Hate is inevitable. Hate might fuel some people's determination. But what could we District people be different? Surely we can't be that different from the Capitol. But what is it we are lacking that makes hate missing from their lives?
Darkness cannot drive out darkness
Only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate
Only love can do that.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
I huddled in a lone corner of my room. The looming shadows darkened my face. I feel hollow without Peeta. Emptiness. There is nothing. Nothing I should live for. I wish I could just take a cutlery made of shiny stainless steel and stab myself, probably joining Rue and Peeta. The corners of my mouth twitch upwards upon thinking of that idea. Sweet, innocent Rue and perfect, charming Peeta. We all could be full of mirth there - the meadow I described to Rue, possibly even better. The lake will have have clear and still water, duckweeds floating gently on the water. Purplish alyssums and sophisticated carnations will be spread around the fertile dirt, its earthy smell lingering among the air. Oh! Prim, Father and Mother will be there, all of them so gleeful. And for the first time since the end of the games, I was genuinely happy.
A gentle yet impatient knock on my door brought me back to reality. "Katniss dear, lunch is served, we're all waiting for you!" I heard Effie genially prompted me. This was when a loud sound of plates shattering which resembles the sound of the cannon in the games. My mind drifts off to the scene of Peeta's death while hearing faint noises of Effie chastising Haymitch.
I was in a dilemma. Peeta was desperately struggling to grasp onto any air. Cato has Peeta in a headlock and was cutting off any air circulation in his body. "Go on! Shoot, and we both go down and you win." Cato teased me, "Time's running out, princess." My eyes dart around for something to help me. Something, please... That was when I saw it. A spark of hope ignites in me when I saw the small yet big hint Peeta gave me. Holding out a shaky hand, he drew an invisible 'X' on Cato's palm. I instinctively reached my hand to grab an arrow, complying Peeta's hint. I pulled back the delicate string and took aim. Realeasing the grasp on the string, the arrow whizzed through air, expecting to find its target on Cato's hand. This was when Cato abruptly shoved Peeta forward, unfortunately into my arrow. It pierced into his neck, snapping his jugular vein into two. Crimson red liquid spew out of the wound, staining his clothes. A mark of my murder. He clutched onto his neck before dropping dead on the slick and shiny cornucopia. A gasp escaped from my mouth and I am surprised that my eyes have not popped out of its sockets. Cato looked at the lifeless and cold corpse in disgust before booting it off the cornucopia, for the muttations to savour. Wiping the little beads of tears off my cheek, I reached out for the only arrow in my leather quiver. I have to do this. For Peeta. For Prim. For Rue. I hate Cato. I hate his guts. I will full enjoy digging them out of his merciless body. Worthless piece of thrash occupying space.
Cato guffawed in amusement upon seeing me struggling to get up. "Ready to die?" He tantalized with a malicious smirk on his face. I scowled. Never had I encounter such a complacent and arrogant animal in my life. Not even that ugly Buttercup. As I pushed my heel back to stand up, my foot nudged against my bow, causing it to fall among the muttations. Shit... I cursed in my head. Oh well, better way to release some stress on my muscles by some combat skills.
After fighting, or shall I say dancing with weapons, I finally have the tip of my arrow pointing straight to his neck while Cato does the same but instead with his sword. "Remember that I can thrust this into your neck any moment, which means you will have the same fate as Peeta," I hissed at him hatefully.
He raises an eyebrow before stating,"Same rule applies to you, ma'am."
I was about to stab him in the neck before wringing the arrow when a loud voice announces, "Stop! May I introduce you to the victors of the 74th annual Hunger Games – Katniss Everdeen of District Twelve and Cato Hadley from District Two!"