abugsaunt- "Quacking ducks" sounds hilarious. Until Peeta and Cato reunite, the chapters are going to go back and forth between the two. It won't be too long now before they meet, though, I promise. I love reading your questions because they make me go, "Oh yeah! That's a really good idea!" Thanks!
curious92- No need to apologize, I appreciate that you commented now. You wrote some very nice things and it made me smile, so thank you!
MangoMagic- Hahaha, here's the next chapter! YOU MUST READ!
CupcakeSprinkles14- I don't think they sell those in the US, but they sound delicious. Plus, by how badly you want one, they also sound addictive ;)
Pale Is The New Tan- Aww, shucks. Your reviews are a beautiful thing. Read on and you'll find out just how the rebels' plan worked out. May people continue to frolic in meadows.
scheiGuy- Rescue time! I really hope I don't let you down. You all are so great for sticking with me, that's the last thing I'd want to do. I hope you like it!
Cato awoke to find himself in his bed on district 2's floor of the training center. Each remaining tribute was taken back to where they stayed before they were sent to the arena, but now the Capitol was taking extra measures to ensure there was no escape. All the tributes' apartments were locked from the outside, trapping them like rats. Droves of peacekeepers roamed the halls outside the district floors, making sure no one got in or out.
The boy from 2 got up and made his way to the living room to find Clove and his mentors, Brutus and Enobaria, already up and eating breakfast. Now that they were all prisoners of war, the food certainly wasn't as appetizing as it used to be.
"I've got some bad news, Cato," his one mentor, Brutus, solemnly told the boy. "I overheard the peacekeepers talking outside. President Snow is planning on making an example of us. Starting tomorrow, they'll be going down the line executing each one of us on national television."
Cato didn't even bat an eye at his newly scheduled death sentence. "It was to be expected, honestly," he shrugged. He knew the Capitol was just as ruthless as he was and would use the tributes to rattle the districts in whatever way they could.
"I've prepared myself to die for awhile now," Clove stoically declared. "I just hope our families are doing better than we are now."
"Seriously, Clove?" Cato grinned. "You know our parents. I bet you the moment the revolt in 2 took place, they all busted out into the streets looking to kick ass and take names."
"Ha, you're probably right," Clove smiled.
Cato sat down to join his team for breakfast, although he had no appetite. At least Peeta got out, He thought. He'll be the last tribute of this year's games left alive after tomorrow. A victor in his own right, winning not against us, but the Capitol itself. He never did seem like the type to follow the rules. Cato couldn't help but smile a little.
Suddenly the building lightly rumbled and Clove gasped. "Look out the window, in the distance. Something exploded over there."
The district 2 team all ran to the window and, sure enough, a flaming mushroom cloud was looming over the city a mile away. They all suddenly heard the scrambling of peacekeepers outside their floor and then there was silence.
"Do you think the rebels did that?" Clove asked.
"Wouldn't surprise me one bit," the other mentor, Enobaria, answered.
They all continued to stare out the window at the huge smoke cloud billowing in the distance. They watched the ground beneath the training center flooding with peacekeepers that were stampeding towards the sight of the explosion.
Several minutes passed when the prisoners were abruptly pulled away from their gawking to the sound of the locked door to their apartment being obliterated by a battering ram. They turned in shock to see armed men in all black entering their living room.
"District 2 tributes and mentors, don't be alarmed," one of the armed men stated. "We come from district 13. We're here to get you out. Follow us, quickly. There is a hovercraft waiting for us on the roof."
Brutus was suddenly grabbing both his tributes and heading for the soldiers. "Well, you heard him. We don't have time to ask questions. Let's just get the hell out of here!"
The group followed their armed escorts through the hall and saw a couple peacekeepers dead on the ground. Some must have stayed behind while the rest went to check out the explosion. As they made their way to the roof using the stairwell, they were joined by all the other panicked tributes and mentors who were escorted by their own armed entourage. Up on the roof, a giant hovercraft opened its doors and the prisoners all clamored in before it quickly ascended and shot forward, flying them far away from their imminent doom at the Capitol. They were all met with people in green scrubs who checked them out and removed the trackers still embedded in their arms. Cato stared out the window until the only thing he could see of the Capitol was the smoke cloud from the mysterious explosion. That was no coincidence. These guys are good.
