And the story continues. :D
I managed to answers most of your question in this first chapter. Made it as loong as I can before the lazy started to kick in. *sigh*
I hope you guys catch on with story, enjooy~!
Peeta's POV
I opened my eyes and all I could feel was pain rippling across my body. The most pain was at my arm, I could feel something piercing through it. All I could remember screaming for Katniss' name before something huge exploded at the arena. 'I have to get out of here. Fast.'
I stood up and the first thing I saw was the tree branch protruding out of my arm. The branch actually split at the end so it became impossible to pull myself out. I was desperate and my arm was beginning to numb from the injury. I was feeling very drowsy and fighting it just made it a lot worse so I decided to close my eyes just for a little while.
"Gale, stop!" I screamed as I put my arms in front of my face to defend myself.
"Don't be such a stuck up, princess. I know you want this too." He said almost threateningly as he broke through my arms and kissed me roughly. I grunted as I tried to free my arms from his hold but he was too strong.
He broke the kiss as he tied my wrists together behind me. "Gale, don't… Don't do this." I tried to plead but he wasn't listening.
"If you behaved yourself, then maybe I wouldn't have done this!" He screamed as he grabbed Peeta's face in his hand shaking it as he continued "You just had to take everything from me didn't you. Don't worry I'll make you mine, soon."
The words lingered through my head like a broken radio. I had to escape but how?
Gale took his off jeans and ripped my shirt before he pulled me up to kiss me. I played with his sick game long enough to take his attention off me, 'He's not noticing, now's my chance.' I thrust my knee as hard as I could right into his groin. He groaned loudly before he fell down on the floor as I made a break for it but his feet tripped me off. I landed flat on the dusty floor as I tried to wiggle myself up. Gale isn't up yet, he was still groaning and curled up to hide the pain. I wriggled hard just to get my feet up but it was too impossible.
"Y-You've really done it this time." He said as he tied rope to gag me. He turned me around and all I could do was tremble and whimper through the gag. "I'll make you scream like you've never had before."
I woke up, gasping and sweaty. 'Just another nightmare.' I thought to myself as I let out a sigh of relief. After the Hunger Games, Gale was acting really weird especially when Katniss introduced me. I never liked Gale, there was something off about him that I try to avoid seeing him. I never even realized how much trouble he was until he raped me. It was really hard, living without someone to hold on to and everything boiled into one name. A name he swore to forget but as much as he tried he could never get it out of his system. 'Cato.'
END OF POV
He shook off the thoughts as he focused on the situation at hand. Peeta searched for his pockets, taking out a knife and a piece of cloth. Using the cloth, he made a tourniquet to prevent circulation and started to saw the branch using the serrated edge of his knife. It didn't take long, after the branch was cut off; he willed himself to pull the rest out of his arm. The bleeding partially stopped, the tourniquet was working quite well. He trudged on through the woods, looking for any signs of his friends.
Out of the blue, a hovercraft appeared from no where. It descended slowly in front of him, did he win already? The hatch opened and a foggy mist emitted from the inside. A woman in a tight leather clad, stepped out in the sexiest gait. Each sway of her hips looked perfect and she had every curve a woman should.
"Mr. Mellark, I am from the Capitol." She said nearing Peeta "I came here to offer you a deal."
"If you're from the Capitol then I'm not interested." Peeta said coldly, turning his back on the woman.
"Would you not want to hear the rest? We might have something you would want." She said never leaving her gaze on Peeta.
"Fine, I'll listen. Who are you and what do you want with me?" He asked impatiently, it obvious he was putting on a fake personality to trick the Capitol woman. But she didn't react to his blunt side.
"I am called Milca, the head of the research institute of the Capitol. The Capitol has sent me on their behalf, to deliver to you this proposal." She explained, taking out a holopad from behind. She inputted several commands before a hologram of several districts was shown. 'Fire? A rebellion?' Peeta thought keeping his cool as he waited for Milca to continue.
"The Districts, as you can see, are rebelling against the Capitol. We are at a disadvantage, solely thanks to you and Ms. Everdeen." She said, closing the hologram and held it at her chest. "We need you, to convince Ms. Everdeen to hold off the rebellion."
"You want me to stop the people from reclaiming their freedom? Not a chance." He answered, crossing his arms.
"We have already predicted you would deny us. That is why we have been preparing you 'reward'." She smirked before she began to input commands through the holopad. There was something strange about how she said the word 'reward'; it was like they were playing poker and the enemy revealed their trump card leaving him in a very vulnerable state.
The hologram revealed a research lab with many scientists, as a research lab should probably have. There a special tube was conveyed to the lab through mechanical belts.
