Chapter 20

Jo flops into the sand next to me and tentatively sets her legs into the water, "this plan is going to work."

"Yeah, I know." It's a topic I've been avoiding, once we get rid of the rest of the Career pack, it will be the five of us in this arena where only one will come out. I shift onto my elbows and look up to the sky, "it's what I'm worried about."

"Don't be, more than likely they will blow half of us up when the ratings fall once we burn the Careers to a crisp."

I laugh, "thanks for the vote of confidence and positivity." The sound of laughter from behind me captures my attention, I flit my gaze back to see Finnick, Haymitch, and Beetee poking with the coil that should get rid of the other Careers. I turn back to the ocean wave that laps over my feet. Jo takes my hand and sets something in my palm. I look down to see a small orb resting in my hand, "Jo?"

"Its-it's a pearl."

''It's," I roll it around the curves of my palm, "beautiful."

"It's yours."

"It is? Why?" I ask.

Jo frowns before her lips curl back into a cold smile, "it just reminds me, that something beautiful can come out of these Games, you know?"

My eyes widen, "Jo, that is the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"I wasn't talking about you, brainless." She rolls her eyes and glances at me, "I was talking about my nephew. None of us in this arena deserve to come out, no one who wins these Games is actually decent. But that kid, he has a shot at being an innocent and pure and decent person."

I expect myself to frown, but instead I smile. "I was beginning to think you were coming down with something." I lift my hand, "let me check your temperature-"

"No." Jo swats my hand away, "don't ever do that again, Everdeen."

"Whatever you say, Mason." I toss her my best glare which quickly turns into a smile. I stand up and slip the pearl into my pocket, making a mental note to use it as a piece of the mobile over a crib. If we make it out alive, I think to myself. I walk over to the three men who stand huddled over the coil of wire, "how do we know it won't catch on fire or anything?"

Beetee chuckles, "it won't do any such thing. I should know, I invented it."

"Oh." I frown as Finnick glances at me with a broad smile.

Haymitch looks at Jo then to me, "so you and Jo best friends or super sisters now?"

"Something like that." I say, "why do you care?"

"I don't. Just noticed." Haymitch gives me a sideways glance and a nod to Finnick. His mental command to talk with Finnick since our relationship has been off and everyone can tell. He always chooses to be a parent when he knows I'm crumbling on the inside, I have been so shaken up since those Mockingjays sent me into silence for almost three hours yesterday.

I look to Finnick, "could we talk for a sec?" His smile fades just as quickly as it appears, the realization dawns on me and sends all the air out of my lungs. His smiles fall easily, his frowns last longer, his eyes look as broken as I feel. How did I trade out the man I've come to fall in love with for the façade shown to the Capitol? He walks beside me until we are far enough away that no one can hear our conversations, with the exception of the prying eyes and ears of Capitol.

"Katniss, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Well, not exactly nothing. What if Beetee's plan doesn't work?"

"It will, it's a fool-proof plan, not even a drunk, no not even a sober Haymitch could screw it up."

My lip twitches down and I rest my hands on my hips, "it's just after we kill off the Careers, it will be the five of us. I don't want to kill Haymitch, or Jo, or Beetee."

"I know, Katniss." He paces and chews at his lip, "what do you want to do?"

"I don't know." I say.

Finnick stops and glances at me, "should've expected that." I wince, that hurt. He starts pacing again, "why don't we just carry out Beetee's plan and if it works, we split from the group?"

"Okay." I nod and Finnick turns to head back to the beach. I grasp his arm and raise my eyebrows, "there's more."

He frowns a little deeper, "what?"

"I don't know what happened between us, but I'm not getting you."

This time it's him who raises his eyebrows, "getting me?"

"I'm getting the Finnick Odair of the Capitol, not the one I fell in love with." Finnick stares at me, his sea-green eyes empty, I wonder if mine are as vacant as his. I used to enjoy silence, find solace in it. The quiet of the woods were enough to bring me a sense of peace, but now the silence gnaws at me. He stares at me, searching my eyes just as I am searching his, for any signs of life outside of survival. When his eyes examine me like this I feel so vulnerable, like he can see all my scars, all my fears, all my pain. Like he can see how fragile I am and there's that danger in his eyes. It's one I've seen with Gale, never with Peeta, but with Gale I could always tell it was there. This wild and unpredictable instability inside of Finnick, just as with Gale.

