Anon: Yes, Cato dearest is very pissed. ;3

Popper: I love your name, first of all, and second of all, I know (I was like screaming "I'm killing off Glimmer!" running around my house. My mom offered me sleeping pills, seeing as I hadn't been to sleep for at least a day... .-.)

Hiaho: LAZINESS FTW. AND I UPDATED. I thought about being a lazy bitch and waiting until I got back from my trip (which is tomorrow, ughh.)

So, that being said, on said trip I will be gone for three days and be back in tip-top shape. Maybe. Possibly. ... you know what, just hope ;D

I ran and ran and ran; my body protested weakly every time I would stumble and beg for me to slow and check my injuries. My mind, at that point, would overrule and push me harder. I felt ragged breaths wrack my system, the air screaming through my throat and burning my straining lungs. I felt like I was dying in motion.

It was a beautiful feeling, all in all. It meant I was surviving, that I was still alive. In my heart, I hoped Katniss and Rue were safe. But I knew I could do nothing for them now with the giant bear-thing chasing behind me.

Barely, I noticed his thundering footsteps behind me. Even if I couldn't hear them, I had a feeling I would run until my legs gave out.

Until I came up to a damn, bloody wall of sheer rock. I tried to slow as I neared it, but my shoulder still managed to collide painfully with the smooth rock surface. Damn you, Gamemakers! I managed to curse them in my head, all the while reeling from the hit. I tried to stagger back, eyes blurring with exhaustion as I searched for Cato.

All I saw was a dark flash as he tackled me into the wall, making us both slide painfully to the ground. I hissed when I landed on top of him, my chest smacking into his painfully. I wheezed.

My body almost slid off him as I relaxed all my muscles, but his arms tightened painfully as he tried to catch his breath. I hissed vainly at him, my eyes closing with weary resolution. My arms thrashed weakly in the direction of his face, but my accuracy was a little off, smacking into his shoulders harmlessly.

"Damn you, Cato," I gasped, trying to sit up properly when he did. I almost succeeded, then flumped to the ground tiredly. My fight was gone; I was already within his grasp.

"Yeah yeah," he hissed back, touching his stomach and wincing. I noticed a small knife sticking out, before he pulled it roughly and tossed it aside. Katniss or Rue must have tried to help me... but failed, obviously.

He turned to me, eyes narrowed, as soon as the bleeding stopped. I bared my teeth aggressively, still unable to will my body to move after all the adrenaline left me. Cato was a Career; he had more stamina. I couldn't recover as quickly.

After a few minutes of heated glaring, I tried to get up; Cato quickly slammed me back to the earth, straddling me easily and giving a warning push to my shoulders. "Well, what the fuck do you want me to do? Just stay here on the ground?" I snapped.

"Just fucking sit still 'til I decide what to do with you!" he snarled back, hands tightening around my small upper arms. I rolled my eyes. Even though his hips weren't technically touching mine, the position we were in was making me queasy- in an odd way.

"Oh, how long does that normally take?" I snapped, trying once again to writhe out of his grip. He backhanded me quickly.

My world span for a fraction of a second before I clawed out viciously in my rage. Cato let out a hiss as I caught his shoulder, pushing him just enough off me. I quickly wiggled my lower body out from under him, standing up quickly and taking my katana out of my belt.

"Stay the hell away from me, Cato," I warned, glaring at him as I pointed the short blade at him. Blood oozed lazily out of a cut just below his collarbone.

"And if I don't?" he prompted, raising an eyebrow. "You'll... what?"

"...kill you?" I said, phrasing it unsurely. My mind muddled almost immediately as I tried to think of a way to possibly win against this brute, but nothing presented itself. He laughed at me, rolling his shoulders easily.

"You couldn't do it," he said, walking towards me. For every long step he took forward, I had to take two back. "You wouldn't."

"I killed Glimmer!" I snapped. "You would be no different!"

"Do you really think you'd be able to win this shit with Fire Girl? She can't take care of herself, much less you and the little girl!" he snorted. I hissed at him as I was backed into the wall again. He paused directly in front of me.

