CHAPTER 49
DISTRACTION

BEX stayed with Keaton in his patient room for almost the full day. She hardly ate anything but an apple given to her by a nurse, but she couldn't bring herself to eat much else. Her stomach churned every time she thought about what her brother had to go through. Keaton, on the other hand, slept the entire day. She didn't mind, though; all she wanted to do was watch him, and make sure no one took him from her again.

But rest was what he needed. Dr. Kuboto said the recovery process would be slow, but thankfully, Keaton didn't inherit the same impatient gene as his sister. He was so much like their mom in that way. He could wait. His wounds went too deep, so it wasn't like he had a choice in the matter. He told Bex and Dr. Kuboto that they were all given to him if he disobeyed a Peacekeeper. His chest had been kicked in so many times that they would have to perform surgery to remove one of his ribs tomorrow. Or was it the next day? Bex wasn't quite sure. She was taking in a lot of information at once.

She was just glad that Keaton was here, and he was alive, and he'd be able to heal. He was sleeping peacefully in his cot, far away from all the nightmares he experienced in the Capitol. Bex still couldn't rest, though. She couldn't stop thinking about her parents, and then all the torture her brother witnessed. The lacerations covering his exposed skin was just a taste of what he had to endure, and she shivered at the sight of them. She didn't want to think about any of it, but her mind wouldn't stop reeling. To think she had been saved and was kept protected down here while her older brother's chest was being beaten in –

Bex leaned back in her chair and rubbed at her eyes. Dr. Kuboto said she shouldn't punish herself when Bex voiced her concerns. "There's nothing you could've done," she said, and she was right, but that didn't make her feel any less guilty.

Her eyes felt so much better closed. Opening them to the bright light almost burned, and she groaned while continuing to rub at her lids. Today was exhausting and she could use a few ten hours of sleep right now, but she couldn't stop watching Keaton, counting his breaths, stuck in her own head.

The clock above her head chimed at the new hour. She looked up when she heard the familiar melody. It was eleven PM. Turning back to her brother, she decided he wasn't waking up anytime soon, and she could only hope another emergency wouldn't arise the second she left the hospital. The new hour was her cue to go.

She placed a kiss on Keaton's head and lingered by the doorway before finally leaving.

She didn't really understand how, but after exiting the hospital, Bex ended up at Finnick's compartment. She had been lost in her thoughts again. It was starting to become a habit. She had allowed her feet to simply move on their own as if her mind was on autopilot, and then, she was at Finnick's door, tapping her knuckles against the hard surface.

He was inviting her in within seconds. She expected nothing less from Finnick. He was quiet and listened to her as she rambled on about Keaton's news. He embraced her so quickly and allowed her to cry into the crook of his neck. He held her, warm and tight, until she stopped shaking. "It's gonna be okay," he promised, and she didn't have any hesitation to believe him. Finnick helped her to her feet and guided her over to his mattress. "You need to rest, Bex. You'll feel better in the morning."

She wasn't so sure about that, but Bex didn't have the strength in her to argue. Her tears eventually dried as she slept; her cheek was pressed against Finnick's freckled chest. She only woke up a few times from nightmares, but she'd learned since coming to Thirteen how easily it was to pull herself out of them. She just had to remind herself that they weren't real. She'd experienced real nightmares before, and they were a whole lot more gruesome. Her mind had nothing on reality.

The next morning, the two Victors were woken by a loud banging on Finnick's door. For a split second, Bex thought the walls were shaking again, and the Capitol had returned to exact their revenge on Thirteen's exterior. But she quickly centered herself and blew out a sigh.

Finnick released an annoyed grunt while pulling on a shirt. The knocking continued. "Gods, I'm coming!" He exclaimed while approaching the door.

Bex swiftly slid off the bed as Finnick yanked the door open. She attempted to hide under his bunk, in case her presence was against Coin's rules. Her curiosity was greater than her fear though, and she couldn't help but incline her neck out from her hiding place to see who was standing in the door frame.

Lowering his gaze to Bex, Plutarch pulled his lips together in an effort to not laugh.

Bex groaned, "I was just ..." She stepped out from her spot and padded over to where Finnick stood. He also looked like he trying to suppress one of his hearty giggles. Bex shot a glare in his direction. "Never mind."

Plutarch laced his hands together behind his back. "I had a feeling you two would be together," he smiled. Bex was still scowling. She hated it when people assumed things, and she had no doubt about what Plutarch was thinking right now. "Get yourselves decent and come with me. Coin wants to see you."

"Why? To degrade us for sharing a bed?" She barked.

Finnick placed a hand on her arm, but neither of them moved.

Plutarch cocked his head to the side. "You know, you don't have to be so hostile all the time."

"Sorry if I'm still a little on edge after being lied to about your true intentions with the Quarter Quell," she seethed. "My bad."

He frowned. "Just get yourselves ready."

The two Victors shared a look, but it was Finnick who shut the door on Plutarch. "It's no use getting into arguments," he sighed, and even he sounded like he wanted to protest. Bex followed his lead as he picked up his jumpsuit from off the floor. "Let's just go with him."

