These Twisted Games Chapter 13, a hunger games fanfic

Disclaimer:

I do not own anything in relation to The Hunger Games Saga. Suzanne Collins owns the concept and the characters of the books.

Author's Note:

I want to wish all of the people who read this story a belated Happy Thanksgiving.

This chapter is part one of the long awaited Arena scene. I have been trying really hard to form the right format and wording to do this scene justice. This is just the calm before the storm.

My Beta has been very supportive and very giving with your visions that so very much matches my visions for this story. Thank you to my beta, 3vlee, for all of your help and support.

Please remember that this is rated M for a reason and I am always open to suggestions on how to make this story better.

Enjoy!

Chapter 13:

Katniss POV

When I woke up the next morning, the bed was empty.

I was starting to get angry because Cato had once again fucked me and then left without a word. It seemed like it was becoming a habit for him. I thought we had a breakthrough last night, but I thought wrong yet again.

It was time to get up and get ready for the day that was ahead of me. Another day just training and watching Cato ignore me as always.

I was walking toward my shower when I hear a knock on the door. I walk to the door and open it. Haymitch walks right in and sits on my bed.

"Hey Sweetheart. Are you ready for today?"

"What are you talking about and where is Cato?"

Then it hits me! Today is the day we go into the arena and he didn't even wake me up to say goodbye!

That just made me even more angry at him. Why couldn't he at least have the decency to wake me up to say goodbye?

"Well they had to separate you all to get you ready for the arena. He stopped by my room before they took him to D-2 tribute quarters to give me this for you."

He hands me a letter.

Fire Girl:

I am sorry that I did not wake you up when they took me this morning. You looked so peaceful and beautiful this morning and I couldn't do it. I hope you got plenty of rest because you are the first line of defense for our daughters.

Don't screw it up!

Cato

This letter not only confused me but it PISSED me off. Well at least he wrote me that's a start right.

I then walked away from Haymitch and went to execute my morning routine. I had used the restroom, brushed my teeth, and took my shower.

As I was in the shower all I could think about was how I was going to protect myself and my babies as well as keeping Cato alive as well. I know they will have a bow and arrows but it does not mean that it will be close by. I don't even know if I will be able to make it to the cornucopia or to cover in time either.

What will the arena be like? Will it be a crumbling city, or a hot desert? I wish that I knew so that I could protect those who are very dear to me.

How will I be able to kill anyone? I am about to bring two children into this world within the next two and a half months and I have to kill other people who are parents as well?

How will I be able to look my own children in the eyes when they ask about why their friends parents are dead and we (Cato and I) are alive with them?

What are we going to do? What will we tell them? Have them watch our games?

NO!

I will not have that.

I step out of the shower and dry off. I walk into my bedroom fully dressed and find that Haymitch is still sitting in the chair he was when I went into the bathroom.

"What are you still doing here Grumpy Dad?"

"I have to tell you some things about the arena. Now I do not know where your platform will be, but I do know that you and Clove will be close to each other. Here are a few things that you have to remember: 1) Cato, Clove, Peeta, Glimmer, Thresh, Marvel, Foxy, Haylie, and Henry are your allies in the games. DO NOT STRAY FROM THEM! Do you understand me?"

"Yes Dad."

"And 2) DO NOT step off the platform before the buzzer goes off, they will blow you sky high."

"Okay."

"When you get the arena, Cinna will be there to help you get dressed and you will eat lunch with him before you are lifted into the arena."

"Anything else?"

"Stay alive."

"Please make sure Prim is taken care of. Gale can handle himself, Prim is all I have left."

"Don't worry Pops and I got Goldilocks."

"Thank you!"

As Haymitch is telling me this he is escorting me to the roof of the training center where there is a hovercraft waiting to take the tributes to the arena.

I give him a hug and step into the machine. I see that I am the last to show up. They seat me next to Cato.

"Hey Fire Girl!"

"Neanderthal"

"We back to this again?"

"Yup."

