Fluid Heart, Firey Soul (Peeta Mellark x Reader)

Chapter 48 - Panic

The anthem begins to play, but the sky remains dark and empty. The audience is sure to be on edge, waiting for another tribute to fall. Hopefully, Beetee's trap is enough to satisfy their bloodlust and keep the Gamemakers from sending any other attacks. Perhaps they are also curious to see if it'll work as planned. I have full confidence in Beetee's abilities, so I'm sure it will.

The evening progresses and at what I'm guessing to be about nine o'clock, we pack up our belongings and leave behind our shell-littered campsite. We make our way to the beach at twelve o'clock, hiking quickly to the lightning tree. Our stuffed stomachs make us more out of breath than we were on this morning's climb, and it feels like it's taking forever to reach the tree. I'm starting to regret those last few oysters.

Once at the tree, Beetee asks me to assist him while the others stand guard. He begins unraveling yards of wire before even attaching it to the tree. He has me secure the end of the wire around a broken branch and set it aside. Standing parallel to Beetee on the opposite side of the trunk, we take turns passing the coil back and forth to wrap the wire around the tree. We're about finished when I hear the sound of the ten o'clock wave.

Beetee beckons us closer, his sharp eyes scanning each member of our group. He begins to reveal the rest of his plan. "Johanna and Peeta," he says, gesturing towards them with the coil of wire. "You will take this coil down through the jungle, unraveling it as you go. You are to take it to the twelve o'clock beach and drop the metal spool, with whatever is left, deep into the water. Make sure it sinks to the bottom. If you leave now, you should be able to make it back safely.

"I want to go with them," I say. I can't let him out of my sight. Not even for a moment.

Beetee shakes his head firmly. "I need you here on this end," he says. "There's no time to argue. If they are to make it out alive, they need to move now." He thrusts the coil into Johanna's hands, her expression unreadable in the darkness.

I don't like this plan one bit. How can I protect Peeta from afar? But Beetee is right; with Peeta's leg, they need to leave now if they're going to make it down the slope in time. It's our only shot at making this work.

"Remember, not into the lightning zone," Beetee says. "Head for the tree in the one-to-two-o'clock sector. And if you find yourselves running out of time, move over just one more. Under no circumstances should you return to the beach until I can assess the damage."

Peeta takes my face in his hands, his eyes searching mine. "I'll see you at midnight, okay?" he whispers before pressing a kiss to my lips. Before I can say anything else, he lets go and turns to Johanna. Neither of them looks pleased about being teamed up, but if Beetee thinks those two will be the best to take the wire down the slope, so be it. Without another word, they start their journey to the beach.

I watch until their silhouettes are fully dissolved in the foliage, leaving me alone with Beetee and Finnick. I turn to face them and my unease grows stronger. They exchange a sort of glance that sets off alarm bells in my mind. What do they know that I don't? Are they planning to kill me? Or worse, kill Peeta?

"What is going on?" I demand, my voice sharper than intended. Beetee hesitates, his eyes flickering back to Finnick before meeting mine. He opens his mouth as if to say something, but then closes it as if he's weighing the risks of saying anything.

"Beetee," I press, stepping closer. "You're hiding something. I can see it. What aren't you telling me?"

His eyes flick to the ground and Finnick shifts his weight uncomfortably. I try to keep myself calm, but I can feel anger and irritation starting to rise. "We don't have time for this," Beetee finally says, his voice steady but urgent. "You just have to trust me."