A/N: Hi guys :) So, this is a crossover fic of Hunger Games and Duskwood which is a crime and investigation detective game I have recently started to play on my phone and I must say I've been enjoying it to the point I came up with this idea for a new fanfic. Even though I do realize I've been way behind with my other stories, but you know, inspiration calls. Plus, I really enjoy writing AU fanfics with the characters from Hunger Games so I just cannot help myself. The layout here might come off as a bit weird at first because it will include a lot of descriptions of files and photos and a lot of text messaging between the characters (at first), but this is exactly what the game looks like; it realistically has you txt people and answer calls, read files and such in order to solve the mystery. I recommend the game overall; it's quite fun and unique.
English is not my first language.
Enjoy!
Summary: Clove is just a modest, quiet high school student focused on graduating and minding her own business in the small town of Duskwood. One day her entire life is turned upside down when she receives a mysterious message from a stranger along with an invitation to join a group chat where she finds out that a young girl had gone missing and the last anyone heard from her was through a short text... including only Clove's number in it. Clove centric/Clove&Cato AU
DUSKWOOD
Chapter I
"I don't know her"
"Hope not ever to see Heaven.
I have come to lead you to the other shore;
into eternal darkness;
into fire and into ice."
~ Dante Alighieri "Inferno"
"Clove!"
My eyes opened slowly though the last thing I wanted was to be woken up. I recognized my older brother's voice and groaned at the thought of getting up. I had spent most of the night studying for my Biology test and I was downright exhausted. But...
"CLOVE! Get out of bed, I'm serious! I am not waiting for you this time!"
Yeah. He definitely meant it. He did not like to mess around. Letting out a deep breath, I crawled out from under my lovely sheets and proceeded to put my clothes on. I was happy I was never into make-up and caring too much about how I looked as long as I was clean and fresh. So all I did to get ready was to brush my teeth, put my hair in a messy bun, and put on my top and denim overalls.
"Damn it, Clove-"
My brother stormed inside my room literally 2 minutes after he had screamed for me that very first time so I just arched my eyebrows at him from my spot on the bed where I was sitting, putting on my trainers.
"What?"
He glared at me before shaking his head. "Every day,"
"Would you stop? I'm always ready in no time," I snapped as I got up and grabbed my bag from the floor. "You wish you were this fast, but you always take forever in the bathroom,"
"Girl, I'm in college, alright? Gotta look the part,"
I rolled my eyes and pushed past him, not really paying attention to whatever he was mumbling behind me. Instead, I began to go over my bio notes in my head, just to make sure I actually did memorize shit.
"-and besides, would it really kill you to say 'thank you' once every blue moon, Clove? I mean, it takes me over an hour to get to Colville without dropping you off at school every morning. How about you take a minute to appreciate my generosity?"
I almost slammed the front door in his face as I was on my way out of the house, deep in thought about the upcoming test. "Shit, sorry!" I was quick to apologize but he gave me a death stare anyway.
"Sure. Not only did you just completely ignore everything I said, but you also felt it was okay to try and smash my face flat, thank you very much,"
"Nick, I said I was sorry, didn't I?" I glared back at him. "You still look just as flawless, pretty boy," I added just for good measure, rolling my eyes at how annoying his arrogance was.
"Bite me, Alicia," he snapped and I just ignored him again, watching him lock up.
I loved my brother. I did. He was the only family I had. Nick was alright. He was more than alright; he cared about me. As much as we got on each other's nerves, I knew he would never let anyone hurt me. He might have acted like I was just his incredibly annoying little sister he was embarrassed by in front of his college friends, but he loved me. Nick was everything I wasn't. He was very handsome and appealing. Tall. Muscular. He had deep, hazel eyes that girls were willing to kill for. Shiny, brown hair. His whole demeanor was very eye-catching and interesting to most. Me?... I was just Clove.
"Clover, what the hell is up with you today?"
I heard Nick's voice as if from a mile away. "What?" I shook my head.
"Get in the car, okay? I'm late,"
"Well, I'm sure you can find some tutorials on how to do your hair in less than twenty minutes," I said matter-of-factly, getting in the passenger's seat and hearing him snort.
"Asshole," he commented before getting in himself and starting the engine. "Seatbelt," he reminded me. He did that every single time. Because he loved me. Sometimes, you know, you don't actually have to say the words. I rolled my eyes but did as he asked. Nick turned the radio on before pulling out our driveway and yet again that morning, my thoughts began to drift free, making me deaf to everything around me. Normally, Nick was used to me being rather quiet and deep in thoughts like this, but today was different. I felt that something was off. And I guessed he must have picked up on that, as well.
