Sheesh y'all, another disclaimer. Well as you all know, I'm not Suzanne Collins, I don't own Hunger Games or Catching Fire, oh or the 3rd one Mockingjay! Writing this disclaimer is depressing me, I own nothing blah blah blah. On with the story!
Im really really sorry, I actually just discovered, Imma procrastinator, and since this doesn't have a due date... you can see how I forgot to update. I would love to put a long A/N and an apology, but I just think A/N's distract from the actual story, and the reviews. Like if someone puts an authors note at the bottom, saying something about a poll or whatever, people forget what they just read, and review about the poll. Ugh, now I'm doing it, forget what I just said and enjoy the story!
I'm awaken by a hand clamping over my mouth. I yelp in surprise, but it's muffled by the persons clammy hand. I start thrashing around but the person roughly grabs me. I'm surprised, I don't like to brag but I do have some muscle, however this persons got an iron grip. They drag me out of my bed and through a long hallway, all the while I'm kicking and biting. The person throws me into an empty room, as soon as the person (who I have now decided is a man) releases me, I whip around hoping for a punch square in the jaw, when he grabs my arm and twists it painfully behind my back. I cry out in shock.
"I wouldn't try that if I were you." A gruff but familiar voice says. I'm let go and turn around to meet a exceptionally sober Haymitch. I relax slightly, then tense again. "What do you want Haymitch?" I ask smoothly.
"Listen boy, this is not time for your silly game, you are to listen to what I have to say and stay quiet... got it?" He asks fiercely and in a hushed tone. I don't risk making any noise, so I nod my head. I have a feeling this conversation isn't supposed to be heard outside these walls. "Good, now listen up."
"There's a plan to break you guys out of the arena, only the tributes from 3, 6, 7, 8, and 11, know and are going to help with this plan, so don't trust 1 and 2 especially. 4 knew as well, but unfortunately, your district partner Mags, forgot to tell you." I cringe, Mags never had a good memory.
"Anyway, there will be a certain weapon at the cornucopia, a wire. Don't take it, it's meant for Beetee, but your not to meet up with him till later." I open my mouth to ask how he knows that, but he cuts me off. "Don't worry, the head Gamemaker, Plutarch Heavensbee, is part of a confidential group aspiring to overthrow the Capitol. We can trust him, he'll make sure the wires their. Also once we are ready to start the rescue mission, we'll send you bread from District 3. Indicating the days till rescue. You'll receive twenty four rolls. Twenty four hours. Count each one carefully, if you miscount even one, the plan will be thrown off." He says.
I gulp, guess I'm in charge of the bread. "Additionally, make sure to pair up with Johanna, she is in charge of getting Beetee and Wiress to safety and to you." I smirk a little, that's gonna be good seeing her with those two.
"Furthermore," He pauses to wrestle out of his bangle, I get a closer look at it and see it has flames decoratively surrounding a mockingjay. "Here," he says handing it to me. "Take it, Katniss will understand what it means, she might be ticked but she'll know you're allies. She might, no.. she will be hesitant to trust you and might try to kill you."
I'm taken by surprise, "She doesn't know?" I ask.
"We couldn't risk it," Haymitch says matter-of-factly. "But anyway, if she tries to kill you, you have to be ready, you know you can't kill her right?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course, I would never-" he cuts me off again "Good, also you can't kill Peeta, in fact you can't let him die at all," I must look confused because he explains. "If he dies, Katniss would surely break the alliance, she's set on keeping that boy alive, knowing that the cost will be her life, but that's not going to happen, is it?" He asks me sternly.
"No sir." I say, I stare into space for a minute, I know my brains processing a thousand thoughts, but I can't form one to spit out.
"Do you get it in that pretty little head of yours?" He asks almost jokingly. I nod still unable to form whole words. He's about to leave the room when he stops in the doorway, one hand on the frame. He doesn't even look at me when he says the last words. "Are you willing to die for them Finnick?"
"Yes." I spit out. He turns his head to look at me, an emotion in his eye I can't place. But all he says is "Better get to bed boy."
I walk back to my room in silence, that is a lot to deal with in ten minutes. But I know its gotta be done. Even if the Capitol doesn't want to admit it. There's a rebellion in out midst.
Julius arrives at dawn. He takes me to the top floor and I climb the ladder wordlessly. The electric current still scares me, but I don't try to thrash out like I did when I was younger. I think it scares me, because I'm not in charge of my body, and nothing I do can change that. I exhale loudly when it releases me.
The hovercraft windows fade black, and I will never know where we are headed. "Water?" Julius asks me.
"No thanks," I say almost inaudible. "It'll be okay" Julius reassures me. He seems genuinely, slightly, barely, concerned. I give in and sip the water, knowing I will need the strength to keep not one, but two human beings alive.
A normal person would probably crack under that kind of pressure, but it only makes me stronger.
