stay golden, darlin'

xx

Cato’s P.O.V

  “Why, hello there,” Finnick teased when you bumped into him, before noting the heaviness between you and Cato, “oookayy,” he said, raising his eyebrows awkwardly and attempting to escape it

  “Why did we stop?” Beetee yelled from the back of the group, he and Asher still catching up

  “I think we need to watch our step,” Finnick said, “we don’t know how close we are to whatever’s coming…”

  “What do you think it is?” Asher asked, curiosity and fear mixing together while he thought about what would happen when the next bell tolled

  “Let’s hope for something good,” Johanna huffed, “maybe like an all-you-can drink buffet”

  “We could always use the spile for water” Delly chuckled

  “I was thinking something a little… darker,” Johanna joked back, “Whiskey, Bourbon, that Special Capitol mix,” Beetee smirked. “Just something to take the edge off. Kinda like a little treat for being so good”

  “Of course,” Delly blushed, “I knew that.” Johanna chuckled, making a comment about how innocent Delly was before you all kept trekking toward the tree. You tried to guess what the next trap would be, Mutts maybe, something specific for you? Maybe they’d use the water somehow, it would make sense for this Arena. No matter how much you thought about the possibilities, nothing really felt… evil enough; but maybe it was because you weren’t in the Control Room. You weren’t a Gamemaker. It wasn’t your job to create the horrors in here, only to survive them. You hadn’t realized that you had fallen back, standing closer to Asher than Delly now but your mind must have wandered enough that you weren’t paying attention to anything else

  “Hey, Cato,” Asher said, “everything okay?”

  “Yeah,” you said unconvincingly, something that Asher picked up on. He smirked as he looked at you, asking you to be honest. There were moments when he looked so much like Delly and you could finally imagine what Delly was thinking about not coming home. For her parents to look in her eyes and see Asher, but not have him in front of them, would break their heart - and Delly would crumble. “I’m just trying to think,” you finally said, “like you, what the next hour will bring”

  “What did you come up with?” he asked, before jumping in with his own, “here’s what I have: they’ll bring in all of the things so far - like a memory lane kind of deal - the Sirens and the Jabberjays will lead us somewhere and the monkeys that we saw will corner us, that Glass thing that Delly was trapped in will get one of us and the Fog will blend with the Heat…”

  “That seems like a lot to put in one wedge…” you scoffed, “don’t give them any ideas” you nodded up to the camera that was inevitably following you

  “What do you think is gonna happen?” he asked again

  “Nothing good,” you said. The sad expression on Asher’s face led you to try to lighten the mood, “probably ghosts” was all that you could come up with. Beetee stopped for a minute when everyone got to the top of a hill to look at the sun and the tree

  “We’re getting closer,” he said with a smile, “if we don’t stop, we’ll get there in plenty of time.” There was part of you that couldn’t trust it. The plan was too exposed now, the Gamemakers knew that something was being planned, even if they didn’t know exactly what it was, they still knew that all of you were up to something. Which could only mean they were going to do something to make sure that didn’t happen, so you tried not to get too comfortable with the outcome that everyone thought was inevitable

  “Do you love my sister?” Asher said suddenly and you just looked at him, not realizing you were blushing, “I know you do, I can see it, and I’m sure everyone watching can see it, too, but I guess I just want to hear you say it…”

  “Why?” you asked, looking forward, making sure Delly was keeping up with Johanna and Finnick

  “I don’t know,” he let out a small laugh, almost a scoff but not quite, “it might make me feel better about you trying to steal her away from me”

  “I’m not–” you started to explain but he just turned his head to give you a knowing look, “I can’t steal her from you. But do I love her?” you thought about it for a minute. If you were being smart, you’d say ‘no, not yet,’ because it would be too fast to fall in love in the Arena. If you were being honest, you’d say it proudly; you do love her. More than you thought you ever could. But that love didn’t happen here, maybe it grew, but it didn’t start here. “I’m starting too, maybe,” you replied, “I could see myself being in love with her, someday, if we were to miraculously survive this together”

  “Crazier things have happened” he said, grimacing the same way Delly had when she said she’d always worry about him

  “Not where the Games are concerned,” you said, “sorry, buddy.” Just then, there was a small ting, a parachute, floating through the air. That sound was almost un-mistakeable, but everyone was cautious because it could still be a trap

  “Wait,” Johanna said as Beetee went to grab it, “we don’t know if it’s real”

  “There’s been no bell, Johanna,” he said confidently, “it’s fine.” He grabbed it, looking at everyone as he opened it slowly. When the little container the gift was opened, everyone leaned forward to see what it was - it was a watch.

