Cato has the back of my shirt before I can even turn around. "Where d'ya thing you're going?" he hisses in my ear. He's so close to my face that I can smell his breath. It smells very, very foul.

"Let go of me," I mutter under my breath, struggling to keep my voice under control. My heart is pounding so hard inside my chest it's almost painful. I hope he can't hear it.

"Not until you tell me what you thought you were doing back there."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I'm stalling, I know, but I cannot put Katniss in any more danger.

"You know exactly what he's talking about," Clove says, coming around to stand by Cato. She stumbles a bit as she walks. Cato's movements seem wobbly too. They must also still be getting over the effects of the venom. "You let her get away on purpose."

The rest of the Careers are here, too. I see can see Marvel from the corner of my eye, and behind him are the boy from District Three, and even the boy from Ten with the bad leg. Great. Now everyone has a front row seat to witness my murder.

"Who?" I say, trying to sound genuine.

Clove rolls her eyes and the other Careers make mocking sounds.

"Don't play dumb with us," Cato growls, yanking on my shirt collar. "You're stupid, but not that stupid. The girl from Twelve. You let her get away. Where did she go?"

I take a deep breath. "I don't know."

With one powerful shove, Cato throws me to the ground. "Don't lie to me, Mellark! Where's your ditzy little girlfriend?"

"I told you, I don't know!"

"What did you say to her?" demands Clove, planting her hands on her hips and bending over me. I guess she's trying to be threatening.

"He told her to run," Cato answers. "I heard the whole thing. Where did she run to, Mellark? I know you know!"

"I'll bet they've got a secret meeting place up in a tree somewhere," Clove spits in disgust. The other Careers laugh. One makes gagging noise.

"Shut up," Cato snaps, frustrated. He kneels next to me and grabs a fistful of my shirt. "You're gonna tell me where she went, Lover Boy. Now."

"I swear, I don't know!" Despite my efforts, there are traces of fear in my voice.

Cato pulls his sword from its sheath and brandishes it lazily. "You're gonna regret lying to me, Mellark. I promise you that. Now, I'll give you one more chance." He points the sword at me. The blade glistens in the afternoon sun. "Where is she?"

I'm breathing heavily through my nose, part with fear, and part with anger. Through clenched teeth I growl, "I. Don't. Know."

Cato shrugs. "Fine. We can find her on our own. Shouldn't be too hard." He releases me with a shove that sends my back smacking painfully into the ground. Then he points the sword at my chest. "Well, you're useless now. I'll tell the girl you said goodbye."

Clove smirks. "I don't know what the heck she sees in you, anyway."

Inwardly, I smile at the irony. Nothing, I think. She sees absolutely nothing except a manipulative, selfish boy who used her to boost his own popularity. "You're gonna kill me?" I say coolly, despite my panic on the inside. I'm trying to think of some way out of this, but my brain is spinning too fast to think. I grope for something, anything, that will make them think twice about killing me. I'm not scared to die, but I've got to live to make sure Katniss makes it home. "Well, I guess that's preferable. You'll never get anything out of me then."

Cato raises his eyebrows in surprise. "Kill you? Oh, I'm not going to kill you. Nature will take care of that. I'm just going to . . . speed the process along. Sound good?"

I try not to let him hear me gulp. I can't show fear . . .

He reaches down and pulls me roughly to my feet by my shirt collar again. My heart is hammering against my chest; my breath comes in tortured gasps.

There's murder in Cato's eyes as he pulls me closer to him. He never breaks my gaze, but I can feel him position the sword beneath my waist.

I hear the sickening sound of the blade slicing through flesh, the thud of it hitting bone. And then I realize . . . it was my flesh. My bone.

Before I can even register what's happening, a scream forms deep within me-a scream born out of pure pain. It fills every single inch of me. Then it rips out of my throat with such force that I'm positive all of Panem can hear it. As the world fades to black, I wonder how it's possible for a human scream to sound so inhuman. And so much like raw agony.

Author's Note : Hihihi.. It's short.. sorry.. ^^" Please, comment and tell me what you think and suggestions are welcome