Wild Heart
A/N: We pick up minutes after the last chapter. Katniss runs into some new faces, as well as a bit of trouble with Finnick. Effie and Caesar will also have a meeting regarding Katniss, and some secrets are revealed.
Setting: We begin in the Common Area of the Training Center before shifting to Caesar's as well as Finnick's quarters.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
∞K&F∞
Chapter 06
You used to be the girl who set the world on fire…
(Katniss' POV)
Neither of us speaks, our grey eyes trained upon the seemingly harmless chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Although I cannot say much for my companion, I am by no means a fool, especially one to fall for such primitive tactics. Something, however, tells me that this is no mere trap, that we are being herded into something much more sinister. Closing my eyes, I allow my hearing to become the dominant sense, reaching out for any form of disturbance. The slight groan of steel as well as the unraveling of twine greets my ears…
It is rather unnerving how similar the two of us are, the both of us moving our hands to wrap around the hilts of our blades. Before he jumped up and abandoned the two of us, Haymitch and I were partners in arms. Sure, he spent the better part of his days drunk off of his ass, but he was always there to help me when times got rough. He was absolutely horrible at hunting, or bathing, for that matter, but he was there for backup for when the Capitol beasts would arrive. He was also there whenever the occasional incident would happen around town, like when Gale was whipped…
Wrong train of thought, that.
Slowly, cautiously, I move to the left, away from the curiously positioned couches to our right. Haymitch catches my eye as he remains in place, maintaining his hold on his weapon. I circle the center of the room, keeping my eyes peeled for anything else out of place. Once I am standing directly opposite of Haymitch, I halt my progress around the room. The distinct smell of burning oil drifts into my nostrils from only a few steps to my right. A slow smirk forms upon my lips; maybe these fools are not as incompetent as previously thought…
"One, two, three, and four…" he mutters offhandedly from behind me. I turn slightly, making sure that I am not stepping in any of the strategically placed oils. Realization dawns upon both of our faces simultaneously as the words finally set in…
"Careers," we say in unison.
I sigh before turning back around, a frown marring my features. It is typical of the people from the first four districts to be annoyingly (read: foolishly) arrogant, living and breathing for the Games. They are blinded by their zealousness, which is often their downfall, but they are too stubborn to change. I shake my head as I plot my next move. As noted earlier, they have rigged the chandelier to crush anyone who steps into the center of the room. Should that someone be lucky enough to survive that particular trap, they will surely fall in the second trap. The chandelier is naturally lit, so the resulting flaming mess would ignite the oils greasing the floor…and the victim.
"On my mark, bring that fixture down for me. It is high time that these fools learn the true power of the farther districts," I instruct distantly. Nevertheless, Haymitch nods.
Taking a deep breath, I spring into the center of the nearest circle of oil. The moment my boot-clad foot connects with the stone floor, I whistle sharply. Without missing a beat, my partner flings his knife towards the ceiling, sending his target crashing to the floor. As expected, the four circles around me catch fire, hiding me as I crouch within the flames. I release an ear-piercing scream, hoping to draw the ignorant fools out into the open. I smile as I notice that Haymitch has disappeared from sight. Only a moment later do I see the group of them swarm around the room, searching for their beloved trophy…
"Where is she?! I so hope it was Everdeen," grumbles a tall, monstrous blonde. His eyes are wild with emotion, something will definitely prove to be his undoing. A short brunette walks up beside him, patting his arm lightly. She seems a little unsure, but is following her friend, nonetheless.
"She is probably burning inside one of the circles. Did we really have to include Three, though? I really do not consider them one of us," chimes another blonde, this one a younger female with brilliant green eyes. Two other blondes stand behind her with similar features, although these two look more alike. They must be the siblings who won years before from District One. Their Games were single-person trials.
