Stay with me? [Finnick Odair]

105

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Chapter one hundred and five
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Katniss leaves the window and announces what's going on. That there are refugees moving through the streets. Tigris offers to be our spy for the day since she's the only one who doesn't have a bounty out for her head, which none of us are opposed to, and she secures us in the cellar before heading off. Katniss doesn't seem to relax once were secured in the cellar as, while the rest of us are seated around the room, she is pacing the floor with her bottom lip between her teeth.

God knows what she's thinking in this moment, but all I know is watching her pace back and forth like that is beginning to get annoying. But I don't say anything to her. I know she's nervous, that she's trying not to panic while we're all trapped in this cellar, so I just stay silent and cuddle myself into Finnick's side as we wait for Tigris to return.

However, by late afternoon, we're all worried that her return might not happen. The others begin to talk about the possibilities of Tigris' arrest, her turning us in voluntarily, or that she's simply been injured in the wave of terrified refugees streaming to the Capitol's centre. But, thankfully, around six o'clock we hear her return. There's some shuffling around upstairs before she opens the panel, the wonderful smell of frying meat fills the small cellar and we all make our way upstairs to see she's somehow managed to acquire some chopped ham and potatoes.

I don't care how she managed to get it. I've been dying for hot food for days, so I just focus on scoffing down the serving of food she's given me.

Finnick laughs as he looks over to me. "Clem, slow down, she's not going to take it from you," he says, placing his hand on mine and forcing me to lower my hand; placing my fork onto my plate. I look up to the others and slowly swallow the mouthful of food I have, apologising sheepishly as I force myself to slow down.

We watch the latest news on the Capitol TV and we see the Head Peacekeeper laying out specific rules for how many people per square foot each resident will be expected to take in. He also reminds people that temperatures will drop below freezing tonight and warns them that their president expects them to be not only willing but enthusiastic hosts in this time of crisis. They then decide to display some very obviously staged shots of concerned citizens welcoming grateful refugees into their homes. The Head Peacekeeper announces that the president himself has ordered part of his mansion readied to receive citizens tomorrow, then adds that shopkeepers should also be prepared to lend their floor space if required.

"Tigris, that could be you," Peeta points out. He's not wrong. This tiny shop will be used if the numbers continue to swell, which means we have very little time to get out before we're swarmed with people and we're truly trapped in that cellar. We don't have long either.

The Head Peacekeeper comes back with an unfortunate announcement, followed with more instructions for the public. It turns out that this evening a poor young man was beaten to death after people mistook him for Peeta, which then leads to the Head Peacekeeper to announce that all rebel sightings are to be reported immediately to the authorities — who will deal with the identification and arrest of the suspect.

"People have gone wild," Cressida murmurs with a shake of her head.

"People are scared," I say, making her tear her eyes away from the screen just as they display a photo of the boy who supposedly looks like Peeta. "They think the rebels are going to kill them, so they panic."

"Or they just want someone to take their anger out on," Gale adds, keeping his eyes glued to the TV and I send a glare his way. Sure, a lot of the citizens will be angry at the rebels for disrupting their everyday lives, but I'll bet that more than a few of them are terrified of being attacked by the rebels. I don't respond to his comment, I just shake my head and place my attention on the TV just as a brief rebel update comes up about the several more blocks that have been taken today.

Katniss is quick to note them down on her map and studies it closely. "Line C is only four blocks from here," she announces, but then she suddenly changes the topic and offers to wash everyone's dishes.

"I'll give you a hand," Gale says while collecting the plates. They both leave the room and the rest of us retreat back down to the cellar. We all wait in silence for Katniss and Gale to return. When they do, they announce that we'll have to leave in the morning.

"Clementine will have to come with us, but Finnick..." Gale trails off, his eyes flickering over to Finnick as his arm tightens around my waist. "We're not sure if you should come with us."

"I'm going," Finnick announces firmly. "There's no way I'm waiting down here to hear if Clementine and Katniss have died or not."

"He's coming," I confirm, placing my hand on top of his and offering a small smile towards him. "After what happened underground, I can't leave him. I need to know that he's okay, which I'll be sure of if he stays with me."

It's clear that neither Katniss nor Gale is happy with our decision, but they nod their heads nevertheless and move on to Peeta — who they've decided should stay in the cellar and wait it out. Peeta is fairly rational about their decision. He agrees that his company could put the rest of us at risk, but then he announces that he'll be going off on his own.

"To do what?" Cressida asks.

"I'm not sure exactly." Peeta shrugs. "The one thing that I might still be useful at is causing a diversion. You saw what happened to that man who looked like me."

"What if you... lose control?" Katniss asks hesitantly, almost as if she doesn't want to admit that there's a possibility that Peeta could turn into a mutt with no control.

"You mean... go mutt?" Peeta asks, raising an eyebrow at her. "Well, if I feel that coming on, I'll try to get back here," he assures her.

"And if Snow gets you again?" Gale asks. "You don't even have a gun."

"I'll just have to take my chances," Peeta replies. "Like the rest of you." Gale stares at Peeta for a while before reaching into his breast pocket. Pulling out the small pill, which remains as a last minute resort to him, and he places it in Peeta's palm. Peeta stares at the pill, just letting it lie in his palm, neither accepting it nor rejecting it. "What about you?" He asks.

"Don't worry. Beetee showed me how to detonate my explosive arrows by hand. If that fails, I've got my knife. And I'll have Katniss," Gale says, pausing to send a smile Katniss' way. "She won't give them the satisfaction of taking me alive."