  “Who’s it for?” you asked

  “Who’s it from?” Johanna laughed, “don’t they realize we already figured out how to tell time?” Beetee seemed to focus on it as if he recognized it somehow. He didn’t say anything, just stared at it until a small tear fell from the corner of his eye, “Beetee?” Johanna asked, her tone changing when she saw his reaction

  “We need to, uhm, we should just keep walking,” he said, clearing his throat, “I said we shouldn’t stop so let’s not stop.” You gave Asher a confused look but followed Beetee as he moved along the path. You thought it might be something a bit more practical, and it was clear you weren’t the only one, but it was important to Beetee - you had gotten your own message from your dad, so you just assumed that was the case here. It was a personal gift and those were difficult to trust with other people, so Beetee knew something the rest of you didn’t. 

  “You know what a crazy thing would be?” you said, returning to the conversation you’d just had with Asher before the parachute dropped, “if that watch was from the Gamemakers”

  “That’s not allowed, is it?” Asher said surprised

  “Like that’s ever mattered,” you snickered, “but wouldn’t it be a twist? Great for television,” you smirked as you looked toward the fake sky, knowing that both the audience and the Gamemakers, including Snow, would get the message.

  “That’s true!” he said excitedly, a moment of levity before the clock strikes. “Hey,” Asher said after a moment of silence, “can you do something for me?” Oh no, you thought, don’t say it Asher…

  “I don–” you stammered before he interrupted

  “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he continued, “I haven’t since we got in here-”

  “You’ve surprised everyone here” you said, interrupting him and trying to get him not to ask the question you knew he would ask

  “But,” he said sharply, “I know that someone has to get out. What’s great for television may not be what the world wants…”

  “The world wants everything, Asher,” you sighed, “they want great television because it fits the status quo but they’re as guilty as the people creating it”

  “What does that mean?” he asked

  “Even if they know sending a bunch of kids to their deaths is wrong, they can’t say anything because they’re watching it,” you said, “they’re watching us kill each other and they won’t stop. Maybe they have their reasons, maybe they’re scared, maybe they just want their entertainment, but at the end of the day, we’re here and they don’t have to worry about ever being here…” You could see him thinking about what you were saying but he quickly pivoted back to what he was thinking

  “Look,” he shook his head, “I need you to just… I don’t even know if it’s possible… but I just need.. I want..”

  “Please, don’t,” you whispered

  “I need you to get Delly out of here”

  “Asher,” you sighed, rubbing your forehead in disappointment, “I don’t know if I can do that”

  “You love her,” he insisted, “if you love her as much as I know you do, you’ll get her out of this place. Get her back home”

  “What makes you think we have a choice?” you almost snapped

  “The plan will work,” he said, “I trust Beetee. He knows what he’s doing. But if something goes wrong and only one of us can be saved. Choose her. She’d tell you to save me and I can’t let that happen. Choose her.” He and Delly were exactly the same. Aside from just asking for the same thing, it was their intense desperation for the other to survive that connected them. You couldn’t say you ever felt that in your life and you envied it, 

  “It won’t come to that,” you said, “even if it did, any choice I make would be too late.”

  “If the time comes,” he continued, “when the time comes, just do the right thing, please.” You reluctantly nodded your head, at the very least to make him feel better, but you didn’t even know what the right thing meant anymore. You didn’t know if the right thing was possible. They were both asking you to save the other, choose between them, and either choice you made would hurt the other. 

xx

Delly’s P.O.V

  “Beetee?” you said after a long silence, smiling softly when he finally looked at you, “are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, Delly,” he smiled back, “just.. determined”

  “It seemed like that watch really got to you” you said, craving an explanation but not demanding it

  “It, uhm,” he stammered, looking at the watch, “it’s an important reminder, that’s all.” He smiled and you noticed something in his eyes - there was a glow that felt like pride emanating from him; you smiled back and kept walking.

