Peeta's POV

This is it; he's finally going to kill me. How could I even have believed we were going to make it through together? There could only be one winner. I'm grateful yet scared because Cato would get to live; I just hope he'll be able to survive against Katniss. I barely even noticed that time had slow-motioned for me. I didn't even want to shield myself, it's no use anyway. I could see the bloodlust in his eyes, there's no emotion left in them only the need to kill. One last question rang through my heart over and over; I just had to ask, I just had to.

"Did you love me too, Cato?"

End of POV? : )

Then silence was broken and the knife hitting its target didn't even make a sound. The knife hurt more than he initially thought it would but he wondered why Cato would stab him on the leg. When he looked up at Cato's face, he didn't expect him to be smiling. He flustered uncontrollably, why is it that Cato's cocky smile would make him feel so - hot.

"What.. What the hell are you laughing at?" He screamed, wincing at the stinging sensation on his leg. "Cato, y-you idiot!"

Cato just laughed at him, as he took out his knife and pointed it directly at Peeta's neck. "You dork, of course I love you." He said, placing a chaste kiss on Peeta's lips. He rubbed the blood off of his knife on Peeta's shirt, staining it clearly.

"Why are you doing t-this?" He asked, "I never thought you'd just use me like this." Peeta was tearing up; his leg was starting to hurt like crazy. The wound was deep and it kept on bleeding no matter how much pressure he put on it.

Cato kissed him again, this time he let his tongue gain entrance while Peeta was off guard. Peeta was not in the mood for kissing but he didn't have much choice because Cato had him pinned. Cato broke the kiss and smiled warmly at Peeta. He knew Cato had an explanation so he just looked away and pouted.

"Look, I'm sorry I stabbed you."

"You're damn right you are."

Cato laughed; he didn't expect Peeta to snap back at him like that but why shouldn't he? He just stabbed Peeta right after they had sex. "Just hear me out; I needed to make you look like you were injured. I knew I couldn't stab you if I asked so I didn't bother. Katniss is probably going to look for you so…"

"So what?"

"So, I'm going to have to let you go now. When the time comes, I won't be going easy and I just might be able to kill you. I'm counting on you to kill me before I get to kill you first."

Peeta just stared at disbelief – or maybe it was just plain denial. He didn't want this, he never wanted this. Cato knew what the boy must've felt; he knew it must've been unfair for Peeta.

"Peeta as much as I want to be with you, it's just not possible. You can still win." Cato explained as he lifted up Peeta's chin to look him in the eyes. "Do you get me? You have to win, for me."

"What about me? Don't make it sound so easy! I-I can't be alone, not again." Peeta sobbed "Don't go, please. Don't leave me." His world started to crumble beneath him, just from what Cato was trying to say. He couldn't kill Cato, not by a long shot – not ever. It's like someone played them for some sick joke and everyone was looking down on him.

Cato didn't even say anything else; he just lifted Peeta up bridal style and rushed out towards the river. When they finally got there, Cato had to jump from one stone to the other and he had to trudge through the rivers current to get to the other side of the bank

"C-Cato put me down!" Peeta was frantic, he didn't know when Cato was going to stop and just turn around and leave. He suddenly felt dizzy and his vision looked was going foggy. He was losing more blood than he thought. "I-I 'm…" He stuttered "P-Passing ou…"

When he finally woke up the first thing he saw was Cato doing something to his face. His body felt heavy and he couldn't move his arms and legs. His leg felt ten times worse now, his arms were itching but he couldn't do anything about it, his arms were pinned with heavy boulders.

"Good, you're awake. Don't move okay? I have to put you in camouflage." He said looking at Peeta's eyes. "I'll be right back."

Peeta couldn't say anything, when he tried only gasps would come out. 'It's getting real hot in here, where did Cato go to anyway?' His vision started to circle around him, it felt sickening, he wanted to vomit. Before he knew it, he passed out silently.

In his dreams, Peeta was lost in some sort of labyrinth. Different paths diverged from where he was standing, but one in particular seemed as though it was pulling him. The feel was so vivid and he decided to follow the earthen path. He was greeted by colourful flowers each emitting a unique aroma, wooing him to stay.

He woke up again only for a short while but from what he saw Cato was skinny dipping in the river. 'Th-that idiot!' He couldn't help but blush before the overwhelming nausea, putting him out.

The flowers enticed him to touch them, to pick them up. Just as his fingers made contact, the flowers wilted away and the petals danced about in the air. To his amazement, the petals turned into birds, mockingjays to be specific, as they let out their alluring tunes. But the music quickly changed tempo, and the hums turned into words and phrases. 'Another… chance..' He was confused about what that just meant but when the mockingjays slowly began to disappear. Cato's body was lying flat, bloody and almost unrecognizable. He screamed but instead of his voice it was bloody, choking him.

His head was pounding and even though he tried, he couldn't wake up. Peeta was really scared, scared to find out that when he wakes up Cato won't be there anymore.

After a while Cato was intentionally waking Peeta up, but he couldn't hear what he was saying. All he could make up was, "..ey!...di..you….ear?…tw…an.. in!..", because as Cato was saying what he was trying to say, it just made his headache worse. Cato smiled before he got up and left. Peeta was trying to desperately call out to him but to no avail. He couldn't help but cry, he wished Cato could always be at his side. 'Damn it! Why can't I just stop crying?'