"Fine. Look when we get into the arena, get to a Bow. I will save it for you if I get to the horn first."

"Okay. If I get there first I will guard your sword until you get there."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Arm."

(Cato Hisses)

"Arm"

"What is this?"

"It is your tracker. It is so they know where you are at all times."

"Oh."

At that moment the hovercraft starts to land. It is quite bumpy so I wrap my arms around my swollen belly as Cato extends a protective hand on it a well.

We land and Cato and I get separated. I am led to a room that has a shower stall, table and chairs, a changing screen, and the launch tube. They never show this stuff on the television. If I weren't six and a half months pregnant and one of twenty-four teenage children going into the arena, I would be very impressed.

Cinna then came into the small room and sat down.

"First off Katniss. I need for you to relax as best as you can. It is not good for the girls. I know you have already taken a shower, but the warm water would do some good to calm your nerves enough so the babies can rest."

"Alright Cinna."

"Then we can eat."

I smiled at him and walked into the shower stall. The door closes and I take my clothes off. I start to let the warm water work it's way into my sore muscles and starts to ease my worries a little.

Once my shower is done. I dry myself off and put on a robe. I step out and notice that right in front of me is all of the food that I have been craving since I woke up from the incident in D-2.

I look at Cinna with a wide grin and saying thank you in the process. We sit there and eat. There is not much to talk about and talking would just make me more nervous. That would not be good for my girls.

When my belly felt full, I got up to go get dressed. The minute I stood up, I got dizzy and a small alarm went off.

Cinna had told me to sit back down as the medics came in. They checked me over and gave me a shot that would help make the symptoms subside.

Even months after the hypothermia incident, I still have episodes of dizziness and feeling of coldness. The only people who know this are my two surrogate pops, Cinna, Foxy, Clove and Peeta. Cato never paid enough attention to care what was going on, but that is besides the point.

Cinna keeps me sitting as long as possible, and when it is time he has me stand as he dresses me.

"The jump-suit is designed to keep heat in and cold out at night as well as keeping the heat out and the cold in during the heat of the day. If you get any down time in the arena, take it to calm yourself down. Remember who your allies are and to stay hydrated. Before your cousin and sister left he gave me something to give you from your district and personally from his fiance who happens to be your best-friend."

He pins a beautiful pin on me. It is circular with a bird that is in flight with an arrow within it's beak and claws. It is a golden and beautiful. He then pulls out a DVD player and presses play.

A small group of people come on the screen.

The first person to speak is my Aunt Hazel:

"Catnip! Go get em' girl and be careful. Come home safe and sound wild one."

Then it is my cousins.

"KAT WE MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU!"

Then it is my little duck. When she talks I start to cry.

"Katniss, stop crying. I know you are crying. Please, I know that you can handle this,but just remember that when you feel you feel things are at it's worse, just sing your heart out. Don't worry about anything and lose yourself in the song. I love Kat!"

The next is my mother.

"Katniss. You better bring my granddaughters home to me so I can show them the love that your father would have if he were here. Be safe my wild girl and remember that, even though I wasn't all there when papa died, I love you! Come home baby girl."

The next person to talk is Gale.

"Catnip, get to a bow shoot to kill and come home with or without jackass. Stay strong."

Last is Madge.

"Katniss, thank you for volunteering for me and giving your blessing for Gale and I to be together. I gave Gale my Aunt Masy's pin. It was her token when she went into the games and it was given back when they brought her body back to us. It is a Mockingjay. A bird who has the ability to copy a voice or a sound perfectly. They are beautiful birds just like you are a beautiful person. When Gale got here, we decided to do the toasting on this DVD so that in some way you are apart of it."

She moved away and they sat in front of the hearth with the traditional white bread. The white bread representing how pure the intentions and love is between the couple. They were surrounded by her family and mine. They tore the bread in half, each half representing the equality of the two individuals in the relationship. They stuck the bread on the end of two Teak branches. It is tradition for the couple to use the Teak Tree Branches because it is the strongest in the woods, it is resistant to the weather and repels insects. This represents the strength of the couple and the relationship.

