"I WOULD, YEAH..."

--¤☆¤--

We had a plan. A good one. Go to the Cornucopia, gather supplies and continue on with our theory. Making our way to the Cornucopia, Wiress clung to my arm mumbling 'bad feeling' under her breath as we walked on the rocky pathway. I couldn't blame her. Going to the Cornucopia after all that had happened gave me the chills. Peeking her head over the edge of the rocks, she let out a quiet squeak at the choppy waves. Like she had seen something.

"It's okay, Wiress. I promise, it's just water." I said, rubbing her arm soothingly.

"Bad. Very bad. Death." She muttered, shaking her head.

"It's fine." I said weakly, trying to not show my discomfort.

"The entire arena seems to be laid out like a clock, with a new threat every hour. They stay only within their boundaries. It all starts with the lighting tree then the blood rain, fog, monkeys. That's the first four hours." Katniss explains, as we walk into the shaded part of the Cornucopia.

Now we just needed to figure out the rest of them. Know which ones were safer and which ones to avoid at all costs. Releasing her death grip on my arm, Wiress stands at the edge of the shaded area still within my eyesight. Sitting down on a rock, she tucks her knees into the chest and stares out into the water, rocking back and forth in place. Standing besides me, Finnick leans up against the handle of his trident, a lazy smile on his face.

"Wiress, you're a genius." Finnick comments, making her smile bashfully.

"Um⎯that tail points to twelve o'clock." Peeta said, pointing to the tail of the Cornucopia with his sword.

"That's where the lighting strikes, noon and midnight." Katniss adds, making him smile at her.

"Strikes where?" Beetee asked, looking towards the direction the tail pointed.

"That big tree." Katniss said, pointing to a large tree three sectors to the left of the blood rain sector.

Standing tall was a large tree, large vines and plants seemed to be dangling from tree branches, which were scattered sporadically. Making the tree stick out against the otherwise unvarying terrain. It was huge. I could almost see every detail from here. Squinting my eyes at the tree, I move my head side to side watching as the tree's bark shines. Like it was metallic. Or was that the forcefield?

"Good." He said, tilting his head to the side as if he were trying to form a plan.

"So what should we do? Stay here or stay on the beach?" I ask, tapping my foot.

"We should⎯" Peeta starts, but is cut off by Wiress.

"Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock.." Wiress sang, cutting in the silence.

"Oh great. Here comes the singing." Johanna grumbles, making me chuckle at her sour expression.

"Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock..The clock struck one, the mouse ran down..Hickory Dickory Dock.." Wiress sang softly, sitting on the edge of the rock; her ankles floating in the water.

Leaning my weight on Finnick, he wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me closer to him. Leaning his head on my shoulder, his breath tickled against my neck, making me shutter at the feeling. Rubbing his thumb on my hip in circles, he hums as Johanna gives a look. I couldn't tell if it was a smug smile or a warning. Probably both.

"So twelve to one, lightning. One to two is blood, then two to three is fog and then the monkeys." Peeta said, beginning to draw in the sand with the blade of the machete a clock.

"Hickory Dickory Dock, the mouse ran up the clock.."

"And then ten to eleven, the wave." Katniss interrupted, her eyes scanning around the Cornucopia.

"Wave?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"It comes from over there. It breaks against the Cornucopia's end, the water then causes a high tide to the rest of the beach." She said, pointing at the two sectors on the left side of the Cornucopia.

"The clock struck one, the mouse ran down..Hickory Dickory Dock.."

"Just great." I grumble.

"Speaking of the different sectors. What about everything else? Did you guys see anything?" She continues, looking at Johanna before looking over in my direction.

"Besides Athena? Nope nothing, but blood for miles." Johanna said, shrugging.

"Athena?" Katniss asks, biting her lip.

"Hickory Dickory Dock.."

"I couldn't see anything but dense jungle for miles. No forms of water or anything. So besides blood rain, it's safe for the most part." I said, looking over at Wiress, who was happily washing her hands in the water.

"It doesn't matter." Peeta continued, as I turned my attention to him.

Dragging the blade along the grains of sand, to fill in the two most recent active sectors with little x-marks. I could only assume it was meant to represent the blood rain and the monkey's, seeing as those were the more recent horrors. We should probably write this down somewhere that can't get washed away by waves. Like on a leaf or something.

"As long as we steer clear of whichever sector is active, we'll be safe. Well, relatively speaking." He explains, but was cut off by the sound of a gasp of pain.

Wiress. Turning my head to the gasp, I found Gloss squawking at the edge of the water, knife embedded in Wiress's neck. No. Yanking the knife out, Wiress fell into the water motionless, blood filling the waters. No. Blinking in shock, Katniss took action by firing an arrow into his chest, two simultaneous cannons going off as he hit the water. Gloss and Wiress were dead. Oh my god, he's dead. Where's Cashmere?

Letting out a battle yell, Johanna pushes Katniss down, throwing her axe at a charging Cashmere. Climbing up the rocks, I could see tears streaming down her face. Don't get attached. Don't get attached, Athena. She's trying to kill you. Be on guard. She's not your friend anymore. Hitting her dead in the chest, Cashmere falls face down into the rocks, blood pooling onto the wet rocks.

"On your left." Johanna warns.

Turning to my left, the other half of the career pack made themselves seen by releasing a battle cry as they began to attack me and Finnick. Ducking out of the way to avoid Enobaria's attack, I was too slow and ended up with a slash to my stomach. Fuck. Fuck. That hurt. Kicking her in the shin, I pull out a knife to block her sword, but it's too short, earning her a cut on my hand.

