Chapter 29

After I explain the situation, we are brought in together to wait for a further examination. I get slightly nervous that anything more is needed. They already took vital signs and several blood samples, so what else is really needed? Does this mean that something really is wrong? Is it something bad? Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and try to think logically. This is probably one of those simple Gamemaker-controlled viruses that can be taken care of completely and easily. Right? But if that were the case, wouldn't we be out of here by now? Still, I know that I need to appear calm and reassured; this will all be less stressful for Cato that way. I need to try to keep him calm…

"Everything is going to be fine," I whisper gently. "Absolutely fine. I promise…" Maybe it's me who is more anxious…

We wait in silence for a while, and I strain to hear what's going on outside. It seems like several people are analyzing a recap of the Games, as if trying to find a specific spot where whatever this is started. After a while, I can tell by the muffled splashes that they are watching us n the water. It's slowed down, but they're still repeating it over and over again. Then it all makes sense; there must have been something in the water. And, depending on what it is, it does make sense that Cato would get it and I wouldn't, since I still pinch my nose closed when I swim… It all makes sense now…

They always told us in training how dangerous unpurified water is. The instructors would go on and on about making sure to use iodine, purification tablets, or boiling methods if we didn't get it from a sponsor or the Cornucopia, and to avoid getting any that we didn't clean into our mouths, noses, or any open cuts. This water probably was infected with some sort of freaky algae or amoeba, or something. Whether it was naturally-occurring, Gamemaker produced, or what, I can't really be certain. I just know that it will likely do one of two things if there isn't any available cure. It will either go away on its own, which is what I'm hoping for, of course, or… No. I can't even allow that thought to form in my mind.

"Yeah, everything's going to be just fine…" I repeat slowly, trying to hide the fact that my voice is cracking slightly with held-back tears. "Just fine…" We look each other in the eyes for a moment, and slowly move in towards each other. I feel his fingers run through my hair for a second, as delicately as one would stroke the wings of a fragile butterfly. I close my eyes for a second, smiling slightly, before the warmth on one cheek alerts me to the fact that Cato has leaned in and kissed me softly. I turn a bit so our lips brush against each other's, and though it feels fantastic, it also makes all the panic a bit more immediate. Pressed against each other like this, the heat of Cato's fever feels magnified, burning hotter… They need to figure this out. Fast. They have to…

Still, we stay like this. Even after breaking apart, we remain pressed cheek-to-cheek, wrapped in each other's arms. I look up and out the small window on the door and sigh. Now, they're going between multiple Game fragments, charts, graphs, and notes, and arguing about what is happening. Well, maybe if they came in here they would be able to figure that out!

After a few minutes, I try once again to get him to relax. With our arms still wrapped around each other, I gently lay him down onto the examination table nod smile reassuringly. Though I am glad that the smile is returned, I can tell how forced it is. "How do you feel? And tell the complete truth. Please..." I know that the second bit is necessary, and that without it, he would just sugar-coat everything. "Come on," I coax as I stroke back his hair. "Tell me..."

"Kinda dizzy," he gets out in a weak whisper.

I can tell that that isn't all. But honestly, I would feel badly about pushing any farther... I just hate seeing Cato so fragile...

"Okay. It's all going to be over soon. Then everything will be back to the way it was, okay? Just hang in there..." Once again, our eyes lock onto each other's, and neither of us break the gaze...

Not until the door is pushed open, surprisingly by our mentors. Both of their expressions are dark, grim... They know what's going on. And I can tell that it's something really bad.