Renata didn't feel herself wake up. She was just suddenly aware that it was morning. Finnick's skin was warm against hers and she feared that if she moved even a little that they would be discovered and tossed into the arena without a moment to blink.
"Its morning," Finnick whispered, his arms tightening around her.
She made a noise of affirmation and pressed her cheek against his bare chest, feeling oddly calm. The anticipation of the games had been killer, but now that it was finally upon them she didn't feel fear. She supposed that it would come later. Her eyes fluttered closed when Finnick kissed the top of her head and she frowned when he got up, sitting up and watching him stretch.
"No point in laying around, is there?" He shrugged, nodding towards the bathroom. He disappeared into the room and the sound of running water started. He began humming quietly to himself and Renata thought that he must be feeling the same calm. The calm before the storm.
She got up from the bed and crossed the room, stepping over their discarded clothing from the night before. What did stylists usually do with the outfits they slaved over? She seemed to recall there being a museum that held such things, memorializing past victors and games. Steam was coming out from the bathroom and she knocked quietly at the glass wall, smiling when Finnick looked up and let her in. The water was very hot and her pale skin was soon flushed pink from the temperature. Her hair grew longer as it wetted and her curls unraveled, the glitter and leftover makeup from her interview swirling around on the shower floor before disappearing down the drain.
Her scalp tingled as she lathered her hair with shampoo and she watched Finnick scrub his skin red with a bar of soap. This had to be the most practical shower they had ever taken together. "Want me to get your back?" She asked, grinning when he wrinkled his nose at her.
She wrapped her head in a towel once they were sufficiently clean and when she walked out of the bathroom, she saw that their room had been cleaned up and two identical outfits had been laid out for herself and Finnick. They would be changing again once they reached the launch rooms into whatever clothing that would, hopefully, be of use to them in the arena. Her stomach growled audibly as she zipped up her jacket and she put her hand to it.
Finnick smiled at her and he ran a hair through his damp hair, making it stick up humorously. "I think it's nearly time."
Her hair tumbled down her back when she removed her towel and left it on the end of the bed, tucking it behind her ears and following him out of their room.
The inside of the hovercraft was a bit cramped and Rini felt intimidated by the proximity of the other tributes. Her stomach turned when she saw a Peacekeeper coming around to insert the trackers, but still held her arm out when they approached her. It stung even after it was over and she pressed her thumb down over the spot, chewing on the inside of her cheek.
"I'll find you," Finnick whispered, the two of them sitting side by side. His hand cupped her cheek and they could have cared less about the other tributes watching.
She nodded and swallowed, fear beginning to creep up on her. "Promise?"
He nodded in return and gave her lips a soft, lingering kiss.
They were all led off the hovercraft and into a massive building, Peacekeepers leading each tribute to their specific launch room. She walked with her head up, not daring to speak. Her mouth was dry and she swallowed with some difficulty, her hands trembling as they reached her room. A couple years ago it had been Finnick waiting for her, but Fascal stood inside, his face twisted into a mix of emotions. She crossed the room in a few steps and let him envelop her in his arms, both of them letting a small whimper escape.
"You have to be the one that comes out," He whispered, his arms a vice around her. "Do you hear me? I can't let you go unless you promise me you'll come out of this alive."
"I can't do that," She whispered back, feeling tears well in her eyes. Damn him. "Have you seen everyone else? I've got nothing compared to the rest of them."
"You have Finnick," He let her go and gave her a hard look. "He's lethal, Rini. You know that. You know that he will kill anyone that comes for you. He would let himself die if it meant that you live. If it comes down to that….let him."
Deep down Rini knew this, it was just such a blow to hear it said out loud. "I don't want to think like that," she whispered. More tears welled in her eyes as he pulled her to him in another hug, his cheek pressed against her frizzy hair. "I'm pregnant," she admitted quietly.
"I know," he whispered back. He gave her forehead a kiss and cupped her cheek in his hand. He led her over to a rack with a single garment hanging on it and picked it up. "I think it's safe to say you won't be going anywhere with snow."
Renata smiled faintly and she nodded, beginning to strip. The fabric clung to her skin as she pulled it on and she held her hair up so Fascal could zip her up. "You'll stay safe, won't you?" She asked him as she pulled on her boots, swallowing. She really didn't want anything to happen to him and Salvatore. "Whatever happens?"
He gave her a puzzled look but nodded anyway. "You aren't going into the arena with your hair flying around like that." He turned her around and piled it on top of her head, securing it in a knot with a hair band.
"One minute until launch," a man's voice filled the room.
A chill went down Rini's back and she looked at the platform on which she was to ascend into the arena. She went and stood on it, turning around to face Fascal as the walls closed around her, separating her from him. He mouthed something to her and she furrowed her brow, shaking her head. He did it again and she was able to make out the word "midnight". Her head bobbed in affirmation, but the meaning of it was completely lost to her.
Fascal put his hand against the glass and he gave her a weak smile as the platform hummed and Rini was lifted up out of the room.
