Chapter Three Falling

The electrodes in my flesh sizzled. With all this modern technology, it is not too shocking to find a way to cause people pain. But that's not what was killing me. Herald decided to tell the story of the week he spent breaking Katniss.

"And then, after I cleaned her up, and reattached her ears, know what I did? I peeled her skin of again!"

He laughed, "You, obviously, have been inspired by the Yautja. My inspiration comes from- well, you'll see."

His voice dropped to a whisper, "I have a tensy problem. See, the Capitol is in charge down here, so I can't do whatever I want. But in a couple of hours… well, you'll see."

A guard came in, bringing the count of soldiers up to ten, "Sir, you need to come to the medical tent. Something's happening to Bronson!"

Herald winked at me and left.

I growled out in Yautja. It's nice to know what language it is I am giving orders in. Tiny and his Flunky make their presence known. Three guards are on the ground before any of them even thinks to move. The rest are torn to shreds.

The floor is a puddle of blood. Tiny moves to release me, and then realizes this is a trap I've set. I motion with my hand. He can go have his hunt. When Herald returns, he'll see that he needs my help. The two of us will fight to stay alive, and then, when he trusts me, I am going to shred him like fresh bread.

Katniss

The hovercraft was unbelievably loud. Gale was talking about tactics, but it did matter. I was thinking only on what would happen the next time I saw him- Herald.

Of course, the Capitol would fall, it had to. But I would make sure to make some of the residents suffer.

It was my right as a victim. Still, it was hard to process that Finnick had been through the same thing. He and Joanna had volunteered. Those two were huddled in the back of the craft comparing notes.

I was lost in thoughts of revenge. President Snow was going to die, so were most of his friends. (Well… constituents, the tyrant likely did not have any friends…)

The hovercraft approached the mountains leading to the Capital. The earpiece crackled alive in my ear. The pilots were speaking, "The city is not expecting an attack this early on, so right now, we're just an unidentified aircraft," I felt a plunge of guilt in my stomach. As surprised as I was that it was the guilt was there, I was happy to still be able to feel it… at least I was not a total monster like Snow.

"Alright, we're going to drop you guys right into the heart of the Capitol. According to our intel, there's some sort of tunnel. No one knows quite how it got there… but that's not our problem. With any luck, the smoke we throw down will cover your entrance. Get down, get in, no stops, do you understand?"

I nodded. Some part of me hated aircraft after my first Hunger Games. Remembering how Peeta had dangled. For weeks I replayed it over and over in my head; maybe the alliance could have been stronger, or the plan hatched when Rue died… Why didn't it occur to me that we could get into the airship earlier?

It was pointless to go back in time and try again. Still, it was important to learn for the future. Strapping the quiver to my back, I counted through the trick arrows; explosive, acid, flame, smoke, and a few specialty ones that seemed to be too flashy for actual combat, like a foam container that inhibited movement.

I shook her head. If I had these arrows back when I was hunting… well, there would not be a forest left. Picking one up, the hunter in me studied its weight. The balance was totally off, but a real archer could compensate.

Besides my bow, I was taking along some vital equipment: extra clothes, first aid, flares, flashlight, rope, radio, and a map.

Gale had a different set of tools, and it was vital we were not separated. In some sense, I felt like this was a new Hunger Games. Me and my friend were going up against massive odds with almost no way out, and certain death around each corner. "Same old same old," I said to myself.
Gale was nowhere near as scared as Peeta had been. And that bothered me. He did not seem to mind the thought of killing, or of being killed. Peeta had not wanted this; he was no murderer.

The dropzone timer started. Airships formed in pursuit, figuring that this was an enemy craft. Due to its small size, it obviously was not a bomber- not big enough. But the pursuing hovercrafts were ordered to take it out regardless.

I heard the first rattle of cannon fire when the clock reached '5'.

I took a breath as the world around me flipped dizzily. The pilots ripped a lunch from Gale- his vomit floated in midair as the craft found its orientation to be as fluid as Finnick's.

4

Deadly beams of light pocketed the side of the craft as enemy fire pierced the hull. Joanna's shoulder spit blood in retaliation. The chords of lead on metal brought symphony to the whole ship.

3

The back popped open. I was breathing, but it did not feel like I had enough air. It was like my circumstances stole my breath away. Far below, dozens of soldiers had already assembled around the hole. This mission was practically over before it began.

2

I jumped anyways. I had already nocked five explosive arrows into from my quiver. The smoke bombs from the ship were dropping with me, making me appear as a Valkyrie swooping down in the dying. And those soldiers were dying; they just did not know it yet.

1

The worlds rocked. Both the ship and the ground rumbled. Gale, Joanna and Finnick were caught between the falling craft and the ground. The very air trembled with the conflict. There was no time for guilt or pain or fear…