Chapter 3

Cato

I never considered fear to be an option, nor have I ever considered failure. We were trained to win, and that was what I was going to do, no matter what.

We're getting close to the end now. I can feel it. Clove suspects that the Gamemakers are going to organise something big. A grand finale, she calls it. I feel it, too. The days and nights are becoming shorter, the temperature is changing more than usual, and everything seems unnervingly quiet and calm. A prelude to the denouement.

"I'll take care of twelve. She's mine," says Clove, sharpening her knives.

As much as I want to get rid of her myself, I have a bigger problem, so I let Clove have her way. I know that she will give the audience the show that they want and I can't argue with that. And besides, District 11 is another issue that I need to deal with. He's proven that he can take a fight. People back home are probably wondering why I haven't killed him yet.

I watch Clove prepare her supplies. Her demeanour has changed since the games started. Brutus told me to expect this. It happens every year. When there's only a few left, survival becomes a priority, not teamwork. We both know what'll happen if it's just the two of us left. Despite how close were are, one of us will have to go and when the time comes neither of us will hesitate.

For now, my priority is District 11. The redhead from District 5 isn't worrying me. I don't think she's killed any tributes, despite making it this far. It's a common tactic that they weak employ to survive. I've seen in many times in previous years. They focus on hiding while the rest of the tributes kill each other off one by one. I have to admit that I admire her tactic, but the time will come when she'll have to confront one of us and a tiny girl like that wont stand a chance.

Lover boy won't last long, either. I wish that I had just finished him when I had the chance.

If the girl from twelve found him he might even last a couple more days without medicine. But I've seen infections like that and it's a tough way to go. If the girl from twelve really does love him that much, she'll know that a quick snap of the neck or a few Nightlock berries are what's best for him. She'll be labelled a hero for ending his suffering.

I remember what it was like to have a cut that deep. As a part of our training program our mentors would purposely lacerate our leg or arm, or sometimes across our chest. Then they would leave us in an artificially constructed arena. I was stuck in a desert cave with nothing except a container of water and the clothes that I was wearing. I only lasted two days before they had to send for the medics.

It's the night before the feast. After having heard the invitation Clove and I get to work preparing the remaining weapons we have. We're running out of food supplies and weapons, so we're both certain that our backpack will contain either one of those things. I'm betting on the weapons.

We have a few hours so we decide to get some sleep. Although neither of us will admit it, we're both exhausted as hell. While Clove takes the first watch I close my eyes and think of home. I imagine the parades and parties that will be held in my honour. I imagine the proud look on everyone's face as Snow places the gold crown on my head, a symbol of strength, power and triumph. The Girl on Fire will no longer be the Capitol favourite, not when she's being shipped back to her district in a box. I'm so close that I can almost taste it. Just one more hurdle before the finish line.

I was never expecting to fall asleep, but at one point I do, and I dream.

Clove and I are running towards the Cornucopia. I see the girl from twelve in the distance. Lover boy is with her, too. He's running towards us with a machete in his hand, one that looks remarkably similar to the one that I have…

I look down, only to see that my hands are empty. I have no weapon to defend myself. I've broken the first rule of training: never make yourself vulnerable. It is a sign of weakness.

Clove, who is armed in a protective vest waves her knives at me and shakes her head reproachfully, "You're not prepared, Cato. You've been preparing for this moment your whole life and you don't even think to bring a weapon with you? Brutus won't be happy about that."

The lover boy is getting close and closer. His eyes are focused on me, they're determined and filled with rage. He is ready to kill and it looks like I'm his target.

My heart is racing. In these types of situations we're trained to calm ourselves and maintain constant focus, but panic is the only thing that I'm feeling right now. Sheer terror and panic.

"Looks like you didn't get him after all, Cato." Clove roars with laughter. "I always knew you were pathetic."

"That's impossible! Even with Capitol meds he shouldn't be running like that," I yell. Her laughter becomes louder and louder until it's all that I can hear. The shrill sound echoes around me and I have to cover my ears like a child to shield them from the piercing pain. I could just imagine everyone back home, laughing at the failure from District 2 that let District 12 scum get away.

They're getting larger and larger with every step. District 11 and District 5 appear out of thin air, eyes focused only on me. We need to think of a plan fast. I can see our backpack in the distance. I'm almost there. We have a chance. We can do this.

It was as though Clove was reading my thoughts. "You think I'm going to side with you? You're a disgrace to our district," she says, turning to face me. "Look around Cato, they all want you dead. And so do 1."

Before I could stop her, Clove has me pinned to the ground. The impact knocks the air out of me and my vision blurs momentarily. I struggle to free myself, but the more that I move the tighter her grip on my arms become. Her body is pressed heavily against my chest and I struggle to breathe. I'm trapped.

"What are you doing?!" I wheeze.

"What I should've done from the beginning." She presses her knife hard against my throat, undoubtedly drawing blood, and continues to speak calmly, "But I'm gonna let lover boy take care of you. He wants to have a little fun before I finish you off. He looks pretty mad after what you did to him."

"No! Clove, don't do this!"

"And after he's finished, District 11 can have you next…"

"No!"

"Then District 5. After that, it'll be lights out. Don't look so upset, Cato. You didn't think that you were gonna make it out of here alive, did you?"

Instantly, they all appear towering above me and before I can plea for their mercy, they charge towards me, eyes focused, teeth bared and then everything goes black.

I'm jolted out of my nightmare by the sound of a canon. Clove jumps to her feet, looking up towards the sky. "I bet its lover boy. I knew he wouldn't last long."

I wait for the face to appear, but it's not the one that I was expecting to see. "Redhead from five," says Clove, looking slightly surprised. "That's one less to worry about," she adds. Her face fades from the sky, never to be seen again. I quietly sigh in relief as the images from my dream fade with her.

"I was just about to wake you. It's time to go."

A/N: Sorry to disappoint you all with such a short chapter. Chapter 4 will be much longer.