Previously
Cato POV
"Come on Cato, let's explore!" Whines Glimmer as she tugs on my arm. After ten minutes of her screeching, I finally give in.
"Fine, but after this we need to get back to work." I groan, letting her pull me towards the rocky terrain of the near by mountains. The others follow slowly, taking my example of staying quiet.
Once on top of the rocks, I hear an animalistic growl. Whipping around, I see three mountain lions stalking forward, looking for their next meal. Glimmer screams, falling to the floor with her head in her hands chanting,
"Please don't hurt me… please don't hurt me," over and over again. I had just drawn the sword I put in my belt, ready to defend the others and myself, when a loud whistle ripples through the air. One by one the cats leaped gracefully down the rocks to sit in front of Katniss, our savior.
Glimmer POV
What a bitch. Katniss thinks she's so amazing. I mean, she's not even pretty and her clothes make her look like a hobo. And showing up to save us like a hero, pft, puh-lease, she just wants attention. I swear, if she tries to take Cato from me, there will be another dead person on this island.
Katniss POV
After sending Buttercup and his friends away, I make my way up the rocks, leaping gracefully from one rock to another. "So, regret not coming with me yet?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest with a smug smile.
"No." Cato retorts, coming out of his shocked state. With a shrug, I start making my way down the rocks but a voice stops me. "I'll go." Whirling back around, I see people staring at Cato like he's a mad man, but that just made it better. "I don't regret it, but I'll go. It's better for everyone." He admits, jumping down the boulder path.
"Alright then, follow me." I say, still not believing he caved. Turning slowly, I walk towards the ladder, but not before glancing back at Cato. Our eyes locked and the only thing I could think of were those blue eyes. His blue eyes.
Cato POV
The mountain lions stalked away, but not before giving us hungry stares. Shifting awkwardly, I look behind me, at Glimmer who's blotchy, red face still showed panic, and at Marvel who stands tall, yet stiff and tense as if he expected another attack. "So, regret not coming with me yet?" Katniss' voice rang out through the clearing, sending angry shocks through me. Who does she think she is, trying to control me? Who does she think she is showing up with those big brown eyes and beautiful dark hair- wait, what am I doing? I'm a career! I have no feelings. When we get back to Panem, I'm winning the Hunger Games then I'll marry some rich bitch that has a high enough status to be my wife.
"No." I spit, but I immediately regret it. She did try to help us, and it's probably safer where she is. "I'll go." Katniss whirls back around, and I see everyone staring at me like I'm insane. "I don't regret it, but I'll go. It's better for everyone." I admit, jumping down the boulder path.
"Alright, let's go." She says distractedly, leading us onto the forest path that led to our camp. Just before we started walking, I caught her eye, and all I could think about for the entire walk was what was behind those hazel eyes. Her hazel eyes.
We come to a ladder I never noticed before, even though I walked this path hundreds of times before. It blended into the trees, the oranges and yellows and browns, plus a little green because of the oncoming fall.
Heaving myself onto the rungs, I climb carefully, since the ladder was obviously made for a smaller person with a lighter weight. Grabbing the tree branches to pull myself up, I stop and stare. The view was amazing, I could see from our old camp to the peaks of the near by mountains. The crystal clear water below glistening in the sun set a glassy reflection on the leaves, making it seem like a tropical paradise rather then a deadly island.
"Hey, Cato, can I have some help?" Glimmers whiny voice yells at me, breaking the silence. With an inaudible sigh, I grab her arm and haul her onto the platform, not bothering to cushion her fall. She fell with a quiet thud, one you wouldn't even hear if you weren't paying attention. "Cato!" she screeches, an angry expression etched into her face.
"Shh, Glimmer, Silence is golden." I say, waving my hand dismissively at her.
"But baby!" she yells, scrambling to her feet. Taking a look at her, I notice something. Normally, even through the torn slutty clothes and grim and dirt, she still would've been hot, maybe sexy, but never beautiful. Now, she looks, well, fake. Fake hair that is tied to tightly to her head, looking like it will be torn off her head from the pressure, the obvious lines of plastic surgery on her shoulder blades and her eyes are a dull brown now that her colored contact lenses came out. Comparing her to Katniss, the one girl who hasn't changed anything about her, she looks like a Capitolite, a person who could only care about their looks and sex. That's it.
"We need to talk Cato." She growls, taking my arm in her hand, digging her claw-like nails into my arm.
"Fine, fine, don't get your panties in a twist." I laugh, walking behind her. We enter a room that resembles a storage unit back home, only this is made out of pure wood and hard work, not metal and machinery.
