"Run! Run! The fog is poison!" Katniss' screams startle everyone awake, leaving little time to process what is happening before they are jumping to their feet. Finnick immediately ushers Mags onto his back as Katniss and Peeta sprint past, Dahlia lingering behind to ensure the District Four tributes leave quickly.
Weaving through the hanging vines, the group has to scramble carefully down the steep slopes until they reach flat ground. Dahlia feels the dry earth shifting unsteadily beneath her feet but refuses to slow down. Her legs fly faster than her body can comprehend, occasionally glancing behind at the menacing smoke chasing them.
Peeta swings his sword madly at the undergrowth, desperately trying to clear a path for the group. The fog seems to be creeping in on them from every angle, monstrous waves clouding their vision and swallowing up everything in sight. They have to swerve slightly, dodging around the edge of the fog bank to avoid contact.
Continuing through an avenue of trees, Peeta skids on the ground but keeps pushing forward. The rest follow behind, starting to pant from exhaustion in the humid jungle. The fog closes in on them rapidly, nipping at Dahlia's heels as she hurdles over tree roots. The group is then split in two as the toxic mist herds them in different directions. Finnick and Dahlia are forced away from Katniss and Peeta, darting blindly through the treeline as they focus on outrunning the fog.
As Dahlia spots the District Twelve tributes across the murky haze, her worries spike once she notices the way they stumble tiredly and grip onto each other for support. "Katniss!" She calls out, overtaking Finnick as she tries to reach the pair. They were the priority, the hope for the Rebellion.
But then, Dahlia's ears are hit with the agonised screams of Finnick causing her to halt in her advance. Suddenly her priorities are conflicted. Her head urges her to stick to the plan. Get Katniss and Peeta out of danger, no matter the personal cost. It's her purpose in these Games, her ticket to freedom. Yet, her heart yearns to go back for Finnick and Mags, her family. They are her reason to keep fighting, her motive for survival.
What would Alaric tell her?
"Get the job done."
Dahlia knows who she must go to.
Forgive me, Finn... Forgive me, heart.
Turning on her heel, Dahlia bounds across the exotic plants towards Katniss and Peeta, feeling the guilt of betrayal pinch at her heart. Finnick's anguished pleas for Mags to get back up haunt her all the way as she reaches the star-crossed lovers. She arrives just as Peeta tumbles to the ground, dragging Katniss down with him. Both tributes are in a bad shape, painful boils bubbling all over their skin and fiery burns spreading like wildfire. Neither are able to get back on their feet.
"Peeta." Katniss whimpers, using all her strength to force the boy onto his back. Dahlia kneels down to help but both girls find themselves taken aback by the severe blisters decorating his face. Peeta struggles for air as Katniss gasps in horror at the sight, turning to Dahlia in desperation. "I can't carry him."
Finnick hobbles up to the group, slumping to the ground as Mags slides from his back. Dahlia, although relieved to have him by her side once more, stares up at him in despair. "I can't support them both." She states dejectedly as Katniss begs through her tears for Peeta to stir. Dahlia and Finnick are at a loss for what to do next, feeling utterly helpless as the fog creeps ever closer. In the end, Mags is the one to make a decision.
Tapping Finnick on the shoulder to get his attention, she places a loving kiss on his temple. Pulling away, her shaky hand gently caresses Dahlia's cheek as she smiles sadly down at the pair. Then she turns away, towards the fog.
"Mags?" Finnick mumbles in confusion, staring after the woman who had raised him into the man he is. "Mags?" Watching the courageous lady stagger up to the poisonous mist, he felt like a little boy witnessing the defeat of his hero. "Mags!"
"Finn." Dahlia splutters out, forced to snap out of her shock to restrain Finnick from following. She couldn't lose both of them in one night.
"Mags!" His heartwrenching wails combined with the sight of Mags disappearing into the fog, made tears prick the girl's eyes. But she had to remain strong in Finnick's time of weakness.
"Finn." She tries again, gripping onto Finnick's arm as he scrambles to get to Mags.
As the woman is swallowed up by the mist, there are no screams, no cries of pain. Just silence as an incredible soul leaves the earth. "Mags!" Finnick's voice cracks in agony as it bellows one final shout for his former mentor. For his family. The boom of a cannon marks the end of Mags' life, sending a burst of grief through the hearts of Finnick and Dahlia.
But she understands that they can't stay here and let the fog consume them as well. Otherwise, Mags' sacrifice will have been for nothing. She willingly walked to her death to give them a chance to live. Dahlia refuses to waste the chance she has given them.
"Finn," She exclaims, grasping his face as softly as she can to turn his gaze away from the fog. Bringing their foreheads to connect, her thumb gently smooths across his cheek, collecting the tears that have begun to spill from his eyes. It pains her to see him so broken, but she won't let him give up now. "I'm so sorry... But we have to go."
Nodding to himself, Finnick is able to pull himself together and gather all the strength left in his body. "All right, come on." He mutters, pulling away from Dahlia to hoist Peeta up from the ground. Dahlia takes up position on Katniss' left as she grips onto Peeta and the group of four lean on each other to continue on through the jungle.
