Chapter 1
"You remember the plan, right?" I whisper to Finnick making sure that Peeta doesn't hear our conversation. "Yeah, Kat" Finnick rolls his eyes grinning. I shake my head at the nickname, he is the only one who calls me that and isn't murdered or seriously injured. I turn around and stare at the window, soon we will all be on the arena again, ready to kill each other and guarantee our survival.
"I'll take care of you, Kat. I will make sure you are okay." Finnick whispers on my ear hugging me from behind. "I still don't get why you have to pretend to be with lover boy over there! And the way he said you were pregnant..." He trails off and I frown "I can't just let Snow hurt my family!" I say harshly getting away from his grasp. "I know, Kat. I'm sorry. It's just that it hurts me not being able to hug you, hold your hand, touch you, kiss you" he says with apologetic eyes and I sigh. "I know. I wish I could just kiss you right now, Finnick. But we can't. People are here, Peeta is here and I don't want to hurt him."I say and he nods in acknowledgement.
"Bye, Kat. See you tomorrow at the arena." Finnick leans in to kiss my cheek and then leaves.
As if on cue, Peeta enters the room "What did he want?" He asks and I shrug "He wanted to be our ally on the arena." I explain and Peeta raises an eyebrow. "Finnick? Are you sure he wasn't bluffing or anything?" He asks suspiciously and I nod "He seemed pretty truthful for me." I say "Well... Okay then." Peeta agrees and give me a peck on the lips. It feels so wrong. I should be kissing Finnick right now, not Peeta. At least I wish to "Good luck tomorrow, Katniss" he says and I put on a fake smile "You too." I answer before he leaves to his room, leaving me alone standing there looking at the window.
The alarm goes off, signalling that the 75th edition of the hunger games just started. I push away the thoughts of Cinna and how I couldn't save him to the back of my mind and jump into the water, swimming to get to the rocks and run towards the cornucopia as fast as I can and trying not to be killed.
I shoot a man on the leg and watch as he falls on the water. It's easier for me to take out someone's life now. That must sound
Horrible, but it's the truth. I want to survive, and to be able to I will have to kill people. It's not like I have a choice anyway. I aim at the water waiting for the guy who is fighting with Peeta to emerge. But nothing happens. Finnick had jumped into the water to help Peeta out, but he is still far from the two.
Suddenly I see a body floating on the water and my face falls. What if it is Peeta? For a minute I can feel the tears forming on my eyes.