A/N: Here's your last chapter for the day (maybe depending on my mood). Actually, I'll probably give you another. But later tonight. STARTS CATO'S POV I KINDA LOVE THIS CHAPTER.

The dripping stops as the buzzer sounds. It's finally over. They're coming to unlock the braces now. I can't help thinking they did the water on purpose. They knew it would drive both of us crazy, so crazy that I can't even think straight. I can't be Peeta's hero again if I can't think straight. Even though the dripping stopped, I can still hear it in my head. Drip, drip.

Get the fuck out of my head!

"Peeta?" I'm assuming I can talk now. They don't hit me when I open my mouth. "Peeta, it's over now!" ~

I feel looseness on my wrists and ankles, but I don't move.

Is it okay to move?

I don't know...maybe best to keep still. Just to be safe.

You're right.

So I lay there, still, staring at the ceiling. It's so bright. I can make out people talking now. But I stay quiet. ~

I can't believe I'm moving. As far as I can tell, I'm standing. "Peeta...get up."

"Peeta Mellark, District Twelve, tribute to the 74th Annual Hunger Games." The person who was speaking to the camera twelve hours ago reappears and begins talking again. "Rebel and traitor to the Capitol, lover of the beloved victor from District Two. His televised execution is scheduled for sundown tomorrow, Capitol time."

My father crosses the room to talk to me. "Your boyfriend will spend the remaining hours of his life going insane." He laughs. "He might not even remember what happened. Drip, drip, drip." ~

Those voices. I recognize them.

Can I move now?

I never stopped you.

I pull my legs into myself and sit up, wrapping my arms around my legs and staring blankly at the wall of lights. There were people, but I didn't look at them. ~

I start to walk slowly over to Peeta. No one's stopping me, so I start to run as far as my legs can carry until I reach him. "Peeta!" I hug him tightly and kiss his cheek. "It's over now. I'm here, okay?" I pull away and look at him, but his eyes are giving me a blank stare. "Peeta? It's Cato...can you hear me?" ~

I understand what he's saying.

Cato, he's a friend, right?

I can't remember. But he's not hurting us...so he can't be all that bad.

You said he was my boy before. What did you mean?

I honestly don't recall. You're out of your mind. You can't expect us to have a perfect memory.

I guess.

Speaking of, weren't you going to ask them to kill you?

Oh...I almost forgot.

I nod slowly to Cato, and look over to the people in white and speak in a monotone voice. "Please, kill me." ~

"No, Peeta," I whisper to him, "they can't kill you now. I said I'd get you out, remember?"

The Peacekeepers couldn't hear me because they were too busy laughing at his death wish. One of them says, "Not until tomorrow." ~

He wants to get me out?

He seems like a good guy.

But I don't even remember him...

Do you want to get out of here?

No...not really. I don't want to live.

"I don't want to live..." I pause, thinking again for the name.

Cato.

"...Cato." ~

"What?" Am I imagining this? Are we still in the middle of a six-hour torture session? "You said you'd be stronger than this...don't you remember?" Drip, drip. It's in my head again. Maybe the water's still falling for five hours. Maybe Peeta did die in the 74th Annual Hunger Games. I think I'm making this whole thing up in my mind. "Are you there?" I poke him on one of the few clean spots on his shoulder. "Are you all together in your head?" ~

Am I all together in here?

Of course not. You're talking to me, aren't you?

"Of course not." ~

"...I'm your boyfriend, Peeta." Some of the Peacekeepers start clearing out their things. When my dad turns his back, I kiss Peeta on the lips. He doesn't really respond to it, so I pull away. "What about now? Did that help?" ~

"Help...what?"

You're dating him, Peeta.

"I...am?"

You are.

I glance up at Cato. "Do I...love him?"

Very much.

I look back at this unfamiliar face. "...Oh."

You're insane, Peeta. ~

"You don't remember me, do you?" I ask him. "I was here with you the entire time, Peeta. How could you forget me? Of all people..." I don't know how I'm supposed to get him out if he can't remember why I'm even being nice to him. I want to cry out of frustration but nothing's coming out. "We were in love...we still are." ~

"We...are?"

Kiss him.

Why?

You love him.

I might.

You do. The water just messed you up.

Are you sure?

I am. I'm you, and I'm sure. So you have to be, too.

So I kiss him.

For a moment, there's nothing. I still feel nothing.

Then...

See you soon, love.

The cave.

The berries.

Three months to District Two.

The jacket.

The non-boxed cake.

