Allied Hearts - Finnick Odair

Chapter 30

Aidan's body shivered next to me, I'd already taken my own extra layers off to provide the younger boy more warmth but it hadn't made much of a difference.

I ignored my own coldness for the sake of the boy, watching his delicate features as he slept. He looked like he didn't have a care in the world but I knew different, inside his youthful mind was a million fears and unhappy endings.

A canon sounded throughout the sky. My mind wondered if it was my own poison that had done the trick. I'd tried to convince myself that it was humane what I had done, it wasn't viscously taking a life with a knife.

It was malicious.

It was Coriolanus's way of killing. I was surrounded by snow when it was the one thing I wanted to get away from.

There wasn't enough room to move in the secluded safe space. You could lie on your back comfortably and that was all.

White ice surrounded my eyes and all I wished for was to be back at the mansion, staring out the window at the stars.

'Where am I?' Aidan's voice had broke the silence causing a confused look to be shot his way.

His lips were blue and his skin was pale. His eyes looked heavy with exhaustion.

'Aidan, are you okay?' I was beyond concerned, he looked frail.

'Oh sorry Alia, yeah I'm okay'. He did his best to put on a convincing show but his words slurred into one. It was like he had to fight for the energy to even utter a word.

I tried to push aside my growing concerns and replace them with rational ones. We needed to find food, our stomachs were starving and our bodies were growing lethargy with a lack of nutrients.

Taking in the fragile boy before me we both decided the best plan was for me to go alone. Aidan didn't necessarily like this plan but he knew that he couldn't muster up enough energy to make it out of the igloo and fight any potential killers.

It was a struggle to shuffle myself out of the shelter as well as the huge bow and arrow armed onto my back. I needed the poisoned arrows for any trespassers. And although I was armed it didn't stop the fear of being a bad shot creep up.

We hadn't practised using a bow and arrow in training but I had no choice but to take the chance. I kicked myself for not grabbing a more resourceful bag at the beginning of this dreaded game.

The careers were probably doing victory laps already of the arena. No doubt armed with the best of the best. She wondered if anyone had a trident like Finnick.

Finnick.

The thought of him hurt her heart. He may of moved on already. Maybe he was overjoyed at the circumstances just like my father. Most days I felt like a burden.

My heavy boots kicked softly at the delicate snow. At one time I would've admired this weather, the pretty snowflakes cascading from the sky. And the fun activity of building a snowman.

Nothing was fun about this. My hands were freezing and purple with a lack of warmth and circulation. I thought of Aidan in the snow shelter with my coats, I wouldn't of deprived him from warmth, even if it meant my own downfall.

'Well, look what we have here'. A voice I didn't recognise had shocked my system when it appeared from behind.

I began to run but was sharply pulled back by a tug on the bow and arrow armed on my back. It fell to the floor with a tug, as did I.

I crawled away from the mystery attacker. Reprimanding myself for not paying more attention to the tributes in the training sessions. Maybe if I had I could've spotted a weakness.

The only person weak in this moment was me. I was forced onto my back as the vicious shadow straddled my waist, holding my arms above my head so I couldn't break free.

The boys face came into view and I could guess he was older but couldn't be sure. His stature was bigger and stronger for sure.

I had no chance.