CHAPTER 33
THE REAL ENEMY

BEETEE had horrible timing.

Finnick was smiling from ear-to-ear, tucking strands of wet hair behind Bex's ears. He opened his mouth to reply, and Bex held her breath, hoping for something as simple as, The feeling as mutual. She wasn't picky. She only needed that. But Beetee was now hollering for them to come over to the beach. "I have a plan!" He screamed, waving his hands in the air.

Bex pressed her forehead against Finnick's chest. They were all close to their deathbeds and she couldn't have this one thing. Just for a second.

The group huddled around Beetee at the beach. Bex and Finnick plopped down in the sand next to each other. Finnick had his hand on her knee. Bex tried to convince herself that that only said enough, she didn't need anything else. They shared a soft smile, but panic began to swirl in her chest. She tried to ignore it.

Katniss watched them with a narrowed brow and stayed silent. Peeta smiled, wishing for Katniss to look at him like that more often. Or at least, before his inevitable death.

Beetee cleared his throat, hands wrapped around his double coil. "Where do the Careers feel safest? The jungle?"

"No," Bex said instantly, "the jungle's their worst nightmare."

"Probably here on the beach," Peeta added.

"Then why are they not here?" Beetee furrowed his brow.

Katniss quipped, "Because we are. We claimed it."

"And if we left, they would come." It was a question, but Beetee's reply sounded more like a blanket statement. His stare rounded the group.

Finnick shrugged. "Or stay hidden in the tree line."

"Which in just over five hours will be soaked with water from the ten o'clock wave. And what happens at midnight?"

Katniss nodded her head slowly. "Lightning strikes that tree."

"Yes. Here's what I propose." He stabbed the tip of his finger into the sand. "We leave the beach a few hours before midnight. We head to the lightning tree. That should draw them back to the beach. Prior to midnight, we then run this wire –" He held up the several coils he had strung together. "– From the tree to the water. Anyone in the water or on the damp sand will be electrocuted."

"How do we know that wire's not going to burn up and take us all down?" Bex asked. Everyone turned to her with a puzzled expression. "You told me earlier today that no one thinks of you as a threat. This plan could very well kill us along with the Careers."

Heads swung back to Beetee, waiting impatiently for an answer.

"Well, I invented this wire. I strung it together. I assure you, it won't burn up." He licked at the corners of his mouth. "As for the other part, I guess you'll just have to trust me. I'm not your enemy. He is out there."

Realization flashed across Bex's eyes. No one in this arena was their enemy, not even the Careers. The real enemy was Snow. It had always been Snow. But he was unbeatable. The Careers were partly on his side, yes, but what would killing them do? What was the best possible way to get to him?

Maybe following Beetee's plan was the only way to find out.

When she looked around, everyone was nodding, agreeing to the idea. Eventually, Bex exhaled, "It's better than hunting them down."

"Yeah, why not?" Katniss said, looking to Beetee. She was clearly suspicious, but didn't want to say it out loud. "If it fails, no harm done anyway, right?"

Beetee bobbed his head yes.

"Okay," Finnick said, "so what can we do to help?"

Beetee paused, thinking it over. He rubbed at the dirt on the back of his neck and replied, "I guess ... keep me alive for the next five hours? That would be extremely helpful."

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They used the free hour they had to gather their strength. Beetee sat and made sure his wire was connected tightly. Finnick stood in the water, twirling his trident as the moon slowly made its way into the sky. Bex ate the rest of Beetee rolls. It still puzzled her why he received twenty-four. It was such a specific number. Could the rolls have anything to do with the arena itself? Twenty-four representing midnight, and giving them to District Three ... which represented Beetee's plan. Something still wasn't making sense, though. Why were they given in the first place? If it was a message, what was the purpose?

She wondered if it was to get them out of there. But she didn't want to get her hopes up. She trusted Plutarch to do something; she just didn't know what it would entail, or who would end up dead in the process.

She sat in the sand, flexing her hand around the axe, and couldn't help but question why Finnick wasn't sitting with her. He clearly had a lot on his mind, but something about this concerned her. Her anxiety was heightened. It was probably the dehydration getting to her. She just drank a few hours ago, but it wasn't enough, and when she asked Peeta for the spile again, they couldn't find any trees near them with fresh water. She decided to stick it out, but maybe that wasn't the best idea. Her hand was starting to shake; irrational thoughts were flooding her mind.

