We have trouble sneaking into the Capitol. The security has been tightened tenfold since my last visit at the Quarter Quell games, force fields and Peacekeeper patrols by the dozen. Finnick is silent, but I can tell he's regretting going. What would happen to Annie if he died? I thought suddenly, and froze with guilt and horror. I couldn't tell them he died a hero's death; he snuck away on a stolen hovercraft on a stupid, reckless mission. For me. I look over my shoulder, but it's too late to turn and go back to the hovercraft. They will know it's missing by now, and what can we say? We took it out for a ride? Far too late. I can hear the different voices of warning in my head, Gale, Peeta, even the Commander. Gale would be worried for me, but he would probably get a kick out of defying the Capitol, like he always does. That's why he joined the rebellion in the first place. To break the rules.
I'm a fool. And I know it.
But that doesn't stop me trudging forward. I have to see her. I have to know who she was. I'm driven by some force. Who is she? Where is she from? Why does she want me dead? Was she hijacked into it? Did she just choose to herself? I don't care anymore that I'm risking death. It's everyone else I'm worried about. Disturbing my train of thought, Finnick suddenly grabs me and pulls me down, finger to his lips. As we freeze, hidden in the thick foliage, a patrol passes dangerously close to us. As they move away, Finnick takes my hand and walks out calmly onto the street of the Capitol.
"That was a close one" he breathes, and gulps.
"You can say that again" I reply, as a few more of them walk by. This place is covered in them.
The disguise begins to ache and itch on me. How can these people wear such aggravating clothes? Finnick's not too impressed either. But, luckily, we blend right in with the bizarre crowds. We keep our heads down, trying not to attract attention. However, this fails completely when the extravagant hood hiding my face falls back in a gust of wind, just as a burly official walks past. He does a double take, and starts shouting.
"Finnick!" I shout, because I turn and he's vanished. "Finnick!" Ahead, I see a group of peacekeepers lumber towards me. I scream, and suddenly I'm knocked off my feet, a hand on my mouth, and I'm carried away.
"Bet we get out of this, Girl on Fire" they whisper in my ear. I jump in shock, and look up beaming as he sets me down.
"Cinna!"
He smiles briefly, and pulls me into a niche in a wall.
"How did you get here?" I mutter, very, very quietly. He pauses, and dares a look around, then looks down at me sharply.
"We went out by transport beam to the Capitol earlier. It seems their getting suspicious of our actions, so as soon as we got back, we grabbed our stuff, and we're hiding out." He answers my unspoken question immediately. "We are Portia, the prep teams and a few others ".
I struggle briefly with everything he's told me, then burst out in alarm "Where's Finnick?" He looks confused, and my heart drops in fear.
"The boy with you? Portia grabbed him." I flood with relief. He isn't captured, or dead. Then I feel suspicious. "How did you know I was going to be here?" Cinna looks distressed, and then he sighs, turning away briefly.
"I've heard a lot from different people. Peeta, your mother, just chats and they all mention a particular enemy soldier. Seems you were desperate to know about Athena, which I'd already guessed, and then I received a report saying you and someone else –Finnick? – And they were missing with one of the hovercrafts. And this is the easiest way to the heart of the Capitol. I set up a few people, just in case you came this way. I'm glad I did". He glances around, and then tugs my arm, pulling me along behind him as we near the back of a shop. He takes hold of me tightly by the shoulders, and looks me in the eyes.
"Katniss, if I were you, I would go. Now. Or stay here until you can. But since you won't probably do that, I've dug some stuff up about her". He bites his lip, and frowns nervously. He reluctantly hands me a folded file from his pocket. "Read this. But you might not be happy about what you find out."