I wake up to a high-pitched hissing in my ears, Katniss, Katniss, Katniss, over and over again. Katniss runs around the room, shaking everyone awake, undoing Peeta’s handcuffs, and telling everyone to run.
“Katniss, Katniss,” Peeta joins in. Katniss pulls up her arrow and aims it at his head, shaking as she lays her fingers on the string. “Katniss!” He sits up. “Katniss! Get out of here!”
Katniss frowns and looks around the room. “Why? What’s making that sound?”
Peeta closes his eyes, looking as if he’s trying to keep his sanity. “I don’t know. Only that it has to kill you. Run! Get out! Go!”
Katniss releases her bowstring, and says, “Whatever it is, it’s after me. It might be a good time to split up.”
“But we’re your guard,” says Jackson.
“And your crew,” adds Cressida.
“I’m not leaving you,” Gale says.
Katniss looks around the room, and her eyes fall onto me. “Finnick, give one of your guns to Castor. Take out the blank cartridge in Peeta’s, and add a real one. Give Pollux a weapon, also.”
“Got it, Boss.” I say, as I toss my gun to Castor and begin working on Peeta’s.
Katniss continues to arm everyone, and in no time I’m finished with Peeta’s gun, so I give Pollux it to Pollux and leave Peeta unarmed, because he’s dangerous enough on his own. In a matter of minutes, we leave the room, leaving nothing behind besides our scent, which can’t very well be erased.
When we get outside the room, the hissing is far more distinct, but we can also tell where the creatures are, and they’re far behind us. So we still have a pretty good lead on them, but who knows how fast they can move. I’m assuming the animals are mutts, programmed by President Snow to destroy Katniss, and whatever else gets in their way. I swallow and continue behind the crowd, keeping a close eye on Peeta.
Katniss tells everyone that we have a new route, but she doesn’t have time to explain, so we just follow. We make it about three blocks, before the screaming begins. It’s thick, and agonizing, we all exchange looks, confused and unsure of the noise.
“Avoxes,” Peeta whispers. “That’s what Darius sounded like when they tortured him.”
“The mutts must have found them,” Cressida says.
“So they’re not just after Katniss,” Leeg 1 says.
“They’ll probably kill anyone. It’s just that they won’t stop until they’ve got her,” says Gale.
Katniss frowns and she looks at the ground. “Let me go on alone. Lead them off. I’ll transfer the Holo to Jackson. The rest of you can finish the mission.”
Jackson rolls her eyes. “No one’s going to agree to that!”
“We’re wasting time!” I scream.
“Listen,” Peeta holds up a finger.
We all pause and listen. The screams are coming to an end, but their voices seem to be underneath us, as well as behind us. The name they are whispering is even clearer now, “Katniss.”
Jackson and Katniss are fumbling with the Holo when Katniss’ eyes grow wide and she starts to cough uncontrollably. I’m about to run at her to try and help her, when Jackson orders, “Masks on!”