The clouds of fog pursue them relentlessly, narrowing in on the sides to bite at Dahlia's arm. It is the worst physical pain she has ever experienced. Like the flesh is being slowly peeled from her bones. As if boiling acid has been poured on her skin. A guttural cry is unwillingly pulled from her lips while she lurches away from the sinister smoke. But there is no time for her to slow down. This is not how I will die. Gritting her teeth in determination, Dahlia struggles along with the rest of the group, ignoring the searing pain burning her arms.
They are not quick enough to further avoid the onslaught of suffering brought on by the mist. It catches up on the stumbling tributes, branding their backs with inflamed blisters and causing them all to cry out in a chorus of agony. So blinding is the pain, that none of them notice the sudden drop awaiting them until they stagger forwards.
Grunts and groans escape Dahlia's mouth as they plummet clumsily down the hill. Her body tumbles heavily, smacking harshly into the ground as she tumbles downward. She feels like a ragdoll being carelessly tossed around by a child, rolling ungracefully to a stop at the bottom of the slope. The relief of coming to a halt is quickly replaced by the stinging reminder of her blemished skin.
The fog seems to have sucked the strength from her body, her limbs becoming limp and weak. She's sprawled lifelessly on her back, helpless to watch as the waves of fog billow towards her. It seems nothing can stop it from surging forward to claim more victims and Dahlia stares in disbelief that this is the only opponent she couldn't defeat. But it turns out, fate has a different plan for her.
Just when the mist was set to devour Dahlia's legs, it swirled upwards like something had stopped it. An invisible shield was protecting the tributes and preventing the fog from breaking through. She watched in awe as it flowed majestically, like water rippling in a stream, before dissolving into nothing. The only thing left to indicate it had ever been there, was the prickling heat flaring across her body and the gaping hole in her heart where Mags had once resided.
She briefly panics when Katniss screams out again, fearing she doesn't have the strength left to protect the Mockingjay. Until the girl manages to gasp out, "The water! The water helps."
Although her skin feels like it's being pierced by thousands of tiny knives, Dahlia is spurred on by the sheer relief evident in Katniss' voice. Forcing her protesting body to flip onto her front, Dahlia digs her nails into the dirt as she drags herself along the ground. Every jolt of movement sends sparks of pain shooting through her, but she persists with a determined growl. Finally her exhaustive efforts are rewarded as she reaches the banks of a small cloudy pool where Katniss and Peeta are already crying out.
Dipping her swollen arm into the water, Dahlia understands what all the fuss was about. Her flesh sizzled as the boils became submerged, making her let out an anguished wail which echoed around the jungle clearing. For the moment, they all seemed to forget that they were actively being hunted, too overcome with the respite offered to them by the water to lower their volume.
Once the skin had calmed, Dahlia noticed that the blisters had disappeared, leaving behind a raw but smooth surface. Without any further hesitation, Dahlia plunges headfirst into the pool to seek that addictively soothing sensation. This time, her screams are muffled by the water, air rapidly escaping from her lungs and rising to the surface as bubbles. She writhes and thrashes in the water, the cold liquid feeling like scalding oil on her inflamed nerves. Eventually she is able to run her fingers along the burning skin, the pain slowly disappearing along with the furious boils. Water had truly been their saviour in these Games.
Shivering in relief and desperately in need of air, Dahlia allows her alleviated body to float to the surface. Her mind is hazy from the draining events as the adrenaline starts to wear off, making the girl take a few moments to recover and gather her thoughts. Until her thoughts lead her back to Finnick.
"Finn." She gasps out, flailing as she emerges from the water with a huge splash. Sprinting through the undergrowth, she finds Finnick struggling to breathe from the boils puncturing his neck. "Oh, Finn... I'm so sorry." She whimpers weakly at the terrible state he is in, rushing to hook her hands under his arms and lug his body to the water. She lets out a frustrated huff while struggling to drag Finnick across the ground. She refuses to give up on him, refuses to stop fighting. But maybe she doesn't have to fight alone.
Dahlia is so surprised when two more pairs of hands join her in hoisting Finnick's bulky frame, she nearly drops him. Katniss and Peeta have taken hold of the boy's limbs, lifting him from the ground and allowing the trio to carry him to the water. "Thank you." Dahlia murmurs meekly, genuinely grateful for their presence as they lower Finnick into the pool. They nod in acknowledgement to the girl but leave her alone to help Finnick.
The cool water shocks the boy into consciousness, making him hiss through his teeth as he fights to get away from the agonising feeling. It pains Dahlia to force him back under even though she knows it's for the best. "I know, Finn. I'm sorry." She whispers tenderly, cupping the water in her hand and gently washing it along his neck. His bloodcurdling screams and twitching body make it difficult for Dahlia to continue. She's unsure if the water is getting in her eyes or if tears are beginning to force their way out. "Shh." She coos softly, despite the melancholy feeling lingering in her mind. "I'm here, Finn. I'm here."
As Dahlia continues to whisper sweet nothings into Finnick's ear, the boy slowly begins to relax under her influence. Her familiar voice and soothing touch bring him back to reality, trusting her enough to smooth the water over his features. It still stung at first contact, but Dahlia's honeyed words were the sweetest relief he could be offered.