So, this is an intense chapter and a short one (by short one, I mean not more than 1890 words). I am not going to say anything right now, you guys just have to read the A.N. at the bottom.
I have a MAJOR cliffhanger at the end, it came spontaneously, and too soon, but I am going to continue with it.
Enjoy reading.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games series.
My feet are dangling over the ledge of the roof, I'm looking at the masses down from me. Capitol citizens everywhere, partying, drinking, screaming, enjoying the fact that we are going to get slaughtered in just a few days.
Disgusted, I avert my eyes to the starry night sky, playing with the primrose flower I caught in the garden. I sigh. How much I miss her, her hair, her smile, her eyes, her spirit, her everything. I miss my loving little sister.
I even miss mother. It's weird here, and I am not talking about the food, or the fashion, or the lifestyle. I am talking about taking care of someone. Here, everyone is constantly taking care of me and it's just strange after all those years of taking care of Prim and mother.
Also, this place is too stuffed. The air is thick with tension. I miss the break I always took with Gale in the woods, where most of my days are spent.
Gale, my best friend, the one who declared his love for me, the rebel. I can almost hear him shouting profanities into the void. In a way, I feel like I am cheating on Gale by getting close to Cato, even though nothing romantic was going on between me and Gale.
I am sure that the kiss we shared meant something to him, but it didn't for me. I felt no fireworks, no butterflies in my stomach, no tingling feeling that I always overhear girls talking about. Nothing. And I think by promising him to go back, to survive this, I am leading him on.
I mean, I promised him that I will come back, and if I did, I need to tell him that he is more of a brother for me than a friend, that I can't afford to be in a relationship like that.
I feel someone shift next to me and I turn around to see Damien, wearing a white tee with black shorts and matching black shoes. His brown curls wet, sticking to his forehead. With the moonlight above us, casting distinct rays on light, he looks extremely innocent that I almost forget who he really is. A deadly Career from District 2.
"Couldn't sleep either?" he asks, and I shake my head no in response.
"Sorry about today." He starts, but I know what this is. It's another try to get into my head, to mess with me.
"Don't. It's not worth it." I interrupt.
"I should warn you, though. Clove has it in for you from day one." I snort.
"And you don't?" I ask. "I thought so." I say when he stays silent.
"Why are you being like this to me?" I ask again after another lingering silence.
"Friendly?" he asks and I nod. "I'll admit it to you, I secretly want to know your mysterious skill." He says, with no hint of joking.
"Why do you assume that I have a skill? I am from District twelve, I am weak." I lie, in a small voice, hoping to persuade him to believe me. He clenches his jaw, and speaks through gritted teeth.
"Don't lie to me!" he all but threatens. "Don't pretend to be weak, because I know that you are not. I see the way you keep yourself up, the fire in your eyes." He explains. "You have your answers ready, you're snarky, and no weak person is capable of that."
"Why do you want to know it so badly?"
"So you admit to have one?" he smirks.
"Just answer the damn question!" I snap at him.
"You really want to know?" I stare at him blankly. He chuckles darkly. "Because I know whatever your skill is, whatever you're hiding, it's strong, and worth it. And I consider you a challenge. And I need to break every challenge that comes in my way to victory, it's in my nature. So my goal is, once at the final two, I want to see you crumble underneath me, I want to see the light leave your eyes, your blood on my hands, feel you take in your last breath. I want everyone to see that there's nothing so great about the girl on fire." My eyes are wide in shock, shivers running up and down my spine. "And do you want to know why?" He doesn't wait for my answer. "Because I hate you, and weird enough, I also want you, but not in a loving-way, but more in a master-slave kind of way. You confuse me, and make me experience new levels of rage and loathe. I love the fear that shows in your gray eyes whenever I am around you." His head is closer to mine now, I can almost feel his breath on my nose. "I am better than you, and I can't wait to show that to everyone." I think I've heard enough, I don't wait for him to finish, I just get up and head towards the elevator, but not before spitting at him: "You're sick!"
"Oh, and Katniss?" He says, halfway to the door. I'm frozen in place, like he cast a spell on me just by saying my name, and it's only broken when he says "You're mine, in all ways, at all times." He starts laughing like a psychopath.
I practically sprint to my room once the elevator door opens. I throw the door to my room open, lock it behind me, and slide my back against until I hit the floor. I'm trembling by now, shaking, breathing heavily.
Okay, calm the hell down! I command myself.
I work on getting my heartbeat even. He just clearly threatened to kill me, but not before hinting to rape me, and I am pretty sure that this time, there's no Cato to save me.
