"WHERE ALMOST THERE!"

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Tripping over a tree branch, I could see the Cornucopia in view as well as the beach. I was almost there. I'm almost there. Stumbling out of the thick brush, I collapse onto the sand spitting out all the remaining blood in my mouth. I don't care if I have to gargle salt water, I need to get rid of this taste. Gagging at the disgusting taste, I couldn't help but remember my games. The blood. The death. The kids. The kids that I killed.

Jumping off the tree branch, I harshly land on the girl's back making both of us groan and fall. Collapsing to the ground, I wrapped my arms around her neck making her nails claw at my face. Crap that hurts. Rolling us over, my back hits the ground while she lays face up into the sky. Thrashing frantically around, she scratches at my arms trying to break my grip, but I don't let go. I won't let go.

Tightening my grip on her neck, I feel her stiffening up in my grip making me relax. Thank god, this is almost over. Going to let go of her, I turn her over to her side, seeing Ares towering over me glaring at me. Like a parent would to a toddler. Throwing his axe into her head, blood gushed onto my face, with some getting into my mouth as I stared at him in shock.

Staring at my blood covered hands, I could feel fear and vomit going up my throat, but I won't let it out. I need to swallow it. Feeling my hands tremble, I could feel the shaking worsen in the rest of my body, like a cat shivering after being soaked. I need to get this blood off of me. I need it off of me. I need to get it off of me. Rubbing my hands on my jumpsuit, I could feel the harsh fabric rub against my already sensitive knuckles.

I need to get this blood off of me. I need it off of me. I need to get it off of me. Feeling Wiress's weight no longer on me, I continued to wipe my hand on my jumpsuit more frantically this time. It's not coming off. Why won't it come off? Whimpering quietly as the blood stayed on my hands, I stared at them un-moving. I need it to come off. It needs to come off.

"I told you no. But, you're welcome." Ares scolds, kicking the dead girl off of me.

"What did you do? I had her." I said, wiping my face with my jacket sleeve.

"She had a knife. I did you a favor. Also, you can't be reckless, Athena. Not here." He argued, pulling his axe out of her head making the cannon go off.

"Thanks, I guess." I huff, standing up from the ground.

"Johanna calm down." Beetee orders, trying to calm the raging brunette.

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN! I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU! I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!" She shouts at him.

Shutting my eyes, I take a deep breath trying to calm myself down, I need to focus. I can't break down every time I see blood. Opening my eyes, I stop my scrubbing and just stare at my blood covered hands. I can wash them later. I need to focus right now. Looking up from my hands, I could see Johanna pointing her axe threateningly at Beetee, who had his hands up in surrender. Focus on the present. Focus Athena. Shaking away the nerves, I glanced at Wiress, who was pacing back and forth on the sand.

Hands going up and down on her arms, her lips muttering the same phrase. Tik Tok. Staring at Johanna, she clings onto her arm, shaking it back and forth to get her attention. Shoving her off, Johanna sends the older woman an icy glare, her axe now pointing at her. Wiping my face with my hand, I stood up and approached her calmly, knowing that she was seconds away from swinging at someone.

"Johanna, please, relax." I said, placing my hand on her shoulder.

"Don't. Just don't." She mutters, glaring at my hand.

"Calm down, Johanna. Or else I'll make you⎯" I order, being more stern.

"Johanna!" A voice shouts, cutting in.

Tensing up at the loud voice, Johanna and I raised our weapons high, standing in front of Beetee and Wiress in defense. We can fight later. Now, we need to survive. Standing shoulder to shoulder, we scan the treeline for the voice to appear. Was it a mutt? A tribute? A friend or foe? Scanning the shadows for something, anything, I didn't see glowing eyes or a silhouette. Then, where did the voice come from?

"Johanna!" The voice shouts again.

Scanning the nearby beach, I could see a figure running towards us followed by two smaller figures, one male and the other a female. Where did I know that voice? Squinting my eyes to get a better look at the figure, I was able to recognize familiar golden locks on the running figure. Oh my god. Finnick. He's alive. He's okay.

"Oh my god, Finnick!" I shout, running towards him.

"Athena!" He shouts back, making me tear up.

Smiling brightly at the sight of him, I fling my dagger aside and run as fast as I possibly can. I didn't care about anything but him. He was okay. He's alive. Feeling tears build up, everything around me was nothing more than streaks of color. All I knew was that I needed him. I needed to be with him. To hug him. To not leave his side. Crashing into his arms, he staggers back at the force of the impact, but he embraces me back just as tightly. I am never letting him go. Never again.

"I thought you were dead! We heard two cannons go off last night. God, I thought that I lost you. Don't ever do that to me⎯" He rambles on, tucking his head into my neck.

Hugging him tightly, I could feel some of the blood stain his jumpsuit and into his skin; but he doesn't seem to care enough. All that mattered was that we were both okay. He's okay. He's safe. He's alive. Pulling away from the hug slightly, I could see his eyes were watery and his smile was forced. He was crying because of me.

"Please don't cry. I'm okay. See? We're all okay." I said, cupping his face.

"What the hell happened to you guys?" Katniss asks, making her presence known.