A groan slipped past her lips. She'd just have to ignore it for now. She could do that.

Katniss and Peeta were sitting pretty far from the rest of the group. They were whispering, looking to the group every few seconds. Bex's fear tried to convince her they were going to run away, and what then? What of Plutarch's plan?

But they didn't. The two teenagers shared a delicate kiss and stayed watching the ocean, keeping Bex's apprehension at bay. For now.

They left for the lightning tree as a mist began to settle over the ocean. Beetee and Peeta carried the two attached coils from the beach to the tree, which was located on the other side of the arena. The Victors hoped to arrive there on time. "One hour to get to the tree," Beetee said as they walked, "and one hour to wrap the wire around it. We should be there soon."

Bex was still wary. For what, she wasn't so sure anymore.

They traveled through the dark, attempting to use the moon as their guide. It was difficult to see in the pitch black, but that meant it was the best time to move. The Careers could be anywhere in this jungle, and their group could be too. An ambush seemed unlikely when neither could see where the others would strike.

Bex almost tripped over the fourth branch in her path. Her mind was preoccupied with other matters. She couldn't help but think about what will happen after the Careers are dead. Bex promised to keep Katniss safe, but what about herself? Didn't her own survival matter too? Nico had done his duty for Plutarch, and that got him murdered. The cold embrace of death was terrifying to her. She had survived for so long that she didn't know how to die, nor did she want to.

Who would be her next victim after tonight? Beetee seemed like the safest bet, but everyone was likely to jump on him. He was the easiest target.

Bex looked to Finnick. He hiked beside her, using the trident as a walking stick. She swallowed hard. Bex couldn't bring herself to think about killing him. But what if it had to be done? What if that were the only means of survival?

What if that was supposed to happen all along? Fake a relationship, actually start to like each other, and then throw it all away to see which one lives to see another day. Take two lovers and shred their humanity. That's what humans were, right? Selfish beings.

Finnick caught her eye then and grabbed her hand.

She didn't want to kill him. Oh, gods, she suddenly couldn't bear to even devise a plan. She hoped he felt the same way. If she was lucky, they'd both go down together in blazing glory, protecting Katniss for whatever Plutarch plans for her.

The Panem anthem began to blast all around them, interrupting Bex's thoughts. The group turned to see the Fallen memorial playing in the sky. They first showcased Cashmere, and Bex couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. It was strange. Cashmere did try to kill her, but she had known Bex for so long. Next was her District partner and brother, Gloss, whom Bex didn't care about one bit. She was glad to see him dead.

Then, there was Wiress. Bex wasn't sure if Beetee was crying then or just rubbing at his eyes. Mags came soon after, and she almost didn't believe that her death only happened just this early morning. Time didn't feel real in the arena. Bex squeezed Finnick's hand, even when her image disappeared. The morphling girl from District Six came next, and then Chaff from District Eleven.

The music ended. Brutus, Enobaria, and their group were the last ones left.

They were nearing the tree. Bex could tell from the scent of smoke in the air. Even though the tree hadn't been struck in twelve hours, a heavy burning smell seemed to hover in the area around it. When Bex breathed it in, it reminded her of home.

She glanced at Finnick, lowering her voice to a whisper. "What are we going to do after this? When we kill the last of the Careers?"

Finnick didn't say a word. He only smiled and continued to follow Beetee. His hand slipped from hers as he walked forward.

Bex's eyes went wide and her palms started to sweat again. She felt like she was going to throw up. Maybe it was the rolls, maybe it was lack of a proper meal ... she didn't know. She just felt sick and it was probably because she realized how this was going end. Finnick had his own plan after all – it just didn't involve her.

Was he planning to kill her himself?

Bex tilted her chin up when they approached the tree. It was even taller up close. It's bark looked like it was made up of a million tiny branches, all twisting around each other to form into one. Bex thought she'd seen it all, but she hadn't discovered a tree like this in Seven.

