FAILURE TO COMPLY ┃ f. odair

3.12 believe me, forgive me

Five minutes passed. Calypso gave their two allies that long to get far away enough from the tree before she started to follow the wire. She estimated the length she'd need, and even when she got there, it kept going. Johanna and Katniss were plenty far away to do what needed to be done. Calypso pulled a knife from her belt and cut the wire short.

As she headed for the tree once more, the plan played over and over in her head: wire the tree, wire the spear, hit the forcefield. Wire the tree, wire the spear, hit the forcefield. That was her only task now. Everything else was in place. Johanna had Katniss, Finnick had Peeta-

"Peeta, wait!" Finnick's voice came echoing through the trees. Calypso broke into a run only to see the blonde from Twelve heading straight for her. He veered left, avoiding her path, but then turned again to head for the beach. As Finnick came running too, she all but threw her spear and the wire towards him.

"I'll go!" she yelled, already following the runaway victor. "Get those to Beetee! Get it done!"

"Calypso!" he called after her. He wanted her to stay.

There was no time for final words as she sprinted after Peeta. It could've gone so well. They could've cooperated and everything might've gone off without a hitch. But she and Haymitch had been too reckless in their reluctant agreement to keep the truth hidden. The danger of it meant nothing when the real danger was the devotion that drove Peeta to stray from his post. All she could do now was trust that Finnick and Beetee could deal with the forcefield. Her job now was to spill blood and save her ally.

"Peeta!" Calypso called out. Her fast legs carried her forward until her body collided with his and the pair went tumbling to the ground. "Stop! I need you to stop!"

"No, you stop!" he growled defensively, forcing her off with all the strength he had. Calypso's back hit a tree, sending a shockwave of pain through her already existing scratches and bruises. Ones she'd gotten from protecting his 'fiancée'. "Katniss!"

Calypso launched a knife in the air, just clipping Peeta's arm and slowing him down enough for her to recover and get close again. A swift kick to his back and he was down, bearing all her weight atop him. She wasted no time in bringing another knife to his arm, slicing as he cried out in pain and betrayal.

She was thrown off again before the cut was complete, rolling down a bank into a muddy ditch. He was back on his feet and stumbling away in the desperate hopes of finding his lover. No. They would never find each other again if she didn't finish her job.

"I'm trying to help!" she called out, dirtying her hands to pull herself back up. She propelled herself to his level and ran once more, only catching him again as he descended another slope. The pair went tumbling down, bodies colliding again and again.

By the time they got to the bottom, Calypso didn't want to move. All her muscles and bones ached and somewhere inside herself she had a growing urge just to give up. Lucky for her, Peeta was on the ground groaning at the impact of the fall too.

She was seconds away from taking advantage of the opportunity when the sky was alight with a brilliant blue. Lightning hit the tree, and then it exploded as the forcefield was hit and a circle of fire erupted from the impact area. It was done, but not by Finnick or Beetee. That was an arrow's work. That was Katniss' work.

"What?" she voiced breathlessly. Peeta pushed himself up onto his knees as he, too, watched on. "What?"

"What just happened?" the boy questioned, finally looking at his former ally. "What the hell was that?"

"It was the end," she said. Above them, cracks began to emerge in the dome. Light poured through, real and beautiful. She almost smiled despite her confusion. Whether by Katniss or Finnick or whoever else, it was done. "Peeta, it's over."