Written for the Holly and Mistletoe Competition 2013 (Hunger Games ::: Contest and Character Chat).
Write about someone coming to a shattering realization.
Edited on 12/5/13: fixed some typos.
Cato: -Intelligent -Derives from Latin -a previous Cato (military advisor)
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Cato trained from childhood, like every other kid in District 2. And he tried to be brave, just like every other kid in District. He dared to do stupid things, just like every other kid in District 2.
But he dared to do one thing that no other kid in District 2 dared to do.
He dared to think. He dared to feel.
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"Shut out the emotions. Make no friends, only allies. There is no such thing as trust. There is no such thing as pain. There is no such thing as love." An intimidating woman with broad shoulders fingers her dagger as she grits out each commanding word. "If you want to live."
Cato doesn't say anything, just like every other kid in the perfect line that he's been trained to stand in. He does want to live. But he wants to really live.
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"Miss Clove," Cato asks, exuding a competitive aura that masks the impish grin he's grinning in inside, "Would you spar with me?"
He's met with a sadistic sneer. "Prepare to get your ass whopped."
Cato feels his heart speed up.
He can't decide if he likes it or not. So he decides not to decide.
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"Clove," he asks with a confident grin, "Can you spar?"
Clove raises her eyebrows. "You just don't learn, do you?"
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"Clove," he asks. "Wanna-"
He's cut off. "No. Go away."
Cato feels his heart pang. He doesn't know why he feels so hurt.
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"Clove-"
He's cut off again. "Alright."
He smiles.
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"Wanna spar?"
"Ready to lose again?"
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"Spar?"
"Again?"
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"Clove?"
"Sure."
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"Clove?"
"Okay."
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"Clove Sevina!"
Cato is met with silence.
"Come! I won't bite!"
Nothing. Footfalls.
Cato feels his heart drop and decides that he doesn't like it.
Clove. Clove. Clove. Clove. Cloveclovecloveclovenononono. Clove!
"Now, for the men."
Sifting. Picking.
"Mark Wort!"
Silence.
Cato feels his heart rise to his throat, and he doesn't care if he likes it or not, because there's no time for feeling.
Thereisnosuchthingaslove- Yes, there is. There is love, for me, he realizes.
"I volunteer!"
He doesn't know why he does it. But he promises to keep her safe. She will come out, even if he won't.
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An extended hand.
Clove looks at him like he's her prey and she's the hawk.
"Prepare to die," she whispers.
Cato feels his heart disappear. "What?"
There is no such thing as trust.
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The Games start and he shuts out all emotions. He has made no friends, only allies. He trusts none, not even her.
And he feels love, even so.
Start.
Kill.
End.
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"Cato!"
Cato feels his heart break.
"Clove…"
At that moment, he realizes that he can't save her. And it hurts so much. Clove.
There is no such thing as pain- Yes, yes there is. For me, there is, Cato concludes.
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Cato fought in the games like any other career.
But he did something that no other career dared to attempt.
He fell in love. Maybe that wasn't so smart.
Thank you for reading.
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