(Peeta pov)
My heart pounded in my chest Cato's arm wrapped tightly across my throat one hand gripping my shoulder the other rested on the back of my head in a single motion he could snap it ending my meagre existence but he doesn't he just stands there using me as a kind of human shield. His face bloody with a look of pure disperse and horror tears fall down it. The mutt's claws scratch the side of the copia and looks in their eyes golden and teeth red with blood.
"Come on then Katniss take the shot" Cato near cried he was clearly trying to display confidence but all that showed was grief and tears "but the second you do im taking him down with me." A smile appearing on his face for a fraction of a second before it drops again" you took clove from me!" his voice cracking as it clear clove was a lot more than another tribute to him his cry's sound like those I would make if someone took Katniss form me. "It's only fair when I go I take your boyfriend with me" the sneer returns but again it seems forced and I guess that the only thing he wants is to clove standing beside him again or at the very least been able to say goodbye to her before the end she didn't deserve the end she reseeded from thresh she was too young to have to feel that
"Cato let him go" Katniss voice warned "I didn't kill clove thresh did and you're the one who left her on her own why the hell do you care anyway you'd have sooner killed her yourself" her voice cold and unloving something clicks in my mind and I suddenly realise im the biggest moron to walk the face of the earth
"why would I kill her" Cato screams "I loved her!" he is near to breaking down his grip loosens slightly in his grief I see Katniss eyes lock with mine she sends a message that I deduce from her eyes I know she wants me to push him so she can fire but I just can't bring myself to
Please no I mouth my eyes watering, why I couldn't tell you her gaze is cruel and she loses the arrow in Cato's hand but also skewing me in the process we both scream and plummet toward the mutts that await us my hand grasp desperately for something but find nothing a we hit the ground together. Both catos legs are broken in the fall and he pulls the arrow from his hand and jus lies still accepting his fate a scramble to my feet trying to grip a surface to pull me up the dog begin to walk closer a fresh meal awaiting them
"Katniss! Please help me for god's sake" I feel my heart breaking as I can't hear her moving I close my eyes and wait for the biting and tearing but all I feel is a hand grip me I look up to Katniss's face tears streaking down it her face a picture of pain loss and sorrow
"Peeta climb please climb!" her voice cracks and I wonder for a fraction of a second if this isn't part of the sherade.
(Katniss pov)
Peeta tumbles down the side falling with Cato I freeze my heart pounds I can't move im just so terrified
"what have I done" I think to myself ive killed the only person in this world who actually loved me I took his heart played with it for the amusement of others and ive just killed him tears begin falling from my eyes so fast even I can't stop them
My ear twitches as I hear a cry "Katniss! Please help me for god's sake" Peeta! I dash over to the edge as his hands begin to lower and he slowly turns the look on his face one of betrayal and hurt I throw my hands to him "Peeta please climb please!" he looks to me then to Cato and makes a split second decision he darts to him taking a dagger from his belt stabbing a few mutts trying to pull him free trying to save him the tears are still falling
"Go lover boy go" Cato whines as the last of his life leaves him and the cannon fire resonates around us Peeta runs to me throwing his hands to grip mine as the dogs begin to bite a chew his legs his screams echo through my brain making the tears fall harder I pull with every piece of strength I can muster and Peeta finally rolls on to the copia my heart is leaping doing back flips and other thing I can't describe, this boy who I had found bleeding out by the river from a wound caused by Cato yet he had still tried to save him despite it all
I shove those thoughts to the back of my head as the dog's retreat and the sun arises over the horizon I pull him into my arms and just rock back and forth trying to stop my tears when a voice boomed out
"The previous statement that two tributes from the same district could both be victors have been retracted happy hunting"
The voice went silent I feel Peeta press something into my hand I look down it's his blood covered knife I try to drop it but he keep my hand closed tightly around it he looks into my eyes
"one of us goes home that's the deal twelve has its winner im no winner you are the light of twelve and of all the people ive seen in my short life you are the most beautiful" he struggles his hand reaches up to caress my face wiping the tears away with his thumb and smiles he lets the knife go and closes his eyes I throw it over my shoulder when he hears it hit the ground he opens his eyes "there has to be a victor" he croaks
"and they will have two then" I say producing the nightlock from my pouch pouring a few into his hands I lean down and place a chaste kiss to his cheek "together" he nods
"1" he says
"2" I continue
"3" three we say in unison and raise our hands
"Stop" the voice calls and we halt
"Ladies and gentleman may I present the winners of the 74th annual hunger games"
I can't keep my emotions in cheek at the mere thought of going home so I do the only thing I know is sertan I turn and crash my lips against peeta's.
