A/N: Hello everyone! I'm sorry for the delay with uploading this chapter and I wish I had a decent excuse other than spending way too much time on school work and tumblr but I simply don't haha. Anyway, on another note, please read the AN at the end of this chapter because it is important! So, without further ado, I give you chapter 27!
"Ladies and Gentlemen, let the Seventy-Fifth Hunger Games begin!"
There is a split second between the sound of the gong and chaos breaking loose.
Some, like Katniss, are already off their plates and swimming towards the Cornucopia and others, like poor dear Peeta, are still frozen, unsure of how exactly to combat this challenge.
I grab Haymitch's hand as we begin to see Brutus and Cashmere pull some of the tributes who still remain on their plates into the water, holding them under, though they themselves are having some trouble staying afloat.
The hand-grabbing thing is by no means new. My first Games as part of the team, I had tried to reach his hand finding the scene just too tormenting to deal with by myself but he had pulled it away before I could. He did this for the next few years but then seemed to relent and let me hold his hand. After then he has never pulled away until the bloodbath is over. It helps me to have something to hang onto and now I guess he has found that this is also the case.
This year is different though; the usual meaningless, bone- breaking clutch of hope is replaced by something a little more affectionate. Our hands are still clasped tightly together but his thumb stroking the back of my hand coaxes me to loosen my grip slightly.
Katniss is the first one out of the water and onto the floating island that holds the Cornucopia and is quick to snatch up the bow and arrows. The camera pans out slightly and there is Finnick, a net and trident in hand stood behind her. For a moment he looks as if he is about to impale her and I bring a hand up to my mouth in anticipation.
Katniss is sharp as a knife and turns, arrow poised and ready to fly at any moment.
"Don't," I hear Haymitch mutter beside me and I look to him for an explanation but his eyes are focused on the screen.
"You can swim, too," says Finnick cocking his head to the side somewhat mockingly. "Where did you learn that in District Twelve?"
"We have a big bathtub," replies Katniss shortly, her arms still tensed at either end of her bow.
"You must. You like the arena?"
"Not particularly. But you should. They must have built it especially for you," she says bitterly.
She's right. Plutarch's arena has left over half of the contestants literally stuck at the starting line whereas the tributes from District Four and the odd few that can also swim or at least flail in a direction have hit the ground running – or rather, swimming.
Finnick grins. "Lucky thing we're allies. Right?"
He deliberately moves his wrist so that something metallic catches the white sunlight. It takes the cameras a moment to home in on the object and focus but when it does, it takes me only a second to recognise it.
"Haymitch! I can't believe you gave it away!" I hit him in the arm as hard as I can when I identify the gold bangle around Finnick's wrist.
"I had to; it was the only way to get Katniss to trust him. She's seen me wearing it and she knows that I must've given it to him. Besides, it suits him better than me-"
"Yes. It does." I hiss in an attempt to spite him but he just smiles amusedly. "Gold isn't your colour."
"Oh really? I thought it 'complemented my eyes perfectly'?" He puts on a high pitched Capitol accent and over annunciates each vowel to the point of extreme irritation.
"Yes well…I lied."
Haymitch just laughs at my terrible excuse for a comeback.
"Duck!" both of our attentions snap back to the screen as Finnick sends his trident to the chest of the male tribute from Five and I cringe as he goes to retrieve it only moments later, blood soaking into the sand and staining it red. "Don't trust One and Two," he says.
Katniss doesn't question this and she manoeuvres her sheath of arrows onto her other shoulder. "Each take one side?" she says and Finnick nods in reply.
They both dart round each side of the Cornucopia to find nothing but weapons, no food or water or anything of the sort.
"It's a good job we have sponsors this year." I mutter and begin to list off the necessary items to spend the money on. Food and water are obvious ones but what horrors await in the jungle? Perhaps poisonous snakes or creatures I have no name for that would require some expensive treatment or anti-venom of some sort. The possibilities are endless!
I take out a notebook from my bag and begin to scrawl down every worst case scenario I can think of. Midway through writing insects, I feel the pencil pulled from between my fingers.
"Calm down sweetheart, you're either gonna snap this pencil or set it on fire."
"I just want to be prepared for anything," I say and he frowns.
"I doubt writing it down and worrying about it every minute until it happens will help. Just be thankful that this wasn't an arena a few years ago."
I frown knowing he's right. If this was the case some time ago, there would be no point in even trying to rally sponsors because the tributes would probably be dead already and, if not during the bloodbath, at some point that day.
On the screen, Finnick has dived into the water and is swimming towards Peeta who is still stranded on his podium.
Before today I probably wouldn't have trusted Finnick Odair further than I could throw him but somehow seeing him wearing the gold bangle makes me have the upmost faith in him. Haymitch clearly trusts him and that is enough for me.
Katniss still seems wary but nonetheless waits on the sand, her bow poised for any oncoming attackers. I am glad to see that Cashmere, Gloss, Brutus and Enobaria seem to have lost interest in pursuing Katniss and Finnick and more engrossed in the selection of weapons some of which I wouldn't even know what to call.
Finnick eventually reaches Peeta's plate and he too seems cagey about letting Finnick tow him to land but when he looks up and sees Katniss waiting at the beach he jumps from his podium clumsily with little to no hesitation.
When they reach the sand, Katniss pulls him up by his shoulders and into a standing position.
"Hello, again," Peeta smiles and gives her a kiss. "We've got allies."
"Yes. Just as Haymitch intended." She says returning the smile.
"Remind me, did we make deals with anyone else?" he asks.
"Only Mags, I think," Katniss nods towards her making her way against the tide to reach them.
