Cato ::The girl with the berries: Oneshot

March 23.

Reaping day.

Honesty I never worried about being sent to participate in the Games.

Also I never put much thought into how I died.

Because in reality I just couldn’t come to the thought of my name being chosen among those other thousands of slips of paper.

However, I worried for my little sister. Even though it is just her first year being entered into the reaping just the thought of her name being pulled out makes my heart sink.

But of course if her name was really drawn…it’s a given that I will volunteer for her.

“(Little sister Name) (Surname)!”

As her named was called out the whole district 9 became silent. It’s as if the Hunger Games started already and everyone died.

She stood still as I ran in front of all the other girls.

 “I volunteer! Please I volunteer!” I cry out desperately as the Capitol lady smiled excitedly.

“That’s great! So what’s your name?” She asks.

I swallowed hard and replied, “(Name) (Surname).”

I’m (Name) (Surname)…district 9’s 74^th annual Hunger Games female tribute.

“Please (Name) why?!? I don’t want you to go!” (Little sister Name) cried.

I sat on the couch in the Justice building as I gave her a reassuring smile.

“I’m not going to lie to you in saying that I will win this year’s Game…we both know that it’s not going to happen...I’m so sorry (Little sister Name). But I just want to keep you safe okay? So please don’t do anything to upset the Peacekeepers here…” I smiled again as I hugged her tightly.

I bit my tongue attempting to stop the start of an ugly crying scene.

“(Name)…” She cried out as he buried her face in my neck.

She knows that I will try my best but being from district 9 is already a disadvantage. We don’t have any training in combat or what so ever maybe we do benefit from gaining strength due to daily hauling stacks of grain. Maybe just maybe…I will get lucky in the Games.

“Promise me one thing. Do not watch the Games. Don’t.” I know what I said is forbidden but I need to insure her innocence. I can’t allow her to see me getting stabbed to death or burned to death or whatever might be coming my way.

“I won’t watch it.” I know she is lying by the cracking of her voice but it still makes me feel better.

-

The train ride and everything went rather well until the training part came out. Something about the idea of meeting all the other tributes just gives me a fright. I really don’t like the idea of meeting the faces of the people who is going to kill me in a matter of few days.

So to keep myself safe I keep my distance of the weapons and spend my time at the survival stations which were rather fun.

I held up a plastic container of poisonous berries for inspection of finding out the differences in these and the safe ones. Let’s just say my strategy for the Games is to outlive all the other tributes.

I look at the container in my hands as my eyes slowly drift to a tribute who was training with a sword. He felt my gaze on his back so he whips his head in my direction I gasped and dropped a few berries. Oh crap…I drop to the floor and start picking up the berries as I got up again I slammed my head on the table causing other containers to roll off the table. Shit. What am I doing?!?

I laughed nervously as I straightened myself up.

“Good thing I wasn’t at the weapon station! Haha!” I smiled awkwardly while scratching my neck to the male with the sword.

He couldn’t help but laugh a bit and so did the other tributes. But they are probably really thinking how much of an easy target I am in the arena.

After that odd moment everyone gets back to their serious mode and trains again but I still couldn’t help but keep my gaze on the male.    

“Hey Cato! That girl keeps staring at you!” A dark haired female informs the male with a snarl.

C-Cato…so that’s his name. Cato from district 2, a career.

He looks at me as I slumped down into the collar of my training shirt and look at the berries pretending that what she said was bogus.

“She’s looking at those berries Clove.”

I sighed in relief thanking him mentally for helping me and sparing me with what I had left of my dignity.

After getting caught staring twice today, I swore to keep my head down for the rest of the day. But I couldn’t help but feel a pair of icy blue eyes on me.

I neatly put out my fire that I learned how to make and hide and got up slapping my hands clean in a satisfying manner. I backed up as a cold chill ran down my spine as I noticed that I am making contact to someone’s chest or back?

I jumped forward breaking the contact and spun around quickly, maybe too quickly.

“I’m so sorr- eek!” I squeaked as I fell backwards and sat on my fire. Which in deed was still hot from before, I jumped up quickly and bumped my head into the person’s hard chest.

“Oh god what am I doing?!?” I cussed at myself as I slowly look up to see the person who I bumped into…twice!

“I-I’m so so so sorry!” I look up in horror as I slowly back up this time.

It’s Cato. The male volunteer of district 2. He’s also a career who is going to kick my ass.

“Watch it. District 9!” He spat which was ironic since in reality he sneaked up behind me causing me to bump into him.

But yet I’m pretty sure if I wanted to stay alive a tad longer in the arena I shouldn’t say anything but being me...

He turns around as I tapped his shoulder and smiled causing him to look down back at me.

“I have a name just so you know, Cato.” I say playfully.

“So? I’m going to kill you first thing in the arena so I don’t need to know your stupid name. Stupid.” He smirked and turned around and was about to return to the other careers.

“Hey you hold it district 2! I district 9 have a name! And it’s (N-A-M-E)!” I exclaimed loudly and way too proudly as he turns his head to smirk again, “Maybe I will keep you alive in the arena a little longer, you seem…interesting.”

I blush a light pink as I turned around too. What am I doing? Provoking a career? Really? Are you trying to get yourself killed earlier in the game? Ahhhh! And importantly. Why are you showing interest in anybody when you know in a few days you are walking into your own death?

After a few days there was the private session where you show the game makers what you are made of and this is also a great chance to get some sponsors. Unfortunately, I didn’t do so well. Not well at all actually. I got the lowest mark from all the other 24 tributes. I think it’s because my talents or whatever couldn’t be performed. Like how can I show the game makers my cleverness or creativity? So I ended up attempting to throw a medicine ball since I thought maybe I have enough strength to throw one of these but surely I didn’t have enough and ended up dropping it and made a freaking huge dent into the floor. Yeah…I ended up with a disgraceful 3 since I made up for it by showing how fast I could run when I dashed out of the gym.

I’m not going to have any sponsors…even yet maybe even lose some at that.

The day of the interview wasn’t amazing either. I must admit Caesar Flickerman was a nice guy and tried to make me look good in front of everyone and boy was that needed. He brought up about my little sister and I honestly told him that I did what I thought was right. And I still think it is. I really wanted to tell the whole of Panem that I hated the Capitol and the Hunger Games itself with a dying passion but I’m pretty sure I’m going to get killed brutally in the arena and so is my family. So I kept my mouth shut and played happy and innocent.

“So (Name), what are you planning to do with all that money and fame if you win this year’s Hunger Games?” Caesar curiously asks with a smile.

“Truthfully…I don’t plan on winning the Games. I just want everyone back home to be safe, really.” I glance at the floor and slowly nodded.

“Aw…you shouldn’t think like that maybe something will motivate you in the Games? Well our time is almost up is there anything you would like to add?” Caesar asks me with a sympathetic smile as I shook my head.

 “No, but thank you for your time Caesar Flickerman.” I smiled warmly as he “aw”ed and asked the audience, “Isn’t she just so adorable?”

I walked off the stage and saw the male tribute from my district as I smiled at him, “You’ll do fine! Have fun out there.”

I pat him on the back as he smiled and walked onto the stage as the audience cheered. I sighed and turned away preparing to return to my room for some sleep since the Games are going to start the next day but before I got very far someone blocked off my path.

“Hey.”

I looked up to see Cato and I smiled, “Hi Cato.”

“You know your interview was pathetic and so was your training score, right?” he teased as I gave him a forced laugh.