  “Do you think it could help?” you asked, before whispering, “like with the plan?”

  “It might,” he whispered back jokingly and you smiled with an eye roll, “I don’t know how, but it might”

  “Is there anything good that came out of winning the games for you?” you asked after a moment more of silence and it seemed to catch him off guard

  “What an interesting question…” he said thoughtfully, “I met some really strong individuals. Strong-minded, strong-willed, there was a community of us. I guess that was a good thing”

  “What about you, personally?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you’re saying that for everybody there was this good thing of having a community and I believe that, that’s a great thing,” you explained, “but when you came home, or to the Capitol, was there a moment of ‘this is amazing’ or was it all heavy and bitter and awful?” You wanted to know what to expect, if you actually made it out, if they’d actually let you live because you knew it wasn’t good for Cato and you saw that when you first met him, during his Victory Tour. Cato said it wasn’t at all like he thought it would be, that it was lonely, but if one person could tell you that it felt… bearable to be home, then maybe it would be okay…

  “I didn’t know what to do with myself,” he admitted, “even though I didn’t physically kill any of the Tributes, I used my skills, my mind, to do it. And that might have been worse. It was something I took so much pride in and now I’d used it for something terrible.” His face shifted between sadness and anger and guilt before staying on sadness the longer he spoke, “and for what? Survival? Money?”

  “I’m sorry,” you said, “I didn’t mean to b–”

  “It’s okay,” he replied, “honesty is the best policy they say. To answer your question plainly, I suppose it wasn’t good. It was good for my District, for food and supplies but they didn't last long. But you’re right, it was heavy. The knowledge of what we saw and did in our Arena’s, it will stay with us until the end”

  “Delly Cartwright,” Johanna interrupted, “who would’ve thought you’d be the one to keep bringing down the mood?”

  “I’m sorry, I j-just wanted to,” you stammered, “I guess I’m curious”

  “Chill, Sunshine,” she chuckled, “it’s all good. Let’s just keep moving”

  “And maybe change the subject,” Finnick added, winking at you to ease your mind. You did as Finnick suggested and switched to what everyone’s favourite meal was. It was the first thing you could think of but at least it was filling the air with something lighter than the previous conversation. Finnick joked that Asher’s favourite meal was anything free from the Capitol, referring to Asher’s comment during his interview

  “Nothing from the Capitol is free” Johanna said to herself and, when no one else acknowledged it, you let it lie with her. Cato finally made his way back to you, seemingly wanting to walk with you but your request from earlier was still hanging in the air. You gave him a small smile as he interlocked his fingers with yours, before noticing him look to Asher for just a minute, your brother nodding as if he approved and you chuckled. 

  “What’s that about?” you asked, bumping your shoulder into Cato, looking back at your brother once and sticking out your tongue mockingly. He did the same.

  “Bwoooong,” the bell finally knelled, resonating through the Arena once more. 

  Everyone looked toward where the sound came from but there was no sense of the terror just yet making the entire group cautiously and warily continue to the tree. Then you felt it. A single cold droplet grazed your skin. Wasn’t there already rain? you thought to yourself

  “Did you feel that?” you asked Cato, who just shook his head and you looked around to see if anyone else was reacting but it seemed to be just you so far. Soon, there was small flickers of light refracting on the ground, Beetee was the first to look closer - picking it up and examining it

  “What is it?” Johanna asked

  “Glass?” Beetee said, confused. They started falling slowly, the way rain normally would, but the shine was familiar to you, and it was obvious to you that it wasn’t glass. A piece finally landed in front of you, when you picked it up you caught a glimpse of yourself. The Dome, you thought, it’s the same. The iridescent sheen on the smooth surface was exactly what you’d remembered from being inside that place, but before you could stop to think what it meant, shards began plummeting from the sky, piercing the ground as they fell. You and Cato began running to the closest thing to give you shelter, his arm protecting you like an umbrella. The others finding their own spots to hide and wait it out. You and Cato managed to find a large enough tree to keep the two of you safe; you looked for Asher who seemed to be close enough that it felt like one less thing to worry about before a piece of Crystal cut your arm

  “Ouch,” you hissed quickly, covering the cut and wincing at the pain

  “Are you okay?” Cato asked, his hand on your back as the glass rain fell faster. You were disoriented, the same way you were in the Dome, staring blankly at the blood falling down your arm, and somehow you couldn’t see your brother anymore. 

