I have to apologize for the late update guys, I'm really, really sorry about it.

First, I had a lot of work but there's also that I couldn't decide myself to write this chapter. Because it meant killing one of my favourite characters, writing a heart wrecking chapter, but also it means the end of this great adventure. You guys have given me so much! More than a hundred of reviews, all of your lovely comments and your enthusiasm about this story... I couldn't end it.

But here it is, and though I'll write an alternative ending to this, this chapter is where the story ends.

Enjoy it though

Chapter 18

First, we have to go back near to the Cornucopia. After we dragged our things to the edge of the woods, there is nothing to do but wait until dawn.

Cato sees how tense I am, or I guess he must know it. It's like we've known each other since forever when it's only been two weeks, but anyone could see why. We're alike. Violent. Dangerous. Impulsive. Relentless. I think that's why he's the only person I've ever been able to bear, the only one who found a little hole in my shell. And I guess once we're winners, it'll be alright.

"You should rest a bit Little Lamb. Sun's almost down"

"Do you really think I can get some sleep now? I'm way too excited"

"Sure, but you're going to need all your strength. Fire girl is no small game" he feels necessary to inform me

"Even without sleeping I could get her" I hiss "And you not believing it doesn't make any difference"

With that, I roll to the side and curl up in a ball, holding my knees so tight my arms actually hurt.

"That's not what I was saying" he says. I hear him lay on the grass close but I still turn my back to him.

"I know you can do it. I just hope she doesn't have a secret ally or something"

Of course that makes sense but I'm still upset. I could handle two of those stinky tributes. Cato sees what he said is not enough. Does he really see through me that way? I bet I could do the same if I tried.

"I just don't want them to take you in traitor. I don't want you to get hurt"

"I won't" I mutter, staring into the void

"Promise?" he whispers

"You'll look after me, won't you?" I tease him, smirking

He does not answer but grabs my hand. His arm is now coming over my waist, his palm covering my hand which is resting so close to my heart I bet he feels it beating. And it's slowing down as I soothe down too.

I don't sleep though. I stay there, eyelids closed for the Gamemakers and sponsors to think I'm asleep and that it's the reason why I don't move anymore. But I'm only savoring the moment, and if they can't handle it for now, I'll have to hide it. But I don't see the point in lying to myself. I enjoy knowing someone cares for me. I never thought it'd feel this good, but it does and I can't help but love the instants we're only left the two of us.

Just staying there actually helps me feel alive, like I've never been before. I barely repress a smile when I think about right now and the Feast tomorrow. Soon enough we'll be winners, ours names associated forever as the Hunger Games' only pair of winners. And it feels so right.

There'll be no need to prove myself anymore. No need to fight to be noticed. People will respect me, look up on me with admiration and even fear me. They oppressed me most of my life but as the wheel keeps on spinning; I'll soon be the one to control them.

Ho dear dear Daddy, how satisfying it will be to have you respecting me for once in your life. But you won't take my glory, sweet little Daddy. I tried to share it with you and all you did was spit on me. But I'll make you pay; you'll see how much importance you should have attached to me.

And soon enough I'm taking revenge.

"Ready?" he whispers

I instinctively grab a knife inside of my jacket, checking they're all here.

"Course I'm ready"

"Don't you want to take it? Please?" Cato's handing me the golden metal shell sponsors sent him.

"You can keep your fancy accessories. I don't need them" I spit. I hope sponsors are all awake and listening, because that was aimed at them on purpose. I will show them that I can kill Fire girl, and whoever is her stinky ally and go back to the camp without even a scratch on my hand.

"Clove…" he tilts his head to the side and I can see him almost begging me to take that suit with his gaze. But I won't. Taking it would be admitting I can get injured, and that's not happening.

I sigh and decide to switch subjects "What do you want of Fire girl as a remembrance?" His white teeth glow slightly in the twilight "A hand? Her nose?" I suggest playfully "Or her nasty braid?"

"I'll go with that one" he says.

Sun's almost up. I better start watching now.

Cato must be aware I'm about to leave as he calls me back.

"Clove! Take it" It's our last bread roll. None of us wanted to take it last night when we were left with three tiny pieces. "Come on, you'll need more strength than I will"

I mumble a thanks and bite in it. I'm not very sensitive to hunger, but still; the past few days were a little harder to handle, having to watch the food supply and not wasting anything. But in a few hours, maybe even one, we'll have backpacks full of supplies, enough to last until our victory.

"I'll be there soon" I promise. I walk in his arms and grasp one as they tighten around me.

"I know you'll be. I'll be watching you" My cheek's pressed against his chest. I could stay there forever, but I guess the sun rising is a sign for us it's time to break apart.

As I pull back, I smile quickly and he seems to hesitate before brushing my cheek lightly, the way that is now familiar to me, from up to down with his thumb. I close my eyes and finally walk away to the edge of the woods.

