A/N- This is a little story I call, "In the Shadows of Victory." Written by me, theeShadyLady. This is District 2's Reaping and the 74th Hunger Games, from Cato's POV. After seeing The Hunger Games movie, for the second time, I started thinking why is Cato, the way he is? What makes him so insanely blood thirsty? So since there was no way to find out what really happened, I made a story up for him. And it goes like this...

((DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Hunger Games.))

CHAPTER 1: "In the Shadows of Victory"

"Brutus Unger," says Rochelle Diamond, the newest name reader of District 2. I can feel the fight in the air as Brutus —the weakest, most unskilled boy in all of District 2— walks towards the stage. Every boy from age twelve to eighteen waits for the moment to volunteer.

Rochelle must have been warned on how District 2 is about male volunteers, because she starts her next line cautiously. "I now, would like to know... if there are any volunteers for this year's male tribute." Before she even finishes her sentence Brutus runs off the stage, which is a first for District 2. After that, shouts fill the air and there is no way to tell who the first volunteer was, but this is how it always is. This is what I planned for. I push forward dodging the flying fists. Partway through the crowd, someone behind me lands a hard blow in my side, so I bring my elbow back forcefully into his face. The guy falls backwards and hits the ground; no one pays attention to him and the fights continue.

When I'm almost to the stage, I see that I am not the only one who had this idea. Comet, who has always been the closest thing to competition for me, is about to walk up the stage stairs. However, someone grabs him and pulls him back into the hostile crowd. That someone is my older brother, Marcus, and he gives me enough time to lunge toward the stairs and claim my place. I step onto the stage and position myself next to this year's female tribute, Clove Underwood. People see that I am on the stage and the fights suddenly come to a stop; there is no point for them anymore. I feel a wicked joy inside, because I know that I have won. Rochelle smiles looking relieved that the fights are over, "Well, aren't you handsome? What is your name?"

"Cato Moore," I say flashing a winning smile for the cameras. Out of the corner of my eye I see Clove roll her eyes, definitely not a way for her to win over sponsors. I make a mental note of this.

"Sounds good," Rochelle replies, "Now, let's give a big round of applause for our two tributes." The audience reluctantly obeys, but there is jealousy in the eyes of the un-chosen guys. Rochelle and a few peacekeepers lead me and Clove into the District 2 Justice Building. Just before we enter I see Brutus out of the corner of my eye, he's crying, and I can't help but stop to watch.

"I—I'm sorry, father," he sobs, "I couldn't do it."

"You are not my son," his father says coldly. Brutus' mother is standing next to him crying and shaking her head.

"Mother, please forgive me," Brutus pleads. But before she can speak, Brutus' father grabs her arms and says something too quiet for me to hear.

"Keep walking," the peacekeeper angrily says as he pushes me forward.

Clove and I are put in separate rooms to wait for the train and to say goodbye to friends and family.

The door clicks shut and I begin thinking about strategies. However, my thoughts are interrupted by my father walking in. He doesn't say anything, but I know what he is thinking about. He won the 49th Hunger Games and was a mentor for a few years. But after four or five years, he got rotated out because he wasn't able to train a victor. Ever since then, he has always wanted one of his sons to win, probably so he can feel like he doesn't completely fail at teaching. And I am his last chance. Marcus aged out, never once volunteering. And my younger brother, Arson, was killed in the Games four years ago. He was only twelve. And he is the reason my mother will not come say goodbye to me. She still believes that it's my fault that Arson died, just because I didn't volunteer before him.

I live in the shadows of victory and failure, but this year is my year to step into the spotlight.

We stand facing each other and I start to wonder if this is what it was like when he went to his Games. While I am thinking this, my father does something unexpected. He puts a hand on my shoulder and says, "You were always my favorite." Instead of feeling the pride I know he expects me to feel, the only thing I feel is anger. I hate that he'd say that, especially after Arson volunteered just to impress him and I only volunteered for me.

Thankfully, the peacekeepers come in before I say anything that I'd regret. They say that my next visitor is on their way up. I know it's Marcus and so does my father. Even though we still have a couple of minutes left, he leaves without saying anything, but only because he can't stand Marcus.

~theeShadyLady~