"Athena!" Peeta shouts, as I feel the warm blood staining my stomach.

Dropping my knife in pain, she kicks me in the stomach, sending a sharp pain throughout my body. Fuck. Fuck. That hurts. Gasping in pain, I hold my now bleeding stomach in pain as Peeta steps in front of me, sword at the ready. Blocking Enobaria's vicious attacks from hitting me, I stumble backwards falling into a large crate. 

I could feel the blood. I could smell it. I could taste it.Oh my god. It's just like last time. Pressing my hands against the wound, I could feel the thick liquid slip through my fingers. I could only hope that my shaky hands would stop the bleeding. I didn't want to die. Not like this. Not here. 

"Go. Go." Brutus shouts, as he and Enobaria are forced to retreat from the fight.

Running away from us, Peeta tried to run after them but he was stopped by Finnick's arm, bringing him to a forced halt. Opening my mouth to call out to Finnick, the ground under us gives out like someone pulled the rocks from under us. Collapsing to the floor in pain, my head pounds from the sharp hit I took while falling to the jagged rocks. What the hell was happening? Digging my nails into the rocks, I cling on for dear life as the island begins to spin violently in a circle. It's like they were trying to kill us, well more than usual.

Feeling my grip unintentionally loosen the more we spin, I could feel the panic building up in me. Ready to explode. No. No. No. Hearing a loud scream, I look over my shoulder to Katniss slipping further down the mound of rock. Feet just inches away from the dangerously choppy waters. Seeing her slip, Johanna frantically holding onto the rocks, panic in her eyes as she attempts to reach out to Katniss.

"FINNICK!" I shout, my grip faltering for a second.

Hearing the groaning of metal, a glint of silver falling over catches my eye, it was one of the many racks of swords. Shit. Shit. Tucking my head into the rocks, I pray that they don't implant in my head, that they fall into the water below. Luck was not on my side. Crying out in pain, blood harshly dripping down my hands as a knife fell from the rack, cutting my knuckles.

It was getting slippery. I can't hold on much longer. I can't. My nails stung harshly at the roughness of the rock. My stomach was aching from the strain of holding on. My head was pounding. My heart was pounding. I wasn't gonna be able to hold on much longer. Feeling my fingers give way one by one, I looked over at Johanna, scared that this would be the last time I saw her alive. I didn't want to die. I don't wanna die.

"DON'T LET GO! DON'T LET GO!" Johanna screamed, but it was muffled by the loud noise of the rigid waves. 

Adjusting her axe, in hopes of getting a better grip, I reach out for her. Our fingertips are just brushing against each other. So close, yet so far. And I knew. I knew that I wasn't going to make it. The odds are against me. Darting my eyes to Katniss, she was having the same struggle that I was having, holding on. Katniss needs to live. She's pregnant. She needs Johanna's full attention. I can do this. I can do this on my own.

Shutting my eyes, my grip finally gave out on me completely, I had to accept it. I might die today. I don't want to. But, I don't get a choice in that matter. Falling backwards, I could feel my breath getting knocked out of me, consciousness slipping through my fingers. Holding my breath as best as I could, I blindly thrashed my way up to where I was hoping was the surface. No. I need to get out of here. I need to survive. I can't let them win.

"Remember, if you ever get caught in a riptide. Swim parallel. Don't fight the riptide. Don't panic. Stay calm." Finnick explains.

Clawing my way up to the surface, my lungs burned at the lack of oxygen making my body feel sluggish, yet alert. It felt like I was on fire. Every nerve is burning. Every muscle tensing. I need air. I need to breathe. The buzzing of waves filled my ears, I couldn't hear anything but the churning of water. No Finnick. No cannon. Nothing. Were they searching for me? Were they screaming for me? I need to know.

'I-I can't do this..I can't do this..' I thought.

My eyes stung as I searched for the surface. I need to surface. I need to get out of here. I know it. But, I can't. I can't do it. I can't. Smashing in a large rock, I gasped in pain as my ribs began to throb, they might be broken. It felt like it. Gasping for air, I could feel the salty water go down my throat, making me gag. I have to get out of here. I have to. I need to try.

Blinking away the water in my eyes, black dots began to blur my vision, I could feel my body sink. I needed to get out of here. But, I want to sleep. Using as much energy as I could, I tried one last time to reach the surface but exhaustion and pain was too overwhelming for me. Feeling my eyes droop shut, the only thing I could somewhat make out was the muffled sounds of what I thought was a cannon and a panicked scream. I hope that they know I tried.

AND THAT IS THE STORY OF HOW ATHENA GREY DIED..

+++++

So...um yeah...I did a thing 👉👈....please don't murder me...I am done with the book!

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

Just kidding....

I am done with this CHAPTER! Meaning there is more to come later on! Don't worry! I hope that you are enjoying the book!

But seriously..A quick reminder to comment below about the story of what you think so far! I love reading all of them! They make me smile and laugh, every time that I see them!

Stay safe out there guys! I hope you all are doing okay emotionally and physically in quarantine!

I love you all!

ALSO, WHEN SHOUTING #BLACKLIVESMATTER DON'T FORGET! BLACK TRANS, GAY, QUEER LIVES MATTER TOO! THEIR ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY! THEIR LIVES MATTER TOO! ALL LIVES WON'T MATTER UNTIL BLACK LIVES MATTER!

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