❝ sometimes it feels like I've got a war in my mind
i want to get off but i keep riding the ride
i never really notice that i had to decide
to play someone's game or to live my own life ❞
【 cassie abernathy was the younger sister of...
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"Are you ready?" Haymitch asked his sister as he stood in front of her before sending her up into the tube into the arena.
The girl could not even get a sentence out. Her eyes filled with tears and her mouth became dry and numb. The pit in her stomach grew increasingly. She reached forward and embraced her brother in a hug. "I don't want to die. I don't want them to die."
"Cassidy, just trust me," he says, rubbing her back for support. He normally never would say her full name unless it was serious. She looked alarmed at her brother's comment but decided not to speak on it.
"10 seconds to launch."
"I love you, Cassidy. Make me proud. Remember who the real enemy is."
She grabbed onto Haymitch's hand for what she thought was going to be the last time ever. Just like the first games, her thoughts began to race her mind. She knew in her heart she wasn't going to make it out alive, but she would hope the best for Finnick, Katniss, and Peeta. She knew at least one of them had a shot of staying alive. She also feared that Finnick would sacrifice himself for her, but the girl knew she would do the same for him.
She brought herself to get inside the tube as it automatically slid shut. By this time, Haymitch had tears streaming down his face as he looked at the only family he had left right in front of him. "I love you," he mouthed to her.
"I love you, Haymitch," she croaked out as she felt the tube slowly moving upwards. She recognized that the suit was thermal, almost like a swim suit. She understood that a tropic arena would most likely be in use. She also understood how she had to find Finnick right away, no matter what.
She was exposed. She was out in the open. The sun was blinding the girl in the eye as she grew frantic by the second. Her breathing became faster and her tears were no longer present. She knew it was game time.
She spotted Finnick two spots away from her to the right, although she couldn't see Katniss or Peeta. Finnick was already looking at the girl, scared for what was about to happen. He already had a plan.
"You stay there and count to ten, then swim to me," he mouthed to her. She was surprised she could make out what he was saying being that he was far from her. She nodded in agreement.
The countdown started.
She knew she had to swim, which was better then being exposed out in the open, but she wasn't very good at it. She understood that Finnick was trying to make sure she was safe before she jumped into the water to swim to the center.
"3...2...1." The canon went off. All Cassie was concerned about was counting to ten. She saw Finnick dive in the water and quickly made his way to the center in under ten seconds. As Cassie was counting, she saw him stab another tribute that posed as a threat to him with his trident. "Now!" He screamed.
Cassie attempted to dive in the water and tried to swim as fast as she could. She swam up for air and lifted herself up onto the ground to run the remainder of the time. As soon as she did this, she looked to her left to see the guy from district five racing her. He was much faster than her, but she was almost towards the center where Finnick and now Katniss both were.
Finnick immediately ran forward and tackled the guy from the ground. After punching him a couple of times, he then stabbed him with his trident.
His eyes were cold but he knew he had to protect Cassie, no matter what.
The broken girl immediately ran to hug Finnick as they hurried to grab whatever weapons they could find.
Cassie quickly spotted a machete and grabbed it to put the sword in its holder around her arm. All three of them discussed their plan to find Peeta when they saw Mags pointing towards the water.
"Oh my god, Peeta," Cassie mutters, hoping the worst was not about to happen.
Finnick immediately jumped in to save him as the three women stood, awaiting for the results of the fight.
Cassie gripped onto Mags's arm as the cannon went off. Terror spread through all three of their eyes, especially Katniss's.
After realizing Peeta was alive, they made it a point to run into the jungle where they knew they would be a bit safer.
Finnick had Mags on his back as he made Cassie run in front of him so he never lost sight of her.
The girl hated running. With a passion. Sweat trickled down her face and all throughout her body as she grew warmer by the second. After what seemed to be five straight minutes of running they stopped, trying to understand their surroundings better.
"God, it's so hot," Cassie states.
They all breathed heavily looking at one another, except for Katniss. "Cinna," she says, still looking down. "They got him."
Cassie's eyes shot straight at the girl in front of her. "What do you mean? What do you mean they got him?"
Katniss's eyes filled with tears as the now seemingly broken girl understood what she was trying to say. "Oh no," she croaked out. "Oh god no."
Cassie looked up to Cinna for about ten years straight. He guided her and was her family. She was confused. And she was angry.
"Cassidy," Finnick sympathizes. He tried to grab her hand, but she quickly retaliated standing up.
Katniss was still in shock about seeing his death, her gaze was still focused on the ground. "They just came in and beat him. It's all my fault."
"How was this your fault?" Cassie asked, going to sit next to the girl.
"The dress. Why else would they kill him," Katniss cries softly.
"Do not blame yourself, Kat. Please." She puts her arm around her. "We all need to stick together now, for real. We're all we have left."
Cassie's heart was big. No matter how bad she was hurting, she would always sympathize with other people before herself. She hated seeing the people she loved hurt, no matter how bad she was hurting herself.
"We should try to keep moving, maybe find fresh water," Peeta suggests. They nod in agreement as they got up, now walking instead of running.
"Cassidy," Finnick says, walking next to her. "We can't let him die for nothing. You have to win this."
"He was too kind for this world," she ignores. "I wish I could've helped him."
"There was nothing you could have done. Just focus on getting out of this alive."
Interrupting their conversation, the cannon went off three times.
"Well we're certainly not holding hands anymore," Finnick smirks sarcastically.
"You think this is funny?" Katniss remarks.
Cassie tried to tune them both out, not in the mood for either of their bickering. She knew that the two didn't hate each other, but Finnick and Katniss weren't exactly the bestest of friends.
"Listen, Katniss, if you want to face the career pack alone, be my guest. But what would Haymitch say?"
Cassie immediately returned her attention to the conversation once she heard her brother's name. "Hey. That's enough. Let's go."
Without even hesitating, the girl continued the walk, hoping the rest of the group would follow suit.