  “Wait, where’s Asher?” you asked, eyes wide as Cato shook his head, both of you searching the space around you

  “There!” Cato exclaimed, pointing to a spot too far away from you to get to now, but Johanna was near him and the covered hollow would give them shelter. The shards of glass were falling faster and getting bigger now that you couldn’t see anything ahead of you. Not Beetee, not Johanna, not Finnick, not Asher. Not even the sun was coming through and the only thing you could think to do was move closer to Cato as the rain continued, thinking the closer you were the more invincible you’d be. Suddenly a large piece fell right in front of you. Close enough for you to catch your reflection as it fell. But it wasn’t yours. 

  “Your fault,” it whispered. Your eyes went wide as you realized what it meant

  “Asher,” you said under your breath as the shards finally stopped. As if it were a real storm, the sky cleared and the sun appeared, bringing attention to the shifting colours on the falling pieces of glass. The glass in the Dome had all disintegrated when you tried to keep a piece from it but this was all staying here. As if there was something it wanted you to see.

  “Oh my god” you heard Johanna say quietly, true disbelief in her tone. There was a small shuffle as Beetee and Finnick walked toward her, while Cato managed to get there before you - you were walking slowly down the small incline where the tree you’d been under was on, careful not to hurt yourself. Everyone was so silent but when a twig snapped under your foot, Cato stood in front of you

  “No,” he said, trying to push you away, “Delly just come this way.” He directed you back further, closer to where you’d started than where everyone else was

  “What?” you scoffed, squirming from his grasp, “what’s going on?”

  “Delly” he repeated, still holding you tightly as he walked you backward

  “Cato, stop!” you demanded. You were able to see past him just enough to confirm what your mind already knew. Your eyes landed on Asher, lying on the ground, one single piece of iridescent Capitol Crystal piercing his heart.

  Everyone was frozen in shock.

  Cato tried to keep you close to him but once he knew you saw your brother, he knew he couldn’t hold you back. 

  “No, no no no no no no,” you said, Cato’s grip on you now limp as you moved to run to your brother, “Asher!” Tears began falling from your eyes, blurring your vision as you continued running. The distance felt impossibly far, like you weren’t getting closer at all, and then you were in front of him, crashing on your knees. Your hands hesitated over the shard, hovering over it as you tried to decide what to do, “Asher…” you said quietly, hoping his eyes would open and he’d answer you. “Asher,” you repeated in a whisper, cupping his face in your hands. The blood on your hands from covering your own cut stained his skin and your tears fell on his face as you pleaded one last time, “Asher, please…” Nothing. His chest didn’t rise and fall with breath. The wetness on his face was from you, not him. 

  Silence. 

  You let out a scream so fierce, so deafening, it nearly took the life out of you. Your blood mixed with his, a bitter reminder that you were eternally linked; your whimpers as you gasped for air were the only sound among the trees and your friends. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t catch your breath and you felt like your entire body was going to give out

  “I’m sorry,” you sobbed, holding your brother close to your chest, rocking him back and forth, while the four Victors stood around you, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” you continued, only to be interrupted by the whirring of a hovercraft above. Your eyes never left Asher’s lifeless body, his face calm and gentle, even has Finnick tried to pick you up off the ground

  “Delly,” you heard him say, but he sounded so far away, “Delly…” he repeated, sounding more defeated but you couldn’t let go. You didn’t want to leave him. You wouldn’t let someone else take him away. When you didn’t move, you noticed that the sound of the hovercraft was getting louder, but the basket hadn’t dropped. The hovercraft came down, crushing the trees around it 

  “Delly,” Beetee said urgently, “Delly, stand up”

  “No,” you said

  “You have to” Johanna added quietly

  “No!” you yelled, tears staining your face as they continued to fall from your eyes, “I won’t.” You wanted to be strong, but your voice was weak. You scanned the rest of them, the Survivors, but no one was looking at you, instead it seemed like they were staring at the hovercraft. It finally drew your attention, especially when Cato walked toward you, eyes still trained on the machine in front of you.