When we reach the launch room, I take a quick shower. Julius tousles my hair in an almost spiky style. Then I get dressed in the tributes outfit. This year it's a snug blue jumpsuit that zippers up the front. Around the waist is a purple plastic belt, that looks to be six inches wide, and a pair of bright nylon shoes with buoyant rubber soles.
"What is this gonna be good for?" I ask holding the flimsy shoes. "Might be good with water." Julius says with a wink. I feel a confused expression on my features, but quickly put my face back to indifferent.
I have only one foot on the metal plate when two peacekeepers march through the door. "There he is!" A tall one shouts. Sugarcubes! The conversation with Haymitch!
One I hadn't seen before grabs me from behind. I easily wriggle free and give him an elbow to the temple, he crumples to the floor with a thud, I turn around and punch the smaller one in the gut. He too falls to the ground and begins to convulse.
The last one grabs my neck, and after a moment, the corners of my vision begin to fade. "No getting away now huh?" The peacekeeper asks cruelly. "And to think everybody thought you were strong, HA, your not even pretty!" He laughs scornfully. This throws me into a fit of rage. I grab the hand blocking my airway and twist it behind his back, like Haymitch had done to me.
"Never, call me ugly." I whisper into his ear, then I twist his neck and he falls to the floor unconscious. I hear panting, and some distant part of my mind knows its me, after two seconds of my heavy breathing, I hear a whimper. I turn to see a white faced Julius. I smirk plays across my mouth, and I raise a brow.
"Hows that for entertainment?" Before I can get an answer, I turn and step onto the plate.
All to soon, the blinding sun is in my eyes, but the part that bothers me is the familiar feeling of home. And sure enough when I look down, water washes over my boots.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fifth Hunger Games begin!" Claudias Templesmith's voice booms through...wherever the speakers are in this godforsaken arena.
Sixty seconds.
I look up to see that half the arena is covered in what looks to be saltwater. Then I spot the cornucopia , my eyes target a bundle of tridents about forty yards away, on a round island. On either sides of the tributes is a thin line of sand.
When I scan the tributes my eyes instantly home in on Katniss, she's about four strips away from me, but I can get there in an easy ten strokes. When the gong sounds, Katniss dives beautifully to the left, and I casually dive to the right, barely making a splash. I head to the front of the Cornucopia and pull myself onto land. I stop dead in my tracks, the person in front of me has peculiarly long dark braid...Katniss? My suspicions are confirmed when the person grabs a bow and yanks it free.
I quickly take a trident and net from the pile, hoping to get the whole bundle. She must have noticed the movement because she whips around and I raise my trident. My muscles turn rigid, and ripple in the anticipation, I can't help but smile.
I decide to break the tension, "You can swim too, where did you learn that in District 12?"
"We have a big bathtub,"
"You must," I pause, "You like the Arena?"
"Not particularly, but you should. They must have built it especially for you." Katniss retorts coldly. She freezes, as do I. We size each other up for a moment, our weapons, our skill. Our, our, our, blah, blah, blah, I'm done with this. I end the charade by smiling. Katniss looks so startled, I decide to break it to her.
"Lucky think we're allies right?"
She looks uncertain, so I pull my trump card. I twist the bracelet Haymitch gave me and aim the glint of the sun directly toward her. Realization, and irritation dawn on her face. "Right!" She turns so fast I follow her gaze. My eyes widen, because the man from 5 is gaining on her, I start to panic, "Duck!" I yell, she's so surprised she does, and at good time too because my trident goes whizzing over her head, I hardly register the sound of impact, because, even if for the time being, Katniss is safe.
I quickly grab my trident, then remember what Haymitch told me, "Don't trust 1 and 2." She doesn't seem to doubt this as she works her arrows free.
"Each take one side?" She asks, and I nod, knowing its a good plan, but my stomach feels like its in a knot as she darts around the pile, and out of my sight. I turn back to find a mound of weapons and nothing more. "Anything useful?" I shout to Katniss, I'm filled with relief when I get an answer, "Weapons, nothing but weapons." I confirm the same, till I see Chaff and Cashmere on my left, slowly but surely advancing to land. "Grab what you want and lets go!" I meet her at the front of the pile. I see Brutus stumbling toward us, "Do something about that would you?" she shoots and he blocks it getting a face full of purple goop.
Im surprised she hasn't gotten Peeta yet, so when she says "Lets clear out" I have no hesitation following her, already knowing her destination. When we get to the edge of the water, she begins to remove her knives, but I know I cant let her do that. I put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'll get him," unfortunately she looks suspicious, so in an effort to show I'm not gonna kill Peeta, I drop all my weapons to the ground, also because it weighs me down.
"Better not exert yourself. Not in your condition." To prove my point, I reach down and pat her abdomen, which feels surprisingly flat. She looks confused and slightly worried. But I fix myself at lands edge. "Cover me," I say, and then vanish into the liquid pool. I'll admit, I was showing off...maybe she noticed...?
