You guys are the best. Seriously, the best. 51 reviews in two days? Has it even been two days? I'm not sure, I get muddled with stuff like that! Okay, this might be quite a short chapter, so 55 reviews before next time? This is Peeta's point of view by the way!


It's bitingly cold outside, and the stars are tentatively starting to poke their heads out in the black velvet of the sky. I smile fondly, thinking of Clove; she loves this sort of sky.

I'm outside the Lamb and Plum, with Jess, Finnick, Marvel and Katniss, and the only one we're waiting for is Clove. She's almost forty five minutes late, I'm starting to worry, but it's Clove. She's probably got distracted by Shakespeare or something. I turn up my collar of my black duffel coat, and catch a glimpse of my reflection in the glass of the diner.

Wow, I do look like Draco Malfoy.

Finnick winds his arms around Jess' waist because she's shivering, and she settles back into his stomach. I grin. I'm really happy for Finn, he deserves Jess, a good girl who cares for him, someone who will treat him right. Not someone like Johanna.

Marvel and Katniss have started to make out against the wall, and I turn away, slightly sickened, because well hey, it's not me, and Katniss isn't Clove.

She was meant to be here at 8; it's8:50now.

My ringtone cuts a dash from the snow patterned quiet, Ben Howard's smooth folky voice crooning Only Love. It's an unknown number, so I cautiously press the answer button, and raise it to my ear.

"Hello?" I ask warily.

"Is it Clove?" Pipes Jess, and I shake my head and hold a finger to my lips to tell her to be quiet.

"P-Peeta? Peeta Mellark?"

"Cato? Is that you?"

If I'm not mistaken, that's Cato, but his voice is wracked with worry, and he sounds terrified, which is an emotion Cato is unfamiliar with. I don't think I've ever seen or heard him this upset, and it makes my eyebrows knit together in anticipation of what is so bad.

"Y-yes, it's Cato, Cato Darius. Peeta, I-I need your help!"

"What's up, Cato? I don't know if I can be much help for much apart from home ec or art. Also, I am NOT helping you beat up some kid you don't like."

"It's not that kind of help. I just f-found her, lying in the snow, and she's b-bleeding s-so much.. I don't know how to stop the blood!" His voice is quavering and choked with frightened sobs. Cato has never cried in front of me before, this must be really bad.

Someone's hurt? I still don't know why he rang me, but I'll try to help him as much as I can.

"Who's bleeding, Cato? Where are you?" My fingers tighten around my phone as I wait for his answer.

"I'm-We're on Blunt Rock Drive, near Cornucopia Avenue and Feast Street."

"Who's bleeding, Cato?"

"S-she was just there, and there was so-so much blood, and I didn't know what to do. I found her phone in her pocket, because I was trying to stop the bleeding from her side.. And you were the first name on her c-contacts. I didn't know what else to do- I've known h-her for so long, she won't stop bleeding Peeta! You were the first on her contacts, you were the first." He garbles, and it's clear he has no idea what to do.

Wait-

Know her for so long.

Me the first on her contacts.

She won't stop bleeding.

"Clove." I whisper.

I drop the phone and turn on my heel, pounding along the pavement.

Must reach her.

Jess and the rest are calling my name and I think Finnick's about to follow me, but I don't care, because right now it might be her that's bleeding and broken.

I round the corner into Blunt Rock Drive, and I see Cato's blonde hair as he bends down, trying to put pressure on a wound that's hiding underneath a severely blood-stained t-shirt. The white snow around him and the tiny frame of the girl- I know it's a girl, it's too skinny to be a boy- who's face is obscured by Cato's form, is crimson with blood. Tears are falling down his face and he's muttering to himself. As I near them I can hear him.

"I'm so sorry, I will never ever be a jerk again, never hurt anyone again, if you pull through. Please, please, open your eyes!"

Cato has known Clove for as long as I have, and they are practically brother and sister, whereas there has always been something more for me and Clove. Cato comes across as a jerk, but he's actually a lovely guy. Most of the stuff he does he is pressured into, by Brutus and that. I know he would never ever try to rape Jess without being forced to-not excusing him, of course.

