Chapter 3

I was too shocked to say anything, so I didn't. He gave me a small smirk, and sat down next to me on the couch. I stared at him, trying to detect if he was telling the truth or just playing me. He stared right back, right in the eyes. Either he was telling the truth, or he was just good at being guarded.

Next to me, Johanna cleared her throat. Truthfully, I had forgotten she was even there. She slipped a piece of paper into my bag, then stood up.

"Come talk to me later," she said. "I'll be at the front desk." With that she turned and walked away. I watched as she walked away, even when I couldn't see her anymore. I didn't look at the man beside me, afraid of what he'll say, and at the same time, I was overly anxious. He cleared his throat, but I didn't look at him, just gave a small grunt to let him know I was listening.

I felt him sift slightly next to me. "I don't think I've properly introduced myself. I'm Cato." I slowly turned to him, still looking down to avoid his face, his hand was out, waiting for me to shake it. I didn't, just studying his face, trying to detect if he was really telling the truth about being the one who found Peeta.

"This is supposed to be where you introduce yourself."

"You already know who I am, remember," I asked, a little annoyed.

"True. But it's still polite to introduce yourself." I glared at him. He returns it with that annoying smirk of his.

"Fine," I said, giving his hand one big shake. "Katniss Everdeen. Now spill it." I honestly didn't care how rude I was being to him; I wasn't really in the mood.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything," I said like it was so obvious. I think he just liked annoying the shit out if me, I could tell by the way his face looked slightly satisfied at the sound of my voice.

He told me how he was walking the streets, when he heard painful grunts and moans coming from this random alleyway. He went to see what is was, but it was blocked by two men who were smoking cigarettes and taking swigs from a few bottles of vodka. He couldn't see what was going on behind them from where he was standing, and didn't want to risk getting caught, so he climbed up the other side of the building and looked down from the roof. There were about five people standing around these two people, who were in the middle of a fight, cheering one of them on. One looked pretty beaten up, knelt on the ground, holding his side while the other towered over him. They stared at each other for a moment before he kicked him in the head and he fell unconscious. The guy kicked him roughly a couple more times for good measure.

He waited until they left, which was a while because they stayed around a little bit and celebrated their victory, before he crept down the building and to his side. Blood was scattered across his body and all around him. He knew that he didn't have much longer without some help, so he called the ambulance on a phone in the next building. He went back to the man's side and shook his shoulder, trying to wake him and find out what happen.

He stirred and mumbled a name that came out as more of a slur. "Katniss... " he said, but nothing more.

The ambulance had arrived shortly after.

His eyes snapped open, immediately falling on him. He gripped his wrist tightly. "You had to find her and tell her that I love her and that she shouldn't give up and not take care of herself again." He was breathing heavily, the words coming out as a struggle.

"How will I find her? Who are you even talking about?"

"She has long brown hair that's always pulled back into a braid. She's most likely scowling. And she has...gray eyes with fire in them. You can't miss her..." Before he could say more, he went unconscious again.

"Is that why you were staring at me for so long?" I asked, looking at him through my now blurry eyes. My voice was shaky, and I hated how weak it made me sound. There was something about his words that didn't seem quite right, but I didn't push it.

I wiped away the clear streaks on my face.

"He was right; you're hard to miss," he said. "But then again, you were screaming and bawling your eyes out over there on the floor." He let out a small chuckle. I attempted at trying to smile a little, but I don't join in with his apparent amusement.

They sat in silence for about five minutes before Katniss broke it. "Thank you."

"No big deal," he said with a shrug if his shoulders.

"But it is a big deal. You told me what happened to my boy-... late boyfriend. That means a lot to me." I gave him a weak smile.

"I was just trying to be a...good person is all."

"Thank you," I said again. "I should probably get going. I still have to work today."

"Shame. You deserve at least one day to yourself."

"Yeah, well, I don't exactly have the money to just take a day off of work."

"Oh."

"It was nice meeting you."

"You too." He gave a genuine smile and a nod of his head.

