· 。ﾟ☆: *.☽
▎ RUINS   ▎
»»————-　act one. uneven odds
TWO ━━ the odds

innocene died screaming
darling, I should know

— hozier

KATNISS AND PEETA SAT IN FORTITUDE AT THE table while Haymitch stood in front of a large screen. The two victors were waiting to see the clips of the other district's Reapings, to determine allies and threats. However, it came as no surprise to them when Haymitch gravely informed them that everything they previously knew about the games didn't matter anymore—this was an entirely different playing field full of experienced killers with an advantage. They were the only two who didn't know the other victors personally.

"District 1. Cashmere and Gloss, brother and sister, won back-to-back games. They're Capitol favorites—lots of sponsors. Career pack, too, so expect them to be lethal." Haymitch gestured to the beautiful, smiling siblings on screen.

Katniss slowly nodded, wanting to take in as much as she could about her opponents.

"The other half of the career pack—District 2. Meet Brutus and Enobaria." He switched the screen.

Katniss leaned in closer, "What's wrong with her teeth?" Enobaria was bared her teeth on the screen in front of her.

"She had them shaped into fangs so she could rip people's throats out." Haymitch explained dryly.

"Well, she's committed. I'll give her that." Peeta spoke up.

Haymitch changed the screen again. "District 3: Wiress and Beetee. They're not fighters, but they are brilliant. And weird—real tech maniacs. Beetee won his games by electrocuting six people at once."

"The morphlings, masters of camouflage. They basically won their games by hiding out until everyone was dead. Self-medicating ever since," Haymitch chuckled, "Not that I blame them; they're not a threat, though."

Katniss and Peeta exchanged glances with each other at that, but waited for Haymitch to continue.

"Finnick Odair, right?" Katniss inquired, recognized the blonde male once the picture switched again.

Haymitch nodded. "He won his games at fourteen—Capitol's sweetheart. And extremely humble." The sarcasm in Haymitch's voice was obvious at the last sentence.

"You have to be kidding me." Katniss sighed.

Haymitch gave her a dead glance. "Of course I'm kidding. He's a total peacock, trust me," he said. "Finnick is adored in the Capitol: charming, smart, and very skilled in combat. Watch out for him in water—he's District 4."

He continued on, "Erin Benton."

Peeta interrupted, furrowing his eyebrows. "She looks so innocent."

Haymitch nodded. "Don't let her fool you. There's more than meets the eye; it was a big surprise when she won her games. She's very cunning—fooled the Capitol with that sweet girl act." He tilted his head back towards Peeta "When the games started, she showed her strength, though."

"Hold on, why did she stop that woman from volunteering?" Katniss asked, watching the Reaping recap.

"She cares a lot about other. It's a weakness." Haymitch started, "But it's a strength too—don't underestimate it. If she wants, she could become one of the most dangerous tributes in that area." Haymitch looked pointedly at Katniss.

The two nodded at him, already thinking. They watched as the say the two tributes from District 4 stand side-by-side.

ERIN WOKE UP WITH A HAMMERING HEART IN in the middle of the night. She initially panicked when she realized that she wasn't in her home back in District 4, but instead on the train that was taking her back to the Capitol. With a small sigh, Erin carefully stepped out of her bed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to fall back asleep again after the nightmares.

She tiptoed silently through the hallway, trying not to wake any of the others up. When she felt a hand on her shoulder, Erin let out a yelp, whipping around only to see Finnick standing there.

Erin let out a relieved breath of air. "Sorry for waking you up." She apologized with a small smile.

"Doesn't matter. I couldn't sleep either." He walked towards her from his previous place in the doorway.

"It's funny, isn't it? We actually thought we were safe." Erin let out a bitter chuckle with a shake of her head.

"We were never safe."

"I guess we were just doomed from the start, even when we were just running around as little kids on the beach." Her lips curled up at the memory.

Finnick smiled at the memory. "I'll never forget that time you fell into the sea. You were six, I think; you couldn't get out, so when the waves came, you washed up while floundering around like a fish."

Erin laughed softly. "I remember! After that, Alex came down to the shore red in the face—he started lecturing you, too. Like that would change you." She grinned a little.

"He always was very protective of his little sister." Finnick nudged her shoulder as they entered the living quarters of the train.

"Yeah..." She trailed off, getting lost in thought.

"You alright?"

Erin sighed. "I'm just worried about him back home."

"He'll be fine. The only thing you should be worrying about is surviving." He reassured her.

"We've been worried about surviving all our lives." She dropped her head.

"Sugar cube?" Finnick offered, holding one out for her.

"Always trying to cheer me up, Odair."

"Of course, Benton."

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