Oh, beautiful children.
Woke up in morning and saw those 4 reviews and I awed with happiness. It means so much to me that the people who reviewed took time out of their lives to give me a response. Even the people that didn't review and just read, that's amazing too. I really appreciate it, so thanks ;)
Onward with the story! Really, if you have any ideas to throw in, tell me! The story is for the enjoyment of readers, so tell me what you would like to see! If I decide I like it, I'll put it in. I hope you enjoy this chapter, munchkins.
Love, Peace, and Imagination ;)
- Victoria Loren
2. Second Chances
Everything hurts and that's all he knows. He feels full with water, heavy and bloated. His eyelids feel like weights but he pushes himself and gets those blue eyes open. Everything confuses him at first. I was dead. Now I'm alive, he thinks firmly, trying to make sense of the situation. He takes in his surroundings.
There's a lot of white, artificial light. Everything is very clean. Though there are no windows, the room has an airy, light feel. There's a bag of liquid hung onto a metal pole that has a tube that links to his inside wrist. Another, very annoying machine is posted near his bed side. The green lines on the screen rhythmically go up and down.
Looking down at his chest, Cato becomes even more confused. He's covered in gauze up to his neck. His face aches and he becomes angry. He's too weak, he must be strong. Before he can blow up at himself, a girl his age slowly walks into his room.
"Hey, you're awake." She smiles, walking slowly to the foot of his bed. He doesn't respond, just watches her. She has long brown hair pulled into a messy ponytail and amazing yellow-brown eyes. She's tan and medium height. She looks sweet and conservative. Despite her bright smile, there is something sad about her.
"I'm Nurse Helena Pauper. I'm your nurse till you get better, Cato." She smiles, examining a clipboard with many papers.
"Where am I?" Cato demands, his eyes never leaving her face. She jumps slightly at his tone, lowering the clipboard to meet his face.
"You are in District 13." She responds, watching him carefully.
His heart monitor speeds up erratically and his face turns red. "Now is not the time to bullshit me," he spits. "13 was destroyed. Where am I?" he demands again. Helena presses her lips together and tries to step closer. Seeing the look on his face, she decides to keep away.
"I'm not playing with you Cato. For your safety, you were brought to District 13. The girl who shot you, Katniss? She slipped epinephrine, a heart restarter, into the arrow that killed you. You came back to life in the hovercraft, so they brought you here." She explains quietly, not wanting to affect him emotionally.
He blinks, staring pointedly at her. Katniss' motives are unfathomable to him. He tried to kill her, multiple times. Why would she keep him alive in such a clever way? A wave of unconditional debt washes over him and he wants to talk to Katniss right away, wanting to understand the girl from District 12.
"I'm glad she kept you alive," Helena remarks softly, ripping Cato from his thoughts.
"Huh?" he asks and her face becomes red.
"Well, I don't think it was your time to pass. It wasn't any of the tributes time, you know?" she responds quickly, pulling Cato's sheet down to his waist. His body tenses and his hand is gripping her hand painfully, his huge hand covering hers.
"What the hell are you doing?" he snarls but Helena keeps her composure.
"I'm just going to change your bandages. See, they're coming undone with the blood and all." She replies gently, making eye contact with him. After a few moments of mental-debating on Cato's part, he releases her tiny red hand. With a small breath, she proceeds to change the old bandages, not minding at all the view underneath them.