The Other Slip

Chapter 28

I don't think anyone expected this, but we're all having fun. Having to recreate action scenes for the propos is actually hilarious, especially for the District 13 soldiers who have never had to do this. We joke around, which is the last thing I thought I would do during this mission.

-"Settle down Squad 451," Boggs tries to quiet down our laughter, but he's clearly struggling to hold in a chuckle. "There's a pod a few yards away. Let's get a shot with Katniss triggering it off with an arrow."

He starts walking fast and I try to keep up with him, but I'm too far away to be harmed by the bomb he triggers.

His body is projected and I run after it, not worrying about any pods I could trigger. I mutter his name senselessly, flinching at his wound. Thankfully Homes runs to meet us with a medical kit, he will be much more help than me. He fumbles with the supplies, nothing being appropriate for a blown off leg.

-"Katniss," I turn my attention back to Boggs, "The Holo,"

I look around me for the small black tablet and run to get it once I find it. Small flecks of skin and warm blood covers it, making me gag. I'll never be used to these things, no matter how many arenas I go through. He fidgets with the device and tells me to say my name.

-"Katniss Everdeen," I stutter, worrying I might even need to repeat it in case the Holo didn't understand. A green light fills the screen and a satisfying ding accompanies it.

-"Listen to me Katniss," he struggles, "Don't trust them. Don't trust Coin. Don't go back. Do what you came to do."

I don't have the chance to respond, not that I would know what to say, but the sinking of a tile fills the air. Leeg stands paralyzed on said tile, everyone looking at her. Until all of our eyes turn to the faucet pulling out of the wall, and the dark liquid spilling out of it.

I immediately react, dragging Boggs with me. Finnick picks him up with me and we all run to a small house. Peeta holds the door for us and quickly slams it as we run up the stairs. I have no proof if Boggs is still alive or not, but I can't leave him to the mercy of that mysterious pod. We hear the thick substance break through the door, but don't waste time to look back. Once I've reached the top floor, I lean against the wall, hoping the fluid can't reach this far up. And it doesn't, it simply ripples by the last staircase. Boggs' lifeless body lies in front of us, but no one addresses it.

-"They definitely got us on camera," Castor pants, "And they'll probably have some peacekeepers sent here any minute now."

-"Then we need to go," Jackson stands up from the windowsill, "Everdeen, give me the Holo."

I'm not sure how, but Boggs must have known of my plan to leave the squad. Why else would he give me the Holo? He believed in me too.

-"No."

She looks at me, stunned.

-"Everdeen, are you disobeying direct orders?"

-"Boggs gave it to me. He transferred prime security clearance to me too."

-"Now why would he do that?" She raises her eyebrow.

-"It's true," Homes takes somewhat of a defensive posture, "I saw him do it."

No matter how much she insists, I will not give it to her. I don't even flinch when guns are pointed at me. Neither does she. I have no idea what to do at this point, but someone else does it for me: Cressida. She rambles on about a plan to assassinate Snow, and I have no choice but to nod along. Jackson doesn't seem convinced, but she apparently believes it. We all stand in silence, until I realize it's me they're waiting for.

-"We need to leave now." I state.

-"Well obviously, but how do you propose we do that?" Gale snickers.

I approach the staircase and softly place my shoe on the gooey liquid. Although pungent, the liquid was not corrosive. I take a few steps down and look back to see my footsteps disappearing.

-"Same way we came from."

Pollux quickly signs something to his brother, who translates it for him.

-"The camera lenses must be coated now too. We can leave without being spotted."

-"Then let's go." And everyone follows my lead.