Two Evils ◦ Finnick Odair

sette; a flash of lightning

TWO EVILS.

07. SETTE: A FLASH OF LIGHTNING

❝Someday I want to love someone that much.❞

❝And so you shall my darling. So you shall.❞

Since Peeta had decided to run into a force field, Grier had taken it upon herself to be front and center of the group. If there were another force field, no matter how much she despised the idea, Grier would get hurt first. No one else.

Every so often, Grier or Katniss, who had made her way beside Grier despite the older girl's protests, threw rocks at the force field, watching each bounce. It told them to stay away from the force field but don't go too close to the center.

On occasion, Grier would run a hand through her short, damp hair, hating the way it clung to her forehead and neck. The heat was making it impossible to do anything yet they still pushed forward. Step by step, they made their way along the jungle, stumbling over anything and everything despite their fast reflexes.

Just as Grier felt like she was about to pass out from heat exhaustion and dehydration, Katniss held up her hand causing everyone to stop. They all watched as Katniss walked up to a particularly tall tree, ready to climb. "Hang on."

She gripped the base, climbing inch by inch until none of them could see how far Katniss was up in the tree. They all stayed silent, waiting, watching the sky like Katniss had done. Grier jumped back when she saw the dome of the arena react to what seemed to be an arrow from Katniss' bow and tightened her grip on her beloved machete. The tiles glowed, a chain reaction until it stopped at what seemed to be the edge  of the arena, the edge of their world.

Slowly, Katniss climbed down, a blank look on her face. "A force field. It's a dome. We're at the edge of the arena. I couldn't find any signs of fresh water."

Grier nodded, looking to Finnick who spoke first. "It's gonna get dark soon. We'll be safe if our backs protected. We should set up camp. Take turns sleeping." The look on Katniss' face made it clear she didn't want to. She didn't trust them and frankly, Grier didn't blame her. She didn't trust herself in the Games.

"Finnick and I can take first watch." Grier supplied, happy to finally be resting even if she wouldn't be sleeping. The bodyguards had to stay awake, they had to protect the two who clearly weren't worth protecting. In fact, they were becoming too much trouble to keep around.

Katniss shook her head, an incredulous laugh escaped her throat as she stared at the two, the look on her face clear. Once again, she did not trust the two. She was going to have to at least tolerate them eventually. "Not a chance."

To the side, Grier noticed Finnick's look of agitation and reached out to stop him before he could do anything he regretted but he brushed past her hold, walking close to Katniss. His height was overwhelming compared to Katniss' and he could easily snap her like a twig. "Honey, that thing I did back there for Peeta, that's called saving his life. If Grier or I wanted to kill either of you we would've done it by now."

Grier watched Finnick walk off, annoyed by Katniss and her antics. She wanted to follow him, she did, but she stayed hoping that Katniss would change her mind.

"It's true. As much as I'd like to kill you, we won't. That's why we're allies." Grier gave the girl a smile, one that didn't say 'you can trust us' but rather said 'don't worry, I'll try not to kill you'. Apparently, that look was good enough for Katniss.