➳❦

ARYA SAT ON HER BED, her legs swinging back and forth as she kept glancing toward the door. She was waiting for Finnick to show up but with every passing moment, she felt her heart dropping more. Had she done something? Was he uncomfortable with something she had said? That was the only reason Arya could think of for him not to be here.

She hated thinking she did something to him. Or maybe someone had said something bad about her. Maybe they turned him against her. Arya believed that Thirteen was only putting on an act. She didn't believe she was rescued by them. Especially because of what happened earlier with the guards. She hated not feeling safe, not being able to get proper sleep. But she was able to close her eyes at least with Finnick around.

And now he was gone. And she didn't know why. Arya felt it may be a way to isolate her even more. To have her become so unprotected that Coin could do something to her. She barely had any defense up right now because most of her time was spent trying to figure out what was real and what wasn't. Finnick helped in that department. Maybe that's why he wasn't there. She knew he helped her, so she took him away.

But Finnick wasn't taken away. Instead he was in his own room, pacing back and forth as he tried to figure out what to do. One one end, he did feel like Matthew was somewhat right about what he said. Arya couldn't fully depend on him otherwise she wouldn't get better. But for the comment of wanting to sleep with her, Finnick could punch Matthew in the face for that.

He hated having to decide between leaving her alone for one night and giving in to just hold her. Finnick being in her presence also helped him in a sense. He felt more safe here than he had since he got there. Thirteen wasn't exactly friendly and welcoming. The only people he had was Katniss and Haymitch.

And now Arya. Well, maybe he wouldn't have her if he ended up leaving her alone. Finnick could almost sense her panic and it killed him to not just go running to her. But what if Matthew was right? If she became so dependant on him, maybe that would just become a much bigger problem. Either way, he wasn't going to her room tonight.

That left Arya alone as she laid on her bed. She tried to pull the covers over her, trying to give her a sense of comfort. But anytime she closed her eyes, they were forced open by the horrific images that would appear. Tears pooled in her eyes as she gripped the sheets tightly. Her gaze would snap to the door which she had locked to make sure no one could come in.

But she didn't know if Coin had a master key. If she gave into the false sense of security, would she be awoken by something. By someone. By one of the guards wanting to have their way with her. Arya wipes her tears as she turns toward the wall, just staring at the white wallpaper.

She felt the faint ghost touch of Finnick and she could imagine his arms around her. But nothing compared to the real thing. Nothing compared to the safety he provided. So, she couldn't sleep that night. Her mind running at twice the speed as flashes of memories went through her mind. Arya could almost scream with how overwhelming it felt.

But nothing was able to stop it. Nothing helped. And there was no one coming to save her tonight.

➳❦

THE DOOR TO ARYA'S ROOM OPENED AS SHE SAT ON THE CHAIR. Her eyes widened in hope as she thought it was Finnick. It was the next morning but she didnt care, she just wanted to see him. But much to her dismay, it wasnt Finnick. Instead, it was a woman. "Ms Ryker, we haven't officially met. I'm president Alma Coin." She introduced herself with a smile, holding out her hand.

Arya just stares at it warily, narrowing her eyes as she already didn't trust her.
"I know who you are." She responds, bringing her hands to her body and wrapping them around. Coin sighs as she just walks closer to the woman who takes a step back.

"Look, we need to discuss something." Coin admits as she stops in front of Arya. The brunette shakes her head as she holds her hand out, it shaking a bit.

"Stay there." Arya demands, not wanting her to get any closer because she was already afraid. Coin doesn't move another inch.

"You need to tell me everything you remember about being in the Capitol." She states, not having all day to try and get it out of her. Arya wouldn't tell her a thing even if she could remember every single detail.

"Why would I tell you anything?" Arya asks her with a slight scoff.

"Because I want to help." Coin tells her and that was the biggest bullshit that Arya has ever heard.

"Help? That's a joke." Arya says, fiddling with her fingers. "Your guards dragged me out of my room." She points out. She wasn't going to trust a word the woman said when they so blatantly handled her like a prisoner.

"And I apologize for that. I should've told them to exercise a bit of caution." Coin apologizes but it didnt seem very sincere. "Look, I want to rescue the others but you have to help me out a bit." She says, clasping her hands together.

"You wanna rescue the others or you just don't want to lose your mockingjay?" Arya didn't believe her when she said she wanted to rescue them. She didn't care about any of them. She only cared about herself.

"Ms Ryker, I had you brought here to keep you out of reach from the Capitol. I didn't have to do that." Coin points out, almost in a threatening tone. Like she was implying she could throw her right back out.

"So, I owe you?" Arya asks with a void laugh, shaking her head. She wasn't about to be used as leverage.

"I'm just... giving you so motivation."

"You're just as bad as him." Snow said he just wanted to help her as well. And then he allowed people to buy her in secret when he told her that no one wanted to buy her since she was so violent. "As Snow." Arya glares at Coin with cold eyes.

"I am trying to stop him." Coin says, clearly using that as her excuse. But Arya knew she just wanted to take over.

