Shattering Secrets [2]

Twelve

   "Pregnant?" I whisper, feeling the phone in my hand start to shake. She doesn't say anything, but let's the word sink in. She's pregnant. A baby is growing inside her, life is growing inside her. "How far along are you?"

   "14 weeks" her voice wavers, but there is something else in her voice, happiness.

   "Who's the father?"

   "Gale is, and he's so excited Coral, he's even got names picked out"

   "That's pathetic" I whisper, sitting down on my bed.

   "That's what I told him too"

   We don't talk for a while, just listen to each other's breathing. The reality of her pregnancy is sinking in for me, cold and hard. I can't kill her anymore, I wouldn't even dare try, and I wouldn't dare let anyone else try.

   "They'll have to call off the games" clearing my throat i say, "people will be furious that they're letting you in the arena pregnant"

   "You think so?" Her voice sounds hopeful, stronger.

   "I hope so, the citizens of the capitol love you. The girl on fire, they wouldn't want your baby on fire either" I clamp my hand over my mouth, "that came out much worse then I intended it to be"

   "I understand what you're saying" she laughs. "I have to go, Haymitch needs me, I love you"

   "Bye" I hung up the phone, my mind swarming with Katniss and her baby. I'm so happy for my friend, but so terrified because I know deep down that they won't stop the games for anything. They will only get more joy out of it, more views, more blood shed.

   Before I register what my body is doing, I'm up and walking out into the hallway, walking to Finnicks room. I sigh heavily, and chew my bottom lip anxiously before I knock softly. Hearing sniffling come from inside, I stand back from the door, and wait for it to open.

   "Go away Coral" he tells me once the door is open wide enough for him it see me. He won't look me in the eye.

   "I need to talk to you"

   "It can wait" the door starts to slowly close, but I put my hand on it, pushing it further open.

   "It can't"

   "Look, I don't want anything to do with you right now. Go away"

   "It's not about me, it's about Katniss" my voice sounds so desperate that I feel my face start to redden. "She's pregnant" I whisper.

   His eyes widen, and quickly look around the hall before pushing me into his room. "What are you talking about?"

   "She just told me, we have to protect her Fin"

   "Don't call me that, and protect her how? I doubt the capitol will even let the games go through. If anything , this is a good thing for us"

   "Are you really that stupid?" I laugh , turning away from him. "You really think Snow will just stop the games? He gets off on the games, if anything he'll love that she's pregnant" I slump down on the edge of his bed, looking down at my feet. "Just all for the wrong reasons, that's why we have to protect her. She has to be the one to win!"

   Finnick looks at me like I've completely lost my mind. "Are you listening to yourself?" He laughs, and it's almost sinister. "Protect her? She can do the protecting for herself, I'm going to protect myself and that's it"

   His words linger in the air, cutting into the tight friction between us. His face goes pale, knowing what he said a minute too late. "What if it was you, Katniss, and I left in the arena? You'd kill me to get to her wouldn't you?"

   "I want to live Coral, that's all I've ever wanted to do. Is live."

   "You've been living, just for not the wrong reasons" I spit at him, getting up and walking to the door. "I'll protect her with all I have, and I know Haymitch will too"

   He laughs again "you really don't know Haymitch then, once he steps foot into the arena, killing instinct will set in for him. He's the one to go at first, if you want her to live, he's dangerous"

   "How dangerous do you think I am?" My hand rests lightly on the door handle, my breathing steady but my heart wants to run away from my body.

   "The most dangerous of all. You'd be the first on my list. Now that it's gotten personal for you" I frown at his words , personal? Once my name was called , all it's been is personal. My friends are out there for me to kill, for my to protect. Finnick was going to be one of them that I protected. Not anymore.

   "If anyone is going to be first on my list, It would be you, but the only thing is, you're not dangerous to me, you're only dangerous to yourself"