  You still didn’t stand. You still didn’t let go of your brother. But you saw what they were seeing. Slightly hidden in the corner, away from the prying lenses in the Arena, was Seneca Crane with a look on his face that you didn’t expect. He didn’t leave the hovercraft, he just waited; a sad, almost empathetic look on his face as he watched you grieve your brother before they would bring him to wherever they brought the victims of the Hunger Games. Cato was the one who slowly lifted Asher from you and you rose to your feet, knees wobbly and uncertain but you followed Cato closer to the hovercraft where he gently put Asher’s body, laying him down carefully. You placed your hand on Asher’s chest, hoping one last time that this was all just an awful trick, placing a kiss to his forehead 

  “I ca.. I d.. this is..” you stammered, trying to keep your composure - the Head Gamemaker standing in front of you needed to see your anger instead of your tears - but you couldn’t hide it. Cato gently took your hand back but your eyes stayed focused on Seneca, who just lowered his head as Asher was brought into the hovercraft like a secret they had to keep; you watched as the hovercraft slowly started to rise, and a cannon fired. 

  His cannon.

  You crashed back onto the ground, crumpled into the dirt and the broken glass, as you realized it was real. He was gone and you couldn’t stop any of it. He deserved better than this

xx

Delly’s P.O.V

  Delly’s mind raced as her conversation with Asher ran through her mind, knowing that Panem heard it too; she could only hope that they didn’t read what she read. This place, these Games, weren’t for people like you and Asher - soft people with soft hearts - but then again, isn’t that how everyone starts out? Soft?

  “You’re gonna get your face stuck like that if you don’t ease up” Johanna teased and you looked up with your eyebrows still pulled together, lines crinkling your forehead

  “Sorry,” you laughed lightly, “I just… Asher is… he’s not acting like himself”

  “How so?” she asked

  “You can’t tell?” 

  “I’ve known the two of you for all of 5 minutes,” she joked, a smile clear on her face before she turned to the fire, “he seems like the same kid. Scared, unsure, sticking to his sister like glue…”

  “But that’s just it!” you exclaimed, “that’s the thing,” you repeated, quieter this time, “he’s scared, of course, who wouldn’t be, but he’s… trying to get rid of me”

  “Get rid of you?” she said, raising an eyebrow in disagreement, “yeah, I don’t see that. I mean he’s literally right beside you”

  “Can you do something for me?” you changed the subject, Johanna nodded softly, “can you find a way to get him out of here?”

  “I–” she stammered, putting her hands out to distance herself

  “I don’t know how,” you added, you were sure it was impossible, “but there has to be a way. My parents can’t lose their baby”

  “That’s not how the Games work,” Johanna scoffed, “I mean, Beetee–”

  “Can I,” Cato interrupted Johanna, who seemed to be more than happy to let him take over, “sorry, can I borrow Delly for a second?”

  “No, no. Don’t be sorry,” Johanna chuckled, “be my guest. Just don’t do anything you don’t want on camera.” Her wink made you roll your eyes but not before your cheeks went rosy pink. Cato took your hand, guiding you away from the group that sat around the fire, the warm glow fading into the distance

  “Hey,” Cato said to you softly, like it had been ages since he’d talked to you and wanted to ease into it, “how are you doing?” You raised your eyebrows before letting out a gentle giggle

  “I’m fine, Cato,” you smiled, “how are you?”

  “I just..” he scoffed, holding your hand in his as he searched the air for the right words, “you and Asher seemed like you were having a pretty intense talk and I wanted to make sure everything was okay”

  “Thank you,” you said, “he’s… I think this is all finally getting to him. I never thought I’d hear him say the things he said. That he felt like he was giving me away”

  “What does that mean?” he chuckled and you just shrugged

  “Cato,” you sighed, “I’m scared he’s giving up. That he doesn’t think the plan will work or that our kiss changes things somehow”

  “I mean, it changes things with us, in here, but not with you two”

  “I think it’s more about it changing the plan,” you admitted, “I think he thinks that I’ll have to leave him behind”

  “Delly, he knows you’d never do that”

  “You should’ve heard him though,” you said, dropping your hand from his so you could rub your forehead, “he said if something happens, let it happen to him. That I should be the one to make it out of here, not him. I can’t let that happen. I don’t want anything to happen to him, it ca–”