Pay attention Finnick! You have to get Peeta!
When I reach Peeta's plate, he looks worried. "Finnick?" he ask quizzically.
"Yeah, looks like you don't have the same skills your partner does," I smirk, "Come on, Katniss is waiting." Thats all he needs before he jumps into my arms and I guide us back to land. Easily.
When we get to the sand, Katniss helps me pull Peeta up. They exchange a kiss and I zone out once again. I'm imagining a new net that's 10x more effective to fish with and economically friendly, then pizza, when the sound of Mags name snaps me back. "Remind me, did we make deals with anyone else?" "Only Mags I think." Mags! In all the commotion I had completely forgotten about her! "Well I can't leave Mags behind," I say calmly. "She's one of the few people who actually like me." Not for my looks.
"I've got no problem with Mags," Katniss says, "Especially now that I see the arena. Her fishhooks are probably our best chance of getting a meal." Hmmm, that's a good point. "Katniss wanted her on the first day." Peeta say proudly.
Before I can stop them, the words spill out of my mouth, "Katniss has remarkably good judgment," but I bite my tongue before I can continue. Mags has gotten so close now, that I scoop her out of the water with one hand...Ahem...Okay, yes, that was another attempt to impress Katniss.
"The belts, they're like the water bobs back home." From the looks on Katniss and Peeta's faces, I've got a feeling they don't understand Mags jumbled talk as well as me. " Look she's right, someone figured it out." I say pointing to Beetee, who's paddling aimlessly, but keeping his head up.
"What?" Katniss says. "The belts. They're flotation devices." I answer. "I mean you have to propel yourself, but they'll keep you from drowning." I add, I don't need Peeta going out there thinking he can swim.
We divide up the weapons, then flee from the Cornucopia and into the jungle. I remember them from a Hunger Games, in which I was a mentor. The airs warm and heavy with dew and moisture, and my jumpsuit clings even tighter. Although, now my muscles show through better-Just shut up Finnick! Just shut up! Ahh, my little voice is back again.
I must have slowed down, because Peeta is ahead of me now, slicing through the foliage with a long knife. Katniss makes me go second, saying I have my hands full with Mags. But I thought Mags was on my shoulder? Get it? Oh forget it. That wasn't even funny Finnick. Wow your gonna get annoying fast in here.
We climb for about an hour, I keep looking over my shoulder to check on Katniss, I'm not liking not being able to see her, plus each time I do, I catch her staring at my arms or back. I suddenly become self-conscious. "Finn calm down," Mags orders.
"Lets take a rest okay?" she says.
"I don't need one," I protest.
"Yes you do."
"No I don't,"
"Do."
"Don't!"
"Do!" Then she pinches my ear till I request a rest. A tactic I'm not new too.
So we take a rest for a bit, and Katniss scales the tree to see what's going on. Then it hits me. Katniss will see the bloodbath, and stop trusting me again. I casually raise my trident to defense, when I hear her descending. After she lands, I see it in her eyes. "What's going on down there Katniss? Have they all joined hands? Taken a vow of nonviolence? Tossed the weapons into the sea in defiance of the Capitol?" I ask, knowing Haymitch would want me to say it.
"No," she replies. "No," I repeat, already knowing the answer. "Because whatever happened in the past is the past. And no one in this arena is victor by chance." I look at Peeta for a moment. He and Katniss are the reason for me being here. But yet, I don't really mind. My life, weighed against millions of children's -if this rebellion works- is not important. Then I know the perfect way to tick off the Capitol.
"Except maybe Peeta," Because if Peeta was victor by chance, that would mean the Capitol made a mistake. And the Capitol doesn't make mistakes. Besides, we all know that Peeta, is probably, deep down, better and purer then the rest of us. We stand there, rooted to our spots, me waiting for this to be over, her calculating time, speed, all that junk, when Peeta steps in, and I thank God he did.
"So how many are dead?" He asks determinedly.
"Hard to say," Katniss answers. "At least six, I think, and they're still fighting."
"Let's keep moving. We need water," Not until he said that, do I realize now dehydrated I am. "Better find some soon," I say, then as an afterthought I add, "We need to be undercover when the others come hunting tonight." Katniss looks regretful, and lets the moment pass, while I saunter away, acting as if nothing ever happened.
We walk another mile or so, when Katniss breaks the silence, "Maybe we''ll have better luck on the other side. Find a spring or something." But then she looks hesitant to go forward, about to say something, when Peeta hits the force field.
I hear a quick zap and find Peeta's blonde hair coming closer, I barely have time to move before he hits me, square in the chest, causing the remaining air in my lungs to escape me. And I hit the ground with a thud.
Katniss rushes over to us and yells Peeta's name, trying to find a pulse, then she lies her head on his chest, a spot she looks safe in, but judging by the look on her face...
She's found nothing.