Don't own Hunger Games.
Alto POV
The cameras hold on my downcast as they let what I say sink in. They then switch to Katniss's face, which shows confusion and surprise. She presses her lips together and stares at the floor.
"Oh, that is a piece of bad luck," Says Caesar, with a real edge of pain in his voice. The crowd is murmuring in dismayed agreement, a few have even given agonized cries.
"You're telling me." I shake my head.
"Well, I don't think any of us can blame you. It'd be hard not to fall for that young lady." He put a hand on my shoulder. "She didn't know?"
"Not until now."
I take a quick glance at Katniss to see her face with a heavy hue of red on it.
Hell, I'm probably the same color.
"Wouldn't you love to pull her back out here and get a response?" Caesar asks the audience. The crowd screams assent.
"Sadly, rules are rules, and Katniss Everdeen's time has been spent. Well, best of luck to you Alto Hayes." He pats my back. "And I think I speak for all of Panem when I say our hearts go with yours."
I nearly lose my hearing when the crowd cheers; I've completely wiped everyone else off the map because of my confession. When the crowed quiets down enough, I chock out a "Thank you." and return to my seat. We rise when the Anthem plays and start marching off stage. Again, my eyes flicker to the screens, which Katniss and I are dominating. We make our way to the cars, and it's a silent ride back to the Training Center. When we get to our destination, the elevator takes the other tributes before us. Katniss and I are alone now on the twelfth floor, and when I turn to her, she stares right back at me.
"How…why? This-this must be a joke or something."
"No, I meant everything I said."
"Y-you did?" I nod. She stares at me intensely, trying to read my face for anything that would give away that I was lying or telling the truth. Her face softens after awhile.
"But you never really liked me."
"Come on Katniss, don't tell me you didn't see the signs? Even someone as thick as Effie could tell I had feelings for you. I admit it, I did have feeling for you back at twelve, but ever since we've arrived here, they've grown." I give her a small smile. "If you don't feel the same way, that's fine. At least I got this weight off my chest."
Katniss takes a step towards me, grabbing my arm. "Alto-"
The elevator door opens abruptly to reveal Effie, Haymitch, Cinna, and Portia. Effie's the first to speak.
"Did we interrupt anything?"
"No, nothing important." I give Katniss a wink.
Haymitch is next to speak. "Come on, let's eat." We eat a cream and rose-petal soup for dinner and it's generally quiet when we eat, though Haymitch will start some conversations with the stylist. After, we watch the replay in the sitting room. Katniss seem frilly and shallow, twirling and giggling in her dress; although the others assure her that she's charming. It's obvious that I'm also charming, though much more so then Katniss, with me confessing my love for her and all. But just when you think it's over, Caesar appears on the screen.
"We have a special announcement to make regarding the 74th Hunger Games." He says.
"Special announcement?" Katniss repeats.
"It is by the decision of the Gamemakers that for the first time in Hunger Games history, a rule change has been applied, in which two tributes, yes, two tributes from the same district can win." He pauses, then repeats the message once more before saying a quick good night, and the screen goes black.
Everyone in the room is silent at the revelation, our minds trying to process something that hasn't been done in the history of Panem.
Two. The magic number.
"Do...do you think I had something to do with this?" I asked, looking back at Haymitch.
"That'd be the only reason why they'd have this rule change. It's possible the people of the Capitol itself persuaded the Gamemakers to do this. The people love you that much." He responds.
"So..." I turn to Katniss. "We can work together? W-we can work together?!" I'm still having trouble grasping it. But Katniss confirms it with a numb nod, even though she herself can't believe it. As I glance back at the blank screen of the TV, my shocked and slightly distraught face changes, and a small smile makes it's way to my face.
Katniss and I can live.
"Hell yeah!" Surprisingly, at least for me, Katniss and I literally jump from the ground we're sitting on, fists in the air, which startles everyone in the room. Soon after though, they seem as lively as we are, the shock having warn off and now rejoice running through them. Soon, everyone's shouting for joy except for Haymitch.
When everyone calms down, a hush falls over the room. Regardless of if Katniss and I worked together, tomorrow at dawn the Games begin, though not until ten. Haymitch and Effie will not be joining us on our way to the arena. They'll be at the Games Headquarters, hopefully madly signing up our sponsors, so final good-byes must be exchanged here.
