We find a spot near what looks like an ocean where we settle for the rest of the night. I, of course, don't sleep. I sit at the edge of the water, watching the waves lap at my feet. I stare out over the horizon, wondering what's beyond that point. The arena can't go on forever, right?
I hear Finnick stir behind me. He comes up and sits next to me. "No sleep?" he asks.
"No," I reply. "I don't even bother trying anymore." I sigh. Finnick puts his arm around me and hugs me to him. "I want out of here."
"So do I," says Finnick. He kisses my forehead. We sit together in another minute of silence.
"Did you hear what Tex was saying before you killed him?" I ask. Finnick doesn't respond. He only sighs, so I go on. "He was saying something about...someone hunting me? And...you killed him before he told me who he was talking about."
Finnick sighs again and pulls me closer to him. "I don't..." he begins. He shakes his head. "Remember when I told you that I can't refuse the Capitol anymore, because the first person they'd go after is you?" I nod. He lowers his voice to a barely audible whisper. "I think...I think that might be what they're doing now."
"What?" I ask, shocked.
"The Capitol might be purposely trying to kill you," he whispers. "because they want me to come back again from the arena. I think President Snow is behind the whole thing. He'll get an enormous amount of money for me if I do make it back, a second time. That's why he's trying to kill you. Just because he wants me back, to get even more money."
I don't say anything back. I don't know what to say. President Snow is personally trying to kill me to get his precious Finnick Odair back. Because he wants money. Because he's willing to sell Finnick for it. Because he's selfish.
"Aury," Finnick breathes next to my ear. "I love you. I promise, you won't die. You won't die at his hands. I promise. I love you so much."
I sigh. "I never knew Finnick Odair was so...capable of love," I say. Because it's true. I never would have guessed Finnick had the capacity to love as much as he says he does.
"I never knew I was either," he admits. "I thought that all the love I ever had had been sucked out of me, stolen, by the girls who bought me."
"That was never real love you felt towards them," I remind him.
"You're right," he says. "It was just an act I had to put on for them. For President Snow. But this...what I feel towards you now...this is far from an act."
This brings a small smile across my face. Finnick does love me. And I love him. I take his face in my hands and kiss him. Then I lean my forehead against his and whisper, "I love you." And I realize, this is the first time I've told him that. I also realize that I mean it.
We lay on the beach for a while, staring at the stars. I doze off a few times, and then I wake up to the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore. Finnick still as his arm around me. I shake him awake and sit up. He smiles and kisses me.
"We should eat," I suggest, because I've realized that it's been days since I last ate. I stand, grab my spear, and wade into the water.
I stand there, motionless, for about five minutes. At last, I see a silver fish swim under my feet. I drive my spear downward, but I miss. Only because Finnick has decided to come splashing through the water. Purposely, of course.
"Finnick!" I say, laughing. "I almost had a fish!"
"I bet I can catch one in half the time you almost caught one," he says.
I toss him my spear and cross my arms. "Go for it, then," I tease.
For what seems like an eternity, he stands there, in the shallows, waiting for a fish. Finally, I think he sees one, because he splashes the spear into the water. And it comes back up with a fish. He grins at me.
"Nice," I say.
"Thanks," he says back. He tosses the fish onto the sand and turns back to the water. "You're turn." He hands me the spear back.
"Fine," I shrug.
I plant my feet firmly in the gushy sand and wait. And all at once, I see a school of small silver fish swim around me. I'm about to spear one, when they start to bite my legs. I kick my feet, trying to scare them away, but it's no use. They keep biting at my legs. Then they actually grab hold of my legs and start tugging. I fall on my back in the water, and they start to drag me out further into the water.
I hear Finnick yelling and I feel his arms on mine, pulling me back to the shallow water. I manage to crawl back onto the sand, coughing and gagging on all the sea water I just swallowed. Finnick picks me up and craddles me in his arms. I only allow this for about ten seconds before I push away from him and lay face down in the sand.
I sit up after a minute and stare at the sky. Why me? That's all I've been asking myself lately. Why me? Finnick fell in love with me. Why me? I killed a girl out of jealousy. Why me? I'm being hunted down personally by President Snow. Why me?
I pull my knees up to my chin. Finnick puts his arm around me. I'm tempted to shrug him off, but my body won't move, so I leave it.
"He's trying pretty hard to kill me, isn't he?" I say quietly.
"I guess so," says Finnick. Thanks, that helps a lot. "But don't worry."
"How can I not worry?" I murmur. Thankfully, he doesn't hear.
"We should probably get out of here now," he says, helping me to my feet.
"Before something else tries to kill me," I say. Finnick looks at me, like he's expecting to see a smile on my face. Like he expects me to be joking. But I'm not. He starts to laugh a little, which, of course, brings a smile to my face. "I'm serious." I shove him lightly.
Finnick and I move deeper into the forest, away from the water. When we stop to take a break, I hear a metalic clang next to me. I get to my feet and walk toward the sound. And to my surprise, a golden trident is staring me in the face. A huge smile crosses my face.
"Finnick!" I call. He comes running and his face lights up when he sees the trident. "Just like last time, huh?"
"Just like last time," he agrees. He picks up the trident and wields it around perfectly, like it's second nature to him. And, in reality, it is.
We return to our resting place. Not five minutes pass before I hear a huge cracking sound. I turn my head left and right, trying to pinpoint the sound. And I realize, it's coming from above me. I look up and, to my horror, a tree is tipping over in my direction. I groan frustratedly, and run, grabbing Finnick's arm as I do. The tree misses me by inches, just barely stroking my legs.
"Again?" I yell at the sky. "Why?" No answer. But I already know why. It's because they want Finnick back. I wonder if they're doing the same thing to Glade, since she also threatens the chances of Finnick returning.
"Shh," Finnick shushes me. He puts both his arms around me. "It's okay. You're okay." He leans down and kisses me.
I smile at him and we move on, keeping a lookout for mutts or falling trees or Glade. We actually make it to safety in a small cave by the time the sun starts to set. Finnick begins to start a fire to cook the fish he caught, but I stop him.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"We need to eat," he replies.
"Are you sure you should be making a fire, though?"
He shrugs. "Glade has to know we're the only ones left by now. And if she knows, she knows." He goes back to starting a fire, and I don't try to stop him.
Soon he has the fish cooked, and we eat. I'm not very hungry, despite the days I've gone without food. After I finish eating, it starts to rain. It's beautiful, really, and it brings a smile to my face. Finnick puts his arm around me and hugs me to him. "I love you," he whispers.
"I love you, too," I whisper back. I may be fighting for my life against the Capitol and the Gamemakers, but I can't push down the feelings that Finnick stirs up inside me.
I lean up and kiss him, then I lay my head against his chest and grip his shirt in my fist. He lays back and I quickly drift into sleep, for the first time in a while.