“Haha…oh well I’m not going to last long in the arena anyways. Well good night and we both need it since we aren’t going to get any good sleep later on these weeks.” I say thoughtfully as I walk away.

I must admit Cato is pretty nice to me for a career. Since careers usually just puts up that tough face and intimidates everyone until they are scared and shitless. But he’s probably like that because he doesn’t see me as a threat to the crown and besides everyone here knows that I couldn’t even kill a fly if my life depended on it. However, I’m not stupid, no matter how nice he is to me today or the other days in the past when we are in the arena he will kill me without hesitation and this goes for everyone. Not only is he just a fellow tribute, he volunteered to be here just for the sake of it and he is ready to kill anyone in his way.  

-

My hands shake as the countdown began. Okay 60 seconds before my life ends.

I look at the tempting weapons and back at the safe forest. Getting a weapon would be good…but I have no use for it. Remember the plan! It is to outlive everyone else not to hunt for the other tributes! I mentally rerun my plan in my head as I nod. I can do this. Just run straight for the forest don’t even think about turning back.

3…2…1

The feeling of fear runs all throughout me causing me to panic. Move (Name) move! I gulped down a breathe of air as I ran straight to the forest. I’m almost there don’t look back don’t! Just a little bit more to somewhat safety! And there it was, a sharp pain spreads throughout my left shoulder. Shit! But don’t stop keep going forward I keep telling myself as I ran throughout the forest and I breathed in the cool air. I stopped for a bit when I know it was a “safe” distance and a pulled out the knife in my shoulder. Ah…

Well at least I got myself a weapon on the plus side. I huffed as I pressed on the wound. How should I stop the blood or what should I use for a bandage? I ask myself but I quickly stop in my tracks when I heard a snap of a twig under someone’s foot. Shoot. How stupid of me to stop.

I clutch the knife in my hands knowing it is useless as I stepped back quietly. Maybe if I try to be quiet the person won’t notice me and just pass? Wrong. Really wrong.

A large tall figure steps out from behind that greenery as my eyes widen in fear. There it is, my death.

He had a large grin on his face and in hand is a bloody machete.

“C-Cato…” I whispered as he focused on me and his face fell.

He frowned. Is he mocking me? No…

I backup some more causing me to trip over a tree root.

“Ah!” I quietly gasp as I fell on my back.

“I wish I wasn’t the one who needed to kill you.” He said as he got on top of me and leaning dangerously close with the machete to my neck.

“P-Please…all I ask is to do this behind that bush over there…please…” I pleaded as he raised a brow.

“I thought you were the type to ask me to kill you quickly or whatnot.”

“I…You can kill me however you want even torture me…but please behind that bush I don’t want my little sister to see this…” I whispered as I gazed deeply into his icy blue hues with my (light or dark) ones.

He gives me a pained look as he quickly got off me when he heard footsteps nearing in.

“Next time I see you, I will kill you. Hurry up and get out of here.” He demands as I quickly sat up and nodded like an idiot.

“Thank you…thank you so much Cato.”

I quickly got up and ran the opposite direction while holding onto my left shoulder as he watched me retreat.

Cato observes the floor where I once laid and noticed the small pool of blood.  He kicks loose dirt on top of it to hide what happened earlier from the incoming careers.

My heart races although I’m safe I just couldn’t believe what Cato did for me. Even for a regular tribute they wouldn’t let one go and this coming from a career is really a miracle.

I panted heavily as I made a safe distance far in the forest but obviously it’s never too safe in the arena so I climbed up a tree to tend my wound. I look off my jacket and noticed a three inch cut, luckily it wasn’t too deep but I still needed to tend it. I looked at the leaves in the tree and ripped off a few and used them to wipe the wound clean. This is probably a bad idea but I did it anyways, I used Clove’s knife and shredded the jacket’s left sleeve off and used it to wrap around my shoulder tightly. It might get chilly at night but there’s nothing I could do, I couldn’t risk myself getting an infection due to the exposure of broken skin. I slid my jacket back on as I perched on the branch of the tree. Maybe I should go look for some food…berries sound good for today. I observed from high above first on the tree since being on the ground for too long is risky. However, with berries you must take a closer look to make sure if it’s safe to eat or not. Wouldn’t want to die by being too carefree and eating some poisonous berries I thought. I jumped off the tree and landed swiftly, sweet there’s some nice safe berries under this bush! I grabbed a hand full and examined them carefully just in case and smiled. Yup safe as it can ever be! I popped them into my mouth and chewed, delicious sweet and ripe. A cannon fires as I quickly grabbed a bunch of berries and hopped back up to the tall tree. This must be the count of deaths from the Cornucopia…probably smart to count them. Eleven…eleven already dead. A feeling of something ran through me, fear? Sadness? Not sure, but what I’m sure of is that I can’t let my guard down at any moment in the Game.

The nights are pretty chilly. I sat huddled in the fork of a high and sturdy tree as I watched the sky. Cato’s still alive, and my tribute male had died in the bloodbath…I sighed not sure of what I’m feeling really. I rubbed my palms on my arms trying to warm myself up as I see a flicker of a fire on the far left of me. Someone started a fire…this can’t be good it’s just going to draw in the careers or whatever might lurk in the forest at night. I bit my lip in pity for the girl as I hear her scream and begged for her life. The careers took it away from her. From afar I could hear the careers mock her and laugh at her desperate state. I hear Cato’s voice boom loudly as he imitated her scream as the others laughed even louder. Cato…

-

The next day I wake up from a restless night as I looked up at the clear blue sky. Good weather today at least I smiled as I looked below making sure it was clear and jumped off. Probably safe to move out of this area after I gather a bit more berries. Water is essential but I have nothing to purify it with and risking the contaminated water was out of the question so the berries are my best chance right now. It’s probably early morning right now so it should be the best time to move around a little more care freely…I gasped and dropped a few berries I hear screams and running close near me. Spoke too soon I thought as I sighed and jumped into the closest tree.

“Help! Help!” I hear a female cry loudly but no one came to help her. Then a cannon fired, pretty sure it was for her.

Wait…she sounded familiar and she was calling for help…probably in an alliance…probably a career. No for sure a career! I confirm as I see Cato stagger into sight as he flops onto the ground leaning against a tree trunk hidden behind tall shrubs. From afar I can see him struggling and panting heavily. I wondered what happened…but should I go down there to help him? He said he will kill me the next time we meet. I glanced at him again and a see bulges covering parts of his body. I gasped as I recognized them, Tracker Jacker stings. Deadly. But there is a way to relieve the person who got stung or if down properly heal the person. I hesitate in the tree as I watched him moan in pain, I have to help him I decided. I quickly jump out of the tree and ran over to him.

“Cato…” I slowly approached him as he squinted at me while still holding up a spear in defense. Tracker Jacker’s venom makes people hallucinate he probably sees me as something horrifying.

“Cato…it’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you, I’m going to help you out okay?” I gently say as I placed my hand softly on his as I lowered his weapon to the floor as I bent down to his level.

“Shh…it’s okay.” I smiled as I ran my fingers through his soft blonde locks. He looked up at me as he loosened up, that’s a good sign.

“I’m going to take out the stingers first alright, Cato.” I tell him as he nodded, it’s a smart thing to tell a victim of a Tracker Jacker what you are doing because you wouldn’t want to get them by surprise.

I got in closer to him as I feel his breath on my cheek as I gently pulled out the stinger in his neck. One gone a few more to go. I pulled out the rest as I smiled at him.

“Is it okay with you if I put on some medicine on it for you?” I ask as he nodded half unconsciously.

