I sat on the beach and looked out over the water. The sky was a gray color and the water looked calmer than it had been. There was light breeze blowing. It was slowly getting dark, it was about dusk now. We would be leaving soon. Rose was asleep in Johanna's arms when I walked down here. I still didn't trust them fully. After tonight the six of us we would probably would be the only ones left. I heard footsteps behind me and turned around, ready to draw my bow if I needed to. It was only Peeta, he sat down next to me. We turned to face each other. I saw Finnick ankle deep in the water, swinging his trident around over his head. I looked over at Johanna and Beetee, they were talking, Johanna's ax was stuck in the sand. Rose was laying down next to Johanna on her blanket. I smiled a little then turned back to Peeta. My chest felt heavy. I hated to do this, but I think it would be the only way to guarantee Rose's safety.
"I think that we need to leave," I finally managed to force the words out. Peeta was looking out at the water turned to face me.
"His plan is going to work Katniss," Peeta sighed, seeming upset.
"I think it will too. But Peeta, as soon as the careers are dead, we both know what will happen next," I took a deep breath and looked into his eyes, "I don't want us to be the one that shoots first."
"Well what if they don't want to either Katniss? What if all of us refuse to be the one to shoot first?"
"We could still end up dead," my voice sounded emotionless, even though I was screaming inside.
"Well maybe not. It worked for us last time didn't it?" I rolled my eyes, this wasn't like last time.
"They will never make that same mistake again. You know, I know, only one person is coming out of this arena alive. It's going to have to be one of us." He looked back out over the water. I could tell he didn't agree with me, but he knew I had a point.
"The careers are still out there. How about this, we stick with these guys until midnight, then if we hear a canon we take Rose and we go."
We sat in silence for a few minutes. He looked into my eyes and I looked back over to where Rose was. She still slept silently, completely unaware of the danger surrounding her. Completely innocent. If Peeta nor me came out alive, could I depend on one of them to take her? I couldn't risk it. Him or me one was leaving this arena. One of us has to live. Johanna was chopping at the sand with her ax. Peeta looked back at me.
"Katniss," he looked torn, like he was trying to collect his thoughts, he took a deep breath then continued, "I, I don't know what type of deals you have made with Haymitch, but you know, he did make me promises too."
I felt like I could cry. I didn't want to lose him, ever. I looked at him, hoping my eyes weren't watery. He slowly started to take off his pendent, twisting it around in his hand. He looked down at it, as though it was the only thing keeping him alive and he had to give it away. He looked like he was giving up.
"If you'd die, and I'd live, I have nothing. Nobody else that I care about, besides Rose," he finally said.
"Peeta," I sighed.
"No. It's different for you Katniss. Your family needs you," he handed me his pendent. I looked down at it, and my breath caught. In the inside were three pictures. One of my mom, one of Prim, and one of Gale. I could feel the tears stinging my eyes.
"You have to live, for them," I was speechless with what he was saying. He basically was giving up. I looked up at him.
"What about you," I choked out. He flashed a small smile and looked out at the water, then back to me, he was trying to force a smile, but it looked like he was holding back tears.
"Nobody needs me," he answered. I felt my heart break in half. How could he think that?
"I do. Rose does. We need you," I said slowly. I felt something pulling me toward him at this moment. I slowly leaned in and pressed my lips to his.
I was tentative at the start of the kiss and slowly kissed him, then pulled back, just a little. I felt him wrap his hands carefully around my neck and he leaned forward and pulled me back to him. This time I kissed him more passionately, the kiss seemed to deepen. I felt a hunger, stronger than I've ever felt with him before. We slowly pulled away from each other's lips and leaned our foreheads together. Staring deeply into each other's eyes. I felt as though he could see all the way into my soul. We both smiled.
"Alright lovebirds," Johanna called out to us. He turned to look at her and I glanced back down at the pictures. What would they do without me? He turned back to me, I lifted my head and caught his eyes. He stood up and then reached out his hand to me. I took it slowly and stood up. I felt better about what was about to happen with him holding my hand. I closed my own around his, hoping he wouldn't let go as we walked over to the others. I had to let his hand go once we got to them. I picked up Rose, keeping her wrapped in her blanket. Peeta got the rest of her stuff and we started off toward the tree, Finnick first and Johanna last.
We walked into the jungle. The way we were going we had to climb over some uneven rocks. Once Peeta got off of them he turned back to look at me, making sure I was okay, then reached up to help me down. As we were walking to the tree we heard the anthem for Panem. We all turned to look up at the sky as it lit up with the capitol seal. Following the seal was a picture of Cashmere and Gloss, the district one tributes. A few other tributes were pictured before the seal came on again and the music stopped. The seal faded from the sky and we continued to walk to the tree. We walked in silence, slowly we approached the tree. As soon as we came to it Beetee began wrapping the coil around the tree, he told us to wait while he did that. Peeta took me away from the group for a minute.
"If we hear a canon, we will leave. Just remember that. I'll be by your side, so that if we do we can leave."
"Okay," I looked down at Rose, I would do whatever it takes to keep her safe. No matter what that is. We walked back over to the group, Beetee was finishing wrapping the coil around. He turned to face us.
"We don't want to be anywhere in this area when this hits," he instructed us, I saw him bend down and pick up the rest of the spool or coil, he walked over to Johanna and me, handing it to us. "You two girls take this. Unspool it very carefully, make sure the entire coil is in the water. Then I want you two to head to the tree in the two o'clock sector, we will meet you there when we're done. You're taking your daughter with you, Katniss. Understand?" I looked over at Peeta, tearing up again, there goes our plan, they are separating us.
"I'm going with them as a guard," he said.
"No. You're staying right here Peeta, to protect me. Also the tree."
"No. I need to go with Katniss and Rose."
"There are two careers out in this arena, Peeta. Because of that, I need two guards."
"No you don't. Finnick can protect you just fine on his own."
"Peeta's right. Why can't Finnick and Johanna stay with you? Then Peeta and I will take the coil," I said.
"You all agreed to this. You all agreed to keep me alive till midnight. Is that correct," he walked over so close to me that I could feel his breath. He backed up a little after he was done talking, but stayed in front of me.
"It was his plan Katniss and we all agreed to it," Johanna added from beside me. Finnick looked at me.
"Is there some problem here," he asked.
"That's an excellent question," Beetee added, still in front of me.
"No," I said. I was obviously defeated, but there was no way I was going to take Rose with me, "There's no Problem, but I am leaving Peeta's and my daughter with him, her father."
I walked over to him slowly and leaned in to him, pressing my lips to his quickly before pulling away. He looked at me and reached for Rose. I slowly handed her to him, kissing her forehead softly. I looked back up at Peeta and met his eyes.
"See you at midnight," I said slowly, the words felt like knives in my mouth.
"Alright lets go," Johanna called.
"See you at midnight," Peeta repeated nodding. I reluctantly turned and walked away with Johanna, wanting nothing more than to be with Peeta. I could feel him watching me as I walked away. I looked back at him. Beetee walked back to the tree and Finnick walked to the other side. Peeta just stood still, looking at me with a longing in his eyes.