THE LIE

Chapter 3 (red red wine)

Red, red wine
Stay close to me

Don't let me be alone. It's tearin' apart
My blue, blue heart - UB40 – Panem Museum Of Antique Songs

Katniss watched Haymitch walk away. It made her angry that he walked away for the second time. She watched the spot where he vanished willing him to just come back. She kept hoping he would change his mind, if she just believed in him hard enough. Finnick was at her arm and finally made her stop watching the forest.

They gathered up the food and the drinks and weapons and headed up into the jungle. Katniss carried Mags part of the way, just to give Finnick some rest. It wasn't long before she could not continue in the rough terrain, even though Mags weighed next to nothing, Katniss didn't weigh much more. Finnick used the night vision goggles.

There was little she could do other than stay aware and keep her bow ready. Finnick has to use a machete to hack a path through the dense jungle. The going was slow and Finn was losing coordination in his constant exertion. They were on a break when they heard a mortar fire. Katniss felt sick, worried it would be tomorrow until she would know if it was Haymitch. How could he leave them?

"I don't know if we should hope or not. I hope he's ok, but at the same time…" Finnick said.

"If it's not him, then one of us will have to. And I can't." Katniss replied in a daze. "We should just rest a while. The going will be easier when we can see."

Finn lay palm fronds out for Mags and covered her with more. She snored softly in minutes. "You should rest too."

"I am too upset to try. Just not climbing feels pretty good." Katniss scooted over to Finnick and he leaned up against some bushes. He put his arm around her and she allowed it. She was surprised that he trembled. "Tell me about her? How did you know you loved her?"

Finnick Odair told Katniss all about his life. Sometimes the stories were funny, sometimes sad. He spoke of true love and told her how the capital had tortured him for years, selling him like a bit of pretty live stock. He spoke of Haymitch and how he'd been so stubborn but they kept killing people around him until he'd finally given in just like everyone. "They will do it to you and Peeta too Katniss, if you were to survive. If not, they will do it to Peeta. If I don't win they will do it to her too. My Annie"

Katniss felt so bleak, she couldn't stand it. "Then you have to win Finnick and help Peeta if you can." With that, she drifted off into exhaustion. She dreamed of killing Haymitch and it woke her with a start.

Dawn is just graying the sky. It was tomorrow. She wondered if Haymitch existed now or was Peeta sitting alone crying. She hoped it hadn't dawned on him yet that if Haymitch was dead, she wouldn't be coming back either. A noise startled her and she saw movement in the shadow. She moved slowly but raised her bow as a face leapt upon them. She didn't think, she just reacted and an arrow to the eye dropped the figure to the ground. Finnick woke at her movement and cried out as he recognized, Chaff, lying in agony but not yet dead, sword still in his hand. He was no longer black and his cloths were no longer blue. Chaff looked like he'd been dipped in red paint. The cannon finally boomed. Now they were seven.

They moved on, so the hovercraft could collect the body. The jungle seemed to level out a little and Finnick was making good progress by the time the sun rose full in the sky. Mags reaches out from time to time to pluck nuts off trees, that she cracks and eats with great relish.

"Mag's you're leaving a trail of shells that will lead the bad things to us, you know, and those things could be poison." Katniss says.

Mags talks with her mouth full to the point Katniss can't figure out what she has said. "I guess we will find out when you have the collywobbles Mags. Not carrying you then." Finnick says with a grin. "Course you are right about the shell trail, not like anyone could follow this massive path I am hacking out of the big ole plants, or the stench of some of them…it will be the shells that lead them….."

Finnick and Mags blew into her, knocking her down. He was hacking away one minute, and then he was on the ground, his eyes open, but no longer breathing. She had no idea what had happened, but something had sucked the life out of both Finnick and Mags. She whimpered, shook them both, cried and finally she looked at Finnick's face. She could see his pupils were not the same size and as she listened to each of their chests, the two cannons fired.

Boom, Boom.

She kissed Finn and closed his eyes. Then kissed Mags and closed her eyes. She didn't have any idea what killed them. But she knew she couldn't go that way. She picked up one of Finnick's tridents on a whim. It felt heavy and solid in her hands. Somehow the trident in her hand felt like Finn and Mags would come with her. She had no flowers for them, but she raised her fingers to her lips and bid them farewell and whistled Rues four note 'time to go home' song. She had seen an old man die for that in eleven, and she would probably die for it now, but they had been trying to kill her for a long time. "Missed me again." She said to the sky.

As dreadfully sorry they were both dead, as she was, it was a grateful relief she felt, that she had not had to kill them. Still, this brought up another real problem, Haymitch. Things he had said over the last few days were jumping in her head. She focused on him, to keep from thinking about Cinna, Finn, Mags, Chaff, and even Brutis. They had all been people and had loved ones. The thought of the girl, Finnick would never return to, is what finally brought her to tears. That girl, would think she had been with her Finnick. She vowed that if she did happen to live, she was going to have to explain. That poor girl had just watched the one she loves die. Like, Peeta would have to watch her. Peeta. Could what Finn said, be true?