Effie takes both of us by the hand and, with actual tears in her eyes, wishes us well, thanks us for being the best tributes it has ever been her privilege to sponsor, and then, because it's Effie and she's apparently required by law to say something awful, she adds "I wouldn't be at all surprised if I finally get promoted to a decent district next year!" She kisses us both on the cheek and hurries out. Haymitch comes up to us with his arms crossed.
"So, any final words of advice?" I ask.
"When the gong sounds, get the hell out of there. I don't want either of you up to the blood bath at the Cornucopia. Just clear out, put as much distance as you can between yourselves and the others, and find a source of water." He says. "Got it?"
"And after that?" Katniss asks.
"Stay alive." It's the same advice he gave us on the train, but he isn't drunk or laughing this time, and I'm not pissed like last time either. We simply nod; what else is their too say?
Both Katniss and I head for our rooms; sleep now would be a smart thing to do right now. My covers are drawn back, so the Avox girl was recently here. I kind of wish I had asked what her name was. I wash my face of the thin layer of makeup the prep team put on me, and I run my hands though my hair until it's back to original state. I put on a white T-shirt and sweats and throw myself on my bed. It doesn't take long for me to figure out that I won't fall asleep; I have too many thing running amuck though my head. After what I think is three hours, I can't stay it the bed anymore. I end up walking to the roof, looking down at the festivities below me. I'm up there for another few hours, sometimes thinking of the arena, or just dozing off.
The rule change; It's a relief that I could've never imagined, never even dreamed of. Never in my process of helping Katniss did I ever think this would be an outcome. One of us was going to die, and if Katniss and I were the last ones, she'd be walking out because I couldn't strike her down. Now, I don't have to worry about that. We'll be fighting together, Katniss and I, with the motivation and experience to get us through.
And maybe, just maybe...
I hear soft footsteps behind me, and already know who it is.
"You should be getting some sleep." I say quietly.
The footsteps stop for a moment, and then pick up again.
"I needed some air."Katniss answers as she makes her way to the rail on my left, her night gown flowing with the wind. She looks down at the base of the building.
"Are they wearing costumes?"
"Who knows, they could be wearing the same thing they always wear, that would be enough." We turn back to stare down at the festival. Silence returns for awhile before she says.
"Thinking about this is so surreal." She says. "I mean, when was the last time they issued a rule change?"
"They haven't." I answer.
"Exactly. They've pulled this on us, what are they going to do next?"
I give a soft chuckle. "You, the great Katniss Everdeen of district twelve, are worried?"
"You know what I mean. This is the Games I know; it's not morally correct to begin with. But that doesn't mean there won't be surprises. We still have to worry about where this place is. Maybe it's a forest, or a desert, maybe some mountains or a ruined city. What kind of weapons will they have? No bow? Sure I can use another weapon, but a bow is what I'm good at. What if there're no animals, no water, no food that would be obvious? I want to think I'm prepared for anything they can throw at us, but I know that's not the reality of things. I'm just so worried."
"Don't be." I turn fully to her. "You'll be fine."
"You don't know-"
"Yes, I do know." I put a hand on her shoulder. "You and I are going to get through this. I'm not saying it'll be easy, I'm not saying we'll walk out unscathed, but I know, Haymitch knows, Effie, Cinna, Portia, Ceaser, everyone in this country, even though they don't show it, know that we're going to live through this. Don't worry so much; that's what they want."
She looks intently at me, but gives me a soft smile. "I don't know how you do that; calm me down." Her face becomes serious. "But we have to win Alto."
"And we will Katniss. We will."
"And about today..."
"What about it?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Did you mean it?"
"Mean what?"
"That you loved me."
My face softens. "You already asked me that."
"I know, but that was before the rule change, but even then." She looks down. "I...I just need to know."
"It's like I said on the stage and the elevator Katniss; I love you. I'll repeat it again if your face gets any redder." I smirk as her face does exactly what I said it would. "If you don't feel the same for me that's fine. I respect your decision."
She nods and smiles. "Truthfully I don't know how I feel about this Alto. But, as messed as this sounds, I'm glad you're here with me."
