"My brother knows these tunnels really well." Castor spoke for his avoxed brother, leading them all down underground. Roz rubbed her chest, having difficulty breathing down here. "He worked sanitation down here. Right after they made him and Avox."

"Hey." Zoya whispered to Roz when she took a look at her state of her panicky . "You okay?"

She inhaled deeply. "Fine."

In Roz's games, she spent a large amount of her time trapped in a tiny cave that had fallen ontop or her. Small spaced hadn't been her best friend, and being underground caused oxygen to thicken, reminding her of the times she struggled the most. Pollux seemed to be having the same issue, his breathing shaky as his brother talked him down gently.

They all watched him walk forward as his brother lingered back. "Took us five years to buy his way out of here. He didn't see the sun once."

Peeta watched Zoya walk with Katniss, he looked to Roz. "Try to breath through your mouth."

"What?" she looked over at him.

"Your mouth." the blonde repeated. "It feels better then through your nose. Feels like you're getting more oxygen."

Roz nodded, swallowing as she tried it. It indeed did help, traveling to her lungs and not making her feel so trapped. She looked over at Peeta as he kept watched Zoya stay near the front, seemingly protecting Katniss. "She really cares about you, you know?"

Peeta blinked as he looked over at her. "I know she does."

"She's never had anyone like you before. A lover ." Roz admitted to Peeta again. "You gotta make it through this. If not for yourself then for her."

A train passing scared each of them, running to hide behind the wall quickly. Katniss looked back to make sure Roz and Zoya had been okay, Zoya reaching to take Peetas hand in hers. Pollux lead them away, realizing they indeed had been too exposed in the area.

"Katniss!" Zoya caught up with her, pointing up. "We'll be safer above."

Katniss nodded, going up the latter first as they all followed. She held the hollow. "Looks clear."

"I'll lead." Zoya spoke, because she was good at that. Katniss knew it, Zoya was always the leader type. She saved her and Peeta a number of times in their first games, as well as in the Quarter Quell. Truth was, she was hoping Zoya would lead her through all the darkness, she just knew she was too focused on Peetas sake to realize it. But, with Roz with him now, she seemed to take control once again.

"Down here." Zoya went down a narrow, alley like, entrench. They all gasped when air flew from above them, hitting each of them loudly.

"Everybody okay?" Jackson called.

"Just an underground procedure!" Zoya called to the group. "We're good, just stay close."

"Lead the way, Z." Finnick teased her, getting an eye roll. "Was that attitude?"

"Was that attitude?" she mocked him, shoving his shoulder. He shoved her back. Katniss wanted to smile at them, their friendship. Katniss always assumed Finnick was one of the most important people in Zoyas life. Peeta came first she figured, then Roz, but Finnick was third. Finnick was always third. The way he loved her, Katniss had never seen a bond quite like their own. They didn't let the capitol ruin what they had, unlike her and Peeta, they stayed strong and close through it all.

"Oh, right up your alley." Zoya hummed as they all walked through water now. "Maybe there's a fish."

"I'm hoping that was sarcasm." Finnick spoke, Zoya looked back to check on Peeta for the fifth time. "He's fine."

"He's not fine." she shook her head. "I'm worried about him."

"We're all worried. But you're all that he needs right now." Finnick looked down at her. "The more normal you treat him, the better he's gonna see that he's still got you. Just, keep that in mind."

Zoya nodded. "To be fair, i've always kinda babied him."

"Oh, yeah. I know." he cracked a grin. "I'm rooting for the two of you, if you were wondering. You're good together, he loves you."

"I love him." she nodded.

They came across a higher ground, dryer. "Let's stop here for a while to get some rest, dry off, warm up."

"Yeah." Katniss agreed, taking her knives as she jumped up first. "Here."

"Thanks." Zoya secured them around her waist more, going deeper into the space as everyone followed. She waited for Peeta, moving over as he curled up next to her. Zoya held one of his cuffed hands, crossing her legs to try and provide more warmth to them.

"I'll take first watch." Jackson called back.

"Make way, gang." Finnick groaned as he sat down on the other side of Peeta. "Cozy."

"Hard to breath." Roz corrected from across them.

"Oddly warm." Zoya hummed. "Aside my legs."

"Quiet." Katniss blinked.

Peeta realized it was his turn. "Still."

"We need a little still, I think." Zoya nodded, inhaling as she laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm out like a fish in District Four."

"That was horrible." Finnick shook his head, but it made Peeta crack a grin, and that's what she was trying to do all along. He turned his head to kiss her forehead, Zoya was content then as she took the moment to fall asleep.

Though, she assumed she hadn't been out long when she was gasping at the sound of Peetas yells. "Mutts! They released Mutts!"

"Katniss!" Roz yelled in a panic, getting out of the slot first.

"Pollux, what's the fastest way out?" Katniss asked as they all hurried out one by one.

"Jackson, give me the key." Zoya looked as her quickly, speaking fast. She was hesitant. "If we get hit he's not gonna be able to defend himself cuffed so give me the damn key!"

She gave it to her, Peeta held his hands out as she uncuffed him. He took her hand quickly, taking a breath. "We have to get out of here."

"We will." Zoya promised, following the group quickly as Pollux lead them. Gale shot a fire arrow to the end of the tunnel, giving them an idea where they were headed and how far.

"You two stay infront of me." Finnick encouraged the couple, Roz looked back to make sure they had been okay. Gale shot another arrow, they were close, coming across a small opening.

"Glad we skipped breakfast." Zoya tried to make a joke as she climbed through first. "Also glad i'm a little flat."

"Zoya." Peeta sighed.

"Sorry, not the time." she climbed through fully, reaching her hand back to take his as he got through. Finnick next. Jackson was the last to come, turning back to check behind her a moment.