"What's going on Cato? I thought you loved me! But now, ever since we came to this island, all you care about is survival. We'll be fine. My father is the most influential man in district one, he will find us. Then we can go home, have kids and live a long happy life together." She says, getting sappier and sappier by the minute. Running a hand through my hair, I look back at her face, watching the tears gather beneath the lids of her eyes. "It's because of Katniss, isn't it? She's not pretty; she's not rich, hell, she's scum compared to anyone. She's from district twelve, she is seam rat and she would lie any chance she gets to benefit herself. Can't you see it Cato, she's playing us all, and she's just a dark, twisted, twisted girl that can't control her emotions. Don't let it fool you." She says, her emotions playing out in her eyes. Anger. Disgust. Jealousy.
"Really Glimmer. How would she know how to manipulate people when she came here when she was young, for longer then she can remember. No human contact for years and you think it's okay to say something like that. She isn't dark, she isn't a twisted girl, and she's a person who is strong and powerful. If you want to leave, leave. You can't do this to everyone. You did this to Clove when you met her, to any girl who has ever been close to me. Honestly, get over yourself, you're just jealous. We're over. Wait, we aren't over, because there never was an us." I say, walking towards the door.
"But Cato! I love you!" Glimmer wails, breaking down entirely. "There is an us! We are the present and future. We'll have kids and you'll go to the games and win. Then we can be happy!" she says, on her knees, practically begging.
"No Glimmer, you were just another lay." I say, walking out the door to find the others.
Mean While Back In Panem…
"President Snow, there was another boating accident. Twenty four kids went missing and they are believed to be on this island." Head Game Maker Seneca Crane says, pointing to a small island off the coast of Panem that was almost always surrounded in storms.
"That's where the Everdeens went missing, am I correct?" Snow asks, spinning around in his chair to take a closer look.
"Yes sir, they went missing five years ago. Mr. James Everdeen and his daughter Katniss, who was only eleven, are believed to be dead but we can't be sure. Should we sail the ships and take a look sir?" Seneca inquires, practically bouncing on the soles of his feet.
"Yes, but wait for the tornado period to end in three weeks, so that we don't loose anyone. Wouldn't want another accident, would we Mr. Crane?" Snow smiles, drumming his fingertips on his cherry wood desk, which was specially imported from district one.
"No sir, I'll start making arrangements." Seneca says, making his way to the door.
"Alright Seneca, just make sure that my grandson gets home." Snow says, taking a picture of his grandson off his desk.
His only daughter was set in an arranged marriage at a young age, shipped off to district two at the ripe age of seventeen to be married to Chris Hemitus. They had four kids, two girls and two boys. The first grandchild was a girl named Melissa. She was sent into the hunger games at the young age of thirteen and died a horrible death by the hands of the victor, Finnick Odair. The next grandchild was a boy named Cornelius, he won the sixty ninth hunger games and is now married to a district one lady named Scarlett. The third child was a girl named Felecia, she got into the seventieth hunger games and won. She is now married to a district four games trainer named Finn. The final grand child was a little boy named Cato. Born strong, he was set to volunteer for the seventy fourth hunger games, but went missing in a boating crash fourteen days prior to the reaping. Because of this, the quarter quell was being planned in his favor. Since most of the kids from the accident would be weak, and no one would dare attempt to volunteer for them in the outer districts, so it would be perfect. The third quarter quell will be glorious, and the Hemitus name will be honored once again.
On The Island…
Katniss POV
Cato and Glimmer walked off, leaving me to tell everyone what to do. I got Thresh and Marvel to start moving some of the mats from their old campsite to here, so they don't have to sleep on the hard wood floor of the tree house. Clove and I started to hunt, bringing down a MooMoo that I now know is called a cow or bull, depending on the gender. "You know, I think Glimmer and Cato broke up." Clove whispers to me as we roast the meat for dinner.
"Why?" I ask, glancing at the pair. They sat stiffly beside each other, leaning away from each other to create almost like an invisible barrier between them. Glimmer seemed more distressed where as Cato just looked awkward. He must have been the one to call it off then.
"Did you know that when Cato won the hunger games, they were supposed to get married?" Clove says, turning the wooden spit over the fire.
"No, why were they getting married? Marriage is stupid, it just leaves a hole in your heart when they leave you." I say, thinking back to the times when my father was in the mines for days at a time to earn money to support the family and my mom would wait at the door like a lost dog waiting for it's owner to come find it.
