Nothing belongs to me. All rights belong to Suzanne Collins.
A different kind of hunger
Chapter I
He was still alive. He had no idea how, but he was so surprised he didn't want to know. Cato opened his eyes. All he could see was white. The boy blinked slowly. He eventually realized he was laying on his back, and that the white was actually the ceiling.
- Ahhh, he moaned, as he was trying to lift up.
He looked around him. The whole room was white – the walls, the bed, the sheets, the door... the door !
He quickly got up – maybe a little too fast – and got an headache. With his left hand, he touched his forehead and he felt stripes. He moved his hand to see its back and his breath just got gasping. There were stripes all over his hands . Only his fingertips were visible. Was that blood ? Sure. What else could it be ?
All he was wearing was a white shirt, white pants – so much white that he could get sick.
He blanched as he heard a ring. And suddenly, he remembered everything.
The Reaping. The day he volunteered as tribute. The Capitol. The judges, the parade. The training, when he already started an alliance with Glimmer, Marvel and Clove. And finally, the beginning of the Hunger Games.
He remembered Katniss and Peeta. He didn't hate them. He never did. But he had to pretend he did, otherwise the other careers would have killed him. And it was better anyway, because it was the image he wanted to give to everyone. Sponsors liked cruelty and blood, everyone knew that. So in case of emergency, all he had to do would have been asking for help, and he would get a golden parachute. That's what he had learned in his school back in District 2. But he didn't have to, at last.
He remembered all the fights. He had lost his companions one by one, but him, he was still alive.
Until the Capitol released the dogs, at least.
What happened ? He had fought against Peeta and Katniss. He had cracked up – that was the moment he realized that him volunteering meant his death. He wanted to apologize to Peeta for having attacked him, and leave a message for the watchers, but he had ran out of time. He didn't know what happened next, except that the girl threw an arrow at him.
Now that he was thinking about them... were them still alive ?
- I see that you're now awake, Cato, saw a woman's voice in the room.
He looked for the source of the sound everywhere in the room. Where the hell did it come from ? He was alone.
- Don't be afraid.
- Who are you ? he finally said.
The voice didn't answer his question.
- Behave yourself. Your president is coming.
- What ?
The door suddenly opened. President Snow was standing in front of him, with a nurse with a green wig. Her blue skin made Cato shiver.
- Good morning, young man. May I ? he asked.
Before Cato could answer, Snow entered and sat on a chair.
- Please, have a seat, he said as he was pointing out the bed with his hand.
- Sure, whispered Cato, too impressed to say a real sentence.
He obeyed. Snow was staring at him.
- Why am I not dead ? And why are you here ? Is Peeta still alive ? he quickly asked.
- Slow down, young man ! said his President. I understand you have a lot of questions. But I also have some. If I answer yours, you have to promise me that you will answer mine.
- Ye-yes, sure, I guess, Cato stuttered. I promise.
- Peeta is still alive. And so is Katniss, Snow said calmly.
Cato closed his eyes. He could not believe it, they were alive. "Thank god" he thought. For the first time in 74 years, more than only one teenager had survived the Games. He, Peeta and Katniss.
- How ? he eventually asked.
The old man sighed.
- I guess you can thank Seneca Crane for that. His stupidity cost him his life. Because of what he did, when I saw that the District 12's tributes were about to commit suicide, I stopped the games.
- Really ? B-but, why am I still alive ?
The nurse came close to him and took his left hand, then she put a syringe in it. Cato winced.
- You were not dead, but almost, Snow resumed. Your right arm was infected, so was your left hand. The Capitol has its secrets, Cato. We have been able to heal you. Despite all this, you've been in the coma for almost two weeks.
- Two – two weeks ? Wait, please. Why would you do that ? I mean, thank you, but... why did you want me to survive ?
- Because I needed something from you.
- What is that ?
Snow stared at him for a few seconds, then he got up.
- You will know when you need to. For now, rest. In a few hours, you will get out of here. You, Miss Everdeen and Mr. Mellark are considered as the champions of the 74th Hunger Games.
Cato's eyes opened wide.
- Really ?
- Yes. Citizens of Panem did not see the scene where you are about to get eaten, we did some... video editing. Peeta and Katniss have been waiting for you to get better before starting the Victory tour. Now that you are awake, the tour will start.
He slowly walked to the door.
- You will know what I need, but later. I need you to be strong for the tour.
The boy did not answer. As the president was going out of the room, he stared at the door for a few minutes.
And then, for the first time since a really long time, he smiled.