I need to tell someone about this. I check the list of people available and trust worthy in my mind. Effie? She won't understand, she's from the Capitol. Cinna? He may understand, he's different from the other citizen, but there's nothing he can do about it. Haymitch? He's my mentor and all, but I doubt he can help in his drunken stupor. There's only one person left. I really hope he's a good listener though. That's what friends are for, right?
I make my way to his bedroom, hesitating before I knock. Should I talk to him? Doesn't matter anyway because my raised fist is gently pounding down on his door. He opens it, standing shirtless, wearing nothing but pajama pants. I can't help but stare at his body, the muscles on his arms, the big biceps, his hairless chest, his six pack, the perfect V- shape going from his hips to his…
He clears his throat. Heating rushes to my cheeks as I meet his eyes. Amusement is written clearly all over his face, soon replaced by worry when he sees my troubled expression.
"What's wrong?" he asks quickly, opening the door wider, allowing me to enter his room. It's a bit messy. It's a boy's room after all, but still! The bed is unmade, his training outfit is thrown over a chair in the corner, piles of dirty clothes and towels on the floor. If I hadn't something on my mind, I would've laughed and teased him.
"Did I interrupt something?" I ask.
"No, not at all." He says, picking up a few shirts from the way, tossing them to the corner of the room. I stare at him, unconvinced, but head to the king-sized bed anyway. It's the same in my bedroom, but it feels different. It feels comfortable. I scoot back until I hit the headboard. I gently tap the space next to me, signaling him to come closer to me.
He looks at me for a bit, his expression guarded, but his curiosity wins and he drops it. He climbs onto the bed, sits next to me, our shoulder practically touching. For a second, the urge of having him closer takes over me, but I shake it away. I turn to him, letting the fear overtake me, making the walls I build up so high, fall. Tears rise to the surface of my eyes, and I allow it. Sobs quickly overtake my body, and I surrender to them.
A hand lands on my shoulder, and Cato pulls me to him, his other hand going up and down my arm in comfort.
"Katniss, calm down. Tell me what happened." I am shaking harder, unable to answer. "Do you miss Prim?" I shake my head. "Then what is it?" Sniffling, I tell him about Damien, the talk, the threat, everything. He listens patiently, calmly, but once in a while, I see his mask slipping, he clenches his fists, a vein pops in his neck, and his beautiful, calm, blue eyes darken with rage.
"I am going to beat the shit out of that guy!" He promises, shuffling back and forth in front of me. Sniffling, I stand up and wobble my way over to him, stopping him by putting my hands on his big biceps.
"No, stop." I demand. His crazed eyes are turned on me.
"What? You want me to stop? He threatened to kill and rape you, and you want me to do nothing about it?" he yells, gaped.
"Yes." I say, avoiding his eyes. "In the morning, we'll tell Haymitch, he'll know what to do. Plus, we can't afford to have you suspended." I try to reason.
"I can't just not do something!" he exclaims. I wait for his breath for go back to normal before I answer.
"It's not your job to do anything about it." I say in a small voice. His eyes are wide, almost bulging out of their sockets.
He looks down for a second, then looks up at me, releasing the full power of his eyes on me, momentarily stunning me to silence.
"Well, it kinda is." I stare at him, puzzled. "I need to protect everyone I love and care about, and you are one of those people, Katniss."
"You can't, we're only friends since yesterday. My point is, that you're my friend, but that doesn't mean you always have to take care of me." I say. "I mean, I-" His lips on mine stop me from talking any further. I'm surprised at first, but soon kiss him back, our lips molding together.
This is the best I have ever had. Well, to be fair, I only had two. But Gale's kiss was rough, forced, Cato's is gentle, sweet and passionate. Gale's hands were hard on my cheeks, Cato's are gentle, like they belong there. All in all, Gale's kiss felt wrong, this one feels… right.
Soon –too soon- he pulls away.
"I am not good with words like Peeta is, but I guess that showed you how I feel." My eyes are still closed, but I open them just in time to hear: "This is not the way I wanted you to know, but, Katniss, I am in love with you."
So how about this cliffy? It was sudden, and I didn't know what else to say. Plus I did this for a reason, I am not satisfied with the reviews. And I may be mean about this, but you guys are even meaner when you read but don't review. If I don't get a good amount of reviews, you guys are not getting Chapter 8, and it's a really good one, a big upset for the story happening (and I know this because I already wrote it).
I mean, I updated chapter 6 with only 2 reviews even though I specifically asked for at least five!
Sorry if I sounded mean, but I am writing with MAJOR problems in my life, and even blowing off studies, so yeah...
Please review, and sorry for the anger.
Line & Lea.