"You can't do that."
"Are you going to stop me?" I ask turning around facing Cato completely.
"Yes, I'm sure Snow wouldn't like you training a new recruit."
"I'm sure I wouldn't care."
"But he would. I don't want to force you but you know I will." He was looking deeply into my eyes and honesty laced his tone.
"Fine, tell him. If he doesn't agree tell him I won't fight and that I'll agree to have sessions with Alma twice a week."
I can't believe I'm doing this but I can't let anyone else die.
"Sessions?"
"He'll understand. It's something we've discussed before."
"Very well but I can't let you train her, at least until I get an okay from Snow."
"Just today, he'll never know."
"Fire Girl." I'm pushing it, I know it and he knows it.
"Just today. Just to give her some tips how to survive around here. Please Cato."
He looked between me and Clove until he made a decision.
"You have twenty minutes and I'm here the whole time." Now turning to Clove "And you never breath a word of this to anyone. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Well, go at it Fire Girl, your twenty minutes at ticking."
"Thank you." I speak in a more ushed tone hoping he knows I'm being sincere before turning around to face Clove again.
"Okay then. Here's the do's and don'ts of the game. Do, be on your watch every time you're with other people, especially trainers or recruits you thing have it out for you. Don't mess you the older recruits or the volatile ones. They'll get you on the ground in no time. You have to remember these people are being taught to hurt and kill. Be careful."
"When it comes to friends you should get some, allies are always a good thing, but don't get overly attached. I can't stress that enough."
"I won't make any friends."
"Before you can't or because you won't?"
"Because I don't want to."
"You may not want to but you will. You have to remember that these people here are just like you. They didn't ask for this, for any of it really, but just like you they are being forced. Besides making friends won't be the hard part, losing them will be."
"Okay, so I'll make friends is that the only thing I should do?"
"No. Start dropping the hints with Alma and start doing everything by the book, get to your classes earlier, show them you can train harder and you're set, at least for a little while."
"What if it doesn't work?"
"It will, I've know these people for years, I know how they work."
"Your twenty minutes are up."
"Okay. We're going to see Snow now."
"Now? It's the middle of the night!"
"So? He never leaves his office and when he does it's only about for three, four hours."
"How do you know all this?"
"I've told you. I've been here before, I know these people, their habits, everything."
"Okay then."
"Clover go to sleep, tomorrow we'll talk."
"Okay. Good night."
"Good night Clover."
I watch her disappear into the always before facing Cato.
"Shall we?"
"Let's go."
As we get to Snow's office I can tell Cato doesn't like the idea of bothering him in the middle of the night but frankly I'm too tired to care so I just knock repeatedly on the door.
"Yes." Comes a muffles answer from inside. I get in quickly, Cato trailing behind me.
"I want to make a deal."
"Ah, Katniss, my dear. What may I do for you?"
"I want to train a recruit. Clove."
"Absolutely not." Comes his quick response.
"Hear me out Snow. You know I can sweeten a deal."
"Very well. What are your terms?"
"We train at night so that it doesn't interrupt the normal 'classes', I teach her survival, weapons, anything but Cato is always there to supervise to see whether or not I'm doing something 'rebellious' and here's the kicker, I'll agree to have sessions with Alma twice a week."
Snow looked impressed.
"Well, I do have to say you've won me over but you were always one to be smart. I do have to ask though, why? Why this recruit?"
"She reminds me of someone."
"Very well then but be warned that if I think there is something wrong or if anything happens, this little experiment of yours will be effectively terminated."
"Very well."
"Your sessions with Alma will begin tomorrow after I talk to her. I'm sure she'll be glad to have you again."
"I'm sure."
"You're dismissed."
I walk out of the room not looking back to even see if Cato if following I just go to 'my' room to think about what I just did.
I know no good could come of my 'sessions' will Alma. That woman enjoys studying other people way too much. Just thinking about some things she's done gives me chills.
Cato walks into the room and silently locks me in the cage trudging through the room to get to bed. He looks tired, he takes off his shirt and just lies down and I do the same just staring at the ceiling for a good ten minutes.
"Why did you agreeing to have sessions with Alma change the whole deal?"
I'm a bit startled by his voice. I thought he'd be asleep by now.
"Because he knows that it is not something I'd particularly enjoy."
"Why?"
"Because Alma's thing is to mess with peoples minds. To take a look under the hood to figure out what makes them tick and then study it or use it against them. She likes to know every secret you have and that was something I could never afford."
"Oh."
"You'll see soon enough."
A/N: Read and Review lovelies :)