I do NOT own any character in the fanfiction. Neither do I own the song.
All credits go to Suzanne Collins and Coldplay.
When you try your best but you don't succeed…
"Cato!" She screeches. "Cato!"
"Clove!" She's too far. Maybe if a miracle happens and the distance shortens, I'll get to her in time.
Crack.
I hear a gruesome sound.
No.
Not her.
Let it be that fire girl.
Let it be anyone but her.
I can hear the breeze cutting through my skin.
My eyes see nothing but the clearing.
When you get what you want but not what you need..
Thump.
A body drops to the ground.
No.
"Clove!"
I ignore both the tribute from 11 and that fire girl.
Clove.
Clove.
Clove.
Her name is ringing in my ears.
I rush to her side.
I control my rage.
I kneel close to her, taking her into my arms.
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep… Stuck in reverse.
"No Clove. Stay with me." Tears fight to fall from my eyes.
No, Cato. My mind says, but my body betrays me.
Crying makes you weak. I hear my parents' own voice.
And tears come streaming down your face…
"Clove. You can't do this to me. Not to our District. Stay with me."
I beg and beg… and beg.
When you lose someone you can't replace…
"YOU WERE GONNA WIN REMEMBER?" I scream, cradling her in my arm as I hold on tight to my spear.
She smirks at me with eyes half lulled into falling.
When you love someone but it goes to waste…
"Idiot," she chuckles softly.
"Finish them for me. For us." I shake uncontrollably as she smiles at me for the last time.
Could it be worse?
(FLASHBACKS)
I breathe heavily. A twist of my arm and I aim for the training dummy, hitting it once again.
"Cato! You will never be a legacy of this family if you don't win the Hunger Games. Don't be a disgrace." My mother demands.
I hear her voice in my head. Disgrace.
A knife cuts through my peripheral view, and lands directly into the dummy's chest. I look behind me and there, the suspect stands.
"Nice arm you got there." She twirls a knife along her fingers. Who does she think—
She attacks me with her knife.
I block her with my sword.
Our faces are inches away from each other.
"What the—?" I start but she just smirks. That smirk.
She pulls back and turns around…
"I'm Clove. I train. I kill. Nice to meet you, Cato." She starts walking away, taking my heart with her.
And as she turns, she throws her knife at the last dummy, straight through the heart before she leaves the room.
Lights will guide you home…
"Ladies first!" That weirdo, Effie Trinket exclaims as she draws a name from the container. "Hann—" she starts.
"NO. I VOLUNTEER!" she walks in, head held high with her signature smirk. The girl from the training room.
"How delightful." Effie smiles as she claps her hands. "What a brave young woman."
Beauty and courage.
And ignite your bones…
"And now for the boys!"
"I VOLUNTEER." I shout loud enough as I cross my arms, looking towards Clove's direction.
"Well, isn't this exciting! As expected, District 2's brave tributes~" As the host continues to chatter, I block out all sound.
I stare into her eyes, her own drilling into mine.
She smiles. Smile. Not smirk.
"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!" she ends her speech as we give a final look at our District.
I promise I'll keep her safe.
And I will try to fix you…
I see her crying by the hallway.
I hesitate to approach… but we're teammates.
"Clove?"I whisper.
"Get away from me." she turns her back from me and by instinct, I grab her arm.
She turns, makeup stained face, my heart softens.
A foreign feeling.
"I'm your teammate. What's the matter?" I say in a monotone.
She is doubting. I can feel it.
Her pupils dilating and I can almost hear her heartbeat through her chest.
She shivers as I lighten my grip on her arm… slowly releasing her.
"None of your business." She whispers before she walks away. Leaving me there. Confused. Stunned with this foreign feeling.
Beauty and strength.
And high up above or down below…
I walk around the empty halls.
A day before the start of the Games.
I have been watching her from afar as she trains.
A girl almost as skilled as me.
We both know nothing else.
Nothing but killing.
Her face. That charming face behind the cold stone façade.
Breathtaking as she sweeps her arms around aiming for those dummies.
Perfect.
Perfect aim. Poise. Elegance.
Thump.
I bump into her. Humiliating.
"Ouch." She falls on the floor, rubbing her forehead.
"S-sorry about that." I say as I offer her a hand. She takes it and reels herself up slowly.
"Doesn't—" she stops in midsentence.
"Cato." She stares coldly trying to pull her hand back.
When you're too in love to let it go…
I hold onto her hand for the shortest of moments.
"Clove, I—"
"No Cato, you don't." she cuts and jerks away from me.
But if you never try, you'll never know…
She starts to walk away again.
No. Not this time.
"CLOVE!" I call out and she turns, annoyance across her face.
"You'll win this. My life over yours. I promise." Her face softens. Confusion spreads and she goes back to her cold façade.
It's a promise.
To her.
To myself.
To District 2.
Just what you're worth…
No, Cato.
Stop. Stop shaking.
I try.
I try to convince myself.
My body betrays me.
Sobs and tears escape.
No.
"CLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!" I scream as she finally closes her eyes.