Katniss
My hair stands on the end and the lighting strikes the tree.
A lash of white runs up the wire, and for just a moment, the dome burst into a dazzling blue light. I'm thrown backwards, body useless, paralyzed, eyes frozen wide, as feathery bits of matter rain down on me. I can't reach Peeta. I can't even reach my pearl. My eyes strain to capture one last image of beauty to take with me.
Right before the explosions begin, I find a star.
Everything seems to erupt at once. The earth explodes into showers of dirt and planet matter. Trees burst into flames. Even the sky's being bombed until I realize the Gamemakers are shooting off fireworks up there, while the real destruction occurs on the ground. Just in case it's not enough fun watching the obliteration of the arena and the remaining tributes. Or perhaps to illuminate our gory ends.
Will they let anyone survive? Will there be a victor of the Seventy-fifth Hunger Games? Maybe not. After all, what is this Quarter Quell but…what was it President Snow read from the card?
"…a reminder to the rebels that even that the strongest among them cannot overcome the power of the Capital…"
Not even the strongest of the strongest will triumph. Perhaps they never intended to have a victor in these Games at all. Or perhaps my final act of rebellion forced their hand.
I'm sorry, Peeta, I think. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. Save him? More likely I stole his last chance at life, condemned him, by destroying the force field. Maybe, if we played by the rules, they might have let him live.
The claw drops from the underside until it's directly overhead. The metal talons slide under me. I want to scream, run, smash my way out of it but I'm frozen, helpless to do anything but fervently hope I'll die before I reach the shadowy figures awaiting me above. They had not spared my life to crown me victor but to make my death slow and public as possible.
Peeta
"Katniss!" I called, hoping she could hear me or be, for my sake, alive. No answer. I panic. "Katniss."
My voice was filled with panic and terror. When I heard a struggle down below, I ditched Finnick to see what was going on, my concern for Katniss. I nearly chocked when I saw a small pool of blood along with Johanna, Brutus, and Enobaria voices off in a distance. I tried to run but my damn injured leg prevented this.
"Peeta!" I heard her screamed out. "Peeta! I'm here! Peeta!"
I felt relief rush over me but was quickly replaced with terror. She is trying to lead whoever is left to her direction. I can't let her do that. If she dies I have nothing to live for. This would be all for nothing. Katniss has to survive.
I took off running as much as it pained my leg. I heard two cannons sound off.
"Katniss!" I howled for her. I waited for answer but it never came. 'She's still alive.' I tell myself. 'That wasn't her death cannon.'
Another two sound off. My knees were so close to failing but I forced myself to keep going. I watched as lighting strikes a tree and the dome burst into a dazzling blue light as I was thrown backwards.