At first nothing moves. It's still quite dark, and I guess the other tributes are just like me, waiting for something to happen. But nothing occurs. The night vision glasses providing me a good view of the surroundings, I can tell the Cornucopia is the exact same as it is in the day. Did they put the backpacks inside its mouth? Maybe, the entry would wake a nice bottleneck where people would be forced to fight to pass.

And suddenly, a sun ray touches the golden metal of the structure and a large table emerges from the ground in front of the Cornucopia. I can see the backpacks on it, especially the two that are marked with my district number. I can't wait to grab them, but most of all, I can't wait to see Fire girl die in my hands. How satisfying it will…

What the hell? That red-headed girl just jumped off the woods, took her backpack and now she's gone! I groan. I should have been prepared to take her down but she managed to run away. Your time will come, agile little fox, you won't last long. Anyway, I'm waiting for bigger game. Especially one. And now she's in. Let the fun begin.

I get out of the trees and run towards her. I shoot a first time but the bitch manages to dodge it. Wait until I reach you, Fire girl and you're flat dead. It seems like she wants to fight back: she arms her bow, still running; I avoid the arrow but it cuts in my left arm's flesh. I grunt and pull it away. Anger flows in me like a storm. Who the hell does she think she is? The wound isn't too bad so I keep on running without any problem. That's what thing Careers have more than others tributes. Since we're little, we know how to ignore the pain.

She has reached the table now. Bitch! I aim at her head, never mind if it kills her right away, I'll destroy her body later. It cuts quite badly up her eyebrow; I grin. Let's see who' the best now. She tries to shoot me too, but fails pathetically. I let a laugh out as I reach her. She's disoriented, like a rabbit caught in a trap by the blood pouring down her forehead. I pounce on her and weight of all my being on her.

She looks terrified, looking right and left as if someone could save her. You're at my mercy Fire girl and I swear I don't have an ounce of pity for you. I smile widely staring at her. She's like an animal, struggling to get rid of me. But poor little Fire girl; once I decided to kill you, there's no way you get out alive.

"Where's your boyfriend District Twelve?" I grin "Still hanging on?"

"He's out there now. Hunting Cato." She says "Peeta!"

I punch her throat with force. Even her acute voice annoys me. But still; is he really out there? I look up my left, then right shoulder. No, he cannot be. His wound was bad, I'm not even sure he's able to walk. Plus, if he was there, he would have tried something to save his beloved.

"Liar, he's nearly dead" I spit, smiling even more "Cato knows where he cut him. You've probably got him strapped up in some tree while you try to keep his heart going"

My blood boils in my veins at the thought of her, managing to keep pathetic Lover boy alive with sponsors' help, while I had to struggle to get bread. Part of me wants to kill her right now, but the other wants to savor the moment. I'll kill her slowly, painfully; just as I like it.

"What's in the pretty little backpack" I say, noticing the orange spot she holds on to "That medicine for Lover boy? Too bad he'll never get it"

I'll kill her, and as I kill her, I'll kill Lover Boy too. Bye-bye star crossed lover from District Twelve.

I grin as I grab a knife in my jacket, letting her see how many weapons I have here. I carefully arranged them this night, getting ready for the big show

"I promised Cato if he let me have you, I'd give the audience a good show"

I'm about to had that I never break my promises when she kicks out under me to try to get away. But I'm well placed just like I practiced during all these years. The only thing she manages to is getting me angrier.

"Forget it District Twelve. We're going to kill you. Just like we did with your pathetic little ally… What was her name? The one who hopped around in trees? Rue?" I add as she mutters it silently, just like she suddenly remembered her and was pained of it. My plan's effective. Not only I'll destroy you physically, but I want to scare your mind before Fire girl."Well first Rue, then you, then I think we'll just let nature take care of Lover Boy. How does that sound?" I pause "Now where to start?"

I wipe away the blood of her face, scratching it with my jacket sleeve. Then, I study her to find the ideal place to get started; painful, but not too much for her to handle it. I want her to stay fully aware of what I'm doing as I mutilate her nasty being. She lifts up and tries to bite my hand, but I draw a section of her hair and pull to get her back on the ground.

"I think…I think we'll start with your mouth" I grin, drawing the shape of her lips with my favorite knife. I want her to think about how unbearable it will be, how much anger I hold for her "Yes, I don't think you'll have much use for your lips anymore. Want to blow Lover Boy one last kiss?"

The Bitch spits on my face. I angrily clean my face. You will never be able to despise me as much as I hate your Fire girl. You're not even close to it. Do you think you can strut around, win sponsors by acting in love without ever paying the cost?

"All right then. Let's get started." I just began to cut her upper lip when I'm suddenly lifted off the ground. I scream in surprise. What's happening? That was not planned!

