Chapter 11

I am thankful for the noises of the insects, as I tread lightly on the jungle floor, it makes the whole ordeal of being alone a little bit easier to cope with. I should be used to being alone, I was alone a bit in my last games, and in 13, I shouldn't mind it. But I do. I suppose it isn't being alone that I didn't like, it is feeling vulnerable. Not only was I vulnerable to other tributes, but to the Capitol as well because they hate me as I lived from my last games. I am pretty sure if they weren't so mad at Katniss I would be dead by now, but because I lived secretly, I am in slightly less danger in being alone in the arena than she is. I then suddenly wonder why Finnick sent me out here alone, he knows the Capitol hates me, he knows other tributes are better than me and could easily kill me. So why make me more of an easier target? Did he want me dead? A burden off his shoulders?

I stop walking as I think this thought. Does he want me dead? 'No' I immediately correct myself, he wouldn't want me dead. He wouldn't have fought for me all this way to want me dead now, it wouldn't have made sense to do that.

So why did he want me alone? There must have been a reason, because we all know Katniss is more than capable of scouting for food and water, she's much better at catching food than I am.

I shake my head, I don't understand his motives, I probably never will. There is no point over thinking it and making myself more vulnerable.

I get back into defensive position and carry on walking, looking around for life or water. So far no water. I look up to see some sort of squirrel in the tree, when I hear something.

A familiar beep.

A reflected light.

A parachute.

My face lights up. Mags is sending something to me! She remembers me! I wasn't quite sure she liked me at first, but she must do to send me something.

It falls near enough to me and I jump to grab it. It's a reasonable sized container, reasonably heavy too. I weigh it up wondering what is in it, before I get too curious, sit on the floor and open it.

Inside it is a flask and a clip of some sort, obviously to clip to my belt.

A note came with it.

Kaylyn, well done in the cornucopia, here is something I hope will help you, I will signal when I think it should be used. Stay alert, you will get out alive, I know it - Mags.

For a woman who can't speak, I wasn't sure I expected her to be able to write, but she can.

I clip the flask on to my belt and begin to head back, having not seen water for a while. I keep the note in my hand and I intend to show it to Finnick when there is a private moment.

I get back to see Katniss isn't back yet, and Peeta is worried. However Finnick has started to make a shelter. I look over to him and he glances to my belt and looks relieved at seeing the flask.

Did he order Mags to send it in? Was that what he was doing when he looked up to the sky? Telling her to send the package now as I would soon be alone...yes...he must have, that's why he sent me alone. He wanted me to have it. I then realised, I didn't know what was in it. Mags never told me, but then again she did say she would tell me when to use it. Should I question her and find out what it is now? I move my hand slowly to my clip, locking eyes with Finnick and he gave the slightest shake of the head that you wouldn't have been able to see if you weren't staring at him. I trust Finnick's word and begin to gather some leaves that he could use.

By the time Katniss is back Finnick has finished the shelter and has begun to weave a basket.

"Been at work, Finnick?" she asks trudging up the hill to get to us.

"Yeah, made a place to sleep and about to make a basket, what did you catch?" Finnick asks, not taking his eyes off his work.

"I don't know really, some sort of rat, but it was in a tree" she describes.

"A tree rat" Peeta says, putting the two together.

Katniss shrugs accepting his decision.

And that's when another parachute drops right in front of me.

We all stare at it, not sure who's it is.

I motion for Katniss to take it, and she does.

She picks it up and unravels it. There are a few things. A long silver tube, and notes for people.

Katniss and Peeta have a joint one, I assume from Haymitch. Finnick and I get one each from Mags.

I take mine and open it.

Kaylyn, the next time you wake up, take in all of the flask - Mags

Now my curiosity was peaked. I really wanted to know what was in it.

I walked over to Finnick and showed him both notes whilst Katniss and Peeta were in a hushed conversation. He reads them both and nods. Which is his language for do what the note says. I decide not to ask about his, thinking it might be personal. We go back over to Katniss and we all talk about the long silver tube.

"What is it?" I ask watching Katniss examine it from all sides.

"No clue" Katniss replies in deep thought.

We pass it around and discuss it's qualities for a while. That is before Peeta get's annoyed with it and slams in into the dirt, so one end is peeking out of the ground.

