Hey everyone! Here is chapter one of the sequel to my first story, The Ebb and Flow of Love and Vengeance. I'm sorry that it is late but I hope you enjoy! This will be a longer story, it will go through both Catching Fire and Mocking Jay. Thank you for all of the favorites, reviews and alerts for my previous story, you all are the best!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games, Catching Fire or Mocking Jay. I also do not own the plot line or characters, they belong to Suzanne Collins. Some of the lines in the following chapter are hers as well. My characters and part of the plot line are obviously mine. Boo yea.
Read on! ~xoxx, Carolyn
I stand and stretch, staring out of the window of Cato and I's new compartment that is built right under the surface of District 13. The window is built into the ceiling and the sunlight is warm on my face in the early morning hours.
Its been months since I was a tribute for District Four in the Hunger Games.
I went into the games, vowing that I would take my vengeance for my older brother, Arlen, who was murdered in the games the year before.
There was nothing I wasn't willing to do to win those games and that included killing my district partner and everyone else who got in my way.
In the end, I came out with a broken heart full of sorrow from the loss of my dear little friend Wiley, District Four's male tribute.
I also got more than I bargained for, I fell for the worst of them all.
Cato Mica.
I hated him in the beginning, he was cruel, cold and heartless.
Little did I know that he was falling for me too, going against everything he'd been taught and becoming lost to his own father.
We're all each other has now.
I would die for him in a heartbeat.
The bathroom is a bit larger than it was in our old compartment, there's enough room now so that I don't hit my elbows on every which wall, waking up Cato with a loud bang or curse.
I stare into the mirror at my dark brown face.
So much has changed.
My once long, sun bleached hair has been cut to mid-neck in short spiky layers due to a fire incident during the rebellion of District Eight.
The scars of the arena have faded to a pale pink; I am glad to see those memories go.
I still have a metal leg and hand though; Cato's entire upper body is encased in titanium alloy as well, we are living proof of the brutality of the Hunger Games.
We are everything that President Alma Coin needs to spur forth her revolution.
I am lost deep in thought when Cato steps up behind me, silently wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder.
I have never felt a bond as deep as this and it still scares me, even to this day.
"Good morning."
"Morning, how'd you sleep?"
"Well enough, I know you didn't though."
I shiver at the thought of my nightmares, they are horrible and far worse than they were before.
"Yes, well, it's okay."
A voice comes from the speaker in our room and I cringe at the icy tone of President Coin's voice.
"Soldier Inna?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Please meet me in the conference room at 800 hours."
"Will do."
Static.
"I wish she would leave us alone," Cato growls.
I sigh, for I couldn't agree more.
"I know. I'd better go see what she needs."
A soft, cool winter breeze blows down through the window and gently caresses my hair as Cato kisses me long and deep.
"I'll be back later..."
"All right. I'll be in training. I've got some soldiers in my unit that have no clue as to what the hell they're doing. I could kill Coin for assigning them to me."
Cato kisses me one last time before releasing me to the subterranean tunnels of district 13.
The hallway is still dimmed to look like night, the winter days are short and cold here and I feel as if we spend half of our time in darkness.
I wish that I was back in District Four, curled up in my warm bed, listening to my brother tell old stories of sea monsters and brave sailors.
I dream of Arlen every night, his death replays over and over before I am pulled out of the horror and onto a golden beach back home.
In my dreams we speak for hours, Wiley even joins us as we bask in the sand and talk of revolution. His face is bright as ever and I hold onto the remnants of these scenes for as long as I can.
The conference room is stark white, as usual, and the light is too bright but quickly dims when it senses my discomfort.
"Still trying to wake up Soldier Inna?"
"Yes, ma'am. We were up till one in the morning training. My squad is more than ready for combat."
"I am sure, but, it is time for the rebellion of District Four. District Eight has continued their own and are struggling. They need more support, the other districts must follow suit."
My heart sinks, I regret the promise that I made Coin.
Thousands will die in District Four if I lead them into rebellion.
The blood of friends, families, everyone I've ever known, will be on my hands.
"Inna?"
