Catching Fire: The New Story

Chaptet 73

Part Three - The Enemy

Katniss's POV

"Ten." This is no place for a girl on fire.

"Nine." Where is Peeta?

"Eight." I can't find him.

"Seven." Focus, Katniss.

"Six." Head to the Cornucopia.

"Five." Swim.

"Four." Get a bow.

"Three." Find Peeta.

"Two." Hide, fight.

"One." Win.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-fifth Hunger Games begin!"

The gong sounds and I jump in the cold water. It is refreshing, yet cold at the same time. I beat Gloss to the spokes between every two tributes. The rocky lines go from the pale beach, to the gray Cornucopia. Maybe Peeta's hidden behind it. I stand and start my run to the weapons. The spokes are thin and slipper. Gloss is at my heel, his hand reaches for my braid as is whips around behind me. I push myself to become faster, but I slow when he trips, falling into the water. I am first at the weapons, I arm myself with two bows and two packs of arrows. I flip around and aim my arrow at the heart of my opponent as I hear two knives cling together. There stands, Finnick Odiar. He holds his hand up, reflecting a golden bracelet with my Mockingjay printed on it. Same one Haymitch had, should I take that as a sign from Haymitch telling me to trust Finnick? Or did Finnick somehow steal it from him?

"Lucky thing we're allies, right?" he asks. His golden hair is dripping wet over his forehead, covering his eyes partly. I come to wonder who his lover is? His interviews seemed unconvincing to me, but touching.

"Sure is," I say, never dropping the position of my bow. My thoughts continue to battle each other as to whether or not it was a good idea making Finnick my ally out of nowhere. I take it as a good one as for him screaming:

"Duck!"

I followed his instructions, falling to the floor to my hands. He throws his trident and I look back as it enters the chest of Distrcit Five's male tribute. He drops to the to his knees with a sickening sound. Finnick retrieves his trident as he falls back, dead. We're losing time, I need to find Peeta. Finnick pulled me to my feet.

"Grab more weapons over there." He points to a rack of swords. I'll grab one for Peeta. "I'll go over here." Pointing to yet another rack on the opposite end. Only half of the victors had made it off of their plates and into the water. A few had reached the spokes and are running towards the Cornucopia. I nod, slipping my bow across my chest. I slide a sword off of its hinges, grabbing it tight in my hands. Peeta must feel powerful holding this. Water slashes behind me, I turn around and throw the sword at Enobaria barely reaching the Cornucopia. She dives into the water, expecting the throw, and missed the sword hitting her chest by a few inches. Damn. I grab another three different sized swords and stuff the two smallest into my belt. I look around, finding a pile of weapons stacked high in front of the Cornucopia. I dig around in it, sword still in hand.

I think over if I should stick my hand into the pile. I go for it, reaching my hand deep into the weapons. I pull back with little pocket knives. I drop them on the rock beneath me and dig back in to find more. I find many. At least twelve. I stuff two in each shoes. I tie one into my hair, behind my head. I keep two in my chest, knowing all of these will come in handy. Five left. I attach them to my belt.

"Katniss! Mags found Peeta!" I respond to Peeta's name in an instant. Finnick's voice leads me behind the Cornucopia. Mags is holding onto Finnick's side as she points to two men in the water. They go underneath as they grab onto each other. One comes up, gasping for air. His hair blonde shining in the sun, his skin fair and turning pink from lack of oxygen. Peeta.