"Wouldn't want it any other way. And now, if we aren't getting any sleep, how about we discuss a strategy of some kind? We can go to my room."
"Good idea."
When we reach my room, she takes a seat on the bed while I wash my face quickly before tearing off my shirt. When I'm out of the restroom, she's red again, but doesn't show that she's embarrassed. She's staring at my chest.
"I never knew you had a scar. Where'd you get it from?"
"When I was ten, I stole some candy from an old man. He found me and beat me to a pulp and left me with this when he used his sword."
"Sword?"
"Yeah, he was very extreme." I take a seat on the bed. "So, first thing, I know Haymitch said to get out of the area where the Cornucopia was, but we need supplies. I was thinking that maybe we break for as many resources as possible."
"I have I agree with you there. But who would go for what?"
"I could go for weapons, and you could go for the other supplies. If we do this, we only do a once through and grab anything you can carry and book it out of there. Also," I lay myself on the bed. "When the count down begins, keep track of time. When it hits one, push yourself as hard as you can off the platform."
"But wouldn't that set the mine off?" She raises and eyebrow.
"It would if you don't time it right. If your timing is very good, your foot will make contact with the ground at the same time the bell rings, which is when the mines deactivate. That and you'll have the momentum to push ahead of everyone else. You'll get to the good stuff first." I lift myself and stand in front of her. She glances at the ceiling before nodding in agreement.
"Now, if we happen to not find a bow, you'll have to deal with a knife and sword. If we find one, you still need to carry a knife; I don't want you defenseless out there."
"Oh please. Don't you remember." She grabs my arm, and before I know it, I'm on my back in the bed, Katniss holding my head in place while she stares at me upside down.
"You helped me with this. My body's a weapon in itself you idiot." She smirks.
"And you forget Katniss." Before she knows it, she's face down on the bed, her arm bent back with me sitting on top oh her.
"I'm the one that taught you."
She struggles for a second. "Hey! Get off me!"
"Hey, you asked for that. You can't say it was uncalled for because what you did to me was just that."
"Ok! Ok! I get it! Just get off, please. That still hurts." I do as she says and roll off.
"So we already know what I'll have in there. What else do we have to worry about?"
We spent the next hour talking of possible strategies we could use depending on the terrain, weather, who we're fighting, and many other things. We were always changing something when we saw it couldn't fit, and we couldn't keep still either. Both of us were constantly moving or changing positions, either walking, sitting on the floor or bed, laying on the floor and bed, I think Katniss even took a shower and we talked through the door. It stayed on strategies until Katniss voiced a question.
"I've heard from Portia that you and one of your prep-team members are close. Salaya if I remember correctly." We're laying in the floor.
"Yeah I have. She was one of the only ones who asked any of the important questions. I've seen her often, and we talk about our past, and our possible future." My eyes lower, a small frown donning my features. "She's been through a lot, kind of like I have; kind of like you have."
"What has she been through?" She asks with a low voice.
Three Days Ago
I was sitting on the rail on top of the Training Center, eyes closed, leaning back and taking in the howl of the wind. I had just finished a lesson with Katniss, and to say she was tired was an understatement. She'd be waking up to Effie with a few more bruises on her person. She doesn't blame me for them; she's been telling me not to hold back when we have our mock fights, and I try not hurting her, but that's rather hard as you can see. She had left a few minutes ago and I had decided to stay up here to cool off. My shirt was drenched in sweat, as was my head, and the rest of my body for that matter. I wasn't expecting much else tonight, so I was startled when someone spoke up.
"Alto?"
"Oi!" I jump in surprise, falling backwards and on the floor, one leg hanging on the railing. I glance behind me, which is technically up for me as of this moment, and find Salaya, dressed in what look like pajamas; a long sleeved white shirt and white pants, no shoes on. Her hair's not looped or attached to any part of her body like normal, and cascades down her back, nearly reaching her ankle.
"Oh, it's only you." I flip over and lift myself. "Might want to warn me next time Salaya."
"Sorry, I didn't think I'd startle you. Normally you're the one doing that to me." She walks to me and dusts me off.
"So, what do you want to talk about? Or did you just come to see me?"
