Marvel and Cato stride through the forest, returning to the place where Marvel had set up his trap the night before. It had taken him several hours, but he was positive that the trap would be effective. Maybe I'll catch Katniss.
Clove had stayed at the lake, claiming to want to dig through the remains of their supplies. Cato suspects that she just wanted to look for Lover Boy. Before, he would have smirked at the thought? But now? He found it endearing. Ever since Katniss had burst into his life, Cato had become a lot more...sensitive, something that bothered him greatly. Emotions were messy, cargo that he could not deal with. Katniss and I were both stoics before the games. Now look at us. Pathetic.
But it secretly pleased him, knowing that he had turned the stoic, strong Katniss Everdeen into an emotional mess. Or so he thought.
I can't figure this girl out. I like her—hell, I love her—and I want to be with her. But whenever I think of her, I want to rip her throat out. And what does she think about me? She pushed me away at the beginning. Then she came on to me. And now she hates me….Hell, why does it matter? I'm going to kill her regardless of my feelings. I have no choice.
"It was sprung!" Marvel cries and sprints towards the clearing. Cato hangs back, suddenly unsure. What if it's Katniss in that trap? What if Marvel gets to her before I can?
"Katniss! Katniss!" Katniss wasn't it in the trap. It was Rue.
Before he realizes what's happening, Cato is sprinting after Marvel. "MARVEL—"
"Rue, I'm coming!" no, no. Not this. Not her.
Cato skids into the clearing right as Marvel throws his spear. Seconds later, an arrow is in his neck. He falls to his knees, his fingers scrabbling against the arrow. He pulls it out before collapsing, dead.
Cato hovers near the edge of the clearing, watching Katniss cradle Rue in her lap. He is intruding on a private moment, meant only for Katniss and Rue. Fury courses through him as he thinks of the cameras everywhere, stealing yet another moment for their pleasure.
"You blew up the food?" Rue whispers. Her voice is trembling, her wide eyes focused solely on Katniss.
"Every last bit." Katniss whispers.
"You have to win." Rue says. As ache settles in Cato's chest as he watches, nearly forcing him to his knees. Part of him wants to leave, to run in the opposite direction and forget the death he is witnessing. But part of him wants to stay, to kneel next to Rue and promise her that she'll be okay.
Because he can no longer ignore the injustices of the Capitol, the pain they had caused. The thousands of people that suffered, the children that had died for the entertainment of the Capitol citizens. Cato, a product of these games, a Career. He was just as much of a victim as Rue. They had both had their lives snatched away before they could fully live them. Cato, brain-washed since his birth, trained to kill. And Rue, sweet, innocent Rue. A young girl, dying before she had the chance to appreciate life of all it's worth. I don't even know what to appreciate anymore.
Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your eyes
And when they open, the sun will rise.
Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
Cato lifts his head. Katniss is singing, her melodious voice barely audible. Rue's eyes have fluttered shut, her chest barely rising. It's almost time. Cato watches in silence as Katniss pulls Rue closer, continuing to sing.
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.
Katniss chokes for a moment, then delivers the final lines.
Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
Above him, the mockingjays begins to sing, having taken up the tune almost instantly. The cannon fires, but Katniss does not flinch. She kisses Rue's forehead and gently slides away from the body. With almost mechanical movements, she fetches Marvel and Rue's packs, but remains in the clearing, her eyes still trained on Rue.
She sits in silence for several moments before jerking to her feet. She gathers a handful of wildflowers and begins to decorate Rue's body, tears still streaking down her cheeks.
Without a word, Cato gathers the small yellow wildflowers at his feet. He approaches Katniss and kneels across from her, slowly weaving a crown of flowers to place upon Rue's dark hair. Katniss does not react to Cato's presence, but when they both retrieve more flowers, she briefly brushes her fingers against the back of his hand.
Katniss rises, staring down at Rue, who looks as if she was sleeping. "Bye, Rue," she whispers, pressing the three middle fingers of her left hand to her lips before holding them out. And without another word, she turns her back on both Cato and Rue and walks away.
He follows her, of course, reaching out to grasp her elbow. "Katniss—"
She whirls around and slaps him. "You knew about the trap, didn't you!" she throws her bow down and shoves Cato, her face red. "Why didn't yo save her? Why didn't you stop him?" she shoves him again, nearly unbalancing him. "Why did you save her?"
He slams her against a tree, his hands on either side of her head, reminiscent of the training center, so many days ago. Has it only been days?
"Why did you blow up our food?" he hisses, his faces inches from hers. She is silent, her eyes locked on his.
"Because you're my enemy." she lifts her chin, unfazed. "Why should I care about what happens to you?"
In an instant, he had shoved her to the ground and had pulled his sword it. He holds it against her neck, breathing hard. "Do it." she whispers. "Just kill me already."
He wants to. He wants to take her life right now, end the heartache, the emotional pain. He was tired of her indecisiveness, her games. When she was dead, he wouldn't have to worry about keeping her safe. Can I do it? Can I end her life now?
He withdraws his sword, pursing his lips. "I'm not going to kill you yet." going against my very nature.
She is surprised, the same thought passing through her head. And then she regains her composure and lunges for him. They roll, Cato landing on his back with a thud.
They stare at each other for a moment, eyes locked and mouths unmoving. A connection that had always been broken before.
His fingers curl around her waist and, suddenly, she's rolling away from him, crouching a few feet away. "This is the last time we'll see each other." she says. "No more of these games, Cato. There's six of us left. No time for romance."
"One, or perhaps both, of us will be dead soon. Stop pushing me away and just...let me in."
"You're angry with me. I can see the rage in your eyes." she pulls her bow closer. "Why haven't you killed me yet?"
"Because my love for you is stronger than my rage right now. I'm willing to hold it off until we're fighting to the death." he says, his breathing ragged. "Why can't you understand that I care about you? I'm not asking you to trust me, but to just let me love you." she looks confused, her eyes flickering over Cato's face, searching for a sliver of a lie. Anything. But there's nothing but sincerity. He can feel the frustration radiating from her. I guess we're in the same boat when it comes to emotions.
"I can't do this now." she rises, turning away to wipe at her eyes. "I have to go. Leave me alone."
"Can we just spend one night together?" he grasps her hand in his own, pleading. "One night, that's all I'm asking. To talk. And then I'll leave you alone, I swear."
She jerks her hand away, stepping back. He waits, his heart pounding loudly. Say yes. Please.
"Come on then. And if you can't climb trees, too bad."
This was a really hard chapter for me to write. Writing it actually moved me to tears (I was listening to Rue's Farewell the entire time, which made it worse). I had planned on making this chapter longer, but I decided against it. And as for Katniss's flip-flopping when it comes to her emotions, for the most part, she wanted nothing to do with Cato. They hate each other yet love each other. She wants to stay away from him, but can't help but letting her guard down when he's around. And as to her saying yes to one night, lets just say that she needs some comforting after Rue's death. Thank you for all the reviews! Please, review and/or suggest a song that reminds you of Katniss/Cato!