Chapter 4: The Girl on Fire
She came to the rooftop to think. Too many things have gone unexpectedly, leaving her in a sea of confusion. She knew a score of 11 is something to be celebrated, and celebrate they did in the previous night. Everyone congratulated her after the announcement, Haymitch seems to be genuinely happy for the first time since they officially met. But why? Why award her a score of 11? What she did in the session was certainly not something to be awarded. It was defiance, it was a challenge, it was anger that got the better of her. Her father always used to tell her to reign in her anger, don't let it take over, don't act out on it, and do things she would come to regret.
She supposes its better late than never Katniss breathes out a frustrated breath, she gets sponsors and attention but will have to pay the price of having others look out for her in the arena. It's a fair deal in her opinion, probably the best she could get under the circumstances.
The more pressing matter on her mind is Peeta's confession during the interview just hours ago. How he and Haymitch planned it behind her back, how he is using her to gain attention, because let's be honest, Katniss doesn't believe for a minute that Peeta is in love with her, when they have never talked in their entire life. But he saved your life, a nagging says in her head. Yes, but he won't do it again, she internally argues against it. She won't be deluded into thinking he will even hesitate to take her life if he has the chance, it's everyone for themselves, that's how the game always went. She just can't wrap her mind around why Haymitch would even agree to the strategy to gain sponsors for them, because who will be fooled by the "star crossed lover" bullshit after they enter the arena.
She takes another breath, the chilly air cools pacifies her racing mind. It doesn't matter, she tells herself. It doesn't matter what strategy they are playing with, she has her strategy set, to survive, because that's what she has always done, surviving.
Just as she is gathering herself together, the elevator sounded to alert her of an unexpected visitor. Katniss instinctively tries to hide in the shadows, but upon realizing she had nowhere to go, forced her body to remain in place and raises her eyes to meet her visitor. A look of surprise crossed his otherwise stoic feature, but his steps remain firm as he exited from the elevator and crosses to the edge of the roof.
Perhaps noticing her discomfort, he says after a moment of silence. "Not many know about the roof."
"I do live the closest from here," Katniss answers while sneaking a glance at the boy gazing out at the street below him, wondering how he came to know the place.
"Hm, that you do fire girl."
"I have a name" Katniss sends him a glare.
"Well, that would make it a bit too personal now, wouldn't you agree, fire girl?" Suddenly a cold chill took hold of her core, she can hear the unsaid words, he meant when he kills her. How could he talk about it like it's a casual conversation one would have over dinner?
"I… Would it bother you to know my name?" Katniss croaks out the question she has been seeking an answer to almost this entire time since she boarded the train. Does not knowing someone makes it easier? Would it be easy?
Seeing the incredulous look on her face, he turns around and meets her eyes. It's the same ocean blue as she remembered, the same coldness that enveloped her during the tribute parade seems to found its way around her body again. "It's never anything personal fire girl, it's only a necessity. You do what you have to do when it is the necessary thing to do." His head tilted to the side as he looks her up and down. Suddenly, a crooked smile dance at the corner of his lip, "You would know about that won't you?"
It wasn't really the affirmative answer she was hoping to hear, but his second comment deeply disturbs her. He's talking as if he knew something about her that others don't. "What are you talking about?"
"I know how you got that 11 fire girl, you are someone to watch out for." His smile turned a bit too much onto the devious side for her liking. How would he know anything about her skills? She hasn't done anything worth noting in front of the other tributes, has she? Minus the little detail with the knives, but he was the one who taught her.
"I don't know what you are talking about 2," Her voice took on a defensive tone, "I don't know why I got that 11."
"Well, perhaps you don't, but I wouldn't be too happy if I were you." Cato suddenly loses the smile he wore only a second ago. Come to think of it, that's probably the first time she saw any definitive emotion from him.
"And why is that?" She asks almost defiantly. She may not know why the game makers awarded her with a score of 11, but she certainly didn't need some career show off his superiority in front of her.
"In the history of the game, 10 is awarded to tributes with skills, tributes like me. 11 on the other hand, is rare, and it is not skill that earns you that."
"That means they like me." Katniss herself doesn't believe the words she said, but she can't back down in front of him like that. The arrogance in his words is igniting something inside her, something stubborn and fiery. It's her temper, she knows it, but it would be humiliating to admit he knows more than her.
"And perhaps that's not a good thing." Cato answers softly. At that moment, he sounds much older than he appears, cooling her rising temper almost instantly.
"Why did you try to help me?" She asks after a moment of silence.
He turns to face her again, the coolness in his eyes is almost familiar to her now, " I did not help you."
"Then why…" She argues again, but was cut off by him mid-question, "It wasn't help fire girl. There is no such thing as helping another in the hunger game. You should do well to remember that."
His sudden change in demeanor stifled her questions, of course, how could she forget. There is no mercy in the game, after all, wasn't she just thinking about that moments before his arrival. How did she get carried away so easily by him?
They didn't talk after that, until Cato broke the silence "You should go rest, it's a big day tomorrow." Katniss wordlessly pushes herself off from the ledge and turns to leave, but paused right before entering the elevator, "Goodnight Cato." With that, she disappears from Cato's view.
He sighed, was she even listening to him this whole time. He wonders how she remained so naive, living in the poorest district in Panem. But she must have broken numerous rules, training in the district is strictly forbidden, especially in the none career districts, they have no resource for such things. How fire girl got so skilled with a bow he would never know. He doesn't know what the peacekeepers are like there, but they must be lax for her to be clueless about the power of authority in the capital. So easy to anger, defiant but not cunning enough to hide it. Seneca Crane was in ecstasy when he relayed everything in the private session to him after dinner. He has such a tacky taste for drama, Cato internally winced, remembering the few times he was unfortunate enough to be in the presence of the man, but Seneca is probably the best in his stepfather's crowd.
Gazing out at the sky, Cato grits his teeth as his thoughts drift to his stepfather, the sole reason why he's in this game, chasing after the glory and wealth granted to a victor. Tomorrow begins his fight for freedom, and no one can stand between him and victory.