BOMBSHELL - Finnick Odair

33

Finnick

The room's in an uproar.

Everyone's screaming questions and demands at Peeta's warning.

"Shut up!"

Everyone's eyes fall to Haymitch.

"It's not some big mystery," he says. "The boy's telling us we're about to be attacked. Here. In Thirteen."

"How would he have that information?"

"Why should we trust him?"

"How do you know?"

The man growls frustratingly, "They're beating him bloody while we speak. What more do you need? Katniss, help me out here!"

I turn to look at the mute girl. She hesitates before responding. But I notice.

"Haymitch's right. I don't know where Peeta got the information. Or if it's true. But he believes it is. And they're—"

She stops. Unable to say the next words that we all know.

And I sympathize with her.

"You don't know him," Haymitch says to Coin. "We do. Get your people ready."

The president doesn't seem alarmed in the slightest. Instead, she pauses for a moment, tapping her finger against her chin.

Her behavior towards the captured victors, Peeta, Johanna, and-

My hands flex. The urge to yank against the rope grows strong. Even the mere thought of her brought this reaction from me.

"Let's proceed with the lockdown," says Coin.

She clicks a few keys and then an ear piercing siren sounds out, distracting me from my inner turmoil. Boggs guides Katniss and I out of command and towards a stairway.

We descend, flight after flight.

Katniss' head whips around, looking around for any sign of her mother and Prim. But it's impossible to see anyone except those around us.

The stairs finally end at the edge of a cavern. We have to wave our schedules in front of a scanner before we can go in.

"Report to the area that matches your assigned quarters," Boggs instructs.

Katniss was in E, while I was in F.

We cross to our respected bunkers and carved into the wall are bunks. I scoff at the sight of a BunkerProtocal sheet splayed across the beds.

Listed on the sheet is who's in my quarter.

Wesley Black.

Is written in thick, black letters.

While I wait for the boy to join me, I collect our supplies from the Supply Station. Katniss and I must've been one of the first few to arrive.

But as the space continues to fill, Wes is still a no show.

"Where's Prim?"