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KILL FOR YOUR LOVE.

act two.

(chapter twenty-eight, five tributes vs. the arena)

the arena, 75 ADD.

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"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET the Seventy-Fifth Hunger Games begin!"

The sound of Claudius Templesmith's voice echoed around loudly, nearly shattering Juniper's bones as she tried to get her bearings. Something was blinding her eyes, but there was definitely a breeze that danced around her. It wasn't too intense, but it wasn't nice either. 

She had a minute. Juniper had a minute. And she had to find Finnick and Everdeen. But where was Finnick and Everdeen? Where was she even? She couldn't make sense of her surroundings, only seeing white, and could feel the anxiety rising with every thud of the clock. She could also feel something cold lap over her feet. Where was she? As she demanded the question, nearly hissing it, the world slowly came into focus. 

Her metal plate was surrounded by blue waves that danced around her boots, water spreading out in every direction. Blue water. There was a pink sky as Juniper looked up and she realised there was a white-hot sun beating down upon them. So, desperate to find out more before her time ran out, Juniper raised an arm over her eyes to block them from the blinding light and it helped her massively as she spotted the Cornucopia sitting on a circular island in the middle. But radiating from the circle were thin strips of land like spokes on a wheel. There were at least ten-to-twelve of them. And between the spokes was water. Water and a pair of tributes.

Yes. 

There were twelve spokes, each with two tributes balanced on metal plates between them. Juniper looked around to see who she was partnered with and clenched her jaw at the sight of Gloss, who stared at her like she was a creature in need of putting down. But Juniper tried hard to not look at him as she realised something. 

She couldn't swim. 

She didn't have a reason to. There was no possible way she could have had lessons in Ten because there simply was no water deep or big enough for her to swim in. And whenever there were Capitol parties, she would steer clear from pools with the fear of drowning herself lurking over her. But now, she was surrounded by blue waves, all that seemed too rough for Juniper. 

But as she stared at the waves, and then the Cornucopia, she could feel herself becoming faint as everything disappeared from her mind except for one thing. 

Her arena. 

(The silver, shining Cornucopia. The perfect circle of all the other twenty-three tributes. The swampy, thick moat that surrounded their pedestals, reaching all the way to the little island the horn was on)

The blue waves were replaced by the sludgy swamp that once surrounded her three years ago. The golden Cornucopia was replaced with the silver one. The sandy island the horn was on changed to a muddy one. And suddenly, Juniper was transported back in time, back to the Seventy-Second Hunger Games. 

(Their eyes looked soullessly into the sky as their murderers thrashed around with weapons, hunting the rest as they scavenged for supplies. But as Juniper reached up, her hand clinging onto the slimy, thick mud, it distracted her)

The design of the Cornucopia, of the pedestals, of the island were a near replica of the Seventy-Second Hunger Games. And as Juniper realised this, as she began to pant, the sharp smell of salt making her gag, she figured Plutarch had a death wish. There was a reason he did it. Was it to test her? Was it to make her seem weak to Panem as she was plagued with the horrors of her past? Or was he simply copying Seneca Crane's design?

Questions tortured her mind as she could feel her heart in her throat, beating vigorously as it threatened to make her puke. Juniper could feel herself becoming light-headed and she was sure Caesar Flickerman and Claudius Templesmith were talking about this on the broadcast. Poor Juniper Hale, seeing the ghosts, seeing the memories. They would bring up footage of the arena three years ago and would make everyone emotional and pity her. 

But those thoughts were shattered by the loud explosion of the gong going off and half of the tributes jumped into the water, Gloss included, but Juniper didn't. She was still standing on her metal plate as she pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to focus on the arena. If she were to jump in, she would surely drown. But that was something she would have to risk. 

So, Juniper dove into the blue waves and was immediately met with a bashing from the roughness of it. Water went right into her ears and nose, blocking up the former and causing a harsh, stinging pain in the latter. The saltiness managed to make its way into Juniper's mouth as she became focused on reaching the sandy spoke. But it was so far and Juniper was struggling as is.

