✮ ༄ 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 ༄✮
ACT II CHAPTER 17
( realisation happens during silence )

PEETA HACKED HIS MACHETE INTO THE ANIMAL'S BODY BEFORE IT COULD SINK IT'S TEETH INTO KATNISS. This action alerted the other mutts, causing them to attack.

The good thing was they made a screeching sound when they pounced, letting Evelyn know when one was coming her way. She threw a knife, killing one, then spun around and stabbed another square in the head.

Finnick stuck his trident into some while Katniss shot others. As Peeta was about to slice one, another jumped on top of him. Eve saw and instantly retrieved her knife from the dead monkey. She aimed precisely and let the weapon travel through the air. The animal went limp and Peeta pushed it off, giving the blonde woman a quick, thankful look.

Suddenly, a mutt bounced onto Evelyn's body. It's claws digging into her suit and skin. She let out a piercing scream, the animal was to heavy for her to shove off. Falling into the water, the monkey held her down, as if it was the Tribute she was fighting from the bloodbath.

Evelyn whipped a sharp knife out of her belt and slashed it repeatedly over the face. Crimson red overcame her eyesight until the mutt crowed and died. Sitting up, she gasped from holding her breath and lunged a knife to an oncoming monkey.

Peeta pulled Katniss up from the water, "We gotta get to the beach!"

"No shit!" Evelyn hastily replied. She quickly got up and grasped Finnick's hand. He was to busy fighting off the creatures to notice the others were leaving.

The four ran down a pathway, but more mutts emerged. The two from District Twelve slid down a muddy hill while Finnick and Evelyn struck ones surrounding them with their weapons.

"Evelyn!" Peeta called out, knowing she's the most skilled out of the lot.

After spiking her blade into a monkey's eye, her head snapped towards the boy quivering in terror. He was cornered by one. Ready to kill.

Before Evelyn could help, a person revealed herself and chucked her whole body in front of him. The mutt continuously chewed on the Victor until Peeta stuck his machete into it's side.

"Who is that?" Katniss questioned. Eve stabbed a knife into a monkey's head, then pressed her foot against it's body. She forced the animal away and the knife was no longer in it's head.

"A Morphling! Help me get her!" Peeta ushered. The pair carried her towards the beach, leaving Finnick and Evelyn to deal with the mutts.

Finnick swayed his trident about, stabbing some with the pointy end and knocking others out with the handle, "Finnick! Come on!" Eve loudly spoke.

He looked behind him and realised she was waiting for him. He immediately rushed over and both chased after the two dragging along a District Six member.

The clearing of the waves and the Cornucopia came into view, making Evelyn more determined to reach the beach. The monkey's gnawed on the edge of their feet, causing the duo to launch into the grainy sand.

The mutts stomped their paws and flicked the beige ground forward. Snarls fell from their tunneled mouths. Finnick sat up, repelling his trident in their faces until the creatures hesitantly backed away. Disappearing.

Evelyn exhaled and leaned back down, resting on the sand as she caught her breath back. Her chest moved up slower and she could hear the faint wheezes coming from the female Morphling.

The blonde woman listened to how Peeta soothingly spoke to the dying woman. Mentioning the sky. A defeated Finnick led next to her and observed how she admired what's above them.

A mix of blue, pink, and faint orange painted together. It wasn't the stars, but it was something. The sight made Evelyn have a sense of calmness. The fluffy clouds were creating all sorts of shapes. Swirls of the distant mountains were tall enough to reach the white, cotton candy like puffs.

Her lips formed a sad line. Ace would've loved this.

A canon fired, making Evelyn flinch by the sudden loud noise. The heaving pants from the Morphling were no longer heard. The Mane woman sat up and turned herself around, watching how a hovercraft flew down and a four-pronged claw engulfed the dead body. Taking her away.

Katniss and Peeta backed up to the shore along with Finnick and Evelyn who stood a few inches behind, "She sacrificed herself for me and I didn't even know her name." Peeta said.

