ODDS

ꜱᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

𝓘 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓪𝓽 the holo-table, listening to the two men before me. I was still a little out of it. But then again, living through an electrical force surging through my body took its toll on me. It would take time to heal.

"She's going to lose it when she finds out about the boy."

That was true.

Katniss' only goal was to get Peeta out, to let him live. I'd realized that when he hit the forcefield.

She really did love him.

"She'll still cooperate, though?"

I hadn't seen Plutarch Heavensbee we since he approached me with the plan in the first place. I rubbed my tired eyes.

That wasn't technically true. I saw him during the assessment, before the games.

"Without Peeta, there's no guarantee." Haymitch sighed, combing his hair back with his hand.

He was right again.

Without Peeta, there might not even be a revolution. Katniss could only function with the boy by her side. Not to mention, she didn't exactly trust anyone. Peeta was the reasonable one. He could've been a great asset to the revolution.

But he couldn't.

Just like Alana couldn't.

She should've stayed where I told her to. Then she would be here, and not there.

The both of them should've stayed.

But they'd get them back. They had to. Otherwise, in my eyes anyway, this was all for nothing.

What was the point of a new world if I couldn't share it with Alana?

"Just tell her when-"

And she was there.

Her eyes were drooped, plagued with exhaustion. Despite having a little time to heal, scrapes and bruises still littered her skin.

She looked miserable.

But I noticed a wild look in her eye.

Apparently, Haymitch didn't take this as a warning.

"Morning, sweetheart."

I would've rolled my eyes if Katniss hadn't leapt to attack him. My muscles, despite being so sore and stiff, moved to help the older victor. I'd actually expected some kind of outburst, but as soon as I saw the syringe, my eyes went wide.

"What are you doing with them?" Katniss' voice was raspy as she was pinned to the wall, hands above her head. Haymitch pried the syringe out of her tightly gripped fingers.

"You and a syringe against the Capitol?" Haymitch joked. "See this is why no one let's you make the plans."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Her voice shook as she spoke to me.

I swallowed thickly, holding up a hand. "Stop. Stop. Just- listen."

Haymitch continued. "We couldn't tell you with Snow watching, too risky. Better for you to know nothing."

Katniss pulled her hands down, making Haymitch stumble back a bit. She pushed him away from her as she gained her own balance.

"Where's Peeta."

I winced, as if I were in pain, which I was.

Plutarch spoke up. "Katniss, you have been our mission from the beginning. The plan was always to get you out."

This had to work.

"Half of the tributes were in on it. This is the revolution. And you are the Mockingjay."

A sort of horror glimmered in her eye.

"And we're on our way to District Thirteen right now."

"Thirteen?" Katniss panted.

"Yes, Thirteen."

She shook her head, gaining her bearings.

"Where's Peeta?" She asked once more. I closed my eyes, trying to keep my breaths from shaking.

Haymitch took charge. I was glad it didn't have to be me.

"He still has his tracker in his arm. Johanna cut yours out."

"Where is he?" Katniss was persistent. I had to give her credit.

"In the Capitol." Haymitch sighed. "They got him. And Johanna and Alana."

Katniss' eyes met mine, trying to find the truth. I wished I could give her one that was different. But the truth hurt.

She jerked her head to Haymitch then, her jaw becoming taut.

She snapped.

"You son of a bitch! You son of a bitch!" Her words came out hysterical, on the verge of insanity, as she attacked Haymitch. "You promised me you would save him over me!"

Plutarch took a syringe from some compartment in the wall and made his way to Katniss, who still hadn't given up on her attack.

I leaned against the table, hands propped up on the table to cover my face. This had definitely not gone as well as they'd hoped.

I knew better.

"You promised me! You're a liar!" The syringe's contents began to take affect on her. She fell to the ground, her words becoming slurred and her eyes closing rather quickly.

I made my way over to her, picking her up carefully so as not to hurt her more than she already was. I took her back to the small cot laid out for her. Before heading back, I checked on Beetee, who seemed to just be sleeping.

"It'll take some coaxing, but I really do believe she'll cooperate." Haymitch mentioned as I entered back into the room.

"I trust your judgement." Plutarch answered, looking over to me.

"Finnick, are you alright?"

I nodded, the lump in my throat bobbing up and down. My voice was heavy when I spoke. "Yeah. Just- I'm just going to go get some rest."

I passed by the two men as they stood aside, letting me through and staying silent.

I walked through the threshold, finding myself in the small compartment just behind the cockpit.

And I cried harder than I had in my entire life.