Burning Heart ~ Cato 2 (Completed)

Chapter Twenty Four

My feet slam against the ground as I run as fast as I can. 

"Mina!" I screech up into the air. I reach the area where her screams were most prominent. I notice a Jabberjay flying around me. I knock a bow and shoot it, Mina's scream at the tip of its tongue. 

"Ashlynn!"I turn to see Finnick crash through the trees, Cato hot on his trail. 

"Are you okay?" Cato asks behind him. Finnick's hands are on my shoulders searching my eyes as I respond. 

"I'm okay," I answer quietly. 

"Finnick!" Another voice screeches. 

"Annie!" Finnick yells whipping around.

"It's not her Fin," I say grasping for his arm. He whips around to me, his eyes dark.

"Where do you think they got the screams, Jay?" With that, we both take off in a run. Suddenly screams fill the air rapidly. Gale. Katniss. Mina. Prim. Haymitch. Even Cato's.

I sink to the ground. I see Cato leading the rest of the group towards us. I rush towards him, running into some kind of barrier. My eyes widen as I slide down it. I cover my ears. When I pull them away I see them covered in blood.

"Finnick!" My own voice rings around me, and I realize I'm not the one doing it. I see Finnick franticly swinging around, trying to find me. The Jabberjay and I fight to gain his attention. We connect eyes and we rush towards each other. His arms wrap around me and he pulls me close, leaning against the barrier and covering my ears.

We both begin to scream, as the world grows dark and Jabberjays crash upon us. 

"Ash. Ash. Ashlynn!" I gasp and grab the person waking me.

"Mina, Mina," I sob.

"It's okay kid, it's over now," Haymitch says. I throw my arms around him, trying to calm myself. 

"You think Snow is gonna actually hurt her?" I turn to Johanna, noticing the smudges around her eyes. "The country loves her. He couldn't hurt her. Even if she did, there'd be riots in the capital."

She looks up towards the sky at this.

"Here that Snow? How about we bring the fire to you? You can't put everyone in here!" She pauses as she starts her next sentence. Looking at me, then to Finnick. "Well, maybe he can." I look to Finnick. He catches my eye then looks away, wiping the blood from his forehead. 

"Are you okay?" I turn to Cato. He looks at me, worried. 

"I'm fine," I give him a weak smile. I stand and march over to Johanna. 

"We should get going," I nod to her and she returns it. We begin our trek, hearing the footsteps of everyone behind us. 

A day has passed, but anytime someone calls to Finnick and me, we flinch. I lean against the tree, watching Beetee wire the tree. Even though the five of us, Finnick, Haymitch, Beetee, Johanna and I know what's going on, Cato is still confused. 

"Why are we doing this?" He leans and asks Haymitch. Haymitch simply shakes his head no.

"It's ready," Beetee says. Everyone looks at each other, the weight of what's about to happen sinking in. We can't do it now. It's not yet time. 

"I'm going hunting. Anyone want to come with?" I ask. Jo shakes her head. Finnick still refuses to look at me. Haymitch doesn't volunteer. He came with me yesterday and I almost shot him out of pure annoyance.