Kisses, smiles, laughter.

All the nights.

No more lies.

Together.

Hope.

I pull back.

"Cato?" ~

"Peeta?" ~

"Love." I confirm, wrapping my arms around him and pulling myself close. ~

"Wait, you remember now?" I want to squeeze him and never let him go, but I'm afraid of hurting his frail body and I know we'll be taken away from each other soon. ~

"I...I do." Is all I can manage. "I think I'm insane." I whisper.

I told you.

Drip, drip, drip.

You're crazy, Peeta, but it isn't your fault.

It's not? Then...I'm here by accident?

By circumstance. Do you want to die Peeta?

I pull back and give Cato a good look over. "No, I don't think I want to die anymore."

Well, that's good.

"It is." ~

"Oh, thank god...you scared me." I hold his hands and kiss him again. "But...what exactly are you saying? You're talking like you're having a conversation with someone else. Are you okay?" ~

"No, I don't think so."

I'm you, Peeta.

"You're Peeta, too?"

Of course I am.

"Then how am I..."

I told you. You're insane.

"I'm insane."

Correct.

"Then why don't you go away? Now that I know I'm crazy.."

Because you're crazy. You tell me. ~

I stand up and help Peeta off the table. His legs are still wobbly as hell and he's completely out of it. "Are you talking to yourself?" I ask him. "There's only one Peeta, and that's you." Well, as long as he keeps himself company tonight, I guess it could be an okay thing. "Don't pressure yourself to do anything. You don't want to die, remember? Remember that. And that I love you. I think they have to take you away in a few minutes." ~

"Why?"

Because you have to die tomorrow, Peeta.

"But didn't I tell you and them I didn't want to die?"

They don't care. You have to.

"I have to?"

They think so.

I look at Cato. "Why?" ~

"Because you beat their Games, Peeta." I sigh. Now I kinda wish he didn't remember everything. Then it would be easier for him. "You can talk to yourself later...please talk to me before they have to steal you. In case we never talk again." I whisper the last part so that only he could hear. ~

I'll leave you be.

"But...you promised." ~

"But you said you wouldn't hold me to it." I frown. "I know I promised...but I'd rather treat every moment like it's our last together." Break him out tonight, break him out tomorrow morning. I don't know which is easier and which is safer. I'd rather go for the safer one, if it isn't the easy way. Whatever happens, I'll have to get him out. I promised him. "Say only one of us makes it out...please try to go on with life, Peeta." ~

Together, we said.

"No." That's all I answer. I leave with him, or I do not leave at all. ~

"Yes." I say with the most serious tone I've ever given. "If you don't try...you'd disappoint me." He says he doesn't want to die.

He wants to.

He doesn't.

He knows he will.

Then, I gave him hope.

He wants to live, then he begs to be killed. He takes it back.

And now, he can't live without me.

"I wouldn't forgive you if you didn't try..." ~

"We said together, Cato." I hold onto him for balance. "Either I'm leaving here with you, or I'm not leaving at all." I see the look on his face. "If you'd rather, I could lie now and tell you I'll try, only to bring myself back here for sunset tomorrow." I pause. "But I didn't think you would like that. Because we said no more lies." ~

"Forget it, then." I shake my head. "I don't want to spend this time together arguing about what to do. I love you." ~

"I love you too..." I reply. "We'll figure it out, love. Things will work themselves out." I try to let go of him to stand on my own, but that doesn't work out so well, and I immediately grab onto him again. "Even if I'm like this. You may have to carry me." ~

"I'd carry you to the moon and back, if I could." I smile, then notice that they're almost done clearing out. "Thank you for everything..." ~

"There's nothing I've done for you that you haven't deserved, Cato...Remember that." We kiss once more on that, because we know that this could be it for some time. Forever. ~

"And you deserved more than I've ever given you...I'm lucky you stuck around." I feel myself getting pulled away from him. "No!" I reach out to him but he's already too far away. It's a random Peacekeeper that's pulling me away, not my dad, so I'm a tiny bit relieved at that. But I don't want to be away from Peeta. ~

"Cato, I love you!" I call out to him as we get pulled farther and farther apart. Suddenly, a metal door slams in front of us, and he's gone. ~

"I love you too..." I say to the closed door.

The walk down the hallway is silent. My dad is in front of me, leading the way, while another Peacekeeper is walking me to my next destination. Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the syringes sticking out of his pocket. He must be the one that stuck Peeta those times. The needle is literally right next to my hands. If I can get ahold of it, maybe I could use it. It can be the key to our escape.