Finnick clears his throat never breaking my gaze, "well, I'm getting the Katniss Everdeen of the Capitol, not the one I fell in love with."

The words hurt, cut at my heart, stab at my gut, make my head spin. Have we grown apart in such a short time in this arena? We grew together over a year, yet we fell apart in the matter of a few days. "What do you want me to say?"

"There's nothing you can say," he shakes his head, "just stay safe, stay healthy." Finnick frowns at me, "we'll be alright, just not tonight. One day, we'll be alright."

"No we won't, you're going to die in this arena, and I probably will too."

"No you won't." He says, I begin to protest as he crashes his lips to mine, stealing all my strength. He steps back with a small smile, stroking my chin. "you're beautiful, you know?" It wasn't special, passionate, or memorable. It was simple, loving, reassuring, exactly what I expected. If it was anything other than that I would have felt deceived. He walks away, leaving me standing at the edge of the jungle contemplating the relationship we have. This odd twisted relationship shared between us, hot and cold, night and day, ice and fire. Opposites who attract, creating sparks each time they meet.

The Girl on Fire and the Boy of Water.

Everything about us is opposite. Where Finnick has a head of bright bronze hair, I have dark brown locks. I am small compared to him, he is more than a head taller than me. My frame is thin, where his is broad. His eyes a vibrant green the color of the sea: calm on the outside, steady with the tide, but capable of power and unpredictable. Right when I think I understand the ocean it changes in an instant, constantly surprising me, just as Finnick does. My eyes are a dull and stormy grey, my conflicting thoughts and emotions rumbling like thunder. He is patient when I am impulsive, excited when I'm nervous, charming when I am sullen. In some way we balance each other out, not in the way that Peeta balanced me. Not where I constantly messed everything up and Peeta either fixed it or helped me understand my mistake. No, Finnick and I are two extremes that feed off of each other, we both make mistakes and never fix them for each other. Instead, we end up ignoring them until we both have to face it.

We live with every fiber of our beings, love with every beat of our hearts.

Two extremes that send sparks vibrant as the sun.

Finnick has spread all the excitement of this baby to every person he sees, I think, encompasses all of Panem, which includes Haymitch. Haymitch had stopped by the house in the Victor's Village in 4 on his way to some type of party Chaff was having in the Capitol, whatever that's about. He came to check up on me and see this pregnancy for himself. My thoughts are interrupted by Haymitch's curses and the sound of bolts and screws clattering to the ground. I turn up the screen and watch some ridiculous woman in a shining pink outfit and a wig the size of my coffee table showing off a line of shoes that honestly look more like torture devices than shoes.

Another loud crash from upstairs gets my attention, why did Finnick have to tell Haymitch? Finnick has been talking about building a boat for him and 'our son' to fish in, which in all honestly is a ridiculous since it will be a girl. They haven't allowed me upstairs to see this infamous boat that has claimed all my naps and all my silence. The two of them have been carrying slats of wood upstairs and trying to put this boat together. Why they chose to do it in upstairs, instead of downstairs is beyond me. Men seem to do things backwards anyways, so I assume I'm not shocked. Haymitch's curses sound through out the house soon to be accompanied with Finnick's own colorful vocabulary. After a few moments its silent, now I'm worried. Footsteps echo down the stairs and I turn my head to the side to see Haymitch and Finnick with smug looks on their faces. "Did you finish your boat?"

Finnick gets a wry smile, "oh, yes. Kitty, if you please, will you stand up."

"Okay," I stand and cross my arms, a scowl written upon my face. Finnick takes my hands while Haymitch covers my eyes with his hand. "What are you doing?"

Haymitch chuckles, "for once Sweetheart, just trust me."

I roll my eyes even though they can't see it. I am lead upstairs while Haymitch talks about how Prim is doing and my mother. Finnick stops walking and makes me close my eyes. "Okay Haymitch move your hands."

Haymitch steps from me, "open your eyes Katniss."

