Allied Hearts - Finnick Odair

Chapter 14.

It had gotten to twelve days into the Games now and each day seemed to get slower, painfully waiting for who was going to win. There was only four tributes left in the game and I was overjoyed as Callissa and Finnick were two of them.

The fact only one of them could get out alive loomed
around my head but I tried to push it out as best I could.

Unfortunately my pleads hadn't gone to plan and the Capitol declined to send anything to Callissa resulting in her wound getting worse. She was in pretty bad shape.

Kicking at the dirt around her feet Callissa began to inspect her wounds. Her veins stood upright and tender red patches appeared all up her arm - a sign of infection. Visible sweat appeared on her forehead and her tan skin gradually turned ghostly pale. She sat on an isolated rock hungry, afraid and injured with no one to cry out to, she forbid to show any weakness to the authority that had placed her in this torturous scene.

Meanwhile Finnick was enjoying the luxury life seated in a cave he'd managed to stumble across. Every so often he'd tuck into one of the food tins he'd been given, or munch on an apple so generously gifted to him. It seemed the Capitol weren't just feeling generous enough to shower him with food as he had received another flying present, medical ointment as I expected, he'd already lathered it upon his wound and redressed with some stray green leaves.

Kicking at the water sheltered around his feet he began to practise his techniques with the huge trident, it wasn't like he needed any which we had all seen as he perfected his skill.

'He sure is talented with that weapon.' A member of the freak club seated around the table stated. Isn't it a twisted world we live in when a trident was originally used to fish, now it's being used to hunt humans.

Every so often the projection would skip to the other two tributes but no one seemed to be up to much at the minute, clearly the game makers weren't best pleased with this and had to send in some twists to liven the day up.

It started with the sound of swishing water, Finnick instantly alert to the sudden change grabbed his Trident and stood upright, checking all angles for any sign of the mystery sound. Before he even had time to realise what was happening a huge whirlpool struck inside the cave jolting him straight down to the bottom. His head made a connection with a rock as he fought to get above the surface but not succeeding.

Callissa's ears perked up as she experienced the exact same noise Finnick had heard moments before, wide eyes scanning the surrounding arena her face grew puzzled as she couldn't figure out where the noise was coming from or what it was.

Hesitantly she peeled herself off the rock and slowly began a stroll to discover what was happening. Her steps were small and it was clear for all to see she was weak, little to no strength left in her vulnerable body.

She came across a bed of water which didn't look too shallow although when she flicked her toes into the icy pool it forcefully dragged her down into its depths.

The cameras followed them both on their journey under water, showing the viewers their struggle for breath. Both looked terrified and were equally as shocked as me at the utter brutality of this surprise attack.

Sitting on the edge of my seat filled with anxiety the camera switched to another tribute, causing my mind to wander about my dear friends.
A boom serenaded around the arena as my breath hitched in my throat, automatically assuming the worst.

The projector turned black and that was the show until tomorrow. The game makers knew what they were doing, keeping the audience in suspense and leaving it on a cliffhanger. Fear ignited through my body as the unidentified kill could be Finnick or Callissa and I won't even know until tomorrow, it was going to eat me inside all night.

'My bets are on that weak young girl with the infected arm, she's as weak as a kitten. No way she's surviving that horror.' A chuckle resounded at the table as my stomach turned in disgust.

'People can be a lot stronger than you think you know!' Frustration laced my voice as I dismissed myself from the table as I had done so many times before.

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The darkness of the room was no match for the thoughts in my head, I had been through a million different scenarios and each one ended in a horrific way for either Finnick or Callissa.

I'd already had a scolding off my father for my mistreatments of his guests, apparently my statement was extremely rude but I hear that daily so it practically went in one ear and out the next.

I'd skipped my last meal, too nauseated to even attempt stomaching anything. It was 10:14pm now to be precise and it didn't look likely that I was getting a wink of sleep tonight, my mind racing at a thousand miles per hour.

'Hello my love' Ava's soft tone crept into the shadowed room instantly giving me comfort. 'Your father said you haven't eaten a thing and have isolated yourself up here for the evening, anything I can help with?'

'Nope' Was the only thing I could suffice out of a crackled voice.

'You're worried about your friends? Finnick and Callissa?'

Nodding in the dark I knew she couldn't see it but as always she knew what was on my mind. Without another word she pulled me to her chest tightly.

We sat like that for hours, she always knew just what to do. And although my thoughts didn't halt and sleep didn't appear, it was better to be with Ava than to suffer alone.