"They both have high ranking family, Cato is the president's grandson you know." Cove responds silently, looking around to make sure no one over heard their small conversation.
"Really? Must be where he gets his arrogance. Or his massive ego. Or his, well, you get the point." I reply, pulling a knife out to carve the beast we caught. Clove grabbed the wooden slabs I use as plates from the storage and I put an equal piece on everyone's plate, adding a little extra to Prim's and Rue's because of their protruding bones. They must not get fed much at home.
"So, what do you think of the loft so far. Does it meet your standards Cato?" I ask sarcastically, causing Clove to snicker slightly before shutting up because of the deadly glare she got from Cato.
"Yes, it's fine." He says bluntly, going back to his food.
"What, no this needs to be better Katniss, or we have to do this Katniss. No? Okay, just wondering." I say, gaging his reaction. I could see his hands tense on his wooden utensils, leaving land prints in the dried wooden.
"Oh, is big bad Cato getting annoyed. What, did he not get his daily lay?" Clove joins in, bumping me out of his range of motion.
"Clove, shut it." He says dangerously, causing a few of us to cringe at his tone, but that didn't stop Clove.
"Oh, so I'm right. What, did you and Glimmer get in a fight, did that make you crabby. Don't worry, I bet you going for a nice, cold shower would help." Clove taunted, getting up and ready to run.
"Clove, stop." I say, "This is too far." I mumble,
"No, he's a big boy. Ever since he got on this island, he's been a big baby and an even bigger jerk. He needs to know his place. Just because you come from a rich lineage doesn't mean anything here Cato, your grandfather can't help you now. Not that he would, he's always hated you, hasn't he. Yup, that's right, since you always live in your brother's shadow. Trying to be perfect but failing miserably. You've had an easy life Cato, don't get me started on Katniss'." I instantly regret telling her about my family and life before.
"Clove, shut the fuck up!" Cato roars, getting up and stalking up to her. "You've been a real bitch ever since that day in the forest a few weeks ago. Get over it. You knew it would happen. You know, the only reason you train for the games is because you family doesn't care about you. They always wanted a son but no, they got the messed up little girl that is you. You look twelve and yet you're fourteen. You've had to have three surgeries on your leg because your father keeps breaking it when he beats the shit out of you when he comes home drunk after a long night of whoring around after he lost your mother. And do you know why, it's because you look just like her. The same eyes, the same hair, hell, even the same talents. Your perfect copy of her, and she was a reject too." Cato says, before stopping to realize what he said. Tears pooled at the bottom of Cloves eyes, just waiting to spill over.
"And you're just like your father. A cold heartless man that couldn't care less about his son, or his family. He only cares about himself, and that's all you'll ever be too." Clove says before running towards the ladder and jumping into the dark forest below.
"Wait, Clove, I didn't mean it. Come back!"
Cato POV
"Come back!" I yell for the second time. I can't believe I said that, I know how her family is a touchy topic and I toke advantage of it, hell I abused it until there was nothing left. I'm an awful person, nothing more then an idiot. Rushing off into the forest to find her, I stop when I remember that day in the forest a few weeks ago.
*Flash back*
The woods were especially bright today, the leaves and greenery lush, the forest full of wildlife. My dull and rusted sword in my belt was a weight like no other, the weight of something that could end a life. Just as I was about to slice the head cleanly off a deer, my name was called. "Cato, Catooooooo!"Cloves voice rang through the forest. The deer ran immediately, giving me no time to kill it.
"Thanks Clove, you just cost us dinner!" I say to her just as she enters the clearing. Narrowing her eyes, she glares at me.
"Can you control your obnoxious bitch of a girlfriend? I mean, she's bragging about how you guys had sex the other night to Rue and Prim, you have to shut her up." She rants, kicking the ground hard to try and make a point, but only succeeding in hurting her foot.
"Not my problem." I say, the annoyance I felt seeping into my tone. Stalking quietly into the clearing, I look around for another animal trail.
"But Cato," Clove yells, catching up to me, "Just dump her. She's an annoying little whore who can't keep her legs shut. I've seen her in enough compromising situations with other men to know that." My anger sparked at her. Glimmer is the best thing I have in my life, the light in the shadow I live in. I've never compared to my brother, and yet I got a girl like her to like me.
"That's not true!" I growl, whirling around to face her, but the only thing she showed was anger, not the fear I'm used to.
"Yes it is, face it, you love the mystery girl. I could see it in your eyes Cato, you want her. You follow her every movement, go way out in the forest to find her." I could see a crack in her expression now, revealing her lie.
