𝙳𝙸𝚂𝙼𝙰𝚈 ° finnick odair ²

34

As soon as the sun set, the group made their way across the island, entering the jungle and heading towards the lightning tree. They made their way in silence, only the occasional warning of a high branch or slick rock being the only words passed between them all.

"How do you want to die?" Johanna asked her friend suddenly, keeping her voice low as they walked through the quiet jungle.

"What?" Adrienne asked with furrowed brows as she looked away from where she was watching Finnick, who was leading the group through the trees.

"You heard me." She snarked, causing both of them to smirk. "Forget about the Games and all the shit that follows. How do you want to die?"

The blonde girl sighed softly. It wasn't something she really thought about; she always thought the Games would be the death of her, but somehow, they hadn't been. Not yet, at least.

"I want to die by my own terms." She finally said with a smile. "I don't want to be killed in an arena. I want to die when I'm ready. In the arms of my true love, whoever that may be."

Johanna smiled over at her friend. It wasn't often that she saw this side to the blonde, knowing she always put up a hard front when she was around those she didn't know or trust.

"And, when I'm gone," Adrienne continued. "I want to return home; to my district. And I want my ashes scattered to the sea breeze, so that the ocean can take me where it may."

"Wow," Was all the other girl said, causing the blonde to look at her, only to see Johanna's teasing smirk. "Poetic."

Adrienne was about to sass back to her, but the Capital anthem blaring through the arena I interrupted them. Everyone turned and looked towards the sky, watching as the faces of the fallen were displayed on the sky, Wiress and Blight included. Adrienne glanced over at Johanna, only to see the girl looking at the ground with an emotionless expression, but the blonde girl knew her friend was hurting. She just refused to let it show. They didn't talk after that.

As the holograms disappeared, the six of them continued their walk in somewhat awkward silence. It wasn't long before he jungle opened up slightly, revealing the base of the large tree, which was made up of what seemed to be dozens and dozens of thick vines.

"Minimal drawing. Impressive conductor." Beetee muttered, more to himself than anyone. He seemed to study the tree for a moment before turning to the people standing behind him. "Let's get started."

They all started helping Beetee carefully wrap the wire around the many vines and all along the base of the tree, all the while making sure they were done by the time the lightning came. ONce it was all said and done, they took a step back to look at their work.

"Typically, a lightning strike contains five million jolts of energy," Beetee said as he walked towards the group, the coil unwinding in his hand. "We don't wanna be here in this vicinity when this hits." He lifted the coil up, handing it to Katniss and Johanna. "You two girls take this; unspool it carefully. Make sure the entire coil is in the water. Understand?" When they nodded, he continued. "Head towards the two o'clock sector; we'll meet you there."

Adrienne knew that by 'we', the man meant the District Four tributes, Peeta, and himself. And it seemed that Katniss knew it, too, seeing as she shot her 'fiance' a look, which the blonde girl caught.

The boy from Twelve looked over Beetee, taking a step towards the two girls. "I'm going to go with them as a guard."

The older man was quick to object to this, stepping back towards the group, seeing as he had started walking back to the tree to gather his things. "No, no, no. You stay. You have to protect me and the tree."

"No, I need to go with her." He said. "Adrienne and Finnick can protect you just fine on their own."

"Yeah," Katniss said, seemingly offended by Beetee's need to keep Peeta with him. "Why can't those three stay with you and Peeta and I can take the coil?"

"You all agreed to keep me alive until midnight, correct?" Beetee questioned.

Adrienne groaned in annoyance. "We don't have time for this bullshit." She said, glaring at Katniss. "It's Beetee's plan and we all said we'd do as he told us, so just take the fucking coil." The raising of her voice gained Finnick's attention, causing the boy to start making his was back to the group from the other side of the clearing.

"Is there a problem here?" He asked, his soothing voice somewhat calming the fire that Adrienne felt in her veins. This was the end; she could feel it.

"Excellent question." The oldest man of the group said, shooting the District Twelve couple a look.

"There's no problem." Katniss finally sighed, finally giving in. She slowly approached Peeta, kissing his lips gently. "I'll see you at midnight."

Johanna, coil in hand, started walking back the way they came from the beach. "Alright, let's go. Come on. I wanna put as much distance to the beach as possible; frying is not how I intend to go."

Once the two girls were out of sight, Finnick turned to the blonde girl. "You alright?" He asked.

Taking a breath, she nodded. She didn't look at him as she spoke, but instead looked at where the two girls disappeared. "It's starting."

"What is?" The boy asked, now confused at to what the girl was talking about.

Adrienne turned her head and looked into the boy's eyes, her face expressionless. "The end."