Hello everyone! I had no homework tonight, so I took use of the time I had and decided to update (:
Anyway, shout out to my reviewers, followers, and favoriters! (If that's a word.) You all helped in a way for this trilogy and it's amazing how kind all of you are! (But not too kind. Need some criticism in there too ;))
Here's your update! Enjoy!
And if a child wants to run away
and a child wants to hide.
Oh, don't come following your fantasy,
Cause you might be surprised she'll run right back inside.
Christina Perri, "Black + Blue."
Shaking Cato, he wakes up and that sets off a chain reaction for Katniss' slumber. Her hair is still surprisingly perfect, probably the Capitol technology or something.
"Welcome to the Capitol," a voice overhead calls through the speakers.
Katniss' POV
People are screaming, loudly. I'm overwhelmed with the sight of millions of bright colors and animal-like faces, everyone of them just as guilty as I am for killing. They're sick people, rooting for previously desperate teens who are pitted against each other for survival. And they twisted Cato into what his bad side holds; an easily angered boy who can kill five men against one. He's brutal, but still a loving brother and son who is just as desperate as I am to protect his family.
Turning back, I eye him warily, while he looks out at the cheering crowd. It's large, and multiple peacekeepers are trying to hold the crowd back, reminding me so much about my first arrival here before the Games.
And now, it's even worse. In the back of the crowd, a specifically loud woman waves a flag with my face on it, blowing me kisses. Ignoring them, I intertwine my hand with Cato's and move through the narrow path that's almost flooded with people.
"Follow me," Haymitch commands from behind. Allowing him passage in front of us, Haymitch leads the way to the very apartments I stayed in. The crowd, of course, follows and just as Effie can close the door, faces squish against the glass, along with cameras. So many cameras.
With the option of stairs or elevator, everyone crams into the small yet advanced compartment that will lug us up to the Twelfth floor, considering everyone wants us to carry on our romance and enhance it.
Time flies, people blur, and the fast motion makes my head hurt. Stylists flit this way and that around my body by giving it a quick check up before we're out the door faster than a humming bird. Down the elevator we go yet again and the stage door comes into view.
Footsteps echo behind me and I see Cato walking towards me, a worried expression planted on his face.
"You ready?" he whispers in my ear when he reaches me.
"No," I sputter out, hearing the people pool into the large auditorium. He grabs my hand and pulls me to the side.
"I need the ring. Snow wants me to propose live, for the dramatic effect." He motions to the finger where the simple ring rests. Throughout the victory tour, I forgot I had it on, my nerves not reacting to the cool silver on my skin.
Slipping it off, Cato looks into my eyes once more before taking my hand and dragging me to the curtains. Sounds from cries of joy to desperate craving of seeing us new victors live carry through it. But Caesar's voice interrupts my thoughts as he begins talking.
"You all know them from the Seventy-Fourth Hunger Games," he begins. "You know him as the brutal killer, and her as the amazing Girl on Fire. But what about the both combined? Meet the doomed Lovers of Panem!" The stageman motions for us to walk out, pulling the curtain aside so we can step through. The screaming comes back full force and roses are thrown onto the stage like rainfall. Clusters of Capitol women are at the foot of the tall stage, screaming mine and Cato's name loudly.
Caesar laughs and motions for us to take a seat on the couch across from his questioning chair, a friendly yet slightly staged act. How many times have they gone through this?
"Katniss! Cato!" He greets. We walk hand-in-hand to the love seat, sitting down quickly to get this over with. "How was the Victory Tour?"
Cato squeezes my hand before answering, "it was great, Caesar. The feeling of seeing new Districts and knowing that we've made it out is just... too surreal." Caesar nods.
"I'm sure it is. Now, if you dont mind me asking, what did you two do during the in between times? It seems our audience is eager to know." I blush at what the blue-haired interviewer is indicating and Cato glances at me, red forming on his neck.
"Uh, uhm, let's just say that we had one hell of a ride." Cato looks out at the Capitol and winks, making an eruption of cheers and wolf-whistles resonate everywhere around me. Cato looks at me and in his eyes, a strangle tinge of... fear? is clear in them. But the Cocky Cato has come back into play for the Capitol and I know if I'm going to save our families, I need to step it up. We have feelings for each other, but the Capitol amplifies it to a whole new extreme.
"Oh, my boy, I'm sure you did. Don't get to crazy the next time you're here!" Another eruption occurs. "Now, Cato. Pardon me for intruding, but how was it when Katniss met your family in Two?" I look to Cato now, along with the rest of the world's eyes trained on him.
