Appreciate this, because these couple of chapters are darn difficult to follow. Also, to all you concerned about Finnick's death...I know it's looming. I know you're concerned. Especially dear Bella. But remember ducklings, I already know my ending. Yes, there are one or two others I may consider writing and posting as separate stories just for kicks. But i have my ending and it's good. So no matter what, just trust me with your literary needs, okay? Happy reading folks!
44
The Mission Begins
"I can't believe him!" I shout, kicking the dresser. It sends a sharp pain through my toes but I ignore it. "How could he just leave?!"
"We found remnants of a video tape in Parker's room," Beetee explains gently, "It was just a few days ago I believe. I'm guessing the capitol sent him another tape."
I suck in a deep breath and stop myself from using Beetee as a whipping post. "A tape?"
"They sent us a tape of you being tortured while you were still in the Capitol, but we stopped him from seeing it. I'm guessing they sent another one and it motivated him to join the fight. Katniss, Gale, Boggs, and Finnick have all left with a team of sharpshooters for the Capitol."
I remember the light of the camera blinking its red eye at me as I was whipped, burned, and humiliated. My body quivers and I collapse into the chair adjacent from Beetee. He's looking at me with a sympathetic expression. I fold my arms and clench my jaw so that the anger can keep the tears at bay.
If Finnick saw any of that, you know there was no way he could stay.
"Are they in danger?" I ask through clenched teeth.
"I'm not sure," he says, "less than the other soldiers. But any place in the Capitol is some degree of dangerous..." When I don't respond, he continues quickly, "But he's a good soldier, Annie. I'm sure he'll be okay."
I steady myself and answer with an uncharacteristic level of iciness, "You don't have to lie."
O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O
"It's not fair," Gale complains, "If I don't shoot something soon, I'm going to have to start using my hands to kill."
"It's your fault for being so camera ready," Katniss teases maliciously. Gale throws her a killer look and I smirk, setting my gun and trident down beside me. Ever since I left Thirteen I haven't let the thing out of my sight. It's the fourth morning and so far we've done nothing but shoot some pathetic propos. Katniss is being surprisingly cooperative.
Soldier Leeg 2 hits a mislabeled pod. We are all expecting to be attacked by a swarm of muttation gnats, but instead poison darts go straight into her brain. When I get over the initial shock, I look at Gale and raise my eyebrows.
"Still wish that was you?"
That evening, we all stand around to receive the new member of the team to replace Leeg 2. My jaw nearly falls off the hinge when I see Peeta step off the ship with 451 stamped on his hand and a gun around his back. Boggs relieves him of it as soon as he reaches us. "I'm going to make a call," Boggs mutters, walking away.
"It won't matter," Peeta tells us, "The president assigned me herself. She decided the propos needed some heating up."
I look at Katniss, whose cheeks are flushed with both surprise and anger. We all know the message that Coin is sending, but no one says it out loud. Fact of the matter is, Katniss is worth more to Thirteen dead than she is alive.
After some time on the phone, an angry Boggs demands to have a two-person guard on Peeta around the clock. He disappears with Katniss and I turn to see Gale glaring at Peeta like a stain on the earth. The poor boy is just standing there with an emotionless expression, no doubt trying hard not to look embarrassed or make excuses for his behavior. Before he sees, I silently step between Gale and Peeta and gesture for him to leave. He's going to protest, but I darken my look and he disappears into his tent in a huff. I spin on my heels to face Peeta and dig a bag of dried fruit out of my pack.