His reaction isn't one im expecting he just seems to hold it for a few seconds before softly pushing me away and jumping onto the floor and walking toward what was left of Cato
Scrambling to find something in his jacket, opening the top left pocket of the poor boys coat he pulled out two things a small parcel and something on a string shoving them almost instantly into his own coat I hear him whisper something
"She loved you to Cato she told me I will keep to what I promised you I won't let you down I'll give these to them I swear." He says taking Catos hand and bowing his head
What was he going on about? What was this promise he was going on about and since when did the careers even talk to him before he broke off with them? I had too many questions not enough answers. Answers I was going to get soon I told myself. The hovercraft loomed over head before touching down and peacekeepers emerging from it near pushing us in were strapped into chairs nowhere near each other
The trip was silent Peeta not even looking at me the whole two hours to back to the capitol for a few seconds of make up before the victory interview and home I resign myself to just having to wait for the train to talk to him I just pry that he's not shutting me out im not sure I could take it
The next hour or so is just a numb blur as im whisked away to the stylist but for some reason no cinna so I just act as if my voice box is broken and don't say a word as im made to look pretty by capitol standards
The next thing I know im back stage at ceasers' talk show with no Peeta in sight I wonder what's going on I try to listen to what's going on onstage to get some sort of an idea
"Ladies and gentleman we have this year seem one of the most touching love story's in panems history the district twelve tributes have showed us that love can conquer all so without further ado please welcome the star crossed lovers of district twelve!"
I step forward in this pathetic yellow dress they'd picked for me striding onto the stage I finally see him Peeta walking on stage from the other direction wearing a black suit that seemed to match his current expression I can't control my own emotions as I find myself running toward him without even wanting to he stops to holdout his arms as I throw myself into them he just holds me for a few moment before tilting my head to look at him I clearly see the message he is trying to tell me as I step out of his embrace and sit on one of the chairs provided ceaser still laughing from our entrance sits on his interview chair and turns to face us
"Now Katniss my first question to you is what did you feel when you found him by the lake?" his playful voice still as irritating as ever
" I felt overjoyed" I said truthfully " I just felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest I just I " I struggle to finish as I feel peeta's hand grip mine but It just doesn't feel the same it feels like he feels nothing towards me like im just not there my heart shatters
"I think that is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard " he said his voice dropping a few levels "now peeta I ask you the same question"
Peeta looked him squarely in the face "do you want the real answer or the bullshit" he spoke with a monotone of hatred
Amazingly ceaser wasn't fazed by this a replied "the truth my boy the truth"
"I thought that the girl I loved was just there to taunt me before she killed me in the slowest possible way" his voice more angry than ever
I burst into tears and go to run from the stage before Peeta catches my arm the look in his eyes still harsh but pleading with me to stay put I nod and sit back down although I don't have to say much as ceasers remaining time seemed to be questioning Peeta on his relationship with Cato but I think ceaser pushed it to far with his final question
"So Peeta tell us what was the promise you made Cato" ceaser asked slowly in response to this Peeta stood anger in his eyes before screaming into ceaser face
" what I said to Cato is and shall remain my business that promise is a vow I will honour on my own terms!" before storming off I ran to try and catch him my heart breaking with everystep he was gaining on me