Only when he throws me on the ground I can see who my attacker is. If for a minute I prayed for Cato finally deciding he wanted Fir girl for himself, all my hopes crash with me. It's the huge boy from Eleven.

"What'd you do to that little girl? You kill her?" he shouts

I begin to shake vigorously

"No! No, it wasn't me!" I cry. Fuck you Marvel. Fuck you for getting me in troubles even flat dead

"You said her name. I heard you. You kill her? You cut her up like you were going to cut up this girl here?"

I'm terrified. I can't escape and he's in a rage. My hands won't even support me to get up; fear is making its way through my whole body.

"No! No, I…" Eleven picks up a rock on the floor. No, no I can't die, I won't! I'm a victor! I was about to be crowned, I have to make it home with Cato… "Cato! Cato!" I scream at the top of my lungs, with the strength of despair.

"Clove!" He's coming! He'll save me. I try to crawl backwards; with a glimpse of hope he'll come soon enough to rescue me.

But he doesn't. The rock crashes with force on my temple and I can feel it break from the inside. The pain is unbearable and I gasp. I bet my brain is bleeding right now. I can barely move, but what will it bring me? I don't have enough strength to get up, and my skull is smashed.

I can hear Eleven threatening Twelve. Kill her now! Kill her! But it seems he won't. They're talking, like I was not bleeding to death a few meters away. If I could, I swear I would kill her myself, but I can't. All I can do is lay here and pray for something to happen. Something that will save me, something like… Cato.

"Clove!" Even though the sounds get blurry, I know he's not far. He's coming. The other tributes get away quickly. Run Bastards, we'll get you back once he's here. We?

"Clove! Stay with me!" He kneels down beside me and grabs my hand. The pain makes appear everything less intense to me, but I find with satisfaction the familiar sensation of his fingers wrapping mine. If only there wasn't the horrible pain in my head and tears in his eyes.

"Look, who's unbreakable now?" I manage to grin, but a wave of pain flows in me, making me moan again.

"I'm only human Clove. I…I don't want to lose you" he admits, biting his lower lip. He's trying not to cry. Am I really the one to make the great, ruthless Cato cry? It seems so. I guess he has feelings after all. Despite of all we pretended to be, we're just teenagers.

And with a new wave of pain, tears begin to fall from my eyes. Come on Clove! Crying? You've never done that before! No one can be possibly proud of you now. What must my father think of me now? Probably that I'm useless, shaming, that I'm garbage. He always did.

"I should have protected you" Cato shakes his head "I should have been there! I should have killed him!" he pressed my hand harder but blood is starting to get away from it. Soon I won't feel anything."I'm sorry" his voice breaks.

I manage to reach a hand to his face and stroke his cheek. I can still feel a little heat as he rests even closer to it. "How could I blame you?" As my arm shakes more I let it fall and try to take a deep breath.

Look at what you're reduced Clove. A paltry little thing, not even able to lift an arm.

And suddenly it crashes on me, even harder than Eleven's rock. I'm not going to make it.

I burst into tears and sob violently. What's the point in keeping a dignity as I will be gone in a few minutes? My shell is broken and my life is seeping away by all its holes.

"I don't want to die" My voice derails.

"Dying? You're… You're not dying!" he exclaims.

I smile lightly, water filling my eyes. He knows as much as me it's vain.

"I'm just another fallen tribute" I whisper

"No" His hand covers my cheek in a comforting move "You're the strongest of all, even stronger than me. I… I was lucky to compete with you. You're such a great person. Sarcastic, little, lethal Clove" he smiles. He doesn't even bother to wipe the single tear running down his cheek.

How twisted life is. In a few seconds, I switched from hunter to prey.

"Please, don't leave me. I've cared for you Little Lamb. All the way" he says

I'm about to answer when my head suddenly feels like burning. I bend as much as I can, lifting myself of maybe an inch of the ground, as if it could take the pain away. I groan. I want it to be over; the pain is just too much.

Cato's arm goes under my back to slowly put me down again.

His gaze is right in mine; and it's begging me to stay.

"M…me too…"

I wish there was no Hunger Games. I wish I could have known Cato before. I wish we'd been able to spend some time together. I wish we'd been able to take care of each other. I wish he'd been there since the beginning. I wish I could tell him all of that.

"I… I-I-I… I lo…"

I'm not able to speak anymore. I can only stare at him through my tears. I don't feel anything. I'm a wreck.

And with a flash of pain, I know I'm dying on the words I'll never be able to tell anyone.

What a long final chapter! I hope it didn't bother you though

Tell me about what you think, of this chapter, of the whole story!

One more time, thank you, all of you who followed me since the beggining. I could never thank you enough for everything and my heart aches a little at the thought of ending this. But everything comes to an end, and that was a beautiful trip with you

I love you all, so so much

Stay tuned for the alternative ending and more stories to come! :)