Stay with me? [Finnick Odair]

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Chapter fifty seven: panic
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"RUN!! RUN!"

We're woken with a start at the sound of Katniss' cries for us to run, confused and dazed, we wake slower than we should have and Finnick quickly asks what's wrong.

"Some kind of fog. Poisonous gas. Hurry, Peeta!"

As Katniss rouses Peeta from his deep sleep, I see a whisp of thick fog rolling towards us and I reach a hand out, curiously, and I instantly regret allowing my guard to slip as a searing pain erupts in my hand like a thousand tiny needles hitting my skin and injecting me with some sort of venom. I scramble from my bed and haul my sword up, latching onto Finnick and blindly follow him away from the fog.

"Follow my feet, Clem! Don't look back!" Finnick shouts to me as I'm led through the thick jungle, getting hit in the face with the low-hanging leaves of the trees, I groan as the pain grows stronger in my hand, but I keep pushing myself to keep going as Finnick grasps at my hand.

The mist continues to stick to us like a disease, not stopping for anything, sending a searing pain through my exposed skin, it reaches my neck and I can't stop a scream from escaping my lips. It feels like someone has taken a knife to my neck, but instead of killing me straight away it slowly drags the life out of me in the most painful way until there's nothing left.

I slowly feel my arms begin to spasm, causing my sword to become lost in the thick fog, there's no time to go back for it, so I keep rushing after Finnick until we hear Katniss yelling for us. The fog is less than a yard away and quickly gaining, Finnick rushes towards them and Katniss requests for Finnick to carry Peeta — meaning he won't be able to lead me.

This reminds me too much of the firestorm nine years ago, where Charlotte allowed herself to go in order to help us keep going, she knew she was dying, I just kept running that year — thought of myself first, but this time my only thought is either stick by them or die trying.

"Will you be okay if I take him?"

I nod towards Finnick, my eyes glued on the fog that is hurtling towards us. "Katniss, take her! I've got Peeta!" Suddenly, a smaller, much softer hand is placed in mine and I'm pulled forwards again. I keep looking behind me to make sure the fog hasn't suddenly appeared at our feet once more, I do this a couple times, but then Katniss falls and I'm pulled down with her.

We land on top of Finnick and Peeta and my first thought is: this is how we die, we're all spasming so much that we can't even bring up the energy to run anymore. Then I look back. Either it's my eyes playing tricks on me or the fog is transforming, as if it's pressed up against glass; unable to reach us.

It doesn't stop the pain, though, as the fog leaves, we're all laying on our backs in the dirt twitching and gasping as the venom slowly turns our nerves into nothing.

"Mon-hees"

My eyes twitch upwards and what seems to be the vague silhouette of something almost human appears, unable to respond, I simply stare up at the orange creatures as I feel a shift in the dirt beside me. Katniss has begun to crawl, following Peeta, Finnick moves by me — twitching like mad but still being able to move. I follow them, barely able to shuffle along the ground, we eventually reach the strip of warm sand surrounding the cornucopia.

I think I black out after my face seems to have been touched by a burning flame, though I wake minutes later by my whole body being tortured by this flame. I scream, salt water fills my mouth and turns my scream into a gargle, I slowly come back to my body and realise my jumpsuit has been removed and I'm left in my undergarments and shoes.

I want to cover myself, but I just float in the water with Peeta by my side. He smiles down at me as he realises I have come back.

"Hey, you're okay," he whispers to me, I nod and continue to float until I hear Finnick's strangled cry. I instantly thrash in the water, pushing myself up, I notice Katniss pulling him into the water. He's in pain, but there's a milky substance oozing from his wounds and into the water; he seems to be getting better.

Everyone has stripped from their jumpsuits, which makes sense since they basically did nothing to help besides the belts.

I rush towards them, placing a hand on Finnick's blistered cheek, he seems to calm down by this touch and Katniss continues to help him. By the time we're done, I have a strong sense that we're in a dangerous position. Finnick seems to be able to move himself in the water, so I quickly tell him I'll be back and walk towards my destroyed jumpsuit. The suit is no use, but I manage to fashion a pair of shorts out of the destroyed fabric, securing them with the belt that has my throwing knives on, I begin to feel a lot more protected with my knives on me — though I'm still upset about my sword, I try not to think about it as I comb my fingers through my short hair. It's become damaged by the fog, so I try not to touch it as the thought of my hair falling out terrifies me.

I turn to see Finnick slowly coming back to life, rolling around in the water, swimming in a rhythmic motion, spraying water from his mouth, I stand with the water at my ankles and giggle at the sight of him go under for a couple minutes only to startle Katniss when he comes back up. She says something to him and they both reach the sand again, Finnick soaked and smirking to himself, he seems happy with himself as he slings an arm around my shoulders as we enter the jungle to help Peeta.

In the short time we take to find Peeta focused on finding the right tree for the spile, the ominous breathing above us becomes daunting, all three of us look up, seeing scores of monkeys like the ones we saw before watching us carefully. Katniss arms her bow calmly and Finnick takes his trident in his hand, I feel so bare without my sword, but I'm much better with my throwing knives anyway. I keep my eyes on the mass of monkeys above us as I grasp my one of my knives in my hand.

"Peeta," Katniss calls out as calmly as possible. "I need your help with something," she says, trying not to worry him as we all keep a sharp eye on the monkeys staring at us as if we're their dinner.

"Okay, just a minute, I think I've just about got it." He keeps his eyes on the tree, completely unaware of the threat lurking just above his head. "Yes, there. Have you got the spile?"

"I do. But we've found something you'd better take a look at, only move towards us quietly, so you don't startle it," Katniss continues in a measured tone, as to not worry Peeta, but even the request seems strange. I become increasingly aware of the heavy breathing on the back of my neck and I freeze, grasping onto my knife, I'm about to turn when I hear every monkey above us screech...