I know it’s kind of stupid to ask him that but it’s kind of gross since I have to chew on the leaves to produce the medication. Well, good thing I was prepared and had some of the leaves in my jacket pocket. I pulled them out and chewed it up quickly and spat them out again. Ugh the after taste is horrible I thought as I pressed them to his skin.

Cato sighed in relief as I smiled at him.

“Is it a bit better Cato?” I ask as I continue to run my fingers in his locks as he smiled and nodded with eyes still closed.

“I’ll keep a watch out for us, just rest up and you’ll be fine in a bit. I’ll wake you up if anything comes up.”

He opens his eyes to gaze into my (colour) orbs. I smiled at him as I kneeled down closely beside him.

“Here.” I offered as I patted my lap, “I won’t hurt you I promise.”

Without thinking twice he placed his head in my lap as I couldn’t help but smile as the corner of his lips pull up slightly.

“Thanks.” He mumbled as I laughed softly.

“Sweet dreams Cato.” I whispered as I rested one hand on his chest as the other rubbed soft circles on his cheek with my thumb.

An hour has passed as I still kept alert on look out for Cato. Surprisingly it was pretty peaceful I thought the rest of the career pack would be looking for him. I sighed as I looked back at Cato’s sleeping face, he looks oddly peaceful you wouldn’t believe that this face belongs to such a brutal killing machine. I checked on the stings on his skin but they are already quickly healed as I sighed in relief. Maybe I sighed a little too loud, Cato’s eyelids started to flutter open as I meet his icy blue hues as I smiled, “Sorry did I wake you up?”

“No.” He flatly answered as he sat up.

“Your stings got better while you were sleeping.” I smiled as he peeled off the leaves from his skin.

“Thanks to you…but I still don’t understand why you would do this to me. You know I’m a huge threat to you right?”

“I’m not scared of you Cato.” I laughed honestly as my eyes wandered to the ground.

“You should be.” He teased while stretching.

“Someone’s he-“ Before I could finish a knife flies by my face and gazes my cheek as I flung myself at Cato.

“Cato!” I call out in unison with the other voice that belonged to a female. Clove. I bet by the flying knife.

Cato hugged to me protectively as Clove approached with the remaining careers.

“Sweet Cato! You have that idiot here! Let’s hang her up in the tree and watch her dangle!” Laughed Clove as the other career, Marvel, I believe joined and nodded.

I’m scared I must admit…but I feel safe in Cato’s arms. I buried closer to him as he looked up at Clove and Marvel.

“No. This idiot saved me from the stings, I can’t kill her.”

“It doesn’t mean that we can’t!” Clove yells as Cato gave her a dangerous look.

“You better not touch her. I don’t care if we are from the same district I’ll kill you without hesitation.” He threatened as they both backed up.

“Fine. We will be back at the Cornucopia.” Clove says as she and Marvel retreat.

“Cato…” I look up at him as he returned my gaze.

“Everything’s okay. Shh…” He cooed as he ran his fingers down my (Long/Short) locks.

Ironically I did this for him just an hour ago.

“Thank you for saving me again Cato…I really owe it to you.”

“No it’s fine.” He says as he uses his thumb to smear off the blood on my cheek.

“We should get back to the Cornucopia.” He suggested as I raised a brow.

“What do you mean by we?”

“I’m not letting you out of my sight, first aid kit.” He teases again as he gets up pulling me along with him.

-

Odd. I never thought of the idea of making an alliance among the career pack or anyone at all. First off I’m weak and second really? Me? I’m practically useless. I can’t believe the career pack leader of all people starts to show interest in me either and both of us having mutual feelings. He watched me as I properly cleaned the wound on my shoulder. He called me over and examined it himself. He gently brushed it with the back of his hand and helped me bandage it as I sat closely beside him. “Thank you.” I smiled as he passes me an apple. I bit slowly into the apple as he carefully brushes my hair and tucks it behind my ears. It’s pretty strange seeing how someone like him could be so affectionate. I blush at how gentle he is with me, it’s as if he treats me as something extremely fragile. Time sure has passed slowly though, with eyes daggering at me for the past 10 hours from Clove. Marvel on the other hand was okay although in the morning he agreed to hang me and keep me dangling until I died. Yeah…well he actually isn’t so bad he’s decently nice surprisingly.

“Hey (Name) want to join us tonight to hunt down the other tributes?” Marvel asks as I turned my attention to him.

“Um…I’m pretty much useless and…” What I really want to say is ‘I can’t kill’ because I really can’t come to the idea of harming someone or something but I can’t just announce this to everyone. I’m in the career pack now surely this will get me killed. Being useless and using their resources…but it’s not like I’m doing it on purpose though.

“No, I rather her be safe and stay here up in a tree or something.” Cato says cutting in.

I look up at him with a relieved look and snuggled closer to him. A sweet but subtle thank you, he responds by enveloping me in his strong arms as my back presses against this toned chest. It’s strange how I feel so safe in an arena where you are waiting for your death.

The sun goes down as it’s about time the careers head out to go hunt down the other tributes. A sick unsettling feeling rests on the bottom of my stomach, tonight young innocent tributes will be brutally slaughtered by the careers. I wish I could do something to stop them but obviously I can’t and it’s forbidden to even bring up the idea to them. Before they leave the base Cato walks me to a nearby but well hidden tree. He takes off his maroon coloured jacket and drapes it around my shoulders.

“What’s this for? You’ll get cold Cato…” I said while removing the jacket and placing it back on his shoulders.

“I don’t get cold easily and I’m pretty sure you do. Just wear it and stay up in the tree okay? Don’t come down even if you think it’s me until I tell you to okay?” He orders as I smile.

“Thank you for worrying about me so much…and not a problem I won’t come down from here!” I hug him as he embraces me back with a fair amount of strength making sure that I won’t get crushed.

“Come back soon Cato I’ll be waiting…and please stay safe.” I smile while placing both hands on the side of his head and brought him close as I plant a soft kiss on his forehead.

I swiftly climb the chosen tree and zip up Cato’s jacket around me as he waves and jogs back to the rest of the careers. I rest myself in the fork of the tree as I sighed. I wish I wasn’t in the Games with Cato, I wish we could just be safe it doesn’t matter anywhere and cuddling up like regular couples, unlike me right now, waiting up in a tree while he goes to kill people in a Game that provides entertainment for other people. I look around at my surroundings, was it really this nerve racking before? Or have I already gotten used to the protection I have gotten from Cato? That’s bad I need to be independent again I thought as I looked around at the ground but it’s useless to go find food or anything this late at night I can barely see. I think maybe two hours or so have passed. Regular people would say ‘I’m bored’ but for me I’m so glad that nothing has happened. Boom. A cannon rung as I jolted up a bit. I hope he’s safe I thought as I clutched onto his jacket that wrapped loosely around me. I sniffed the maroon coloured fabric as a smile crept onto my face, such a gentle scent. I quickly snapped out of it when I hear soft rustles in the bushes. One creature only I’m sure of it but what is it? I swallowed hard knowing that it isn’t Cato, too soft of footsteps. Maybe not even human, a mutation? My instincts say yes.

“C-Cato? Is that you?” I softly whispered peering over the branch as a medium sized thing popped up and clawed my face.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” I let out a long loud scream as I flung myself back and hugged the tree. The thing starts clawing at the tree and I swear to god I hope this thing can’t climb. The tree starts to shake violently as I cry and tears starting brimming my (colour) orbs. I become short of breath as a group of footsteps start to close in no it must be the careers. They shouldn’t get injured while coming to my rescue.