"Are you okay?" he asked me, his voice much more gentle than before.
"Yeah," I nodded, staring at the road in front of us.
"Are you sure?" he tried again. "You know, I don't have to stay at the campus for the weekend. I can come back home if you want,"
Being that he studied at a college so far from our town, Nick would sometimes stay in Colville just to save some time and gas money. He had to study a lot so sometimes it was just better for him not to drive back and forth every single day. When he did that, I'd be home by myself which was fine by me. He didn't like leaving me alone all too much so he made it a habit to always make sure I was okay before leaving me for more than a day. "Nick, I'm sure, I'm just having a day, I suppose," I lied which I hated doing. Especially to him.
Something wasn't right. I had a bad feeling.
"Well alright," he sighed. "Just remember to call me in case you need me to get back. Cause I will right away, you know that, right?"
I actually decided to smile at him. "Yeah. I do. Thanks,"
He smiled back briefly before focusing on the road again. My smile faded slowly and that's when I felt my cellphone vibrating in my pocket. I sighed tiredly before pulling it out.
Chat request from Finnick
I frowned at the screen. Finnick? I didn't know anyone named Finnick. I didn't recall anyone at my school with that name.
Out of pure curiosity, I hit 'accept', presuming it was probably a mistake or a prank.
Finnick: Hi
I glanced at my brother to make sure he wasn't watching me or noticing something was up before typing back.
Who's this?
Finnick: You don't know me but I need to talk to you
I swallowed a big lump in my throat. I didn't like this one bit. But I wasn't about to ignore this person. I needed to know what he wanted from me.
How do you even know who I am?
Finnick: I don't. I'd like to find out.
I'm confused...
Finnick: Hold on. I need to add others first. Please, don't go.
Others? What others? What the hell-
Finnick added Gale
Gale: Hello
Finnick added Katniss, Johanna, Peeta
Katniss: Hey everyone
Peeta: Hello guys
Johanna: You have got to be kidding me...
Finnick: Please, Johanna, let's just try this, okay?
Johanna: For fuck's sake...
I'm sorry. What is going on? Who are you, people?
Johanna: Nice. I'm liking this already.
Peeta: Jo, just give this a chance.
Johanna: No. I don't want any part of this. Sorry, Finn.
Johanna left the conversation
Katniss: Once an asshole...
Peeta: Not you too, Katniss. Chill.
Can someone tell me what I'm doing here?
Katniss: Aren't we forgetting someone?
Finnick: Shit. Yeah.
Finnick added Cato
Cato: Wassup?
Finnick: Hey. We're doing this.
Cato: Well, alright...
I think you have my number mistaken for someone else's...
Finnick: No. This is not a mistake.
Then get to the point. What do you want?
Finnick: I know this is confusing
You can say that again...
Finnick: Tell me... does the name Annie Cresta tell you anything at all?
Annie Cresta? I thought to myself. I didn't know any Annie. I didn't know any Finnick. Or Katniss. I didn't know any of them. I didn't recall any people with those names being in my class or even hearing their names in my school. Who were they? What the hell was going on?
I decided to give them a short but honest answer:
No
Katniss: Are you sure? Please, think hard.
I'm sorry. I don't know her.
Cato: ...
Finnick sent an attachment
I sucked in a breath before clicking to open whatever it was he had sent my way. It turned out to be a picture of a girl who I could only assume was Annie Cresta. She was probably about my age; red hair, grey eyes, freckles, and a pretty, white smile. Suddenly, I remembered seeing her face somewhere... I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I knew I had seen her somewhere before.
Finnick: Well?
I'm not sure...
Peeta: Please, think.
I am thinking... I definitely don't know her. But...
Katniss: But?
I think I know her face from somewhere. Why are you asking me about her?
Cato: Told you guys. This is a waste of time.
Katniss: Stop.
What the hell is this about?
Finnick: Annie is my girlfriend. She's missing.
I felt as if the roof had fallen on my head. I knew I had a bad feeling about this day.
"Clove, hello?"
I stared at Nick, my eyes probably giving away too much. "Huh?"
He gave me a weird look, his eyes narrowing. "What's going on? What's happened?"
"Nothing," I answered, probably too fast. I realized we had made it to my school so I reached for the door, but Nick stopped me.
"What is it? What's wrong?" he tried again and I could tell he was actually worried by this point.
