CLOVE'S POV

I tell him he should leave. He obliges and hands me my dinner tray on the way out. I don't really want anything to eat. A hunger that was deep inside of me- it's been fufilled. For now. Cato knows now. He knows the basics- that I do love him. But we can't be together. Laying back on the bed, I let the tears fall. One of us will lose the other in a matter of three days. What kind of relationship is that? Would it end when the timer hit zero? Would it end when another cannon went off? My hands come to cover my face. I try sleeping, but Atala's words ring in my ears.

"Twenty three of you will be dead

One of you will be alive..."

"Twenty three of you will be dead

One of you will be alive..."

Three days to live. Three days to die. Three days to love someone the way every person deserves to be loved.

CATO'S POV

I never really believed my dad when he told me love can kill you. It seemed- unmanly, but now I am understanding. I toss and turn- thinking of Clove, our kissing, her lips, her response to everything. Finally, I get up. It's six in the morning, who knew time could pass so suddenly. Creeping out of my room, I find no one else is awake. I could wake Clove up, but I shouldn't. Turning the television on, they are replaying the tribute parade. It's the first time I have seen the footage. Clove looks so strong, so fearless. I put my head into my hands. There is only one victor. It can't be both of us. One of us is going to lose the other. Walking back to my room I am trying to be quiet. All I want is a shower. I pass by Clove's room, the light is shining through the bottom of the door. I stop and contemplate knocking. Just as I go to, the door opens. She's been crying. I pull her into my chest.

"Cato. There's only one of us." She whispers so quietly it is almost mute.

I don't say anything; I just stand there with her pressed to me. She finally pulls away.

"You should, you should go Cato."

"No. You can't shut me out Clove. Not anymore." She sighs, but there's a slight smile on her lips.

"I'll meet you soon." She says, and with that the door to her bathroom closes.

I walk back to my room; clean up and dress. Two days, not including today. Two days left. On my way out into the dining area, I notice Clove's door cracked. Stopping, I peep in- is she even in there? Then I see her, she is not clothed and searching for her training uniform. I guess Brutus forgot to mention there were multiples in the closet. I take in the image of her, then shake my head and walk away. Brutus is waiting for us.

"Where's Clove?" He asks.

"She'll be here in a min-" Clove comes around the corner.

"Here."

The elevator opens, we step inside.

"Show them what you're made of." He grins. I nod. It's probably the only advice he can give us. He knows we're lethal.

Clove looks up at me.

"The alliance has to train together." The thought of Glimmer and her side by side is a nightmare itself. But it's true, the four of us have to be seen together.


CLOVE'S POV

The elevator doors open and our allies are waiting beside it.

"Good morning Cato." Glimmer says in a high voice. She goes to kiss him, but he backs away.

"Clove." I don't think I ever hated my name this much until it comes from her mouth.

That's the only contact we truly have for the rest of the day. The four of us evaluate each other's talents and agree we are leathal. None of us pick up another weapon, we start judging who will be "invited" to the alliance, and who should be left until we are split- unless they make the stupid mistake of crossing our path. The boy from District 12 is struggling on a climbing course-he falls. All four of us notice. Glimmer is hiding a laugh, Marvel has a deadly smirk, Cato is judging, and me, well I have the same face I always do when I am looking at an easy target. The girl from his district comes over to him, whispers something. He glances in our direction then stands up. He walks towards this stand of weights, he not only picks up the heaviest one, but is able to throw it about fifty feet. It hits a stand of spears. I guess he won't be as easy to kill. Cato's face foes from judgemental to impressed. Training ends early. We're headed to the elevator when Glimmer pulls Cato aside. So it's only Marvel and I that board the elevator.

"What do you think they are talking about?" I ask in a cool fashion.

"Who cares. She'll be dead in a matter of days."

I laugh. "Glad to know we are all on the same page." Marvel gets out on his floor.

"You're stronger than her. She knows that, I can tell." I smile wickedly and nod. Off to my floor. When I get there Cato is already sitting on the couch. Brutus stands and welcomes me.

"Tomorrow is when you'll do the private training session. You will go second. Potential sponsers will be there, do what you do best. I'm not worried." That's all he says before heading into the elevator himself. The entire floor is ours.

The two of us are starving and head straight to the kitchen. I'm on the opposite side of the island.

"What'd Glimmer want?" He stops what he is doing.

"She wanted to talk."

I wait for something more in detail, but it doesn't come.

"Alright. Don't say then." I start to walk away but he stops me.

"She wanted to know what was going to happen. In the arena..."

I look at him in the eyes.

"Really? Is that all?" I know Cato, and I know when he is leaving things out. His face falls to the floor.

"She kissed me." I pull my arm from his grasp.

"Damn it Cato.."

"No. It wasn't like that." My voice grows harsh.

"Oh really than what was it like?" He grabs my face in his hands and forcefully kisses me. Our lips sychronize. And he pulls away.

"It was nothing like kissing you Clove." I smirk a little and pull away. Half way to my room I turn around.

"Cato?" His face shoots up.

"Why did you volunteer?"

"Protect you. Someone has to come home a winner." I nod and fall asleep the moment I make it to bed.


CATO'S POV

Clove and I are up next for our private sessions. Brutus talked about how the two of us need to do what we do best. I with a sword. Clove with her knives. The two of us are waiting, they finally call for Clove. I kiss her softly, she accepts it.

"Best of luck Clove." She nods. I don't see her until after my session. There are seven dummies, and I do exactly what I did the first day of training. One loses their head, the next their arm, and so on. The final two get a sword right to the heart. I'm dismissed after. I get back to the second floor. Clove is on the sofa in a pair of black pants, and purple top that shimmers. Brutus is too. I take a seat next to her.

"Scores will be up soon."

"So I can change?"

Brutus chuckles. "Go." By the time I get back, Glimmer and Marvel have joined. The only seat is next to Glimmer.

Cashmere is in the kitchen, looking over to see the scores. Casaer Flickerman is the host, and he the scoring begins.

"District one's Glimmer- with a score of" Pause "Nine."

She smiled, Cashmere was excited. Marvel congratulated her. The scores were based out of 12, 12 being the most deadly.

"District one's Marvel-with a score of nine." Marvel is content, he sits around for our scores.

"District two's Clove- with a score of ten." Flickerman smiles, Glimmer shoots her a death glare.

"District two's Cato- with a score of ten." Marvel gives me a pat on the back.

"Good job boy." Brutus adds. All the rest of tributes are scoring sevens, until District 12. Flickerman's voice announces

"District twelve's Peeta Mellark- with a score of eight." That's nothing for Marvel and I.

"District twelve's Katniss Everdeen- with a score of-" He pauses and is shocked. "-eleven." All of us sitting in the room becomes pissed.

All of us start shouting at each other;

"Underdog." "Why couldn't you do better?" "Didn't you show them your knife skills?" "Didn't you show them how perfect your aim was?!"

it's Brutus who stops it all.

"You kill her. She's deadly, deadlier than you all. Kill her. That is your mission." Glimmer and Marvel leave with Cashmere.

Our only mission as an alliance is to kill Katniss Everdeen. District 1 leaves soon after. It's evening. Brutus leaves us once again.

"Cashmere and I have some plans for the alliance to talk about." He smiles and leaves. The floor is all ours once again.