"THAT'S IT!" Katniss half screams.

My head shoots around, hoping no one heard her and our position is not compromised. No, it's clear...for now. Why did she have to shout?! Did she not realise we were in constant danger?! If she shouts again, if she puts us in danger again, I will knock her out, whether Finnick thought we needed her or not. I'm not dying because she had a sudden revelation about a silver tube.

I look back to Katniss and she's picked it out of the dirt and is brushing off the mud.

"Peeta use my knife to make a whole into that tree" Katniss instructs him.

"See, the tree rat's mouth was wet, as if it had been drinking, it must have got its water from somewhere...this silver thing, is a spiel." she says very pleased with Haymitch by the way she looks up to the sky smiling.

Peeta was still digging the tree out when I had gotten up to examine the spiel. Yeah...I could see it now, dig the sharp end into the tree for water and then let the water drizzle down the curved end and into...

"The basket" I say, the last of my thoughts out loud.

"Yeah, we'll put water into the basket" Finnick says, holding up his tightly woven basket.

Peeta had finished now and he called Katniss over who gently put the spiel into the whole in the tree. A few moments later a single drop of water fell out, Katniss moved the spiel around before a steady flow of water was filling up the basket.

We all drank heavily before deciding to sleep, Finnick and I decided to take the first watch. In a weird way, I felt much safer with Katniss and Peeta asleep. I suppose it was because she couldn't shout and reveal our position...unless she talked in her sleep. Plus I liked spending quality time with Finnick, it was like sitting with an old friend.

We remain quiet for while, both clearly lost in thought. I couldn't stop thinking about Michael and how scared he must be. I then thought of Will and wondered if he would be helping to get Michael out. I forced myself to stop thinking about it, I could do nothing to save him from in here and he would only be in more trouble if I didn't play by the rules in the arena. So I sat and listened to the different noises of the night...which probably wasn't a good idea either because it scared me a bit.

"It's quiet" Finnick comments some time later into the night.

"The insects...they've stopped" I say, noticing the change in noise too, I had gotten used to the constant buzzing, I felt deaf without it. I'm surprised I didn't notice it sooner considering I was listening to them.

We look at each other suspiciously and then look around. There was nothing out of the ordinary other than the quiet insects, but this small change could turn out to be an impending mutt attack or a sudden volcano explosion.

"It's probably nothing" Finnick says shrugging it off.

"When the games are concerned, it's never nothing" I say standing up and getting a better look around.

But I could find nothing either, nothing that would reveal what would happen next.

I sat back down, annoyed at the fact that I knew something strange was going on but I didn't know what it was.

Finnick chuckled.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"Nothing, nothing" he says, waving it off.

"Tell me" I push.

"It's just...it's all a bit surreal isn't it, being in here a second time. And this time, knowing that we will never see each other again after these games" he says.

"How is that funny?" I ask, shocked at the morbidity of this conversation.

"Oh it's not, but since it's more than likely the last time I'll laugh, I thought I'd make it funny" he says, but there's less cheer in his voice.

"Finnick..." I start, but I don't know how to end it, so I let the conversation drop.

We're quiet for a few more minutes before he talks again.

"I hope you survive these games, you're like family to me, I would do anything for you to live" he says after sometime of silence.

I look at him and see tears in his eyes.

I pull him into a strong hug and he hugs tightly back.

He then whispers to me "be prepared".

I am now extremely confused.

"Everything is about to change" he whispers.

I only hope the Capitol can't hear him. He suddenly stiffens and holds me firmly, this only worries and confuses me more.

"Kaylyn..." he says pulling away.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"I think we should move, because that does not look natural!" he says panicked.

I turn around.

Smoke...no...fog? Rising fog...he's right, it's not natural! That's why the insects stopped!

"Guys! Get up! Get up!" I say, shaking Katniss and Peeta awake.

"What? What's going on?!" Peeta says jumping up and helping Katniss up.

"Fog!" I say pointing to the white mist that was closing in on us.

We grab all the weapons we can, and the spiel (which Katniss has).

We begin to run away from it, I follow Finnick away from the Fog. But soon Finnick realises that Katniss and Peeta are lagging behind. I stop too, to help him catch them up but he soon stops me.

