DESTINED ✧ F. ODAIR

[ 32 ]

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CHAPTER 32
❝ IT'S ME AGAIN ❞

PERSEPHONE WILLOWS. Her name danced on their lips like a melody in the capitol. It was their favourite song. Despite it being years since her victory and only one since the star-crossed lovers took over every news outlet and headline, Persephone is still a capitol favourite. Her name rolled off their tongue in hushed whispers, talking of the deeds she commits behind the scenes, satisfying sponsors and officials. They speak of the blood she spilt in the arena and the talent that reigns in her bloodline; like a legend. They speak of her controversial relationship with Odair and her friendship that went awry with Roscent.

It was insulting. The way they spoke of her as if she didn't exist, like she was a fable to put their children to sleep at night.

Yet she couldn't do anything but smile and wave at them when she crossed them on the streets of Panem and appeared on talkshows and interviews. Each year her tributes died in vain, living as less than a memory because their mentor outshines them. It felt cruel. No matter how hard she tried to build a victor that was bigger and better than her, she always managed to come back to the forefront of their attention.

This year was the same as before. Except today, standing on this podium with the salty clear water splashing under her feet, it was also different than before. Instead of spilt tears that awaited to fall because of the impending doom of her tributes, it was her in this arena. And she has a chance to end it all, to drag the god forbidden man and his white rose through the fire to burn with them.

The booming speakers that deafened her ears with a ring and the bright bold yellow numbers that counted down was out of focus. She could feel her heart beat in synchronisation with the breathing of the other tributes beneath the sounds of the birds chirping and the roaring water. They were nervous, but not afraid.

What is there to be afraid of if we were all prepared to die?

Is probably what they were all thinking.

No.

What they are all thinking. Most of them have nothing to lose anymore and even if they did, they're ready to die with purpose. When the alarm rang, marking the start of the games, none of them hesitated to push their feet forward. Some dove into the water and some ran against the rock walls. No one was going to wait around and run away anymore and Persephone never felt more alive.

Despite hating the blood and the sins of murder, she couldn't help but accept that the only time she felt the most like herself in the past five years, was when she stood in this arena today with only one thought in mind.

Rebellion.

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I could faintly feel my heart palpating in my chest as it worked itself to the bone to keep up with my movements. I picked up the urumi and slid on the belt with a storage pouch to hold the weapon around my waist. In the distance, I see a bronze bundle of hair that couldn't be mistaken for anyone else other than Finnick and I felt unconcerned. I knew that nothing will happen to him, but the same couldn't be said for the others. Beetee, Johanna, and Wiress were no where to be seen and in the chaos of the cornucopia, I lost sight of Peeta Mellark.

Although we didn't directly agree to work together and become allies, Emory silently weaved a mockingjay pin through the stretchy material of my wetsuit right before I was taken away. I understood better than anyone what that meant and so did the man watching me through the screen back in Panem.

The pin, tucked under an outer layer of the suit was pressed against my flesh. The metal chilled me and constantly reminded me of its presence and my purpose in this arena. It kept my tired eyes from giving up its task of searching for the blonde haired tribute and it proved to be helpful when I locked eyes with a strangled boy. An arm was wrapped around his neck with the other holding his head in place and Jackson Spidell from District 10's hungry and bloodthirsty eyes peeked out from above Peeta's shoulder.

The waves of betrayal hit quite early on and I was furious. Jackson, who wholeheartedly agreed to their plan in the capitol just a few days ago had turned his back on them and is trying to drown half of the targets of the rescue mission.

I took a sharp breath before diving straight into the water. It wasn't long until I reached the two, shoving the ball of my foot right into the back of the brown haired man. His moppy hair slapped against my face as he turned his head quickly to face me, his grip tightening around the neck of Peeta without mercy. Pain contorted on his face mixed with anger and his flushed cheeks paled at the contact. Receiving the response I wanted, I jab my elbow into his throat, causing him to let go of his hand that held Peeta's head and to attempt a punch at my face. The ice cold water made it hard to move and after failing to move out of the way, I soon felt his knuckles braze my cheek and a growing pain shot down my neck. I reached out quickly to hold onto Spidell's wrist, pulling him down into the water with me when I found myself losing my balance and becoming unable to float. The man finally let go of the barely conscious blonde that moved along the current of the waves.

Briefly, I could faintly hear the sound of his name being called right before my entire head dunked into the water. Spidell, who wasn't pleased about being entirely covered by the coldness of the salty water, reached his hand out and met his mark around my throat, squeezing it tighter and tighter the longer we spent submerged.

My mouth opened in a strangled cry, water seeping into my throat and into my legs and the bubbles screams were suffocated.

I could see black dots slowly blinking in my vision and my consciousness begin to sleep and as my lungs began to burn like it never has before, blood spurted out from Jackson's throat and the pressure on my throat eased. I could barely hear, see, or breathe and could barely comprehend the sound of muffled voices around me and the blinding sun above my head right before I lost consciousness and everything finally blacked out.