"What am I supposed to be seeing here?" Peeta asked in confusion.
The Capitol woman didn't answer him as if she wanted Peeta to be patient.
The tube's outer locks twisted and retracted allowing the hatch to open. Peeta's jaw dropped, his heart was beating fast, as he took the holopad from Milca's hands. The woman didn't mind, she has merely examining Peeta's reaction. The tube's outer shell opened showing a clear glass confine filled with what looked like water. Peeta could clearly tell who was inside; there was absolutely no doubt in his heart it was Cato. He couldn't help but tear up at the fluttering sensation he was feeling.
"I-Is he…" He didn't want to say the last word; it was too taboo for him to even ask.
But the woman got what he was trying to say, and she nodded.
"Come with me, I shall explain on the way." She said walking back to the hovercraft. He followed inadvertently, the hovercraft's hatch closing behind him. He took a seat across where Milca was sitting and the hovercraft gained altitude. He didn't care if what he's about to do is wrong or selfish because he was doing this for his own benefit. This is something he should have done a long time ago but this time, this time he's going to do it right.
The flight was steady but Peeta's mind was already filled with questions he wanted to ask. The air in the hovercraft was awkward; Milca was sitting across him, reading him. She sighed as she flipped her hair and looked deep into Peeta's eyes.
"As I said, I shall now explain to you why we saved your friend." She said breaking the silence. Peeta listened intently to what Milca was going to say.
"Do you remember what the two of you did during the seventy-fourth annual Hunger Games?" She asked with a hint of amusement in her tone.
Peeta paused and thought back in the past and it hit him directly at the face. He flushed so hard and his heart kept beating like war drums in the heat of battle. 'Oh, they… saw that?' He thought to himself. It only came to him now that what he and Cato just did was seen by everyone on Panem. He couldn't even bear to look at Milca, who was slightly giggling at his reactions. He nodded ever so slightly, his head tucked into his knees.
She cleared her throat before she said to him, "Well, that little situation was not screened by the order of the Capitol."
Peeta was surprised at what he just heard. 'Why would the Capitol do such a thing?'
"The Capitol is merely getting on good terms with you. Because of your love affair with the District 2 tribute, the Capitol has decided to bring him back for your cooperation." She explained, crossing her legs.
"Cato is OK right?" He asked, the only thing that could break him right now was if Milca would deliver the bad news.
"That, I cannot guarantee." She spoke worriedly. "We have been testing Mr. Cato, checking on how much we have progressed to revive him fully." She took out her holopad again and began to sequence codes on the screen. "The results were less than satisfactory." Milca said as she extended the holopad to Peeta.
Peeta took the holopad and watched the video playing. It was Cato, and he was strapped on the lab table, he looked conscious and was struggling to escape. Th scientists were calling for help and most of them were restraining Cato, obviously it didn't work. He broke out, one strap to another until he was on his feet. The other scientists already left except for one who was too shocked to move. She begged for him to not kill but he snapped her neck quickly.
"I-I've seen enough." Peeta struggled to say; he turned down the holopad and gave it back to Milca.
"Unfortunately, the severe case Mr. Cato is going through is extreme memory loss." She said "It was mostly likely caused by the arrow shot to his head. We, the Capitol's finest team of scientists, were unable to stimulate his memories for them to resurface but…" She paused as she looked at Peeta hopefully. "But I believe the results would be different if you tried to help him, Mr. Mellark."
And that was when Peeta felt his heart skipped, 'I promise – I promise I'll bring you back Cato!'
The hovercraft landed gently and Milca stood up the moment the hatches opened. Peeta followed her out, and he saw the Capitol before him. Milca lead him back to the underground gym they used during the seventy-fourth Hunger Games but only this time the gym was remodelled into a state of the art laboratory.
"So where is he?" Peeta asked, looking around the new laboratory they fashioned.
"Eager are we?" She teased as took a turn to a big metallic door. "We're here."
On a voice box to the left, a person asked for their 'verification codes'. Milca answered him with several digits and letters to which Peeta didn't even bother to remember.
Finally, the proof his been looking for. It was Cato and he was nude, he could see that the wounds Cato once had now turned into mere scars. Peeta started to dash for him but Milca block him with her arm. She cocked her eyebrow and Peeta gave her a confused look.
"Mr. Mellark, this is it. Do you agree to our terms or would you rather walk away now and abandon your love? The choice is yours." She asked, her arm strongly stayed up to block Peeta's way.
"Okay, I'll work for you. But you have to let me stay with Cato." Peeta demanded. The look in his eyes burned with a strong flame.
"That is already taken care of." Milca said letting down her arm and walking out of the room.
