CHAPTER 3.13

'My throat's torn raw from all my screams.

But no one can hear me.

In the dark it seems I lose my dignity.

Between the pain and tears.

There's only fear.'


Blood dripped down the polished blade of the sword. A sweaty hand gripped the hilt of the sword tighter as the dark figure held it protectively in front of him. Enemies could jump out of anywhere and the blue eyes darting around him showed that the man was on high alert. Red lights flared from the ceiling, illuminating the path he had to trek. Perspiration ran down his forehead and his dark shirt began sticking to him under the heat of the protective gear.

After being informed by a terrified Peacekeeper that some of the prisoners were being imprisoned down here, the rebel had thanked him by running the soldier through and leaving him for dead. Laboured breathing was the only sound as Cato snuck down the darkened corridors. Blood rushed in his ears as his heartbeat pounded erratically. Gale was panting slightly from a bullet wound he had got to the shoulder but whilst pale and slightly weak, he refused to return to the jet without finding Indiana and Peeta. Cato had to admire his determination and spirit. Despite his own love for Katniss, he was willing to sacrifice his own life to ensure her happiness. Even if it was with another man. Cato doubted he would have the strength to do that with Indiana.

Unfortunately, the two men came to a split in the corridor and nodding solemnly to each other, they agreed to split up. Ensuring they had enough ammunition, the two parted ways was Cato took the left corridor and Gale wandered down the right. Neither of them looked back. Taking a courageous breath, Cato took one step after another, eyes alert and feet kicking open doors. Pausing just before a turn, footsteps alerted him to the presence of another human coming his way. Listening intently, the feet seemed in a hurry and so when Cato held out his arm, the figure bounced straight into it and tumbled backwards. The white armour and helmet shrouding the face warned Cato that it was yet another Peacekeeper. Simultaneously, both men raised their weapons and sword and gun met as they stared at each other. All Cato saw was another spineless soldier running around like a scared dog. This one was either attempting to run from the rebels (as the last one had) or was rushing off to sound an alarm. Either way, Cato was going to get the answers he so desperately sought.

"She's not down there." The gruff, muffled voice of the Peacekeeper spoke before Cato could open his mouth.

Confusion crossed Cato's hard features before he realised that the Peacekeeper had obviously seen the Games and knew exactly whom Cato was searching for. However, this also meant that this specific Peacekeeper knew exactly where his fiancée was being kept. Hope flared in his chest but he quenched it as he kicked the gun out of the Peacekeeper's hand and pressed his sword against the man's neck.

"What did you say?" Cato growled, blue eyes flashing dangerously.

"Indiana's not down there, Son."

Stumbling backwards, Cato collided with the wall. A muscle in his jaw clenched and as the man removed his armoured helmet, Cato's nostrils flared with hate. Greying hair stuck to the Peacekeeper's creased forehead and the watery blue eyes that had refused to meet Indiana's during her captivity now locked on to Cato's icy ones. The elder Peacekeeper that had been responsible for Indiana stood before Cato, guilt pooling into his eyes. Despite acting on the strict orders of President Snow, this was the man who had forced the young woman into the room where she had been tortured to the point of breaking.

Staring at the young man who had fallen in love with the now damaged girl, the Peacekeeper felt nothing but regret for his actions. At one point, he had loved his job and the power it had given him but the moment he had seen that poor girl's mutilated arms, done by her own hands, he resented the profession he had opted to take. He resented everything that President Snow had done, and most importantly, he resented that he had stood by and let that happen to his son's fiancée.

"Father." Cato gulped, trying to push down the rage and hurt he felt. "Where is she?"

"I'm so sorry, Son. I was just doing my job. I volunteered to be her guard so I could ensure she lived but-."

"But what?"

"I couldn't refuse my orders."

"So you let them fucking torture her?!"

'Four and Seven retrieved successfully and aboard jet.'

