Masked Enemies

Chapter 11

Katniss

"Finnick!" I yelled into the water. "FINNICK!"

Gale pulled me back. "Katniss. We can't save him. He's gone."

I snarled at Gale, and stayed at my spot, leaning over the doorway.

Just for a moment I thought I saw Finnick's face break the surface of the water and go back under. It came up again. And again. Finnick was still alive. He was still fighting.

I shot one of my explosive arrows at the ceiling. It momentarily distracted the lizard mutts, and I seized the chance. I jumped into the water, shooting another arrow as I went.

I dove under the surface and frantically looked around, searching for any signs of life. Then I found him. Finnick's lifeless body sinking to the bottom. He looked so still, so cold, like a mannequin in Cinna's studio.

I grabbed by the legs and pulled him up the ladder. There, Gale was waiting for me. He looked surprised.

I shrugged as if a lifeless Finnick in my arms wasn't so weird. "I wasn't just gonna LEAVE him there." I said innocently.

Gale smiled and beckoned for me to follow him. The others were waiting out on the street for me. Well, all except for one.

"Where's Peeta?"

Pollux pointed to a hunched up figure in the shadow of the building. I ran over to Peeta. He looked up, his face full of misery.

"Katniss, I can't go on. You should leave me here." He said.

I didn't reply immediately. Instead of refusing, I kissed him.

I pulled away, gasping for air like a fish out of water. After regaining the ability to breathe, I told him:

"Stay with me."

Peeta looked up and put on his brave face. "Always." He told me.

So we got up and followed Cressida into the building.

"What are we doing here?" A now conscious and limping Finnick asked.

Cressida merely smiled. "An ally. Tigris."

As if that was her cue, a woman with a tall, lanky structure prowled in. Her face was orange, with tattooed on it. Long whiskers protruded from her mouth. Her nose had been pressed in. She was a key example of the Capitol's odd fashions gone wrong.

"You." Finnick said.

Suddenly I remembered this woman. She was a stylist in the Hunger Games before I competed. They had fired her a couple years ago.

Tigris motioned for us to follow her. She led us into a small basement and gave us a bit of stale food.

Now that we we're in a safe place, I walked to Finnick and tackled him with a hug.

"Odair, if you ever scare me like that again, I will personally wring your neck." I told him.

Something wet and sticky trickled onto my neck. I drew back. I slip my hands up his shirt. Every time I find a wet spot, he winces in pain.

"You're bleeding." I observed. "Bad."

"Yeah. I guess I am." Finnick said, smiling. His eyes rolled up in his head and he fainted.

I kneel down and gently poke Finnick awake. "Finnick...Finnick, wake up." I whispered. No response. So I say it a little louder. Still no response.

Cressida joins me. She leans in close next to Finnick's ear and says, "FINNICK. GET UP." she yells.

Finnick's eyes open quickly and suddenly. He yells in surprise, jumping away from us. Cressida and I both break out in a fit of giggles. We double over, rolling on the floor. Finnick keeps shooting us embarrassed glances.