I wake up in a flash, panic and fear coursing through my veins after the nightmare I've had. I don't scream out anymore, years in Division have taught me to be quiet, after all, who knows who could be waiting in the shadows searching for the slightest noise to hunt you down and slit your throat. My question isn't who anymore because I know exactly who is waiting to slit my throat.
I look over at my roomie to see he's still sleeping peacefully. I wonder if he has done even half the things I have for Division, the murders, the tortures, the 'interrogations'. For all I know he's never even been on a mission but I've seen his strength, felt it even, and I know that there is no doubt in my mind that if he wanted to he'd kill me he'd do so.
His usual hardened face is relaxed in his sleep making him look near angelic which is a ridiculous thought but one I cannot stop thinking about, then I remind myself of Peeta. Sweet lovable Peeta who always had a smile on his face and looked downright angelical anytime. He was to good for me. Where I was tainted he was pure and I loved him for it.
As I'm lost in my thoughts I don't even notice Cato waking up.
"Can't sleep Fire Girl?"
I shrug.
"Yourself?"
He shrugs.
"Do you think I could train?"
"It's 2a.m. Fire Girl."
"I know that. So, can you get me out of the cage?"
"Not a cage and fine, you have your uniform there."
When he gets up I can help but look at him, I mean, really look at him. Cato sleeps without a shirt on, just pants and I have to admit it is quite the view, modesty aside, his body looks like it's sculpted, or photoshoped, it's ridiculous.
I change while he goes into the bathroom and then we are off to the training room.
"Don't split your knuckles again, I can't keep rushing you to medical and then having to explain why you're all banged up."
"Yes sir."
"Don't call me sir."
"Yes mam'"
Out of the corner of my eye I can see him smiling. Huh, the goon has a sense of humor.
I can hear someone at the knife training station and quickly rush over trying to see who would be here at this hour.
Cato follows behind quietly knowing better than to interrupt.
I can see a girl, probably eighteen, trying to hit the marks yet failing, miserably. Her stance is all wrong and the motion she is making with the knife makes me believe she's barely even held a weapon. New recruit.
"You're doing it wrong." I say calmly as I approach her yet she swivels around pointing the knife at me.
"Stay back. I know who you are and I'll kill you if you come any closer."
Uh, feisty.
"So they finally showed a picture of me? Nice to know new recruits are being warned and, by the way, if you're going to attempt killing me with that knife you'll have a lot to work on."
"I'm Katniss by the way."
"I know."
"And you are?"
"Clove."
"Now, Clove, would you mind telling me what you're doing here at 2a.m. practicing your knife throwing skills?"
"I would mind."
"C'mon. I'll help you get the center everytime."
"How?"
"By correcting your stance and your throwing motion but you better tell me why you're here cause I don't just go around offering help for people to improve their skills."
"They say that if I don't do well at knife skills I'm canceled."
"That's radical. Why?"
"If been here for two weeks and apparently I can't do anything and am a waste of space in Division." The way she says that with a resigned look on her face kind of kills me. I can't believe I'm actually helping a Division operative.
"Ouch. Who said that?"
"The trainer."
"Wait, is he tall, kind of buff with a crew cut?"
"That would be him."
"Screw him, he always does that. Throws you down, new or old recruits doesn't matter because he is so sad with his pathetic existence that he takes it out on other people."
"Did he do that to you?"
"Of course."
"How did he get to you, what did you do?"
"He talked about my family so I kicked his ass. Broke his tooth, kicked him in the balls and started going at him until the guards ripped me away from him and even then I said 'act like a bitch get slapped like a bitch' and walked away."
I'm openly smirking at the memory while Clover is staring at me as if I'd grown another head.
"You actually did that?" It's Cato who speaks instead of her and for a moment I forgot he was there.
"Of course. No one talks about my family, no one."
"Yeah I got that."
"Anyway Clover, I'll help you but to make sure you aren't 'canceled', the fancy word for murder around here, you'll have to talk to Alma. Make her invested in you, make yourself a project. God knows she loves those."
"How?"
"Were you an addicted?"
"How'd you know?"
"It may have been two weeks but you still look like you need a fix but don't worry it'll pass. Lemme guess cocaine?"
"Yeah, were you an addict?"
"Yup, my fix was Ketamine. K all the way."
"Anyway, with the Alma thing. You have to tell her your craving another fix because you are constantly remembering what got you here, we'll get to that later, and that sometimes you just feel like letting everything out. A few good words here and there and Alma will be invested in your well being in no time."
"Thank you. Why are you doing this? You don't even know me."
"Let's just say you remind me of someone. Now let's get your training started shall we?"
A/N: Thank you so much for the follows and Mayci thank you so much for the wonderful review :)
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