I'm praying, pleading with some unknown force that that person is not Clove.

Please. Not her. Not her.

But when he pulls back to look at me, the sadness and urgency in his eyes tells me all I need to know.

I drop to the floor on my knees, my hands coming up to cover my mouth.

"Oh god, no. Clove. No."

Cato lets me wallow in my desperation for about half a minute.

"Peeta, she won't stop bleeding, she won't stop bleeding, what do I do?"

I hear footsteps behind me and I hear an exhale of breath when Finnick sees Clove's wrecked face, broken nose, the blood that has blossomed like red ink blots on her top.

I rise quickly and run over to her, motioning Cato to move out the way. I crouch to the floor, and take in the full sight.

Bruises spiral over her eyes, her cheeks, even her arms. She is unconscious, obviously, but her chest is ragged with difficulty to breathe, so I know that at least one of her ribs has been broken or has cracked. Black bruised finger marks clutch at her neck.

"Jesus."

That's Finnick.

I hear Jess's footsteps, and her shocked shout and then the start of her sobs as she sees Clove's broken body.

I pick her up gently, and she's like a rag doll in my arms.

"Jess, go get Clove's mother, tell her to meet us at the hospital and tell my dad I said he needs to babysit Meg and Fleur. Finn, go get my car, drive over to here." Cato looks disheartened and desperate when I don't include him. "Cato, you're coming with us. She needs you too."


The ride to the hospital is long and I know we've lost valuable time. When we finally get to the emergency room, I sprint out of the car with Clove in my arms, and I push open the door with my one free hand, Cato hot on my heels.

"Please, someone get me a doctor!"

I yell, and the room goes silent when their eyes fall on the battered girl I hold in my arms.


It passes in a blur, me sitting on a hard plastic

orange chair outside a non-descript hospital room. Clove's mom joins me at some point, and she just sits, her hands shaking and her head hung low.

"Mr Mellark, Mrs Manner?" A doctor emerges from the room and stares at us, a little trio of nurses behind him, fluttering their eyelashes at him and holding clipboards.

I jolt up and I see from the corner of my eyes. My heart is pounding and my mouth is dry, and my hands have begun the shaking that Clove's moms were just doing.

"Is she alive? Please say she made it." I whisper, and my voice is shaking. Tears begin to spill from Blye's-Clove's moms- eyes.

"Clove is going to be fine, but it will take a couple of weeks. She has three broken ribs, she has some damage to her neck, similar to whiplash, her nose is broken, and she is severely bruised and wounded. She is awake now, but only slightly. She said the word Peeta, is that relevant to anything?"

"That's my name-I'm her boyfriend, and her best friend." I manage to choke out. Really, I know me and Blye are just on a high because she's alive. The doctor lets out a small smile, before proceeding to ask the question that has been haunting me since I found her.

"This was no accident. Do you know who did this to her?"

Who did this to her?


55 reviews if possible? Thanks guys!

SnowGemsxo: Thank you! Your reviews always make my day! I hope you like this chapter, and in respond to your pm, I would be delighted to read your story, which I will do so shortly.

clato4ever7: Thank you! I really enjoy writing this story! Let me know what you think of this chapter!

123: Nope, Clove is alive but severely damaged.

Rebyll: Thank you for your review! It's always nice to know new people have been reading my story! Don't worry, this isn't the conclusion, there are going to be some even DARKER perils in their path! (Sneak peek here guys!) Let me know what you think of this chapter!

jellyismything: Thank you for your kind review! I won't get off track, don't worry! I also love your author name, just thought I'd let you know! Let me know what you think of this chapter!

HelloKitty2000: I'm evil, I know ;) I hate Glimmer as well! I wanted there to be more suspense, rather than the girl getting rescued by a prince, so thats why I let Clove get hurt! I love your reviews, they're so nice! I hope you like this chapter!

So, 55 reviews? Thanks!