“(Name)!” the familiar voice calls out.

“No! Please don’t come hurry up and get somewhere safe!” I cry out as the tree continued to sway.

“We got to help her…” Marvel adds as he gets his spear ready and Clove silently readies her knifes.

The branch under my foot starts to crackle as I gasped trying to move to other branch when the branch gave in. Yup, I’m going to be the girl who the careers tried to protect but she died because she was an idiot and fell off a tree.

“H-Ha!?!” I choked out as I flew out of the tree face down as the careers charged straight for the mutation. I let out another painful cry as my face smacked onto the hard ground. Damn it I can’t move…I attempt to push myself off the ground but I kept on falling back down. Why? I question myself but when the careers were done killing off the mutation they stare at my leg. I look into what I can manage to make out of Cato’s face as his eyes look worriedly at my leg. I gulped as my eyes slowly made their way down to where everyone else and staring at. My leg is pinned to the ground straight through by a thick tree branch.

“(Name)! Please say you are okay!” Cato practically yelled at me as I gave him a blank gaze.

Clove pulls out her knifes from the mutation as Marvel attempts to remove the tree branch in my leg without injuring or even amputating my leg off.

“Cato…” I stare at him as he frantically nods and wipes at the bloody claw marks on my cheek.

“I’m really sleepy…” I whisper to him as my heavy eyelids slowly drift closed. In the distance I could hear him screaming and demanding me to stay awake but I couldn’t, maybe…hopefully…I can wake up later to see your face I thought as I smiled.

I drift back to reality, probably a few hours have passed since the mutation attack. I feel myself comfortably lying on Cato’s lap as his hand is placed on my waist. However, I kept my eyes shut, I can hear clearly what the careers are talking about and if I open my eyes now I’m pretty sure they will stop.

“She’s weaker now than before. It’s just going to hold us behind Cato! Kill her while she’s asleep!” Clove tries to whisper but it came out more as a frustrated shout.

I could feel the grip on Cato’s hand tense up and tighten on my waist.

“Clove’s right…” Marvel adds sadly.

“I know.” Cato finishes off as he moves his hand upwards to my neck. Suffocation…

My eyes slowly open and my hands make their way to touch the hand on my neck softly.

“(Name)…” Marvel swallows as I sit up.

“It’s okay, I understand.” I smile towards Cato as he freezes. I guess me being awake makes it harder for him.

“It’s fine just do it.” I press as I held onto the hand on my neck but the grip of his hand loosens and it falls back to the ground.

“I’m sorry. I can’t.” Cato says in a frustrated tone as he pinches the arch of his nose.

I smile, “I understand.” I take off the warm maroon coloured jacket and I placed it back on his shoulders.

“Take care Cato, Marvel and Clove.” I smile as I ran into the dark forest with a jolting pain in my right leg as I hear shouting and pleading from Cato from behind.

A cannon rung.

I look up at the sky wondering who it was but I shook my head and continued to run as I hear Cato scream from afar. “That isn’t (Name)’s cannon right?!?!” I can hear the hurt in his voice as Marvel suggests that they should start a search for me but they never did in the end because really…it’s not worth it. It’s actually better if they think that I’m dead. They can focus on their goal again. To win the 74^th Hunger Games.

I awake the next morning finding myself up in a tree. It’s like being with the careers never happened. But I must admit although it only lasted for a day or less being with them was pretty nice. Not only providing a protective atmosphere for me but they were fun to be with. I never thought I would say this but I even miss Clove. Perhaps if we weren’t in the Hunger Games and at somewhere where the Capitol never existed we could all be great friends. I can really imagine it. I sighed at the truth that it’s never going to happen and touched my bandaged leg. Ouch. It’s actually pretty bad, thank you for whoever sent me a parachute with the proper medicine. I never thought I would get a sponsor but maybe it’s because of the spark between me and Cato. A strong and probably one of the best bet of winning the Games and me probably would die if I fell off this tree right now. I lean back against the tree as I see a silver parachute floating towards me. I smile as I reached out and said a quite thank you and opened it. It was actually pretty large…I wonder what it will be.

I place the package on my lap as I carefully open it. Inside I find an overloaded backpack; I open the bag to find a container of medicine, rolls of bandages, a container of rice and chicken and two bottles of water. I raise a brow at the overly generous and rather large package and shortly find a small message attached to the package over.

“Hi (Name), good job for surviving this long. Share this with Cato. Good luck.”

I smile at the kind message from my mentor as I embrace the bag. I’m so great full for this. Maybe I can survive. I pull out some berries from my jacket and popped them into my mouth and chewed. I’m thinking about saving the chicken and rice for when I get really hungry…or perhaps give it to Cato. I stuff some berries back into my pocket as I carefully climbed down to the ground. I restock my berries into my pocket but came to a quick stop when I notice smoke from a good distance away. Too big to be a regular fire…probably made on purpose. Not taking the risk I sling my bag over my shoulder and limped-ran in the other direction. Ouch. This is really painful I think to myself as tears start to escape my eyes at their own record. I look around for a strong wooden branch and used it as a walking stick or somewhat as a crutch. This helps a bit I admit as I limped to a safer distance from the fire however before I can take a relieved breath a huge explosion is heard. I drop to the ground and huddled as plenty other explosions follow. Oh no…what is happening. My ears start to ring but I’m sure they aren’t broken since the source seems very far away. Very far away…is this happening at the careers’ base?

I sit on the ground waiting and anticipating for another explosion but nothing came. I got up from the ground and made my way towards the career camp. I hope Cato is okay…and then a cannon fires and another cannon follows. A jolt of energy runs through me as I ran full force towards the camp ignoring the unbearable pain spreading through my injured leg. I can feel myself getting closer to the camp but I stop for a moment and hear rustling in the bushes.

“Cato?” I whispered but no one replied. A familiar figure appears from the trees, it’s Clove.

“Clove!” I call out as she gazes at me with a defeated expression plastered on her face.

“What happened? Are you alright?” I ask hopping over to her, to my surprise she isn’t taking out her knifes and threatening to kill me.

“Someone blew up all of our supplies.” She tells me as she stares at the ground.

“So that’s what it was…is everyone okay though?”

“When Marvel left two cannons fired…and Cato killed the district 3 kid.” She says flopping to the ground.

I don’t think she’s worried about the deaths more about the food and supplies…but at least Cato’s okay. I’m so happy.

“Um…I’m sorry about your supplies but…here.” I smile taking out the container of food and the two bottles of water from my new bag.

“W-Wow…thanks…” Clove mumbles as I smile and brush her dark loose locks from her face. I pat her shoulder and got up getting ready to leave but she spoke.

“Don’t leave yet. Cato will be here soon.” She says also getting up from the ground.

“No…it’s alright. Having him see me will just make things harder for him.” I say turning around.

“He’s really worried about you. I’ll tell him you’re okay.”

“Thanks.” I look over my shoulder with a smile.

I walk out of sight from Clove and hideaway in the greenery. I want to stay and hear his voice.

Heavy footsteps are heard in Clove’s direction and instantly I knew it was him. I peep out slightly as I see his short blonde locks and icy blue eyes.

“Clove. We need to do something about the food.”

“Here.” I see her hand him the container and a bottle of water.

“How in the world did you get this? You have a sponsor?”

“No. (Name) does.”

“She’s here?!?” I hear him call out with a brightened expression on his face causing the blood to rush to my cheeks.

“She just left. She said that seeing her would just make things harder for you.”

