A Rebellious Spirit | Book III

Chapter Twenty-Six| Last Minute Advice

[AUTHORS NOTE]

Who's ready for the games?! I'm actually so stoked to write about it! You guys are in for a few surprises, some that you may or may not hate me for :}

And a new, VERY IMPORTANT character is mentioned in this chapter =) keep an open mind about District Twelve ;)

Stay classy and enjoy!

_____

Quinn felt like she was going to lose her dinner from the night before. Her stomach was in tight knots, and her entire body was fidgety. The anxiety in the air between herself and Ciruss was practically tangible and it was suffocating. It felt like it was twisting and warping its way around her throat and pressing her against the cool glass of the wall of the elevator. She felt like she couldn't move, and the silence between the two of them was deafening. She kept her eyes moving, taking in every corner of the elevator-- trying to keep her mind off of the games as much as possible-- which wasn't much.

I'm Quinn Maverick, I won the seventy-third Hunger Games. Orion Snow helped me run away from District Four. I made it to District Thirteen. I went back to the Capitol to help Katniss Everdeen. I was sent back to Four. I was chosen as the Capitol Favourite Victor. Quinn listed things off in her head. She knew there was a possibility that she was be dying soon, she also knew there was a slim chance that she could escape the games. And she wanted to remember as much as possible, she wanted to try to keep a tight grasp on whatever sanity she had left.

The elevator came to a stop, and the familiar sound of a hovercraft echoed through the hall. At the end of that hall, she'd leave Ciruss and get on the ship with the other tributes, she'd get her tracker...then she'd be taken to the tubes. Everything sounded like it was underwater, she could hear her own breathing as she walked with Ciruss towards the end of the hallway. With each step her feet began to get heavier and heavier.

"Ciruss," she started, her voice coming out as nothing more than a whisper. "Right now would be the perfect for any last minute advice."

Ciruss glanced down at her as they neared the end, and the hovercraft got closer. The two of them stopped, and turned towards each other instead of the ship. Before Ciruss said anything, he pulled Quinn into a hug, and she hugged him in return.

"Whatever you do," he began while he was still hugging her. "Don't stop breathing." he stated as he let go of her.

She sighed and looked towards the ship with peacekeepers waiting for her.

"Ciruss,"

"Don't say anything, I'll see you on the outside again."

"But-"

"Trust me." he assured her, "Okay?"

She sighed heavily, and nodded. And then with that, she turned and began making her way towards the waiting ship. Again, every step made her feet heavier. Once she got to the ship, a peacekeeper held out a hand and took her right arm. With his other hand her used a thick needle and injected her tracker. It left a burning feeling as it settled in, the metal glowed for a moment, signalling that it had been activated. Then she was allowed to step onto the ship.

She found her way on, next to the open seat next to Orion. They waited for a few minutes as two more tributes for their way on. The doors sealed as everyone fastened their belts on. Nobody spoke, nobody looked at anyone except their allies. Quinn's eyes traveled down the seats opposite of her until she found Finnick. Finnick's eyes were looking down for a moment, until finally they met hers. They didn't need to say anything to confirm their alliance. Her eyes then kept going until she saw Peeta and Katniss. But they were too far to make any sort of eye contact.