Peeta's been here since he climbed into the cave two days ago, and I wanted him gone. There was something off about him. He seemed a little too vulnerable, when really it should be me that was acting in that way in front of him. He jumped into our cave, claiming that he was just trying to find someplace to hide when he just happened to stumble upon this very cave. The cave that I was in. Rue thought everything was fine and that we should just trust him because he came from my district and was, therefore, a 'trustworthy friend', but I felt something was up.
The Cato topic never came up from the moment he jumped into my alliance with Rue. I avoided it, I know he was avoiding it, and quite frankly, I was happy that we were keeping it away. It would only cause problems, and now that we're here in the Games, things are much more serious, and a little anger can turn into an unexpected death. I was just hoping that Peeta didn't hold grudges. He could be pretending to be helpless so that he could find a way to sneak and murder me.
We didn't let him keep watch over us last night after I convinced Rue to believe that something wasn't right. I didn't want us to go to sleep and not wake up the next morning. Everything was becoming so confusing. The night before and the morning of the Games, he was pissed as all hell at me for the whole Cato situation, but as soon as we make it in here, he finds me and wants to be allies? It just didn't make sense.
Him being here just made me miss Cato. I know I'm supposed to be upset, afraid, whatever, but I need him. I need his strength to give me a little inkling of courage that I could make it out of here. I need his arms to wrap around me and protect me from the universe, I needed his hands, his destructive hands, to rub soothingly over my back. I had been on edge since the moment I left him in the greenhouse on the roof, and I knew the only cure would be one touch. Just a single electric zap of life from his fingertips would be enough.
I needed my knight in shining armour.
Rue, Peeta and I begin day four, searching for food and sneaking to the pond for water. Nothing much happened on day three. The only action was the death of a guy and girl from fireballs the Gamemakers most likely made because no one was killing anyone else. I had no idea how many of us were left, but I was sure that it was less than half.
Anyway, back to the water. We knew that the Careers' base was set up there so we couldn't get any water; yesterday night we went there and saw them all sitting around a fire. No one spotted us, thankfully, but we didn't take a chance to get any water because they would probably see or hear us. So, today we were going to stake out the pond until the Careers go on their hunt, just like they did everyday, and we would be gone long before they got back.
Peeta was extraordinarily eager to get to the pond today, which just set off another alarm in my mind. I stayed alert, but said nothing of the matter as we trekked the way to a spot that was a considerable distance away from the pond. It was enough that we could see the Careers at the base, but not too close that they would see or hear us.
"So what's the plan again?" Rue asks as we take to our trail, eyes and ears open and alert for any hunt we could find. We hadn't been lucky enough for getting any decent hunt in the past day, so today, we were hoping for some miracle.
"We're going to hide, one behind the other, in the trees, and stake out the Careers' base so that when they leave, we can get some water," Peeta answers for me.
"Right." Rue nods, causing us to go silent again. "Wait, why can't we just use you, Prim?" she speaks up.
My eyebrows furrow and I stare back at her. "What are you talking about? How on earth will you use me? I'm definitely not running in there for water! They'll kill me!"
Rue smirks and rolls her eyes. "But you and I both know that Cato would never let them hurt you," she claims, nudging me on the arm. I winced at the pain in my arm but felt myself blush. Firstly because of thinking about Cato, but mostly because Peeta was right behind us. I didn't want him to be mentioned at all because there was still underlying tension that had yet to be resolved between us three. I knew Peeta was frowning behind me, but I didn't want to look. It would just make everything more obvious than it already was.
"Really, Rue? I don't want anything to do with Cato anymore," I lied, mostly to myself than to Rue. I had already established with my self-conscious that I missed and needed Cato back with me. My self-conscious tutted and shook her finger, but I ignored her. I know what I want in life, and one thing I most definitely want is Cato. No doubt about it.
But, I couldn't tell Rue that, not in front of Peeta. I was still trying to figure him out, but the moment I let something slip about my need for him, Peeta might go insane. He did admit that he loved my sister during the interviews and that I meant nothing, but I highly doubt that to be true. He was probably trying to hurt me; it didn't work.