Sunlight made her squint as she rose out of the ground and into the arena. Warm wind touched her cheeks and she looked around at the massive size of the place. Her heart was pounding in her ears and she breathed heavily through her nose, looking at the cornucopia in front of her. Behind her and the other tributes stood a lush jungle. Water lapped at the base of her platforms and the sound was enough to transport her temporarily back home, where she would listen to the sounds of the waves from her open window.
Finnick had been right; they would certainly have some advantages that others wouldn't. Her eyes searched for the tall, blonde man, panic settling in when she couldn't find him. He had to be on a platform on the other side of the cornucopia, hidden from her sight. She looked around her and saw Beetee on a platform to her one side and the woman from District Eleven, Seeder, on her right. Her senses felt heightened as she watched the clock count down, ready to propel herself into the water.
There wasn't a second to waste wondering if there was anything else in the water as she dove in, kicking her legs and moving through the water at impressive speed. She could imagine the Gamemakers putting sharks or some other deadly mutt in the water to start off the bloodbath with a bang. Salt water burned her eyes as she swam hard, the frigid water making it hard not breathe evenly. Her teeth chattered and she pulled herself up on the spoke, barely giving herself time to catch her breath before running towards the cornucopia. She glanced quickly to her left and right to see if anyone else had made it. Her footing slipped a little when she skid to a stop, seeing Beetee bobbing up and down in the water. He seemed to be trying to move through the water but remained stationary.
Haymitch had said to watch out for both him and Wiress. If she got him to safety, which was tough to say where exactly in the arena that was, then he would see that he could trust her! She instinctively dropped to the ground when she heard Johanna's voice call her name, grinding her teeth painfully. The knife that she narrowly missed getting hit with landed into the water and Rini jumped back in, swimming towards Beetee.
His eyes widened when he saw her coming and he splashed in attempt to get away but she shook her head.
"Let me help you!" She exclaimed, grabbing his arm. With a bit of difficulty, she managed to drag him to a spoke and then climbed out. There were still other tributes on their platforms and it dawned on Rini that not everyone knew how to swim. The first cannon fire made her jump and she looked at Beetee when he touched her elbow.
"We should get in there while we can," He murmured, his glasses speckled with water drops. He took off without waiting for her and when she got to the cornucopia, she saw that he was deep inside. He seemed to be searching for something; he must have made an interesting request. There were weapons everywhere and an ever growing number of tributes arriving to the cornucopia. She grabbed a spear off of a rack and crouched down, ready to attack anyone that came for her or Beetee.
Finnick appeared from around the side of the cornucopia and he breathed a small sigh of relief when he saw Rini. "I need to find Peeta," He said as she stood up, abandoning her post to follow him. The gold bangle lit up when the sun hit it and she supposed that he'd already forced Katniss into allying with them since he was looking for her partner. "Shit," he muttered suddenly and he disappeared around the cornucopia, leaving her there to see Peeta struggling to stay on his platform as another tribute pulled him into the water.
She made a move to dive in and get him, but cry of pain from behind her made her whirl around. "No no no," she breathed, running back to where she had left Beetee and finding him on the ground with a knife in his back. The female from Nine stood above him, moving to pull the knife out and deliver the death blow. The spear left Rini's hand and pierced the woman in the neck before she even realized what she was doing. She gurgled weakly before going silent and a cannon rang out her death. It all happened so fast.
"Beetee!" She gasped, going to him and making a move to pull the knife out. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!"
"Don't!" A man's voice ordered. She looked up and swallowed as Blight came over and helped Beetee up. "We can't take it out yet. He could bleed to death. Come with me, we need to get out of here."
She furrowed her brow and stood up, grabbing her bloodied spear. Go? He was Johanna's partner, so she supposed she should trust him.
"The wire!" Beetee gasped, twisting around and reaching towards the spot where the redhead stood.
Rini picked up the spool, frowning at it. This is what he had wanted? Kind of a strange weapon.
"Come on, girl!" Blight barked and then left with cornucopia without seeing if she would follow.
Rini walked to the mouth of the cornucopia, her blood running cold when she saw the Careers had grouped up and were headed her way. Brutus looked even bigger now that they were in the arena. Where it was fair game for him to put his hands on her. A tug on her arm caused her to stumble and after recovering she followed Johanna in a run, jumping onto a spoke and advancing towards the tree line of the jungle.
"Finnick!" She gasped suddenly, remembering their plan. They were supposed to stay together. She stopped and dug her heels in the ground, turning to look for him. The Careers had already laid claim to the cornucopia by the looks of things; they were arming themselves to the teeth with weapons. Katniss stood on one far spoke, watching Finnick drag Peeta to safety.
"Fucking move!" Johanna yelled, yanking her arm and shoving her in front of her. "Follow Blight!"
Renata caught a glimpse of Finnick climbing back onto the center platform, Peeta in tow. He was looking for her now, frantically so. If she ran to him, the Careers could kill her easily. She could try and swim between the spokes, but even the thought of doing that fatigued her. With another hard shove from Johanna, she turned her attention to Blight, Beetee, and Wiress and followed her group of allies into the jungle.
Thanks for reading!
-Kelsey x