Clove is trying to pull away, terrified and so pale that I'm afraid for a while that her wound reopened. I feel like screaming profanity in general direction of the Capitol, but I know this would cost two lives at least. So I just hug Clove so strongly that she can't pull away, that she barely can move. I think of what is left to us.
If only the rule change was never announced! I would kill Clove without a blink. But after all we went through together – I can't. Call me soft. Call me weak. But I simply can't kill someone I know closely, someone so dependent on me, someone I saved with, I can't deny, a big effort. I hate it when my efforts go in vain.
For a while I think of committing suicide – Clove definitely can't kill me – so that she could go home. But then I realize how devastated she would be if I did. It's a stalemate once again… or rather, a check – the Gamemakers can kill any of us right now. I must think of something, and fast!
'Clove' I whisper, still hugging her. She looks at me, her eyes wide with fear and reddish from tears.
'Y-yes? Go ahead…' she mumbles. I stroke her cheek.
'I want you to trust me once again. I know it's a lot to ask, and there is a big risk it won't work… but please, trust me' I whisper. She nods. Then I lean down to her ear and explain her the plan. In her eyes fear mixes with trust and she hands me a knife, taking another in her hand.
'One' I say aloud. I put the knife at her throat, she puts hers at mine. We make a pause, looking in each other's eyes.
'Two…' I say. We press knives to each other's throats, drawing first blood. "Three" would be a signal to slit each other's throat. I open my mouth to give it. That's when trumpets sound.
'Stop! STOP!' Claudius Templesmith's frantic voice pierces our ears. 'Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, Clove Kibethy and Cato Stonewall! I give you – the tributes of District Two!'
Clove immediately falls in my arms, dropping the knife. I hug her, gritting my teeth as she squeezes my left arm, but try not to show any pain. Crowds in the Capitol roar, but I barely notice them, all focused on Clove. I wait for hovercraft to appear and take us from here. And it does. I feel like a superhero holding onto the ladder with left hand, supporting Clove on my right arm and left knee. Current immobilizes us and we finally get on hovercraft. Then everything happens too fast. Doctors pull us in separate directions, Clove calls out my name, I scream hers, reach my hand towards her, feel a stab in arm and dizziness overwhelms me. Morphling! Even though I got only one shot of it in my life before, I can recognize it. I slump into dark oblivion, still reaching for Clove's hand.
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