"Come on, Brutus, let us douse the flames to see our prize," hisses a dark-skinned female. Her teeth send chills up and down my spines, filed to points and tipped with gold. Her bulky companion is comprised of nothing but muscle, both a blessing and a curse in combat. He barely won his Games, but she reigned supreme in hers.
"Wait, look! They cut the rope!" shouts the brunette male in the back. I sigh as everyone's eyes are drawn to Haymitch's knife protruding from the ceiling. Rolling my eyes, I stand slowly, reaching behind me to free the bow secured to the back of my jeans. Good thing I decided to change…
"That, and figured out the level of stupidity running rampant in your districts. You really should consider keeping Three in your little group, though. At least they have sufficient brainpower in comparison." All attention is quickly focused upon me.
"Katniss Everdeen, you cocky little bitch, pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Cato, and I will be ripping out your fucking heart this morning," snarks the monstrous blonde. I shrug indifferently, knowing that my life is not his to claim. The only thing that troubles me is the delirious swirl of emotion raging within his deep blue eyes…
"At least you know my name. I do insist that you all remember it, seeing as I will be the one to fuck up your day. Tell me, what self-centered goal are you foolishly attempting to attain this day?" The boy who spotted the knife decides to speak up.
"Odair and Mellark have done nothing but talk about you lately, so why not arise to the challenge?! That, and we cannot afford to have you, the troublemaker from Twelve, stealing our glory." I scoff, knowing that there is a much deeper, darker reason behind this attack. However, I am convinced that only one of them knows it, especially with the uncertainty written on the brunette girl's face…
I leap back just as two waves of water come cascading from either side of me. The two, Enobaria and Brutus, drop their buckets and move a bit further from me. The blonde trio from District One have moved towards the couches, obviously choosing to hang back. Even so, I take note of the weapons hidden behind their backs. My eyes lock on the two males directly in front of me, their foolish courage leaking throughout the room. I shake my head before notching an arrow and aiming it at the brunette boy…
"You, what is your name?" I ask curiously. He smirks.
"Marvel!" he proclaims proudly. I shrug before shifting my aim and shooting the younger blonde girl across the room. She screams loudly as my arrow buries itself in her left breast.
"Glimmer!" he shouts. I glance at Cato briefly before charging towards Marvel.
The two flanking me rush to stop me, as I expected, but find themselves victims of Haymitch's knives. Brutus rolls to the side, clutching his right thigh, but Enobaria keeps coming. I officially classify her as fucking insane as I spot the knife caught between her teeth. Something in her eyes, though, relieves my worry about her harming me. Looking back, I notice that there is no blood on Brutus' hands, having clearly caught the knife. I shift my gaze forward once again, just in time to avoid the spear that Marvel throws at me. I tackle him, but do not remain on top of him…
"Cato, look out!" the brunette screams as she seems me notch another arrow. I manage to catch him in the hand, drawing a deep, roaring scream from within his broad chest. I reach back and grab a piece of debris, flinging it with deadly accuracy. It catches her in the head, knocking her out instantly.
"You will pay for hurting my Clove, Everdeen," Cato manages through gritted teeth. I chuckle, knowing that I will not be paying for anything from him for a bit. I hit a rather large vein, so he is in far too much pain to be of any threat to me right about now. Marvel is still laid upon the floor, rendered unconscious from the well-aimed blow to the back of his head.
"Anyone else?" I chirp brightly. The siblings, Gloss and Cashmere, are nowhere to be found, having scuttled off in the mayhem. I turn in just enough time to spot Enobaria disappearing around a corner with Brutus, but not before beckoning me.
"Go after them, Katniss, they can be trusted," shouts Haymitch from somewhere behind me. I nod.
"Remember our arrangement, Abernathy. If I have to come and find you later, you will be paying in blood," I warn before hurrying off after the former District Two champions...