So, I fake an incredible sneeze and swipe it from his pocket while he's still startled. ~

It takes at least two of them to help me walk down the dark hallway. I don't know if it's actually dark, or I'm just so used to the bright lights from the torture room that everything else seems faded. Besides the two holding me, there's one walking in front and behind us, in case I attempt a "clever escape". Yeah, you really think I could escape on my own from all four of you in this state?

Neither do I.

We make it to the room, which is up an elevator two floors from where we are. Through a bunch of winding halls, we reach it; inside is a bed, a mirror, and a toilet. It felt like prison. It kind of was prison. No, prison was probably better than this. The one larger Peacekeeper lets go and the other pushes me into the room, where I immediately crash onto the hard floor.

C'mon, Peeta. You've got to try and walk on your own.

I manage to pull myself onto the bed, and that's when I get my first look at myself.

Why didn't you tell me I looked so bad?

You really think I saw you?

Well, yeah. You seem to know all of this other crap that I can't remember.

Well no, I didn't see. You look like a mess.

No kidding.

I don't recognize the person in the mirror. He is cut up, red, somewhat deranged looking, partially clothed and just a bit deformed. Nothing like the weary but cheerful 17 year old who was brought here this morning. Even he had more clothing on. Nicer clothing, from the stylists. But the fire changed that. The roots of my hair were blonde, the body brown, and the tips singed black. Once again, very attractive. ~

In all his confusion, I'm able to stick it in the pocket of my pants without being noticed. What a fucking idiot. It's a good thing my dad wasn't the one walking me. He would've caught me before I even laid eyes on that needle.

Eventually, they shove me into a relatively small room and tell me something about food in an hour. They'll bring it in for me. There's a television in the room so I wonder if this is where I'm supposed to watch Peeta's execution. I doubt they'd want me there where I could scream to him and have him yell back to me. They'd want me to watch him from behind a screen, so that the both of us are helpless.

When I'm sure that I'm alone, I look for those little cameras that they hide everywhere. Don't they want to see my reaction to Peeta getting killed? Maybe they'll bring in a camera crew for that. They'll interview me while it's happening.

Cato, how does this make you feel?

Fuck the Capitol. That's what it makes me feel.

I think the camera crew idea is a safe bet. I can't find any abnormalities in the room. The room is pretty much immaculate. I go over to the bed-which they were kind enough to even supply me with-and just lay on it. It's comfortable like the ones we had before the Hunger Games started. It's nice to lie on something soft after sitting straight up in a chair for twelve hours.

Including five hours of drip, drip, drip.

I think that's what drove Peeta insane. He's probably having a game of mental ping pong with himself. Asking questions. Second guessing himself. Second guessing me. Debating between loving me and not knowing me. Remembering everything that made us.

Hell, even I lost the will to live from the damned dripping.

And while I'm on the bed, I think of my escape plan. ~

I assume I'm not getting fed when the Peacekeepers never come back. I didn't think so, but it was worth a shot.

I'm so hungry.

Of course they're not going to feed you.

Sorry for having optimism.

That's just a stupid thought.

How do you think Cato is doing?

He's definitely better off than you. I'm sure.

How can you tell?

They want him alive and somewhat pleasant. They'll treat him well.

My stomach rumbles again.

I'm thirsty too.

But do you really want water now?

Drip.

No, I suppose you're right. ~

If there are cameras here, I can't see them. The door is tightly locked. Once I'm sure that I'm careful, I roll onto my stomach and take the syringe out of my pocket and examine it underneath me, hiding it from everywhere. It's labeled "TRACKER JACKER," and then suddenly everything makes sense. This shit causes weird hallucinations to people who are lucky enough to survive tracker jacker stings. This is what gave Peeta the nightmares and prepped him for the dripping. It helped drive him insane.

I slip the needle back into my pocket and think about how to help Peeta. When they come back, I'll stick them like they stuck him. ~

Time goes so slowly when you're sitting by yourself...talking to yourself.

How do you think he's going to pull this off?

I...have no idea.

Do you think he can do it?

I hope so. I just think I may be holding him down.

He's doing this all for you.

I know. I really want to live with him.

I know that you do.

I lay flat on the bed, wincing as my open wounds hit the rough sheets. This is definitely a continuation of the torture in an indirect form. I know your deal, Capitol. But you can't break me. ~

I spend some of my time checking out all my burns. Some of them seem to have formed pus bubbles. Well, those will hurt in the future when they inevitably explode. Peeta's burns probably didn't even get a chance to form these. He was cut open everywhere.