"No!" Arya shouts, backing up as Coin tried to get closer. "Get out!" She demands as she points toward the door.

"Ms--"

"I said get out!" Arya screams, throwing the glass that was on the table toward Coin causing it to shatter on the ground beside her. "You're evil and corrupt and want to destroy my friends! You don't want to help me! You want to hurt me!" She brings her hands up to her head, tears in her eyes as she feels her mind get cloudy. "Get out!" She pleads as she could barely think straight. Her heart was racing as she tried to find something to hold her to reality. But she had nothing. She was alone.

"Sedate her." Coin mutters to the guard who walks toward Arya. The girl starts screaming and to someone outside the room, it probably seemed like she was getting murdered.

"What the hell is going on?" Haymitch asks as he and Katniss head toward the commotion. Coin blocks everyone from getting even remotely close to Arya's room.

"Nothing, everyone go back to what you were doing." Coin demands as she glares at the people who were lurking around. "Now." She snaps, causing them to leave. Katniss lingers around though, trying to see inside the room and when she does, she notices Arya on the floor unconscious with Guards standing over her.

➳❦

KATNISS SEES FINNICK TYING A ROPE WITH HIS HANDS AS HE SAT AGAINST THE WALL. She walks over to him, not really getting his attention as she sat down next to him. Katniss just nudges his arm making him glance at her before resuming what he was doing. "Is Arya all right?" Katniss asks him, concern in her voice. Finnick furrows his eyebrows as he just continues creating the knot.

"Why wouldn't she be?" Finnick questions, wondering why Katniss would be asking that. Katniss thought Finnick would have heard by now. Everyone was talking about it.

"Coin saw her this morning and she started going ballistic." She answers him. Finnick stops what he was doing, his eyes going wide as he looks at Katniss.

"What?" He didn't know Coin visited her. If he was there, maybe he couldve told Coin to go shove it. But no, he decided to stay within his own room and leave her alone.

"I thought you knew." Katniss admits with a small frown. Finnick shakes his head.

"No, I didn't stay with her last night." Finnick tells her. Katniss knew he's stayed with her for the past few nights so it was a bit shocking to find out he hadn't last night.

"Why not?"

"Matthew came and spoke to me." Finnick admits with a small sigh. Katniss looked confused.

"Matthew?" Katniss didnt understand why Matthew would somehow convince Finnick to not be around Arya. She would think he would encourage it instead.

"He told me that Aryas depending on me too much, that she needs to do things on her own." Finnick explains to her. Katniss nods her head slowly, pressing her lips together tightly. It did make sense slightly.

"I mean, I guess. But you being around helps her." Katniss believed Arya would open up eventually but only toward Finnick. If he ignored her, she may close herself up completely.

"Yeah." Finnick says, his jaw clenching a bit. "He accused me of just being generous to get her to sleep with me." He states. Katniss widens her eyes, her jaw dropping a bit.

"Excuse me?" She couldnt believe Matthew would even suggest that. "I get he's angry and upset but he has no right to say that." Katniss denies while Finnick just goes back to tying his knot. "I know I make jokes but I know you genuinely care about her." Katniss says, not wanting him to believe she thought the same thing. She just liked teasing him.

"I shouldn't have left her alone." Finnick mumbles as he shakes his head. Katniss let's out a small sigh.

"Coin would've found a way." She admits. No matter what, it wouldve had the same outcome. "Haymitch said she sedated her." Katniss tells him. Finnick scoffs, rubbing his face a bit.

"That's just gonna make things worse." That would never get her to trust them if they obviously were going to take control and Sedate her when she was just trying to protect herself.

"You think?" Katniss responds with a slight scoff. She bites the inside of her cheek. "Arya's room is next to mine. She was upset you didn't show, Finnick." She tells him. Finnick frowns as he looks toward her. He didnt think it would affect her that much, and now it was just hurting him knowing she was in pain.

All because he listened to Matthew's advice.

➳❦

KATNISS SAT AT THE TABLE IN THE CAFETERIA, Prim and Finnick beside her. She sighs as she wasnt really eating, her mind still on Coin and Arya. "Has anyone tried sedating Coin?" She mumbles as she rolls her eyes a little bit. Finnick chuckled a bit, a somewhat sour expression on his face.

"It probably wouldn't work." He admits. Coin was probably immune to it or some shit. She just never seemed to shut up, especially on saying she was nothing like Snow. Like, if that was true, she wouldn't have to keep telling them.

"She's literally making Aryas condition worse." Katniss points out. Coin could at least let them talk to Arya instead of practically threatening her. Arya will speak when she wants to not when she's forced.

"I tried to get her to take some tablets but she wouldn't. She doesn't trust it." Prim admits with a small frown on her face. Arya was friendly toward her but it was clear she didn't even trust Prim, but she didnt really know her.

"Would you?" Katniss responds to her sister. Finnick stares at Katniss. He was debating telling her what Arya had said about Peeta. It wasn't much but at least it would give Katniss the slightest piece of hope.