They make their vows and toast the bread, and then the screen went blank. I just stared at it and start to cry. Cinna comes and wraps his arms around me. I stop crying as they announce that the tributes need to load into the tubes.

I step into my tube and before the glass closes Cinna says:

"I am not allowed to bet, but if I could I would bet on you Girl on fire."

With that the glass closes and I am being lifted into the arena. I am surprised that I can even fit through the whole. The platform suddenly stops, and I am stuck in between the opening of the hole where I enter the arena and the room that I was just in. I start to panic. I really hate closed in areas.

Then there was a shaking in the ground. It was like there was an explosion. The platform starts to move again, and I barely keep my balance when the platform stops in it's spot.

I look around and I see trees and that Clove and I are extremely close to the cornucopia. The weapons that are arranged in a way that the Bow and arrows are closer to Clove and the knives that are meant for Clove are close to me. Then I look around and I see Cato looking at all of the weapons. He has this look that shows that he is in the zone. I am not sure that I can trust him when that look is on his face. Clove has this same look on her face.

The President's voice comes over the intercom and says:

"Attention tributes: the six tribute who are no longer participating in the games did not follow the rules therefore they were punished and severely at that. Let this show you the tributes and the citizens sitting at home that any rules that are broken will have dire punishments. Now with further a dew LET THE HUNGER GAMES BEGIN!"

After the words are said the buzzer goes off and the games start.

Cato POV

I am woken up extremely early by a set of Peacekeepers. I was surprised that they were taking me away from Katniss and my kids when I need to stay here for them.

Oh no! What if I was in trouble for something? What if the president wanted to punish me for what I have done over this past year's events with Katniss? Wouldn't he just wait until the arena though.

I get up and before I get dressed I write Katniss a letter. I don't really know what to write, so I just let the pen write what is in my head.

Fire Girl:

Don't screw it up!

Cato

I fold up the paper and place it in my pocket. I walk over to the bed and run my hand across her swollen belly where my girls are growing. I lean in to lightly kiss her belly and whisper to the girls:

"Daddy is going to do what ever he can to make sure you are born into a safe world and to make sure I keep mommy alive so that you can be born."

I walk out of the room and walk into Haymitch's room, and wake him up.

"Haymitch...Haymitch..."

No response. I grab some water and poor it on him. I have to give it to him for an old man he can move fast. He has me up against the wall by my throat.

"WHAT IN FUCKING HELL INSPIRED YOU TO WAKE ME UP AT SUCH AN UNGODLY HOUR BY GIVING ME A BATH?"

I gestured to the men behind me and he then releases me.

"All I want to ask you to do is to PLEASE give Katniss this letter. I don't know where they are taking me."

Haymitch walks over to them and asks the question I was so scared to ask them myself.

"Where are you taking him?"

"To D-2 tribute quarters."

Haymitch walks away and grabs the note and goes back to bed. I took that as my que to leave. I walked to the elevator and wait. We are met there by Peeta and two more Peacekeepers.

We then get on the elevator and go to D-2's quarters. We are met by Brutus and Enobaria.

"What is the meaning of this Brutus? I have finally connected with Katniss, and now I have to leave her hours before we go into the arena to fight for our lives as well as our babies lives. I didn't even have time to wake her up to let her know I was leaving. She is going to think that I left her for another woman again!"

"YOU IDIOT! Cato you should have woke her up."

"Brutus you didn't see how peaceful she looked. She finally taking it easy and getting the rest she needs before the arena."

"Alright. Go to bed and get more sleep."

I go to what would have been my room if the games would have gone the way they were supposed to go and lay in the bed. It felt so weird not to have Katniss's body next to me. I have never thought that I would become attached to someone like I am to Katniss. I am not sure if I love her or my babies, but something is there.

