BOMBSHELL - Finnick Odair

17

Ember

My hand practically stuck to my sweaty forehead as I wiped away the beads of sweat trickling down my temples.

Hot.

That was the best way to describe the arena.

With each slice Peeta made through the dense, jungle limbs, the hotter it seemed to get.

And tense.

Finnick earlier couldn't help himself and laughed at the canons, losing a bit more of the girl's trust. Which earned him a smack on the back of the head from me.

I followed closely behind Peeta, with Finnick and Mags in tow. Katniss, with her arrow strung, followed not far behind.

We made the trudge through the jungle silently. None of us daring to break the thick tension.

Until.

"PEETA, NO!"

I heard the zap at the same time a force knocked me off my feet, sending me soaring through the air.

My back abruptly made contact with the harsh, rocky floor. All of the air left my chest once more and I gasped.

It felt like his fingers were wrapped around my throat again.

I rolled over onto my stomach, palms outstretched in the dirt, trying to remind myself how to breathe again. My ears were ringing slightly, making everything a little hazy.

I felt Katniss scramble past my limp figure and over to Peeta in a panic.

"He's not breathing," she said, hand pressed against his cheek. "He's not breathing!" 

"He's not breathing," she squeaked again. "Peeta!"

I watched Finnick push the girl out of the way and when she reached for an arrow, I leaped at her.

My arms wrapped around her shoulders as I pulled her down onto the ground. She squirmed as we rolled, with me landing on top of her.

"Look!" I yelled, trying to hold her thrashing body down, my back aching with each movement. "He's helping him."

She slowed and then stopped altogether. Now that she was calm, I rolled off her and onto to my stomach again.

I grunted in pain from all the sudden action.

"Come on," Finnick said desperately in between breaths.

We both knew without Peeta the entire plan would fall apart. Katniss didn't trust either of us enough to stick around.

She sobbed as she cried out, "Please wake up!"

I forced myself onto my knees and into a better suited position. We were vulnerable and making too much noise.

The girl whimpered out a final, "Please, Peeta...Peeta."

Finnick delivered a final breath.

And Peeta let out a quiet gasp.