Back at my apartment, I quickly hopped into the shower. I was about halfway through when the tears started to come again. They started out slow, just fitting in with the other water droplets, but then they came out more rapidly. My silent tears turned into shuddering sobs. I leaned against the tile, putting a shaky hand to my forehead.

I stayed like that for maybe five minutes before I forced myself to move again. I finished my shower with sluggish movements.

When I was out of the shower, I realized what time it was. I quickly threw on some random clothes and raced out the door. My hair was still soaking wet, my clothes were wrinkled, and my shoes were untied. It isn't until I'm about three quarters of the way to work do I realize that I never put on a coat, nor did I remember to grab my purse. Wonderful.

I walked slower on the way home from my second job then I did on the way to my first. Clouds had moved in, casting a gray blanket as far as the eye could see. Perfect. A gloomy sky to go with my depressing mood. The sun was almost set, which meant I needed to get home quickly before it got too dark to see, or before I ended up like him.

I was about five minutes away from my ratty apartment when I heard a soft wolf whistle. I turned my head softly. There was a man with wavy brown hair that was on the longer side. He wore black baggy pants and a loose dark gray t-shirt. He was leaned up against a wall by himself, a bottle of alcohol in his hand.

I kept walking, a little faster this time, trying hard not to hyperventilate. I kept my eyes locked on the concrete below my feet, giving myself commands to act calm and casual.

I didn't make it very far before the man called out. "Hey pretty thing, where are you going?"

I hugged my tighter around myself in an attempt to make myself look cold. Although, being cold was the absolute last thing on my mind. With my heart pumping so fast, it was hard to notice anything else. I quickened my pace even more, trying to put as much distance as possible between me and that man.

The man quickly caught onto what I was trying to do. He starting jogging towards me, his footsteps sent chills through me and loud echos through my head.

Before I knew what had even happened, the man was in front of me, and I was pressed with my back against the side of a building. I looked off to the side. My apartment complex was within running distance. Maybe if I could create a long enough diversion I could quickly lock myself inside my apartment.

I finally looked up at the man. His face was closer than I thought. He had stubble on his chin, his breath smelling strongly of vodka. His eyes were dark, which just scared me even more, though I tried not to show it. He brought a hand to my cheek, the other on the side of my head. He leaned closer.

"We're going to have so much fun," he purred.

Right as is lips were mere inches from mine, I slammed my head into his. He grunted in pain and anger. Ignoring the throb in my skull, I took my chance. I kicked my leg hard into his crotch. The man doubled over. I pushed him for good measure, then took off.

But of course, today was just not my day.

I only made it a step closer to my apartment before he grabbed my ankle. I fell to the ground. My breath got knocked right out of me, making it impossible to yell for help.

"You little bitch. Now you're really gonna get." He hauled me to my feet and turned me around to face him. His eyes were still dark, but now they had another emotion mixed in with his lust: fury.

He crashed his lips onto my neck, his hands hastily pulling at the buttons of my shirt. I struggled against him, but his grip was like iron. I could already feel the bruises forming underneath his fingers. I banged against his chest, kicked him, squirmed around, but he was too domineering, and all of my attempts were too weak to do any damage anyway. Tears leaked out of my eyes no matter how hard I tried to keep them in. I was in no shape to stay strong today.

"Shut up, whore," he said, slamming me hard up against the wall.

Right at the moment I was ready to give up, the man was torn away from me. I fell to the ground in a weeping mess. I curled up in a ball and just wished for it all to just go away.

Every sound became muffled, my vision was blurred with tears. It was as if the world didn't exist at that moment.

After a few minutes-or at least I thought was minutes-strong arms wrapped around me, holding me in a gentle embrace. They whispered incoherent things in my ear. I took advantage of not knowing who was carrying me and snuggled closer into their chest. After that I just let the world slip away and let whatever was going to happen, happen when I woke up from this horrendous nightmare.

Sorry it took so long to update, but really get this chapter right. I rewrote this maybe 4 times, and I'm still not 100% pleased with it. Let me know what you think in your reviews.

Are any of ya'll ready for Catching Fire?! My mom already got me tickets to go see it! Ah I'm so excited. Not only did she get me tickets though, she got me tickets to see it Nov. 21!

~Txcutee