There was a 3D map of the arena in our viewing room the next morning. There were red pushpins dotting the area. Most of them were centered around the Cornucopia.
They're death pins. Any death is marked by them.
I looked at Haymitch. He was studying the screens intently. I packed my computer and walked out while saying,
"I'm going to watch with my sister today." He replied with a grunt and I waslked to the District 2 Mentor room.
I opened the door and saw Kelsa and Enobaria sitting with Juna and Lucilla.
"Cato! Sit!" Enobaria called without bothering to look at me. I followed her orders and set up camp in a recliner.
"Hi Juna. Hi Lucilla." I grinned and they waved at me. The two were happily enjoying frosted cupcakes with the arena painted on in icing.
Artistic and a complete waste of taxpayer dollars.
Taxpayer dollars? What are those?
Just throwing some Dark Day vocabulary at you. You read a book on the Dark Days when you were seven. Just saying.
I cleared my throat and opened my computer. I did do a lot of reading when I was younger. Our house was much too large for three people. It was behind a hill, away from the bustling loudness of District 2.
The house was built by my grandfather, Gerion, and it used to hold everyone. Uncles, aunts, grandparents, servants, and more. My grandfather worked in the Capitol, but he loved District 2.
The house had over sixteen bedrooms. There was a huge library, enourmous grounds, and a ballroom. All of them bustling with life only 30 years ago. Now, with only Father, Juna, and myself, we used the house quietly.
You should bring Katniss one day.
I should.
I was given a notice that there would be a 'feast' at the Cornucopia. That meant I could get Katniss food or more arrows. Haymitch had other ideas. He decided that we would send medicine for Peeta. We had just enough money to send a syringe of medicine. It was strong enough to keep him alive for two more days. Enobaria had laughed at that. She had just enough money to send in an entire medical team and equiptment.
"What are you going to send to Garen and Clove?" I asked and Kelsa looked up from her screen.
"Body armour." She stated and I raised my eyebrows.
Is that legal?
"Is that legal?" I asked and Kelsa nodded.
"We read the rule book and talked to Seneca Crane about it. It's perfectly legal." She explained.
"I don't believe you," I stated and Kelsa scoffed.
"Of course you dont," She flipped to the rule section of her Mentor Book. "Page 64 paragraph 5.
"In the event of sending a gift, Mentors may send anything as long as it is within some limits. For instance, you may not send any automatic weapons (i.e. guns, missiles, lasers, and grenades). Only some types of body armor are allowed. Helmets are against the rules. Please consult the Head Gamemaker if you have any questions," She grinned. "We asked Crane and he allowed it."
"I think 2 is going to win," Lucilla stated and fluffed her blonde hair.
"I think 12 is going to win. Katniss is going to come out of alive," Juna disagreed. I smiled at that.
Well, money can't buy happiness, but it can buy a nice set of body armour.
Once the anouncemnet was made about the feast at the Cornucopia, Peeta refused to let Katniss go.
Damn stubborn idiot.
I needed something that would give Katniss at most a day. I needed something to knock Peeta out. I messaged Haymitch.
-Do we have enough money for sleep syrup?- The reply was almost immediate.
-yes-
I quickly purchased a day's worth of sleeping medicine and sent it to Katniss. She opened the parachute and blinked. She groaned and nearly threw it away. Then she stopped.
There you go.
After feeding Peeta the medicine, she made her way to the Cornucopia. Everyone was waiting for something. Just as Katniss was about to run forward, a girl sprinted out of the Cornucopia and grabbed her pack. She then ran off, leaving the table behind.
"Smart," I stated and Enobaria nodded.
"Very smart. No one can go after her without risking their pack," She responded.
Katniss darted forward and grabbed her pack. Just as she was about to run, Clove ran forward and tackled her. They fought on the ground until Clove had the upper hand.
She pulled a knife out and slowly dragged the knife around Katniss' face. She said a few words and suddenly, she was lifted from Katniss. It was Thresh.
"You kill her?! Rue! You kill her?! You said her name!"
"No! Garen! Garen!" Clove shrieked. Thresh smashed her against the Cornucopia until her skull caved in. He dropped her on the ground and pointed to Katniss.
"Just this time, 12. For Rue," He stated and grabbed Garemn's bag along with his own.
Bad bad bad idea.
Garen was somewhere in the forest, searching for Peeta. Once he heard Clove's screams, he sprinted for the Cornucopia. When he noticed Thresh with two bags, he began to chase after him. Garen was livid. He spat, screamed, and cursed at Thresh.
"Clove is down. It's sad. I was close friends with her mother in elementary school. Well, one down," Enobaria stated.
One closer to Katniss coming home. You realize that if Peeta survives, then you're going to have to deal with their so called romance.
I sighed and agreed. The Capitol would not let go of Katniss and Peeta. I needed a solid plan.
Thresh and the other girl were the next to die. Thresh had taken Garen's bag, resulting in him being chased. Garen brutally mutilated Thresh's body even after his death.
He's different. Garen has changed.
~'~'~'~
Katniss returned to the cave and injected Peeta with the medicine we'd sent. The relief on his face was immediate.
The finale began when the Gamemakers caused night to fall much more quickly than usual.
Katniss had a crippled Peeta to take care of and both were tired. I glared at the screen while Peeta joked and kissed Katniss.
It's cool. stay cool. She's just acting.
Katniss seemed to have a lot on her mind and she continued to drag Peeta towards the Cornucopia. Peeta, completely oblivious to the amount of stress Katniss was under, continued to prattle on about who knows what.
Katniss sat down and began to tear at the grass. She took a deep breath and stood up. Katniss was about to say something when Garen came sprinting towards them. I held my breath but he just passed right by the two. Something was chasing him.
