For two days, I'm allowed time off from training to spend with Annie, at the protests of Coin. She's really been getting on my nerves lately with all the protesting she's been doing in my relationship. We are allowed to have our meals brought to us in the room, so we take advantage of that. Daniel and Noah video chat us, thanks to Beetee's wiring. Eventually, it's time to get back to real life.
We head downstairs for our first lunch with the group in a while. Katniss, Johanna, Delly, and Gale sit with us. I keep hold of Annie's hand as we walk through the line and get our stew. It's pretty good. I'm in the middle of telling a story about turtles when Peeta comes up.
"Peeta! It's so nice to see you out and about," Delly says, smiling as ever. She reminds me of Rosie.
"What's with the fancy bracelets?" Johanna asks.
"I'm not quite trustworthy yet. I can't even sit here without your permission," Peeta says, nodding to the guards next to him.
"Sure he can sit here. We're old friends. Peeta and I had adjoining cells in the Capitol. We're very familiar with each other's screams," Johanna says. She pulls the chair out for him and Peeta sits. Annie covers her ears. Screaming is not a good topic. I pull her closer to me and give Johanna a look.
"What? My head doctor says I shouldn't censor my thoughts. It's part of my therapy," Johanna says.
"Annie, did you know it was Peeta who designed your wedding cake? Back home, his family ran the bakery and he did all the icing," Delly says to fill the silence.
"Thank you Peeta. It was beautiful," Annie tells him.
"My pleasure, Annie," he responds.
"If we're going to fit in that walk, we'd better go. Good seeing you, Peeta," I say, collecting both of our trays.
"You be nice to her, Finnick. Or I might try and take her away from you," Peeta says. Anger flames up within me. I try to calm myself. He still isn't back to normal yet, although I doubt that would ever happen.
"Oh, Peeta, don't make me sorry I restarted your heart," I say, and storm off.
After that, it's totally back to training. I'm there almost all day, learning about different weapons, how to assemble a gun, all of it. They film me hitting targets, making sure that they show off my special trident. I doubt I will be going on the streets of Panem with one though. It looks good on camera. It is, after all, how I introduced myself to the Capitol and retained my image. Without this weapon, I would be dead. I'm getting along with it pretty well. Somehow, I've managed to stay in shape during all this. I'm put up for the final evaluation before Katniss or Johanna, who I've also seen intensely training.
I'm called in first, which makes waiting a whole lot easier. As soon as I enter, we are on the streets of the Capitol. It seems rather empty. There are no explosions. No guns. No shooters. No other people really. Nothing. It is a totally empty street. Until a woman comes from one of the apartments. She is dressed just like a big pink bird. Not cute at all. Then, I realize what is happening.
She comes up close to me and strokes my jaw with her finger. I can't do this. I know what she wants. She takes me by the collar of my shirt, but I push her off. Behind her is Annie, crying and obviously hurt. I don't know why. Maybe she just saw what happened between me and the strange woman? She has evaporated from the pavement.
The scene shifts. A group is behind me now, huddled in the shadows of a building. My squad. A voice booms over the speakers.
"Mr. Odair, expose you and your squad! Only then will we spare Annie!" Two guns from the opposite sides of the street come down and angle themselves at Annie's head. She will die if I don't do this.
I hold myself back though. I can't let my group get sacrificed. A gun goes off. I don't know what happens next because a man comes to our group. He stamps my hand with my new squad numbers; 451. I've done it.
Boggs is our captain. Katniss joins our group. Gale is also here. I've heard that Johanna has failed and won't get to join any squad. Plutarch begins briefing us on our mission.
"This, for example, is the area surround one of the Peackeepers' barracks. Not unimportant, but not the most crucial of targets, and yet look," Plutarch says. He begins explaining pods. They can contain anything – mutts, bombs.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let the seventy sixth Hunger Games begin!" Katniss and I say together. It's just like the arena. It's like I'm going back in for the third time. Hopefully, I don't get to find out if the third time is the charm.
"I don't even know why you bothered to put me and Finnick through training, Plutarch," Katniss says.
"Yeah, we're already the two best equipped soldiers that you have," I add.
"Do not think that fact escapes me. Now back in line soldiers Everdeen and Odair," Plutarch says. He continues rambling on but eventually we get out without being told to 'get back in line' again.
"What am I going to tell Annie?" I ask as we leave.
"Nothing. That's what my mother and sister will be hearing from me," Katniss answers. Sounds good enough, but I'm still worried.
"If she sees that holograph-"
"She won't. It's classified information. It must be. Anyway, it's not like the actual Games. Any number of people will survive. We're just overreacting because well, you know why. You still want to go, don't you?"
"Of course. I want to destroy Snow as much as you do."
"It won't be like the others. This time Snow will be a player too," Katniss says. I have to agree. Haymitch comes up to us then.
"Johanna is back in the hospital," he tells us.
"Is she hurt? What happens?" Katniss asks. I know she failed the exam, but I didn't think it would be this bad. Could they even hurt you?
"It was while she was on the Block. They try to ferret out a soldier's potential weaknesses. So they flooded the street," Haymitch explains.
"So?"
"That's how they tortured her in the Capitol. Soaked her and then used electric soaks. In the Block she had some kind of flashback. Panicked, didn't know where she was. She's back under sedation. You two should go see her. You're as close to friends as she's got," Haymitch explains. "I better go tell Plutarch. He won't be happy. He wants as many victors as possible for the cameras to follow in the Capitol. Thinks it makes for better television."
"Are you and Beetee going?"
"As many young and attractive victors as possible. So no. We'll be here." I head down to visit Johanna right away.
Double chapters today! So go click on the next one It's our last chapters in 13!