  “Hey, hey,” Cato brought you close to his chest to comfort you, his arms wrapped tightly around you, as if he was trying to hide the tears that fell from your eyes. “Shh, shh, it’s okay,” he said softly, doing his best to calm your nerves, “I won’t let anything happen to him, I promise. Okay? You don’t have to worry about anything; well, at least not about that.” You chuckled as you cleaned the tears off your face, finally getting a chance to look at Cato in the moonlight again. The moments that you’d had with him, authentically, have been so few that you wanted to bring one back but, if you were being honest, you didn’t know how. The kiss came after days of tension, of charged space between the two of you, of keeping a secret that was only a secret to the Audience. Now that it was out there, you didn’t know how to make a move. Even at his home in District 2, he always initiated things but it’s different in the Arena. Neither of you wanted to put on a show but neither of you knew the right way to express yourselves - was there a way?

  “I…” you tried to say something but a noise in the distance caught your attention, “what was that?” you said shakily

  “I don’t know,” Beetee replied, still a few feet away from you and Cato, “what time is it?”

  “Not time for anything new” Finnick answered hesitantly, “it can’t be”

  “Someone must be here,” Johanna said roughly, turning to Finnick, “Gloss?”

  “Maybe,” he shrugged, “is he all that’s left now?”

  “Cashmere,” Asher added, “she’s still out there. It’s the two of them and the six of us”

  “I don’t see anything,” you said, moving closer to the group, Cato keeping his body in front of yours

  “Put out the fire,” Beetee said. It was only embers to begin with, just something to keep everyone warm, but it seemed that was enough for them to know exactly where to look. Finnick and Johanna threw sand on the fire before meeting the group where they were - everyone back to back to catch every angle. You still couldn’t see anything, and the rustling of the trees was gone, if it was ever really there. “Stay close,” Beetee continued, “just because we don’t see them, doesn’t mean they can’t see us.” Nobody moved, nobody spoke, for what felt like a lifetime, until there was a small noise in the trees; a wind moving through to prepare for the next terror of the hour.

  “There,” Johanna whispered, nodding toward the trees, “I saw something over that way”

  “What was it?” Finnick asked

  “Who was it?” Cato added

  “I don’t know,” she quietly snapped, “I saw the trees move. I thought I’d give a heads up so you could get your little sword out and finally use it”

  “I’ve used it,” Cato huffed, “just focus, Johanna.” You still couldn’t see anything and you weren’t sure what was coming next. You looked over at Asher, who was hyper focused on the area that he had in front of him and in his own little world - he wouldn’t have turned to you if you shouted his name. “There,” you heard Cato say under his breath but he only seemed to say it to himself

  “Cato?” you said quietly, leaning in to him but he pushed you out of the way harshly and you fell to the ground; you were shocked for a second until you realized that Cato was getting you out of the way of Gloss’ sword before throwing his own. There was a tenseness in the air as Gloss stumbled out of the trees with Cato’s blade deep in his chest, you couldn’t bring yourself to stand up; in disbelief, in hesitation, in a strange act of self-defence, you weren’t really sure, but you just stayed on the ground, motionless. Cashmere ran onto the beach as Gloss fell to the ground and there was a burst of panic before Johanna eventually rushed Cashmere, pushing Asher out of the way, with the axe that Gloss had been carrying. Johanna grunted as she battled District 1’s Female Victor, the axe plunging into Cashmere’s side as she fell to the ground and you shuffled backward on the ground so her body wouldn’t land on yours.

  “Delly, get up,” Beetee said, as Cashmere’s body laid next to you, her vacant eyes facing you now, “get up!” You finally followed his instruction and got to your feet, looking around and realizing both the District 1 siblings were gone; now lifeless bodies that once were fiercely determined to succeed. You ran to Beetee and the rest of the group as the Gamemakers sent in the hovercraft to pick up Gloss and Cashmere. You watched as a claw came down, wrapped the two in separate baskets and brought them into the hovercraft; you couldn’t remember actually being this close to the hovercraft when it was picking someone up, it was different then you thought it would be. It almost felt gentle for the Capitol. You were brought back to the Arena when you suddenly became very aware that there was no villain left. It was just five people you’d come to feel safe around, with one person you’d do anything to survive with and one that you couldn’t live without. As the gongs went off for Cashmere and Gloss, you couldn’t but think, with only the six of you left, would someone go against the unspoken alliance? Who would be the first to turn?

