Chapter 13- Divide and Conquer

Annie's P.O.V

"It's definitely a dam." A hushed voice makes its way through my foggy mind. My eyes flutter open to find Devi, Hektor, and Demere crowded around the fire pit we put together last night.

Devi gives a small nod, agreeing to Hektor's assumption.

Demere sighs in exasperation. "I know it looks like one. I thought it was too, but then why is no one taking advantage of it?"

Devi speaks quietly, "How exactly should one take advantage of it?"

I realize that this is the first time I've heard her speak. She has a deeper voice than I thought she would have. It's smooth, and strong. It sounds strange coming out of her small and frail body.

So they think there is a dam in the Arena, too. We are on the opposite side of where it should be, just in case the theory is confirmed in a bad way.

"It's filled with water, and water is the only substance that we can't survive in. How can you not take advantage of it?" Demere counters back.

Water is the only substance we can't survive in. His words ring in my mind. For what reason, I have no idea.

Hektor looks at Demere suspiciously. "Seems like you've been thinking a bit about it."

Oh no, I think. Not a fight on the first day. I lift my head at once from where I slept. I hadn't made my consciousness known to them, so they look at me immediately. Demere looks relieved and thankful that I interrupted such a bad conversation.

I clear my throat. "Good morning."

Demere replies a little too quickly. "Morning, Annie! We were thinking about hunting for more of those squirrels today."

Devi and Hektor exchange glances that I can't understand. I ignore them. "Good idea Demere. They were great last night."

Hektor runs a hand through his hair and squints his eyes at Demere. "We should split up."

Devi nods and adds: "Divide and conquer."

Now it is Demere and I's turn to have an unspoken conversation with our eyes. We both know they are acting suspicious. So should we turn attention to the fact? Or should we go along with what they say? They are planning something, and we both know it.

Instead of voicing what's going on in my mind, I nod. "Sounds like a good idea to me."

Demere shoots me a glance, obviously astounded by my answer.

Hektor stands then, and stretches his neck. "Good. I'll wake Larissa and Argo."

I almost forgot about our two Einsteins. They remain in the second shelter we all made last night. One more, and everyone will have plenty of room. Larissa's hair looks more disheveled than it did yesterday, making me very curious to see how mine is handling everything. I self-consciously run a hand through my hair, and flinch when my fingers get caught in a web of knots.

I yank through my brown strands, and slowly tame them. Bits of dirt and foliage come drifting down. I must look like a cave woman. I hope Finnick isn't watching. Knowing him, he's probably glued to the television screen, anticipating my next move, analyzing and assuming every decision I make. I blush and smile to myself. He's still there.

"So we'll have to hunt in three groups of two, right?" Argo's voice sounds groggy with the morning hours, and his hair is pressed to one side. I have to clench my stomach to stop myself from laughing.

"Yes. That seems fair," Devi squeaks.

"How about Devi and Annie, Larissa and Argo, and Demere and I," Hektor says.

Devi's small eyes flash to mine, as if daring me to object.

I do. "Why don't I go with Larissa? I can teach her all of the hunting tactics she needs to know."

Larissa looks at me curiously, and I nod in her direction to let her know that I mean what I say.

Larissa nods. "I'd be fine with that."

Devi's shoulders fall slightly, as if defeated. This little sign proves why I needed to change partners: she was planning something.

I don't necessarily worry about Demere. Comparatively, Demere and Hektor have the same frame. Demere is a challenge to him. Also, Hektor and Devi know I'm the biggest threat here. They want me eliminated first, before Demere. If they kill him, I'll get mad. If I get mad, they're dead too. Devi and Hektor are scared of me. It's because of this fact that I know Demere is safe with Hektor.

Hektor clears his throat. "Alrighty then, Devi and Argo, you two will go together."

Argo nods in approval at Devi's direction, but she looks at him in disgust. He's weak in her eyes. She doesn't see the potential of the mind he has. She doesn't know that with his brain power, he's just as deadly as Lucius or Mars. His weapon is built inside of him; it's always with him.

