I could hear her screaming for me, but I just couldn't run fast enough. I was chasing that red headed girl from five, I strayed too far away from the feast, and now it's the difference between life and death for Clove.

I got there a few seconds too late. I watch, almost in slow motion, as the rock in Thresh's hand comes down on her skull and she falls to the ground with a thud.

I see twelve bolt back to the forest and Thresh drop the knife and take the bags and scurry back into the cornfields in the corner of my eyes, but I dont give a shit. What I really care about, is getting to her. I run to her as fast as my legs will take me, stumbling over my feet several times, until I'm standing over her limp body, deep green eyes losing life.

How the fuck did I let this happen? How did our perfect little team fall apart so quickly? Because of stupid me. Stupid Cato.

Clove's eyes fix on me and her breaths are beginning to slow. I take her body in my hands and I the sadness falls down my cheeks.

'Clove?' I whisper. 'Fuck Clove, I'm so sorry. I should have come faster, I shouldn't have even left. I'm such a fucking idiot. Just please stay with me!' It's too late; you can see the life draining out of her.

'Cato,' she moans. I've never seen her so weak, so vulnerable.

This is really happening Cato, this is not a dream, she's dying.

'Fuck,' there are more tears tears forming in my eyes and I hate myself for being so weak.

These games break people apart. It kills whatever spirit and hope they have left. It splits up families, kills innocent children, like the one I'm holding in my hands.

'Stay with me babe,' I sob, but I know it makes no difference. 'Please, just stay. Don't close your eyes Clove. Don't you dare close your eyes,' she breaths slightly, and the dent in her head brings more tears in my eyes, 'I need you Clove, I-I love you.'

She's staring at me, and I see a smirk on her face I never thought I'd see again. 'I love you too Cato,' she whispers, and my ears hold on to the delicate words that fell from her lips.

I press my lips to hers as gently as I can manage.

I pull away quickly, I'm crying too hard now. Clove stares up at me, and tries to move, but she can't. I take her hand in mine, and try to hold it in.

She can feel the tears in her hand, and she knows what it means. 'You're crying Cato,' she breaths. There were so many smart ass comments I could have said here, but it's not the time.

'You love me back Cato, forever?' she huffs, and her chest rises and falls once more before it stops moving all together. A cannon goes off and her hand slips away from my grip.

"Forever Clove" I sob. "Forever" She's not coming back.

I close her eyes and kiss her cheek one more time before resting her head delicately on the grass and standing up. The thought of her not being in the arena with my floods my face of tears again. I won't get any more sponsors now, I look weak, hopeless. But that's exactly how I feel right now.

I pick up my sword and walk away. When I look back, the hovercraft lifts her up into the sky. I can see the girl from five hiding in the bushes, but I'm so overwhelmed with the need to kill Thresh that it doesn't matter.