"Best experience ever. My mother loved her, along with my little sister."
"How old is your sister?"
"About... four and a half months?"
"The little tyke! She sounds lovely."
Cato replies wittily, "oh Caesar, please don't be the first boy to hit up on my baby sister." Laughter fills the room.
"Oh boy, I don't want to get in a fist fight with you. Now, how has life been... without each other? As in before the Tour."
At this part, I'm dead silent, along with Cato, who can't find the words on his tongue. Images flash through my mind as the room spins slightly, giving me that dizzy spell again. Mustering up every ounce of courage I have, I'm the one to reply honestly.
"It was horrible," I say a little above a whisper. "Not knowing when you'll see him again, and that he's the only one who has gone through the exact situation." I look out at Cinna in the audience to see him nodding in approval. "I don't want it to happen again."
Caesar's face contorts into a sad expression, so foreign from his usual smile. I've seen him wear worried glances, but never sad.
"Well, Ms. Everdeen, I don't think that will be much of a problem. Cato?" The blonde looks up and smirks only for Mr. Flickerman to catch, and with that, he stands up. Twisting to be facing me, he gets down on one knee and grins.
"Katniss Everdeen, I don't want to be away from you any longer. I'm sick and tired of people pulling us apart, and now, they won't. So all I ha-have to ask is..." a pause. He takes out the box and opens it to reveal the ring. 'Ooh's and 'aww's are brought to the stage from the crowd, everyone on the edge of their seats. "Will you marry me?"
I put my hand over my mouth and gasp slightly, widening my eyes to make sure I look surprised. I'm glad he told me before we came on stage about the live proposal, because if he hadn't, I'd be questioning why he has done it twice. Squishing my eyes together, I act like I'm about to cry and nod repeatedly while he slides the familiar ring onto my left ring finger. The crowd then bursts into cheers, wails, and scream as Cato stands up. Looking into his eyes, our lips crash together in a passionate kiss. It has to be realistic, I remind myself. Katniss, keep Prim safe. Taking the opportunity, I wrap my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss, trying to give off the effect of two new fiances in love and ready to get married.
This goes on for at the most two minutes before Caesar butts in. "Well, I think it's time we now finish our interview, if I may intrude," but Cato seems to not want to stop, putting his middle finger up to eye level with the bubbly interviewer. The audience goes wild yet again and we continue kissing until I need air.
"Well, that was exciting, wasn't it?" Caesar looks out into the crowd and smiles mischievously. "But sadly, I think our time has ended. Say cao to the Doomed Lovers of Panem, Cato Rosias and Katniss Everdeen!"
We exit the stage along with the echoes of drunken laughter and utter thrill of the engagement. Haymitch and Brutus meet up with us quickly, escorting us to the elevator in a quick manor. Just by Haymitch's face, I can expect that he wasn't planning on Cato proposing soon, even though he knew the thought would cross Snow's mind. Brutus just trudges along, an emotionless expression plastered on his muscular features.
After tonight, things will only get worse.
For the time being, we spend our night on the Thirteenth floor, looking out the window at the busy people below. Colors blaze around and lanterns are lit, floating up into the sky to pollute it even more.
Cato sits across from me, holding my hands while our feet touch. My legs are pulled up to my chest, giving me yet another security that I've been lacking. The people dance crazily below, like a flock of busy birds flitting around the square.
I sigh quietly yet Cato turns his attention to me. Shaking his head, he looks at the floor, a sullen look on his face. "What are we gonna do?" he asks, staring at the floor. I still stare out the window at the Capitol people below, who have now turned the party into a feast. They're too spoiled, I think. People, you've been deceived by Snow. Why don't you realize the Games are wrong?
"I don't know," I reply. "We'll do what we can though. I mean, we won together. We've done the impossible. So, we can do the possible."
Cato's eyes meet mine, which have veered from the thick glass. "And what would that be?" His hands move to our arms and my mind thinks back to District Eleven, where Haymitch and Brutus were watching the video of the uprising. The uprising...
It's clicked. We can do it, I know of it. So my words come out flowing and natural, which is rare for me considering I'm horrible with words.
I smirk. "There's only one thing we can do. Take down the Capitol."
Please, tell me if there is any errors and I'll fix them. I've been typing pretty quickly and I want this to look nice!
See y'all next time (:
~HeyoMyfellowReaders101