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▎ RUINS ▎
»»————-　act two. fan the flames
FORTY ━━ the grande final

I studied a life of plastic facades
time and time again I saw the
same thing; tragedy

— unknown

     ERIN NERVOUSLY FIDDLED WITH THE HEM OF HER loose shirt as she stood in the cold night air. Crickets were chirping, filling the silence as the brunette stared at the white roses on the ground. She waited anxiously for Finnick to appear from behind the rocks. After the events from earlier, where Erin had bluntly spoken her mind and where Katniss was traumatised by yet another sick game of Snow there had been tension in the air. The Girl On Fire had taken to hiding away for the time being, to calm her rattled nerves most likely. The brunette didn't know where she went, but she suspected that Haymitch did as the former district twelve victor disappeared not soon after.

    But Coin still wanted a clip for the Capitol, and this time Finnick was her lucky pick. Erin had told him he didn't need to do anything, he wasn't obliged to listen to her evey command. But the blonde had assured her he could handle it.

     Erin glanced up when she heard footsteps approaching and she saw Finnick appear behind her, a new brown coat and his hair styled perfectly. She gave him an encouraging smile when he stopped beside her and she reached for his hand.

    They enjoyed the moment of tranquility before their peace was quickly interrupted by Cressida who called him forward.

     "Okay, Finnick?" Cressida looked at the man and he gave her a weak smile, trying to ignore the putrid smell the roses disembogued. 

      "Yeah," he nodded, letting go of Erin's hand to walk towards the center.

     "Go in the center there. Those rocks. Castor, to left. Pollux, you're with me. So we'll go straight to camera. Okay? Finnick?" Cressida directed before looking back at Finnick who seemed stuck in his own thoughts at the moment.

    She couldn't blame him, at this very moment Peeta, Johanna and Annie would be rescued from the Capitol and hope nesteled deep within her chest.

     "Yeah." Finnick cleared his throat, eyes fleeting to Erin for a moment, finding comfort in her eyes.

    "Okay. Take your time. Just remember to keep talking and don't stop." 

     He took a deep breath, and then started talking to the camera. "This is Finnick Odair," he began slow and steady, staring straight ahead. "Winner of the 65th Hunger Games, I'm coming to you from District Thirteen, alive and well. We've survived an assault from the Capitol, but I'm not here to give you recent news. The truth, not the myths about a life of luxury. Not the lie about glory for your homeland. You can survive the arena. But the moment you leave, you're a slave."

    His eyes flickered to Erin, she saw the pain in his eyes and she knew exactly what was coming and it broke her heart and installed a furious hatred inside her soul for Snow.

    "President Snow used to sell me for my body, I wasn't the only one. If a victor is considered desirable the president gives them as reward or allows people to buy them. If you refuse he'll kill someone you love." For a moment their eyes were connected and again she felt he heart break for the man she loved.

     She wondered if there really was no end to Snow wickedness, what he would do to strip people of everything they held dear.

    "To make themseleves feel better my clients would give presents, money or jewelry. But I found a much more valuable form of payment; secrets." There was a fire in his eyes, painful memories deeply harboured in his mind.

       Erin wondered if they would safe everyone tonight, if they would bring everyone back to them.

    "See I know all about the deceive and the cruelty of the Capitol Elite but the biggest secrets are about our good President Coriolanus Snow. He was such a young man when he rose to power, such a clever one to keep it. How you may ask did he do it? One word; poison." He shrugged casually.

    "He stopped every mutiny before it started. Mystery deaths for those he suspected wanted to oppose him, even to allies he saw as threats. Snow drinks out of the same cup to deflect suspicions, but antidotes don't always work and it's why he wear roses that reek of perfume." He paused for a moment. "Helps cover the scent of blood from sours in his mouth that will never heal."

     Erin watched Finnick's jaw clench, eyes narrow when he spoke next. "But he can't hide the scent of who he really is, he kills without mercy. He rules with deception and fear. His weapon of choice is the only thing suited for such a man. The perfect weapon for a snake."

    Cressida held her hand up, signalling for Finnick to stop talking and Erin glanced at the Capitol filmmaker. "What going on?"

     "Katniss is contacting Snow."

      EVERYTHING WAS FALLING APART AROUND THEM, their plan, their hope and no one could do anything about it because there was no way to contact anyone at all. No way to know if Gale was alright, or Boggs, not even her own brother.

     Erin had left Finnick back in their room, he was clearly exhausted by the time they were allowed to leave, but the brunette had a gnawking feeling in her stomache and she had silently left the room in search for Katniss.

     Her steps were almost inaudiable, a trait she'd gotten from her time in the arena. It didn't take her long to find the mockingjay sitting at a table in the cafeteria in her lonesome. Head buried in her hands and silent sobs racking through her body.

     Cautiously, she approached the table, the dimly lit room completely abandoned if not for the former district twelve tribute.

      "Katniss?" She whispered softly when she stopped in front of the circular table, concerned eyes focused on the younger girl.

     Katniss looked up, tears still freely streaming down her face, but she looked hopeful at her and Erin deflated slightly.

      "There is no news." She walked around the table to sit beside her. "I'm sorry."

    Katniss nodded slowly, turning her gaze away from Erin to look straight ahead.

     "This is the worst kind of torture isn't it? Not knowing, not being able to do anything at all." The brunette continued quietly

     "We just can't get a break can we?" She sighed, running a hand through her messy hair in a nervous manner. "But we came back from worse things didn't we?" She wondered softly looking at Katniss as the girl faced her again.

     "We can do this together, we will do this together and together we will win from Snow."

      Suddenly, Katniss wrapped her arms tightly around her neck, burying her head in the crook of Erin's neck and they held onto each other. Muffeled sobs and streaming tears. For a moment they could draw strength from each other. They could find hope in eachother.

      And a silent prayer was answered, when footsteps approached the two. Reluctantly they let go of each other and they looked to see Haymitch standing in the opening of the cafeteria with Finnick.

      "They're back."

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