xx

Asher’s P.O.V

  As the group continued walking along the beach, you kept an eye out for any changes that might have happened. You couldn’t be the only one thinking about it - that someone still had to survive to get back home, especially if Beetee’s plan didn’t work. You watched Finnick and Johanna lead the group, Delly and Cato not too far behind them, while you and Beetee trailed at the back. There was a small moment between your sister and the tall, blonde Victor, that you wondered if you were the only one to notice - they hadn’t done much since their kiss on the beach, you weren’t sure why but when you caught Delly looking up at Cato and him looking back at her, there was a quiet peace between them. Their peace made you feel at peace and hopeful for what might happen with them. 

  There seemed to be a feeling of safety for a moment, allowing Finnick to make some joke in Delly’s direction and she said something that made the three others around her laugh before she looked back to find you. You smiled and nodded at her, she reluctantly turned back to Johanna and Finnick but you were happy that she was getting along with everyone; you were taken out of the carefree feeling when a bell tolled - a new hour, 8pm from how Delly had been counting, which was…

  “The Heat Spike?” you asked yourself 

  “I don’t think so. It was the Siren’s,” Beetee said, looking in the direction you’d all just left, “the one that drew us all in.” You nodded as you remembered Wiress walking across the beach, and the feeling as you followed her before falling into the sand. You could tell by the look on Beetee’s face that he was remembering Wiress’ last moments. “These tricks,” Beetee continued, bringing your attention back to him, “they’re wearing us down. The Games have always been this way. If the Tributes don’t kill you, the Arena will…”

  “Doesn’t that mean the Gamemakers are killing us?” Asher questioned

  “Shh,” Beetee mockingly held a finger in front of his lips, “don’t let them hear you say that.” It was clear what he was really saying. The Capitol, the Gamemakers, Snow, they were the ones killing Tributes, but they couldn’t get their hands dirty; blood didn’t come out so easily. Saying it out loud though, might be the death of you entirely whether you survived or not. The Siren Song trap didn’t stop at a barrier when you’d gotten trapped the first time, so you were cautious of everything around you

  “I think it’s getting louder…” you said, trying your best not to whisper so you weren’t mistaken for the Arena’s whispers “don’t you?”

  “I can’t tell” Beetee replied

  “Asher?” Delly called as she ran to find you

  “I’m here,” you answered, “don’t worry”

  “I’ll always worry,” she smiled before pulling you in for a hug, “that’s what I’m here for.” You hugged her back tightly as you realized her worry was real; not that it wouldn’t be but– “Did you hear anything? See anything?” your thoughts were cut off by Delly’s questions

  “No, just the bell” Beetee said

  “I thought I heard something but it seemed far away,” you said, “but I didn’t see anything”

  “What exactly would we see?” Finnick asked Delly. You shrugged as he scanned the group and Delly hesitated, scanning her mind about what might be out there

  “I don’t really know…” she finally said

  “There’s nobody else left, Cartwright,” Johanna sneered, “there’s nothing else to see. This ‘terror’ was all sound”

  “But it did bring us somewhere,” you countered, “when I followed it last time, I wound up being dragged into the ground”

  “Well, not this time,” Johanna said. She seemed annoyed when a second ago, she was laughing with the others, but it didn’t take long for her to soften her tone as she explained herself. “I know last time it drifted past the barrier that we all thought existed but it doesn't seem like that’s the case this time.” After being silent throughout the group's questions and arguments, Cato finally spoke up

  “We should get going if we’re going to make it to the tree in time” he said and the group nodded, turning back to the original direction but making sure they kept an eye on the sun for the right direction. You went back to listening to the conversations ahead of you - Finnick teasing Johanna, Johanna throwing quips of her own, Delly and Cato laughing lightly - and this time you felt so far away. Maybe the trick was still tricking you, making you think everyone was leaving you behind.