On the way to district 13, all the rescued tributes and mentors in the hovercraft were clamoring and questioning what was going on. Rue ran to Katniss and they embraced, while Marvel approached his district 2 allies and patted them on the back. All the mentors gathered together and were quietly chatting amongst themselves. Finally, one of their rescuers came into their room and briefed them on the situation and told them they'd be arriving to the safety of district 13 in 20 minutes.
Entering the halls of 13 for the first time, the entire group felt like they were in some sort of alternate reality. It looked nothing like their home districts. They were sent to get cleaned up and checked out again before meeting with officials from 13 to take a tour. The mentors were split up in a couple tour groups since some of them were rebel conspirators who had worked with 13 already. District 3's Beetee was sent directly to one of the weaponry floors while Finnick Odair and Mags from 4, Johanna Mason from 7, the morphlings from 6, and Haymitch were given a special tour. All the tributes were gathered in one group and were taken to check out their new home. The tour group was small, consisting of only the tributes that remained: Marvel, Clove, Cato, Foxface, Pip, Rue, Thresh, and Katniss.
The official in charge of their tour showed them their special floor in which they were all assigned separate bunk compartments. They then followed the lady as she took them to see the infirmary, the school, the recreational floors, and the dining hall. They had arrived in a giant gathering space to go over any questions they might have.
Clove raised her hand. "I have a question. Why did you bother to go through all that trouble to save us? Clearly that explosion in the Capitol was you guys distracting them so you could swoop in and get us."
Leave it to Clove to be so blunt and so observant. The woman giving the tour just smiled and proceeded to explain the mission. "Many Hunger Games victors knew of our plans for an upcoming war, including many of this year's mentors. Not to mention the Hunger Games is one of the biggest reasons for your districts' rebelling. It was imperative to save you. You all represent the reason behind your districts' revolt. You represent the thousands of children already slain by the Capitol's games. And while the troops were on their way to the Capitol for the mission, we were informed of your impending executions. We weren't just going to let them make an example out of you children because of us."
"We saw your men take Peeta yesterday," Katniss blurted. "We saw the security tapes from his hovercraft when we were taken to the Gamemakers' room. Where is he? Is he okay?"
"Honestly, young lady, I can't say for sure," the tour official informed her. "That explosion you saw from outside your windows? That was Peeta and his unit detonating explosives to create a distraction for the rescue squad to save you. They haven't made it back yet."
"What do you mean they haven't made it back yet?" Cato suddenly barked. "Did you all just sacrifice them so you could get us out?" His blood was boiling and he couldn't contain his rage at the thought that they had just left Peeta back in the Capitol.
"Of course not," the woman defended. "They have their own plan of escape. It wasn't just Peeta's unit. An entire squad was sent as a decoy. They just needed to stay and fight the oncoming Capitol forces long enough to give the rescue squad enough time to get all of you out. Their little decoy attracted all the peacekeepers in the area. They have their hands full, but they'll be back. Besides, it was Peeta's decision to go. Our dear President tried to keep him here, but he insisted on taking the risk to help save you. It seems the kid knows how to get what he wants, even at the cost of his own well-being."
And just as the woman finished her rambling, a soldier came hastily to her side.
"Mam, we've just received word that the decoy squad has arrived. They're pretty beat up. We're bringing them in now."
Sure enough, the tributes were told to back away to make room for the influx of soldiers bursting into the large gathering space. Some of them were carrying their injured comrades. As they passed, the tributes could hear cheering further down the way as the soldiers made their way through the full dining hall to get to the infirmary.
"Is that all of them?" the tour official asked the soldier.
"No, we've got one more unit coming in; Peeta's unit. Word is he's been shot."
All the tributes were standing right there to hear the news. Katniss gasped in horror, while Pip and Rue started crying.
Cato just stood there, motionless. He suddenly felt the sensation that he was falling; that the ground beneath his feet had opened and it was swallowing him into darkness.