"Well, I can't leave Mags behind; she's one of the few people who actually likes me." Interjects Finnick and I let out a small laugh.
"I've got no problem with Mags," says Katniss with some enthusiasm. "Especially now that I see the arena. Her fishhooks are probably our best chance of getting a meal."
"Katniss wanted her on the first day." Says Peeta and Finnick grins.
"Katniss has remarkably good judgement," he says and helps Mags up onto the sand who smiles kindly at her new allies.
Haymitch rises from the seat probably to refill his drink and mumbles something about how "this will all end tears".
"You're such a pessimist!" I call after him and he takes a few steps back.
"No. I'm an optimist with experience." He smirks cockily to himself at his smart comment.
"Very clever." I say finding myself smiling. "Very clever."
As the alliance moves upwards towards the jungle, I begin to zone out feeling nothing but relief that another bloodbath is relatively over with neither of our tributes harmed. I can't say that for the others though. I try to count the dead lying face down in the water or bleeding out onto the sand but the camera keeps cutting away before I can.
The four Careers are also heading into the jungle but thankfully in the opposite direction. Besides, it is so vast and dense it would be a wonder if they ever came across Finnick, Mags, Peeta and Katniss again.
I feel the sofa dip beside me as Haymitch re-joins me, his glass filled with an obscene amount of alcohol but, as is the case every year, I let him drink as much as he likes on the condition that he doesn't lose consciousness.
I know he is trying hard to stay sober this year for Peeta and Katniss but having depended on alcohol for so many years, I would imagine it is rather difficult to give it up all together. He takes moderated sips, enough to keep him going for a minute or so but not enough to keep his fingers from itching and reaching for the glass again.
The new alliance makes their way into the jungle where the trees become higher, thicker and closer together. Peeta in the lead cutting away vines and any other vegetation in their way with a large knife, Finnick in the centre, Mag's slung over his shoulder and Katniss bringing up the rear.
They walk for a while before the ground, getting steeper by the moment, and the heat clearly takes over and they stop to rest on a fallen tree covered with moss and vines with blue flowers.
Katniss looks skyward, runs her hands along one of the peculiar green trunks of the trees and begins to climb upward into the rubbery foliage. She stays up there for a good minute or so while the others catch their breath, surveying the arena I suppose.
Mags and Peeta converse quietly about the plants, wondering if there are any that are at all edible. Finnick leans back slightly and cracks his neck, the long climb with Mags on his back evidently having taken a toll on his joints.
Katniss starts to climb down and jumps the last few branches to the ground. Finnick stands in front of her, swaying a trident in his hands and she immediately stiffens, sensing danger.
"What's going on down there, Katniss? Have they all joined hands? Taken a vow of non-violence? Tossed the weapons in the sea in defiance of the Capitol?" asks Finnick contemptuously.
Katniss glares at him and replies with a snappy "no".
"No," Finnick repeats. "Because whatever happened in the past is in the past. And no one in this arena was a victor by chance." He looks over his shoulder and gestures to Peeta. "Except maybe Peeta."
"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask defensively.
Haymitch shrugs. "He isn't like the rest of them. He's compassionate and he wouldn't kill anyone unless it was a matter of his of Katniss' life or death."
"I suppose… but I won't let anyone criticize him. He is just as much of a victor as Katniss."
Haymitch smirks. "You really like that kid, huh?"
"Of course." I smile. "Both of them. They're a credit to District Twelve."
"Thanks, Eff's."
"As are you, dear." I pat his knee consolingly but he brushes my hand away jokingly.
"Don't say it like you have to or anything." He rolls his eyes and I laugh, wrapping my hands around the top of his arm and leaning my head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." I say still smiling.
We both look back to the screen as they begin to collect their belongings.
"Let's keep moving. We need water," says Peeta helping Mags up off the log.
"Better find some soon. We need to be undercover when the others come hunting tonight." Replies Finnick as they begin up the hill once again.
Peeta takes the lead this time, carelessly and tiredly slicing away at the thick vines with his knife while the others lag behind. Their wetsuits are long since dried of water and instead soaked with sweat, their hair clinging to their foreheads making me wonder just how insufferable the heat and the damp are inside the arena.
After another minute or so, Katniss stops and squints upwards to the top of the hill where the tree line ends abruptly.
"Maybe we'll have better luck on the other side. Find a spring or something." She wipes a hand across her brow before keeping moving.
It is almost as if someone has overheard my talking about Peeta as he takes a swing with his knife and is sent flying back, knocking Mags and Finnick to the ground under his weight.
I sit up sharply as Katniss rushes over to where he lies. "Peeta?" She begins to shake him and call his name repeatedly.
They bring up a grey box at the bottom of the screen that I presume must be to show the heart but there is no steady rate there, only a flat line confirming something so unimaginable that I hadn't spared a thought for it.
Peeta is dead.
A/N: Allllrighty then, I sincerely disliked writing this chapter mostly because it involved so much dialogue from the book so I'm sorry if you found it boring... The next chapter will be much longer and more eventful as I won't be using as much from the book so hopefully that should be better :) Please do continue to review this story lovelies, I'm so close to a hundred and if I could get to three digits before I mark this fic completed I would be the happiest person alive :) Okay, important announcement time. I have been meaning to ask you guys this for a while but have for some reason put it off. So anyway here goes, would you like a sequel? Please, please, please be honest! If I did one, it wouldn't be up for a while as I would be busy with school etc. but I am seriously thinking about it though it is up to you guys really. So I will leave you with that one. Feel free to either answer in a review or PM me or whatever. Until next time!
~H x