Stay with me? [Finnick Odair]

52

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Chapter fifty two: let the games begin
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Cosmo and Luna slip into the room whilst we manage to get a couple more precious hours of sleep, Finnick is taken first, he gives me a light kiss on the forehead and nods.

"See you."

I smile. "See you, Fin," I reply, he walks out the room with Luna leading him and Cosmo approaches me as I push myself up in the bed.

"Are you ready?" He asks me.

I shake my head, running a hand through my hair. "No," I reply shortly, earning a chuckle from him, he places a caring hand in mine — which are shaking — and I'm pulled from the bed without a second thought. Without giving me a chance to change, I'm led to the roof where the hovercraft is waiting for me.

I feel my heart hammering in my chest as I approach the ladder, the electric current holding me in place, the doctor injects my tracker and I'm freed. Now they will know my exact location in the arena. Cosmo keeps pushing food my way, but I can barely stomach half of it — the rest I just throw up into a bucket, every single memory is coming back at once. Every death, every kill, every face of my previous allies flashing in my mind and sending my stomach into a frenzy.

I only drink water now, I can't bare to eat anymore.

We eventually reach the launch room and I manage to shower without puking up my guts, Cosmo stays by my side the whole time; making sure I don't pass out from the panic. He ties my hair back into the double buns and I try not to look in a mirror, afraid of who or what I might see, I just keep my eyes on Cosmo.

The tribute outfits this year are light blue fitted jumpsuits that cling to every inch of your body, composed of a very sheer material, there's a zipper on the front and I can't help but feel the overwhelming urge to cover myself up. I feel exposed, but nothing is on show, it's not so sheer that I might as well be naked, but it's still rather revealing. There's a six inch wide padded belt covered in shiny purple plastic paired with nylon shoes with rubber soles.

I examine the outfit, thinking what could possibly be waiting for us.

"Water, maybe?" I ask Cosmo, brows creased, I look to him and he shrugs.

"It won't offer much warmth, so it could be hot," he explains, I nod my head and we both sit down. It's far too worrying to wait for the voice to tell me to enter the tube in silence, so Cosmo and I talk, keeping my mind from the sudden death that could be awaiting me, he tells me anything I might've forgotten over the years and we catch up on what has happened in the Capitol while I was avoiding everything in my home.

Home. Mae. My eyes fill with tears at the thought of her watching me at home, nobody to calm her, to keep her safe, nobody to hold her and tell her everything will be okay. She understands why I volunteered, but she's still angry at me for leaving her like mom did. I know she is. She'll never forgive me, but I know she'll get used to the silence after a while.

She'll be okay.

The time came. The voice on the speakers tells me to prepare to launch and I rise from my seat, keeping my head held high, Cosmo leads me towards the launch pad and turns me around.

"Don't forget this," he says, assuring my necklace is secured around my neck, I thank him and he plants a kiss on my forehead. "I know you can do this, just remember who's rooting for you."

I can help but smile as I step onto the platform, thanking him for everything he's done for me and sharing some last minute words before the glass lowers around me. Everything goes silent. Cosmo keeps his eyes on me, a slight curve to his lips, I feel the plate begin to rise and he gives one last nod before he disappears from my sight.

The sun catches my eye and the heat beats down on my head, I squint, realising the crystal blue waves surrounding my plate. That's when I look back up and see water stretching around us in every direction, in the centre is the cornucopia with every goodie nestled up inside of it, unlike the field where you could just grab the closest thing and run, this year we have to get up close and personal with every tribute.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the 75th hunger games begin!"

I have a minute to figure out where Finnick is, but I don't see him, all I see is Peeta to my right and water. Behind me is the shore, a narrow strip of beach and then miles of thick jungle. I look to Peeta and he nods toward me, we're at the back of the cornucopia, but that won't stop me from getting my throwing knives.

The gong sounds and I take no time in being reluctant, I dive to my left and it takes less than thirty seconds to get to the rocky shore of the cornucopia. I run around, grabbing my knives, I quickly sprint back to help Peeta when I realise he hasn't appeared at the cornucopia. He hasn't even come off the pad yet, he's standing there, looking incredibly lost on what to do; he looks like a lost puppy. I shake my head and dive back into the water, cutting through the harsh waves, I reach his launch pad within seconds and pull myself up.

"Peeta, come on! We have to go!" I exclaim, tugging at his wrist, he suddenly snaps out of his trance and looking me in the eyes. "Come on!" I yell, diving back into the water with Peeta still attached, in a panic, he thrashes around only to realise he's floating effortlessly. "I've got you, don't worry," I say in an effort to calm him down, he hesitates, but eventually lets himself float. I'm much slower with another person, but I manage to pull him ashore just in time for Katniss and Finnick to join us.

"Hello again," Peeta heaves, smiling up at Katniss as she helps to haul him onto shore...