The Mutts attacked, taking her with them.

"Go!" Finnick yelled, the group all running fast. It was hard in the water, but they managed. Finnick pushed Peeta and Zoya infront of him again.

"Pollux, lead us out of here!" Cressida called as the man lead them to what they hoped was a safety route. Peeta latched onto Zoyas hand in panic, she squeezed back.

"Come on!" Gale encouraged, the group making it only so far before the Mutts caught up with them, sinking their razor sharp teeth into Jasper.

"Jasper!" Cressida called out in panic. She took her gun out, shot it at the ones she could as Gale lit the place up, giving them light.

"Z, go!" Finnick pushed her forward, keeping her infront of him at all cost. Zoya pulled a knife from her waist band, keeping it secure in her palm as what was left of the group made it out of the thin tunnel, now in an open space. Pollux pointed up the latter to indicate that was their route to safety.

"Zoya!" Peeta called out when a Mutt grabbed hold of him. She yelled out, swinging around and throwing her knife, almost grazing Peetas ear as it went through the Mutts head. She grabbed his arm, pulling him with her as Katniss fired an arrow when they were out of the shot.

"All angles!" Roz called when the Mutts started to swarm them.

"Roz, duck!" Zoya called, seeing one lung for her. She fell into the water, Zoya running over and body slamming the Mutt, stabbing it multiple times. She reached down, pulling Roz up. "You okay?"

Roz coughed from the water, holding her face as she nodded quickly. They looked over to see Peeta yank a Mutt from getting to Katniss, having it ontop of him. Katniss kicked it off, only for one to wrap around her. Roz ran forward, her arm around its neck as she stabbed it.

"Peeta!" Zoya called when one had been trying to drag him into the water. She lunged for him, only for Peeta to get yanked into the water. "No!"

As she reached in, a Mutt flew up and attacked her. Zoya yelled out when it began to over power her, too strong. A trident pierced its body, yanking it free. Finnick latched onto her hand and yanked her up. "Get Peeta and get out of here, now!"

"Don't be far behind!" Zoya yelled to him before diving into the water, finding Peeta still trying to hold off the Mutt. She stabbed it in the side of the head, pulling him up. "Go, up the latter!"

"Come with me!" Peeta yelled, knowing she'd linger back. "Please!"

Zoya nodded, climbing up after him as they made it to the top. Cressida and Pollux helped them up, Zoya leaned over and grabbed Roz's hand. "Who's left?"

"Katniss, Finnick, and Gale. They said to find an opening before it started to crowd up." she caught her breath.

"I can see light." Peeta spoke to Zoya.

"Pollux?" Zoya looked at him, he nodded his head, letting her lead the group to the small light that was provided at the end of the opened. Zoya pushed through, holding the door as the others followed. She looked down the dark tunnel. "Katniss, Finnick, Gale!"

Gale ran their way first, making his way out. "They're right behind me."

Zoya looked down the dark tunnel, they were taking too long. Peeta grabbed her before she could go. "Don't go."

"They might need help." she stared at him. "Please."

"Please." he repeated her words, giving her a begging look. "Don't go."

She couldn't leave him, so she didn't.

A loud boom went from in the tunnel, making them all gasp. Roz gave a shaky breath. "Katniss!"

"Roz!" Katniss yelled, running through the tunnel and making it out to her. Roz hugged her tightly, two seconds of think she was dead the worst two seconds she'd ever felt.

Zoya waited for him, but he wasn't showing up.

"Finnick?" Zoya looked down the tunnel. Nothing. She looked to the group, scanning them over, thinking she missed him.

"Zoya, i'm sorry." she realized now that Katniss was crying.

No. No. No.

"No." Zoya shook her head, she couldn't believe that. "No!"

She tried to go down the tunnel, but Peeta grabbed her to keep her back, knowing it would only kill her too. Zoya sobbed as she tried to fight him off. "No! No! Let me go, no! Finnick! He's not dead, he's not dead! He needs me, Peeta! Let me go! Let me go!"

"Shhh, shh." Peeta held her tightly as she started to sob, her body weight sunk as they fell to the ground. Zoya leaned forward as she cried, yelling out as she gripped her head. Peeta leaned over her to comfort her, trying to at least. But, what could you do for someone who just lost their best friend? Their rock.

"No." Zoya whispered as the puddle of her tears forward on the floor beneath her. "No."

"Looks like it's just me and you."  a younger boy walked into the back room, they were coming back from the capitol. His hair was blonde, skin a golden tan. "Double the guilt food, right?"

Zoya didn't want to talk, her capitol experience silencing her enough.

"First time?" he asked, sitting next to her, but keeping his distance. Zoya gave a small nod. "It gets a little easier each time you show up."

Zoya looked up at him. "How could any of this get easier?"

"Get use to it, I guess." he shrugged at her. "Some reward for winning the games, right?"

Zoya swallowed, looking out of the train. "I think i'm gonna kill myself when I get home."

The scary part was, she was completely serious.

"Well..." he shrugged. "I'd really rather you not. Cause then i'd be on the train alone from now on."

Zoya turned her head to look at him. "I forgot your name. I'm sorry."

"Finnick." he held his hand out to her. "That's some brain you've got. The berries."

Zoya nodded. "I'm Zoya."

He grinned. "So, how about we stay alive just so we don't have to be alone in these train rides, okay?"

He held his hand out to her, Zoya almost smiled as she took it. "Okay."

She cried in Peetas arms now, he held her tightly. Her chest was tight, her body didn't feel real as the memory over flooded her. Out of all the moments she had with Finnick, that's what came to her. "I'm alone."

She was alone on the train, even though he's the one they kept her alive  and there in the first place.

•

kylie speaks

took me three weeks
to update just because
i was dreading tf out of
this chapter. hearts broken.
will never recover from them.