"Bad news," Tigris says later the next day after returning to her shop. I look up at her, though I remain on Finnick's lap. "Refugees will begin being housed in shops."
"What?" Gale asks, frowning.
"We have to leave," Katniss realizes. I tighten my grip on Finnick's shirt, frowning.
"When do we go?" Finnick asks, subconsciously pulling me even closer to him.
"Now," I say. Everyone stares at me. I stand up, pulling out two knives. I twirl them, smirking. "C'mon. I want to kill Snow."
"That's my girl!" Finnick exclaims proudly to Pollux. Gale smiles slightly. Finnick wraps his arm around my shoulders, kissing my cheek. "My lovely, amazing, beautiful, brilliant, homicidal girl."
"You two are perfect for each other," Cressida deadpans.
"I know, right?" Finnick says happily.
"C'mon, Finn," I say, tugging lightly on his arm. "We have a president to kill."
"Let's go, baby," he grins, leading me to the door. To everyone else, "We're going straight for the president's mansion. Asphodel and I will detain Snow, while the Rebels secure the Capitol. Then, Snow's execution will be televised."
Finnick adjusts my cloak, then his own, before leading me outside. He holds my hand tightly, protectively, securely. He glares at anyone who looks at me too long.
"I know secret passageways," I tell Finnick. He looks at me curiously. "It was part of the reason Snow had me Reaped. Anyway. We could be in Snow's office in ten minutes."
His eyes hold an unreadable emotion as he watches me examine our surroundings. I nod my head toward an ally, so that's where we go. I open what looks like a garbage chute, but Finnick stops me.
"I'm going in first," he decides.
"Finnick-"
"No."
He kisses me softly before jumping in. I sigh, gritting my teeth before following him. I land easily, getting a good look at my surroundings. I point down the tunnel.
"C'mon Finn. That way," I tell him, leading the way. I take several turns, but I'm stopped when I'm pushed against the concrete wall. I raise my eyebrows at Finnick, who has a playful smirk on his face.
"Hi," he whispers.
"Hey," I grin. He kisses me softly, then moves his lips to my forehead.
"Swear you'll be careful?"
"Of course."
"And you'll kill Snow quickly?"
"Hey, they don't say I'm the Silent Killer for nothing."
He chuckles softly, giving me one last kiss before freeing me. My wedding ring- a thin silver band with a freshwater pearl and three small diamonds on either side- glitters in the dim lighting coming in from the gratings. The two of us run in carefully, and I hear Katniss' voice come in from the earpiece I wear.
"Hey Asphodel?" she asks.
"Mhm?" I reply.
"Secure Snow. Don't kill him just yet. Cressida is going to have it televised," she informs me.
"Alright," I reply. "Thanks Katniss."
"No problem."
The two of us continue forward in silence, each of us lost in thought. I imagine the future, Finnick and I living in the District Four Victor's Village. I picture us having a few children, a girl with my hair and Finnick's eyes, a boy who's the spitting image of Finnick, and another boy with Finnick's hair and my eyes. I would love that. I smile to myself at the thought of Finnick and I's wedding.
District Five has no real wedding traditions, so I imagine we'll have a traditional District Four wedding. The only real tradition in Five is the presence of moonstones, emeralds, red garnets, and rubies. Normally, the bride wears some sort of headpiece that displays the four gems. The moonstones symbolize faithfulness and support in the relationship, the emeralds symbolize love in the marriage, red garnets symbolize the finding of true love, and the rubies stand for unconditional love, devotion, and passion within the marriage.
I imagine my ideal wedding dress, and I want it to be simple, yet elegant. I want it to be loose and flowing, while still fitted and complimenting. I imagine pinning pearls in my hair, and wearing jewelry made of seashells. I look forward to it.
"Asphodel," Finnick murmurs.
I see it, too. A metal ladder leading up into what I know is the president's office. It's supposed to be his way of escape in the case of an attack, but instead, it's bringing him closer to death.
"Ready?" I whisper, bracing myself. He nods, kissing my cheek.
"I love you, baby," he says softly. "This will all be over soon. Then, we can get married."
That brings a smile to my face. I nod, agreeing with him.
"I love you too. Now let's do this."
Working silently, I climb the ladder and remove the covering of the entrance. I peak my head up and spot two guards in the room. I throw two knives, and they fall noiselessly. I hurriedly climb into the room, realizing Snow is in the attached bathroom. Finnick wordlessly climbs into the room after me, covering the escape route back up. I press the button on my cuff, and the two knives fly back into my vest, which will clean the blood off of them. I pull out a fresh knife.
Snow walks into the room, and he stops in his tracks. The spokes of Finnick's trident are at his throat.
"Move, and I'll kill you," he warns, his voice deep. Snow slowly puts his hands up in surrender, and I smirk.
"Hello Asphodel," Snow says with a small smirk. I toss my cruel-bladed knife up, then catch it perfectly without looking.
"Coriolanus," I nod. "I will kill you. Not here, and not now, but I will kill you. You murdered my family, you murdered my fiancé's family, and you murdered my best friend's family. I refuse to let you get away with any of it. You will pay."
"You were never meant to live," he says, quite calmly, "yet here you are. Delivering my death sentence."
"What? You didn't see that coming?" I smirk. "You should know well enough by now that I don't stop until I get what I want. I'm the smartest person in the country, Coriolanus. You never should have messed with me. It has always only meant your demise."
"I can see that now," he replies carefully.
"Please tie him up, Finnick," I request. "Duct tape his mouth shut, too. Can't have him making any noise."
"This is for my sisters," Finnick growls before slashing the blades of his trident across Snow's face. Then, he does as I requested.
"He's taken care of," I tell Katniss through my earpiece.
She doesn't reply. I'm about to send out another signal when a bomb goes off. Suddenly, the doors to the office are pushed open. Peacekeepers flood in, and Finnick and I begin picking them off. I run out of knives fairly quickly, so I begin throwing carefully-aimed punches and hits into various nerves that kill them instantly. I know the fighting is over when I see Coin walk in.
"Asphodel," she nods. "Finnick. Your jobs are done until Snow's execution. You are entitled to anyplace in this mansion. You are dismissed."
I stare at her before gathering my knives. Finnick wraps an arm around my shoulders, holding his trident tightly.
"C'mon," he says. "Let's go."
•••••
A/N: Hey guys! Two chapters left, then it's time for the next book! Make sure to vote and comment!
Also, check out MarianBenker 's Finnick story: "Jabberjay!"