“You should’ve stopped her.” I can hear the anger in his voice…the tone was rather dangerous.

“I-I’m sorry…but she really wanted this for you. And she wants you to know she’s safe.”

“She’s not safe! If she was safe she should be right here beside me!” He yells and his hand goes up to cover his eyes and Clove places her hand on his shoulder.

“She’s a strong one. It will be okay.”

Cato takes off his jacket, folds it and places it on the ground. Clove smiles at the idea and pulls out a half eaten package of dried fruit and placed it on top and they both smile at each other and walk off.

I smile as tears run down my face Clove and Cato…I really wish we could spend more time together. And of course Marvel…I hope that cannon did not belong to him.

I see a stream and hopped over to it. I dipped a hand in, it was nice and cool. I splashed some water on my face and scrubbed it clean along with the rest of my body that can be shown in public. Since, we can’t forget the camera is always on us. After a few hours of gathering berries and nuts I climb a tree and call it a night. I look up at the sky waiting for the fallen faces to show. The anthem plays as I gulped hoping it wasn’t Marvel and my heart sank there was his face largely projected on the star light sky. I sniffled and place a kiss on the tip of my fingers and held out my arm to the sky. Then his face disappears and the little girl from district 11 appears. A little girl…it’s so sad she was so young too. Twelve. I remember. I lower my head and close my eyes but quickly snapped them open when an announcement was made. My mouth opened at the thought of the announcement. There can be two victors if they both come from the same district. Perhaps Cato and Clove can go back home. I thought with a bright smile. They are strong alone but together there’s no way they can lose. And why even doubt them? They are from district 2!

I keep on thinking about the positives about this but then I thought about myself. Is it stupid how happy I am over this? There’s no benefit for me in it, my district partner died on the first day in the arena. And pretty sure it’s the careers that did it. I shook my head and snuggled in Cato’s jacket. It’s as if he’s right here beside me, I smiled into the fabric. Oh! I my eyes brightened as I remember the dried fruit Clove left behind for me. I take out a slice of dried apple and munched on it. It’s like that evening with them I smile idiotically.

In the afternoon I wake up to another announcement. Wow two days in a row. I listen carefully as my blood turned cold. A feast will be held this evening. This will be like another bloodbath…but then my heartbeat returns it will be fine since I don’t need anything. I will be fine with my berries and dried fruit. Like every morning I pop in some berries in my mouth and start my day. I swallow hard walking around in the forest…I guess thirst is sinking in. Well there should be ponds around and of course that stream where I cleaned myself up at yesterday. However…I had nothing to purify it with. I wish my sponsors sent me a small bottle of iodine instead of the water bottles. I find a nearby pond and scooped it up to my nose. It clearly smells fine…but there may be many deadly bacteria in here. I shook my head and threw back the handful of water. I can’t risk it. I keep on telling myself but the weather continues to rise as afternoon arrives. I pant and sweat continually having no idea where this sweat is being produced from since I haven’t drank water in days. I popped in some berries and chewed but it did no good to quench my thirst. My gaze focuses back on the crystal clear pond as I couldn’t help myself and threw my head in and gulped down the water. After a long moment of lacking oxygen I pull my head out and wipe my chin with the sleeve of my jacket. I continue to walk around unknowing where I’m heading to but after a few hours a pain rises from my stomach. Ah! I cry as I fall to the ground clutching my stomach as beads of sweat ooze from every pore in my body. I pant and drag myself to a well hidden spot behind an oak tree as I hugged my knees. Stupid. Stupid! Why did I drink that water! It’s all a part of the plan from the Capitol to force me to go to the feast tonight! I cry out in pain as I held Cato’s jacket to my mouth muffling my screams. It’s a slow death I can feel it. It kicked in pretty fast but it spreads oh so slowly. It’s cruel. The sun will start to set soon and the feast will begin. I try to pick myself up from the ground but my body is too heavy. I drag myself across the dirt ground, my legs are numb to the knee. I hiccupped as an unpleasant mixture rises from my stomach. I gagged and threw up stomach acid that had an odd purple tint. I’m going to die but I need to at least try to survive this cruel joke personally given to me by the Capitol.

Good thing I wasn’t too far away from the Cornucopia in the first place. The feast will start in a few and I can probably make it with this pace. When the Cornucopia is in my sight I try to pick myself up again and luckily the determination was enough. I rise to my feet wobbly as I leaned against a supporting tree. I’ll wait until everyone grabs their bags first. There will be a less of a chance of me getting killed.

I watch as the ground opens and a table rises with five different sized bags sitting on top of them. My eyes flicker on the small bag that read “9” on it. I’m so tempted to run out like a free ranged chicken and grab that bag and run back to safe grounds in the forest but with these legs that may be a challenge. I blink away the black dots in my vision as I see a fox faced girl run out from the Cornucopia, she swiftly grabbed her district bag and ran back safely into the forest. How sneaky and smart. Shortly I see the girl from district 12, Katniss. She run out to grab her bag as I see Clove burst out from behind a tree and charge towards her with a knife in hand. Oh no…I don’t want to see this. Clove pushes Katniss as I hear faint laughing and yelling but I can sense that my ears are going deaf. Whatever the Capitol put into the water…it’s really effective. Just as I see Clove with her arm above her head about to send a killer blow a large dark skinned man threw her off. When did he even show up? Oh no Clove! I stagger out trying to scream for her but nothing comes out, I’m mute. I land face on the ground as I struggled to get up again but it’s impossible I can no longer control my body. It’s in paralysis. Tears flow from my eyes as I stretch my arm out for her but I’m too far away and too useless to help. I see her mouth moving, calling for someone, Cato perhaps? No Clove please don’t die, hurry up and use your nifty knife skills! The dark large man holds a rock in his hand and brings it down to Clove’s head. I scream on the top of my lungs but it can’t be heard. I watch as the rock smashes into Clove’s skull caving it in. I feel defeated, my head drops to the floor and I close my eyes however neither Katniss nor the male who just murdered my friend attacked me. They probably knew that I’m going to die in matters of minutes. I want to open my eyes but I can’t they are glued shut I can feel my heart beat slow down dramatically.

I hear muffled footsteps and yelling. I think Cato finally made it here, he’s calling for Clove to come back to him. I wish that too. I just recently started to like Clove and now she’s gone, although she’s a violent and sadistic career she too can be caring. I want to call out for Cato but my tongue wouldn’t allow me to, however, I’m not complaining of the way I’m going to die. It’s painless and feels quiet nice and relaxing actually. I’m not sure, but it feels as if someone is shaking me I can’t really tell. After a pregnant silence, it felt like nothing existed maybe I’m dead now? No, I can feel something. A tingling is felt in my arm, wait I have feeling now? I force myself to open my eyes but my eyelids feel like a tonne, but when I managed to open them half way I can see a blurry figure. Cato? Cato is that you? I let my lips gape open as I try to wiggle my fingers. When I finally get my fingers to move I reach out to grab onto fabric but then it fell and was caught in large warm hands.

“Cato?” I whispered as quiet as a lifeless object.

I squinted hard to see that familiar face, Oh Cato. I force a smile on my face as I felt a spark of energy run though me when I could hear him call me back. After a few minutes all of my feeling kicks in, I abruptly sit up and start calling for Clove.

“Clove! Clove!” I cry as Cato embraces tightly on my shaking body.

“I’m sorry, if only I came earlier.” He whispers in my neck as I shake my head and squeezed him tightly.

“You almost died (Name), take it easy.” He demands as I nod quietly sobbing on his collar bone.

