Chapter 10 Stranger

Clove turned to the side to see the arrow centimeters from her face. She tried to say anything but she couldn't feel her limbs like she was having an out of body experience. Then arms wrapped around her tightly, "Why are you lying to me?" Katniss sobbed. The taller girl felt her knees give way but Clove held her up.

"This was your chance to kill me," Clove confessed. She stole a kiss not caring about anything except for the person in front of her. "I thought that if you hated me enough you could do it."

"I-I don't want to kill anyone," Katniss cried. "Especially you."

"I know." They kissed again, soothing each other's pain. Clove held the other girl's hands feeling them shake in her own. "You have to go alone to save Peeta and win this. The last time I saw him was by the creek where we found you."

"No, not without you." Katniss just wanted to be back at their last night. How everything seemed so perfect then compared to now.

"I'm dead anyways," Clove said emotionless. She tried to put up her emotional shied to be strong for Katniss but it was hard. "The Capital would never let the three of us live so I might as well try to take out Cato."

"And if you fail?" Katniss said wiping away angry tears. She never hated the Capital more than at this very moment. It was a stupid and reckless plan. A suicidal mission would best describe what Clove was trying to do.

"Then I know you won't," Clove said wiping away stray tears, "I'm glad you didn't kill me, so I could get this off my chest. It felt like it was eating me alive."

"What is it?" This kiss made them feel complete and said things on a different level than words ever could. Clove tried not to moan feeling Katniss' warm soft tongue on her own. They both wanted to keep going but the Career finally got enough will power to stop.

"I love you, Katniss Everdeen. And I think it's safe to say I'll love you till my last breath."

Before Katniss could say anything Clove ran off into the woods. The dark haired girl could hear the brunette calling her but she didn't stop. It was getting more and more difficult to leave Katniss. She wiped away tears knowing that Cato would suspect something if he saw this way. She used all her training and rationality to find Cato. She went in the direction she knew he would take to make a camp. She saw a fire and knew she had made the right choice.

Know thy enemy.

"Where the hell have you been?" Cato said lowering his sword. He was pissed that she ran off without him.

"I thought I had finally found Fire girl but she was too quick." Clove said sitting near the fire. It burned and danced in colorful heat waves feeling so nice from the cold air. There were sounds of some crickets and the crisp air felt good to inhale.

Cato shrugged but the atmosphere didn't change. It felt different, like something changed but Clove regarded it as her paranoia. Probably the only people she'd ever trust is Katniss and her family, not including her father.

"You know what I find disturbing?" Cato said.

"You have to actually work for your meals, now," Clove scoffed. Remembering all their food had exploded and now they were force to hunt. They only had a few strips of beef jerky now.

She turned to her partner before she felt a sharp pain to her temple. Stars literally appeared in her eyes and her vision became blurry. Cato had used the handle of his sword to hit Clove at her temple. He was towering over her thinking he should strike her again but she was fighting to stay awake. Her eyes were distorted and she moaned out in pain. The trees were spinning fast and there was a faint ringing in her ears.

"What I find disturbing is that you're in love with fire girl," she heard him say. She fought to stay conscious but finally fell into the darkness. Her chance to kill Cato was lost and now she was at his mercy. With her luck he was going to take his time torturing her with his sadistic mind.

Chapter Title is by Elisa.