"Hurry up Taiya," Gale pleaded. It was a hard lock to pick, the tar had settled over the lock, so she had to force her hairpin in.
"I know! I know!" she snapped back at him. Then there was a resounding click. "Got it!" Taiya breathed out in relief, throwing the door open and sprinting inside. She wasn't waiting for anyone, she was sprinting towards the second floor. The door to Lucius' apartment opened much easier to open. "I'll check the rooms are clear!" Taiya called back at the squad as she sprinted down the hallway of the apartment.
"Woah, Taiya, Tay!" Finnick called after her, not liking her running off on her own. "Look after him please," Finnick passed Peeta's arm over to Homes, he couldn't leave the boy unsupervised before he ran after Taiya. "Tay!"
He found her in the main bedroom, checking underneath the bed before she jumped up and ran into the ensuite bathroom, not even acknowledging Finnick's presence.
"Are you okay, honey?" he asked nervously. Her frantic searching was putting him on edge.
"Dammit!" she yelled from the bathroom.
"Tay?"
"He's not here!" she snapped as she stormed back into the main bedroom, in her frustration, she slapped out at a photo frame that was sitting on a bookshelf, which landed by Finnick's feet. Finnick leant down to pick it up, and as he went to put it back in its place, he froze. He recognised the man in the picture.
He let out a sigh before slowly turning to face her. He immediately knew from the look on her face that her choice of apartment was no coincidence. She had a guilty smile on her face. Finnick just smirked as he pointed to Lucius in the photo.
"Yeah, um, about that…" Taiya chuckled.
Finnick just rolled his eyes in amusement as he laid the photo frame face down. He wasn't going to tell her off. He wanted Lucius gone as well. That man was a prime purchaser of Cashmere, and Finnick had no problem with people who prayed on victors being punished. But it was probably best the rest of the squad didn't find out. As true as it may be, he didn't want Taiya to be accused of having ulterior motives for choosing this apartment to seek refuge in. Tensions were high enough as it was.
"All clear!" Finnick called out to the rest of the squad, letting them know no Capitol citizens were hiding out.
"Thank you," Taiya squeezed his arm.
"We should probably make sure there are no other photos on display. We don't want any of the camera crew members ratting you out," he quickly kissed her head.
"Soldiers! Living room!" Jackson's voice urgently summoned them.
They turned to walk out and they both tensed up as they heard the noise. They could hear trucks. The Peacekeepers had arrived in the courtyard. Taiya sucked in a breath and grabbed onto Finnick's arm. They'd made it inside Lucius' apartment just in time. Another minute outside and they would've been spotted.
Finnick grabbed onto her hand and the couple hurried out to the living room where the rest of the squad was gathered. Everyone was peering out the edge of the silky curtains so as not to be spotted.
The two of them went to a free spot and looked out. The Peacekeepers and their armoured trucks were swarming the courtyard, heading right to the building they'd just been in. Taiya could feel her heart rate rise. The Peacekeepers would go in and only find the Leegs woman. Their next call of action was sure to be to search all the remaining buildings to find them. They weren't out of the woods yet. She immediately grabbed onto his hand with her spare one, so that her two hands were holding onto his one. Seemingly on instinct, he rubbed his thumb up and down on her hand, trying to provide her some comfort.
Before the Peacekeepers could even enter the building, they were being shot at. One Peacekeeper immediately fell onto the ground. The Peacekeepers were quick to react and immediately began firing back.
"It's Leeg," Finnick announced for the benefit of the squad members who weren't at the window.
The woman wasn't going down without a fight. She just kept firing with such ferocity that the Peacekeepers would never have dreamed it was only one woman. But she was outnumbered. She was never going to make it. Taiya saw the end coming. She saw the Peacekeepers pull out a bazooka. She knew it was over. She immediately slammed her hands over her ears and fell to the ground. It turned out she didn't cope too well with explosions, and she most definitely didn't want to watch what was about to come.
She heard it though.
She felt it in her bones.
It felt as if the whole Earth shook as the building opposite them was blown into pieces.
Finnick immediately had his arms around Taiya as every other squad member ducked down out of sight.
That was another tribute dead.
"Flashlight, flashlight!" Taiya hissed at Homes, who had the inbuilt flashlight on his gun turned on. He quickly scrambled to turn it off and Taiya buried her head into Finnick's shoulder.
She let out a shuddering breath through her teeth. She hadn't lost control of her mind at this explosion, but she could feel herself teetering on the edge. Each time she heard an explosion she was taken back to the arena. To when she had her fractured ankle after Brutus fell on it. To when she and Peeta were desperately running away, knowing full well that they were going to be captured by the Capitol.
