So this is it, the last chapter. I want to apologize for how crappy this story has gotten. Back in 2012 when I first made it, I had great plans for it, but time went by and I completely forgot about it all. Sorry. Well, this is it, enjoy!
Only a few hours ago did Claudius announce that two tributes from the same District could win, together. That only made me more determined to kill Katniss. And her Lover Boy. 5 and 11 needed to be taken care of too, but they don't worry me. Cato and I are still hiding out in the woods. We briefly discussed our plan to kill the other tributes. Now we are sitting in silence.
The feast is announced. Cato and I look at each other once Claudius tells us about the item that we must retrieve. We wait for morning to arrive, which was forever. Once the sun comes up and the morning birds sing, we know that this is our cue to go.
"I'll get it," Cato says, standing up.
"No," I jump up. "I will. You're not in the best condition, you know." I say to him. "Besides, I'm smaller and quicker, I'll be done in a second." I look at him, waiting for a response.
"Fine," he says. "But I'm coming near the edge of the woods to cover you."
We quietly start walking to the Cornucopia. Once I can see it through the branches, I know that this is where I leave Cato. I start to walk out to it, when he softly grabs my arm.
"Clove?" he says. I nod. "You can have Katniss. But put on a good show for the audience."
"I'll see you soon, Cato." I say, walking away, slightly disappointed that his last words to me involved Katniss. Oh, I was going to put on a good show alright.
I crouch right next to a tree on the very edge of the woods, when I see her body running towards the Cornucopia. It's me and you now, Katniss. I sprint out from the woods, taking out my knives.
My first throw catches her by surprise, but barely misses her. I curse to myself. She sets an arrow off at me and it hits my upper left arm. I stop, daring to miss a precious few seconds to take it out. I hiss as I pull it out, furiously throwing it on the ground, I take out another knife and throw it at her head.
This time, it cuts her forehead, slowing her down for a moment. She blindly shoots and arrow, missing me. I slam into her body and we fall on the ground. I pin her shoulders to the ground with my knees.
"Where's your boyfriend, District 12? Still hanging on?" I ask, digging my knees deeper into her.
"He's out there, hunting Cato," she snarls. That set me off. "Peeta!" she yells. I punch her in the throat, cutting her off. I quickly lift up my head and search for Peeta. Was she telling the truth? A few seconds go by, and a smile comes across my face. He wasn't coming.
"Liar," I say, grinning at her. "He's nearly dead. Cato knows where he cut him. You've probably got him strapped up in some tree while you try to keep his heart going. What's in the pretty little backpack? That medicine for Lover Boy? Too bad he'll never get it."
I open my jacket and show off my assortment of knives. I select my favorite, a knife with a curved blade. "I promised Cato if he let me have you, I'd give the audience a good show."
She struggles to get out from under me, but my lock on her is too tight. "Forget it District 12. We're going to kill you. Just like we killed your pathetic little ally…what was her name? The one who hopped around in trees? Rue? Well, first Rue, then you, and I think we'll just let nature take care of Lover Boy. How does that sound?" I say, still grinning. "Now where to start?" I say to myself.
I wipe the blood of her face with my jacket sleeve. I stare at her face, trying to decide how to start this masterpiece. She attempts to bite my hand but I quickly shove her back on the ground. "I think…" I begin. "I think we'll start with your mouth." I begin to trace the outline of her lips with the tip of the blade.
"Yes, I don't think you'll have much use for your lips anymore. Want to Lover Boy one last kiss?" The bitch has the nerve to spit blood in my face. I flush with rage. "All right then. Let's get started."
I place the tip of the blade on her bottom lip, ready to make the first cut when suddenly I am yanked off her by a tremendous force. I immediately open my mouth and scream, hoping that Cato will come save me. The boy from 11 has me in his grasp. I look into 12's eyes, hoping that she will do something. She's still lying on the ground, a look of fear in her eyes.
He flips me around and throws me to the ground, with so much force. He shouts, so loudly that my ears ring.
"What'd you do to that little girl? You kill her?" he bursts out. I knew he was talking about Rue.
I get up to a crawling position and scramble back on all fours; I've never felt more scared before in my life. Deep down, I knew what was going to happen to me. "No! No, it wasn't me!" I yelled, letting a tear escape.
"You said her name. I hear you. You kill her?" Thresh continues yelling. "You cut her up like you were going to cut up this girl here?"
"No! No, I—" My mouth clamps shut as I see a large stone in his hands. I begin panicking. "Cato!" I yell louder than I ever have before. "Cato!"
"Clove!" I hear him yell in the woods. Where was he? Why did he leave the edge of the woods? WHERE WAS HE?
I look up one last time, and I feel a cold, heavy force on my temple.
I can barely move my eyes to look around. Out of the corner of my eye I see my killer running off. I can hear Katniss' heavy breathing and that she's scurrying away. My chest is rising rapidly. I let a painful moan escape my lips.
"Clove!" I hear. He's closer now. But he's too late.
A tear escapes my eye once again. This is it.
"Clove," Cato says, his voice cracking. "Clove," he whispers. I feel him pulling me onto his lap. "Oh, Clove, please, please!" I feel his tears falling on my face.
I gather enough strength to look up at him. Our eyes meet, for the last time. "I'm sorry," I whisper, tears flowing down my cheeks. "I love you Cato."
"Clove, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me most. I'm so sorry that we had to be in these Games. I'm so sorry. I love you too, Clove. I will never stop loving you." His voice has fallen to a soft whisper now. I give him one last smile. He takes his hand into mine, and squeezes it.
I am starting to slip away. I know it. I know that this is my last breath. I know that this is our last time together.
Right as I take my last breath and close my eyes, I hear the last words Cato says to me.
It ended with three words.
"Stay with me."