-

That evening we took it easy, Cato found a well hidden and probably safe cave and we cuddled for a few hours as our generous sponsors gave us a basket of food. It’s silent in the small cave, no conversation, I sit on Cato’s lap and pressed my cheek on his chest as he rubs my waist and caress my cheek. I’m thankful to have survived that paralysis but being so close to death still scares me and seeing Clove die in front of me is indeed traumatizing.

“Cato…” I call as my voice cracks a bit, he adjusts the angle of his face to look deep into my eyes. He’s off too.    

“I’m sorry…I couldn’t do anything for Clove or for you now.” I say brushing my thumb on his cheek gently as he gives me a weak smile.

“No, I overestimated Clove. I forgot about that guy from district 11. We tried to make an alliance with him but he rejected without even thinking twice.” Cato explains looking at the ground.

I softly place my fingers under his chin and led his face to meet mine again.

“It’s okay, it’s not your fault you didn’t want that to happen either. I…I know that we aren’t from the same district but, I will help all I can to help you win this.” I smile heartily at him as his face darkens more.

“You know what that means, I’m sure.”

“Yes.” I look straight at him, I know I’m going to die for his sake of safety and victory.

“It’s strange…when I volunteered for this all I can think of is killing all the tributes and win the fame and riches. But now…I don’t want any of that, I just want you to be safe.” He says confusedly still drifting his eyes away from me.

“For me, from the start I decided I’m not going to win. I don’t want to be like what I was before I met you. I can’t be without you Cato!” I cry as I threw myself onto him.

“(Name)…you’re making this really hard. I don’t care if you are emotionally broken down, you just need to stay alive.”

“No. No I won’t! Please…” I plead as I look up at him trying hard to gaze into him.

He didn’t reply, he lies down and stretches as I follow him down and snuggle into him.

“It’s cold tonight.” He states the obvious as I nod.

“It’s okay, I’ll cuddle you up.” I laugh as I hug onto his head and pull him into chest suffocating him.

I can feel him laugh against my breast and he buries his head deeper causing me to giggle.

“H-Hey!” I laugh as he rolls me over and got on top of me.

“I…always try to be gentle with you so I wouldn’t hurt you. But, just this once can I be a little rough?” He asks too innocently so I couldn’t help but agree to him.

However, I regretted it right after the moment I said it. He locks me down to the ground and hovers above me. He brings his face close to mine, his dry lips brushing against mine, what a tease.

“Catoooo!” I whine as he chuckles and brings his lips to mine.

He started to nip gently at it but he quickly got violent, too violent. He bites onto my lip and tugs it to the point he started to draw blood. His large hand clutches tightly onto my waist as his fingernails dig into my skin. He sucks onto my bleeding lips and they began to become plump and swollen. He sticks his tongue into my mouth without warning but I didn’t mind. He rolls his hips onto mine as I let out a soft cry of approval. He chuckles and hushes me reminding me that there are cameras floating about. I cover my mouth with the back of my hand as Cato’s lips linger against the skin of my neck. I know what he’s going to do and it scares me that I might cry out in pleasure. He kisses the skin roughly and sucks at it.

“Nghh…no…” I whisper as he stops at my soft spot.

“Don’t cry out too loud alright?” He orders as I nod biting into the skin of my own hand.

“Good girl.”

I couldn’t help but shiver at the seductive tone in his voice. He twirls his tongue on the soft as I bite onto my hand muffling sweet moans. He chuckles against the skin and bites onto it and sucked it until I cried. It was painful. He continued to bite and suck onto the same spot causing it to turn a stunning red and purple as it bled.

“C-Cato…stop it…h-hurts…” I whimper as tears bubbles from my eyes.

He snapped out from his lust and looks at me in the eyes as a guilty expression taints his face.

“I’m so sorry (Name)…” He whispers as he pulls my hand away from my mouth to see a string of salvia connecting it back to my lip. He observes my lips and they were bruised and bleeding and he looked back at my hand to find the back of it wearing bloody teeth marks.

“Oh (Name) I’m sorry…” He apologizes as he brushes his thumb across my lips to wipe away the blood.

I look up at him to see the sorrow in his eyes, he felt bad. Really bad, the last thing he wanted to do was to harm me and here it is bleeding lips, neck and hand.

“I-It’s okay Cato. It just shows how much you really love me…” I smile as I kiss his lips gently.

“You’re too gentle.”

“Too gentle huh?” I cock my head to the side as I push him over with full force knocking him onto his back.

I chuckle and kiss his neck trying very hard to find his soft spot, but it was hard until I notice him tense under me. I giggle and licked the spot and pulled back as he let out an unpleased grunt.

“Tease…”

I laugh as he pulled me back down, I kiss the spot and sunk my teeth into him. I bite and suck until I see sweat droplets form on his temple. I sit on his stomach and leaned over pressing myself on him.

“Aww Cato!” I laugh as I wipe off his sweat.

“There might be a chance we are on television right now. But if we weren’t I would totally make you cry and scream all night long.” He cooed in my ear as I turned tomato red.

“C-Cato!” I cry as I jump off him.

What we are doing can be somewhat going against the Capitol. I hope president Show doesn’t see this as an uprising. Two tributes from two different districts in love with each other, protecting each other instead of murdering the other when they turn their back on you for a second. I lie back down on the ground and curled up like a shrimp snuggling closely to Cato. He holds me close to his body with his large hands and I start to drift off. Having a nice big meal and snuggling in the warmth from my…what is he to me? Lover is the correct word right? Since we aren’t dating because we can’t we’re on the brink of death really.

“It’s safe if we both sleep right Cato?” I ask wondering if having a look out would be a good idea.

He nods, “Yes, it should be safe with the thunderstorm no one will be hunting tonight.”

“That’s true,” I nod thoughtfully, “Will you stay with me then?”

“Yeah.”

I woke up to the loud sound of thunder, I sat up panting. I cover my eyes with my arm as I squint looking around.

“Cato…?” I call out but no one replies it’s still too dark to see anything.

I pat around the ground of the cave trying desperately to find the familiar warmth. I start to panic patting the ground like a crazy person. He’s not here, where could he possibly go? He said he would stay with me. I peep my head out of the cave to look outside but I couldn’t see anything, not even my own hand in front of my own face. I take a step outside trenching myself in rain as I frantically looked about. Thunder roars above me as I walk blindly into the darkness but I mustn’t walk too far I will probably get lost. I check the radius of our cave but he is nowhere to be seen. I sob in the rain making my vision worse as I duck back into the cave. I hug my wet body in the corner of the cave with knees pulled into my chest as I endlessly sobbed. After a few moments I can hear heavy footsteps even in the loud thunderstorm. 

“C-Cato?” I call out loudly and the figure bends down to my level. He touches my damp hair and places a soft kiss on my forehead. I cry out in relief and flung myself onto him.

“I was so worried! I woke up and you were gone. I went out to look for you but I couldn’t see anything.”

“Shhh. I’m here now aren’t I?”

“What were you thinking?!?”

“I was thinking that you didn’t like violence so I went and killed the guy from district 11 myself.”

“Oh Cato…” I whisper as I cup his face in my cold hands.

Then I notice the scars on his body, “I’m so sorry that I didn’t notice!”

