CHAPTER TWO: Stand Down

PRIMROSE

I always have loved the rain. I think it started as a baby when Katniss would compare me to as fresh as a raindrop. The sound is just like a lullaby to me. That is why I love when it rains here in Two because I just want whatever I can to bring me closer to my home, where my family and heart lies.

It has been two days seen I had the run in with Aries and Cato and I am guessing I was right about Cato because I haven't even seen him since.

The orphanage isn't as bad here in Two as it would be in Twelve. For starters they call it the orphanage instead of the Community Home here. Plus we are fed and not beaten like people would say occurred in the Community Home back in Twelve. We don't have it good either. We have chores that switch every week but I am used that kind of labor. The people here have no idea how good they have it. I do miss my lamb though, and Buttercup. Something tells me Katniss is taking good care of Buttercup in my honor though.

Sighing I slide back from the wall resting my head onto my pillow feeling defeated. Most people are at the Training Center right now. Well at least the ones from the Orphanage. They go stick together in their small fifteen-person group. I am the odd one out. They attempted at first to suggest I train, which the caretakers encourage highly in hope of getting the credit of bragging about raising a Victor. I rejected it though not caring if it separated me even further from them. I was already in too deep.

In terms of living standards I do share my small room with a girl who was always training anyway so she was rarely here. She wasn't actually that bad. Maybe because I knew her the most even if I don't consider my friend. I understand her more, I understand her reasons behind her drive to become a Victor therefor I can tolerate her. She had a much more normal name in my opinion also. Clove. It was much more like something you wouldn't be surprised hearing a mother call out as she tries to find her toddler that got separated in a crowd. She is sixteen.

The sound of footsteps echo through the hallway and I shoot up shocked, usually this place is deserted at this time. What is someone doing here? The footsteps get louder until I see the doorknob turn and the door open to reveal Clove. She wore her training clothes and looked frustrated, maybe she forgot something?

"Clove?" I ask her.

"Cato needs to talk to you Primrose Everdeen." She says obviously saying my full name purposely. I take a deep breath. Clove knew, everyone here does but they weren't supposed to say anything.

"You told him?" I say shocked but try not to offend her. I do have to live with her after all.

She shakes her head and chuckles at that. "No he just asked about me and lucky for him I am your roommate, I didn't tell him anything he didn't already know." I stay put for a moment frozen. I don't want to go down and talk to him. He seemed so interested in knowing the truth two days ago and I don't even know why it matters to him. Clove groans, "Just go I don't feel like having him come up here." She says and I quickly jump off my bed feeling trapped and without a choice.

That is what it is though, I have no choice. So with a deep breath I walk down the hallway with all the rooms and down the stairs the old stairs creaking under my feet. Cato stands with his back to me. I look around the room searching for signs of escape.

He turns around spotting me on the stairs. So much for escape. "I thought I said I don't like to be lied too." He growls. His arrogance gets under my skin. For starters he never full out said he didn't like being lied too he just said lying to him about it would result in consequences. But the fact he just stomps around like I am supposed to follow his every whim. Like he deserves my respect.

You aren't given respect, you earn respect.

But for the sake of not angering the beast I just stand put. "What do you want from me? What are you going to do beat me up? Been there." I say remembering when I first arrived. The bruises have faded but the memory hasn't.

"No I just wanted to get some things straightened out." He says walking towards me till there is once again not too much space between us. I realize he does that to intimidate me and I try to not be intimidated but it is hard. "First off if Aries was right your sister is going to be dead soon anyway. Second, even after that happens I will volunteer and I will win. So you should get on my good side."

I tell myself to be quiet and not to hurt anyone's feelings; it was so easy to do so a year ago. But now I just can't help myself. "You just want to know about my sister, you want to know why some weak District Twelve girl managed to overcome the Careers. Because you see the similarities within yourself to that boy and you can't end up like him so you want to make sure you don't." I say.

He scowls at me. "He was an idiot, no District Two tribute should have been overpowered by some scrawny Twelve tribute. He is a shame to us all, I won't be." He is half-yelling now.

"So then what do you want? I get it you want my respect, well whatever we probably won't communicate every again so why does this all matter?"

He is silent for a moment. "You lied to me, I take it personally." He says and grabs my arm tightly as I let out an ouch as he pulls me from the orphanage and through the rainy street.

"Don't you have training?" I ask him trying to keep up with him as he tugs me along.

"This is the only time I had where no one would see us." He says.

"Excuse me?" I ask back.

He turns around glaring at me as the rain hits drop by drop onto his pale skin. "Tell me how your sister won or I will make sure the entire District remembers just who you are related too." So the truth comes out.

"They will find out anyway, what do I have to loose." I say through the rain that only gets harder by the second soaking is both to the bone. I don't want to give away my sister, I know for sure from his attitude he is rich and if he is rich his father might be in power. I don't want him getting Katniss in trouble for hunting.

"I will make sure they don't put it together." He says. I take a moment to think about it but in the end I know I will not give away my sister. Yes there is a chance she will be in the Hunger Games again but it isn't like Aries seemed to have the brightest head on him so I have to hope and dream that he is wrong. The Capitol loves their Victors too much for that.

"I won't give my sister away." I spit at him eventually.

"What you tell me won't be told to anyone, not even Aries." He says before stepping even closer looking down at me and standing tall over me. "You need my help Prim, you will be eaten alive here without help. Soon they will make you go to school more or start training. Then you will be begging for my help. This is a win situation for you."

"What so you can go off and kill a bunch of kids and I get to know that it is my advice that helped you do so?" I ask. He could help me no doubt, but every part of me is against it. How can I just tell him all about my sister just for my own selfish needs? He doesn't deserve the information, he is just another killer.

"You say it like I like the thought of it."

"Don't you?" I ask, I don't believe all Careers love the idea of killing but the love the idea of Victory and if it means killing along the way they could care less.

"I don't like it I just know in my heart that it is the only way I will every prove myself to this place. Why does it matter if a few die along the way because of me? If not me some other person kills them anyway." He says like it is the simplest thing in the world.

I am silent; I don't know what to say. His ideals are so twisted that if Katniss was here I can only imagine how she would react. How can I help this beast?

After a few moments he pulls on my shirt picking me off my feet not even struggling he puts his face right in front of mine. "Don't make me have to turn your life into a living hell."

"My life pretty much is there already." I comment back wanting to whimper to the ground.

He laughs, "You have no idea."

In a period of déjà vu he lets go and I fall to the ground only this time I fall into a puddle and my bottom half get even more soaked. I let out a silent sob managing to hide it well before looking up at him past strings of wet blonde hair.

"Fine."

Sorry this is on the shorter side! I am really trying to be good with updating so please make sure to review. It really does help :)

And a thanks to JennaArmstrong87 and ThisGirl12 for the reviews!