THE SIREN'S SONG 𓇼 F. ODAIR

70 ~ the lizard mutts

The entire squad agreed. Underground was the safest bet.

They all set into action, clearing the area of any traces of their stay. Every empty can and package got chucked down the garbage chute in the kitchen, and the still-full ones were pocketed for later. Stained cushions were flipped and fluffed, and doors were locked.

They were ready to go in less than ten minutes.

Carolina made her way to the maintenance shaft that connected that apartment to the adjoining one. She only stopped when she realized that everyone else was planted in their spots, staring at the same person.

"I'm not going," Peeta said, crossing his arms as he refused to leave the blue couch he was sitting on. "I'll either disclose your position or hurt someone else."

"Snow's people will find you," Finnick said.

"Then leave me with a pill," Peeta said. "I'll only take it if I have to."

Not a single person in the room believed Peeta's words.

"That's not an option," Jackson shook her head resolutely. "Come along."

"Or you'll what? Shoot me?

"We'll knock you out and drag you with us," Carolina scoffed. "Which will both slow us down and put us in even more danger, so the sacrifice you think you are making would be for nothing."

"Stop being noble! I don't care if I die!" Peeta shouted, turning to plead to Katniss. "Katniss, please. Don't you see I want to be out of this?"

Katniss went silent for a long moment before shaking her head, saying, "We're wasting time. Are you coming voluntarily or do we knock you out?"

Peeta dug his face into his hands for a moment, trying to put himself together before standing up to join the rest of the squad.

"Should we free his hands?" Leeg 1 asked.

"No!" Peeta rejected it immediately.

"No," Katniss said, calmer. "But I want the key."

Jackson handed Katniss the key to Peeta's cuffs without a word, and the squad finally made their way through the maintenance shaft and broke into the second apartment they passed. It was nearly identical to the apartment that they were hiding out in. However, one of the bedrooms had a door labeled UTILITY rather than an adjoining bathroom.

"It's why no one ever wants the center unit," Messalla said. "Workmen coming and going whenever and no second bath. But the rent's considerably cheaper..."

"Hey, Messalla," Carolina hummed, stopping the man from complaining any further.

"Yes?" he asked.

"About half of us here grew up in a shack."

Messalla was quiet for a moment, and Carolina could hear the soft giggles of Finnick, Katniss, and Fletch coming from behind her.

"Right," Messalla said eventually. "Sorry."

The utility room was small, only having a latch on the floor that opened to a ladder leading to the underground. Carolina wasn't fond of going below ground, but her reaction was nothing compared to Pollux's, who suddenly became sweaty and pale just staring at the tube with horror filling his eyes.

"My brother worked down here after he became an Avox," Castor explained. "Took five years before we were able to buy his way up to ground level. Didn't see the sun once."

Carolina looked at Pollux with pity. Just the idea of not seeing the sun for a week or even a day drove her mad, and she couldn't even imagine the cruel conditions he must have worked under for those five long years. Everyone around her seemed to think the same thing, but no one spoke up for a minute, and it was the last person Carolina thought would do so.