Beetee studied the tree and pushed up his glasses. "Minimal charring," he muttered, advancing toward it. "An impressive conductor."

He then looked over his shoulder, eyes pinned on Bex. She looked over when she felt his stare burning into her cheek, and his brow shot up, waiting for an answer. The rest of the group glanced at her.

"I mean, yeah, I guess." She swung the axe onto her other shoulder when the right began to ache. "Didn't know that trees could be conductors. We're not taught about that in Seven."

"I suspected as much," he quipped, turning back to the tree. "Let's get started."

Beetee and Peeta took their conjoined coils around the tree while the rest of the group helped wrapped the wire tightly around the trunk and branches closer to the bottom. Except for Finnick. He kept watch as they worked. His lack of contribution was slightly worrying, but again, Bex shoved it away, attempting to focus on more important matters. Hunger and dehydration were getting to her. She couldn't let it win. Her sanity was futile.

"Typically, a lightning strike contains five billion joules of energy," Beetee explained as they continued working. "We don't want to be anywhere in the vicinity when this hits."

Bex released a huff. That definitely helps my anxiety, she thought.

It took them a little less than thirty minutes when Beetee told them to stop. Somehow, they were ahead of schedule. One coil still had a lot of wire around the spool. Beetee picked it up and handed it to Katniss. "You and Finnick, go together now. Take this. Unspool it carefully. Make sure the rest of the wire is in the damp sand. You understand?"

Finnick nodded, but Katniss still looked confused. Bex's expression was similar as she stood beside Peeta, arms crossed.

"Then, head to the tree at the two o'clock sector," Beetee instructed. "We'll meet you there."

Peeta stepped forward. "I'm gonna go with them as a guard."

"Nonsense. I'm sure they can protect themselves." He looked at Peeta form over his glasses. "You're staying here to protect me. You and Bex. You both need to protect me and the tree.

"No, I need to go with her," Peeta argued.

"There are two Careers out there. I need two guards."

Bex turned to Beetee. "How about I take the coil –" She thrust her hand out. "– And I can go with Finnick to the water. I'm not comfortable separating from him."

Irritation washed over Beetee's face. She didn't think someone like him could look so angry, but then he was leaning into her face, brows crossed with agitation. "We are not dealing with this lovebirds crap. We're on limited time here, people."

Bex swallowed hard as Beetee stepped back. His eyes narrowed. "You all agreed to keep me alive until midnight, correct?"

Silence. Everyone glanced around the circle. Katniss was still holding the coil.

"It's Beetee's plan. We all agreed to go along with it," Finnick announced. "I'm okay to go on my own, Bex. Is there a problem with you two?" He turned towards the District Twelve couple.

"No," Katniss replied. "There's no problem." She walked up to Peeta and placed a delicate kiss on his lips, but Peeta's reservation hadn't subsided. Bex could see it on his face. With one last nod, Katniss tugged at the coil and followed Finnick away from the tree.

Bex stepped forward, hoping Finnick would kiss her as well. But he didn't. He led Katniss away and didn't look back. Bex's jaw clenched; her eyes filled with uncertainty. A million possibilities ran through her head. She could hardly keep track of them. One fact remained clear, though: Finnick would attempt to kill her at midnight.

He had to be planning it. There was no other reason for his sudden lack of affection and awareness. He was preparing himself for the end. He wanted to make it easier on himself when he attempted to pierce the trident through her chest. Did he plan this all along?

A hand clapped on her shoulder.

Bex moved away instantly. But it was just Peeta. He put his hands up.

"Just wanted to ask if you were okay," he said.

"Um – yes," she answered. Peeta eyed her shaky hand as it pushed hair behind her ears. "I'm fine."

As Beetee paced around the tree, checking that every piece was wrapped tight, Bex sat by the edge of their camp. Her chin was placed on the handle of her axe. She studied the wire that Katniss had dragged back to the beach. Sometimes it would jolt, indicating that it had gotten caught on something, before going still. She swallowed and tried focusing on the burn making its way up her throat. Peeta stood behind her, staring blankly at the spot where Katniss last looked at him.

Bex's brain felt fried. All she kept thinking about was water, food, and Finnick.

