· 。ﾟ☆: *.☽
▎ RUINS ▎
»»————-　act three. from the ashes
FORTY SIX ━━ no escape from reality

I wish I could say I am a flame that never
goes out, but I flicker from time to time

- unknown

     THE SUN HAD LONG AGO DISAPPEARED BEHIND THE TALL BUILDINGS THAT REMAINED STANDING IN THE CAPITOL, and the darkness that loomed over them didn't make anyone feel safe in what way whatsoever. Katniss had volunteered to watch over Peeta, but in some way, Erin felt anxious as she rested her head against Finnick's chest and closed her eyes to try to go to sleep. But as the two tuned in on the hushed voices of the former district twelve residence's neither could idly sit by as the conversation went on and both pushed themselves up to look at the blonde boy.

    "I'm sorry." Peeta breathed out, eyes casted to the ground solembly, "I just can't tell what's real and what's made up anymore."

    Erin's hard expression softens, thoughts of Annie and her brother coming to mind as she leans forward a bit to look better at Peeta. "Then ask." She suggested calmly, her voice holding understanding in its tone, "Annie does the same with my brother."

    "Ask who?"

     "Us, we're your unit now." Commandor Jackson joined the conversation, eyes focused on the boy, sincerity swirling in them.

    Peeta does not reply, instead focuses his attention to his clasped hands, only soft sounds of crickets and the evening breeze filling the room, before he finally decided to speak up again.

    "You're favorite color it's green-"

     It's such a simple question, Erin thinks, innocent even and the fire in her stomach burns even brighter with hate for Snow. The simplest things are nothing but a vague memory to Peeta, memories and lies he can't even tell apart anymore and it breaks her heart.

    "- is that real?"

     Katniss takes a moment, probably coming to the same conclusion as Erin did, "Yes it is. Yours is orange "She paused for a moment, trying to gather her swirling thoughts, "Not bright orange, soft light the sunset. "

    "Oh... thank you." Peeta nods curtly before looking away from her.

     "You're a painter, you're a baker. "Katniss suddenly continued, gaining everyone's attention once more. "You always sleep with the windows open, you never take suger in your tea. You always--" Her voice cracks as tears gather in her eyes as the last words leave her lips in a breathless whisper, "Always double-knot your shoelaces."

    Erin watched concerned as Katiss became more distressed by the second, nervously fidgeting as she stared at the boy she loved- no loves even.

    "You're right." The Girl on Fire suddenly admits, the declaration hangs in the air, but Erin does not understand the meaning of it as Katniss stood up hurriedly to sit somewhere else, "I can't do this."

    Not long after, everything seemed to quiet down a bit, like everyone simultaneously decided to call it a night. Soft snores are coming from somewhere else in the room, but Erin could not find it in herself to fall asleep at that time, thoughts running haywire as she stared at the solemn grey ceiling above her like they held all the answers.

     "Why are you still awake?"

     Erin turned her head slightly, hazel meeting ocean blue and she frowned, "Just can't sleep I guess." she said softly.

     Finnick expression softened as he pushed a stray piece of hair away from her face, before letting his hand rest on her cheek. She closed her eyes for a seconed, enjoying the warmth and comforting gesture as she placed her own hand over his.

     "What are you thinking about?" He wondered softly.

     "Too much." She bit the inside of her cheek nervously, "mostly about how this is gonna end."

    "It's gonna be alright," Finnick assured her, "we're gonna ride this out together and when everything is over we'll get a nice house by the beach." He paused for a moment, "Maybe a couple kids?"

    Her eyes snap up in surprise, but she can't help to smile at his worried expression as she brings him in for a passionate kiss and they melt together perfectly.

    "I would love nothing more." She whispered resting her forehead against his.

   She rests a little easier that night with dreams of hopeful futures.

WITH DAWN CAME ONCE MORE, A NEW DAY AND LIKE ALWAYS the unit was up an moving when the sun came peaking through the grey curtains of clouds.

    "Listen up!" Boggs called out to gain everyones attention as he held a gun up for everyone to see, "mag's empty. It's only for the propo." He instructed, before handing the seemingly loaded (not so loaded) gun to Peeta who reluctantly took it from the man.

    "Let's move, we're headed five blocks north." He stated, before leading the way out of the building with swift long strides.

    "It's gonna be okay." Erin whispered when she noticed Katniss' shocked face as her gaze was transfixed on Peeta. "He can't hurt anyone alright."

   "Alright." The raven haired girl nodded, but her voice still sounded unsure as the two of them walked outside to follows Boggs, who was holding the Holo out in front of him to detect any dangers coming their way.

    Behind them, Finnick and Peeta were talking in hushed voices as the former district fourth inhabitant held a small notebook in his hand with Peeta's speech for the propo on it.

    "To the citizens of the Capitol, our war is not with you." Finnick began, waiting for the younger man to repeat it back to him.

    "To the citizens of the Capitol our was is not with you."

    "You will be a vital part in the democracy that follows our victory."

    "You will be a vital part in the democract that follows our victory."

     "You got it." Erin looked over her shoulder, sending the boy a bright smile.

    "Thanks." He breathed out shyly, before directing his gaze elsewhere again as the took a sharp right into a small allyway before a larger courtyard came into view. Once again the buildings looked like they could fall apart any second as Erin observed the dozen cracks running down the walls.

     "Boggs!" Cressida called out, pushing herself to the front of the group. "This is a good spot." She continued when she had his attention, "Down there through the courtyard."

     The dark skinned man nodded silently, before turning to the rest of the unit. "Let's clear it." He instructed, already walking down the stone strairs. The group had barely passed through a stone archway, when the Holo started to beep warnings.

     "I got a pod." He confirmed as the beeping started to go faster and faster when the cautiously walked foreward. "Split, take cover." He pointed in to directions.

    Erin gave a reasurring nod towards Finnick as they both went different directions, to hide behind the enormous walls.

     Picking up a small rock from the ground, Boggs warned his team one final time, "Stay back."

    Clenching her fists nervously, Erin held her breath as the man hurled the strone through the gateway, it barely went a meter far before huge guns appeared from both sides of the wall, shooting bullets left and right, dust and smoke in the air, while pieces of broken stone bounced around.

     With wide eyes, Erin looked at Finnick who sat at the other side as the bullets continued to rain down on them, and the archway they previously walked through, collapsed with a loud bang.

     Silence followed after that, and the brunette let a shaky breath past her lips as she stood back to her full height.

     "Gale, Holmes. With me." Boggs motioned for the two soldiers, "Leeds take the wings."

    Erin it her lip, as the soldiers moves foreward, Boggs taking the lead, but her attention was caught by Peeta across, from her, who was shaking on the ground, softly banging his head against the end of his unloaded gun, mutter unrecognisable words under his breath.

     Suddenly, before she could blink, a thunderous explosion echoed throughout the courtyard and within seconds, Katniss rushed towards it. "Katniss! no wait!" She tried to graps her arms, but the determinend woman easily evaded her hand.

    "Erin? What are you doing!" Finnick called after her, when she ran after Katniss, eyes widened at the sight of Boggs, laying on the ground, both leggs blown apart in the explosion.

    Her hand immediately flew to her mouth, as she tried to hide the loud gasp escaping her lips, and she staggered back a few steps where Finnick luckily caught her before she tripped.

     But it seemed, the worse was yet to come, when one of the twins stepped on a hidden pod, the exists closed off and in those few silents moments after they were trapped inside the courtyard Erin felt truly like this was the end.

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