"Nothing, I just received a weird message," I told him truthfully, instantly managing to make my voice sound more natural. "It's nothing."
"is it?"
"Yeah, it's done. It was a mistake."
"Then why do you look so pale?" he continued to press on. "And how come you've been on the phone the entire ride here if it was just a mistake?"
Shit. I knew he wouldn't buy that. It was time for Plan B. "Nicholas, it's 8:00. I gotta go. I'll call you later,"
"But-"
"It's nothing, I swear," I tried to assure myself more than him before doing something I hadn't done in a while. I reached out to bring him in for a brief hug. "Message me once you've made it to Colville, yeah?"
"Sure," he drawled, watching me suspiciously as I got myself and my bag out of his car. "Clove,"
"What?" I looked at him impatiently, because I really wanted to check what other messages those people had sent me.
"Watch yourself, okay? Call me if you need anything,"
"I will," I promised. "Now stop frowning. You'll get wrinkles."
"Ha, ha..." he mocked me and I just smirked before slamming his car door closed. I could sense his eyes on me so I quickly ran up the stairs and entered my school through the side door. I glanced at my phone and unlocked the screen.
Finnick: Hello?
Katniss: Wtf?
Cato: Told you this was a waste of time. They're gone.
Funny. I could already tell a good couple of things about each person from that group chat.
Sorry. I got sidetracked.
Peeta: You were saying, Cato?
Cato: Shut up.
Finnick: Hey again. As I was saying... Annie is my girlfriend and we cannot find her. She's been missing for 3 days.
I frowned, trying to remember the girl's face.
Wait. Have you put up any posters with her picture on them?
Katniss: No, but her picture was in the newspaper yesterday.
Well then that's where I remember her face from.
Peeta: Are you sure you've never met? Maybe a long time ago?
I'm telling you, I don't know her
Cato: Of course
What is your problem? How did you even get this number?
Peeta: You're not gonna like this...
Cato: If you're telling the truth, that is.
Katniss: Cato, cut this out!
Cato: What? Ok. I'm done with this. See ya.
Cato left the conversation
Peeta: And then there were three...
Gale: Um...
Peeta: My bad. Four. Sorry, Gale.
Finnick: I'm going to just get straight to the point.
Please do...
Finnick: Annie went missing three days ago. But last night, I got a text from her number.
Peeta: She disappeared with her phone, just so you know.
What? How's that possible?
Finnick: That's what worries me. I thought it was her at first, just texting me she was okay. But that wasn't the case, sadly...
I leaned back against the wall, feeling my heart pick up its speed. I needed to ask. I had to know-
What did the message say?
And I waited as I saw Finnick typing a response. And then... at last-
Finnick: 254-3320
I froze. My fingers squeezed my phone so hard they started to hurt.
But...
Finnick: Yes. That's your number. And that is why we are here.
This was a mistake. It must have been. I truly did not know that girl. I had never talked to her or even met her in person. Why in the world would she send her boyfriend my number mere 2 days after her disappearance? If that was even her that sent that message... I had to say something. I couldn't just stop responding. They'd find that suspicious.
Finnick: I know that's a lot... I don't want to assume anything right away. I'm here to try and figure this out...
Katniss: We just want her back.
Peeta: And we feel this has to mean something.
Gale: Maybe you can help.
Help? How was I supposed to help them if I had no idea who they even were? I felt for them... Losing a good friend, a girlfriend this way without a clue if they were ever going to see her again.
Look... I'm not really sure what I could do
Gale: Anything could help. Have you given your number to anyone recently?
No, I keep it quite private, actually.
Gale: Hmm...
Finnick: What's your name? Can we please find out that at least?
I let out a heavy breath, fighting my inner voices screaming at me not to reveal this information. But I could feel it in my heart that they were not lying. They somehow did access my number even if I wasn't quite sure if I believed in Finnick's story just yet.
My name is Clove.
Finnick: Nice to meet you, Clove. Wish we met under different circumstances.
Gale: Word.
Katniss: Hey, Clove.
Peeta: Hi, Clove. Well, you know all our names and you can see our pictures and everything, just in case you were worried about revealing who you are.
Finnick: We know this must be scary. We are scared too.
Yeah... I guess it's safe to assume all of you are from Duskwood?
Gale: Yes. Aren't you?
Not exactly. My brother and I moved here a few years ago. So technically, I'm not a local.
Peeta: Welcome!
Gale: Peeta, she said she's been living here for a few years now...
Peeta: Well, we're meeting only now, so...
Katniss: How old are you, Clove? If you don't mind me asking.