∞K&F∞
It does not take me long to catch up, the winning duo waiting patiently at the end of the hallway. I chance a glance at Brutus' thigh, and confirm my earlier suspicion. Almost immediately, I think back to Haymitch, how he was adamant in his claim of trust in the two of them. I make a quick mental note to question him, maybe punching or stabbing him for leaving me out of the loop. I figured after talking with Johanna that there are more alliances going on than previously thought, but I never once thought about my favorite drunken bastard being 'tangled up in any webs', so to speak.
"The amazing Katniss Everdeen, at your service," I state dryly. The two of them laugh quietly.
"That is exactly how Haymitch introduced himself to us all those years ago," Enobaria offers fondly. I smile at the warmth in her chocolate eyes.
"You have known him a long time?" I inquire quietly. They both nod in response.
"Yes, both fortunately and unfortunately. I am sure that you can understand that," mutters Brutus playfully. I laugh heartily at that. I can only imagine the amount of times that everyone here has been irritated beyond belief at some point with the alcoholic.
"I can, trust me," I mumble quietly. The sharp-toothed female lays her hand upon my shoulder gently.
"He had no choice, you know, especially with Snow threatening him as well as his family. No matter how much of an ass he comes off to be, Haymitch is no murderer, especially one of children." I force my face to remain schooled in a mask of sorrow, but I can feel the world around me shifting in a way that I am not certain that I like…
"I cannot believe that the President would even think to have the two of you killed. He is a man that we were always told to honor and respect, yet he orders the murder of innocent children. It makes me sick." I nod numbly, my mind reeling from all of the information piled upon me. Taking a calming breath, I decide to ask the questions I initially came to ask…
"So, what was all of that out there? I know that Careers in years past have pulled stunts like this, but I feel that something much deeper is running its course through here," I state bluntly. Enobaria nods her head.
"We felt the same way, as did Gloss and Cashmere. The kids need guidance, so we have been shadowing their every move in preparation for the Games. When we saw what they had set up, we foolishly chose not to question it. We all were guilty of the same thing whenever we all participated the first time. The look in the blonde one's eyes, though, that is what truly made me worry. I could feel something was not right with him." I nod.
"Other than the obvious clinical insanity, something just seemed purely malevolent about him. He wholeheartedly wanted…wants me dead, although I cannot understand why…unless…" Brutus' rich timbre completes my thoughts.
"Snow. I can only guess as to when he had the chance. I mean, we have only left them on their own for very short periods of time. We all feared something like this would happen." This is not good at all.
"Great, just freaking great! Now, I not only have to worry about Snow trying to kill me through training and, eventually, the Coliseum, but I now have to look sideways at every fucking Tribute that comes through the damn door!" I gripe in frustration. Enobaria's hand on my shoulder tightens…
"Do not fret, Katniss, you have more allies here than you realize. Haymitch has long wondered whether you would find your way here, setting up alliances just in case. We are all here for you and your sister, I can promise you that." I smile, wishing that I could believe her…
Deep in my heart, though, I know that Coriolanus will not rest until one of us is dead.
∞K&F∞
(Caesar's POV)
"We have to help her, Caesar, and that is final."
I sigh, rubbing my temples gently to soften the blow of the impending migraine sure to keep me up most of the night. Effie and I have spent the better part of two hours going over the fate of Katniss. Apparently, there were some bitter words exchanged during their initial meeting, which subsequently led to her being marked as a Capitol threat. We are all under strict orders not to aid her in any way, remaining completely professional and detached in her presence. I have seen the fire in her eyes, though, and know that this young woman carries a flame that must not be extinguished.
"I agree, Effie, I really do. I am just not sure quite how to help without triggering his suspicion. You and I both know how far his intelligence reaches."
All of Panem is within President Snow's line of vision, nothing going unseen under his sharp gaze. Whether it be human, technological, or even bestial, his range of knowledge is endless. I shift my gaze towards the lone window in my private lounge, where the sunlight streams in lazily. I am with Effie; I want nothing more than to ensure that Katniss not only manages to stay alive, but to win the Hunger Games and prove her worth to Snow. It is unheard of that a Victor should come to a violent end outside of the Coliseum, so her victory would offer some sort of immunity.
