CHAPTER EIGHT!

UNLIKELY ALLIES.

HER HANDS SHAKE ANXIOUSLY as she awaits the finish of the countdown, her eyes flying around at the others around her. Who, other than Reed, can she really trust here? Whilst she is friends with Finnick and she somewhat tolerates Peeta, she has no idea whether or not she can actually trust they will not kill her the moment she turns her back. Once again, her gaze returns to the timer as it counts down. 

5.

She clenches her fists as the second ticks away.

4.

She takes a deep breath.

3.

She gazes at Reed one last time.

2.

She prepares herself for the coolness of the water.

1. 

She leans forward slightly.

0.

Her body dives off the platform before she can even comprehend what she's doing. The splash is loud and she manages to paddle through the water, no grace in the way she's swimming in the slightest but that doesn't bother her. The last thing she's concerned about is being judged for the way she swims. Instead, she moves as fast as she can, wanting to reach the cornucopia before some of the others do.

As she reaches the land, her arms struggle to pull her weight up, the rocky material imbedding itself in her prone skin and causing discomfort — discomfort is not something she can afford. Emori manages to pull herself up, the water drenching bother her outfit and hair, droplets sliding down her face as if they're tears. It's almost symbolic, as if they represent the days she's spent at home crying over her brother — the days that will become more tolerable when Katniss Everdeen meets her end.

Emori rushes to the cornucopia and picks up several knives and a contraption that looks like a belt, something she will be able to hold them in. As she turns around, she catches a glimpse of blonde hair, her knife ready to be thrown. Cashmere stands before her with her hands up in almost surrender, giving the younger girl a small nod. She can only imagine that Brutus has asked his District One allies to keep the girl alive. Emori manages a small nod back before she hurls the knife slightly to the girl's left, the weapon embedding itself into the chest of the District Five male who tumbles to the ground. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, a shaky breath before continuing on her way.

That man had a family. He may have had a wife and children, the ones who thought their father and husband would be around until he died of old age — like he should have rather than being thrown back into the arena. She cannot dwell on it any longer, being distracted will get her killed.

She runs to the other side of the cornucopia and almost laughs when she sees who's there. The Girl On Fire. The girl pulls a knife and watches as Katniss loads her bow, ready to shoot at a moments notice. Emori gives her a small, almost sadistic, smile and launches one of her weapons with precise aim. It grazes the girl's arm and she winces, just moving out of the way in time. As an arrow flies at the blonde, Emori ducks and the arrow lands in the heart of another tribute.

"Where you going, Girl on Fire?" Emori hisses as the girl moves away, the blonde rather quick to follow after her. She can hear others fighting around her and yet she cannot be bothered to look at what is happening.

Katniss manages to dodge the oncoming knife and just as Emori goes to throw another, Finnick shields the girl from twelve which causes Emori to narrow her eyes. Finnick has his trident raised, his eyes focused in on the teenage girl.

"You going to kill me Finn?" Emori questions her friend when she sees the predicament.

"Why would I kill my ally?" Finnick asks and his eyes move over her shoulder, focusing on the brunette who is running up behind her.

"Dammit Emori! I told you not to run off," Reed lectures as he grabs the blonde's face in his hands as if he's surveying her for injuries.

"I found what I was looking for and Finn is in my way," Emori explains to her friend as she pushes his hands away.

"You can't kill her, Mori. She's our ally now," Reed says with a small wince, the deadly glare on her face enough to make him want to run.

"Over my dead body, literally," The blonde deadpans.

"I wanted to ally with Finnick and Finnick is allied to Katniss. We will respect that,"

"Like hell we will!"

Finnick and Katniss don't stick around for their argument, rushing off to find Peeta who is still in the water. Mags is over there with them as Reed picks up a sword from the cornucopia and surveys their surroundings, ready to attack if he has to. He subtly pushes the smaller blonde behind him as a tribute stumbles over, his sword entering their stomach without hesitation. As he pulls it out, the tribute falls forward and bleeds out.

"Reed! Emori! Lets go," Finnick calls and Emori sees that Peeta has now joined them.

Reed grabs Emori's hand and drags her towards the woods where their supposed allies are. The boy can practically feel the anger radiating off his blonde friend as he pulls her alone, he knew that this would not sit well with her. When they're in the clear, Emori pulls away and pushes the boy back viciously.

"You're an idiot! I should kill you right here! Why in the hell would I want to be around her?" Emori says in an angry tone. Reed winces slightly and once again, grabs her face in his hands.

"If we want to survive, we must have allies and Finn was the best option," he begins only to be cut off.

"The best option? What about Brutus? He wouldn't let me die, Cashmere literally just let me live,"

"I need you to trust me. Have I ever betrayed your trust before, Mori?" He asks.

The two look into each other's eyes as the rest of their group scout ahead a little. Finnick knows that it's best to leave the angry teen in Reed's hands, getting Katniss away from her was his job. Katniss seems less then impressed with the situation.

"We shouldn't be trusting her," Katniss speaks the the three others.

"Reed will calm her down and make her see reason. She's just like you, ok? All she wants is for Reed to be ok, much like you do with Peeta," Finnick explains.

"We'll be fine, Katniss," Peeta tries to assure as Reed and a very grumpy Emori walk up behind them.

"I'm not happy about this, Everdeen but you'll live. For now anyway. When it comes to it, it'll be my knife in your chest and my hand raised in victory," Emori hisses as she pushes by them, Reed sighing as he watches her.

"Real charmer isn't she?" Katniss speaks sarcastically.

NOTE!

We're finally at the Games! I hope you guys are enjoying this story! Thank you for reading!