Masked Enemies

Chapter 12

Finnick

Katniss had to come back safe. So did Peeta.

"Finnick." I turned and winced, holding my side. Gale stood there.

"What's up?" I asked him, holding my side and grimacing.

Gale looked uncomfortable. He bowed his head and fiddled with a small wooden ball in his fingers. We stood there in silence for a long time. I stared at him, wondering what could be wrong. I was sure life was going well for him. He had his family, his loved ones....

His loved ones. I knew what was wrong. I opened my mouth to speak, but Gale spoke first. "Anyway, did Cressida tell you that we were going to the Estate at sunset. 13's reinforcements will be there, and we're supposed to help."

I grinned. "That's not what you wanted to tell me, and I know it." I folded my arms over my trunk, leaning it gently against my wounds. Pain should've been a thing of the past, but for me, it still existed.

Gale scowled. "Never mind. Also, you may want to put a shirt on. You don't want that to get infected." He pointed to my wound. I glanced down at it. The skin over it was healing, forming scabs. I nodded and Gale left me by the window.

I limped over to where Tigris was sitting. Her long, drawn back hair protruded from her scalp in such a way it looked as if someone had put a wig on her. I explained to her my dilemma and she gives me permission to take one of her shirts. Or tops, she purrs.

So I put the shirt on and wander aimlessly around the shop until sunset comes around. Then I hop about aimlessly, excited but also terrified to find out what's happened to Katniss, Peeta, and the rebellion.

By the time we got to the street in front of the manor, it was too late. The bombs had already been released. The poor, innocent Capitol citizens reached up for them, thinking it was from the President to aid them. I knew those were bombs designed by Gale. I rushed to warn them. I wasn't fast enough.

The crowd reached up to catch the bombs disguised as tin cans. Just as their fingertips touch the cans, they exploded. I was thrown backwards by the flames that engulfed the area in front of me. Inside those flames, I could hear children and adults screaming, yelling for their families and loved ones. I ran towards the flames but someone pulled me back. Gale.

"Katniss!" I screamed. I realized both Gale and I were yelling her name. We shouted in unison. Finally a figure emerged from behind a flaming truck. Katniss, looking beautiful and majestic with the way the bow and quiver was slung over her body, the determined but also frightened look on her face. At that moment the crush I had had on her changed from a crush to full-on love.

Then she saw us. Katniss ran towards us, yelling our names.

"Gale! Finnick!" she shouted from across the street. I'm sure we looked weak and miserable at that one moment in time. I was lying sprawled on the road like I broke my leg, and Gale was sitting on his butt like he was enjoying the scene of utter devastation.

"Katniss!" Gale screamed. She ran faster, but got sidetracked when adults dressed in medic uniforms ran onto the war scene. Among them were some of the doctors that had treated me. My eyes locked on a small girl about 10 years younger than me. She had the same, determined face as Katniss. Then I realized she obviously would. That was Primrose Everdeen. Katniss's sister. My eyes shifted from her to a parachute on the ground. It hadn't exploded yet. But it was about to. Panicking, I frantically yelled Prim's name. Katniss must have realized too. She yelled out Prim's name as well, lunging towards her. A figure pulled her back and dove into the scene just as the bomb exploded. Peeta. Peeta had risked his life to save Katniss.

Katniss. Where was she? I looked around desperately. Another bomb exploded. This one threw the figure of a girl back, her clothes on fire or smoking. Then it hit me. That girl was Katniss. She's lying on the ground in a crumpled heap.

"KATNISS!" I yelled, thrusting my body towards her. "Katniss, are you okay?" No response. I shook off my jacket and used it to put out the flames that engulfed her body. She looks up at me miserably.

"I couldn't save them. They're dead." she whispered hoarsely. "It's my fault. It's all my fault." She looked up at me. "I kill Snow. He'll pay for this."

Another explosion shook the area and the world faded into darkness.

This is today's chapter! Finally got used to updating! 

Thanks for reading! :)