THE SIREN'S SONG 𓇼 F. ODAIR

47 ~ the final hurrah

Chaos ensued as soon as the stage lights turned off, and Peacekeepers stormed the stage. Each tribute had three Peacekeepers surrounding them to escort them back to their apartments and lock them away for the night.

Reef and the other victors who weren't on stage were also surrounded and returned to the apartment soon after Carolina and Finnick. They all headed straight to their room with looks of defeat and exhaustion on their faces.

Carolina stayed in the living area, laying down on the couch with a hand pressed over her face. She was exhausted both physically and mentally, not only from everything that happened that night but also from the entire week. Finnick watched her closely for a moment before sitting down beside her and moving her legs to his lap.

"Are we going to talk about it?" he asked quietly.

Carolina moved her hand from her face so she could look at Finnick.

"I am not going to be in your alliance, Finn," she sighed.

Finnick corrected her. "I mean, are we going to talk about you admitting you are still in love with me?"

Carolina sat up. "I never told you otherwise."

"But you showed it," Finnick shrugged. "Ignoring me for a month. Refusing to hold my hand or look at me for that matter. I thought I lost you completely."

"Finn–"

"But that song," Finnick shook his head, a smirk rising on his face. "Did you mean it? Do you still mean it?"

Carolina stared at Finnick for a moment before slowly nodding.

"I meant all of it."

Finnick reached out to squeeze Carolina's hand.

"Then we're a team. If you're not joining Katniss and Peeta's alliance, then I'm joining yours," he said.

"You know I can't let you do that," Carolina shook her head. "You need to protect them."

"No, I need to protect you."

"I don't want you to protect me," Carolina stood up from the couch to create room between her and Finnick. "Finnick, I don't want you anywhere near me in that arena!"

"Why can't you just let me help you?"

"Because I am going to die in that arena!" Carolina huffed. "We all know it, and I refuse to let you see me die!"

"Lina, you could be rescued."

Finnick stood up as well and reached out to her, but Carolina took a step back.

"And then what? Be seen as a villain? Who's going to trust me after I almost married a Snow and tried to kill Peeta in the training center?" When Finnick didn't reply right away, Carolina continued. "Finnick, I am a dead man walking. I have made my peace with that, but I know you haven't."

"There has to be something–"

"There isn't," Carolina snapped. "You deserve to be saved, to be free, and that is only going to happen if you protect Katniss and Peeta."

"Lina," Finnick reached out again and this time, Carolina let him hold her. "I can't just let you go into that arena alone."

"She won't be alone," someone said by the apartment's entrance.

The couple quickly jumped apart to see Cashmere and Gloss standing by the front door. Cashmere held a hairpin that was bent out of shape. Carolina stared at it with wide eyes.

"Did you break into this apartment?" Carolina asked.

"How long have you been here?" Finnick asked at the same time.