Catching Fire: The New Story

Chapter 81

Katniss POV

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"Do you believe it, Finnick?" I ask looking towards him for confirmation. He is fixated on Peeta's words, how amazing he is at moving anyone with his words.

"It could be true. I don't know." He mumbles. "Could they do it, Beetee? Take someone's normal voice and... you know..."

"Oh, yes. It is very easy, it isn't that difficult to do, Finnick. The children of Three learn a similar technique in early school years." Beetee says, still examining the bird closely.

"Of course Peeta's right, Katniss. Like I said, the whole country adores your little sister. If they really killed her for this, they'd have an uprising on their hands." Johanna says, dryly. "Don't want that, do they?" She looks into the sky and screams. "Whole country in rebellion for a girl? Wouldn't want anything like that, huh Snow? You can't put everyone in here!"

I'm shocked. No one had ever said anything like that in the Games. Gamemakers have probably already cut Johanna's speech out, editing her words from video. But I have heard her, can never think of her the same way again. She is absolutely crazy if she actually said that here, but what can I believe in anymore? Peeta coming out of this arena without me? Coming out of this arena without Peeta?

We are all staring at Johanna in shock, her staring back dumbfounded at our reaction. "What?" She speaks up. "They can't hurt me, I'm not like the rest of you weaklings. There is no one left I love." I am sadden for a moment before I realized, this is Johanna. Her heart is like a rock. "Now, I'll go get water." She says, picking up an empty shell. She walks into the Jabberjay hour without another word, no one stops her. She has nothing to worry about, the hours over and won't start until someone else is dumb enough to enter it without notice of its power and fright.

I am no state to pay attention, next thing I realize, Johanna's foot has kicked my thigh and I am on the beach, sit on Peeta's lap. His hand is wrapped around her ankle and he gives her a glare. She gives him one straight back, handing me the shell with water. I nod my thank you, too afraid to use my voice at the moment. Finnick has taken to the water, sitting alone in his own state. Beetee has discarded the deceased bird and is fiddling with his deep orange wire. Johanna has gone back to collect more water and my arrows I used. Peeta helps me bring the shell to my lips to drink.

"Who did they use against Finnick?" He asks, once I am done drinking.

"Some girl." I say, with my best thought. He nods, looking off as I finish my water. Johanna comes back with more, but Peeta gets up to get another round.

"Johanna?" I ask. She turns her head to me, she is sat beside me in the shade of the trees.

"Yeah?" She seems either quite tired of this whole arena thing or calm enough to speak to me without venom in her voice.

"When Finnick and I were in the hour, uh, some girl was yelling his name. Do you know who it was?" I ask, she sighs.

"Annie Cresta. The girl Mags volunteered for."

"Is she the one who went a little..."

"Crazy? Yeah." She answers, quietly staring at Finnick. "Love is weird."

"It sure is." I say, rubbing my belly. Johanna smiles, putting her hand over mine. We continue to look out into the vast ocean of the arena, her hand over my growing belly, until Peeta comes back with enough water for all of us. We silently thanked him and sat together while watching Finnick stand and weakly throw around his trident. He fights back sobs that soon escape his lips until he has had enough and stands tall for himself. He comes to us and takes shell of water, chugging it down. We silently decide to start making our way to the Lightning Tree for Beetee's plan. We take the long way, since the hours are too horrifying to walk through again and we can't roam the beach merrily.