𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 | 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐫

TWENTY-TWO

xxii. Rough Times Are Coming

Finnick's body laid motionless beside Katniss and Beetee's. Unlike Katniss who lay completely unconscious, Finnick was the first to stir awake. His hazel eyes moved under his eyelids, trying to wake himself up. Then, it all came back to him. The lightning tree, Katniss's arrow, Aurora's pained leg. And with a gasp, his eyes shot open. The oxygen mask that covered his lips fogged up, as his panicked breaths flew out. The cool air of wherever he was seemed to bring chills upon his bare arms. He looked around to see a metal ceiling, as a whirring sound filled his ears. At this moment he realized, he definitely wasn't in the arena.

Moving slowly, he sat up from his laying position. He removed the bothersome oxygen mask tied to his face as he looked around. His bones ached as he turned his head. He was in a hovercraft, the very same one they'd ridden in before the games had begun. Beside him, he found Katniss and Beetee sleeping peacefully, with masks over their faces and tubes stuck in their arms.

There were similar tubes stuck in his own. Without much care, he pulled out the needle that stuck in his vein, pumping an unknown liquid into his system. His head shot up at the voices heard only feet away. But the owners of the voices were blocked off by this opaque glass door that separated them, from him. Carefully, he stood from his spot on the floor. He grabbed onto the seats beside him for stability, not wanting to fall over and give away his presence.

Quietly, he lazily stepped toward the door, his body adjusting to the sudden movement. He stopped in front of the door, taking in a deep breath, before sliding the door open with one swipe.

On the other side, revealing the sources of the two voices. Haymitch Abernathy and Plutarch Heavensbee. But no Aurora.

Their eyes shot up to see Finnick Odair, stood feet away. "Well, look who's awake," Haymitch muttered under his breath, but Finnick still heard. His eyes frantically searched the room, for the one girl that occupied his mind.

Finnick stepped forward, the door closing behind him. He looked completely out of it, a dazy feeling stuck inside him. After being knocked unconscious from the lightning strike, his body lost all the energy that once occupied it.

"Where's Aurora?" As the words left his lips, Finnick notice Haymitch hesitantly glance at Plutarch, before letting out a hefty sigh.

He leaned on the table, looking directly at Finnick. "We're on our way to District Thirteen. Ace and Annie are already-" His attempt to change the subject was cut off by a worried Finnick.

"Where is she, Haymitch?" His voice sounded desperate, causing a pang in Haymitch's heart. Finnick's state was sure to make this much more difficult than it already was. Haymitch didn't answer but instead looked to Plutarch to take the stand.

Plutarch sighed, before answering. "There were some complications." He didn't hesitate to announce, for he didn't know the girl much. All he knew was she was certainly one of the more intriguing tributes that year and would've been a good asset in the rebellion. But unfortunately, things hadn't gone to plan.