𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐫

FOURTEEN

xiv. Let the Games Begin

As the canon blew, Aurora took a deep breath in, before diving into the cold salt water below. She swam as quick as she could. Having not swam in weeks, her arms took some time to get used to the feeling. After a minute of vigorous swimming, she finally reached land. Her body was soaking wet, the bodysuit becoming very convenient to her. She couldn't imagine swimming in normal cotton clothing.

Using what strength she had, she pulled herself onto the rocks, not wasting a second to look around as she began running to the cornucopia. She paid extra attention to where she stepped, considering the rocks were jagged, uneven and wet. She could fall at any moment, resulting in her death. As she ran, her head turned to both sides. Beetee and the morphling were far behind her. But she saw the Careers gaining up to the cornucopia, but she was still ahead of them.

Aurora first grabbed a belt of throwing knives, strapping them to her waist. Her eye caught the shiny metal of the machete, wasting no time to grab it. She was the first to the cornucopia, next was Katniss, then Finnick. Katniss went straight for her bow and arrow, whilst Finnick went for his lucky trident.

The two other tributes were on the other side of the cornucopia from Aurora. She looked toward a tribute from District 10 near her, getting closer. Before she could think about it, she grabbed a knife from the belt, throwing it straight at the woman, striking her in the chest, falling into the water. Her first kill of the games.

She continued to fend off any incoming enemy tributes, mainly focusing on Districts One and Two, who successfully dodged her knife, escaping in the water. Sighing, she turned around to find District Five's tribute charging toward her, equipped with an ax. Caught off guard, he swung the ax at her. She partially succeeded in dodging the hit, but only partially. The blade sliced through her bicep, causing a scream to erupt from her mouth. Before he could charge at her again, Aurora wedged her machete in his side, causing him to fall on the floor.

She ignored the pain in her arm as Finnick ran to her side of the cornucopia. When he saw her, he hadn't seemed to notice the cut in her arm as well.

"Where's Peeta?" He asked her, searching the waters.

Aurora's eyes scanned the waters, looking for any tributes when she found Peeta, pinned against the launch pad, by another tribute. Her eyes widened, as she pointed to him.

"He's over there!" Aurora wasted no time to run down the path of rocks toward him. Once she stopped, she prepared to throw a knife at the enemy tribute but decided against it. It was much too risky.

Soon, Finnick and Katniss arrived, Finnick diving into the water toward the two. Katniss got ready to shoot the tribute trying to kill her husband, whilst Aurora watched anxiously. If Peeta died, then it was all over.

The tribute eventually pulled Peeta down into the water, before Finnick could get there. Katniss lowered her bow, praying it was Peeta who would come back up alive. Eventually, a cannon sounded, and a body floated to the surface, a dead one. Finnick continued to swim toward the corpse, as Katniss began to worry. Luckily enough, Peeta surfaced, alive and well. A breath of relief passed through everyone, at the news that he was alive.