Called Out In The Dark
Chapter Twenty-Five: Goodbye My Almost Lover.
'Well I've got thick skin and an elastic heart,
But your blade- it might be too sharp.'
'Elastic Heart' by Sia.
"Ready?" Boggs glanced around at them all; trying to ignore the way that Katniss and Cato instinctively moved closer together and the intensity of the eye contact between Finnick and Johanna. It made him wish for more- that he had someone, in these last, such important moment… and it made him more scared, terrified in fact that they would lose each other; that somehow these couples- so in love- would be torn apart and have to survive alone. His eyes lingered on Johanna; Cato had re-bandaged her wound in a complex manner, but it seemed to be helping her. They had issued her another shot of morphine too but Boggs knew that she was still hindered.
She looked up suddenly to him, her green eyes blazing as if she sensed him thinking of her weakness. Boggs realised, belatedly, that she was still one of the most dangerous there. Her, and Cato… he turned his eyes to the young man briefly. Nineteen now but a man. Cato's muscled physique was turned to Katniss- their mockingjay- his stance almost curved around her. Boggs had seen them in action now- thoughts of each other first- and knew that despite the obvious doubts anyone had about him that these two were more than just a confused, young teenage couple. They were linked, bonded, inseparable and vital to the cause.
"Everyone ready?" he repeated himself, surprised at the steadiness of his own voice, softening his gaze on Hercules & Lakes.
They all nodded back, shifted their weapons around in their arms, and Boggs pressed himself against their exit door. They'd already had to bring down a group of patrolling Peacekeepers when they reached this area and each of them ignored the body pile around them. Boggs edged the door open at last, moonlight creeping through and momentarily blinding them all. He gave a silent count before Hercules and Lakes shot out past him, guarding the doorway and guiding the others out one by one. Katniss came out last; it was eerily quiet in the darkness of the subway opening. They moved ahead slowly as Boggs operated the scanner. There were several flashing red lights of the pods showing- all directly in the path ahead.
Johanna peered over his shoulder as the others kept up cover. "Each of these are mutation based- some will be biological warfare, toxic gases, some might be mutts. There's no way we can avoid setting them off…"
"Buildings? Build elevated crossings over?" Lakes questioned, head quirked towards Johanna and Boggs as they moved closer to crowd in the subway doorway.
"No, the infrastructure is too weak. The buildings could come down with the first pod trigger and just like the tunnels- buried in it." Johanna replied quietly, still starting at the pod map.
They all thought silently- they had to get through, but how could they? No over, no under, straight through would kill them all…
"Side line it."
They all turned to Cato, some faces confused, others hesitant… Johanna looked impressed. "Go on." She prompted him with a strangely affectionate poke.
Katniss watched as Cato's mouth quirked up at her briefly and thought with brief envy that in another world they could be something more… perhaps better suited.
She quelled this thought when she watched Finnick place a hand on Johanna's back and saw how Johanna relaxed into it.
"Side lining is a strategy the Careers are taught for the games… for our obstacle training. You divide up and into pairs or a trio, swap on take out. If there's three, you have the frontline- they activate and initially maintain the action, the second supports by watching developing threats the backdrop- if you have one, plans the take out or escape route- if necessary. We don't have enough for trios, but the second can be backdrop too."
They all stared at him and finally Lakes said, "Take down pods as they come you mean? So some of us could get through from each one?"
Cato gazed back at her coolly, and Katniss thought he was waiting for another argument with her. But Lakes had learnt.
"It'll halve us… there'll be a sacrifice every time." Her gaze on his was not icy, or threatening this time, but questioning.
Cato simply nodded.
They continued to stare until Johanna said, "It's the best option we got. We knew we wouldn't all make it anyway." There was a coolness, a casualness to her tone that suggested she wasn't afraid, or concerned about the obvious truth: most of them would die. But Katniss could see that her eyes had widened just slightly, her fingers had drifted slightly to twist into Finnick's shirt and her injured leg was shaking slightly.
"I'm dividing you up." Boggs said, his voice weary- he clearly expected the retaliation.
"No." Finnick's voice was hard, "I'm staying with Johanna."
"No," Johanna's voice was softer than she had ever heard it. "You need to get through with Katniss… if you stay with me you'd die. Put me with Cato." She slipped out of Finnick's grasp; he was too surprised, too hurt, to pull her back or respond.
Boggs nodded and Katniss stared at Cato, surprised and unsure, should she fight to stay with him? Would he fight to stay with her? He caught her gaze, blue eyes filled with emotions that Katniss couldn't understand. But he said nothing.
"Katniss, you'll be with me. Hercules, you too. Lakes, you cover Finnick." Boggs' command was clear and nobody protested again. Johanna avoided Finnick's hurt eyes and instead whispered something to Cato, who nodded once in response.
Boggs knew that goodbyes had to be said so he crouched to his knees, "Get kits ready. You've got two minutes." He turned his eyes straight to the pod scanner and avoided looking up at the two couples.