"A little of both. I passed Katniss on the way up here. She was all sweaty and was complaining about some soreness all over, especially on her, um, let's go with her bottom."
"Yeah, those are my fault." I rub the back of my head and give a sheepish laugh.
"She told me you didn't hold back."
"Actually I did. Had I gone all out, she's be dead, or at the very least have every bone in her body broken." I rub my arm, glancing behind me. "I probably would have thrown her off the building too."
"Where did you learn to fight? From all the blue marks on Katniss, is states you have much knowledge of the art." She asks.
"I learned it from an old man, who I affectionately call Old Man." I smirk. "He's the one who found me after the shop keeper beat me. He's the one who took me in when I asked, and he's the closest thing to a father I've ever had."
"You never told me of your parents." Her eyes lowered.
"I never knew them very well. I was an orphan, and the only one I even remember is my mom."
"What was she like?"
"I don't exactly remember what her attitude was, but I remember her face. Her skin was pale white, not like snow, but still pale. Her hair was brown in color, cascading down her shoulders and past her chest. Her eyes were blue, a strange combo, but one that none the less soothed me as an infant. Her face held youth, and any time she looked at me, she was always...smiling...smiling."
I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. My breathing was a little labored, and I could feel a stinging in my eyes. Salaya'a hands are on my shoulders, giving me some comfort.
"I miss her..."
"I'm sorry I brought it up."
"It's...it's not your fault." I wipe my eyes. "I've never really talked about it before, so surprisingly it's a touchy subject. I've never reacted like this any other time."
"Maybe because you're in the Games. It's starting to make you appreciate everything, even the small things you don't want to remember." She rubs my arms.
"I guess."
"So then, since you talked about that, I'll share something. It's how I ended up in the Capital as a member of Portia's prep team."
"But I thought you said you were from six?"
"I was but...things changed." She gave a small sigh.
"What changed?"
"My family were mechanics in six. We made enough money and had a nice enough house: my parents, two brothers, five younger sisters and I. We were fine, and though I knew things could be better, I was happy. When I turned twenty though...things didn't go so well."
"What?"
"I was walking home after a trip to the market. It was late, and I was alone. Maybe half way to my house, three men tried to rob me. I fought back and did knock one out before they got the better of me, but before they could take anything from me, they took off. I was so confused, but I looked behind me to find another young man, maybe a little younger then I was. I could see why they'd run; he was gigantic, easily past 6'7 with huge bulging arms and chest. He helped me up and walked me to my house. I kept thanking him on the way there and asked what I could do to repay him, but the wouldn't except anything. He took off when we reached my house."
"Almost like when the Old Man took care of me when I was too injured to help myself."
"Yes. I tried finding him again after that. Regardless of what he said I was going to thank him. It took me a month or two before I found him again, and this time he was walking around the block. He wasn't wearing nice clothes and didn't seem to have money at all, and since it was the cold session, I gave him some bread and a jacket. He didn't accept it right off the bat, but I persuaded him enough to where he took it. After, we started to see each other more often. I was so curious about him and wanted to learn everything about him. He was quiet most of the time, but he opened up later, but he was always quite about where he lived and what he did. No matter how many times I tried to pry those little secrets from him, he was steadfast and never revealed anything. But one night, everything just...went so wrong." She shuddered slightly.
"I was at my house when he barged straight in. Before I could speak, he told me to tell my family to pack a single backpack and leave the house. We did as he told, but also heard the familiar sounds of gunfire. He told us some group of people had attacked the peacekeepers in the immediate area. He was lying though, because when we ran outside, the whole district was in an upheaval, as far as the eye could see. He wanted us to get out if the district all together, and that was why we were headed to the train station; he planed on sending us to district one, only it didn't end well."
"He and a few other people were around me and my family to protect us, but we were ambushed half way to the station. The building in front in us collapsed and blocked our way. Then gunfire came from the other buildings around the block. Many didn't have time to react and just dropped. My...my mother and two sisters were among them. We went through the alleys...and my father and brother fell n-next. B-by the time we could see the station, there were only three of us left: my youngest sister, the man Allen, and myself. That only came down to one when we were at the station. O-one peacekeeper had hid in the station and fired at us when we came close." She was shaking violently.