"Are you sure about that?" Rue asked, one eyebrow raised expertly. I wished I could raise one eyebrow. You don't know how many times I've tried to master the art of eyebrow quirkiness. Never worked.
I nodded frantically. "Yes," I stated matter-of-factly. I knew Rue didn't believe me. The way I'd been acting since running into Cato, you would think I was in love and he broke my heart. My heart was that sick; for a second, I had forgotten I was even in the Games because I was so preoccupied with the look in his eyes after I most likely broke his being.
"Okay," Rue drawled, "whatever you say." She sighed and walked ahead of us, running to a bush of raspberries to pick some for the walk. We had found the bush last night; we definitely were beyond excited. Raspberries were definitely a delicacy in the arena. In life, actually.
"Hey, Prim?" Peeta calls, jogging a little to follow beside me. He had a knife in his hand, one that I watched from the corner of my eye cautiously. I had my guard up, one-hundred percent.
I rolled my eyes and looked in the other direction. "Yeah?" I sighed, playing with the elasticity on my bow.
"Um." Peeta scratched the nape of his neck. "Did you mean what you just said.. ya know, about Cato?" he asks me. My goodness.. here we go.
I felt my head shaking in disapproval slightly at the fact that he, of all people, was deciding to talk to me about Cato. He knew I definitely did not want to talk to him about my.. my, uh.
What is Cato? What are we?
"Yeah, sure," I lied again. Anything to shut him up.
Peeta smiled and nodded. "Good, that's good." We made it near the raspberry bush and waited for Rue to finish picking us some. I could just taste the sweet juice invading my tongue and I couldn't wait to get a bite.
My eyes rolled toward his face. "What is that supposed to mean?" I snapped. He has no place to tell me about my decisions and what and what's not 'good' about them. Especially when it came to Cato.
Peeta frowned. "Nothing.. I'm just glad you decided to choose what's right for you," he says, tapping his fingers against his thighs.
My eyebrows jump up in surprise. What is he suggesting? "And what would be right for me, Peeta?" I snap again. He thinks he knows what I want and need, but he really doesn't. If he did, he would know I didn't want him here. And he would bring Cato to me.
Peeta shrugs. "I dunno. Maybe.. maybe it could be me."
I take a step back and glare at him. How dare he? "Is that why you found me? To convince me that I somehow love you, or something?" I ask, making sure to keep some distance. I was furious! As soon as a single word comes out of my mouth about Cato that isn't the least bit positive, he sees it as vulnerability and tries to get me to admit I want him?
"No! No.. that's not-"
"Hey, I got enough berries. Let's keep going," Rue says as she jogs back to us, handing the juicy berries to me. I take them and place some in my mouth as she continues down our trail to the pond. We were almost there now. I was excited; this could mean that I could catch a glimpse of Cato.
We begin walking, and Peeta tries to walk with me, but I speed up. "Peeta," I hiss as he tries to catch up to me again, "leave me alone. I don't feel anything for you. I never have, and you can bet that I never will," I tell him harshly before running to catch up with Rue. I didn't leave him any time to respond because I didn't want to hear any crap that comes out of his mouth.
Rue and I share the deliciously sweet berries as we walk, letting the juice moisten our mouths from the lack of water, and finally, we make it to the hideout by the pond. Peeta stands behind us, furthest away from the water behind a huge tree. Rue is in front of him, and I'm the closest to the pond. I peek out to the Careers' base, and all of the Careers are lounging around, eating, talking, or staring into space.
I saw my man; he was sitting on a rock, and the girl from his district, Clove, was sitting next to him, talking away while carving a piece of wood into a sharp weapon. But Cato wasn't listening to her.. he was staring into the woods, his machete resting on his lap, head held in his palm with his elbow sitting on his knee. He was so beautiful, all strong jaw line, blond hair and marble sea-green eyes.
There was a scream somewhere in the forest, and the Careers all jumped up, everyone other than Cato. The others began to gather their weapons, and when they were ready to leave, Cato waved them off, staying at the base while the others went to search for their next kill. He didn't want to go with them.. I wanted so badly to run up to be with him for the short amount of time before his friends came back, but I knew that I couldn't.