"I don't know if my people are ready yet...there are far too many young ones and they cannot wield a gun or any kind of weapon. I can guarantee you that the peacekeepers will slaughter them without hesitation. If you lose children, you lose the hearts and support of their families and friends. If that happens, we will all be dead in the water."
"That is why I have assigned you there Soldier Inna. You are their leader, you are the symbol of District Four's strength and will to survive. I can guarantee that you will bring them to victory and total control over the district."
I grow silent as I sit there, deep in thought.
"Also, Miss Everdeen is marrying Mr. Mellark."
I look up at her confused, "Katniss? She's marrying Peeta? That seems a bit soon."
Coin wraps her hands around a cup of coffee, "I would like you to make an appearance, very brief, to Miss Everdeen. Sober her up, I do not want a love-sick sap leading my revolution."
"I'll see what I can do. When do we leave?"
"YOU leave tomorrow."
Her emphasis on the word you sends chills down my spine, "Cato?"
"He will not be accompanying you this time."
"Why not?"
"We need him here, he has work to do."
I stand up, the chair legs scrape the linoleum floor as I do, assaulting my ears, "I will be ready."
"Good, you will have the same schedule as always but you will be released from training early so you can get the rest that you need."
"May I go now?"
"Dismissed."
"NO! I will NOT stand for this! Who does she think she is! I'm going with you whether she likes it or not!"
Cato's shouts echo through the corridors as he slams his fists into the wall.
"I'm sorry...they are my orders."
His eyes narrow and he pulls me to him, nearly squeezing me to death.
"Cato, I-"
His lips crush mine and I gasp for breath, "I will not leave you to go out there alone!"
I do my best to quiet him and eventually he settles to a dull roar.
We stick our forearms through the hole in the wall and our schedules are tattooed in bold, black ink.
Breakfast is silent, Moana tries to strike up a conversation but neither of us can keep it up.
Cato abruptly stands and crashes through the rest of the breakfast crowd, causing a whirl of murmurs to run through the people and a few trays clatter to the ground from the force of his fury.
"Is everything okay?"
"Not really. I'm leaving tomorrow for District Four. It's time for the rebellion to begin."
"So what's his problem?"
"I'm going alone."
Moana sits there, eyes wide, "What? Why?"
"Coin says that they need him here. As you can see he's none too happy about it."
"I can't believe she's sending you alone though, that's dangerous."
"I know. I guess we'll see what happens."
The rest of the day flies by and I practice with my squad; their eyes watch me intently, everyone has heard of my orders.
"Will you be okay, Hydra?"
Aidan, just a year older than me, stares at me with concerned brown eyes. His messy black hair contrasts beautifully with his deep bronze skin and his muscles glisten in the light. He is an escapee from District 10 and is the most talented member of my squad, his skills with both knives and the bow are impeccable.
"Yea, just a bit nervous."
"I'm sorry. It's wrong of her to let you go out there yourself."
"It's my job. I knew it would happen soon."
He gently reaches over and squeezes my hand, just as Cato walks in.
His blue eyes flash with anger and he walks over roughly grabbing my hand.
"Cato," Aidan greets coldly.
The two stand eye-to-eye, eyes boring into each other, "Aidan."
Without another word he pulls me away, "Good luck, Hydra," Aidan's voice calls out.
"What was that for?" I hiss, rubbing my wrist when we get back into the compartment.
"Nothing. You need to go to sleep."
"I am aware of that..."
I reach up and gently push a stray piece of hair that is falling into his eyes, "I love you."
He lets out a loud sigh, "And I love you."
He kisses me and the lights in the compartment snuff out, his lips are hot and they mold against mine with such passion I beg for more.
I remember the first time he kissed me, how sudden and unexpected it was.
It was the night before the games and we were up on the roof as we always were, I had wanted to win but I knew that I wouldn't be able to kill him myself.
We are soon fast asleep and I am thrown into a tumultuous slumber filled with countless terrors of which Cato swiftly comes to my rescue.
The next morning, I wake at five o'clock. I am careful not to wake the boy of District Two as I gather what I need.