I perform stretches to work my numb body. Sitting still in a chair for twelve hours can do that to someone.

Then, I try to remember the path I took from the torture room. Peeta was taken out the back door, so that's the only way I know how to find him. Getting out will be the problem. I heard following the right wall will eventually get you out of a maze, but this is a Capitol building, so I'm sure it won't be like that.

I'm expecting them to bring my food any minute now. If I get this right, I'll be seeing Peeta soon. ~

"I feel terrible."

I know that, Peeta. So do I.

"I'm hungry..."

I'm sorry they're not feeding you. They expect you to die, you know.

"Yeah, yeah..."

So now, we wait.

"Wait for death?"

For Cato, Peeta.

"Right.."

I drift for a bit into sleep, but my head is pounding too much. I wake up in a panic, not remembering where I was for a minute.

Wait, wait, wait.

Drip, drip, drip. ~

It's when I hear footsteps far down the hallway that I realize I have to do something. How do I do this? If this doesn't work, Peeta dies. Something unthinkable will happen to me.

I hide next to the door near the hinges so that when the Peacekeeper opens the door, I'm behind it. He'll have to walk in to give me my food because it looks like I'm not in the room. If it looks like I'm not here, he'll have to check.

It won't be my dad. I think he's too busy conspiring with the Capitol, trying to figure out Peeta's execution.

When the door finally opens, I jump out and inject the venom into the Peacekeeper's arm. ~

"They could have at least given me something to do."

They expect you to talk to me.

"Until I die?"

I believe so. How long do you think it'll be until Cato gets here?

"I really don't know. Soon. Hours. Depends."

I hope soon...for your sake. ~

I have to cover his mouth with my free hand so that he can't alert anyone else. As he collapses to the floor, I notice that he was the same Peacekeeper who escorted me here. How ironic.

I wanted to save some of the poison, but it was better that I empty the entire syringe into his arm to make sure he's unconscious. Quickly, I shut the door and pull him onto my bed. I remove his uniform and helmet, gag him with his own socks, and put the covers over him. Then, I put the uniform on over my own clothes and put the helmet on.

If I'm going to be wandering around this place, I'll do anything to not be caught. ~

For a while, I just stared at myself in the mirror. I'm horrible looking. Like a living corpse. Besides my face, barely any of my skin is intact. And if it is, it's charred. I don't know who this person is. Surely not me. No, it is. ~

I close the door and lock it behind me. There are three ways for me to go. I remember turning to the right to get into my room, so I turn left and go down the hallway. Everything seems familiar. There was a paint chip on the left wall that I can now see on my right. Soon, I find myself going down that long hallway. People pass by me, and I just turn my head to the side. They don't notice anything out of the ordinary.

Finally, I reach that terrible room where we were and look through the tiny window. No one's in there-not even the cameras. I pull the keys out of my pocket and unlock the door. ~

"Cato...please come." I whisper.

He may never come, you know.

"I know that."

It's good to be optimistic, though.

"I try my best in the circumstances."

You didn't even get to say goodbye.

"Neither did he."

I think he's going to come.

"Is my optimism rubbing off on you?" ~

The room scares me so much that I sprint across it. I hate this place and everyone who was in it. Everyone except Peeta. Peeta, who is driving himself insane by himself.

Then I'm walking down a hallway identical to the other one. I'm looking in every room for my insane boyfriend. ~

Now I'm getting less and less afraid that a peacekeeper isn't going to come and more and more afraid that one will. That they didn't tell Cato something they were going to do. Maybe they really will leave me be to go mad.

You already are mad.

Oh, right. I'd almost forgotten. ~

The rooms all look the same. I walk down the hallways forever until I reach the very last door. It's a room containing a deranged boy who is talking to no one. My heart is pounding as I unlock the door and walk in. "Peeta Mellark?" ~

I freeze in place and continue staring at myself in the mirror. Did so much time already pass? Had I slept that long?

"...Yes?" I whisper, terrified. "Is it already time?" ~

"Shh. It's time, Peeta." I quietly close the door behind me. ~

No. I don't want to die. Not yet. I had to see Cato. I couldn't leave it like that.

"No, no, no...Can I at least see him one last time?..." Oh god. I'm so afraid. This can't really be happening.

But it is.

It is. ~

"Turn around, Lover Boy," I laugh. ~

A/N: AM I FORGIVEN NOW PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE xx