed from a distance, his posture straightening in the deep water as he watched. He knew that his sister felt pressured, so he usually pretended to show-off and be more interested in swimming, though Finnick did actually cared about his sister's fears and well-being. He just didn't want to push Frankie too hard and accidentally ruin their trust; trust was important to Francesca.

"Okay," Frankie caught her breath, fixating her eyes on the deep water that rose up to below her bellybutton as she took a few more steps, "Okay, we can move now."

"You're doing really good," Annie reassured positively, before giving a secret glance to Finnick as if to say 'look how far she's going!'; Finnick returned with a proud nod.

The water was up to chest now, and it was obvious that Francesca was struggling to distract her panicked mind. Her hands were above the water, still holding Annie's hand for support, as she took a few deep breaths to stable herself.

Francesca blurted out suddenly, "I wanna stop— stop, please."

"Okay," Annie agreed gently, "Let's stop here. Hey, this is the furthest you've gone." She squeezed Frankie's hand twice, "You still with me, Franks?"

"Yeah— yes, just..." Frankie's eyes were blurring with tears, "It's hard."

"I know. But, look, you're doing it." Annie encouraged, "You're safe, right?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I am." Francesca nodded, before finally looking up towards her brother in the distance. Finnick was walking over to them now, being careful not to create too many ripples in the water.

The boy greeted, "Hey, how're you feeling?"

And, as a distant boat travelled past, the direction of the sun caused a shadow to reflect on the water. Francesca's eyes caught a glimpse of the shadow's movement; her expression dropped, her hands became sweaty, and her chest had tightened once more. Her brain was focused on one thing: danger, danger, danger, danger, danger.

Francesca's body jolted, as she tried to take a step back, "Shit— we have to go!"

"Why?" Annie questioned calmly, refusing to let go of her hand. She spoke clearly, "You're safe here, Franks, why are we leaving?"

"I saw something— a shadow!" Frankie raised her voice quickly, her fear fluctuating rapidly. She looked at her brother, pleading, "You saw it too, right?"

"It was the boat," Finnick explained softly, reaching out to hold her spare hand, "See?"

"No, no, it wasn't. I saw it, I— fuck. We have to go!" Francesca panted desperately, watching Annie and Finnick stay frozen still despite her warnings.

"This is what we're working through, Lou," Finnick explained softly, "You're mind is tricking you. Remember what we spoke about? You have to try and fi—"

"Stop! Stop, please." Francesca pulled her hands away from the two beside her, wiping the tears from her face. She was crying now, her breaths becoming heavy and staggered, "I can't do it! I can't do it, Nick. I can't—"

"You're not in the arena, Lou." Finnick reassured, "You're in District Four."

But it was clear that Frankie wasn't listening. Her mind was racing with flashes of memories, over and over again: alligator, screams, Kipper, Nico, Dara, drowning... and the last thought was always of Cherry.

Everything bad that happened in that arena started with Frankie diving off the platform and into the swamp. She hated the Game-makers for making her fear her favourite thing. She envied her past self; the old Frankie could swim and fish without a single bad thought. She hated the Capitol for the Hunger Games; she wanted them all dead, as much as she wanted herself dead.

And she hated herself for thinking so darkly, though Francesca had never felt so helpless in all her life. She entered the Games having no idea how much it would change her as a person. Frankie would never be herself again because of  the Capitol.

"Here!" Cherry dropped the weapon, immediately kneeling forward to grab Frankie underneath her arms. The girl's body was limp with weakness, unable to lift herself at all. Cherry groaned, struggling to lift Francesca out of the water as she panted and coughed for air and Cherry could've sworn that she noticed another glimpse of a shadow in the water.

Cherry began pulling Francesca quicker, her breathing becoming more desperate as she Frankie tried to help climb onto the deck herself. Cherry fell back, continuing to pull Frankie on top of her when...

SPLASH!
The water erupted as the Mutt attacked once more. Its jaws had locked itself around Francesca left leg, refusing to let go as it tugged and pulled at her flesh. 

"FUCK!" Francesca was screaming loudly, holding onto Cherry's skin so tightly as the girl pulled her body away faster. Though, as Cherry was pulling, Francesca's leg was being gnawed and ripped through the beast's teeth. Francesca continued to yell inaudible words, as Cherry grabbed the trident beside her; she held onto Frankie with one hand and, with the other, she launched the trident at the alligator's face. The weapon landed straight between the monster's eyes, and its jaw unlocked from Frankie's limb as it returned back into the water.

Cherry panted, before pulling Francesca into the centre of the deck. The pain was unbearable and, as Cherry dragged her body along the wood, Frankie could only scream. Her vision was soon clouded by agony, a darkness blurring her eyes closed.

And when Isabella was snapped out of her trance, she was stood on the shoreline next to Finnick and Annie.

Finnick held onto both of her hands, continuing his speech, "That's it. Breathe in... and out. In and out." He noticed when Frankie had returned back to reality; her brother sighed, "I'm sorry, Lou."

Francesca quickly wiped the tears from her cheeks, regaining control of her breathing, "Sorry I ruined a lake trip. I feel embarrassed."

"Nothing's ruined." Finnick nodded reassuringly.

"Nobody's judging you, Franks," Annie comforted, "You and Finnick have to help me on some days, remember?"

Frankie nodded.

"Do you want to come home?" Finnick questioned, almost seeing right through his sister, "We can go home."

a/n:
hey guys!!
welcome to act 2<3

another notice (I forgot to mention this!!) but mags' death is different in this fanfic. sorry to change things up but it adds to frankie's plot as a character!!!! rip mags :(