But determination filled her up as she attempted to swim towards the spokes, legs and arms pumping as Juniper tried to ignore the stinging, harsh pains that came from the water and from being battered by the rough waves. So, when Juniper finally reached her hand up to cling onto the sandy strip of land, lifting her head up from the blueness of the water, she let out a gasp of relief. 

Her joints were aching and everything was throbbing as she heaved herself up, coughing as water dripped off of her. Her hair was stuck to her forehead as her ears were blocked, eyes blurry, and nose stinging. Her throat seemed to be dry and was scratchy, but Juniper suddenly realised she was in the bloodbath. She couldn't lay on the sandy spoke and wait for everything to remedy itself. People were dying. Blood was being spilt. So, with this in mind, Juniper picked herself up and began to run down the spoke. 

And as she did, she expected weapons to be swinging everywhere, people dropping dead, but as the water managed to get out of her blurry eyes and as she reached the Cornucopia, she realised that she was the only one there. There was only one body laying on the ground and as Juniper kicked him over to see who it was, she realised it was the drunk man from Five and he had three holes in his chest, all oozing with blood. Finnick. 

But before Juniper could even think about where her friend could be, she heard rapid footsteps from behind her and suddenly, someone caught her shoulders, swinging her onto the ground. The sudden attack caught the woman by surprise, but as she fell to the sand, she caught sight of a metallic blade being raised above her and she had a clear enough head to quickly roll to the side, wincing when the sword clanged beside her. 

"Hale," Enobaria, District Two, sneered. She was towering over her, sword swinging in her grasp as she bared her sharp teeth that were inlaid with gold. 

"Enobaria," Juniper spat back, gasping slightly as she managed to lift her foot up to her chest before kicking the other woman harshly in the shin, making her hiss as she stepped backwards. 

And as Enobaria clutched her leg, it gave Juniper time to pick herself back up, standing on two feet as she swung a fist into Two's temple, causing her to drop. But as she did, she heard the whizz of a spear from behind her and so, she jumped out of the way before Brutus's weapon could embed itself in the back of her head. 

"Are you kidding me?" Juniper panted as she saw Brutus's large figure charge towards her, Enobaria shaking her head in pain as she tried to get up from the sand. 

She knew she was no match for the Career, but she wasn't one to back down from a challenge so as the man bolted towards her, Juniper snatched Enobaria's sword from her and began to ready herself. But it wasn't needed as suddenly, Brutus dropped immediately into the sand without a mere grunt. 

Before Juniper could raise a brow, she saw a well-built, bearded man, who carried an axe and a large cylinder of wire in his hands, something he must have knocked Brutus out with, in-front of her. And as Juniper eyed him, she realised it was Blight, the male tribute from Seven. 

"Are you all right?" Blight asked her, his voice deep and rough with yet a sort of warmness in it. 

Juniper narrowed her eyes at him, wondering why he hadn't killed her yet, but then she realised what Plutarch said. The tributes from Seven were also in on it. And the tributes from Seven must know that she was in on it as well and therefore wouldn't kill her. 

"Yeah, I'm fine." Juniper nodded as she eyed Brutus's limp body. The attack Blight had put on him wouldn't have killed the man and Juniper figured he was unconscious. But Enobaria was still moving and still trying to get up. "What's the wire for? Are you going to garrotte someone?"

"It's not for me." Blight shook his head. He then began to round the Cornucopia, gesturing for her to follow him. "It's for Beetee."

Juniper furrowed her brows as she followed the man and as she did, she narrowed her eyes at the sight of Johanna Mason snapping at two hidden figures. But as Blight and her came closer, the latter saw that Beetee from Three was slouched against the metal of the horn, blood already present on his jumpsuit as a six-inch slash ran from his shoulder blade to below his ribs, his face pale as his eyes threatened to close. 

"Just sit there!" Johanna snapped as she stood up properly. Her eyes narrowed to see the sight of Juniper, but softened when she saw Blight. "He's losing blood. Fucking Enobaria."

"What's up with Nuts?" Juniper asked, seeing that the thin-haired woman was rocking herself beside her district partner. 