I'll be 18 in a few weeks from now.
Gale: Cool.
Peeta: I gotta go back to work. Talk to you later.
Katniss: Bye
Finnick: Later
Peeta is now offline
I decided to use this opportunity to excuse myself, as well. I was already feeling very uncomfortable, answering all their questions and I was overwhelmed with the whole situation.
I have to go as well.
Finnick: Ok. Thanks, Clove. Can we talk later?
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to think. What should I do now? What the hell was all this about? How did someone access my phone number? Why mine? Was someone trying to somehow get me involved in this poor girl's disappearance? I let out a heavy breath and typed back an answer:
Sure.
Katniss: :)
Gale: Talk later then.
Finnick: Thank you... Really.
I stared at the screen, trying to figure out what to do next. Shouldn't I go to the police with this information? Show them that entire conversation? What if I don't? Would that count as withholding information? I glanced back at my phone.
Gale is now offline
Finnick is now offline
"Clove!"
I flinched and quickly put my phone back in my pocket, startled for some reason. Like I was obligated to hide things. I didn't like that feeling.
"Hey, pretty girl,"
I stood up straight and smiled at my best friend. The only person I ever spent time with at school. The first one I spoke to when we moved to Duskwood a few years back.
"Hey, handsome," I responded with a smirk. It was our thing. Complimenting each other. To others, it would probably appear that we were a couple. But we were just really good friends. I couldn't imagine not having him around. "What's up?"
"I can't believe my eyes. Clove Raven is late for her class?"
I rolled my eyes. "I can't believe mine either. You're only late 5 minutes,"
He laughed and pushed me jokingly. "Touche," he drawled. "Let's go, shall we?"
I smiled and nodded, following him and immediately feeling better. He was always able to make my day slightly brighter. And for a minute there, I was beginning to feel alright.
Little did I know... this was not going to last. My phone vibrated loudly for the second time this morning and instantly, my heart dropped a bit. I slowed down but continued to follow my friend, hoping he wouldn't notice anything, much like I did when it was Nick with me, driving me to school.
I looked at my phone.
Johanna, Katniss spy mode
"What the-" I murmured to myself, but unfortunately, my best friend heard me.
He stopped walking and looked back at me. "You all right?"
"Yeah," I tried to dismiss him, as we continued to walk, my eyes still on my phone. What was this?
Katniss: Jo
Johanna:?
Katniss: Did you really have to do that?
Johanna: Do what? Kat, I told you, I am not playing this game.
Katniss: Not even for Finn's sake?
Johanna: ... that's not fair.
Katniss: Look, whoever this girl is, we need to play nice in order to find out why would Annie send us her number.
Johanna: You actually think Annie sent that message? I sure don't. She's been missing, Kat! If she was able to use her phone, she would have just called 911 or one of us!
Katniss: I still think that girl is our clue. The only one we've got! I think you should get on board if you want Annie to come home
Johanna: Of course I want her back!
Katniss: Then quit scaring off our only lead. And while you're at it, tell Cato to get a grip as well.
Johanna: Pff. No, thanks. You talk to him. I ain't doing that.
Katniss: :/
Johanna is now offline
Katniss is now offline
I frowned, utterly confused. How was I just able to read those girls' chat? What the fuck was going on?
"Clove, what's wrong?"
I realized that I must have stopped walking at some point while reading the messages. I looked up, probably looking very distraught and stressed.
"Hey," he stepped closer to me, his hands grabbing my shoulders. "What's wrong, beautiful?"
"Nothing," I answered automatically and he furrowed his eyebrows, taken aback. This was probably the first time ever I did not respond to his compliment with one of my own. He continued to gaze at me quizzically as his hands dropped to his sides. My phone vibrated once more. I glanced down.
? added you
I looked up at my best friend once more as he watched me carefully. It was too late to pretend like everything was okay. I licked my lips and looked back on my phone.
?: So... how did you like that?
A/N: Okay, so that's roughly what the story is going to look like. Of course, unlike it is in the game, I'll have our beloved characters meet and interact in person, as well. I am not sure if there are still people out there that are interested in Clove/Cato stories, but I do hope I managed to spark someone's interest :)
Nick is a made-up character, just because I didn't feel like making one of the HG characters her family. And her best friend is someone from the series, but I'll let you wonder who that is for a little bit.
And to anyone who might want to ask: yes, I am working on uploading new chapters of Dystopia and On the knife edge. Hopefully soon.
Thanks for reading!
~ Joanna