"She spoke about Peeta." Finnick tells them. Katniss widens her eyes as she looks toward the man. It was so unexpected so she was taken aback a bit.

"What?" Katniss sits up in her seat. "What did she say?" She asks, her voice full of concern and panick. But she was also happy that Arya had finally spoken up about Peeta.

"Just that she remembered him being there for her, protecting her." Finnick answers her and he could tell that Katniss was a bit disappointed but it wasnt nothing. "Peeta let her rest on him so she could get some sleep." He says with a small sigh.

"So she is remembering things." Prim says, a smile on her face. Finnick nods his head a bit.

"Pieces." He answers.

"That means Peeta is okay." Katniss says, although she's seen his interviews, they've clearly done something to him since Arya escaped.

"I don't know." Finnick admits with a shrug of his shoulders. Katniss went to respond but something caught her eye. Or more, someone.

"Guys." Katniss says in a slight whisper. Finnick furrows his eyebrows, looking to where she was gesturing. His eyes go wide as he noticed Arya walking into the cafeteria. She was very slow and wary but she was actually out of her room.

But finnick noticed that something was wrong pretty early one. By the way she looked at everyone, her fingers picking at each other as her face showed clear signs of panic. He was glad she made it this far but he knew she would turn around eventually.

Katniss noticed it as well, getting up from her seat when Arya had stumbled herself away from someone. She seemed to be overwhelmed, especially since everyone was now staring at her and whispering. Seriously, they did not know how to be discreet about it.

"Hey, hey. It's okay." She admits as she stops in front of Arya. Arya seemed scared but relaxed when katniss put her hand in hers. "It's Katniss." Katniss says, just making sure Arya realized and was back in reality. Arya nods her head, sniffling as her eyes go back to the crowd. "Come on, let's get you back to your room."

➳❦

FINNICK FELT NERVOUS AS HE WALKED TO ARYA'S ROOM. He didn't know what she would say, how she would react. He hoped she still wanted him around. He didn't know whether or not to explain why he wasn't there or to just lie. Whatever was easiest. She most likely wouldn't understand why Matthew would tell him to leave her alone. She didn't remember who he was.

He knocks on the door before sliding it open. Finnick stands near the frame, seeing the woman sat on her bed. Her eyes were stuck on her hands as she just pulled at a loose thread in her shirt. "You weren't here last night." Aryas voice was quiet, it shaking a bit as she barely looked up at him.

Finnick let out a sigh as he closes the door behind him. "I know, and I'm sorry." He apologizes, not getting any closer in case she was angry with him. Finnick didn't want to cross any boundaries.

"Why weren't you here?" She asks him, worried she did something wrong. Finnick takes a few steps toward her.

"Something came up and I just... I lost track of time." Finnick tells her. He felt bad for not telling the truth but he thought it was for the best right now.

"Are you staying tonight?" Arya questions. Not wanting to sound insistent or that he had to, she was just curious. She also wanted him to stay.

Finnick nods his head instantly. "Of course." He responds with a soft smile.  "If that's what you want." Finnick adds as she nods her head. Her eyes move back to her hands.

"All those people stared at me." Arya starts to say. Finnick moves over to her, sitting down beside her. "I-i felt like they wanted to hurt me." The way they were whispering, pointing. Even the guards were

"They don't. No one here wants to hurt you." Finnick didn't know that for sure but the citizens seemed harmless enough. It was just Coin and the guards that left him unsettled.

She shakes her head as she brings her hands up to her face. "They want to hurt me." Finnick places his hand on her knee. He saw her flinch slightly but then relaxed into it.

"You just need to get some rest, it'll be okay in the morning." Finnick squeezed her knee before standing up. Arya just stayed where she was though.

"My mind won't shut off." Arya admits, her voice shaky. Finnick glances back down at her. "I-I can't sleep, I'm in pain." Tears leave her eyes as she closes them for a moment. Finnick felt his heart break a little bit.

"Come on, just lay down." Finnick tells her, pulling the sheets back. Arya lays down in the bed, resting on her side. Finnick brings his hands to his shirt, a sigh leaving his lips as he takes it off. He then gets into the bed next to her. "You know, i have nightmares too." He says, glancing over at her. She tilts her head to meet his gaze.

"You do?" She asks, slightly surprised. Finnick nods his head, resting his arm behind his head.

"Yeah, and sometimes I can't sleep either." Finnick states as he clenches his jaw a bit. It was terrifying, closing your eyes and only being met with pure darkness and flashes of the worst moments in your life. "But none of its real. We're here. We're together and you just have to realize that." He says, moving his hand down to hers. Arya glances at their hands as he squeezes them.

"Can you hold me like before?" Arya asks him, her tone soft. Finnick smiles as he turns to face her.

"Yeah." He responds. Arya turns so her back was against him. Finnick wraps his arm around her, pulling her in tightly and resting his chin on her shoulder. Arya immediately feels relaxed as her hand rests on his arm.

He moves her hair out of her face, placing a soft kiss to her temple before closing his eyes as he tightens his grip around her.

➳❦