"No! Go and see if the beach is free! We don't want to go running into careers blindly!" he says quickly, adding on the end "But be careful!".

I nod and run on, but not before saying "Finnick..." I pause, catching my breath "you're like family to me too...good luck!".

He smiles at me, a sad smile which means he's hiding something. But I have no time to think about it, he gave me a job to do and the best way to save him was to scope out the beach.

I get good distance between the fog and I by the time I arrive at the opening of the beach, but I do not see Finnick, Katniss or Peeta behind me. I hide behind a tree and look onto a beach, it looks deserted, but people could be hiding on the other side like I am.

'There's only one way to find out' I think.

I begin to move out onto the beach, spear at the ready. I look around and keep my guard up, I turn around and stop, upon hearing fast footsteps behind me.

I feel relieved when I see Katniss and Finnick (who is holding Peeta) run towards me, their limbs seem to be out of control though.

I'm about to go and help them before Finnick shouts "KAYLYN! BEHIND YOU!".

I snap around and see Brutus charging at me with a sword and an evil look on his face.

I clash his sword with my spear, really wishing I had my sword right now. We hold our weapons together before he breaks apart and aims for my shoulder, I dodge and manage to slash his leg, he doesn't even flinch at the contact. Instead he uses my exposed arm to his advantage, he manages to cut open my arm. I make a moan but just switch to my left hand.

I really wish I had my sword. We battle for a good two minutes, dodging and trying to get each other with fatal blows but only manage deep cuts. One of us isn't making it out of this fight alive, and I was determined for it to be Brutus. I ducked one of his blows and slashed his stomach, he brought his elbow down on my neck, the force making me fall to the floor. I roll over quickly and try to get up, but I am at the mercy of his sword.

His sword stays close to my neck, I cannot move without him cutting me. My spear is still in my hand, but he cuts my stomach deeply which makes me drop it and clutch my stomach due to all the pain.

I look up to see him snarling at me. I know by that luck he will enjoy this. He will enjoy this a lot.

"Goodbye...Kaylyn" he says shortly.

He brings down his sword, slow and strong, I close my eyes and turn my head away from him, but it never meets me.

I open my closed eyes and see Finnick has tackled him. The force knocks Brutus away from me.

He and Finnick are in a brawl now, punching and fighting each other. I try to get up, but fail, feeling too much pain in my stomach. It's hard to tell who's winning until Brutus manages to wriggle free from Finnick and run away.

"COWARD!" Finnick shouts after him.

I can tell Finnick was going to run after him if I wasn't so badly injured. He ran over to me and gently knelt beside me.

"You're ok Kaylyn, you're ok" he says quickly.

I can tell he's worried I'm not going to make it, I'm worried too. I'm in so much pain, it even hurts when I wince.

"Katniss! Could you get some moss to bandage her stomach!" he half shouts at her.

She does that immediately and comes back over and hands him the moss. Finnick bandages me up carefully but I have lost a lot of blood.

"Finnick" I start hoarsely, it seems the fight with Brutus took my voice away from me.

"Kaylyn...no...you're not leaving me, you were getting out alive remember! It was meant to be you!" He was saying hysterically over and over, but it was no good.

There was too much blood loss, even with the bandage.

"Finnick" I try again.

"You can't give up, you just can't" he says.

"I'm not...but I want you to win this...you have to win this...you have to stop them..." I manage to get out before I start coughing.

"You're going to win this! You're going to stop them! I'm not letting you die!" he states.

I can see Katniss is also at loss, I don't think Peeta is conscious, I can only imagine how Will is. Keeko. Michael...Michael. Oh no, I've left him to Capitol...he'll be killed for sure...what's the use for him now to them? None. They'll kill him.

I pull Finnick close to me and whisper "save him" before I lose my breath, and lie back down.

"Kaylyn...stay" he gets out.

I smile lightly at him.

"Why are you smiling?" he asks, calming down a bit.

"Might as well make a joke out of it" I say laughing slightly.

It's the last time I'll laugh, I know that for sure.

He lets out one chuckle and holds my hand.

We stay silent for a few moments before I know I have little time left.

"Finnick...you were a father to me...thank you" I manage out, I hear him let out a sob before the world around me blackens.