We pack our weapons, and any other things we need in our packs. I bring all my knives – I have a total of five now – my wire, and a bottle of water. I carefully place them in my pack and weave my arms through the loops. I look at Larissa, who carries a blow gun like like it's a foreign object. To her, it probably is.

She looks at me, eyes desperate for help. I smile and walk over to her, and lightly take the thing.

"Just bring it to your lips, and give it a quick puff of air," I say while I follow my own directions. A needle-sharp dart juts out from the weapon, and shoots through the air with a whizz sound. It buries itself into a nearby tree- exactly where I aimed it.

She nods. "How did you know how to do that?" Her hand clasp around the blow gun, and she tries out the steps by herself.

I shrug. "I guess I picked up a couple things from last year's Games."

Demere comes up behind me and elbows me playfully in the side. "Pretty weird, huh Larissa?"

Larissa's dart soars through the air and lands an inch from our target. It sticks up from the damp dirt.

"Weird that she knows everything? I'd say amazing instead," Larissa says as she pats down the loose strands of hair from her ponytail.

I can't help the light blush that shows through my cheeks. I smile in thanks to her.

Hektor speaks from the shelters. "You ladies done talking over there?"

Demere raises an eyebrow. "Yes, us ladies are finished talking about boys. Sorry."

Larissa, Argo, and I laugh at Demere's response. Devi and Hektor, however, don't seem amused. In fact, their usual smirks of arrogance turn into blistering glares towards our direction.

Tough crowd, I guess.

Devi rolls her eyes. "Come on, Argo. We can't waste sunlight."

As Devi turns towards the trees, away from our camp, Argo clumsily jogs after her. His curly locks are now back to their normal, mop-like form. He brings his sword -holding it incorrectly- and waves to us as he disappears behind a tree.

We wave back.

I turn towards Larissa. "Want more practice, or do you want to just wing it?"

"Let's just go. Devi's right; we can't waste daylight."

I nod, approving her decision. I turn towards Hektor and Demere. "We're heading out."

Demere's eyes swim in desperation as he speaks: "Be safe."

Hektor rolls his eyes from behind him, but I don't care. I throw my arms around Demere, ignoring the burning sensation from my shoulder.

It's a quick hug, but it says more than words can.

I quickly turn around and engulf myself into the trees. Larissa follows close behind, her footsteps just as silent as mine.

"Squirrels, right?" She whispers.

Her question startles me for a moment. My mind wonders to the possibility of hunting an entirely new species. Tributes. A tidal wave of embarrassment and shame at my thoughts come over me, and I look to the ground.

"Yeah, squirrels," I say too quickly.

What was she suggesting, exactly? Was she wondering the same thing I was? I try to imagine her killing another person, but the vision becomes blurry as I realize she never could. She was only honestly wondering what species of animal we were hunting, not who we were hunting.

I sigh at the passing of yet another war in my head.

Anxiety and nerves grow from within me as I wonder how many are yet to come.

Boom!

A cannon's sound ripples through the arena, making Larissa and I stop in our tracks. We carry two squirrels and a fat bird, but almost drop them at the sudden noise. I haven't heard a cannon in a while. It almost seems to crack the tension and stone silence around us. The squeaking of tiny animals erupt from around us, bugs scurry underneath the dirt, and birds flutter from tree to tree.

It's almost a slap in the face, hearing the familiar sound. It's blood curdling and spine chilling. It reminds me that we play a fatal game. People are going to die.

I almost forgot that.

Larissa speaks in a whisper. "Who do you think it was?"

I look at her and shrug. "Could be anybody, I suppose."

"Do you think it was one of us?"

My heart sinks as soon as the words escape her mouth. The possibility that it could've been one of our allies is large, I just never connected it. I immediately assumed it would be someone outside of our circle for some unknown reason. One of us could have died.

I look at her, expressions exposed, and nod once. Her eyes widen and she starts sprinting towards our camp. I curse under my breath and follow. She's fast, but between the panic and adrenaline, I become ahead of her.