Peeta was lying down on the ground his face felt like it was glued together and heavy rocks pinned him. He was alone for quite some time now, he always anticipated Cato to come back and check on him. 'Hmph! Fat chance' He laughed at the thought. Knowing there'd only be one winner just made him feel worse. How he wished Cato didn't volunteer and that he wasn't the one picked to go fight in a bloody arena. Suddenly there were footsteps nearing him, he froze in place. Could it be Katniss? Or maybe it was Cato? Or maybe it was the other tributes coming to kill him.

When the footsteps finally neared close, Peeta peaked slightly and to his relief. It was Katniss, but she doesn't notice him yet. He reached out and grabbed her leg, Katniss gasped and jumped in fright. "Oh my god, Peeta what happened to you?" She asked pulling Peeta from his camouflaged state. It was only by this time Peeta realized how much he just hated Katniss' voice. He laughed at sudden realization.

[TIME SKIP]

"What are those things?" Peeta asked as they both ran towards the Cornucopia. Some sort of dog-like creatures were chasing them out of the woods. It's probably to gather the tributes to finally end the Hunger Games. 'I don't like this. Cato don't die on me yet!'

"C'mon! We're almost there!" She yelled as they neared the Cornucopia. "Peeta boost me up."

"Here." He raised Katniss just enough to reach the ledge. "Hurry!"

"Here, grab my hand!" The dogs were closing in quick. Peeta jumped whilst catching Katniss hand in the air.

His legs were dangling for the dogs to bite. Just in the nick of time, she was able to pull him up.

"Thanks that was too close." He sighed, laughing.

"Having fun now aren't we?" A rather familiar voice interrupted. It was Cato but he was heavily injured. Claw marks and blood stains were everywhere on his body.

Peeta was at a loss for words, if Katniss weren't here he would've quickly tend to Cato's wounds. But he couldn't afford that now, Cato was depending on him. It was his turn to carry the burden and he would carry it for both his and Cato's sake.

"Don't worry though I'm going to take of you two, permanently." Cato said before rushing towards Katniss, throwing her off balance and knocking the bow out of her reach. Katniss didn't stand a chance, Cato had advantage over her.

Peeta dashed to her aid, engaging Cato in hand-to-hand combat. Ultimately, he was able to throw and land at least two punches but it took only one to send Peeta off his feet, dazed.

'Cato isn't joking, that really hurt.' He thought, shaking head.

He was already choking Katniss, Peeta had to move and fast! He dashed, gaining momentum, before he threw his own body at Cato's. He bought enough time for Katniss to grab her bow. But before Peeta could even stand up, Cato picked him and secured him in a head-lock. Cato backed away slowly until they were at the edge.

"Don't make any sudden movements, lover boy." He grunted as directed his gaze towards Katniss, who was ready to fire a clean shot at him. "Go on shoot, and then we'll both die." He dared, tightening his lock on Peeta's neck. "I can still do this, one more kill. Killing, it's the only thing I could anyway."

Peeta couldn't think as Cato's head-lock was choking him. His vision was going blurry; it was only a matter a time. Katniss risked everything in one shot, and she let it fly. The arrow pierced through Cato's arm making him release Peeta accidentally. Cato scrambled as he lost his footing and dropped to his doom.

Then there it was again, the slow-motion moment. He was out of breath but he couldn't just let Cato die, not like this. He reached for Cato's hand, 'J-Just a little more!' he thought frantically. He tried to grip Cato's hand but stopped half-way as he saw the look on Cato's eyes. He was angry, not at Katniss but at Peeta for trying to save him. He could almost hear Cato saying how much of an idiot he was. Peeta pulled back his hand hesitantly, Cato's angry look suddenly turned into his signature cocky smile. Peeta's knees gave in and his heart felt like it had been ripped into pieces.

Peeta was coughing out hard although he was able to breathe; the sound of Cato's screams were killing him from the inside. He couldn't stand it; it was too agonizing to bear. As if it wasn't bad enough, the angles of his mind trembled strongly. 'Cato, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...' He repeatedin his anguish.

Katniss decided to take pity and end Cato's suffering, Peeta didn't want it but it was for Cato's own good. Peeta just wanted to sit there until he'd die; it was like his life ended the moment Cato's did. At least there was one thing they could be happy about, the Hunger Games was finally over… or so they thought.

'Greetings, to the final contestants. The earlier revisions have been revoked and only one winner may be allowed. Good luck, and may the odds be ever in your favor.'

Peeta decide that it should be him that must die, if anything, he owes Katniss a great deal. He closed his eyes and the only thing he could see was Cato's angry face directed at him. He wasn't about to make the same mistake by listening to Cato, he just wanted to be with him. What was so wrong about that?

"Go on, shoot. You deserve to win this more than I do." Peeta said, raising his arms in a gesture of defeat.

"No, I won't do that. They don't deserve winners." She denied as she reached for her pockets. Nightlock berries, she offered some to Peeta. Her intentions were clear and Peeta was more than obliged to cooperate.

"On the count of three." She said looking into Peeta's eyes. "One…"

He swallowed hard as he tried to brace himself to eating the berries. "Two…"

"Thr-"

"Stop, Stop! Ladies and gentlemen I present to you the winners of the Seventy-fourth Annual Hunger Game, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. I give you the tributes of District 12!

The relief breezed at the victors for the moment, as the hovercraft descended for them, and Katniss was more than happy to have made it out alive. Peeta however felt like he had left a part of him behind. Deep down, he knew something wasn't right, something was out of place. He gazed through the trains windows, the horizon quickly leaving from his vision. In his mind there was only one thing he believed. The nightmares were less than over, the sun was setting on him. He had to wake up; he just had to even if it was the last thing was able to do.