Katniss nestled into a huge clump of foliage and curled up like a ball, she cried where she knew the cameras couldn't see her. Sleep was all she wanted. She pretended she was with Haymitch and Peeta, instead of alone. A cannon wakes her. Four of us left. She sat up in her little green cocoon. Another cannon sounded and that made three she thought.

Flys. Swat. Boom. We are nothing but flies, buzzing around for the amusement of the maggots in the capitol complex and their minions in the Capital City. The colorful flies who swirl around the biggest pile of pooh have all the power and the little plain flies serve them. Some as avoxes, some as entertainment and some as whores, but they all serve. What if they stopped? If there are more of us, why do we put up with this?

Katniss sang brightly as she made her way down the path. They had fought so hard to climb the mountain and died anyway. Down hill on a precut path was easier, what was the use of slashing the jungle. Alone she could slip through the jungle unseen, silently, and even that was more than the effort required to march toward death. She was not running any longer, she would no longer give her life to please the unappeasable, or cow to the maggots. Katniss Everdeen is Cinna's girl on fire, Haymitches babydoll, The saver of Primrose, Gales best friend, Peeta's true love but she could be more. She would be the girl who marchs to her death with a song on her lips, not hiding who she was for them any longer, but showing them who she'd always been. She is not a maggot's toy any more, and now, she took up this trident of Finn's. If she found anyone other than Haymitch down there, she would live and the maggots would curse the day they made a mockingjay. Maggots are delicious to mockingjays.

What stepped out on the beach was no longer a little child. She carried in her, the heart of a man from the sea and the mind of a brilliant drunk who she'd probably never see again and the courage of a man who set her on fire. She carried a lot of things at that moment, but mostly she carried on.

The beach was peaceful, but something had brought a ton of driftwood up to the shore. She planted Finnick's trident in the sand and hooked her arrows and quiver on it, she wanted them to see that she was not fighting just yet. She gathered driftwood and made a huge pile. She was going out as a bonfire, not a little candle blown out in the wind. She looked at the sky. "Who wants to see the final three sit down to a last supper then slaughter each other for your fun and enjoyment. Send us your favorite yummy, oh and some sugar cubes and I want a drink, like a Haymitch drink and send matches Peeta, time to set fire to some old wood. Before I die, I would like to taste that district four and district eleven bread if someone could do that. I wish for some of Peeta's good cheese bread, but I know he won't have time. I love you Peeta, thanks for everything."

The matches arrive first, but the wood is so damp the fire won't stay lit. When the familiar bottle of ripper's home brewed white spirit arrives Katniss grins. "Well Papa, you are probably gone already, so if you are, call this sending you a snort." A quarter of the bottle is poured on the wood and when the match is lit, the fire whooshes to life. Katniss drinks deeply, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. She can imagine Peeta's look of disapproval. "Hey, you sent it…"

Face blank, she sits by the fire and stares at it. If he sent this, maybe, Haymitch is alive. If he is, she will get to see him. If he is, they may have to kill each other. Which is worse? Maybe one of the careers still existed. Maybe whoever number three is, will kill one of us and it won't be just us two. The final box is huge, more like a trunk. Katniss unpacks it's contents. A sturdy matt and linen table cloth are on top. Katniss laughs at the lavish offering. People want to see this last show, play out. She lays the three places of china dishes and stemware. It looks romantic on this beach with the huge bonfire and the lovely water. She sets out the food and wine. She takes out the candles, tucked in jars so that they won't be blown out.

A note.-

A feast for three, then you will be two. The final two may then enjoy an evening of conversation and rest. We have suspended all gamemaker tools until noon tomorrow. Give us the showdown at high noon that we all are looking forward to and there will be extra rewards for the victor. Fail and we will all be so very disappointed. Best wishes, Lanus.

Katniss read the note several times. So they wanted one to die after dinner, then a full out battle between the last two. Fine, but who the heck was Lanus? Katniss pulled the stuffing out of the crate and in the bottom was one last item. A long florist box. Then, she got it.

Katnis didn't let the cameras see the shiver of revulsion that went through her. She lifted her head to the sky holding the six magnificent white roses in her arms pretending to be pleased. In a soft, not Katniss voice she spoke. "Thank you Mr. President. They are perfect. I will try to make it worth your trouble."

Katniss lifted the crystal vase and used her own meager water for the flowers. She set them right in the middle of the 'table'. She set the note under the vase so whoever showed up could read it. She couldn't let herself show the tears she wanted to cry as she realized who one name would have to be. Haymitch must be alive and they wanted to watch two monsters kill each other. Then, stripping down to the t-shirt and shorts, Katniss went into the water, using the sand to scrub herself she felt refreshed and left her hair loose, the salt in the water made it curl a little and the wind perked it up in a way she thought looked free and different from her restrained self.