No shit.
"We need to-" She was cut off by a dog jumping towards her. The dog was almost twice the size of a husky. It resembled a wolf but had no ears. Katniss screamed and began to run while dragging Peeta along with her.
"Run!" She yelled and Peeta began to limp his way to the Cornucopia. Garen had already made it to the top and was struggling to catch his breath. Katniss and Peeta were trying to get to the Cornucopia as fast as they could. There were more mutts and nearly seven were following them.
Katniss scrambled up the side of the Cornucopia and reached down to help poor crippled Peeta up. He grabbed her hand and was about to climb up when Garen grabbed Katniss by the throat.
Big uh oh.
He had her in a headlock. Katniss clawed at him and left gashes in Garen's arms.
"You think I'll let- AAUGH!" Katniss had bit his arm until blood flowed freely. He let go of her and Katniss reached for her bow. Peeta was now in Garen's grip.
Garen was sweating. He had an agonized expression on his face.
He's crying.
"Go ahead," He sobbed. "Shoot! Then we both go down, and he dies."
Katniss said nothing and continued to stare at him emotionlessly.
"Ka-Katniss," Peeta rasped and Katniss glared. Garen looked straight up at the camera.
"Is this what you wanted?! You wanted a show! I gave you a show! I killed them for you! Where's my reward?!" He whispered the last part. "I just want to go home."
Kelsa hung her head in her hands and Enobaria nodded.
"We'll get you home." She whispered.
In a box.
Garen turned to Katniss and sighed.
"I can still do it. What's one last kill before I go?" He asked and Peeta began drawing an X on Garen's hand. Katniss let the arrow fly and hit Garen in the hand. He roared in pain and let go of Peeta for a split second. Peeta elbowed him but Garen didn't fall.
Even with his depleted strength, Garen is more than two times stronger than Peeta.
Garen threw Peeta aside and advanced toward Katniss. He ripped the arrow out of his hand and pointed it towards her.
"You're going to pay for that," He growled and lunged for Peeta. Katniss shot Garen in the leg as he stabbed the arrow into Peeta's leg. Peeta screamed as the arrow opened the bandages that held his wound.
Garen jabbed the arrow into Peeta's stomach and stood.
"He'll die from bloodloss. Now that leaves you," He began to run towards her, and time slowed down. I stopped breathing as he grabbed her wrist
Katniss closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and opened them. Loosening her grip on the bow, Katniss sent the arrow straight into Garen's heart. He smiled and toppled over onto his side. He fell over the side of the Cornucopia.
The mutts ran into a hole in the ground and Katniss went to go help Peeta.
"Ladies and gentleman, there has been a slight rule change over our previous rule change. The rules clearly state that there may only be one winner in the Hunger Games. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor." The oh so annoying voice of Claudius Templsmith rang out. Peeta shrugged.
"Well... agh... get it over with," He panted and Katniss shook her head.
Yes, please do.
"I'm not going to kill you."
"One of us has to get out of here, and it should be you," He argued and Katniss shook her head.
Very true.
"There must always be a winner. What if we took that from them?" She asked and I stood from my seat. The computer toppled from my lap and the screen shattered once it hit the ground.
"Peeta, you have to trust me," Katniss stated and pulled the Nightlock out.
"No!" I yelled and began to leave the room. Kelsa grabbed my wrist and led me back.
"Wait," She stated and Juna and Lucilla looked at me with wide eyes.
If she dies, I can tell you beforehand that you will break on the inside.
I closed my eyes. I couldn't give a damn if she loved Peeta. All I wanted was for Katniss to be alive and happy. I loved her enough to let her go.
"Please..." I whispered. Katniss shook her head and began to cry.
"I'm sorry, Cato! I'm sorry!" She sobbed and Peeta touched her arm.
"Kat... niss. I'm dying. They can't fix me, and I don't want to be fixed. Katniss, I love you, but I know you love someone else. Be happy, for me," Peeta smiled as blood trickled from his lips. Katniss knelt beside him and held his hand.
"I'm not going to kill you," She whispered and he nodded.
"I'm not going to let you. Katniss, I want you to be the last thing I see," He coughed and red dotted his jacket. Katniss held his hands and smiled. Peeta smiled back and closed his eyes. Katniss bowed her head and I nodded.
He was a warrior.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present... the Victor of the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen!." Katniss heaved a sigh of relief and I did as well.
Well, that was different.
I ran out of the room and the Peacekeepers led me to the hovercraft that would take me to the arena. Haymitch was on board and he pulled me into a hug. I glared down at him and Haymitch smirked.
"Guys can do this, Cato. Guys do this sometimes," I leaned in and whispered,
"Not if they don't have their man parts," Haymitch let go immediately. The ladder went down for Katniss .
She's so thin.
I met Katniss' gaze. She began to sob and rushed into my arms. She was much thinner than when she had entered the arena. Her clothes were ripped and tattered. There was blood all over her and her hair was matted with oil and grime.
Katniss sobbed into my shirt and I shooed the doctors away. She looked up at me and kissed me straight on the lips.
Surprise!
My eyes widened and I leaned down to kiss her back. Katniss had her arms wrapped around my neck in a tight grip.
"You're going home." I whispered and Katniss nodded. A doctor crept forward and injected her. I kissed her once more before they took her away.
~'~'~'~
Coriolanus
"Careful," I warned as they carried the body into the hovercraft. "I need him in perfect condition. Do you have the doll?" I asked.
"Yes, President Snow," They replied.
"Good. Now, put the doll in his bed and make sure the doctors are informed not to say a word."
I looked down at the mangled body next to me as doctors fought to keep his heart pumping.
"I need him for the rebellion," I said as Peeta Mellark's eyes flew open.