𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐫

TWENTY

xx. Confessions

The group returned to the beach, where they believed it to be safest. They had the largest alliance, leaving the other tributes largely outnumbered. This fact in itself had Katniss and Peeta feeling hesitant. Sometime very soon, the Careers would be dead, and that would just leave the six of them. They were going to have to kill each other at some point, and that thought alone had Katniss contemplating just killing them right then. She, as well as Peeta, knew that Johanna, Aurora, and Finnick held a tight-knit friendship that would surely stay after the Careers were killed. Not to mention, they were a large threat as enemies, with much more skilled than both of them combined.

Katniss was clueless as to what she and Peeta were to do, but for now, they decided to stick with them. Even if they were to kill them, they were still on high alert, dangerous. Their best bet was to get rid of them when they were least expecting it when they were vulnerable.

On the other hand, everyone else had the opposite intention. They were sent to protect Katniss and Peeta, even risk their lives for them. It didn't seem fair to some, but it was what they had to do if they wanted to help the rebellion. And their anger against Snow was much stronger than their selfishness.

As they walked back to the beach, Finnick's hand clung with Aurora's. And even when they'd arrived, they both walked over to the shore, to sit down in the shallow water. They felt the ocean's waves pass through them, seemingly calming their nerves.

Finnick wasn't okay, not after the threat. He felt as if he'd gone insane. An hour of the screams, deafening screams. It was like he fell off the deep end, only to be pulled out when the hour was over. He stared out into the ocean, focusing only on the sound of the waves, the warm water on his legs, and the feeling of Aurora's hand in his own. The panic that once occupied his mind had exhausted him, leaving only a shell of the confident, strong man he was before. The mutts combined with Aurora's near-death had tired him out. All he needed was rest and he'd be back in shape.

Aurora let out a sigh, feeling hurt at the sight of Finnick. "How're you feeling?" She whispered out, looking at him.

He ran his thumb over her knuckle. "I'm fine, just, tired."

She kept her eyes on him for a moment more, before beginning to stand up. "I'll go get you some water-"

"No-" He tugged on her arm, slightly. His eyes connected with her own, and at that moment she realized what he needed wasn't water, it was her. The presence of someone he loved, to just be with her. "I don't need it."

Aurora slowly moved back to her comfortable sitting position. Her eyes were locked on the cornucopia, but mainly the small waves that formed. She leaned her head on his shoulder, comfortingly. They both basked in the silence, no stress, relaxing in the quiet. It was what they needed, after a hectic few hours. Especially since they might not get it again.