I pull out my bag and found the medicine that I use for the wound on my leg and a bottle of water. I rip of a chunk of fabric from my undershirt and poured water on it. I use the cloth to dab off the blood from first his face and so on all the way to his stomach. Thresh really gave him a hard time, but it’s good to know that he didn’t go down without a fight, honestly I don’t think he’s a bag guy. Maybe if we weren’t in the games we could’ve been good friends too. I wash the cloth and continue to clean up Cato. I slab on the medicine on Cato heavily, maybe the amount that I gave him wasn’t necessary but I didn’t care. I want the bleeding to stop. I rub in the medicine as gently as possible at least the good thing is that the wounds aren’t too deep. A few bruises covered him here and there but nothing deadly.

He watches me closely as I focused all my attention to bandaging him properly in silence.

“Thanks for caring about me so much.” He says out of the blue and I stop to look up at him.

“No need to thank me, I’m doing what comes naturally.” I smile.

In the morning I dig through our basket and divided the food making sure that he unknowingly gets a larger portion. I pass him two slices of bread and some jam with an apple and a bottle of water. I nibble on the remaining slice and called it a meal. He didn’t seem to really notice that I’m not eating much maybe he thinks that I actually don’t eat much, honestly I’m hungry. So I crawled over to my bag and pulled out the small package of dried fruit Clove gave to me a few days ago. I took out a dried banana chip and nibbled on it.

“Would you like some Cato? Clove gave these to me.” I ask but he just shakes his head biting into his apple.

We sit in silence but not for long a cannon went off, someone died already this early in the day?

“Two more to take down.” He grins but he’s wrong, three more to be exact. I’m not from his district so that means I must die.

“Um…I’m going to head out for a bit to pick some berries.”

“Yeah, just be careful.”

“I will don’t worry.” I smile as I crawled out of the small cave.

I walk over searching bush for bush for the kind of berries I’m looking for, Nightlock berries. Of course I’m not planning on feeding them to Cato that would be evil, these berries are for me. There are so little of us that are left, victory is so close for Cato but we both can’t win. I search a little further away and found the dark skinned berries, I pull them closer to me to examine them, yes indeed these are the poisonous berries that will bring me to an end. Just one is enough to kill a person but I pick a small handful and hid them in my jacket pocket, Cato mustn’t see these. I pick some safe berries and quickly head back knowing that Cato is waiting for me to get back so we can go hunt down probably Katniss and Peeta, if my instincts were right. I walk back to see him waiting for me at the mouth of the cave, I grab my bag from him and we start to walk in a random direction. I’m getting nervous.

I follow closely behind Cato hands fumbling with the zipper on my jacket. I took a deep breath knowing that Cato will stop soon to tell me to wait for him while he went to go finish off the star crossed lovers, so I held a few Nightlocks in my hands, ready for the consumption. I shut my eyes tightly and quickly popped the Nightlocks into my mouth, not chewing yet, waiting for Cato to speak first.

“Okay, (Name) I’m going to go finish off those star crossed lovers and I’ll be back, alright?” Cato explains turning around as I closed my mouth and looked up at him.

Without chewing I swallow the Nightlocks, without chewing them it should lengthen the time the poison would sink in. I smile up at him and shook my head.

“What’s wrong?” He asks worriedly taking a step closer to me.

“It’s going to just waste time…Cato….you don’t have to wait, just kill me here first.” I smile brightly up at him trying to keep a brave front, I spread my arms out to the side opening up all my vital spots to him.

“(Name)…” His eyes widen as he steps back.

“It’s fine. Everything will be alright.” I insure as his right hand clenches the machete and unclenches it.

“I can’t. I wasn’t even planning on coming back. I was going to kill myself after killing those two. I can’t hurt you.” Cato quickly blurts out.

I laugh a bit but quickly stop when I start feeling blood rising from my throat. I swallow but the blood keeps on rising.

“But I’m dying.” I try cracking a smile again but blood trickled down from both of the corners of my mouth.

“(N-Name)…what’s…happening…” His pupils constricted as his mouth gapped open.

“I…” My vision was getting hazy and my head felt light headed, I dropped onto the ground as Cato lunged forward and broke my fall holding me in his strong arms.

“I want you to win…because I don’t want you to die, Cato.” I gaze up at him as his icy blue eyes start to brim tears.

“Everything will be alright.” I smile as the blood continued to dribble down my chin. Never breaking eye contact with him I reach out with both hands and cupped his cheeks.

He shakes his head while placing a large hand over my smaller one.

“I’m happy that I get to die in your arms…you know Cato?” I say as my eyes start to drift off into the distance. I let my hands slip off his face and onto his chest. I clutched onto the fabric of his shirt and slowly embraced him.

“You aren’t going to die. Stop kidding around.” Cato said through a cracking voice.

I hug onto him tighter with the only strength that I had left.

“You know what’s funny, Cato? I always hated the Capitol and the Hunger Games…but, I’m really happy that we have them now. Cause…I got to meet you.” I laugh quietly as I coughed up blood in my hand. Cato takes my blood stained hand and squeezes it in his now soiled ones. Cato’s very quiet, he just wants to listen to my last words I understand, so no matter how hard it is to speak I keep on talking.

“Maybe if North America still existed…things wouldn’t be like this.” I look back up to him although everything is now blurry.

“We could have been happy.” Cato added, I grin “Yeah.”

He tries his best to return the grin I gave him, but his lip quivers.

“Cato…”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to leave your side...” I frowned as hot tears bubbled from my eyes and ran down my cheeks.

“I wouldn’t want you to leave either…” Cato bites his lip as his tears overflowed too. He brushes his thumb on my cheek to wipe away the tears that he didn’t want to see.

“Cato I love you more than anything…I’m sorry I can’t stay much longer.” I whisper quietly as my heartbeat declines and I become short of breath.

“(Name) it’s unimaginable how much I love you more.” Cato faintly smiles.

I’m happy he told me that. I couldn’t help but smile again although I’m almost at my end.

“Isn’t it funny? When we first met…I was studying berries so I can pick out the safe ones…but here I am purposely picking out the deadly ones haha….thank you Cato. I’m not scared anymore.”

He stays silent he knows it’s coming soon, and he can’t waste hearing his own voice. He needs to hear what all the things I need to say to him.

“You know…I really wish we could spend more time together….I would love to hear more about you…” I smile looking up at him.

“Maybe you can, soon I’ll be up there with you.”

“Haha…don’t be silly Cato…I don’t want to see you soon no matter how much I do…not at the place where I’m going…”

“I will kill myself over and over again if it means that I can hear your voice again.” He says stroking my (colour) locks out of my face and places a soft kiss on my forehead, and then my blood stained lips.

“Haha…I’m happy…that someone as amazing as you…would love me…so…much….…I…” I couldn’t finish no matter how hard I try, my eyes that were once locked onto his drifted closed, my eyelids should feel like they weigh a tonne but I don’t have any feeling at all. I’m dying.

I can hear his voice in a distance he’s telling me about himself, I want to smile but I can’t. I don’t have control over my body anymore.

-Cato’s Point of View-

“I always train day and night but I don’t mind reading a good book either...”

“Once when I was little I was chased by a cat. That’s why I’m freaked out by them now…”

“I also don’t really like the dark…I wish I could cuddle up with you every night.”

“And I…really really can’t let you go.”

Boom. I can’t say anything anymore, I don’t even know what I’m even talking about. All I know is that she’s dead. Her cannon fired and she’s now gone. I embrace her limp body. I don’t want the Capitol to take her body away, she belongs to me. I repetitively kiss her lips, maybe she can wake up? What am I even doing…this isn’t some kind of fairy tale, this is the Hunger Games. I will win this for her.

