The lights flickered more down here, Rini noticed. She let herself into the compartment and into a chair at his table, chewing on her lip at the state of the place. "Why the hell are you down here?"
"Orders from Madam President." Haymitch flopped down into a chair across from her and sighed, scratching at his neck. "There is a strict 'no alcohol' policy here. If I'd had known that-" He laughed sharply and swallowed, shaking his head. "So they've sent me here to die."
Renata laughed before she could stop herself. "That seems a little overdramatic."
He raised his eyebrows and let out a long sigh. "Don't be so sure. He got up and grabbed a pitcher of water, his hand slightly shaking as he poured a glass. "Now it's your turn. What are you doing down here?"
The lights flickered again and Rini looked up at the ceiling, reminded again of how deep underground they were. The air didn't seem so bad at the moment, however. "I, um…I had a panic attack, I think. That's what the doctors are calling them." She took the water from him and tried not to notice the grime on the glass.
"What set it off? You still in the arena?"
She swallowed and shook her head. "They interviewed Peeta. Did you see it?"
"Mm, I did. The boy is a good liar," Haymitch grimaced and he watched Renata, eyes drifting down to her hands that were folded over her stomach. "What did Katniss think?"
Renata shrugged. "I kind of got out of there as quickly as I could. But I imagine it had the desired effect. If it were Finnick talking, I…" She trailed off, her stomach turning sour.
"We really wanted to get him out. You believe that, right? We couldn't risk it after we had Katniss on board. She blames me for leaving Peeta behind," he sighed and took a small sip from his water glass. "I suppose you must blame me, too?"
"No. I don't blame you," she shook her head. "I mostly blame myself. They couldn't have wanted to rescue me over Finnick. He's more valuable to this whole revolution thing." She managed a half smile when Haymitch grunted. "There's nothing we can do now. It's not like before. I can't give you a sack of Seneca's money to bribe anyone with this time. And I don't think Coin is very compelled by the written requests for the victors' rescue."
"I don't think Coin is very compelled by much anything unless it directly affects her," he murmured, noticing the way that Rini shifted in her chair. "You alright?"
She nodded and reached back to rub her lower back. "Between laundry detail and this guppy, my whole body hurts." Her cheeks flushed when he grinned. "I didn't know what else to call it." As if on cue, she felt a few flutters in her tummy. Her hand smoothed over the small swell and she sighed. "What do you think they're doing to Finnick? To everyone?" She was afraid to meet his eyes, she didn't want her fears confirmed. "Do you think they're dead?"
Haymitch pursed his lips. "Hard to say. They killed the remaining victors that weren't in the games. But the ones they have in the Capitol—they're valuable. They can be used as bargaining chips, as weapons, as anything really. I think it would be a waste to throw them away." He chewed on his lip, watching Renata hold her tiny belly in her freckled hand. "But I don't think they're exactly staying in the President's mansion. They were part of this plan and they have information that Snow wants."
Her throat was closing up and she nodded weakly. Finnick had given himself up so easily for her to get to safety. He had to know what awaited him when he was captured. Did he resent her for it? An old memory came to her mind, of Seneca at the end of his life. He too had been willing to take his life for her, almost eagerly.
God, you were worth it, weren't you? His last words tickled her ears and she shook her head, silently answering both he and Finnick.
Just do it. Finnick grit his teeth, spittle flying from his mouth as he screamed through his clenched jaw. He sat up and scrambled towards Johanna, grabbing her wrist and pinning her down beneath him. His vision was blurred and he forced his knee between her legs, forcing them open. His length was throbbing and he grabbed at her pants, hardly hearing her screams of protest. It'll be quick, just do it and the pain will stop. He reeled backwards when Johanna's fist collided with his nose, feeling blood run down his lips.
He didn't immediately move when he came to. His senses slowly returned, the stench of the waste bucket in the corner making his stomach churn. Vomit bubbled up in his throat and it took all he had to turn his head to let his sick out. As the last of the serum left his system, a chill set in his skin. "Don't," he mumbled. Johanna had laid his shirt over him in an effort to warm him. "I don't deserve it."
"Stop," she muttered.
"It's getting worse. I don't know if I can keep stopping myself." Tears rolled off his cheek and onto the concrete floor.
Johanna sat against the wall that Finnick faced, drawing her knees to her chest. "I stopped you well enough." She gave him a wry smile and leaned her head back against the wall with a sigh. "They're trying to pit us against one another, that's the point. We just have to stay strong." She grinned, feeling his eyes on her. "What?"
"You're awfully optimistic today."
"Someone has to be. You're going out of your head, and me? I'm just glad they're finally treating us like animals. After all these years, we're finally the livestock they dreamed we were. But they can't treat us like this forever, can they? They have to do something with us rather than torture us."
Finnick pursed his lips and he slowly sat up, putting his arms into the sleeves of his shirt. "They aired Peeta's interview. I heard the guards talking about it. They saw it in Thirteen." He wondered if Rini had seen it and what she had thought. Did it give her hope?
"You think they're gonna make us do the same? Lie through our teeth? I won't do it, they can pull all my teeth out for all I care."
He winced and shook his head. "I don't think they will. This is all for Katniss, remember? I don't think seeing one of us would have the same effect as seeing Peeta. They're lovers, after all," he rolled his eyes and examined his hand, his nailbeds still raw from having his nails ripped out.
Johanna made a face and she snorted quietly. "Maybe he should have said something about their fake baby. I can't believe how eagerly everyone ate that up." She noticed the way that Finnick paled, furrowing her brow. "What is it?"