  “What’s going on in your head?” Beetee said, surprising you enough that you gasped and let out a small laugh

  “Nothing,” you replied, “just listening to them”

  “You know, they’re scared too,” he said. Maybe to ease your mind, or because he knew that it was something that could be on your mind, “that’s what getting close to people in here will do. Getting close to anyone, anywhere, really. The thought of losing them, by your own hand or someone else’s, is one you’d rather not have.” You could understand what he meant. You never had the kind of relationships back home that you did in here, you were always Delly’s brother. Yes, you had friends of your own but people knew you because of her first and foremost. At the same time, you knew Delly had always felt like she was on the outside. Between the three of you, Peeta was the centre; he made friends so easily and he brought Delly in, and you were allowed in because of Delly. Back home, Delly really only had Peeta and you, and when Peeta died, it was just the two of you. It was different here though. Maybe it was because of the interviews, maybe it was because of her story with Cato, but everyone flocked to her in here; she was important to them.

  “You’re gone again,” Beetee laughed, your thoughts clearly taking over your face, “what are you thinking now?”

  “Nothing really,” you said, “just about what you said. I get it. You all know - knew - each other in one way or another. I’ve known you for what? A week? And I don’t know what losing someone in the Arena, to the Games, looks like or feels like”

  “You haven’t lost your sister though,” he said, almost as a question, but he must have been seeing the concern on your face, “she’s right there”

  “It’s just…” you said, searching for the right words, “I’m finally seeing her go back to the Delly from home. And I think they are, too”

  “Meaning…” Beetee pushed gently

  “They appreciate her,” you replied, gesturing in front of you, “you appreciate her. I appreciate her but I’ve always appreciated her. It just seems like she has her light back, and they appreciate her light…” You hoped you didn’t sound cheesy but you could see Beetee smiling at you and you knew he thought it was cheesy

  “We do see her light,” he admitted, “I think Caesar and Cinna made sure of that”

  “You know what I mean though?” you added, “she was always that smiling girl. One of the few in District 12 that was lucky enough to be able to wear anything other than grey. That made her bright. Light. If it wasn’t for Peeta, people wouldn’t have recognized her as anything other than the girl in the yellow dress.” Beetee didn’t have anything to add and you didn’t mind; it felt like enough to you. You were happy that your sister was finally herself again. You watched as Cato moved as close to her as possible, finally taking her hand in his, and it hit you. She’s meant to get out of here, you thought to yourself, and you’re going to make sure she does.

xx

Delly’s P.O.V

  You were doing your best to keep an eye on your brother but with him trailing behind with Beetee, your attention was easily stolen by Johanna and Finnick teasing each other. 

  “Everything okay?” Cato asked

  “Yeah,” you said, “just worried about Asher”

  “He’s with Beetee,” he scoffed playfully, “nothing is going to happen to him”

  “Not right now,” you said, “not this very moment. But what about whatever the next trap or trick or terror is in store?”

  “What’s gonna make you not worry about him?” he asked, taking your hand in his. This was the first romantic thing either of you had done since the kiss and it made you feel a bit more calm

  “I won’t stop worrying until he’s home,” you said through a grimaced smile, “look, I know, I know that that’s a terrible answer. But I’m his big sister. I can’t worry about anything else.”

  “You have all this to worry about,” he said, gesturing to the Arena with a forced smile, “if that makes a difference?”

  “Cato,” you said calmly, “it’s only us left.” You took a deep breath before looking back at Asher and Beetee - you didn’t know why everyone had turned out to be so nice but, “we’re not all supposed to be here,” your thoughts came out of your mouth unintentionally but they were true.

  “I know,” he replied, looking down at your hands before bringing them to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of your hand, “but we are here. Isn’t that a good thing?”

  “Is it?” you questioned, “someone has to come out alive. You know that better than anyone. Someone in this group is going to be that person…”

  “Maybe,” he returned, “maybe not”

  “Let’s go, keep walking,” Finnick scoffed as he noticed you and Cato were stopped

  “Look,” Cato said as the two of you continued, “I don’t really know what happens next but I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. Either of you”

  “Cato, please,” you sighed, “can you just.. do something for me?”

  “Anything,” he said with a smile, “what do you want?”

  “If it comes to it, and I know I’ve said it before, but if it comes to it,” you said quietly, trying to hide the trembling that was starting, “leave me behind”

  “What?” he said shocked, his eyes opened wide as he stared at you. He was locked on you but he still managed to walk unfazed by everything in front of him, as if he knew exactly how to avoid it. It wasn’t until you spoke again that he finally faltered, bumping into Finnick as your last request left your lips.