Now would be a perfect time to go in for the water. I turn around and walk to get Rue behind her tree. When I get there, Rue is there, and she's getting stabbed in the neck by.. Peeta?! He muffles her screams with his palm against her mouth.
Rue's eyes glaze over and she falls down to the ground, all the while with Peeta staring down at her menacingly. I don't give it another thought. I draw an arrow, ready to kill Peeta.
Something stops me. Someone's arms snatch the weapon from my hands and wrap around me, securing me in a strong hold.
"Hey, Prim. Long time, no see," hot breath says into my ear. And who's voice is it?
None other than Cherche.
I struggle under her grip, trying to wrestle myself free and try to save my dying friend. But she was too strong. I couldn't get out, which means I couldn't save my only friend here.
"Let me go!" I screamed, trying even harder to remove myself from her. Peeta is standing over Rue's helpless body, smirking at me while I'm held hostage. Rue's breathing is quick and small as her body tries to keep her alive for as long as possible.
Cherche places her leg in between mine, forcing me to slam onto the ground hard. My face hits the ground first, causing an immense pain to shoot through my cheek. I turned around and stared up at Cherche. She looked just the same; her hair in two braids, but she was much dirtier.
"What is this all about?!" I screech, struggling against Cherche as she places her body over mine. She punches me in the face, right on my bruised cheek, and I screech in pain. The stinging is almost blinding.
"Well," Cherche sighs, letting her hot breath fan my face in a sickening scent. "Remember when I caught you and your boyfriend swapping spit on the roof? And remember when you guys told me you would figure out a way to help me out in the arena?" She pulls out a knife and presses it to the knife wound on my arm the Career guy made a couple days ago. I shriek in angered pain again. "Your boyfriend didn't help me whatsoever. In fact, he killed Jasper. So, in order for him to feel as much pain as I did, I'm going to kill you and dump your body at his base for everyone to see," she explains, turning the blade in my arm. Another course of pain seeps through my body and I scream some more.
I reach up with my other arm and punch her in the face, flailing my legs to try and get loose. Cherche laughs coldly and punches me in my gut while Peeta pins my arms above my head.
"You don't want to do that," Peeta claims, punching me in my throat. I wheeze and cough for air.
"What.. what does any of this have to do.. do with Peeta?" I ask between my gasps for air. My throat was burning, and my arms and stomach were going through the most agonising sting that I've ever felt.
"You broke my heart. Made me think that we had a chance when all the time, you were stringing me along. But, while I was chasing after you, you were with Cato. I was planning on sacrificing myself for you to get out of here alive, but now, I'm using you to get revenge on him," he explains, pressing his arm down on the knife in my already searing knife wound.
My shrieks become louder. "You.. you were supposed to be my friends. People.. people I can.. trust," I gasp.
Cherche scoffs and removes the knife from my arm and slaps me across my bruised cheek. "You can never trust anyone in the Games. Duh, we're killing each other, not roasting marshmallows over a fire." Peeta laughs at her 'joke'.
"So, Cherche, where should we start?" Peeta asks Cherche with a smirk.
"Hmm? I would start here," she points the bloodied knife to my neck, "but that would be easy. We're going for torture, not mercy," Cherche states, wiping the knife on my pants.
"Start small," Peeta nods. "We could add some bruises. The color looks amazing on her cheek." Peeta's eyes are void of emotion. The Peeta I used to know is no longer there. He sounds sick.
I'm accepting this moment for what it is. They're going to kill me for my association with Cato; for deciding to be with him than do what they wanted me to do. But honestly, I was okay with dying that way. Cato was the best decision that I've made. He helped me live a little, let go of some stress and enjoy moments for what they were. I don't regret dying with joy from the decisions I made with him.
I do regret my mother and Katniss having to watch me die this way. It's not fair for them, and all of the Seam, to watch me go this way and then have my body shipped all the way across the country. I'm sorry, Mom and Katniss, that you have to see me this way.
