CHAPTER 2.9

'I'm still alive.

But I'm barely breathing.

Just prayin' to a god that I don't believe in.'


By the time night fell, everyone was clean and blood free, swapping stories about the horrors they had encountered in the short (but long) time they had been trapped in the arena.

Johanna and Katniss had offered to stay watch and as much as she wanted to protest, Indiana's body was screaming for her to rest. Aching from exhaustion, Indiana shuffled into Cato's side and under his arm, relishing in the familiar scent and safety of him. It was masked by sweat, blood and dirt but the natural scent of him was still there, providing Indiana with some comfort. Surprisingly, it didn't take long for the young woman to drift off to sleep wrapped in the safety of her fiancé's arms.


Frantic muttering roused Indiana from her restful sleep but when Indiana checked on the woman it was coming from, Wiress was still fast asleep. Lightning struck the large oak tree planted at the highest point of the arena and when it ceased, the blood rain began in just a small section of the arena. The girl from Twelve seemed to have a revelation as her grey eyes widened, staring at the woman who was muttering incessantly.

"Wiress, you're a genius. The arena is a clock." Katniss murmured to herself, jumping when Indiana agreed with her theory, as she was unaware the blonde girl had woken up.

"Each hour brings a new horror. Think about it. Lightning, blood rain, poisonous fog, monkeys – those are the first few hours of the clock, right?" Indiana pointed out. "The wave happens at ten. The other seven are still a mystery."

"What if they don't stay within the jungle?" What if they can get out?" Katniss asked the one question that Indiana was trying to avoid thinking about.

"Wake up the others." Indiana advised, waking Cato before moving onto Finnick and Johanna (the latter who had fallen asleep after Katniss forced her to).

Not having much time, the two youngest women somehow managed to stumble their way through an explanation of their clock theory. Wiress looked relieved that someone had finally understood what she had been truing to communicate. Johanna looked more hesitant with the idea but agreed to move away from the beach because it was better to be safe than sorry. Gathering their weapons and supplies, Katniss and Johanna saw the opportunity to start arguing with each other. Again.

Instead of breaking up the fight, Indiana stood between the two watching to see if Katniss would get her ass kicked. Whilst they may be allies and being civil, Indiana still hadn't forgiven the younger girl for the people she had killed.

"Where to?" Peeta asked, distracting everyone, including the fighting women.

"I think the Cornucopia might be the safest option, We could watch to see if we're right about the clock," suggested Indiana.

The eight of them walked down the closest rock walkway and approached the Cornucopia with caution: all of them, aside from Indiana and Cato, tensed with weapons raised in case the Career Pack jumped out at them. However, it remained deserted much to the girl from One's disappointment.


Rummaging through the supplies that had been left behind, Cato and Indiana were alone whilst the other six were stood near the edge of the water discussing the clock arena. Moving some empty crates out of the way, Indiana discovered a small sheath of arrows and strapped them to her back, tossing the other half to Katniss. Thankfully, two bows had been placed in the arena this year.

Walking further into the Cornucopia, the blue eyed girl smiled when Cato came up behind her, placing a gentle kiss on the side of her neck and resting his hands on her abdomen.

"Are you okay, baby?" Cato whispered against her skin, peppering little kisses in between his words.

Twisting in his arms to face him, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I thought I'd have seen my aunt and uncle by now. And, I don't want to die again. It hurt before."

"You're not going to die again. I'll protect you this time. I refuse to lose you again."

Bowing his head, Cato pressed his forehead against hers causing Indiana to smile at the contact, pressing her lips against his in a moment of need. Moving in response to her body, Cato moved backwards, trapping the petite body of his fiancée between the wall and his own muscular body.

"I love you," he muttered once they'd separated.

"I love y-."

A yell cut off Indiana's sentence, followed by the sound of an arrow and three cannons.


"I AM GOING TO TEAR YOUR FUCKING THROAT OUT WITH MY BARE HANDS!"

Indiana's screams could most likely be heard throughout the entire arena as she attempted to break free from Cato, Finnick and Johanna. It took all three of them to restrain the thrashing girl and even then they were struggling, she was running off anger and adrenaline. And, she had copious amounts of both.

Glancing down at the bloodied bodies on the ground, Indiana released another pained screech and elbowed Finnick in the gut, causing him to stumble into Cato and then Johanna. Bursting free, Indiana lunged herself at the murderer from Twelve.

