The Hunger Games trilogy one shots

shocking twist

Peeta's POV

(In the Quarter Quell, after Katniss, Peeta, Finnick, and Mags have gotten away from the bloodbath)

     Katniss climbs down the tree after going up to observe the arena and look for signs of fresh water.  It's hot and humid.  We are already sweating so much our jumpsuits have begun to stick to us.  We need water. 

     I see Finnick giving Katniss a look.  I have already guessed her thoughts.  She is thinking about killing Finnick, and he knows it.  I see he has one of his tridents raised in a casual defensive position.

     "What's going on down there, Katniss?  Have they all joined hands?  Taken a vow of nonviolence?  Tossed the weapons in the sea in defiance of the Capitol?"  Finnick ask.

     "No."  She responds.

     "No,"  Finnick repeats.  "Because whatever happened in the past is in the past.  And no in this arena was victor by chance."  He eyes me for a moment.  "Except maybe Peeta." 

     I roll my eyes.  Just because I didn't want to jump in massacre mode doesn't mean I won't kill.  I did.  Just a couple of minutes ago, I drowned the man from District 9.  I will kill.  I don't like it, but everyone in here must die so Katniss can live.   Including myself. That was my plan last year as well.

     I can see Katniss trying to calculate her speed verses Finnick's.  How fast she can shoot him with an arrow before his trident reaches her body.  I can't let that happen.  I deliberately step between them.

     "So how many are dead?"  I ask.

       Katniss gets angry, I can tell.  She want's me to move so she can kill him.  But just as fast as that arrow has entered his skull his trident will be buried in her body.

     "Hard to say,"  she answers.  "At least six, I think.  And they're still fighting."

     "Let's keep moving, we need fresh water."  I say.

     So far there hasn't been any sign of fresh water.  Not a stream, pond, or anything.  The salt water is undrinkable.

     "Better find some soon,"  says Finnick.  "We need to be undercover when the others come hunting us tonight."  I notice the moment between Katniss and Finnick pass.  I relax my body a bit.  As we trudge through the jungle,  I keep a sharp eye out for water.  Nothing.  After about another mile, Katniss says, "Maybe we will have better luck on the other side.  Find a spring or something."  I look ahead and see what Katniss means.  She's at the front and I see we must have reached the top of a hill.  Katniss grabs her long knife from her quiver and starts cutting though vines.  I'm just about to ask if she wants me to take the lead when she swings her knife out to slash away some vines and there's a sharp zapping sound.  For an instant, the tree's are gone and I see an open space over a short stretch of bare earth.  Then, Katniss is flung back from what must be a force field, bringing Finnick and Mags to the ground. 

     "Katniss!"  I yell as I rush over to where she lies, motionless in a web of vines.  "Katniss?"  There's a faint smell of singed hair.  I call out her name again, and give her a shake, but she's unresponsive.  My fingers fumble to her lips, where there is no warm breath although moments ago she was panting.  I press my ear against her chest, right over where her heart beats.  Only now, there is silence.

     "Katniss!!"  I scream.  I shake her harder now.  I keep yelling her name.  But it's no use.  Her heart has failed.  I am shaking emptiness.  "Katniss!"  I feel myself begin to cry.  She's dead.  She's dead.  Katniss is dead.  I've lost her.  Finnick props Mags against a tree and pushes me out of the way.  "Let me."  His fingers touch points at Katniss's neck, run over her bones in her rib and spin, then pinches her nostrils shut.