"She's in shock, I think." Johanna hissed as she stomped towards them. "Where the hell is Finnick?"

Blight shrugged as he replied, "He must have taken off already with Mags, Katniss, and Peeta."

Johanna swore harshly as she turned around to eye the tributes from Three. "Well, this is just great. Volts is on the brink of death, Nuts is going nuts, and the other four are nowhere to be seen."

Juniper furrowed her brows as she panted, fingers tapping against the hilt of the sword she was holding. If Beetee were to die, then what would happen? Plutarch never said what Beetee's role was in the plan, but to just listen to him. And Juniper didn't know what information he held, but definitely didn't want to risk it. That thought became even more urgent when they heard the clangs of weapons and screams begin to echo around. The bloodbath was still happening.

"We need to get him out of here," Juniper began to hurriedly say as she looked over her shoulder. Two people in blue jumpsuits, tributes she couldn't see from where she stood, were battling it out on a sandy spoke far away. It resulted in one getting pushed into the waves, being drowned as the other tribute held their head underwater. "And we need to find the other four."

"And how do you suggest we do that?" Johanna scoffed. "Wander around until we find them? Because I'm not really in the mood to do that with Nuts being crazy and Volts bleeding out."

"Why do you have Nuts and Volts anyway?" Juniper tested. Did Johanna know to listen to Beetee or did she have other knowledge? Juniper wanted to see. 

"I was told by Haymitch that if me and Blight were to be allies with Everdeen, we would have to bring them to her," Johanna stated. "I got them for her."

Juniper narrowed her eyes as she stared at the woman. She concluded she didn't know what she knew. Plutarch probably told Johanna and Blight that if they brought Beetee and Wiress to Everdeen, they would be rescued. But who was Peeta's protector? He had someone, according to Plutarch, who would keep an eye on him, but who was it? It had to have been Finnick. Juniper was to protect Everdeen, Finnick to protect Mellark. 

"So, shouldn't we find them?" Juniper said. "So you can be allies with Everdeen?"

Johanna narrowed her eyes at Juniper before looking to Blight, who just shrugged. "Fine. But help me with these two."

And so, Blight went to pick up Beetee, who was leaning into the land of unconsciousness, as Juniper and Johanna attempted to cajole Wiress into following them. The mad woman was mumbling to herself, but eventually obliged as she nearly had a fit watching Blight take Beetee away. Juniper figured that wherever Beetee went, Wiress would follow. 

But thoughts about the two's friendship disappeared immediately when they all rounded the corner to find blood splattering everywhere, weapons clanging against each other. Juniper saw all the Careers' fighting the outlier districts and she barely got a glance of Cashmere with her knives before Blight slightly pushed her along, making her follow Wiress and Johanna. And then, they all began to run down a sandy spoke and away from the Cornucopia.

Where the spokes ended, it led onto a narrow beach that was just before the woods. But it wasn't woods. Juniper knew that because the trees were different with smooth trunks and few branches. The earth was very black as well and spongy. It was littered with tangles of vines and bushes of moss. And despite the white-hot sun, the air was warm and heavy with moisture, the thin fabrics of their jumpsuits clinging to them with sweat already. It was a jungle, a word Juniper was sure she had heard from another Hunger Games. 

But despite their unknown surroundings, the four of them remained running. And in that moment, Juniper was thankful to Lucy Stevens to making her train hard the months before the Reaping because she would never had the stamina to climb up the steep hills of the jungle whilst holding a heavy sword and having her hand clamped over Wiress's forearm, dragging her along. But it seemed like Juniper wasn't the only one that trained because Blight didn't seem short of breath as he held Beetee and Johanna had her brows knitted with desperation as she carried Blight's axe and Beetee's wire. It was only when they were sure they were far away from the Cornucopia did the man from Seven request a break. 

"Is there anything we can do to help him?" Blight asked as he peered down at Beetee, whose head was lolling about in the man's grasp as he was carried bridal-style. "He's really pale and I don't think he's opened his eyes since we've left."