Katniss stood awkwardly, she didn't know what to do here… she thought about why Cato hadn't protested to be with her, and why she hadn't immediately… she didn't want to leave him, to say goodbye now, but… she caught his gaze once more. Neither of them would survive if they were together; they'd both die to save the other. It was clear to her, in his face, and she moved towards him with such speed that he stumbled as she buried herself in his arms and chest.
He bent his head to the crook of her neck and moved his lips softly against it, his arms tight around her. Katniss peered out, over his collarbone, to see Johanna moving slowly over to Finnick, who was still frozen.
She couldn't hear what Johanna had whispered to Finnick, but he looked suddenly livid, back upright, mouth open to argue and Katniss almost laughed when Johanna used this movement to grab his face tight in her hands and press her mouth to his. She tucked her head back into Cato's chest again, before looking up at him.
He stared back down and said nothing but stroked her waist tenderly. She smiled, trying to fight any emotion in her body that wasn't enjoying this, that wasn't positive. She was terrified this was the last time she would see him but she knew he knew that- she didn't need to say anything. She stared back at him and memories flashed through- how had they got here? He bent down and kissed her hard and all that she could think of was being with him right now, this moment. She kissed him back as passionately as she could and then pulled back; before pressing her lips to his softly, warmly. She rested her mouth on his lightly and then he pulled away entirely, taking hold only of her hand briefly. "Finish this, girl on fire."
Johanna appeared suddenly at his shoulder, "We might see you at the finish line yet." Her smile was wicked. "But Snow dies either way remember."
Katniss nodded once, and they locked eyes briefly, a final goodbye between them: not-quite friends, but almost.
Johanna turned away to speak to Hercules & Lakes briefly, then to Boggs, and Finnick approached Katniss and Cato.
"Take care Katniss," he wrapped her in a hug, his arms tight around her, "Get out of this alive."
"I'll try," she whispered back, arms encircling him too, "you too."
He pulled back and shrugged before turning to Cato, "You know what I'm going to ask you to do."
Cato nodded, "I will."
Finnick studied him briefly before sticking out his hand, "I know."
Cato shook his hand, his face softening- he looked pleased, Katniss realised and she smiled widely, her eyes finally beginning to water. She turned away and saw Johanna staring too.
"Time to go," Boggs said, and they all shifted away from each other to their new teams. "Cato and Johanna, you'll take the right route, past this building block and straight down. Finnick, Lakes, you guys are on the centre route- straight down here," he pointed down the street they were facing, "Hercules and Katniss, you're with me. We're taking the first left…. Do your best, try to stay safe," he shook his head, there would be no grand speech now and merely raised a rifle, "good luck."
There was a final moment of eye contact between them all- Johanna and Finnick stared; practically reading each other's minds, a whole world of their own. Cato and Katniss tried small smiles; longing and fear laced in. They had to go.
"The next Peacekeeper patrol is due in 3 minutes- we leave now." Boggs turned on his heel as soon as he finished speaking. Hercules soon followed and Lakes turned off too; Cato was next, eyes finally tore from Katniss, and then Johanna was on his tail and Finnick followed Lakes. Katniss stared around them all; watching their retreating backs and feeling a great pain in her chest: her heart thumped against her ribcage and she heaved in a big breath, feeling suddenly like she would never breathe again. She recoiled against her own memories- Rue's injury in the games, Marvel's death- her arrow shot through him, Cato's eyes always blazing, kissing Peeta, Haymitch's dry chuckle, Cinna's warmth, her ash-covered home, Johanna and Finnick, her mother, Prim's laugh, Prim's hugs, Prim's innocence, Cato's lips, Gale… all of her pain, all caused by Snow, and she was so frightened of what more could come.
A hand was suddenly on her back and she looked around, Boggs was staring down at her in sympathy. "I know Katniss." He wrapped her in a tight and brief hug. "We have to go."
She nodded as he withdrew and gently guided her on; Hercules was already stationed around the corner, waiting for them. She looked at him sadly; he had already lost his brother. He smiled sadly back.
"Hercules is our frontman, I'm second, and you cover us and leave whenever we see a gap. Katniss," Boggs' voice was suddenly stern, "no matter what happens to us, if I tell you to go on, you go on. If I can't tell you that, or Hercules can't, but you see your chance- you go on. Is that clear?"
She stared back, horrified, and he asked again. She looked back at Hercules, then back to Boggs, and nodded once.
"Good, keep close to the building line, weapons up, and be ready." Boggs ushered Hercules slightly in front of him and kept Katniss one step to his right, slightly behind him.
They moved out into the street and walked ahead, waiting for death.
I was on a roll here... I think two chapters left now in fact... I just also wanted to say thank you to your support with the sad news I had to give you all before about my late boyfriend. Some of you left me reviews and messages of such real kindness. So thank you, it really did help.
Thanks again for still reading and for the amazing reviews from you all xx