They didn't take long to get ready, but the two still waited by the door for a little bit longer just to irritate Plutarch. When they finally exited Finnick's compartment, the Gamemaker was tapping his foot impatiently. They chuckled softly to themselves as Plutarch led them down the staircase to the ground level. He was guiding them towards the southern wing of the bunker, where neither Bex nor Finnick had visited. After walking down a long hallway, painted stark white like every other corridor in this vicinity, Plutarch held two large doors open to a dark room with monitors and computers placed in every corner.

Beetee was currently sitting at one of the work stations near the center. He was looking between three monitors, in deep focus, with President Coin on his right side. Plutarch gestured for them to follow him over, and together, they approached Beetee and hovered around his computer. Once she was closest to Coin, Bex recognized the desperation in her expression. She was biting her lip, pondering the inevitable.

Finnick was the first to speak up: "What's going on here?"

Coin twisted around to face them, but her worry hadn't ceased. Beetee didn't reply to Finnick's question, completely lost in his work. "I have good news and bad news for you both," Coin muttered, clasping her hands together.

"Give us the bad first," Bex requested.

"Well, in order to understand the bad ... you must hear the good." The President hesitated and went to stand beside Plutarch. "The dam went down in District Five and took out most of the power to the Capitol. Knocked out their signal defenses and everything. Beetee is currently inside their system, wreaking all kinds of havoc.

"We have a window open to us," Coin lifted a single finger, "to not only save the two Victors currently still imprisoned in the Capitol, but also to air a propo. This will act as a distraction during our rescue mission. It's already underway, so we have limited time for filming."

Plutarch nodded along with her. "Not many will see it, but whoever does will think it's another propo. No harm done."

"Wait," Bex huffed, shutting her eyes as she processed Coin's response, "how long of a window are we talking about?"

As she opened her eyes again, Coin shook her head. "We don't know for certain. Until the Capitol can get the power back on."

"So what do we have to do with this?" Finnick asked. Bex swung her head upon hearing the intrigue in his voice, and her brow knitted together.

"The propo I want to shoot involves you two, specifically." She clarified, pausing to lick at the corners of her thin lips. "I want it to be about Snow's prostitution ring with the Victors."

Finnick was silent then. He looked to Bex, studying her expression, but she wasn't looking at him. Unlike Finnick, Bex didn't need to debate an answer. Her mind had already been made up.

"No," she spat, glancing at Finnick's muddled expression. "No way. I'm not disclosing that to all of Panem."

Coin exhaled, "I understand it will be difficult –"

"It's more than just difficult. I'm not giving Snow any more reasons to torture or capture the people I love. We can't do this." Bex turned to Finnick again. "Right?"

Finnick pursed his lips, but couldn't find it in him to respond. He frowned, averting his stare to the President and grabbing Bex's forearm. "We'll get back to you."

"What?! You –" Bex stammered viciously as Finnick began to haul her out of the tech room. "We are not – no, I am not –"

"Think quickly," Coin reminded, watching Finnick Odair yank Bex through the double doors. Her face twisted. "Our time is extremely limited! Cressida and the others are waiting by the exit."

The doors shut quickly. Bex tugged her arm out of Finnick's strong grip and whipped around to face him. Her hands formed into fists and her pure onyx stare seemed to get even darker. Finnick swallowed hard.

"Don't ever pull me like that again," she snarled.

He huffed begrudgingly, "Bex –"

"'We'll get back to you?' What the hell does that even mean, Finnick?" Her voice seemed to get louder with each passing second. Bex's fury knew no bounds. "I meant what I said. No!"

"Bex," he said, almost pleading now, "there are soldiers risking their lives right now to save our fellow Victors and they need us to provide a distraction. To do our part. We need to do this."

She crossed her arms over her chest. "No, we don't."

"Yes, we do. Everyone has to know about Snow's biggest secret with the Victors. They have to know that even people who win the Games aren't safe. No one will be until Snow's gone. Not many will see it, but this is important." His brows crossed. "Why are you being so irrational about this?"

Her eyes went wider. "Irrational? Do you have any idea the scope of what that woman is asking of us?" She slapped her hands against her sides. "I can't air all my dirty secrets, Finnick. I just got Keaton back, but that doesn't mean it was lucky. It was a warning. I don't want to hurt more."

"I understand that, Bex. You know I do." He walked forward and took her hand, lacing their fingers together. Bex's breath hitched once his warm palm covered her cool skin. "But the Districts are hurting just as much as we are. People need to know. And it's to help save Peeta and everyone they still have captured."

Her eyes narrowed. Bex exhausted all her effort. No matter how many times she explained herself, Finnick wouldn't understand. Or maybe, she was just being irrational. It didn't matter. She wasn't doing this. She couldn't.

Coin could find another Victor to take her place. Johanna might do it, if someone asked her nicely. But no one knew Snow's agreement like Finnick and Bex. They were his best products, adored by everyone, and knew the Capitol by the back of their hand. No, Johanna couldn't do this propo. Only Bex and Finnick could, side-by-side, standing against the Capitol.

But she wouldn't. Not today.

Bex pulled her hand away from his, despite the constant craving for his warmth. Her jaw clenched as she hissed, "Have a nice time doing it on your own then."

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A/N: oooooo we're really getting into it now, people!! this chapter was a tiny bit filler-ish, but I hope you still enjoyed it! next chapter is gonna be a little crazy 🥳