· 。ﾟ☆: *.☽
▎ RUINS ▎
»»————-　act three. from the ashes
FORTY TWO ━━ hello to forever

there are wounds that never show
on the body that are deeper and more
hurtful than anything that bleeds

— laurell k. hamilton

THE HOSPITAL WING SEEMED TO BE GLOOMY AND LIVELESS WHEN ERIN ENTERED THE ROOM with Finnick just waiting for her outside the door. Katniss was surrounded by multiple people and the brunette caught a glimpse of the large bruise forming on her skin. It was an ugly and dark purple blemish— even growing more towards black if she was honest. She could clearly see the place where the bullet would have entered if it wasn't for her bulletproof outfit.

When she blinked, the bandages were secruly wrapped around her waist, hiding all the damage.

"We showed him footage of your speech in two. He had real memories revealed."

"That still doesn't mean i'm going in there." Katniss frowned, eyes trained on the man ahead of her.

"He's strapped down." Haymitch tried to convince her. "He, he can't hurt you."

"No." Katniss' decision was final. "This is different, I really don't want to Haymitch."

"It doesn't matter what you want, it's for Peeta." But Haymitch wasn't easily dettered by her cold words before his tone turned soft, "you should try."

With that, the former blonde victor left the room with the doctors on his heels and as he passed Erin who was still silently staying out of sight he gave her a look she could easily decipher.

With a deep breath, the woman rolled er shoulders back, trying to release some of the build up tention before she stepped in Katniss' view.

"Hey Katniss..." erin breathed out softly and the woman looked up from where she was staring at her folded hands. She looked completly exhausted, that big spark in her eyes just a tad bit more dimmer than usual. "I heard you've gotten a new battle wound."

Katniss just blinked, a faraway look in her eyes as she muttered, "it's nothing really."

"You were shot at, it doesn't have to be an physical wound you know." Erin stated as she sat down on the edge of her hospital bed. "And to be frank with you, emotional wound stick a lot longer with us than broken bones."

"How would you know." Erin didn't let the harsh tone bother her much, the brunette knew Katniss and she knew how the woman didn't let anyone near her true emtions and but on this facade.

"Because mine are still trying to heal." She admitted calmly. "My bruises have faded, my wounds are closed up, but my heart is still trying to put itself back together."

"It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart."

Erin smiled softly, eyes flicker up to look at Katniss, "Finnick told you that, didn't he?"

"He did."

"I know it's hard Katniss, but by avoiding that which helps you find closure you only hurt yourself more." Erin continued kindly, "Avoidence doesn't heal, acceptence does"

With those final words, Erin stood up from the bed and left the room quietly and walked back into the hallway where Finnick was waiting for her.

He quickly engulved her in a warm embrace and Erin tightly clung onto him. He didn't ask what was wrong, what had happened or if she was okay. He just held her close to him. "Let's get you back to bed alright," he whispered in her ear. "I think we all deserve some rest."

The blonde could feel her nod against the crook of his neck and after a couple seconds the two pulled apart and intertwined their hands together.

"Let's go."

･ ｡ﾟ☆: *. ☆彡ﾟ

DAWN CAME FASTER THAN ERIN WOULD HAVE LIKED AS SHE STOOD IN THE SHOWER early the next morning, the warm water was cascading down her back, soothing the tense muscles in her neck and shoulders. She had her eyes closed, the buzzing of the water cancelling out all the other noise and she felt completly relaxed in that moment.

     Steam was floating in the air around her, the warmth filling her lungs with every breath she took. She let her eyes travel downward, hastily flickering over scars and almost faded bruises and then to the water that dissapeared down the drain.

       Her mind was going like a mile a minute after the events of yesterday. How Johanna looked nothing like this fierce girl she'd met at her first victor's party back in the Capitol. Erin had always admired the district seven woman for her courage and strong will, but whatever happened in the Capitol had stripped her from that confidence. There hung a melancholy-like air around her that she would never expect around her.

      Erin took in another deep breath, steam filling up her lungs pleasantly before she released it in a shuddering breath. She placed on hand against the wall— a shiver running down her spine upon touching the cold tile with her hand.

       She started to wonder about their next step, the rebellion was coming to an end now that all the districts had besn unitied. Only the Capitol stood between them and their freedom. But in a way, she was now worried more than normaly. Because before there wasn't really much of an full on confrontation, but now everyone was gearing up for war. Friends, families, allies and everyone in between would march to the Capitol fullof hope, only Erin feared for their lives.

     Snow was cruel and cunning, he wasn't going to fight fair, she was sure of it. There was no certainty about what they would face on the battlefield.

      "Erin? Are you alright?" Two knocks on the bathroom door and Finnick's concerned voice broke her string of thoughts swiflt.

     She quickly cleared her throat, "uh yes! I'll be out in a minute." She assured him.

      "Alright."

      Turning the water off, she hurriedly grabbed a towel to dry herself off before pulling the grey jumpsuit back on her pale frame. With her hair still dripping slightly, Erin stepped outside to see Finnick waiting on her with a warm smile on his face. "Are you ready to go?" She asked curiously when she noticed him nervously playing with the fabric of his own clothes.

      "Actually." He stood up with a newfound purpose that surprised the brunette. "I wanted to ask you something really important."

      Erin frowned, grabbing both of his hands in hers when he looked like he couldn't find the words he was looking for. "Finn. . . Is everything okay? Did something bad happen?"

    "No, no nothing bad, I promise." He shook his head before smiling sweetly at her. "I've been thinking about this for a long time and I know that this probably isn't the right time but I can't wait anymore. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, when we were kids, I didn't know what this feeling was or why you made me feel this way but know I know. I love you so much Erin, and I can't imagine my life without you and all I know is that I want to grow old with you." He rambled on, ocean eyes focused on hazel.

       "What are you saying?" Erin whispered.

       "Erin Benton, will you marry me?"

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