This thought really confuses me. I was always taught that any feelings other than hatred and malice were horrible and they would get you killed. I look at how Katniss was raised and I see that there was love in her house. The love she had for her sibling and the other members of her family gives her the motivation to survive.

I have affection for my unborn daughters buy I don't know if I can call it love. That emotion confuses me. My parents started training me on feeling no emotion at all. My mother being raised in an orphanage never knew love. Even now, my father doesn't show her any type of love or even affection. The only reason they are even married is because she got pregnant with Christopher. He hits her all of the time and encourages all of his friends to take advantage of her as well. He has no feelings for her. He still doesn't know if Clara is his daughter. He will not get a paternity test. There is no love between my mother and my father therefor they showed no love or other feelings for us. Like I said no example of love or affection.

As I finish this thought, fall back to sleep. The next time I wake up it is to Brutus's ugly face.

"Get up boy."

"Ung... I don't want to."

"Fine deal with Snow."

"Alright...Alright."

I get up and go to the showers. I get out and get dressed.

"Okay Meathead. Here is how it is going to go. When you leave from here you will fly to the arena with the other tributes. When you land you will have a chance to take another shower, and eat a good meal with your stylist before you are in the arena. Once you are in the arena, go into the zone. Remember who your allies are. Protect MY DAUGHTER and GRANDDAUGHTERS. Do not step off the platform too early. They have mines around them, you step off too early you are dead."

"Okay. Thanks Old Man."

We get up and head to the roof for the ride to the Arena. I find my seat and wait for the other tributes to show up. Everyone is on board except Katniss. I am beginning to worry that she had a nervous breakdown because I was not there. I am not even sure the drunk gave her my letter.

Then I see her. It is then that I let out the breath that I didn't even know I was holding. She comes over and sits by me. I look at her and she looks so pissed off and confused.

"Hey Fire Girl!"

"Neanderthal"

"We back to this again?"

"Yup."

"Fine. Look when we get into the arena, get to a Bow. I will save it for you if I get to the horn first."

"Okay. If I get there first I will guard your sword until you get there."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Arm."

(I hiss)

"Arm."

She doesn't even flinch.

We start to land and it gets a bit bumpy. I see Katniss wrap her arms protectively around our daughters and it is automatic that I put my hand protectively on her belly. I look around and see that Clove and Peeta are in the same position.

We exit the craft and are separated to go into the arena. I am taken into a room that looks like my old dorm room from the academy only the dorms don't have a bathroom in the rooms. I walk in and see Portia. She walks over to me and tells me to get my game face on.

I take another shower and then I eat. An announcement is made that there is a slight delay due do medical concerns of a tribute. I am so worried that Katniss and the girls are okay. Then the voice comes on and tells us to get into the tubes. I step in and the platform moves upward.

We are in position and I look around. I do not see Katniss or Clove. Then we feel shaking and then there are a lot of explosions. Six of the tributes have been blown up. I look for Katniss. I cannot see her. She is no where to be found. I am panicking at this moment.

I look at Peeta and he is just as panicked as I am because there is no sign of Clove either. We look at each other and I see him almost stepping off of the platform. I shake my head saying no don't do it. Not yet. Then we see them and I know we have a little relief that they are okay for now.

I then look at all of the weapons and see that Clove and Katniss are very close to the cornucopia and that they have their weapons of choice close to them. I am even more at ease knowing that she will have the bow and that Clove will have her knives. Now I can go and get in the zone so that I can get my family out of here.

OH MY GOD! I cannot believe the thought that just went through my head. Then it really hits me: MY FAMILY IS IN THE ARENA AND IN DANGER!

Before anything else could happen, the president makes an announcement:

Attention tributes: the six tribute who are no longer participating in the games did not follow the rules therefore they were punished and severely at that. Let this show you the tributes and the citizens sitting at home that any rules that are broken will have dire punishments. Now with further a dew LET THE HUNGER GAMES BEGIN!

After the words are said the buzzer goes off and the games start.