I'm not going to beg for reviews…I'm not going to beg for reviews…who am I kidding? I only got 3 reviews for my last update! Go ahead, feel sorry for me. Anyways, I know that there's tons of readers out there because Wherewithal's stats are awesome right now. And it's not like I've blocked anonymous reviewers or anything! …Enough of my ranting. Just review this update, okay?(:
Haymitch makes an odd noise in the back of his throat as I bound in front of him, my bow already buzzing with excitement and anticipation in my hands. We trek through the brush and branches, remnants of a portion of District 5 that was bombed during the rebellion and has never been rebuilt.
"And what, exactly, do you think you're doing?" He asks me as we crouch down in a large cluster of bushes near the large clearing where a bomb hit long ago.
I wave away Haymitch's question momentarily as I notice a man dressed much similar to the ones that abducted my siblings and I that first day I was informed of Snow's forces. Remembering the gunshots heard as I was tossed in the back of the van, I wonder if any of my classmates or 'friends' are still alive. What are they doing right now, if they are?
I gesture to the others behind us to keep quiet, and Rhaina rolls her eyes at my obvious attempt to look like I know what I'm doing. The man stands next to a dilapidated storm cellar entrance awkwardly before bending down momentarily to move a small rock. I'm befuddled by his actions until I see the keypad on the ground. Haymitch nudges my side as I nod slightly; we both know what this means.
We've found Snow's headquarters.
I turn around in a sitting position to face the others, who carefully crouch around Haymitch and I. "We need to find a way in."
"No duh, Brainless." Johanna quips.
You'd think, with her being the mother of my boyfriend and all, that she'd be a little more accepting.
Delsin walks towards us, his reddened face covered by a thin sheen of sweat. "I've walked the perimeter of the building and the cameras are off right now, probably just activated by guards if they see something suspicious. There's guards on the top of the building; if we take them out then we can send someone in to look for Katniss and Peeta."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as Finn works out a plan for us to approach the site in pairs: Charles and Gale, Johanna and Haymitch, Rhaina and I, Lyle and Finn, and Jayce Austin, and Evelyn. Before leaving, Gale turns suddenly, grabs Johanna by the shoulders, and presses his lips passionately to hers. I swallow, wondering if that will be the last kiss they'll ever share.
Haymitch instructs Rhaina and I carefully. We are to use only hand-to-hand combat to stop any guards. Lyle and Finn will be closer behind us than usual, to help we need it. After hearing several thumps from the roof, my heart is pounding considerably. Austin squeezes my hand; my breathing increases rapidly.
Haymitch approaches the edge of the roof and nods; it's our turn. Rhaina climbs the ladder towards the roof first and I follow, glancing behind myself uncertainly. I can hear her fist connect with something powerfully as soon as she's over the edge.
How many guards are still up there?
My eyes peek over the rim of the ladder and widen. There are four guards on the roof total—two lying on the ground, one vomiting towards the edge, and one that still has a little fight left in him. Rhaina skims by quickly, grabbing his communication device smoothly as she passes. She doesn't have to work very hard, though; once his eyes connect with mine I'm the only one he wants.
As he approaches I kick my leg swiftly, earning a satisfying grunt as my foot buries itself deep in his groin. He lunges for me just as I turn to run by—and we both land with a muted thud on the concrete roof, his legs straddling me and preventing any attempt of escape.
I lock my jaws so tight they ache to prevent myself from screaming. The guard yanks my hair upwards and I notice the gleam in his eye as he sees my realization:
He's going to kill me.
An agile figure hits the guard from the side. I glance to my right, already thanking Lyle to save my life. But I snap my mouth shut when I realize it's Finn, looking at me with an odd expression on his face.
"What?" I whisper, my eyes filling with tears. He doesn't answer, just begins to pepper my face with chaste kisses.
"I thought you were going to die," he finally whispers. "Promise me I won't ever have to think that again."
I realize, for the second time today, that I've had to promise I won't die.
"We should—" my voice cracks before I can continue. Luckily he knows what I'm thinking, and yanks my shoulder upwards, shoves me towards the vent that I'll be entering.
Just before entering, I glance back only to find Finn slit the throat of the man who tried to kill me.
It was action-packed, it was brave, and it was rash. Hopefully that's enough to get a response out of you! Obviously there's some pretty heavy stuff between Fallyn/Austin/Finn right now, but that will have to wait for a couple more chapters only because the next one is going to be all about the hunt for Katniss and Peeta. I know this update took a long time; it's storming outside, it's 11:30 p.m., and I figured I might as well finish this story now. REVIEW!