ODDS

ʙᴀᴛᴛʟᴇꜱ

Finnick

𝓘𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓭𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 the dark hours of the early morning that were the hardest. Nothing could really distract me from my thoughts at this time, not even my rope, which had made my hands raw and sore from its course material.

I was also free to cry, without the stares of those around me. It was private.

I sobbed, covering my mouth with my hand, trying to not disturb the other patients with my despair. The scratchy sheets were soaked with tears and sweat, sticking to my equally as sweaty body. I wished I'd asked the nurse for more sheets, but I didn't want to be a bother. Or, anymore than I already was.

"Finnick." her voice came out forcefully, with spite and malice laced in between every syllable. I didn't have to look. I felt the same emotions towards myself, too, so I couldn't blame her.

"I wanted to go back for Peeta and Johanna, but I-uh"

I failed.

"I couldn't move."

I finally plucked up the courage to look up at her.

"Alana was supposed to stay at the tree."

Katniss' face was emotionless now, which was a step up from hatred. At least she could keep her emotions in check in front of company.

"She'd agreed to stay at the tree-" My voice cracked. I bit the inside of my cheek. "They took her. She's in the Capitol"

I sniffed, looking to the rope in my swollen hands.

"I wish she was dead." My voice was full of emotion. "I wish they were all dead and we were too."

I couldn't hold back the tears anymore. My cheeks soaked with the salty liquid.

"Me too." Katniss finally said. I peered up at her, noticing that tears stained her cheeks as well. She came over slowly, carefully sitting beside me.

"We will be soon enough."

***

Alana

𝓘 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓪𝓼 I heard the doctor check the the contents of the syringe, making sure that the measurements were correct. My body ached partly due to sleeping on the floor and partly because of the drugs. I didn't know how much more my body would take. To be honest, I was surprised I'd lasted this long.

"Miss Knight, I need you to keep still." his voice was kind, but I'd learned my lesson. He was a monster who found pleasure in my pain as soon as I couldn't control my circumstances. I wondered if he knew that I was even real, like that man had found out during the chaos of the Quarter Quell interviews.

And how long had I been here, trapped in the Capitol? A month, two? Had it even been that long? I didn't know the answer, and I was fairly sure that if I asked, they wouldn't tell me. So what would have been the point?

I let out a deep breath, feeling a cold chill run through my body as the drug was inserted into my arm. My shaking body stilled, falling limp. The only sound in the room was the rising and falling of my chest as each breath came and went. In and out.

The doctor travelled back to his table full of odd medical tools. His shoes squeaked, echoing in my mind, like a flute out of tune. This didn't bother me, as the affects hadn't truly set in yet. A tear escaped my eye, even though I felt better than I had since before the games. I knew this was a fleeting thing, this feeling. I wished for sleep.

I wished for death.

"How are you feeling, Miss Knight?" the doctor asked from across the room. I heard him fiddling with his tools.

I only continued to breath as footsteps became closer.

My leg began to tingle, and I knew it had started. It was dull at first, but soon enough, a sharp pain shot up my leg. I clenched my jaw. I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of hearing my pain. He'd have to kill me to hear that.

But a clanking sound resonated in my left ear. I winced, breaking my strength for a single second. I replaced it with a stoic look.

"It's okay to show emotion, Miss Knight." he cooed. I despised his voice. "This can't be over until you do."

My clenched jaw became tighter. I wasn't going to let him win again.

I wasn't going to let Snow win.

But then something sharp and hot singed my abdomen, and I leapt up in anger and pain. I heard symbols in the distance, or maybe it was a bell. I couldn't really be for sure, because then many people started whispering all around me. They were everywhere, scratching my subconscious like a knife against my temple.

Something boiling touched my skin, making my body shake like before. A whimper escaped my lips as I smelt my burning skin. I suddenly felt nauseous. I couldn't believe this was happening. This was real.

Wasn't it?

"Now, I have a question for you, Miss Knight." the doctor was against my ear now, but his voice boomed and cracked in my ear. "You know the answer. If your answer isn't the correct one, there will be consequences. You know the drill."

Yes, I knew.

"Who are you allegiant to?"

I couldn't find my voice. And to be honest, I didn't really want to answer the question. If I gave their version of the answer, I was giving in and becoming a traitor. If I gave my own, I was asking for pain.

There were no good options.

But I realized that this is what I'd been prepared for. My mother and father taught me to always do what was right, no matter the consequences. Morgan taught me to be true. Calypso taught me to be brave. And Finnick?

He taught me that when it seemed hopeless, it was because they were trying to keep me down, make me fall under their boots.

He taught me to fight.

So the next words came easily.

"I am allegiant to Panem. And to the Rebellion." My teeth gritted, ready for the pain.

I felt deep cuts in my forearm, and warm, oozing feeling against my sticky skin.

"There are consequences, Miss Knight. It would be wise to learn them."

I heard Finnick's words resonate in my mind.

Fight, Alana. Don't give up.

And how could I, with the love of my life telling me I couldn't let them win? I couldn't.

I was going to win.

And Snow was going to lose.