"I've got you," Finnick rubbed her back.
There was a ringing that rang through the room as the TV lit up with a mandatory viewing announcement. Everyone in the squad immediately turned their heads to look at the broadcast. Caesar Flickerman with his ridiculous pink hair and pink eyebrows was now in the room with them, and for one of the first times in his broadcasting career, he didn't have a comical grin on his face.
"Good afternoon. I'm Caesar Flickerman. Here with our continuing coverage of the defence of the Capitol. Today, as our Peacekeepers valiantly hold off the rebels, our story takes a surprising twist." The screen then changed as footage of the squad running through the courtyard, away from the black tar, was shown. "Katniss Everdeen, our once favourite daughter, has infiltrated the city with some of the victors, whose names are all too familiar. Finnick Odair, Taiya Ambersnow and Peeta Mellark."
"No mention of irrelevant Gale," Taiya grumbled under her breath as they watched the footage of Peeta attacking Katniss.
"Hmm. Clearly, some alliances don't last forever," Caesar mused as they watched the replay of Peeta throwing Mitchell into the net trap.
Taiya immediately directed her gaze to the boy who was cowering on the staircase, tears in his eyes as he watched the replay of his actions with a clear head. He looked devastated.
"Take a look at what happened just a moment ago, when our Peacekeepers cornered Katniss Everdeen and her band of foolish rebels. Whatever arrogance brought this treacherous girl back to us, you are about to witness a great victory, not only for the Capitol but for Panem."
Everyone had to watch Leegs sacrifice all over again. They'd filmed it. They had to watch the shootout again. They had to watch the explosion again. It'd been less than two minutes and already the Capitol were boasting about how they'd supposedly killed a whole squad of people.
"So there you have it," Caesar smiled. "Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire, a girl who inspired so much violence, seems to have met a violent end herself. Stay tuned for more information. Caesar Flickerman. Thank you."
"So now that we're dead, what are we going to do?" Gale asked the second Caesar's broadcast ended.
"Isn't it obvious?" a shaky voice spoke up from the stairs. Everyone turned to look at Peeta, his tears hadn't yet fallen, but the heartbreak was evident on his face. "The next move is to kill me."
"Yeah, no. That's not going to happen," Taiya immediately shook her head. They weren't doing that. He was a kid. He was only 17. He deserved a life after this. They all did. There was no way she was going to let him die because he was a victim of Capitol brainwashing.
"I murdered one of our squad members," Peeta shook his head.
Finnick was right about what he'd said in the quarter-quell arena. No one won the Games by chance except Peeta. The only person Peeta had ever killed on purpose before had been Brutus, and he'd done that to protect both himself and Taiya. Foxface in his Games had been an accident. Mitchell had been killed in a frenzy. He wasn't in his right mind, but he wouldn't be able to forgive himself for it.
"Katniss is right. I'm a mutt. And it's only a matter of time before I snap again. I'm not in control. I need a night lock pill, so I can die when I need to."
"If it gets to that point, I'll kill you myself," Gale promised with full sincerity.
Finnick knew it was coming, but this time he didn't step in. He watched as the stress ball sailed forcefully across the room and smacked Gale in the cheek.
"What the hell!" Gale exclaimed angrily.
Finnick did stop Taiya from leaping up though. She'd warned Gale before. Another comment like that and she'd put him in the ground. Finnick wrapped his arms around her and tugged her back down, placing his hand over her mouth.
"The Peacekeepers might still be around Tay. We need him alive."
"Debatable," Taiya shoved his hand off but didn't make another attempt to charge Gale — stupid Dale. "I'll get you later," she promised him. "Let me go, Finn," she muttered softly and he slowly released her. She immediately made her way over to Peeta and sat beside him. He needed to know he still had someone on his side, and she was always 100% on his side.
She just sat beside him for a moment, leaving him with his thoughts, until she knew he needed distraction.
"Hey Peeta?"
"Yeah," he mumbled.
"Why don't clams give to charity?"
"Huh?" he turned to look at her in confusion.
"Why don't clams give to charity?" she repeated, nudging his elbow slightly.
"I don't know. Why?" he asked.
"Because they're shellfish!" she smiled softly at him. It took a moment, but she got a small smile in return. "Why does the mermaid wear seashells?"
"Why?"
"Because she grew out of her B-shells."
"Oh god," Peeta let out a soft chuckle.
"I have a better one. Why did the fisherman start doing drugs?"
"Because he had to listen to these jokes?" Peeta suggested.
