75th Hunger Games (COMPLETED)

E I G H T

We gather our things, and the tension seems to pass, at least for the moment. We trek on, and I keep a sharp eye out as we continue our trek upward, but with no luck. After about another mile, I can see an end to the tree line and assume we're reaching the crest of the hill. "Maybe we'll have better luck on the other side. Find a spring or something."

But there is no other side. I know this before anyone else, even though I am farthest from the top. My eyes catch on a funny, rippling square hanging like a warped pane of glass in the air. At first I think it's the glare from the sun or the heat shimmering up off the ground. But it's fixed in space, not shifting when I move. And that's when I connect the square with Wiress and Beetee in the Training Center and realize what lies before us. A chink in the armor.

I hear a warning cry rising from Katniss, and I jump forward when Peeta's knife swings out to slash away some vines. I try to knock him out of the way, but I'm too late.

I only receive a fraction of the full impact of the shock, but it still hurts like hell. There's a sharp zapping sound as electricity flies through our bodies. For an instant, the trees are gone and I see open space over a short stretch of bare earth. Then Peeta is flung back from the force field. I'm also jerked back a bit and need to rest for a moment to regain my breath.

I see Katniss leaning over him, screaming and shaking him. "Peeta!"

Finnick has me in his arms. "Liz..." 

"I'm okay, promise." I manage to get out, pushing him over to Peeta. He gives me one last look, to make sure I'm okay, and when I nod he jumps into action.

"Let me." He says, pushing Katniss out of the way. His fingers touch points at Peeta's neck, run over the bones in his ribs and spine. Then he pinches Peeta's nostrils shut.

"No!" Katniss yells, hurling herself at Finnick, probably thinking he's trying to ensure Peeta's death, but she couldn't be more wrong. Finnick's hand comes up and hits her so hard, so squarely in the chest that she goes flying back into a nearby tree trunk.

I finally fully recover and make my way over to Finn and Peeta. "I'll get the breaths, you do compressions," I say, and he nods. I lean down over Peeta, and give one breath every 3 seconds, just like we were instructed at home while Finnick pumps his heart.

Agonizing minutes drag past as my hopes diminish. Around the time that I'm deciding it's too late, that Peeta's dead, moved on, unreachable forever, he gives a small cough and we sit back. Katniss flings herself at him. "Peeta?" she asks softly, brushing the damp blond strands of hair back from his forehead

His lashes flutter open and his eyes meet hers. "Careful," he says weakly. "There's a force field up ahead." she laughs, but there are tears running down her cheeks. I sigh a breath of relief, and rest my head on Finnick's shoulder. "Must be a lot stronger than the one on the Training Center roof," he says. "I'm alright, though. Just a little shaken."

"You were dead! Your heart stopped!" she burst out, then claps a hand over her mouth because she's starting to make those awful choking sounds that happen when some people sob.

"Well, it seems to be working now," he says. "It's all right, Katniss." She nods her head but the sounds aren't stopping. "Katniss?" Now Peeta's worried about her, which adds to the insanity of it all.

"It's okay. It's just her hormones," Finnick pipes up. "From the baby."

"No. It's not—" she gets out, but is cut off by an even more hysterical round of sobbing that seems only to confirm what Finnick said about the baby. He meets Katniss' eyes and I see her glare at him through the tears.