"We were walking in the jungle, when we found Athena. We thought it was rain⎯you know⎯because of the thunder and we were so thirsty. But when it came down, it turned out to be blood! Thick⎯hot⎯blood!" Johanna rambles, swinging her axe back and forth.

"It was so bad, Finn." I whisper, feeling the tears building up.

"You couldn't see, you couldn't speak without getting a mouthful. We just staggered around, trying to get out of it. That's when Blight hit the force field." Johanna explained, pointing her axe towards the sector of the jungle.

"I'm sorry Johanna." Katniss says, giving her a look of pity.

"Yeah, well. He wasn't much but he was something from home." Johanna said, nonchalantly shrugging her off.

"He left me and Athena with these two. Volts, he got a knife in the back at the Cornucopia and her⎯" She explains, nudging her head as Beetee's laid down.

Pointing her axe at a frantic Wiress, the woman turns to us, an almost crazed look on her face. Pacing back and forth on the sand, Wiress was frantically tugging at her hair mumbling 'Tick Tock' over and over again. It seemed to be the only words she knew at the moment. Looking at her in concern, I knew that the trauma of the games and dehydration were affecting her more than it was affecting us. She needed fresh water and some food.

"We fucking get it! Tick Tock!" Johnna shouts frustratedly, making Wiress perk up.

"What's wrong with her?" Katniss asks, as Wiress shakes Johanna's arm back and forth.

"Nuts are in shock." Johanna said, as Wiress clings on to her in a slightly aggressive manner.

"Dehydration isn't helping her either. Do you have fresh water?" Beetee asks, using his hand to shield his eyes from the sun.

"No, but we can get some." Peeta answers. 

Glaring at Wireless, Johanna growls at her before shoving her in full force off of her, causing her to fall backwards into the sand. Great. Just great. Glaring at Johanna, Katniss drops her bow onto the sand approaching the raging brunette. Here we go. Shaking my head at her, I pull myself out of Finnick's tight grip, ready to stop the fight. We should be doing anything but this. Like patching wounds and collecting fresh water. Heck, planning how to survive the night.

"Hey! Lay off her!" Katniss shouts, pushing Johanna back.

"Here we go." I muttered, shaking my head at the 'girl on fire'.

"Lay off her? Lay off her?!" Johanna repeats, glaring daggers at Katniss.

"Johanna." I warn.

"Who do you think got them out of that jungle, for you? I don't give a flying fuck if your pregnant! I'll rip out your throat, you ungrateful little⎯" She growls, getting cut off by Finnick picking her up.

Slinging her over his shoulder, she kicks and screeches trying to get out his grip, but he had his elbows locked in. There was no escape, I would know. Carrying her waist deep into the water, he repeatedly dunks her while she continues to yell threats at Katniss between the break of waves. Sighing at the woman's gargled threats, I look over at Katniss and Peeta's confused faces.

"We've had a rough night." I said, as Wiress wrapped her arms around my arm.

"Tell me about it." Peeta said, making Katniss chuckle and me smile.

Feeling my smile drop slowly, I got a bad feeling in my gut as I scanned the beach for any other Tributes. More specifically Mags. Where was she? Biting my lip nervously, I looked for any sight of Mags but could find her anywhere. She wasn't at their makeshift base camp. She wasn't under the trees. And she wasn't in the water. Where was she?

"Hey, Katniss? Where's Mags?" I said, looking for the old woman.

"Um⎯She didn't make it. We were surrounded by poisonous fog⎯and almost didn't make it⎯but she had sacrificed herself for us." Katniss explains, looking down gravely.

No. No. No. She can't be. She can't be. Not Mags. Feeling my lip tremble slightly at the news, I cleared my throat and forced myself not to cry. I wouldn't cry, no matter how much I had wanted to. Mags wouldn't want me to, knowing her she wouldn't have wanted me to smile and remember all the good times we shared. She would have scolded me in sign language.

"Athena, I want you to meet Mags. She won the Eleventh Hunger Games." Pixie said, introducing the old woman.

"Oh⎯um, hi?" I stuttered out, as Mags greeted me with a nod.

"She's insisted on helping you adjust back to normal life after the arena." Pixie said, as the old woman gives me a smile.

Blinking away the memory, I wipe my eyes with the back on my hand, trying to brush away the tears. Too many good people have died already. I can't keep doing this. I'm tired of losing people. Feeling the ptful stares from the pair, I knew that I should change the topic. But I couldn't help but think that Katniss and Peeta must be really important for Mags to give up her life for them. She must have had a good reason.

"Oh⎯um⎯well here. There's some stuff in there. You guys can have it, you'll need it." I said, handing Peeta the bloody satchel.

"We checked the Cornucopia, there wasn't anything but weapons." Katniss said, as Peeta opened the bag.

"Sponsor..?" Peeta asks, as I nod my head.

"Yeah. Hey, Katniss? Will you help me and Wiress clean up?" I said, gesturing to me and Wiress's bloodied bodies. 

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And I am done with the chapter! Stay safe out there guys!

I hope you all are doing okay emotionally and physically in quarantine! I love you all!

I hope that you are enjoying the book so far! A quick reminder to comment below about the story of what you think so far!

P.S. Want to know more about Athena's origins? Check out, 'FRAGILE GIRL'.