It does not, however, mean that she cannot be killed by other means.
"I have spoken with Plutarch Heavensbee, and he is in agreement with us. Katniss is too precious of a soul to fall prey to Coriolanus' madness. He may be our President, but this is crossing a line. I can only guess that he is beginning to remember things…" I whip my head around to peer curiously at my butterfly-adorned companion.
"Remember what?" I ask curiously. She sighs exhaustedly…
"Many years ago, Alma decided to vacation in District Twelve. Although a young girl at the time, Katniss was already showing the promise that Alma needed to see in her. Finnick was becoming quite the weapon, and she was growing weary of his ability. I realize now that it was a mistake to reveal her intent to Snow; I had hoped that he would take his anger out on her, which would subsequently lead to…" I nod solemnly.
"It would have been a battle most destructive, Effie. The chance for our survival…" I begin, but she silences me with a look uncommon to the ever-smiling Ms. Trinket.
"Our survival would have been secured, but Coriolanus'…well, that should go without saying. He and his beloved wife would have killed one another in the nuclear chaos, but we would have been long gone. I digress. Snow grew fearful of Coin's plot to have him as well as his prodigal son killed, so he ordered the Everdeens eradicated. He flew into a rage that I have never seen a man fly into before; I learned then that you never come between a man and his lover…" My eyes widen as I fully absorb her words, the unspoken elephant in the room finally making its long-awaited appearance…
"Have he and Finnick ever…" She looks away from me suddenly, anger and sadness swirling within her eyes…
"Not that the boy would ever want to remember. Snow fell in love with him at first sight, which is the sole reason for his reaping. For Alma to threaten to harm his beautiful boy, he would destroy all of Panem if it meant Finnick's safety. Ironically, I have young Katniss to both thank and blame for Coriolanus' amnesia." She giggles lightly.
"Nightlock," I say, remembering the night that she came to me inquiring about it. I have a few 'unsavory' connections that were able to secure her some, although I never thought to ask as to why she needed them.
"For most, it would kill almost instantly, but our President is a special case. You see, prior to him meeting young Finnick, he used to poison his enemies. Unfortunately, he also consumed the poison to throw off their suspicions, although he always had the antidote secured inside his vest. Years of poisoning himself built up an immunity of sorts, so the nightlock only caused him a mild stroke. However, his mind was damaged in the incident, seemingly erasing the memories of his rage…and his love…" We both grow silent as the implication becomes rather clear…
"With Katniss here, his mind is reaching deep for the memories screaming to be remembered. Oh Effie, he is going to kill her for sure! And precious little Prim! She is to…" Once again, she silences me with a look.
"Prim is in no danger, nor has she ever been in any. He only wanted Katniss killed; Prim reminds him too much of his granddaughter. No one truly knows what happened to her, nor her mother, but Coriolanus holds their memories as sacred. Katniss represents nothing but ruin in his eyes, so she must be eliminated." I sigh.
"Well, call Plutarch, and get him here pronto. We have got to get things going if we are to save her."
∞K&F∞
(Katniss' POV)
The wind flies quickly out of my chest as my back collides with the marble floor, déjà vu forcing its way into my unwilling mind. I shake my head to rid myself of the unwarranted images, though, knowing that every second that I spend away from him could be his last. I roll onto my side, take a deep breath, and dive back into the blood-tainted waters. The two of them are still fighting at the far end of the pool, each struggling for dominance in this violent fight for life. I cut through swiftly, knowing that I cannot afford to let another person that I care about die before my eyes.