"We need to go soon," she exclaimed, voice quivering. "It's almost midnight."

Maybe once they left to go meet up with the rest of the group, Bex could sulk into the shadows, never to be found again. She could use the trees as her friend again, hiding within a hollow trunk. Finnick wouldn't be able to find her.

"Just a bit longer," Beetee answered.

It was then, in the dead of night, that Bex heard a sharp snap. The wire went slack in the dirt. A scream followed in the distance.

Bex got to her feet and held her axe tightly. Peeta was clearly thinking the same thing as he went to stand beside the older Victor.

"That sounded like Katniss," he whispered.

Bex hesitated, trying to control her breathing. "Beetee," she called without turning back, "something's wrong."

Beetee sighed, "We'll leave soon."

Katniss screamed again. It sounded closer this time.

Bex spun around to face Beetee. He was leaning against the tree, brows shooting up to his hairline. She growled through clenched teeth, "Something's wrong. I'm not going to continue to sit here and do nothing."

"But –"

Peeta grabbed her arm. "We need to go find them. I'll get Katniss. You find Finnick."

Bex wasn't sure if she wanted to find Finnick, but something in her yearned to just be near him again. It was strange how just one kiss could connect to people together, making them do things that they never once thought of before their lips brushed. Bex wasn't thinking correctly. She didn't want to know what plan Finnick had up his sleeve. She didn't want to feel his blood on her hands or have to see her own on his. But she still followed Peeta in the jungle, searching for the Golden Boy in a sea of darkness.

Beetee shouted for them to come back. But they were already running, too far away to return.

Dark clouds began to cover the moon. Bex looked up to the sky as she ran. They were heading for the lightning tree, where Beetee was still under. She stopped short, knowing she should turn around and warn him. Electricity crackled in the clouds – a premonition of what was to come. She needed to keep going, though. Something was tugging her forward, as if she was tethered to Finnick's presence.

When she turned back to find Peeta, he was already gone. She whirled around in a circle and realized she was completely on her own now. And lost.

A large leaf came out in front of her as she took a step forward. Bex didn't miss it. She cut through it with her axe before the leaf could smack her right in the face. She cut down another, and another, venturing forward as creatures howled from the treetops. Sweat beaded on her forehead. She called out, "Who's there?"

Another step forward. A branch swung out. She sliced through it.

"Finnick!" She shrieked, her voice reaching new volumes. "Finnick, is that you?!"

Then came another branch, but as Bex cut this one away, Finnick emerged from the shadows, out of breath. His eyes were wide and frantic.

His suit was covered in blood.

Bex immediately pointed her weapon in his direction. He stopped a few feet away, one hand up in surrender. The other was clutching his trident.

"Bex," he breathed out her name like he was seeing heaven. Maybe he was. It felt like a relief to see her, despite the twisted expression on her face or the frenzy reflecting in her eyes. "You're supposed to stay with Beetee and Peeta."

Her hands were still shaking, but Bex's stance didn't waver. The blade was aimed directly at his throat. They both knew that if she were to throw it, there's no way in hell she'd miss.

"And you're supposed to be with Katniss," she reminded. "Where is she?"

"Brutus and Enobaria. They attacked and split us up." Finnick's stare was trained on the axe. "Why are you still pointing that at me?"

Bex didn't move an inch.

Slowly, Finnick placed his surrendering hand on his side. He then began to crouch down with his weapon. "I'm going to put my trident on the ground –"

Bex jabbed the axe in his direction, causing Finnick to spring up again. His back went stiff as a board. "That doesn't sound like the truth," she spat.

His brow furrowed. "Are you hallucinating? You must need water. I'll get you some as soon as we kill the Careers and get out –"

"Where's Katniss?" Bex demanded. "Tell me the truth."