"I-I jumped in front of my sister, and Allen jumped in front of me. He fell and killed the peacekeeper and when he did, an explosion from behind threw us forward. I had taken shrapnel to my ribs, but...but my s-sister d-d-didn't make it... Allen...he forced me into the t-train, but he fell before he could. H-he was bleeding bad-dly, and h-he told me...that it was his fault they all died. He was blaming himself. He kept telling me that, and I was so distraught that I only heard a portion of it while trying to pull him into the train, shouting that it wasn't his fault. But before I could, someone grabbed me and pulled me in the train, and it speed off to the Capitol..."
"It was an old man who dragged me in. He took care of my wounds and took me to the Capitol. He's the one who was able to get me into the prep team for Portia in her younger days. But that didn't matter to me then."
"I was so alone...so alone... I-I though I had healed, b-b-but I guess I was wrong-g. I'll n-never heal."
I embrace Salaya who's now on her knees, and she begins to weep into my shoulder, her body racked with her sobbing, and she holds me in return.
'God... She's been through hell...and she's still sane.'
We stay in that position for a long time, with me rubbing her back and her head, rocking back and forth slightly as I whisper words of comfort, letting her vent her sadness and loneliness. Her sobs start to subside before they stop all together, but she continues to hold me.
"Salaya? Are you alright?" That's a stupid question in itself after what the hell I just heard, but she's been eerily quite for the last half hour. I loosen my grip to get a look at her face, and a blink in surprise when I find out she's asleep.
'She must have been exhausted.'
I pull her up and gently throw her onto my back before I made my way back inside the building. I walk to the siting room where Portia and Cinna are, currently talking about something. They take notice to me and both walk up to me.
"Is she alright?" Portia asks.
"She's just tired. I'm not sure where to take her so I though you guys could help me."
"Hand her to me." Cinna moves behind me as I carefully drop Salaya in his arms. He proceeds to the elevators soon after, motioning for Portia to come along.
"Salaya and I do share similarities, only...she lost everything after she had the luxury of having it. Her pain's more then I've ever been through; both mentally and physically."
Portia nods, understanding and walks to the elevator, giving my shoulder a small squeeze on her way.
"My prayers go to you Salaya."
"Hell and high water she's been through, but she's still sane. I'm not sure I'd have the strength to handle that. What about you Kantiss?" I look at her, but I roll my eyes after when I find her asleep, if her soft snores were anything to go by. I kneel next to her, slide my arms under her knees and shoulders and pick her up bridal style. I quickly lift her into the bed, who's cover are all over the floor when Katniss had wrestled me when I made a comment that angered her. I cover her with said blankets and got ready to leave and sleep in her room, since it would be a little awkward if I stayed in here.
Before I can leave, Kanitss's hand grabs my arm, and she mumbles something.
"What?" I whisper.
"Iwndstilmaymiya..." I didn't catch any of that.
"Katniss?"
She mumbles more nonsense that I can't understand, but after three or four more mumbles, I hear what she says.
"Stay..."
That wasn't what I was expecting. "Do...you really want me here?"
"Yeessss..." She's fast asleep the next second.
"Okay Katniss. If that's what you want." I slide in the othe side of the bed facing Katniss.
My eyes take in her face, which is softer when she's asleep then when she's awake. I take a deep breath, taking in her sent and remembering it.
"Goodnight Katniss."
Katniss POV
I moan as I wake and sleep leaves me a hangover. I don't open my eyes yet, trying to fall back asleep but it's soon apparent that it's not going to happen, and I open my eyes.
I'm startled slightly when my vision has Alto in it, and I rub my eyes to clear them. When I open them again, he's still here.
"What...happened last night?" I try hard to remember, but I do recall his story about Salaya.
Alto's face is soft when he sleeps; his hair's upheaved, sticking every which way it can. He's not under the covers like I am, content with this cold in the room. I'm shivering like crazy with the blanket while he's not even twitching, only wearing sweatpants, and I have to shake my head at that.
I get off the bed; I'm very sure I don't want to be found sleeping in the same bed as Alto when Cinna and Portia pick us up.
...
I can't get my mind off what he said.
'It's like I said on the stage and elevator Katniss; I love you.'