The room was quite big; it had everything Peeta thought a laboratory should have. He looked around and saw that there was a glass window covering a small room just above the metallic entrance and where several scientists were stationed including Milca.
"Mr. Mellark can you hear me?" She voiced through the microphone.
"Yeah, I can hear you!" Peeta screamed, he used his hands to somewhat amplify his voice.
"No, no Mr. Mellark I can't hear you. Only you can hear me. Use hand signals to communicate with us." She said. Peeta could see the scientists besides her covering their laughter.
Peeta just gave her a thumb up and turned his back. 'Well, that was embarrassing.'
When he neared Cato, he put his palm on the glass. 'Cato, please remember me.' he thought as looked back up at Milca.
"Mr. Mellark, don't let your guard down not even if he uses your relationship to his advantage. We will begin the activation sequence momentarily."
Peeta backed away just in case Cato would try to kill him. The glass released pressure as steam hissed out, releasing the locking mechanisms on the inside. He just stood there, anticipating when Cato would open his eyes and come dashing towards him in a fit of bloodlust. All the windows were sealed including the one on the room above.
'Great, with them out of the way I can deal with Cato without holding back.'
With every second passing it just made the Peeta more psyched, his fingers were shaking and all he could hear was the mechanical clicks and his heart beating furiously against his chest.
Cato's eyes flung open, it was filled with the need to kill and nothing more. His muscles started to flex, he was trying to break free from his straps. Peeta couldn't help admire his body; Cato still had his muscle definition even though he died for more than a year. 'God, he's so hot... W-Wait, why am I getting turned on right now?'
He swallowed hard and shook the dirty thoughts off of his minds as he fashioned a battle stance Haymitch taught him when they trained for the Quarter Quell. Cato was free from his straps as he landed down on his feet, rubbing his wrists. He smirked, the same heart catching smirk he'd use to make Peeta flush for no particular reason. It was certainly working.
"Twelve? I thought I was the only one who got to win the Hunger Games." He said adapting into a battle formation of his own. "I guess I didn't kill you completely the last time."
He dashed at Peeta almost as fast as roaring lightning, Peeta dodged just in time. But his reactions weren't fast enough; Cato had already swept him off his feet. Cato jumped up but Peeta read his actions and rolled away from Cato's elbow slam. He got back up to his feet. 'This is so not the time to be drooling over Cato!'
He lunged at Cato, as soon as he was at arms reach he threw a strong punch to his face, which luckily connected. Peeta realized he just walked into Cato's trap, as he retracted his arm his fears were confirmed. Cato gripped on his arm and pulled him close securing Peeta in an armlock. He then pinned Peeta on a wall as he secured his other arm in a similar lock.
"You can't beat me twelve." His breath was ragged and hot, ghosting over Peeta's neck. Cato leaned in close, pressing his bare body onto Peeta's.
Peeta was grunting as he tried to catch his breath. He was having a major hard on just from Cato's hot breath and body on him. He didn't even bother to say anything. He had to get rid of the forming bulge growing in his pants.
Cato leaned closer to Peeta's ear, whispering seductively the words arousing Peeta further. "You know, I might just let you live. Would you like that? I'd get to play with you whenever I want."
Cato released Peeta from the armlock and turned him around. He immediately found Peeta flushing red and the massive erection in his tent. Cato pulled him closer, so close that Peeta could feel Cato's heart beating against his. Peeta could feel every muscle on Cato but he was too fixated on Cato's eyes, they seem to have emotion in them now.
'Does he remember?' Peeta asked himself, leaning in close to kiss Cato. Their tongues quickly fought for domination, swirling and swiping each other. Peeta let Cato be dominant, he missed this so much he just wanted to lie in Cato's arms forever. But then Cato broke the kiss roughly and by that time Peeta only realized how Cato's hands were poised to snap his neck.
*pouts* .. Cato's being a meanie ...
Cato: What? It's because you made act like one!
Peeta: I think the author's right, you ARE being a meanie. A hot meanie.
Cato: What did you say? A what meanie?
.. He said you're a haa-! *Peeta covers authors mouth*
Peeta: HAHA! Oh wow, WHAT did I say?
Cato: Whatever you two. As my author is being strangled by Peeta, I extend his, I mean our gratitude to you the readers!
Peeta: Yeah thanks a lot you guys~!
*author bites Peeta's hand*
Peeta:Ahh! What are you doing?
.. Hey, Cato! Peeta said you're hot! ..
Peeta & Cato: *looks at author with widened eyes*
.. oookay this is getting awkward .. *walks out of the monitor*
Cato: You think I'm hot?
*Peeta's jaw drops to his feet*