"He's probably unconscious," Juniper said as she licked her lips, noticing they were already dry. "Did you say it was Enobaria who did it?"

"Yeah." Johanna scoffed. "When me and Blight got there, Beetee had rushed to that stupid horn to get the wire. Enobaria was already there and slashed him with a knife before she got a sword."

"And you didn't see Finnick or the others when you got there?"

"Nope." Johanna shook her head as she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand. "They had to have left by the time we got there."

Juniper panted as she looked around the foliage. If she were Finnick, where would she be? But that was the thing. She knew Finnick like the back of her hand, but him in the arena was something she had never witnessed. He never spoke about his tactics when it came to fighting 'till one remained. Juniper realised that one year when all the Victors' commented about what their tributes did wrong in the arena and what they would have done personally, but Finnick stayed quiet. He never commented. And so, it was difficult to think about what Finnick would do. But one thing Juniper was sure about was Finnick Odair would protect and care for anyone he was with. 

"Water." Juniper nodded. 

"I beg your what?" Johanna asked.

"Finnick would be near water, most likely."

"And how did you figure that out, genius?" Johanna scoffed as she tried to run a hand through her hair before remembering she was carrying a cylinder of wire and an axe. "Because he's from Four?"

"No." Juniper rolled her eyes. "If Finnick is with others, and most importantly Mags, he would find a water source. It would be the most smartest thing."

"So you're saying if we traipse around this damn jungle to find water, we're gonna find Finnick?" Johanna chuckled. "That's so stupid."

Juniper narrowed her eyes, but Blight nodded as he said, "It makes sense. If Finnick is with others, he would care for them and he would care for them by finding a water source. And it also helps us as well."

"Oh, so you're siding with her?"

"I'm just saying it makes sense, Jo."

Johanna squinted her eyes before muttering something under her breath. She looked from Blight to Juniper, and then to the unconscious body of Beetee, and then to Wiress, inevitably saying, "Fine. Where would the water source be then?"

"... I don't know..." Juniper admitted. "But like Blight said, it makes sense."

"Oh, that's great!" Johanna snapped, causing Wiress to jump in Juniper's grasp. "Well, that's that idea out the damn window!"

"Look, at least I'm thinking of something!" Juniper began to hiss, feeling the familiar rage bubble up. "So calm the hell down."

Johanna eyed Juniper for a slight second before swiftly dropping the cylinder of wire and the axe, heading towards the Hale woman with the intention of slapping her. But whilst Johanna was a fire to be handled with caution, so was Juniper as she managed to catch the woman's wrist, releasing her sword, before Johanna's palm came in contact with her cheek, twisting her arm around her back and forcing it upwards, Johanna's back to her as she merely grunted. 

"Look, I ain't really happy about being with you either, Mason, but we both want to find Finnick so simmer down!"

Johanna tried to struggle away from Juniper, but the woman tightened her grasp on her. All Blight could do was watch as he continued to hold Beetee, Wiress making her way over to him as she became scared at the sudden violence. Juniper was sure the cameras would be zooming in on them, Caesar and Claudius excited by the distrust. 

But the Hale woman was forced to let Johanna go as Blight said carefully, "Juniper, I think Jo gets it."

And so, slowly, Juniper allowed Johanna to wiggle out of her grasp, massaging her arm as she took a few steps backwards. But there was no hint of pain on her face and Juniper knew that because she figured it would take a lot more than a twisted arm to hurt the woman from Seven. 

"Fine." Johanna breathed out a mere laugh, looking at the tribute from Ten with a sense of utter hatred. "We do your plan... but I still think it's stupid."

Picking up the cylinder of wire and the axe, Johanna began to set off, Blight following her with Beetee as he sent Juniper a forced smile. But she didn't reciprocate it as she ran a hand through her short, damp hair as she headed over to Wiress, clasping a hand over her forearm as she bent down to pick up her sword. 

"Come on, Nuts." Juniper groaned as she began to drag her along. 

And as Juniper and Wiress went after Blight and Johanna's disappearing figures, the Hale woman internally swore at Plutarch Heavensbee and Coriolanus Snow for putting her in this position.