However, before she had the chance to wrap her hands around Katniss' throat, the ground shifted beneath Indiana and she dropped down to the floor. Digging her hands and feet into the crevices of the rock, Indiana clenched her eyes shut and tried to ignore the sickening sensation that washed over her as she spun around violently. Water crashed over her and she lost her grip on the ground being flung into the water.

Not long after, the ground stopped moving and Indiana was able to kick herself to the surface. Crawling back onto the little island, she coughed up salt water and lay on the ground until the world stopped spinning around her.

Before she could pull herself up, Cato scooped her into his arms. Looking around at the wreck of the Cornucopia, Indiana noticed her aunt and uncle's bodies had been flung into the water. Vision going watery, Indiana was grateful that Cato had his arms around her stomach when her knees gave out.

"I've got you, princess. I've got you." Cato soothed, wrapping her legs around his waist and carrying her over to the rest of the dishevelled group.

Finnick rubbed Indiana's back a few times before going to help Beetee onto his feet.

"Let's just get off this stinking island," said Johanna, breaking the prolonged silence.

Feeling eyes on her, Indiana turned her head to look at Johanna who gave her a sympathetic smile. Indiana had now lost Marvel, her parents, Cashmere and Gloss to the Hunger Games. Katniss had robbed her of the only family she had left, after taking Marvel and Cato. The moment she had the chance, Indiana wouldn't hesitate to end the Girl On Fire.


Screams filled the air and Indiana stumbled forwards a few paces before cowering on the ground where she had stood. The sounds of her mother's screams as she died in her own Games washed over Indiana, and she clapped her hands over her ears when the sounds of her aunt and uncle joined them.

"Not real. Not real. Not real," she chanted over and over, begging for the pain to stop.

Rocking back and forth, she was well aware of how pathetic she might look to the others and Panem but she couldn't find it in her to care. She just wanted it all to be over.

Bursting through the tree line, Indiana didn't have the strength to warn Katniss and Finnick and they smacked into the transparent wall that blocked the trio from the rest of the group. Cato's hands were pressed against the wall, trying to reach Indiana. All he was able to do was watch as the tears streamed down her face until the hour passed.

Pained yells that belonged to Cato soon joined the cacophony of horrible sounds and despite being able to see him safe and unharmed on the other side, it was becoming increasingly harder to convince herself that the tortured sounds weren't real. Closing her eyes, she prayed her eardrums burst and she wouldn't have to listen to sounds like that ever again.


Warm, large hands stroked her face when the nightmare ceased and her harsh reality returned. Staring at the handsome but concerned face of her fiancé, Indiana felt him brush away the tears that hadn't yet dried.

"It's over. They're gone."

"It was awful. I heard my mother, Cashmere and Gloss, And you. It wouldn't stop."

She used to believe that she was a strong person who could handle her pain. After all, the Academy and the death of her parents had led her to believe that. However, since entering the Games, Indiana had learnt that she had no idea what the meaning of pain was.

Johanna began yelling something about rebellion to the cameras upon seeing the state of her friends and everybody silently begged that she would stop talking. No one ever said stuff like that in the Games – it would inevitably have disastrous consequences.

"I'll get us some water." Johanna stated before heading towards the jungle.

Katniss tried to prevent her from leaving the group but was still too shaken up from the jabberjays to convince her too hard.

"They can't hurt me. I'm not like the rest of you. There's no one left that I love." Johanna brushed off the concern before stalking into the tress.

Before anyone could stop her, Indiana rushed after her friend.

"I'm always here for you, Jo. No matter what happens," said Indiana to the retreating woman's back due to Indiana deciding to keep a slight distance between her and the older woman.

Without turning around, Johanna let out a sad sight. "Thanks, Indie. You know I'm here for you too. I'm sorry about Cashmere and Gloss. I know they were all you had left, aside from Cato."

Grabbing her arm, Indiana asked why everyone was going through such lengths to prevent her from murdering Katniss. Her temper began rising rapidly as Johanna whispered in her ear. Indiana was told everything – why she was allied with Twelve, why she wasn't allowed to murder either of them, why everyone was risking their own lives to ensure Twelve lived.

The 75th Annual Hunger Games was playing a major part in the ongoing rebellion that Katniss Everdeen had managed to get herself the face of.


'I'm falling to pieces, yeah.

I'm falling to pieces.

They say bad things happen for a reason.

But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding.'