I hesitate before peeking open one eye and then the other. My breath hitches in my throat, the walls are a deep blue like the ocean, a large mahogany rocking chair sits in the corner next to a dresser topped with the large cream seashell I found the first time Finnick took me to search the beach. My eyes travel the room to a mahogany crib against the wall, a mobile swinging above it. Finnick smiles and opens his arms to the room, "my brother helped me paint it and Haymitch helped me put the rocking chair and crib together. Mags helped me carve the wood."

I peer closer at the side of the crib, the ridges carved with waves of the ocean and the forest of my home in twelve. Tears swell along my eyes and I quickly wipe them away, "it's beautiful." I didn't want this child, but Finnick does and for that I'm grateful. For once his happiness and excitement is radiating to me.

Haymitch laughs, "I did a good job, huh? It was hard working with Mr. 'I'm right, the nail goes in this slat.' But we got it done."

A laugh escapes my lips before I give Haymitch a hug, "thank you."

"It's the least I could do, kid. Your father would be proud of you."

"You think?"

"I'm proud of you, it's not the same, but-"

I shake my head and smile at my drunken mentor, "it is, Haymitch. I'm honored that my daughter will have you for a grandfather."

"So." Finnick smiles, "do you like it?"

"I love it, thank you."

"Consider it a thank you for teaching me how to use the bow and arrow." Finnick wraps his arms around my waist, "well now that the room is blue, it kind of has to be a boy." He kisses my cheek and points to the mobile, "we need to put something on the mobile. Any ideas?"

Jo shakes me awake, "I can take watch."

"Thank you," I grasp Jo's arm and look at her hoping to show her what that I'm thanking her for her kindness and friendship.

She nods, "your welcome." I stand up but Johanna takes my arm, her nails digging into my arm probably leaving marks along my skin. "Katniss, I need you to promise me something."

"Of course, Jo."

"If-if anything happens and they have me, I want you to kill me fast."

"What?" I shake my head, "Jo, I don't want to-"

"I don't want to die a slow and painful death, not by their hand. Okay, so kill me fast and painless. Promise me, Katniss."

"I-I, I promise."

"Thank you." Jo nods and sits at the edge of camp while I walk over to the space between Finnick and Haymitch. I collapse into the jungle floor and rest my head against Finnick's arm. Haymitch never sleeps at night, I can see the glimmer off his eyes. His skin has become so sallow and yellow since he has gone without alcohol.

Haymitch shifts and looks to me, "we're almost done, kid." His voice is hardly above a whisper, this conversation is not meant for the Capitol.

"Are we?" I snicker, "we're almost done with life."

"All of us maybe, but you are going to live."

"Why me? Why does everyone want me to walk out of here?"

Haymitch looks at me, "because you have something to live for."

"My son, maybe. But without everyone else..."

"Just remember who the real enemy is, Katniss."

I raise my eyes, "what?"

"Remember who the real enemy is, you will know what it means when the time comes." Haymitch turns from me while his breathing slows into a regular and soft slumber. I snuggle closer to Finnick before he pulls me closer to him, the dread of the impending next few hours consuming us both.

I wake with dread, knowing that things are going to change. That after the lightning tree begins it's countdown, the Careers would be gone and only five of us will remain. We make our way to the tree, carrying the last of our supplies and the coiled wire. We set our things up according to plan, I stand with Haymitch, my bow pulled over my shoulder. Beetee looks around, "Haymitch and Finnick you will be my guards, Johanna and Katniss take the coil."

I look at Haymitch, "you three have fun."

He smirks, "just go unroll the coil, Katniss."

Jo takes the wire and begins to walk along the jungle towards the beach, she looks up at me, "remember our promise."

That sends shivers down my spine, "I remember."

We get through the thick of the jungle before Jo begin to glances around her and behind me, Jo pulls me towards her and pushes me to the ground. I stare at her in confusion until Jo presses her ax into my arm, I try to scream but she covers my mouth.

Betrayal.

It's the only thought getting through, Johanna Mason betrayed me. She gained my trust and betrayed me. Jo smears the blood of my arm along my neck and chest, she leans close to me, pinning me beneath her. "Don't move, don't make a sound, until after they've passed." Jo throws her ax from me and runs into the forest leaving the coil beside me. Footsteps come near my head and I hear the voices of Brutus and Enobaria.

