I start training all day every day. It describes my entire life in less than 3 words. The things that they put us through are pretty tough. They get footage of me hitting targets. I hate the cameras following me around; my entire life I have been followed by cameras. Everyone wants to know what is happening to Peeta. If he is fighting against the rebellion or for it, if he and Katniss are back together, what happened to him.
Just a few days before the troops are going to be sent out, York calls us into the exam. The four parts, physical, tactics, weapons, and combat are equally important. I feel good about tactics and weapons because I have been quizzing myself on them constantly. Physical is easy too, because I'm not in terrible condition. Combat is the only thing that concerns me because there is no way to prepare.
I hear some boy say that combat is based on your weaknesses. I am worried about this. I don't show people my weakness. I have been hanging out with Finnick for 5 years and he doesn't even know what I am scared of. I can give you a list of his. That brings my mind to Finnick. I wonder if he has been tested yet or if he even wants to be on the field. My brain shocks back into reality when I am called in the Block.
I walk in through the doors and the street is completely empty. Then, the room fills with water, raining from the top and the bottom. My brain shuts down and I can't control myself.
I am back in the dark room with the single light. The pool of water is in front of me and a peacekeeper stands with his foot ready on the pedal.
"WHERE IS SHE?" President Snow screams. I flash out and I am back in the street. I think I am in the Capitol but I have no idea how I got here. I dog – paddle swim, gasping for air.
I am pulled out of the water by another soldier. He helps me out of the room because I am still shaking with fear.
I am not stamped with my troop number. I am ushered off back to my room, in the hospital. Katniss bursts through the door a while later.
Doctors are running around me, trying to get my heart rate back to normal. They give me some more morphling. I stop shaking. Then, Finnick bursts through the doors.
"Holy fish sticks, what happened?" He seems bewildered, troubled. I haven't seen him this way in a long time.
"Water. That's what happened." I don't give him any more information. Even I don't know exactly what just happened.
"You are going right?" I ask him. He nods.
"Keep Katniss in line for me; make sure she isn't too in love to avoid thinking." He smiles.
"Will do."
"I'm going to miss you, Finnick."
"I'm coming back, this isn't the Games. Less people will die."
"I sure hope so." We hug, for the first time ever. I don't see it romantically but as an act of friendship. He smells like seaweed. I wonder if he sprays it on himself. Then, he leaves with a wave of the hand.
Next, Katniss comes in. I am almost drugged out, but I don't want to sleep. That will bring nightmares of what happened. This is my weakest point and I can't let it bother me. She crosses the room to me and holds out a bundle of bandages.
"What's that?"
"I made it for you. Something to put in your drawer. Smell it." She hands it to me. I hold it up to my nose and sniff it, kind of scared of what it is.
"Smells like home." I can't help it, but tears block my vision.
"That's what I was hoping. You being from Seven and all. Remember when we met? You were a tree. Well, briefly." I remember that, me trying to freak her out. When everything wasn't set in stone. When I wasn't worried about losing everything and everyone. I grab her wrist, tightly. The doctor motions for me to finish up.
"You have to kill him, Katniss." If I never see her again, this is what I want and what I need to tell her. Her one mission is to fulfill his death.
"Don't worry."
"Swear it. On something you care about." I hiss.
"I swear it. On my life." I resist laughing. If she really cared about her life, she would not have volunteered for her sister, she would not have made the arena explode, and she would not have become the mockingjay.
"On your family's life."
"On my family's life." She repeats. I let go and she rubs her wrists.
"Why do you think I'm going, anyway, brainless?" I smile. She is getting the hang of using offensive terms. She almost sounds like me.
"I just need to hear it." I close my eyes, no longer worried that my dreams will be filled with scary stuff.
Katniss comes to my room every day, telling me about training and her squad. One day, I am told that they are going on a special mission to the Capitol. They will be the star squad and be the people on the screen. Katniss seems kind of upset that this won't be as close in combat as she would've preferred. I encourage her to go and make as much as she can out of it. I also remind her to kill President Snow if she sees him.
I am not allowed out of my room to see them leave. I catch a rumor that Peeta went with them too. I am eventually cleared and I move in with Annie. She takes over Katniss' bed.
Every day, before I fall asleep, I check the news reports. I always see Katniss and Finnick and it reminds me of friendship and what it means. I look over at Annie sleeping. It might be a good idea to become friends with her too.
Hope you liked this chapter! I worked really hard and reread the chapter around 3 times. The next couple of chapters are going to have her and Annie. Please review!