"Wrong, I know why you hate her." I say, the realization dawning on me.
"And why would that be?" Clove asks tiredly, crossing her arms.
"You like me." I say, and immediately, my words take effect. Her eyes widen to the size of saucers, her mouth forms an 'o' shape.
"T-that's not true." She stutters, her eyes glassing over.
"Yes it is, you're just too much of a pussy to admit it." I taunt, trying to annoy her. After a minute, she spins and walks back into the forest, leaving me in peace. Getting back into hunting, I'm still distracted. What if what I said was true? Does she like me? If so, then for how long? All these questions whirl around in my head, but I quickly dismiss them. No, you have a girlfriend, and all that shit about you liking the girl is a fake, trying to get you to break up with Glimmer so she can have a shot with you, I tell this to myself over and over, but the information wouldn't leave my head.
*Flash Back End*
I knew I was being a jerk, I was a dick, but she was lying. I don't like Katniss, she just wanted me for herself, but she's still my best friend. Quickening my pace, I weave through the trees towards the river. Clove likes to be near or in water when she's upset. Stepping closer, I see two figures by the water. I expected them to be Katniss and Clove, but sadly, only one of them was right. "Stay away from my boyfriend bitch, he's mine!" Glimmer's high, squeaky voice drifts from the river; I could barely catch it before the loud waves drowned the sound. Glimmer's figure, just barely visible in the moonlight, grabs Katniss by the shoulders and hurls her into the roaring river.
Katniss POV
After both Cato and Clove toke off into the forest, I decided to go find them. Bad idea. I just got to the river where we get our water when two strong hands grab my shoulder, digging their nails into my flesh. The figure turns me around, and I'm faced with my least favorite person in the world, Glimmer. "Why are you even here Glimmer? I thought you were back at camp." I ask innocently, suppressing an eye roll.
"I'm here to make sure you lay off my boyfriend, understood? He's mine. When he volunteers for, and wins, the Hunger Games, we'll be rich. Then, we'll have kids and have the perfect life. But there's just one problem. You. You see, he's becoming more and more distant and the only explanation is you. He's never done it before and so now, I'm making sure it doesn't happen ever again." she smiles like a predator ready to strike and steps forward, but I don't move an inch.
"What's your problem?" I ask, raising an eyebrow, "Did your parents not give you enough attention when you were younger, or are you just an attention hogger by nature?"
"You're going to regret that." Glimmer hisses,
"What ever Glitter." I sigh, turning around and heading back to camp. A sharp pain tears through my back, and I whirl around. Glimmer stands there, nails glinting in the moonlight. Reaching back, I feel the torn shirt and small drops of blood run over my fingers.
"So Katniss, what are the scars from?" my eyes widen, she saw them.
*Flash Back*
"Come on Dad, let's go through the square!" An eleven year old me said, pulling on my fathers hand.
"Not happening Kitty, it's not safe." He said, leading me towards the back roads that go to the hob, a black market where we make all our money.
"But I'm brave, I can do it! Just watch me!" I said, running back up the alley into the middle of the square with some of our game on my back. Little did I know, this week was the week where all the peace keepers come for training. Hundreds of peacekeepers were there, and everyone was looking at me. the peace keepers from here, they were panicking, they've never wanted to punish us for the hunting, heck, they even buy some, but they have to discipline their own, so they brought me up to the whipping post. The whipping post was old, barely ever used because the people here are too afraid to break the law, but not us, not me. My father and I do it to eat, to live. It's the only thing we can do so we don't starve. My cousin Gale joins us from time to time, but ever since his father died in the mines, he's been helping around the house so his mother and my aunt, Hazelle, could work and not have to worry about the others, Posy, ten months, Rory, five years old, and Vick, seven years old.
Head Peacekeeper Cray brought out the whip, but he still was hesitant. No one wanted to punish me, but it had to be done. "For the act of pouching off capital land, I sentence you to twenty lashes." I close my eyes; grateful the Cray cut the normal punishment in half. The first lash was terrible; a searing pain that made me scream so loud my throat ached. One after another, getting it done as fast as possible, the lashes came, and when twenty were done, some of the peacekeepers that bought from us at the hob carried me out and to my own house, where my mother waited.
*Flash Back Over*
"I said what are they from!" Glimmer yells, breaking me out of my memories.
"Nothing." I whisper, my voice cracking. Looking down, I start to inch my way towards the edge of the clearing, but Glimmer caught on.
"Stay away from my boyfriend bitch!" Glimmer says, before tossing me into the rushing water.