I gently place her on the ground, taking off my jacket and bundling it up and placing it under her head serving it as a pillow. I always knew that she loves that jacket, I always caught her sniffing it because it has my scent…it’s adorable especially when she denies it. I want to cry more over her but I can’t, the tears won’t come anymore. The depression over her death has become the anger at the Capitol and the Games, perhaps even at the whole world. I fucking need to kill someone right now.

I stride quickly along looking for those stupid star crossed lovers. Lucky weaklings, getting to be from the same district. But I can’t afford to start thinking about what would have been different if we were both from district 2. We can both win and live happily like how she wanted it to be. Before I could drift off more there was a rustle in the bush. I swung the machete out from my belt readying for the surprise. Mutts.

They pounce out from the bush…a mere 22 mutts appeared. All different colours and sizes. Not even thinking twice about fighting them I sprinted, I can’t be careless and kill those mutts. I must win stay alive for (Name). My heart is at its haste beating rate, similar to when I kiss (Name) it feels like it’s about to pop out.

Badum, badum, badum.

I’m scared. I can’t believe that day would come but I’m freaking out and breaking. I don’t have the time to look behind me but I know they are closing in, the muscles in my legs ripple as I continue to desperately reach to high ground, the Cornucopia. A smaller mutt lunges at me and puts me to the ground. I need to survive I can’t die here! I flung around my machete uncontrollably as the mutt clawed the side of my face. I yell out in pain and dug the machete into the mutts neck sending it to whimper and die. I stagger to get up but once I was back on my feet I continued to run from the remaining 21 mutts. I pant and frantically wiped at the velvet fluid oozing from the tears in my face.

I can see the shiny structure glistening, I’m almost there. I can make it I know I can. As I was about to near it an arrow flew and reflected off my chest. Katniss. Whatever, as long as I have my armor on she can’t hurt me, moreover these mutts are the larger problem. I flung myself onto the top of the Cornucopia. I lie on my back with a hand on my stomach as I heavily panted. Damn it, that was too close. I look over to see Katniss running towards the Cornucopia too with Peeta following shortly behind her. Yeeeah. I smirked, lover boy can’t run too fast with that mark I left on his left leg.

The star crossed lovers climbed to the top of the Cornucopia too, we all sat there panting as a screeching sound resonates off from the metal shredding off the Cornucopia. I cast a lazy gaze over to the two they seemed to ignore my presence. Once I got a hold of my breath I decide this is the best time to attack them. I used all of my strength and ripped Peeta off the Cornucopia and gripped onto him pressing him to my chest.

If I die I will take him with me. I don’t have the strength to take them both down, I’ve lost too much blood already. I can see Katniss hesitate, I wish I could be like her…have the ability to protect the one she loves.

“Go on! Shoot, and we both go down and you win. Go on. I’m dead anyway. I always was, right? I couldn’t tell that until now. How’s that, is that what they want? I can still do this… I can still do this. One more kill. It’s the only thing I know how to do, bringing pride to my district. Not that it matters. ” I scream as I pull Peeta to the edge with me.

Katniss froze for a mere second and sent an arrow flying into my hand, I froze too but that was stupid of me. Peeta uses all his might and throws me off the Cornucopia. I reach out a hand trying to take him down with me but I can’t. I try to fight off the mutts but I am overpowered. I let out cries as the mutts tear at my limbs, I wish this can I just end. All of my vital organs are protected by the body armor…I can’t die easily. I continue to fight but they also continue, the mutts tore off my flesh and soon my limbs would be gone too. But they suddenly stop, too close for relief, they drag me into the Cornucopia. At least they will finish me off now right? I’m sorry (Name)…I can’t win. Tears overflowed from my icy orbs as I let out cries and screams.

Why can’t I just die?!? It’s been a whole night of suffering always I can’t…I just want this all to end. I look out to see the sun rising and a head peeped out. Katniss. I’m no longer able to speak I’ve lost my voice hours ago. So I gazed at her, and lipped out, “please” I pleaded.

‘I’m sorry (Name)…I can’t win for you. But plus side…I get to see you soon…’ I thought as the last of my energy reached to my lips pulling the corners up.

She took in a long breath and readied her arrow. I closed my eyes and took my last breath…I’m sorry…

-Extended “Happy” ending- [1]

“Whoa! What is this?!?!” I screamed as I watched Cato die on the screen.

I shook Clove violently as she bobbed back and forth.

“Plus side, he’ll be here with us soon!” She laughs as I sighed.

“Yeah but still! I want him to be ALIVE!”

As I sat there with Clove hugging me I can hear a muffled laugh from a few others. I flung my head up to see the tributes that Cato murdered laughing.

“Hey! Thresh stop it!” I screamed as he waved his hand, “Sorry, sorry but he deserved that!”

“Yeah he really did.” added the boy from district three while chuckling quietly.

“…” I stared at them as they coughed and tried to silent themselves.

I looked over to Marvel who was playing cards with Rue. They were playfully pushing each other over accusing each other of cheating as I couldn’t help but smile. It’s funny how we are all such great friends although ironically we all killed each other. Well everyone but me, I only killed one person and ironically, it was myself. Clove gets up and holds out a hand to me.

“Come on! He’s going to be here soon!” she smiles as I return the smile and reached for her hand.

Where we are now is neither heaven nor hell. Surprisingly there is such a place where fallen tributes go. Of course we all live in the 74^th building on the street and we all get our own rooms. It’s pretty fun living here but of course it’s nothing like home. It’s not real y’know? The feeling of being alive isn’t with you anymore and things just feel dull but I can’t help but feel happy.

I run while holding onto Clove’s hand as she leads me to the room. The room where you are transported to after y’know you leave reality. We both walk in as the other tributes follow behind, Clove giggled and pushed me gently towards our new comer. I squat beside his head and stroked his face, all the scars you gained from the Games are removed slowly with time no matter how bad they were but his were surely still fresh although all the blood is wiped clean when entering the residence of the fallen tributes.

“Hey sleepy head!” I chirped as I pinched his cheeks.

His eyes slowly flutter open to reveal his icy orbs. He blinked and blinked again when he saw me.

“Hi Cato!”

“…”

“…”

“What?”

“Don’t ‘ what’ me! I told you I didn’t want to see you soon!”

“Ugh…I…ughhh.” He blinked around, it’s funny cause everyone who comes here starts off like that surprised or confused it’s pretty funny to watch when you’re sane.

“Nevermind, I’m thankful that you are rebellious, now I can be with you again!” I laughed as tears flowed from my eyes as I embraced him tightly.

“Where am I?” he asks innocently as he hugs me back.

“Just kiss me already Cato!”

“Wha---“

I push him over and pressed my lips onto his over and over again as the other tributes laughed.

Glimmer bursts out in a giggle fit as she watches me attack a dazed Cato and Clove groans at our open PDA.

The other tributes close in and welcome him.

“I know you killed me but hey, we can still be buddies.” Thresh props Cato as he continues to stare blankly at them.

“Uhhh…I’m sorry district 11?”

“Cato! Do you want to die again?! Start calling people by their names already!” I scolded.

“Okay…district 9.”

“Cato.”

“Hey (Name).”

“Cato. You’re lucky that I love you.”

“I know, or you would’ve bit my head off like those mutts.”

“That’s not really funny.”

“…I know.”

[1]-sorry this mightve messed up the whole story LOL. cause i didnt want it to end up like a lot of the other cato oneshots ive read when all characters just die and yeeeah.

I know that nightlock is supposed to kill ya fast fast but in the story it took pretty long to kill her but i wanted a emotional part in it and yeahh sorry if it didnt follow the facts in the book or the movie either which you prefer more :)