"I'm telling you the truth!" He took one step forward. He was sure if he walked faster, she'd put the axe down. So he did just that, approaching the blade swiftly, but Bex didn't move. She didn't even tell him to get back. "Bex –"

She shook her head. Water gathered in her eyes, but she didn't cry. "No. It's all a lie." She jabbed the blade again, but Finnick stepped away just before it could pierce his suit. Her eyes were wild with fury and fresh tears. He wasn't sure if he'd make it out of this. But they had to. There wasn't much time left –

"You should be an actor," she continued. "You certainly had me fooled. This relationship was fake the whole time, but that kiss was real. I swear it was. I cared about you. That was real too. But you were the one who was always fake. You knew exactly what to do to keep the audience entertained. You've been planning how to kill me the entire time, haven't you?"

"No, no. Of course, not." he shook his head frantically. Time was ticking. Thunder got louder. His breathing was quick and distressed. "Bex, you're dehydrated. You're hallucinating."

Her jaw clenched. Her mind felt like it was freezing over, completely numb. "I'm fine."

"I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not your enemy." He then crouched for the shortest second, dropping his trident. It collided with the wet dirt. "See?"

Bex's wide eyes flickered from him to the trident. She heaved quickly.

"Remember who the real enemy is, Bex. I don't want you to die."

She blinked. Her black stare had never looked so eery until that moment, when the moon reflected in her dark pools. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she stared at him, finally believing his words.

Bex slowly let the axe fall.

"You say the relationship was fake the whole time," he continued, and the weapon lowered even more, "but it never was for me. I've cared about you since I visited District Seven, when you showed me the real Bex Nassar. Not the stupid Flower Girl that everyone else sees. I know the real you. You made me feel again."

The axe slipped from her grip.

Bex didn't even feel the tears gliding down her face. She felt entirely numb, but she knew they were there. Hot, wet tears ran through the dirt still caked on her skin, and she wiped them away with blood-stained hands before closing the short distance between her and Finnick. Her body collided into his like a turbulent storm. The blood covering him didn't matter anymore. She could smell it, but it was almost like it didn't exist. Thunder echoed in the distance as she wrapped her arms around his shoulder blades, hugging him tightly. His suit absorbed every tear that soiled the fabric.

"It's okay," he whispered, brushing a hand down her hair.

"No, it's not," she argued. "I am hallucinating. I have to be. I almost killed you –"

Finnick kissed the top of her head, silencing her worries. "You didn't. It doesn't matter. We have to find Katniss –"

"PEETA!"

The two Victors turned to look over Bex's shoulder. "Found her," she muttered.

They needed to get farther away from the tree, but that suddenly didn't matter. Katniss' scream came from that direction. Lightning trailed them, sizzling within the clouds. The storm would be coming in minutes. Maybe even less than that. They needed to get as far away from here as possible, but not without Katniss. Not without the Mockingjay.

Sparks filtered in the air, and through the trees, Bex could see a body flying back. And then, a cannon fired.

"PEETA!" Katniss screamed again. "WHERE ARE YOU?!"

They were close, but the storm was even closer. The black clouds gathered over the tree. The strike was coming. Bex could see Katniss' dark figure pacing around the tree before kneeling in front of something. Within seconds, Finnick and Bex appeared from the jungle, pushing several branches out of their way.

Katniss' stance had changed so quickly in those few moments. When they stopped short at the tree, she already had an arrow nocked on her bow. But something was connected to the end of it. A wire. The same one attached to the lightning tree.

Beetee was shivering on the ground. Bex wanted to grab him, pull him away, but Finnick's arm was blocking her path.

"Katniss!" Bex called at the top of her lungs. "What are you doing?!"

For a split second, Katniss met Bex's eyes from over her shoulder. The arrow was still nocked, now pointed towards the sky. Bex wasn't sure if she could hear her correctly. But then Katniss' lips moved, and she could've sworn she whispered, "Remembering who the real enemy is."

"No!" Finnick ran out to tackle Katniss to the ground. "Katniss, get away from that tree –"

It was too late. Katniss had let the arrow fly. It was soaring towards the sky as lightning pierced the tree. Sparks flared in the air and sent them all back. Bex's spine was thrown against a tree and she heard a deafening crack. It was one of the worst things she'd ever felt.

"FINNICK!" Bex had been reaching for him, but she never grasped his arm. She couldn't remember even feeling his hand.

And then, her whole vision went black.

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A/N: I hope y'all are as ready as I am for act iii! MOCKINGJAY here we come 🙌🏻