I miss you and I'll love you forever.
"Can we just start?" Cherche says, hitting me once again in my stomach. "I'm getting impati-"
There's a cannon, and then Cherche is falling on top of me with a huge thud. It's then that I see the huge axe buried in her back and Cato wielding another one aimed at Peeta. He scrambles to his feet, away from me, and then I can't see him anymore.
My body responds, surprisingly, and instead of going to Cato, I'm pushing Cherche's body off of me and crawling pathetically to Rue. She's still alive, but once I place my arms around her, her eyes flutter closed, and another cannon goes off.
"Rue?" My eyes widen. "Rue, wake up!" I shake her lifeless shoulders, her blood covering my right hand. No, Rue can't be gone. This is a joke. A sick joke that the Capitol is playing on me.
"Rue, come on. Wake up! It's me, Prim!" Rue continues to sleep, but her chest doesn't rise and fall. "Please!" I plead. I just want to see her smile again.
"Rose." Cato stands above me and picks me up, pulling me away from Rue, causing more pain to enter my body. "Come on. She's gone."
"No!" I wrestle myself and fall to the ground, pain seeping through me. I crawl back to Rue and shake her some more. "Rue! You have to wake up!" I cry.
She can't be gone. Rue cannot leave me. She's the only one I trusted not to hurt me in this arena; the one who brightened up this arena more than the artificial sun with just her smile alone. We made a silent promise to protect each other, to keep each other safe the moment we went to the cave together. I was supposed to help her, and she trusted me, but I broke our promise. And Rue got hurt in the process.
My head falls onto her chest as the hovercraft sounds. "Rue, I'm so sorry! I was supposed to protect you! You can't leave me here! You're my friend, the only one I can trust. You trusted me, and I broke that. I'm so sorry, Rue! I'm sorry. It's all my fault!" I told her, hoping it would wake her up. She's just sleeping. Rue will wake up. She has to.
"Rose," Cato says. He picks me up as I collapse into a ball of tears and pain. But not the pain from my body. It was pain of my heart. "Let's go while they pick her up."
"No, Cato!" I sniffle, wiping my snotty face with my jacket. He cradles my shaking body. "Leave me alone, please! I need to save her!" I reach out to her, but he pulls my arm away. He takes me away from her and I watch her disappear.
"She's gone, Rose."
"No," I shake my head, trying to convince myself that he wasn't telling the truth. "She's awake."
"Rue is gone, Rose. Just let me take care of you," he says softly. "Like I did in the elevator. Remember?"
I shake my head. "I don't need you. I need Rue," I tell him, struggling again. His grip tightens and I wince in pain, but he doesn't let me go.
"Baby please," he pleads, staring at me with eyes that would soon be filled with cold anger and revenge.
Oh. He's never called me that before. I stare into his mesmerising sea-green orbs and nod blindly. He looked desperate, like he needed me more than I need him right now. I stop struggling in his grip and clutch his chest, letting out all of my pain. And Cato, he absorbed all of my hurt. When I shed another tear, his lips tightened and he looked like he was flooded with all my tears. He held me effortlessly, like I was a feather, and took me further away from her. Every couple of steps he took, he kissed my bruised cheek, taking away my tears. If I whimpered, he shushed me with his lips. Cato held me, letting me release just like that day in the elevator.
We made it to the cave that.. that.. Rue found, and he settled me down gently on the ground. I coiled myself into a ball as Cato dropped down all of his, my, and Rue's things that he somehow carried with me in his arms.
Cato leaned against the cave wall and pulled me into his lap. He rocked me back and forth gently, the only sounds being my whimpers and him shushing me.
I couldn't believe it. He was back.
We were together again.
Boom. And just like that, Prato is back together. I luffed this chap. Yeaaaa boiiiii. Anyway, I now have a schedule for updating: for this book, it is every Monday and Thursday. I would make it once a week, but this is my most popular story, so yeah.
As always, I love you guys more than breathing. Soooo, how bout you vote, comment, share, follow and thank you so much for reading!
Cheers. ?
Myesha xx