My hands find purchase upon her shoulders, nails digging into the sensitive flesh. As she screams in pain, I summon all of the strength within my body and toss her away from the two of us. Once free of her presence, I wrap my arms around him and pull his large frame free of the chlorinated nightmare that very could have been his grave. His normally golden complexion is now almost grey, fatigue and blood loss the primary blame. Ripping off my tanktop, I wrap it across his bleeding chest to stop as much of the crimson flow as possible. I chance a glance behind me, hoping that his attacker is still preoccupied with her own duress to worry about us…
Wishful thinking, that.
Planting a gentle kiss upon his forehead, I whirl around, tugging free the serrated blades on either side of my waist. She pulls herself free of the pool, remaining hunched over long enough to vomit a bit before standing. She stumbles around blindly, adrenaline and fear driving her every movement. I swiftly move to the corner of the pool, intent on preventing her from getting anywhere near close to Finnick. As she finally regains her balance, she turns to face me. For the second time today, my entire world grinds to a halt…
"Madge?!"
"Katniss?!"
The two of us simply stare at one another for a moment, a deeply troubling confusion swirling between us. She is the first to move, though, running to wrap me in a crushing embrace. Every ounce of her energy is directed towards hugging and crying, the irony not lost to me. Sadly, this is one of those moments that I cannot comment upon such things. Madge being here means far too many things to me, all of which lead to only one conclusion: I am the key player in a much larger game. My anger soars to new heights as this realization fully dawns upon me…
"Why are you here, Undersee, here of all places?! I already volunteered, so you should not have been reaped," I ask desperately. It is growing increasingly difficult for me to keep my emotions in check, but I continue to remain calm. It never does anyone any good to panic…
"I came here for you, Katniss. Gale…" A darkness descends upon the room at the mention of his name…
"What in the hell did he request from you?" She looks off to the side, her pretty blue eyes refusing to meet my darkened grey ones…
"He forced her to claim District Thirteen citizenship so that she could secure her presence here," comes Finnick's weary voice. We both move to his side.
"I am so sorry. I just could not let you do that to me! Katniss always taught me that…" His rich chuckle stops her short…
I roll my eyes.
"I kind of figured it out when he pulled the knife out of nowhere. Only someone close to short, sultry, and armed over here could think of such a thing. Tell me, where is this Gale now?" Madge looks at me for permission. I nod to her, letting her know it is okay…
"On his way here. He is moving from district to district, spreading the seeds of dissent among those who would listen. Katniss, he has gone mad with the desire to find you. No one said anything, but everyone in District Twelve grew fearful of him. He was damn near whipped to death after you left. He torched the Hob and the Square, killing many people that we know and love. Greasy Sae, my father, even Hazel…" I squeeze my eyes shut and bite into my arm to prevent the oncoming breakdown. Both Finnick and Madge wrap me in their arms as the trembling begins.
"Where do you think he is right now?" Finnick asks Madge softly.
"He should be near District Four by now." I feel him nod before pulling me up with him as he stands…
"Madge, I will need to ask a favor of you. First, I need to send word to Coriolanus of an emergency back home that I must attend to. Madge, you will need to disappear, but I can have that arranged for you. Katniss, my love?" I frown at him, placing a smile on his pale face.
"I am no one's love, Odair," I manage softly as I pull from his embrace. I swat away his hand as he moves to ruffle my hair…
"Regardless, I need you to patch me up. We have a road trip ahead of us."
∞K&F∞
Things are about to get extremely complicated. Here are a few things to note about this chapter:
Although from District Twelve, Haymitch is rarely armed. It is a Katniss thing
It will be revealed just how deep Snow and Finnick's 'relationship' truly is later.
Katniss had no clue of Haymitch's true objective, nor of Prim's secured safety.
The truth of Snow's family will be revealed shortly.
How Gale found out about District Thirteen may surprise you.
Thanks for all of the lovely reviews, follows, and favorites! I appreciate it more than you guys will ever know! Keep 'em coming! Special thanks to IAmSoRandomItScaresMe and devinwylie for following! I hope you guys are enjoying it!