"No," she ignored his jab. "Pier pressure."
"Hilarious," he rolled his eyes, but it had worked, even if temporarily. She had to get his mind off replaying Mitchell flying into that trap.
"What does a mermaid wear to maths class?"
"What?"
"An algae-bra of course!" Taiya threw her hands up with a dramatic chuckle. "I had to wear a netting bra at the tribute parade. Do you remember that?" she grumbled. "I hated it."
"Not your best look," Peeta agreed.
"My best look will be at my main wedding back home in 4 when we all get out of here," she squeezed his hand. "You can be a bridesmaid."
"Would a dress suit me?"
"Of course it would," she nodded. "You could pull off anything."
"I have a joke," Peeta looked up at her.
"Let's hear it then!" Taiya nodded excitedly.
"Where's Finnick?"
"Do you want him to hear the joke as well? I can get him over here," Taiya offered.
"No, no. Just… where's Finnick?"
"He's by the window? Do you want me to get him, because I can go get him?"
"No, you're doing it wrong. That's my joke. Where's Finnick?"
"I don't get it…" Taiya frowned.
"Odair he is!" Peeta cut her off. "Where's Finnick? Odair he is."
"Oh," Taiya laughed. "Oh, I get it! Odair, oh there! Up top!" she held her hand up for a high-five, but Peeta didn't return it.
"You ruined it by explaining it," he crossed his arms.
Taiya wanted to quip back, but she knew that probably wasn't the best form. He was upset, there was no need to bully him for his poor joke delivery.
The room was filled with silence. Finnick had been watching the two victors talk quietly amongst themselves with a heavy heart. He would always feel guilt for what they both had to go through. He knew deep down it wasn't his fault, it was Snow's. But he'd always regret that he couldn't do more to save them. The effects of the torture would follow them for life. Taiya wouldn't go all murderous like Peeta would, but she was liable to fall into the trap of the voices swirling in her head and have a breakdown, which would be a death sentence in war. There was only so much he could do to help her.
He'd been watching them when he noticed an immediate shift in Taiya's demeanour. She'd shifted from comforting Peeta to going into a panic. Peeta had noticed this as well. "Taiya?"
Finnick leapt to his feet and started to race over. Taiya's face had gone pale, she looked terrified, her eyes wide. "Tay?" he called, urgency creeping into his voice.
Before Finnick could reach her, Taiya suddenly jumped up and raced towards Jackson who was staring at a wall, mourning her fallen friends. Finnick didn't know why she was running towards the woman, so he took a cautious approach and moved swiftly, grabbing her around the waist just before she reached Jackson. Taiya clung to Finnick, her body trembling with a mixture of fear and panic.
"I need a phone. I need a phone. I need a phone," she repeated urgently, her voice strained.
Finnick tried to calm her, his arms wrapped securely around her. "Tay, it's going to be ok. We're going to come up with a plan."
But Taiya's panic only escalated. "Please!" she cried, desperation etched across her face. "I need it! I need it!"
Jackson shook her head, a confused expression on her face. "Our signals are down. You won't be able to get a call through."
"No. No. I need it! I need it! Please you have to help me!" Taiya's frantic pleas filled the apartment, the urgency in her voice growing with each moment.
Finnick tightened his grip, trying to anchor her, but it seemed like nothing could soothe the storm of anxiety raging within her. "What's wrong honey?" he asked, concern deepening in his voice.
"I need to call Tyler! I need to call Tyler!" she collapsed into Finnick's arms with uncontrollable sobs. "He'll think we're dead," she cried, her words laced with desperation. "Please. I need to call him, he has to know we're okay."
Finnick's arms went momentarily slack, the weight of the situation setting heavily on his shoulders. The impossibility of reaching out to Tyler, Buck and Mags at that moment was a cruel reality he hadn't even thought of. He cradled Taiya into his chest, letting her tears fall, understanding the pain she felt for their mentors that they left behind. He just hoped Annie was being kept distracted from the broadcast, she wouldn't be able to handle it.
The thought of Tyler and Buck believing both Finnick and Taiya to be lost forever tore at both of their hearts. They couldn't call them to let them know they were alive, and the crushing weight of that truth hung in the air between them, choking them.
Mim31: C'est génial ! Cela va m'aider à pratiquer ma lecture et mon écriture ! Mais merci, merci, merci pour ton review ! Lis-tu l'histoire traduite ou en anglais ? Je n'ai pas envie de passer à la suite, mais c'est si tôt ! Quelqu'un sur Wattpad l'a appelé "Finnie die die time" et j'étais comme GIRL !