I pray to whoever is up there, overlooking the mayhem. Three simple words: Please, not Demere.

I almost faint with relief as our shelters come into view. Demere sits by the fire pit, sharpening his sword. Hektor sits across from him, facing us. As we crash into our little clearing, Hektor's eyes find mine. A glare scorches his glance. I know he hoped that canon was mine.

Sorry to disappoint you, I think to myself.

Larissa speaks immediately. "Where's Argo?" Her ragged breathing and panicked voice pierce the silence.

My eyes scan our camp. I forgot to look for him. Panic settles in as I realize he isn't here. The absence of Devi is also very noticeable.

Hektor shrugs. "I don't know. Those two haven't made it back yet."

Larissa drops our game in the dirt, sits next to Demere, and shoves her face in her hands. Her posture and crippled frame express one word: defeat.

Demere looks at me then, eyebrows knitted together in concern. He stands and takes the two squirrels in my hands, picks up the fat bird in the dirt, and puts them with the two fish next to the fire pit.

Larissa tries to suppress her sobs, contain them, but by the shake of her shoulders, and the reddening of her face, she isn't doing a great job. I sit between her and Demere- who's stripping the first squirrel of its fur- and lay a comforting arm around her fragile body. To my surprise, she leans into my touch, as if she needed it.

Hektor rolls his eyes. "Larissa, people are going to die. That's what these Games are about."

Her swollen eyes lift from her hands. Between the tears yet to fall is a deadly glare towards Hektor's direction.

I speak for her. "A part of sacrifice is the mourning that follows, Hektor. If there are no tears shed, then there is no sacrifice."

Demere looks at me in shock as Larissa nods in agreement. I look at Hektor in pride, knowing my words held some weight.

He sighs. "You're right. I-I'm sorry, okay? But we don't know for sure that the cannon today belonged to either Devi or Argo."

Did he actually apologize? Did I actually make Hektor apologize? I think in shock.

Who cares? The voice inside my head slithers. Apologies don't mean anything.

You're wrong, they mean everything.

Larissa clears her throat, groggy with tears, and speaks. "That's alright Hektor."

"You're right! There is still some hope that it isn't one of them!" Demere says.

I nod. "We shouldn't worry now. If the sun goes down, and they still haven't come back, then we should be worried, okay?"

Everyone nods in agreement. There is still some hope. As if by command, two silver parachutes lightly flutter down. One has the number four stamped on the material, while the other has a solid seven.

Demere looks at me. "I think the four is for you."

A strange feeling of pity and guilt surge through me as I realize that he's probably right. Hektor, on the other hand, grabs his parachute and rips it open. I grab mine and do the same.

Matches, a small box of them come tumbling out. Perfect.

Demere smiles and lightly takes them. With a few quick scratches, one comes out blazing. He waits until it's a light flame, and throws it into the fire.

Larissa looks at him. "Won't someone see the smoke?"

"We're far away from anybody. Don't worry," Demere says.

Hektor reveals a loaf of bread and smiles. We all stare at it hungrily. Tonight, we feast.

Demere and I stay up, protecting the others. Our stomach's full, we watch the darkness in anticipation and desperation.

Argo and Devi never returned.

One single face was projected into the sky. It takes a minute to connect the brown curls to the olive green eyes. If it wasn't for the name the flashes underneath it, I would never bring myself to the truth:

Argo Lumere-District 3.

N/A: Hey guys! Sorry this one is late too. I'm starting a new school, and it's kind of hectic. A quick shout out to Hannah526 for her amazing words. They really meant a lot. And thank you to everyone who has reviewed! You all are the reason I write! Now, I have had many requests to not kill Finnick. Just so you know, I'm not continuing to Mockingjay, but I do have something planned to address his death for the epilogue. This story will contain his death, but ONLY in the epilogue. However, since I love you all, and I don't want Finnick to die either, if this story hits 80 reviews by the end, I will make an alternate ending for their story, in which Finnick DOES NOT die!

Deal?

Love you all!

FinnickandAnnieForever