Catching Fire: The New Story

Chapter 83

Peeta's POV

Katniss grabs my hand and we run. I don't try to look back, but only under me. We jump rocks and bushes, bend under low tree branches. Even with Katniss's speed, we couldn't have made it to higher ground fast enough, if there was higher ground to be safe on.

My hand slips from Katniss's and I hear her scream my name.

"Hold onto something!" screams Katniss. I'm not sure who she screams to in particular, it is possible she meant to everyone. I hold onto a tree branch strong enough to support my weight, I lose sight of Katniss before I could see if she got something to hold herself. 

My eyes burn, my nose fills with water. I hold my breath, or whatever breathe I have left, and hold onto the branch as tight as my wet hands possibly could.

The water lowered, and came again yet not as hard and giant as the first wave. I let go of the branch and pulled my head above the water. It was rushing back into the ocean, along with fallen leaves and most of my weapons that were released from my belt. Once the water has calmed and left the place where I stand be, I walk downhill seeing the water rush into the edge of the jungle. It calms and only lightly moves. I hear a rustle behind me.

"Peeta! Katniss!" It is Johanna. She comes into view on the damp beach, soaked as I. She smiles at me. I see Beetee right beside her, his wire in hand.

"Okay, I found two of you at least,” she says out of breath. 

"What do you mean two of you? Where are Katniss and Finnick?" I ask, confused. 

"I have the slightest idea Lover Boy. Maybe the wave washed them up?" says Johanna. She doesn't seem serious, yet she isn't trying to be funny either. Beetee doesn't bother to argue with Johanna or myself. I begin to worry. 

I search the arena for Katniss and Finnick, the water is still calming down, the beach we are standing on and around us is damp and empty. The Cornucopia has less weapons then before. The jungle behind us is dripping sea water, no sign of anything living there. 

They have to be in the water. I stare at Johanna as she scans the scenery too, and she looks back at me wide eyed. We run to the ocean without word, leaving Beetee behind to collect as many weapons as he can find. We jump in, trying to move as fast as we could in the water. Looking above it, it seems calm and safe, but everything underneath is still moving. We fall a few times, and have to grab each other’s arms to steady the other. I dive underneath, opening my eyes to look under. My eyes sting, it is a deep blue underneath the surface filled with sand that has been moved under the water. I come back up. 

"It's too dark, I can't see a thing." They've been under too long, if we can't find them now, they might never surface. There hasn't been a cannon yet, at least not one I have heard, so that means they are alive.

"It'll be alright, Peeta. We'll find them," says Johanna, both comforting and confident. I nod, not even close to prepared for the worse. We continue to head under water, one at a time. Johanna holds onto my leg while she goes under to try and find them. I hold onto hers. We spend at least a minute doing that before we hear two gasps. 

I see Finnick and Katniss, both red and out of breath. Finnick helps Katniss over to us. Johanna and I rush to them, pulling them up out of the water. We lay them on the sand, both of them coughing and desperately trying to catch their breath. I kneel by Katniss's head, helping her to her side to cough up the water. Finnick sits up before Katniss does. They both breathe heavily for a few minutes. Beetee walks over to us with some of our weapons, we can get more later.

I sit beside Katniss and bring her to my lap, Johanna gets water and we wait. Katniss looks up, and I see the faint sight of a parachute. Finnick stands to reach for it and brings the basket down. Johanna comes back, stares at Finnick while he counts the rolls of bread.

"How many?"

"Twenty-four."

"From where?"

"Looks like every district, maybe."

Finnick passes rolls around, Katniss seems pretty hungry. She practically swallows her first roll down. I offer her one of mine, but she declines it.

"We should head to the Lightning Tree, before it gets too late,” says Beetee. We all agree, beginning to move towards it. We aren't so far anymore, now moving with the time. The next part of the arena not drenched in water is quiet and still. We move to the giant tree in time for whatever was in the eleven to twelve hour to start up.

"Now," Beetee begins. "Katniss, since you can climb a tree best, would you mind wrapping the wire around the top of the tree?"

"No, I wouldn't," replies Katniss. Beetee nodded, not taking into consideration how tired she is already. She grabs the wire and begins scaling the tree until she was high enough, hidden in the leaves. She drops the wire once she has wrapped enough around the highest branch. I wait for her the whole time, helping her out of the tree. She quietly thanks me and I smile at her. Beetee, Johanna, and I begin wrapping the wire around the base of the tree tightening, going in and out of the many trunks to secure the wire.

The moon is clear above us, giving us the light needed to move around in the night.

"Alright, that's enough. We need enough wire to reach into the ocean. Johanna, Katniss, I need you two to take the wire, unravel it deep into the water. Let all of it go, then get as far away from the tree and the damp sand."

"No," I say. "I'll go with Katniss."

"Peeta-"

I cut Beetee off. "No, I'm not leaving her."

"You and Finnick have to protect me," states Beetee.

"I'm sure Johanna and Finnick can do it!" I argue.

"Peeta, please!" Finnick screams. "Listen to him, it is his plan. We're sticking to it."

I stare at Katniss, I could see in her eyes how much she didn't want to leave me. She knew Finnick is right. She comes to me and kisses me right on the lips. Lights flash behind my closed eyes, warmth fills me up. She lets go too soon. She stares up at me with her sparkling gray eyes. I kneel down to kiss her stomach, then stand again.

"I'll see you at midnight?" she whispers.

"See you at midnight."

She grabs the wire and begins walking with Johanna towards the ocean. I stand there, watching her leave me with the one person I thought was going to kill Katniss before the arena did. She looks back at me, smiles lightly and is vanished from my view.

*

Author's Note:

It's official. This is the second to last chapter. I decided to make it short and the last official chapter super extra-long (sort of). I've got a twist for the ending. And Mockingjay itself. OHHH AHHH ERRR UGGGHH. I know.

I am so sorry I am taking forever to update. I just don't want to finish the story yet, but thankfully for everyone I have many ideas for sequels. I won't leave ya hanging.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. No hangcliffer really. You sort of know what's gonna happen next. Just wait. I'll try and write the last chapter tomorrow.

Did you like the added hour they encountered? Should I change anything? Who is excited for the last chapter? What do you think the twist will be?

Keep reading guys!

~Jez xo