FORTY SIX

LIFE AND DEATH

The bullet hit the target dead in the chest. Talia lowered the gun and looked down the range at the metal target. Not bad. She'd been working for the last two days on her shooting. President Coin had pushed back the travel to District 2 after Katniss had awoken and expressed her want to go to District 2 herself. There was still no progress with Peeta, but they hoped to use a childhood friend, Delly, to try and remind him of who he is.

"I don't think I could ever be that good," Finnick says from beside her. He was waiting for his turn with the gun. He wasn't good at all, honestly, but Talia wasn't going to tell him that. She was spending time with him after all- which was limited because of Coin's regimes.

"You have other strengths," Talia says, smiling. She hands him the gun. He steps forwards and aims.

10 rounds later and he's only managed to hit the targets abdomen once. The rest miss.

"Yeah...I'm going to give up," Finnick mutters, passing the gun back, chuckling, "I'll stick to my trident,"

"You did well," She lies. She knows he knows she's lying, but neither of them care. They could barely look away from each other, both of them still in awe that they were even in the same District, let alone only inches from each other.

"Beetee mentioned that you're going to District 2? When Katniss is ready for travel?" Finnick asks, leaning against the wall. Talia lets out a sigh. They both knew Finnick wouldn't be allowed to join her.

"Yeah, thats the plan," She says, putting the gun on the rack. She was bored of it already. Her hands shake slightly. She quickly shoves them in her pockets hoping Finnick doesn't notice. He does.

"And then what? The Capitol advancement?" He asks. He pushes off the wall and leads the way to where Beetee's desk is.

"I guess so...Unless Coin wants me kept in the Districts- but I can't see that happening...After all, she doesn't care if I die, as long as the precious Mockingjay lives," She says, a slight hint of laughter in her voice. In a way, she wouldn't mind staying back in the Districts- she had to think of not just herself, but also the baby growing inside of her...The baby Finnick still had no idea about.

"Well, I care," Finnick says, "She can't control you, Talia, surely you know that...You don't have to do what she wants you to do...We can...We can leave, go back to District 4...Or somewhere new...I'd follow you anywhere,"

Talia smiles softly. What a life that would be, to go anywhere in Panem you wanted and settle. Her and Finnick could raise their little family. Her own family would be there, perhaps they'd have neighbouring houses. A world without the Games. It seemed impossible, but it was the very thing they were fighting for. Talia knew she couldn't leave until the war was done- it was just who she was. Always striving to finish whats been started.

"We can't," She says sadly. Finnick's mouth quirks into a frown before he forces a smile.

"I know," He replies. They reach Beetee's desk, where he's sat messing with a radio.

"Any news?" Talia asks. She kept her eyes off Finnick and the obvious heartbreak that was written over his face.

"Nothing much, District 2 rebels are planning another attack, but...Its tough to break through the defences of the Nut- the mountain where the weapon stores are, where the Capital allies have decided to stow themselves," Beetee shrugs, he looks between Talia and Finnick, then settles his gaze on the radio again. "Do you still plan on going?"

"I do...Though i'm not sure Finnick can join me," Talia says. She hears Finnick let out a deep sigh.

"I'm going to ask Coin to join her,"

Talia turns her head to look at Finnick, "You can't...You're not healthy enough-"

"And who says you are? Have you had a medical examination since you saw Rossan get killed? Has anyone told you that your shaking hands and panic attacks are all related to post-traumatic stress?" Finnick asks, "Everyone here isn't healthy enough to fight in this war, but everyone is doing it anyway, because people are willing to risk everything, even their very lives, to overthrow President Snow, to get rid of these games, to stop people from starving to death,"

Talia and Beetee stare at Finnick in awe for a moment before Beetee lets out a long sigh. "Perhaps you both should consider staying here, District 2 is the only District left still resisting us...It'll be a tough fight once we break through the Nut's defences, they have many weapons that we could only dream of,"

"But imagine when we get those weapons, Beetee, we'll actually have a chance against the Capitol," Talia says, she shakes her head then, and turns to Finnick, "I'm going to District 2, whether you're with me or not,"

"Fine," Finnick shrugs. Talia's and Finnick's wristbands both beep. They both look at them and see Coin's name on it, alongside the word meeting. "We best get going, see you soon Beetee,"

"See you soon," Beetee says, smiling softly towards them both as they walk away towards the elevator.

The lift takes them upwards towards the usual places Coin held her meetings. Talia silently wondered what this one would be about. Perhaps they were finally sending people to District 2. Herself and Finnick walk side by side along the corridor's, passing people who moved swiftly out the way of them. Everyone had a new found respect for Talia since she'd went to the Capitol and helped rescue the Victor's.

Talia leads the way into the meeting room. Sat at the table are the usual people- President Coin, Plutarch Heavensbee, Commander Boggs and the District 4 rebel group. On the screen, a video is waiting to be played. From the still image, Talia can tell that its the District 4 Square.

"Please, take a seat," Coin says, a tight lipped smile on her face. Talia slides into the seat directly opposite Coin's, Finnick taking one to her left, beside Jim.

"We received this video from some rebels within District 4, we thought you should both see it," Plutarch says, gesturing to the screen in front of them. He pressed a button and the video starts playing.

Its shaky footage, and the audio is crackly. It pans up, and on the stage of the Justice Building are three bodies, tied to posts, all of them dead, or nearly dead. Above them, painted onto the walls of the building, in red, the word "traitors".

The footage zooms in and focuses on a small group of heavily armed Peacekeepers throwing gasoline under the bodies. The camera moves and focuses on the faces. Rossan's long dead body is in the centre, puffy and pale and covered in blood from the gunshots. Either side of him, Talia's parents. The room is so silent you could hear a pin drop.

One of the Peacekeepers throws a match down onto the floor and the flames being licking at the clothes of the bodies. No one can tell if her parents are alive. Then the camera moves to focus on Talia's father, his eyes are wide and you can just make out his mouth moving. The person filming mutters something to someone else. "Whats he saying?"

"Long live my Pearl," The second person responds. Talia's father keeps repeating the words, his voice getting louder as the flames get closer to his face.

"LONG LIVE MY PEARL!"

The audio cuts off just as gun fire can be heard rattling through the District Square.

All eyes turn to Talia. No one can form words. Talia just stares at the ended video on the screen. Her hands shake against the table- she can't tell whether its anxiety, rage or sorrow causing it; perhaps its all three.

Finnick's hands reaches out and takes her hands in his, his tanned fingers gently stroking the backs of her scarred, bruised hands. "I'm so sorry, Talia," He whispers quietly.

Talia blinks away from the screen and to Finnick's sea green eyes. They were filled to the brim with tears that threatened to spill. Talia couldn't muster a single one. She turns to President Coin.

"Send me to District 4. Or District 2. Hell, even send me to the damn Capitol. Send me somewhere there are Capitol soldiers fighting to keep the Games alive, to keep the President alive. Send me somewhere I can lay waste to whatever people will have aided in murdering Rossan, in murdering my parents. I can't sit in this bunker any longer doing nothing at all. You call me the Pearl of Panem, well let me be that. Let me fight for what is right for Panem. Let me help end the Hunger Games. Let me kill President Coriolanus Snow,"

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👁👄👁

pls forgive me 👉🏻👈🏻

~chloe❤️