"One down, four to go." Enobaria's sneering, hissing voice would make me wince except my entire body is rigid. I am not sure I'm even breathing. Their footsteps disappear from me, and I slowly open my eyes. Everything is quiet, I cannot hear much of anything except the buzzing in my ears. I shakily stand up and look at the blood dripping down my arm and dribbling onto my leg. I haven't ever been this confused before, what Johanna trying to kill me? Was she trying to save me? A cannon goes off in the direction of Beetee, Finnick, and Haymitch; I take off running shaky and wobbly, but moving at a faster pace than before.

I draw my bow and hear footsteps, I fall below the plants and aim my arrow to the figure coming towards me, my vision slightly blurred. I didn't think I had lost too much blood, but Jo cut deep. The thought of her slicing my arm open sends my mind into a frenzy, friend or enemy? Betrayal or loyal?

I pull the string back until I hear the voice of the figure, "Katniss? Johanna?"

"Finnick?" I whisper.

He whips his head around the area and moves from my view, or my vision is blurring even more than before. I look over to see the twitching body of Beetee and his makeshift bayonet wrapped in the coil. The first bolt of lightning hits the tree, I glance at the coiled bayonet and Beetee. What was he trying to do? I glance at the sky and peer closer as the next bolt strikes, the sky glints slightly.

Just like the force field in the Training Center.

I grab the coil and look back to the sky, what was Beetee attempting to do?

Another bolt strikes, I don't have much time. My strength is slipping, my vision getting blurrier, I need to make a decision. The ground spins below me, is that the Gamemakers?

Haymitch's voice echoes in my mind, remember who the real enemy is.

Everything clicks together, I grab the coil and wrap it around my arrow, and put the arrow into place. If I focus my aim on the glinting force field...MY bow is taken from my hands, "Katniss, stand back."

"What?" I look to see Finnick standing still on the swirling ground, am I the one spinning?

Finnick pushes me back and pulls the string of the bow back sending it flying into the sky. A large beam of light shines through the sky, the sky falling apart. My mind goes blank, the ground spinning faster and faster, I fall to the ground as I watch Finnick's body shake from the electricity of the arrow.

Is he dead?

Tears fall down my cheeks and I focus on the beam of light above me, the claw from the hovercraft coming to me from below.

Am I dead?

The claw draws me up into the light above me before my vision goes black.

I wake with a start, something covering my nose and mouth. My hand flies up and I tug on a mask giving me oxygen, I let out a gasp and look to my left to see Beetee beside me. We are still wearing our outfits from the arena, my arm is bandaged and my scratches bandaged too. Slowly, I stand from the table and grasp the edge. I look down to see that the baby seem okay from the outside. Where is Finnick? Johanna? Haymitch.

This is one of the Capitol's hovercrafts. The Captiol has captured the remaining Victors.

Promise me, Katniss.

Johanna's voice shakes in my skull, I have to keep my promise. I can't let them kill Jo in whatever twisted, diabolical ways they can conceive. I can't let them torture Finnick, can't let them torture me and our baby. As I move towards the door I look at the table of instruments beside Beetee and grasp the needle in my hand, whoever I find first I kill.

It's the only way.

The door shifts open for me and I make my way down the halls, I hear voices outside a door and walk inside. I stare at the figure of Plutarch Heavensbee and my jaw falls open. Finnick stands across from him, his head in bandages, he looks wild. "Katniss."

I grasp the needle and aim it over my neck, "Katniss, put it down."

"What's going on."

Finnick walks towards me, "I will explain, just put it down. You're safe, the baby is safe. Both of you are healthy."

"No, why are you helping him?"

Plutarch walks towards me, I focus my needle on him. My body is pressed to the wall, the needle falls from my hand. I collapse into Finnick's arms, "what's going on? Where's Haymitch? Where's Johanna?"

Plutarch walks to me, "Katniss Everdeen, you are the Mockingjay. The revolution has begun."

"I don't care! Where's Haymitch? Where's Johanna?"

Finnick pulls me close, "they're...they're in the Capitol."

"I promised her..." I cry into his shoulder until they become racking sobs. "I promised."