Boggs voice reverberated in Cato's ear, informing him that Johanna and Annie had been successfully freed. Cato knew that time was running out. The window of opportunity was rapidly closing and he knew that he had to find Indiana soon, before Peeta was successfully rescued. After all, he was the main reason this whole mission had been formed. Glaring at his father with pure hatred, Cato knew that he would never be able to forgive the eldest Hadley for what he had done. Drowning out the pleas of forgiveness and the pathetic attempts at excusing his behaviour, Cato demanded his father tell him where Indiana was. After rescuing Peeta, she would be his next and final stop.

"Last door – that's where you'll find Peeta."

Rage coursed through Cato as he stared down at the man he no longer recognised as his father. This was the man who had ruined his childhood by spending his every moment morphing him into an emotionless killing machine. This was the man who had made his mother miserable and treated her like crap despite the adoration she gave him. He had executed multiple people and had now aided in the torture of Indiana, purely because of some 'orders'. And to make matters worse, he refused to give up Indiana's location. Loyal to the snake until the very end.

"Where were you rushing off to?" Cato demanded.

If his father was meant to be guarding Indiana and she wasn't down here, then what was his father doing?

"Back to my post."

"Why?"

"I had strict orders to follow in the case of an intrusion."

Cato gripped his sword tighter.

"If I hadn't caught you, would she have lived?"

Meeting his son's eyes, the Peacekeeper knew lying was futile at this point. "No."

"On your knees." Cato spat remembering Boggs strict instructions about survivors; there were to be none.

Accepting his fate, the Peacekeeper sunk to his knees. For the first time in many years, his conscience was informing him that he deserved this. The end had come for him.

"I love you, Son. You deserved better." Bowing his head, a tear slid down the man's cheek.

As the red light flashed again, the silhouette of a man on his knees and a sword above his head was painted on the wall across from the Hadley men. That was the last thing the old man saw. Without hesitation, Cato brought the sword down and accepted the blood that splashed on his face as bone and flesh severed. Kicking away the head that rolled towards him, Cato snatched the key card from his father's fallen body and rushed down the door that his ally was imprisoned behind.

Quickly and quietly dispatching of the two Peacekeepers that guarded the door, the adrenaline fuelled man swiped the key through the lock and booted the door open when the light flickered green. Huddled in the corner of the room, Peeta Mellark squinted at the ominous, heaving figure looming in the doorway, sword in hand. Letting out a pained whimper, Peeta accepted that death had come from him and begged that mercy would find Indiana, wherever she now was.

Staring at the cowering man before him, Cato had a dark moment where he hesitated to inform the rest of the team that he had safely reached the man from Twelve. Indiana still hadn't been retrieved. If Cato informed them that he had Twelve, would the mission be ended? Shaking himself out of his selfish thoughts, Cato knew he had to get the poor boy to safety after everything he had been through. Sheathing his sword, Cato held out a hand to the quaking boy.

"Twelve in hand. On our way back," he muttered into the comms.

"Cato?" Peeta sobbed, standing on weak and shaky legs as he stared at his saviour.

"Come on, mate. We're getting you out of here." Cato smiled sympathetically.

Peeta broke down in tears. Freedom was so close.

Slinging the fragile blond onto his back to make the trek back to the jet quicker, Cato pulled out a gun and left the prison. On their way back, the blond duo only encountered two Peacekeepers. Cato was beginning to feel more positive about their chances of surviving this. Three out of five of the prisoners had been retrieved and the lack of Peacekeepers informed the rebels that nobody had been able to raise the alarm yet. Or that the Capitol's forces were preoccupied elsewhere. Sprinting onto the jet, Cato handed Peeta over to a medic before joining the small band of returned soldiers. Gale had yet to return but a curse sounded down his comms and the group knew he was still alive.

'Um, One – crap. One has been found.' Gale's voice shook as he informed the rebel group. 'On our way back'.

Joy filled Cato despite everything he had been through. Whilst she wasn't back in his arms just yet, she had been found and to Cato, that was just as good. However, the entire jet fell silent as Gale spoke once more.

'Cato, I'm sorry.'

And with those words, Cato felt his knees buckle and the world faded away from him.


'Escape.

We will not be contained

(Let's fly away with all the angels)

We're breaking out tonight.'