"As if you would take care of me," I bit back, eyes narrowed caustically. He was emitting a pure, deceptively unreadable emotion. It was a mix of anger, sick happiness, pride, and something else – I still wasn't sure exactly what that was.

"We could get out of this," he murmured, eyes locked intently on mine. His body was unreadable – there was no way for the crowds to know what he was thinking or feeling right now.

But I did. I knew everything he was feeling.

And I hated every second of it. I could feel my own pain and the sharp sting of want of self-preservation – but I could feel his pleasure from catching me again, as well. It was all mixing together in my head, and I really didn't know what was mine and what was his anymore. It was one of the most frightening feelings.

Just as I was about to lash out with my katana, a better plan resurfaced. He was right about Katniss. She couldn't protect us both and protect Rue at the same time, if it came down to that. I would have to stay with Cato until it was just us. Then I would strike and help the other – either Katniss or Rue— win against the other tribute(s) still in the arena.

It wasn't fool proof, but hey. It was just a stark outline. I could come up with specifics as they presented themselves.

I lowered my head, acting out the part of the submissive little muttation that Cato wanted. Almost immediately, he grabbled for my arm and dragged me back in the direction of the camp, where, no doubt, Katniss was gone and Clove and Marvel were confused as hell.

Or, maybe they thought Cato had finally gotten her down and was working on killing her. That's a possibility too.

I quickly flicked my hair out of my face, glaring at Cato's back. As he pulled me around like a rag doll, I noticed a small camera hidden in a hollowed out tree.

A gave a wink and blew a kiss to the audience. Let them fawn over that and wonder, huh? Always a best seller for these games.

Maybe I'd get a damn sponsor out of the deal, as well. But I highly doubted it—any funds would likely go directly to Kes. That's who our trainers favored, anyway.

I could practically hear the crowds swoon.

Everyone likes a rebel.

"Cato!" Clove cheered as soon as we broke through the foliage. "Did you catch Girl on Fi- … Venii?" she broke off her sentence with my name, mouth open for a split second before she snapped it shut haughtily. "You didn't come back on your own, did you?" she scowled.

I shook my head mutely.

Marvel, quiet over in his little corner, laughed softly. "Pay up, midget," he ordered, holding out a hand. Wincing as though it was painful, she dropped one of her prettiest knives in his outstretched hand. "She thought you'd come back on your own," he supplied when I gave them a curious look.

I cringed, almost regretting leaving when I saw the concealed hurt under her normally sadistic and unfeeling gaze and felt from her aura. In my mind, I knew my leaving was justified. But her feelings were tangible not only to me, but they lingered heavily in the air, threatening to choke the life out of things. Cato cleared his throat.

I saw and felt his renewed anger at me. He and Clove were close, I could tell. I just hoped this wouldn't come between anything when the ultimate decision had to be made. Despite myself, I hoped one of them would die before they had to face off against each other. That would be… most painful to witness.

Especially for my already abused psych. I tried to ignore the pointed staring of Cato as I sat back down in my spot beside Clove, still feeling as if the air was trying to drown me in misery. But it didn't matter, not really. I dug my nails into the skin of my palm, using the pain to bring me back to earth, away from the never ending world of agony this arena creates. I refused to sing in front of these people again.

If I didn't get away from Cato, I had a feeling I would never sing again. I would be locked up with him, day in and day out, as the Capitol's little novelties. We would be nothing but showcase items.

Internally, I quirked a lip at that.

Vaguely, I heard Cato give out orders as to who would keep watch—not me, in other words. I knew it had more to do with keeping me in than staying on guard for other tributes. I glared at him and vowed silently to myself to get him back just for being a complete and utter dick.

I sighed, closing my eyes briefly. It wouldn't hurt to get some rest now, I guess. I could deal with Cato and his possessiveness in the morning.

Maybe, when I wake up, it will all have been a dream.

"But this is not Wonderland," I whispered to myself, "and I am not Alice."