Katniss' expression changed into confusion, "You think she sacrificed herself?"

"Looked like it."

Evelyn and Finnick let a clueless Katniss and Peeta be, not daring to mention the plan. Knees to her chest, Evelyn traced random shapes in the sand with her index finger as Finnick washed off the sticky monkey blood coating his weapon.

He'd occasionally glance at the distracted blonde, knowing these Games are a constant reminder of her last one. Evelyn would tell Finnick she's gotten over her brother's death, but deep down, she didn't.

Feeling a hint of remorse, he got out of the ocean and offered her a hand, "Wanna fish?" he asked, knowing that anything to do with their home town will cheer her up.

Eve grinned and took his hand. He pulled her up and they trudged into the seawater, taking turns with Finnick's trident. When either caught one, they'd shortly laugh ecstatically. Finnick frequently splashed her with water, making her do the same back.

Katniss thought they were being childish, but Peeta chuckled at the pair.

"Hey, do you remember racing day at school?" Finnick asked, leaning on his trident as Eve kept her eyes on the current.

Screwing her brows together at the memory being brought up, she said "Yeah, I remember. I beat everyone's ass to the finish line. Twice." A small chuckle was shared between the two.

"All right, all right." He jokingly rolled his eyes, "But you remember what happened after?"

Evelyn caught their final fish by flinging her knife at it. Now, all four of them each had food, "Some idiot tripped me up. Probably 'cause he was jealous I ran faster than him."

The blonde woman couldn't help but smile though. After falling over, straight away it was Finnick who helped her up. Wait... it was under a matter of seconds when he helped her, no way he could've been that close unless...

When Eve realised, and Finnick knew she'd come to her senses, he swiped his foot behind her ankle and tripped her off her feet. Evelyn landed flat on her ass, the water splashing onto her. An extremely annoyed look sat across her face.

"Dickhead." She mumbled loud enough for him to hear. A smirk rested on his lips as he looked down at her. He extended his arm out and provided his hand yet again.

Evelyn sarcastically grinned before clutching a hold of his wrist and pulling him into the ocean. She giggled while he coughed a few times, "Karma." Standing up, Eve brought the fish over for the District Twelve Tributes.

It was meaningless banter, but Finnick reminded her for a reason. A reason why he nudged Evelyn over that Summer's day and acted as the hero. He was going to tell her soon... Because he couldn't handle keeping his love for her a secret anymore.

Not long after, Finnick joined the three. They all sat down in a square, silently eating their food. The only sound flowing into their ears were the blue waves slowly crashing against the black walkways. And of course everyone's teeth ripping into edible parts of the fish.

Peeta cracked open a clam with the edge of his weapon and smiled lightly. Picking up a shiny pearl, he presented it to Katniss, "Look. For you."

The Girl on Fire held out her palm so he'd place it into her care. She examined the tiny thing, knowing it's a representation of his love for her. Katniss couldn't help but give a blissful smile, "Thank you."

Evelyn's lips curved upwards at the pair, noticing Peeta's vast, merry expression. Her heart warmed for the two. It was quite obvious they're in love. Katniss just needs to learn the emotion herself.

A scream made everyone look into the distance and stand "That's new." Peeta stated.

Trees were being trampled down by water thrashing forward. The sea water waved above the Cornucopia then the clear liquid splashed onto the sand.

Evelyn kicked her leg out slightly, water droplets sprinkling off her padded boots. An whirring noise made her look up again. The same jet flew in with it's same grabbing device. They all watched as it disappeared with a dead Tribute in it's grasp.

Please don't be Johanna, Eve wished.

"Someone's here." An alerted Katniss told and equipped an arrow in her bow. Finnick and Evelyn lent back, letting the green leafs and thick branches cover them.

Through a small gap, the blonde woman could make out three red people. Eyebrows knitting together, angry mumbles could be heard.