She was just emerging from the water when her first guest arrived. Her heart sunk slightly. The morphline addict came strolling up the beach, skitchy and in withdrawals. That explained the painkillers. It had seemed an odd thing for a feast, unless someone was severely injured, which was the point of the hunger games. She watched the girl, all covered in horrible scabs, wander absently up the beach. She seemed to fear the forest for some reason. Finally Katniss took pity on her and lead her to the fire.

"This must be for you." Katniss said handing the box to the girl.

The girl lunged at the box and her shaky need did nothing to dispel her smooth skill with the syringe. She has a needle jabbed in her arm within seconds and her eyes roll back and she shudders in a strange parody of Finnick from yesterday. Katniss stood and walked up the beach just a few steps, too embarrassed to watch the girl moan in relief. Her eyes scanned the beach for the one she knew must be her final enemy.

Walking away from Katniss was a mistake. There had been three cannons from the mountain. He had to live with the fact that Odair, Mags and Katniss were dead. He had heard the cannon, he now knew was hers, and had gone on, but two more took his heart. He knew those three were the only ones on the mountain.

He had found the place where there was blood, then where the belongings were dropped along the force field. Finnick's things were still there, his tridents, the net he'd used to carry old Mags. It didn't tell him for certain that Finnick had murdered her, but he obviously bought it at the force field. He imagined Finn stabbed Katniss with his trident as she slept, then he and Mags went only a few yards before the force field had killed them. The machete lay right where Finnick had dropped it. He'd called and called Katniss, like a maniac. He returned to the place stained with her blood and something in him lost his ability to even think of it. He had killed her, by leaving her. He wanted no forgiveness. He wanted to find Chaff and let him end this. He wanted to tell Peeta he was sorry, but he'd failed so what was the point. The boy was either waiting to watch him die, or district twelve already had no mentor.

Chaff and one of the morphlings were all that were left. He'd killed the others. He'd murdered people he had cared about for nothing. Poor Nuts and Volts, that was the most heinous of his kills. Chaff and he would sit down and have a last drink, and then it would be over. He had been combing the island for Chaff, with no luck. When he'd seen the smoke down on the beach he knew Chaff was calling him and he'd been trudging along toward death every since.

Haymitch is having some trouble making progress. He has injuries, painful but not life threatening enough to be of any value. He'd also been sipping the second bottle and having eaten nothing and lost his water in a fight, he was not in the best shape for trucking through the jungle. He had to rest, every time Katniss came into his mind and she was as annoying as ever with her constant butting in to his thoughts.

Some how he'd managed a nap and he'd dreamed of her. He dreamed he was there as Finnick smiled at her. He had taken the trident and touched her with it, rousing her just enough to see her betrayal coming. He had probably smiled and whispered he was sorry to her, before thrusting his weapon into her heart. Had she cried out as she died? Did he hold her and comfort her or did he just stand there and smile, watching her leave the world with the same face he'd given his friends?

Couldn't be mad at Finn. He was dead for one thing; the force field had saved Haymitch that horror of killing him. But, he had heard her begging him not to leave that morning. He had left her again that evening after the food. She had stood at the edge of the woods last night, not willing to call to him again, but her little face had begged. She'd stood there until Finnick pulled her away. He could hunt them faster alone, but he didn't expect Finn to calculate so quickly and end her. It was foolish of him to trust that heathen water wart to wait until it had to be done.

The jabberjays had picked up her voice and he screamed as he listened to her singing. They had all seemed focused on her and it was the heartbreak of walking through the gauntlet of a thousand Katniss choir, knowing they don't have choirs where Haymitch was heading. Even that eternal fate seemed comforting after this life.

Haymitch finally reaches the beach and he sees the morphling girl by the fire. The one he lives and dies for, stands so still, he doesn't notice her looking at him. He blinks, certain it is just a ghost.

Haymitch stops dead when he sees Katniss, but it is the look in his face that keeps her from approaching him. He looks just like Cato, dead already except for hate.

Only when he sinks to his knees and screams does she run to him. She holds her hands out, trying to gentle a creature driven mad with pain. "Haymitch, it's me Katniss. I have food again. It is just us three. They sent it to us, because I think the games are too fast this year. Can you give me your hand?" She says quickly but smoothly.

"Katniss, your dead. Boom. Boom. Boom. On the mountain and the blood. Finn killed you and it is my fault." He mumbles.

Katniss slowly moves closer and when she touches him it is like he's been jolted with ice water. His eyes clear and he stands and sweeps her into his arms with a war whoop and covers her face with the last joyful fatherly kisses she will ever know.

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I have been trying to upload chapter two, but we are in the middle of the tornado mess so not much is working well with our Internet. Will update as soon as it lets me. I know sorry about Finn and Mags, but there is no Rebel hovercraft to save them and Katniss didn't know CPR – had only seen her mother attempt it a few times. So fate delivered that blow and saved her from having to kill or be killed by dear Finn. Of course red wine was my symbol for all the blood poor Hay had to spill and it has made him a little blue hearted.