An image filled his mind: Rini clutching her stomach as the arena was falling around them, her eyes wide and full of tears. I think I'm having a miscarriage. He felt like someone had knocked the wind out of him. He blinked, suddenly on his back on the cold floor. Johanna was sitting above him, shaking his shoulder.
"Rini."
"She's in Thirteen. She's not here."
"She was pregnant." His voice was eerily even despite the tears that spilled from his eyes. His eyes met Johanna's, a new kind of pain in them. "I got her pregnant and she wouldn't stay out of the arena. When it was falling, she…she lost the baby." It broke his heart to say it aloud. The last glimpse he had gotten of her was of her being raised into the hovercraft. Had they taken the baby out of her right then? The way Renata had sobbed in his arms when he tried to carry her to safety, how much pain she was in, made him sick to his stomach. An awful thought crossed his mind; Renata's mother had died in childbirth. It was a fear that the young woman had conveyed to him. What if the same fate had befallen her? What if his hallucinations weren't that he was going crazy, but that Rini was…dead?
"I'm sorry, Finnick," Johanna whispered.
"I should have been firmer, I-I shouldn't have let her go back in. None of this would have happened if she would have just listened to me!" His teeth were grit and he hissed out a breath, anger igniting inside him. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her." Immediately after he spoke he wish he hadn't, but he couldn't stop the anger from growing inside him. His blood boiled and he forced himself onto his feet, padding towards the locked door and pounding on it. The anger was mixing with panic and he slammed his fists against the door, an animal-like scream exploding from his throat. "Snow! I want to see Snow!" He screamed, peering through the small window. He needed to see that bastard face to face.
A Peacekeeper appeared and Finnick took a step back, clenching and unclenching his fists. The door opened and a second later Finnick was on top of the man, his big hands on either side of his skull as if he could crush it. He picked up the man's head and slammed it against the ground, his hands moving to close around his neck. He could vaguely hear Johanna screaming his name behind him over the pounding of his heart in his ears, staring down into the man's eyes without mercy.
This was nothing more than another arena. Out of one and into another.
Johanna screamed and Finnick's head snapped up just in time to get a boot to the face, toppling off of the Peacekeeper he had been strangling. He touched his split brow, feeling warm blood run down his face as a couple Peacekeepers grabbed him. "I want to see Snow," he snapped, grinding his teeth and feeling every bit as ferocious as he looked.
"Take him back to solitary," The General muttered, barely giving Finnick a glance. The man he had attacked was sitting up and catching his breath, his face bright red and wet with tears.
"I want to see Snow! Take me to Snow! I'm going to kill him! I'm going to kill him!" His yells echoed down the hallways of the prison, falling on deaf ears.
Renata moved with the crowd to the center of the district, her lower back aching. She had been in the middle of her work when there came a summons for everyone in the district to report for an assembly. For what, she could only guess. She shifted when people pressed against her sides, trying not to show how uncomfortable it made her. Her hands went to touch her stomach almost unconsciously, as if she could hide it from their sight. She had gathered whispers from Gale about how there had been an epidemic that claimed the lives of a lot of the children a few years back. It seemed like everyone knew of her pregnancy, the way their eyes followed her on the stairs or in the canteen.
A hush fell over the gathering as Coin took her place on a balcony, looking as stoic as ever. "Good afternoon. Thank you for interrupting your schedules. They have already been adjusted to compensate for the delay," Her voice echoed off the walls and Renata sighed quietly. Always the schedules. "Please, check in with your unit supervisors when you resume work."
She wondered if anyone would notice if she and Mags ditched work in favor of a nap. Her eye wandered through the bodies that were crammed together and she straightened up a little when she saw Katniss coming towards her.
"I have an announcement for the citizens of Thirteen, and our welcome guests. Katniss Everdeen has consented to be the face of our cause to help unite the districts against the Capitol." There were a few cheers throughout the masses, and Katniss pursed her lips but kept pushing through the crowd to get to Rini. "In exchange, I have promised several concessions. First, we'll assess all opportunities for the extraction of the Victors held hostage in the Capitol. Peeta Mellark, Johanna Mason…"
Katniss reached out to touch Renata's arm and she gave her a small smile. "I made the deal for Finnick, too."
"…and Finnick Odair. Once freed, they will be granted full pardon for any and all crimes committed against the rebel cause."
Her heart felt like it had screeched to a halt in her chest. She grabbed Katniss' hand and squeezed it tightly, putting her other hand on her shoulder. "Katniss," she gasped, tears stinging her eyes. "Katniss, that's…that's great." The thought of rescuing Finnick and having him safe, having him with her was almost too good to be true. "Thank you," she whispered.
Katniss smiled and she nodded, turning away from her and heading back to where her little sister waited.
"If Katniss Everdeen fails to fulfill her duties, the deal will be off. Thank you for your attention. Please, resume your daily schedules." The finality in Coin's voice made Renata's eyes move to the older woman and a shiver went down her spine. How could they expect so much of one girl? Still, as her eyes moved back to the figure of the Mockingjay, she began to hope.
Hello hello everyone! Here I am, I apologize for the wait. I'm trying, and I promise that the action in the story is gonna get going soon. I have so so so much planned that I literally am so excited for you to read...if you only knew. Gah. I saw Mockingjay and cried buckets of course. Hats off to Claffers, he truly is Finnick. I guess you'll have to stick around and see what exactly I have in store for he and Rini and their guppy! Leave a review and let me hear whatcha think and I'll get to work on the next bit. Have a Merry Christmas, thank you all so much for your continued reading!
-Kelsey xo