Johanna.

Finnick thought the same, "Johanna?"

Evelyn ran across the beach with Finnick on her trail, "Johanna!" she happily called out, "Jo!"

"Eve! Finnick!" Johanna exclaimed, throwing her bloody arms out in relief.

Not caring she'd get crimson red stained on her, the two women engulfed one another in a hug and laughed, "You have no idea how happy I am to see you." Evelyn said.

"Back at ya blondie." Johanna grinned, the duo pulling away. The District Twelve people jogged over.

"Well... I got 'em out. We were all the way deep into the jungle where I thought it was gonna be safe." The Victor from District Seven began explaining. Beetee was pouring ocean water over his head, "That's when the rain started."

Johanna circled around before facing Eve and Finnick, her tone more annoyed then usual, "I thought it was water. It turned out to be blood. Hot, thick blood."

"Tick Tok." Wiress mumbled, stepping closer and closer to Jo until she put her arm out and ignored the babbling woman.

"It was coming down. It was chocking us." She scoffed, "We were stumbling around, gagging on it, blind." Johanna let out a sigh, "That's when Blight hit the force field. He wasn't much but he was from home."

"Tick Tok. Tick Tok." The same words were repeated every second.

"Okay." Evelyn muttered under her breath before approaching the manic person. She placed her hands calmly on Wiress' shoulder's, "Wiress? Okay, Wiress? What drugs are you on?"

Finnick muffled his laughter by wiping his palm over his mouth. He gently clasped a hold of Eve's bicep and made her take a step back. The blonde woman gave him a weird look, "What? If she's on something I want some."

He sarcastically rolled his eyes at her, their attention being brought to Beetee, "She's in shock. Dehydration isn't helping. Do you have fresh water?"

"We can get some." Katniss said. It was clear on her face she didn't trust anyone here... besides Peeta.

Wiress gripped onto the back of Johann's neck, still saying the same words, " Listen. Stop it!" Johanna yelled. She swung them about, hoping the older woman would let go, "Just sit down!"

Johanna harshly threw her to the ground, Wiress not giving a single care. But Katniss did, "Hey! Lay off her!" she shouted and shoved Johanna away.

The two were at each other's throats. Finnick intervened, trying to drag the mad woman towards the water, "I got them out for you!" Jo spat while the District Four man told her 'it's okay'.

"Let me go, Finnick! Let me go." She attempted to reason, only to be dunked under water and brought back up.

Evelyn stood next to a wide-eyed Peeta, watching the whole scenario happen, "Wish I had popcorn." she carelessly spoke.

He turned to face her, already forgetting what she'd said, "Is Johanna always like this?"

Shrugging, Evelyn responded, "Not always, just gotta get used to her." she gave him a warm grin, patted his shoulder, and joined a slightly tranquil Johanna in the water.

✮ ༄ ✮༄✮

Some time had passed, and Johanna no longer had blood on her skin. Evelyn was helping Katniss wash the red liquid out of Wiress' hair until Finnick called her over.

"You look lonely, what's up?" Evelyn asked, taking a seat next to him on the sand.

"Oh, nothing. Just missed your company." He smirked. Eve jokingly scoffed with a shake of her head.

The duo didn't have much to say, and they were completely fine with that. Being with one another didn't always mean having to speak. Sometimes, it meant they could simply enjoy the silence with their favourite person beside them.

Electricity crackling broke the quietness. Dark and gloomy clouds surrounded the unusual tree that stood out as lightning bolts zapped it. Evelyn took note the thunder happened twelve times again.

This time at daylight.

A thought popped inside of her head as she zig-zagged her icy blue eyes to Wiress, who was still mumbling 'tick tok', then at the tree.

Eyes lit up, a small chuckle fell past her lips once she realised. Before Finnick could question her, Katniss' voice told the answer, "It's a clock!"

✮ ༄ ✮༄✮

seventeen complete !!