I can still feel the warmth of his skin against my own from the night before. It is so easy to lose myself and forget that there is a revolution on the horizon when he is loving me in the midst of this chaotic frenzy.
I tear myself away and continue to gather my things.
The shark's tooth on Wiley's cuff gleams in the starlight and tears fill my eyes as I turn it over in my hand.
I hold it close to my heart and wipe away the tears.
It is as silent as the grave when I leave. I don't want to leave him but I must. I gently kiss his lips and he stirs for a moment before settling again.
Moana dresses me in my skin tight black outfit, the blue, purple and aqua waves swirl around the sleeves and legs, shimmering with a beautiful iridescence.
His artwork never ceases to amaze me.
He clasps the crescent moon pendant around my neck and laces Wiley's cuff around my wrist.
When he is done, he slides a heavy winter coat over me that is long and made of some kind of fur.
It is warm and soft, I've never seen anything like it.
"You'll need this. The winter winds can be fierce."
"Thanks...I hope I make it."
"You will, do as I told you before the games and you will get home."
We embrace and he hands me a pack full of rations, "Good luck my dearest."
"I'll see you soon."
Coin stands with me at the edge of District 13, we examine the rubble left by the Capitol when it bombed the district years ago.
"Remember your task. I wish you the best of luck Soldier Inna."
"Thanks."
She lives without another word and I stare out at the barren wilderness before me.
First stop, District 12.
I travel as far as the fence of the coal mining district to find that it is dreary and bleak, just as it was when I first saw it but even more so now.
There is a gaping hole in the rusted, barbed wire fence and I quickly slip underneath it after I am sure that there is no electricity flowing through the spikes.
I hear a commotion far off and move towards the sound, curious as to what I will find waiting for me.
Katniss' POV
Katniss struggled against Peeta, trying to see what the commotion was about coming from inside of the large crowd.
Peeta stopped her from crawling on top of a crate, whispering harshly, "Get down. Get out of here!"
She pushed him off, "What?"
"Go home, Katniss! I'll be there in a minute, I swear!"
She pulled away from Peeta and pushed through the crowd, but people tried their best to keep her back, "Get out of here, girl."
"Only make it worse."
"What do you want to do? Get him killed?"
She finally broke free from the crowed and her eyes widened in horror at what lay before her, Gale was bound to a wooden post by his wrists, the turkey that he had killed earlier was nailed to the post above him.
Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at him, slumped on the ground, motionless. His back looked as if it had shredded by a cheese grater.
A man, not their peacekeeper Cray, but another man, tall and muscular, raised his hand to whip Gale again.
"NO!" She was thrown to the ground as the whip came down across the left side of her face.
"Stop it! You'll kill him!"
She stared at the man with his face as jagged as a rock from a mountain side with a mouth that was slanted at a cruel angle. His gray hair was shaved to the scalp and his eyes were black like a wolf's.
He raised his hand to strike again when a hand rose and caught him.
A hooded figure stood before her, hand wrapped around the man's wrist, stance strong, the man cringing as the sound of crushing bones filled the crisp air.
"I wouldn't do that again if I were you," the voice was feminine but had a cutting tone to it.
The peacekeeper stared at the figure, eyes wide with shock.
"Hold it!" Haymitch appeared from the crowd, staring at the figure with a look of shock as well, but he quickly wiped it away.
The figure stepped away and Haymitch pulled Katniss to her feet, "Oh, excellent. She's got a photo shoot next week modeling wedding dresses. What am I supposed to tell her stylist?"
Katniss strained to see the face of her and Gale's savior, the hooded figure stood just a few yards off, staring at the scene before her.
Katniss immediately recognized those cold, olive green eyes in the midst of the bleak crowd.
Hydra Inna.
Katniss turned as Haymitch asked her a question, and when she looked back, Hydra was gone.
Had it only been a ghost?
Peeta stood there, the same shock ridden face painted on him as it was on her, he had seen the ghost of District Four as well.
A look passed between them.
It hadn't been a trick of cameras or special effects, Hydra was out there and she was up to something.
Review, review! I love them ever so much. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions!