Truth be told, I never really payed attention to something like this. Granted I knew a few guys at school who asked me out despite everything in the district, but I didn't bother them a second glance. Yes that is rude but I never felt the same way and was to busy supporting my family. Alto's the only one to ever reveal what he felt for me in such a way, and he respects it if I don't return those feelings. I'm...a little lost. He's a close friend, closer then any one individual could be to me if you're not including my father, mother, and Prim. As of now... I'm so confused, because I don't know how I feel about him. We've been together nearly twenty four seven, talking, training, laughing, and comforting each other for the past week that may be the last in our lives that he's been on my mind often. It's scary, but I've had a dream or two about him, and I find it a little hard to concentrate when he's intimately close to me when he tries to correct a technique.
This is so confusing...
I look down at him as he takes a very deep breath and he shifts himself slightly.
'One wouldn't hurt would it?'
I bend over him and give him a quick kiss on the cheek before I exit the room.
'That's the only one you're getting out of me Alto.'
Alto POV
Portia is the one to wake me in the morning. I was startled not just by her, but that Katniss wasn't here either, but quickly surmised that she left before I woke. When I'm dressed we head to the roof and seamlessly out of nowhere; a hovercraft appears and drops a ladder. I take hold of it and instantly, it's if I'm frozen, which is the electrical current running through the latter so that the tributes won't fall. Once they pull me inside, a woman inserts a tracker in my forearm while I'm still frozen on the ladder. Afterwards, Portia is brought abroad, and an Avox boy directs us to a room were breakfast has been laid out.
I stuff myself, and drink water, even when I'm not thirsty. I don't know when I'll find another source of water, so I might as well try to prepare for that. I look out at the window when I'm done, and can see the view that birds can see, first it's the city, but then the terrain changes to the wilderness. About half an hour into the flight, the windows are blacked out, which tells me we're nearing the arena. The hovercraft lands, and Portia and I go back down the ladder, only this time, we enter the catacombs.
The Capitol calls this the launch room, were else in the other districts its called the stockyard, where animals go before their slaughtered. I go to a chamber that I will prepare myself for the Games. I have to shower and brush my teeth, and then Portia receives a package for my cloths I will wear. Once I throw on my cloths, Portia shows me a jacket.
"I was able to pull a few strings, not much, but I was able to get you a better jacket." She says.
The jacket looks very thick, much thicker then the one I was suppose to wear. It's a dark gray hoodie jacket that falls to my thighs. Portia say that it was designed to keep you cool on hot days and warm on cold nights. She helps me put it on.
"Does everything feel alright?" She asks. I move my body, swinging my arms and throwing a few kicks.
"Yes, everything's fine."
"Nothing to do now but wait."
We take a seat on the couch, but I can't keep still, and after half a minute, start pacing the room. I knew I was nervous, but now, hell, I feel myself shaking. I didn't think it would get to me this badly. After a few minutes; a female voice tells us that it's time to prepare for launch. Portia and I walk over to a metal plate.
"Just remember what Haymitch told you." Portia reminds me.
"Stay alive."
"And everything else."
"Right."
"There is someone who wants to see you though Alto." She tells me. She turns and looks at the entrance of the room and let's someone in.
"Salaya?"
"I just wanted to see you off before the Games begin." She says as she walks up to me.
"I appreciate it." I sigh. "Seeing you calms me a little."
"I can't offer many words of advice, but I'll tell you this." She bends slightly so her eyes are leveled with mine.
"Just get through this alive Alto. You and Katniss just get through this alive."
"We will Salaya." I take her hand and give it a squeeze. "I will. And thank you, the both of you, for helping me through all this."
"You don't need to thank us Alto." Portia says. "Just stay alive."
I give Salaya a hug because we both need it as of right now, and we stay like that until a glass cylinder lowers and cuts of Portia, Salaya and I. We stare at each other as the platform lifts me up, and before I lose sight of them, I flash a quick smirk. Then I'm engulfed in fifteen seconds of darkness. Then the metal plate pushes out of the cylinder I'm in. I'm dazed by the light, and greeted by the smell of pine trees and the strong wind in my face. Katniss is on a the metal plate next to me, and we give each other a nod.
The voice of Claudius Templesmith, the legendary announcer, booms all around us.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games begin!"
"Bring it."
