Don't Let Me Go

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

It’s the next day when I wake up and I know there is a different vibe in the place. The atmosphere is very low and I get the gut instinct that today is the day. “Peeta we have to get away from this alliance today” I hiss at him urgently but he just sighs and raises his eyebrow obviously disagreeing. I storm off annoyed with him over to where the others are sitting starting to eat some left overs for breakfast. Finnick passes me over my share but doesn’t smile at me like he usually does. Johanna is grinning like mad and it sends a shiver down my smile.

After Wirless figured out the arena was a clock something has gone down and changed within Finnick and Johanna. I can’t figure it out but it is very mysterious and I don’t like it. Okay maybe I am being overly sensitive because I am a bit of a drama queen but I can’t help it. I always follow my instincts and yet Peeta isn’t letting me.

“We’ll be the first they will come hunt down if we just vanish off rudely” Peeta whispers forcefully into my ear. I jump because he gave me a scare and then I whisper back silently “Well they’re going to kill us whether we’re here or not in the end… might as well get a head start” Peeta listens and for a moment I think he is considering it but then he shakes his head again. I’ve just about lost it with Peeta.

“I’ve got a plan!” Beetee runs over to us with a massive smile on his face. “What is it?” we all ask craving something fun to do because being on this beach is unbearably hot and uncomfortable. Beetee holds out his wire and starts to explain.

Before the clock strikes we make our way quietly but quickly down to where two people are set off with the coil. “Johanna and Katniss you’ll be best at this job” Beetee insists “No!” I demand while being caught into Peeta’s arms. “No” Peeta confirms. “We don’t have time for this!” Beetee complains “If we want the plan to work we have to get a move on and Katniss and Johanna are the best hope of getting to the tree before the clock strikes” Beetee explains in a super annoyed tone.

“Sorry I can’t leave Peeta” I say stubbornly while Peeta strokes through my hair. “This is stupid” Beetee says “You’re going to mess up the whole plan” Johanna rolls her eyes because I’m being pathetic and she grunts something nasty under her breath about me. “It will be okay, I will see you back at the beach just after 12” Peeta says squeezing me tightly into his arms. I can’t help but think this will be the last time. No I can’t afford to think like that. “Goodbye” I whisper, trying to fight back the urge to cry. Peeta releases me and gives me a long kiss “Goodbye” He whispers back.

“Right” I say to Johanna grabbing the coil. While Johanna is grabbing the other end I catch Peeta’s soft blue eyes looking at me one last time. I smile and he returns it and before I can change my mind or give him another cuddle we are running, running fast.

My heart is beating so loud it feels like I can hear it through my chest. I feel terrible leaving Peeta especially after my gut instinct this morning. I look around but all I see is the wire moving, this wasn’t part of the plan. “Johanna” I whisper terrified, and before she has a chance to respond a big guy, Chaff I think it is but I hardly have time to observe before I am knocked to the ground, my head throbbing and bleeding tons.

Suddenly the most horrible ripping sensation happens in my arms and I open my eyes vividly to see the sight of Johanna cutting open my arm “What are you doing!” I scream “Shh” she whispers “You’re safe now, your tracker is out… they’re going to come get you out of here in a minute, I promise” I am so confused at Johanna’s comment. How am I safe now? Who is coming to get me? More like trying to kill me. “Peeta” I say my eyes filling with tears, my dying wish. “Peeta” I say again and the tears escape their hold in my eyes. “I will try save Peeta too” Johanna whispers “Sorry” she also adds and for the first time I hear a tone of sadness in her voice as if to say that it’s not possible to get me Peeta. But why is she trying to help me anyway? Why would she try save Peeta? She hasn’t saved me so why did she use the word ‘too’ I am so confused I hardly noticed the pain is moving down into my temple.

My vision keeps fading and returning but why haven’t I died yet? I hear footsteps and freeze, they’re not my Peeta’s footsteps. They’re too light. “She’s as good as dead” I hear Chaff’s rough voice. I want to kill him filled with rage but I don’t have enough strength. “Peeta” I whisper starting to slowly get to my feet. I need to see him one last time. Tell him how much I love him.

I hover around from tree to tree. Occasionally I lose my balance and fall. I scream in agony but yet I won’t give up. My flow of blood is getting uncontrollable out of my arm by now and my vision is getting worse. “Peeta” I whisper, too scared to shout it in case I run into trouble.

I bash into a net and start to panic “Peeta” I scream clearly. I hear a voice in the distance, it doesn’t belong to Peeta, it belongs to Finnick. Without thinking I shout “Finnick” hopefully. I forget completely that the alliance has probably broken and that Finnick is probably coming to kill me right now. I hear the footsteps getting close, still not heavy like Peeta’s. “Who is that?” I cry out. “It is Finnick” He picks me right off the ground and starts to carry me. “Your head” He says shocked “Put me down” I demand, starting to squirm around in his arms “Steady on” he says calmly “Katniss, I am still going to try help you, I won’t ever stop” I hear loyalty in his voice so I relax and realise that deep down, Finnick is the most genuine person out there. He loves Annie despite how crazy she is to everyone in the public, he saved Peeta’s life even though I could have assumed that there would have been no other way. Finnick did it by choice. He is choosing to save me now and try help me. His idea of an alliance is helping one another till the last second of their life and that is beyond respectful.

“Finnick” I whisper my voice steady again “Thanks for everything” I say tears silently running down my face. I’m pretty sure he smiles at me then but I don’t add anything because all of a sudden Peeta is in hearing range “Peeta” I shout out suddenly my mood has gone from terrified to the happiest on this earth “Oh Peeta” I whisper again as I hear his loud, thudding footsteps run towards me. “She is very badly hurt, we need to get her out of here” Finnick says in a panic. “Get her out of here?” Peeta says probably just as confused as I am right now. Finnick sighs and I realise there must be a real long story behind what he is trying to say.

Finnick puts me down, I am on a soft bit of moss still deep into the jungle. No idea which segment of the clock we’re in, but no longer caring. Peeta is telling me how much he loves me and crying all over me. My hearing and vision keeps going from here, to not here. “You have to win” I whisper to Peeta, more tears rolling down my face. I remember that was Rue’s dying wish last year in the games, oh how I miss sweet, perfect Rue.

“Peeta?” “Thanks for always being there for me, I never deserved you. You’re honestly the only person in this world I trusted and I love you with all my heart” I manage to get out before the loud sound of a hovercraft above me disturbs my last bit of time with Peeta. “Peeta don’t let them take me!” I scream not feeling calm anymore. Peeta takes grasp of my hand and whispers “I won’t let anyone ever take you from me” but he is crying so hard I can hardly make out the last bit.

My blood flows onto Peeta’s face as he leans into kiss me. “Why is the hovercraft trying to take her while she is still alive?” Peeta asks Finnick so worriedly. “It’s not Snow’s hovercraft” Finnick says awkwardly. “What?” Peeta says. “You all need to run now and get away from here, what if he takes you too?” I say not understanding what Finnick is saying and just wanting them to get away from here to protect them. “No I am staying with you every last second” Peeta says his focus back on me.

“Haymitch is in that hovercraft” Finnick finally says and sighs relief once he has got that off his chest. “You’re making no sense” Peeta says really as fastrated as I am. “I am sorry I couldn’t save you” Peeta ignores Finnick and whispers to me. “No, I am sorry.” I cry out one last time “I love you Peeta”. Peeta squeezes my hand and I feel his tear hit my cheek for the last time.